Inside

Chapter Three: Student Teaching

Hermione's POV

The heat of the new day blazed down unbearably against my face as I rolled unconsciously towards my uncovered window.

I squinted my eyes painfully to look at my clock, and seeing it to be only 7:28, moaned out in protest as I kicked my shoes off and rolled back onto my belly. But it was no use. The heat of the sun continued beating down on me without end or mercy, and so reluctantly I crawled out of bed and walked tired-dizzy over to my door and turned the handle with half closed eyes and a fully asleep mind.

"Couch," I mumbled while pulling my door shut behind me and scratching at an itch on my elbow.

"Miss Granger, I didn't expect to see you awake at this hour," Snape's voice said from behind me as I was about to begin my decent down the twisting stairs.

"No," I told him while forcibly shaking my head back and forth as I turned to face him. "I'm not awake yet, the sun shines in my room in the morning and I couldn't sleep; it woke me up. I was going to go down to the couch and get some more rest." I struggled to say, slurring my words with every other syllable.

"Why not draw the curtains?" he asked suggestively. "Surly that would be easier than going all the way downstairs?"

"I don't," I swallowed. "I don't have any."

"Then why not go to your parents room?" he wondered.

"I don't want to mess up their presumably perfect bed." I told him with a tired sigh. "Now Professor, I don't mean to be rude but I am extremely tired and don't really have the strength the keep up talking."

"That is quite alright, Miss Granger, as this is your house not mine and have the ability to act however which way you like, though being tired you are not rude." He said formally as I felt my body begin to sway forwards and back. "Oh my!" He proclaimed as I heard footsteps rushing towards me, and then felt unfamiliar hands on my shoulders. "Get into my room; you'll fall down the stairs and injure yourself if you don't get off your feet. Here, come this way."

I wanted to shout out in protest as his hands grabbed mine and led me forward with him, but all I was able to do was as he repositioned me against him was, "Okay," as he wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me alongside him by pulling at my hands and pushing at my back.

"Tired," I whispered softly as he leaned me gently down onto the bed with my back down.

"I can see that," he said softly. "Well I must say you certