Chapter four

Snape walked along the corridor towards his next class, glancing around every now and again, it was part of his nature to always be aware of his surroundings. Being slightly paranoid about everything is what kept him alive and because of that he could not begrudge this behaviour.

Swooping into the classroom in his usual fierce state he glared upon the suddenly hushed class, "as you know you will continue with your individual projects in which you are to choose a potion of your choice and research ways in which to modify or better it. I will repeat for the final time that I do not want ill constructed or dream like theories that will be based on tales that you have heard or lies that you have been stupid enough to believe. I want your ideas backed up by facts... and Mr Longbottom I do not appreciate research simply copied from the first book you are able to get your hands on." Neville looked up in fear, squeaking he nodded quickly lowering his head again. "Your thesis will be expected in before Christmas, as it will be sent off to be marked as part of your N.E.. This will be the last time I explain this so I hope for those who have particularly bad memories or are indeed Mr Longbottom I suggest you write this down. Is that understood?"

A grumble of agreement was heard as his eyes glanced over the herd of students as they scribbled on their pieces of parchment, turning to the board he waited for the enchanted chalk to finish what he had said. He hated how the headmaster put Gryffindor's and Slytherin's together. It meant more effort on his part to keep them from injuring each other, not that he truly cared, he just preferred that they didn't waste his time with their pathetic squabbles.

Sitting down behind his desk he took his time to observe the class more closely, usually preferring to walk around because of the effect he had over them. Yet today he didn't have the energy, he knew what was required of him tonight and he wasn't looking forward to it. It had been two days since his last confrontation with the Granger girl and since then he hadn't seen much difference in her behaviour. He had guessed that she had had some kind of argument with the moronic excuse for friends as she was sitting on the opposite side of the room, smirking he decided to use this to his advantage.

"Mr Potter...May I ask what your thesis will be on?"

Harry's head shot up, quickly looking around for help, "Is something wrong Mr Potter? You DO have an idea on what you are going to base your thesis on, correct?"

"Err...yeah...sort of. I was thinking of taking the Pepperup Potion and trying to kind of...make it stronger?"

A smirk spread across Snape's face as he stared at the pathetic boy in front of him, "stronger, Mr Potter? How...Masterful. I must say I find myself unsurprised by your lack of interest and fervour, yet still in some ways still mystified of how you came to still be in my class, surely you know that I will not be teaching you anything of your simple interests?" at this Harry's face turned bright red, gritting his teeth intent on keeping himself from snapping at the professor in front of him.

The Slytherins in the room started to snicker as Harry gripped hold of his quill mumbling reasons for choosing the potions, however Snape put his hand up suddenly bored of this venture "enough Mr Potter, I can only take so much babbling before my head begins to hurt..." waving his hand the class moved into action, collecting their ingredients and setting down to work; providing him time to look through the papers that had seemed to multiply on his desk.

Hermione spent most of the lesson with her head down, chopping her ingredients quietly and quickly as to not bring any attention. She wasn't really in the chatty mood unlike most of her class mates, plus she was still on edge with Harry. Sighing, Hermione peeked over her notes and looked at Snape's frustrated form attacking the assumed assignments of poor students with a large thick black quill.

This sight brought a lump in her throat. How on earth was she meant to tell this man her troubles when it was so plainly obvious that he could not cope with his own? Plus the guy was less than welcoming...

She dreaded tonight's meeting, she couldn't even bear to tell Remus her troubles and nightmares when he had tried to comfort her and it brought tears to her eyes to know that she couldn't even call upon her best friends for help.

*flashback*

"Hermione, I think you need to talk to someone about this...it's a lot to deal with on your own. Please talk to me." She looked up into the face of an old and dear friend wanting so much to tell him of her fears, to explain her frustration with herself, yet, she knew he wouldn't understand: he wouldn't understand how she felt then. How she feels now.

"Remus, please, leave it. I'm fine, it's done now; and all I want to do now is forget It" lying was becoming a extreme comfort for her. She forced a smile onto her face and tried to move away from him, not trusting what she might say. "Why are you so afraid to talk about this Hermione? We were all there! We all went through the same thing!"

This stopped Hermione in her tracks, turning to face him she moved so she was so close he felt it necessary to move back, "Do you really know Remus? Because if I remember correctly you were not the one who's whole family was threatened, who screamed two little words that would put themselves in the same league as many who are locked up in Azkaban!"

"Hermione! Stop doing this to yourself! You made a mistake!"

"NO! No. I didn't Remus. I meant it." She whispered and with that Hermione turned from him now knowing for sure that he would not understand her pain, that she had to stop before she told him something that made him coil away in disgust; "Hermione!" grabbing her arm he twisted her around "you are not alone in this! If you can't speak to me then at least speak to Harry or Ron. Please do not keep this bottled up, for your sake as well as everyone that cares for you." Suddenly feeling sick all she could do was nod, anything to stop him talking. Letting go of her arm he placed it on her shoulder; "it can't be undone, you have to come to terms with this, I am here if you need me okay?" again, she nodded simply wanting to be left alone; turning away from him again she walked up the stairs willing her legs not to give way as she made her way up to Ginny's bedroom.

*end flashback*

"MISS GRANGER!" Hermione jumped at the sound of her name looking frantically around for what might be wrong when a small explosion throw her off her stall. Snape stormed over pushing students out of the way as he made his way to stand in front of her. "Miss Granger, can you get to your feet?" his words echoed through her mind as she tried to pull herself together, "you foolish girl, I thought you of all people, you, would know to watch the bezoar when added with something as unpredictable as knotgrass!" he sneered ad he watch Longbottom pull her to her feet waiting for her to steady before letting her go. "Are you ok Hermione?" she looked up and smiled, trying her hardest to reassure her friend that she was fine. "I'll be alright Neville; I just got slightly distracted at a terrible time."

Snape had had enough, it was only the first bloody week and there's an explosion...by one of the cleverest of the lot. This did not bide well for any of them, mentally groaning he decided to end it: "Class is dismissed! I want a three foot essay on your ideas for your thesis done for next week. Miss Granger, you will stay. I want to discuss this further."

There was a large scramble to the doors as everyone tried to rush out; Harry reached Hermione, squeezing her hand "Hermione, you looked completely out of it today, did McGonagall talk to you?"

Hermione looked at him, glancing down at their hands she decided she still wasn't ready to talk to him fully yet; taking her hand out of his "yes and I'm fine Harry, just leave."

The hurt in his eyes made her turn away, it just wasn't the right time for her, she couldn't even really think about it all herself. Waiting for the door to shut behind her she made her way to the front desk, looking up to see Snape sat watching the scene in front of him impatiently and yet with a slight interest.

"Miss Granger, understand this: we may be doing these little counselling sessions to which neither of us want, but be assured that if I see anything like the performance you have shown me today I will not think twice in giving you so many detentions that you will wish you were born muggle. Is that understood?" Hermione glared at him, furious at his words and as if knowing this he quickly continued; "you will be at my office at 8 o clock sharp tonight, I do not appreciate tardiness so I would watch the time extremely carefully if I was you, understood?"

"Yes. Professor. "Tightening her hands into fists she turned and made her way to her next class, hoping that her temper would stay down at least until dinner. That beast of a man always made her feel about 5 inches tall, it was so tempting right now to go to the hospital wing and complain about stress and she'd be saved for another day. Although the more she thought about it the more she knew he would catch up with her one way or another so why postpone the inevitable?

For the rest of the day Hermione avoided confrontation with both Harry and Ron, deciding to skip both lunch and dinner to make it easier, preferring the silent sanctuary of her beloved library to that of constant questioning and worried glances from her friends. Running her hand along the binds of the books she mused through the aisles trying to find a book she had not previously read more than twice. Finally choosing a small neatly bound book on Transformations and sat herself in the comfiest chair in the library to read.

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"Ahhhh Severus my dear boy, how are things today?" Glancing up at the man beside him, Severus tried to think of a way in which to describe his day in a way that would not upset the elderly Headmaster too much, " today has been interesting...it seems, headmaster, that the school is made up with more fools than I thought was possible." He mused, at least I tried.

Yet the response he heard surprised him, to hear as gentle chuckle danced around his ears, "I feel that is not merely the case Severus! Surely your inadequate skill of patient also comes into play here as well! I should know, I would never play chess alone with you in fear of you blowing up my Queen."

Severus smirked at this knowingly, though growled when the incident in his morning potions classroom suddenly was questioned by Minerva beside him. "Minerva. Please refrain from insulting My Slytherins as it was not them who had my classroom in array this morning."

"Surely they had something to do with it! Hermione Granger would not simply blow up a cauldron for no apparent reason Severus!"

Dumbledore held up a hand to Severus before he could respond; "may I remind you both that you are in company of the whole school. Now Minerva, we know that Miss Granger is going through a terrible time at the moment so her lack of concentration is understandable."

Hearing the response that the headmaster had said in his place, Severus paused for thought, he was not satisfied. "Headmaster, do you really think I can help her?"

Dumbledore faced him, and with a grave face, placing both his hand on the table, "Severus, I will tell you the same thing as I have told both Miss Granger and Minerva here. I say this with upmost truth and sincerity, you are the only person who can help that girl at the moment. Both of you may not understand it at the moment; yet make her open up to you my dear boy and you will."

The look in his eyes scared the potion master, but before he could ask anything further Dumbledore faced the student body, as if looking for someone, Severus followed his eye line to the Gryffindor table to find an empty seat next to the youngest Weasley boy. She wasn't there. His brows knitted together; this girl was going to be trouble for him, he knew that much.

He looked up to find the Headmaster looking at him with pleading eyes. Frustrated he looked away "would you at least give me some more details about what's going on?" yet he already knew the answer before Dumbledore could even think of a response; "no Severus, you need to hear it from her...but I'll tell you this, you two have more in common than simply your intelligence."

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Pacing outside the corridor to the potions classroom Hermione looked at her watch again; 8:00. Preparing herself she opened the door, shyly looking around she found the classroom completely empty, sighing to herself she found a seat and got out her ancient ruins text book and began to read.

"Miss Granger, you did not come here to read." She yelped jumping up from her seat frantically looking around to see where the voice had come from; she found him leaning by one of cupboards smirking, satisfied by the reaction. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't think you were in here...actually I thought I was quite sure that you were not." Looking at him more carefully now she noticed that he was not wearing his usual layered robes with untold amount of buttons, instead he stood in front of her with his outer robe unbuttoned and a simple black roll neck and trousers underneath. This made her feel uncomfortable, she wasn't used to an informal Snape, he seemed almost normal leaning against the cupboards...relaxed in a strange way.

"That is one of your problems Miss Granger; your assurance is quite off balance is it not?" she glared at him, waiting for him to insult her further, yet he simply straightened himself up and with a hand beckoned her to come closer to him. She hesitated for a few seconds before moving over to where he was standing, making sure to leave a gap large enough between them. He ignored this and turned to face the cupboard and muttered something she was not able to comprehend. All of a sudden the cupboard seemed to just disappear and in its place stood a simple wooden door. Turning to her he was amused to find just a raised eyebrow in response; chuckling to himself he merely shook his head and turned the doorknob entering first. She followed and was surprised by what she saw in the room that would be Severus Snape's office.

Three out of the four extraordinarily large walls were simply shelves upon shelves of books, this however was not what surprised her. What surprised her was the fact that the room itself even though, quite large in proportion, was incredibly cosy with a large dark mahogany desk seated in the middle of the room to which a grand fireplace on the wall behind and a small black leather sofa in front of it. She looked down expecting to find the stone cold floor that seem to run through most of the castle yet instead she found she was standing on a beautifully designed black and Green rug that spread out widely from the desk only stopping a few meters shot of each of the walls. Hermione gawped openly as she looked around the room, not caring how it would be portrayed to the almost certainly annoyed professor beside her.

"Sit." Was his only command as he moved away from her to light the fire, not thinking twice she wondered over to the chair beside the desk. Taking time to check that her wand was firmly situated in her left sleeve, it's not that she didn't trust snape, it was simply that this situation was cause to be extra cautious.

After a few moment Severus slowly walked back and sat down at his desk to faced the girl in front of him, but was shocked at how old she really looked. It had not been necessary to closely look at students before and he had been one to use that as an advantage. Yet this girl in front of him was no longer eleven and it scared him. Everything had changed about her, her hair was now in waves down her back rather than a birds nest placed upon her head, her teeth now straight and normal, her childlike mannerisms completely gone ...STOP! Severus closed his eyes and rubbed his temples on his head mentally scrubbing his mind clean before it could get too far.

"Miss Granger, you know that we are both here because there is a problem;" Opening his eyes and placing his hands back on the table he focused on her eyes, not trusting anything else. "And that problem is, is that you will not talk about an event that took place in the holidays that is effecting you, and as I clearly see is not just your attitude but also your work. This cannot go on Miss Granger. Now...I only know so much about what happened since I was away on....other duties at the time, so I would like you to explain clearly what happened."

Hermione scoffed at this, there was no way that he didn't know every exact detail on what happened, he was of course a spy for the order of the phoenix, it was his job to know everything, "I don't think I could tell you anything of significance that you do not already know, Professor."

Severus Growled at this, leaning over the desk slightly making sure that she felt intimated enough for his words to have an effect; "if you do not start talking willingly, I will make you talk unwillingly, do you understand? And there are many ways in which I can grasp that information, all of which have been agreed by the headmaster himself."

She stiffened; gripping the arms of the chair, he was bluffing...he had to be, surely. Deciding to take him up on her bluff she raised her chin in defiance, "Professor, I am upset yes, but I will get over it, there is no need for this! You do not have to do this, you can simply let me go and tell the headmaster I will get over it in my own time."

"If it was that easy Miss Granger do you really think that you would be here right now? I know that you will not simply get over this, because I have been there myself-". He stopped turning around to face a house elf that had just popped into the room holding a small plate of sandwiches in his hands, as if on cue Hermione's belly began to react to the sudden sight of food. Severus took the plate quickly dismissing the elf as he sat back down, pushing the plate near to Hermione; "you were not at lunch or dinner today, it is both a foolish and unnecessary, and if I'm going to get any sense out of you then you going to have to eat something first.

Hermione didn't take more than a few seconds to grab the closest sandwich within her reach and consuming it as quickly as her mouth would let her. Severus watched in amusement eating seven sandwiches within the matter of minutes. "Now, that you have been fully nourished do you think you can answer my questions a little bit easier?"

"No, it won't make it easier." She stopped, did she just say that? She panicked over what his reaction would be when suddenly he grinned, it confused her, why would he smile? "Much better; now, let's try again Miss Granger."

"Wait. What did you mean when you said you had been there? I thought you said that you didn't know about what happened."

"I told you that I have been briefed on the subject at hand; yet it is your experiences that I have not been told about. Now, tell me why you are in the state that you are currently in?"

"Because I am a murderer." She slapped her hand over her mouth, holding in a scream; looking over at Severus with hate filled eyes, she suddenly understood.

"WHY DID YOU POISEN ME?!" the questioned bounced around the room making her angrier as the seconds past with no answer.

Severus sat back and marvelled at the revelation. "It took longer than I thought it would for you to realise that, Miss Granger, yet still exceedingly quick. I told you that I would make you talk to me truthfully, and so it seemed I could hit two birds with one stone, to feed your appetite and my curiosity. Now, enough with this, you know now that you cannot tell me anymore lies or defer me in any way so this should go a little bit more smoothly. I want you to tell me everything, however significant...why are you a murderer Miss Granger?"

Hermione closed her eyes, sighing in defeat, he was going to know, and he was going to know everything; looking up she began.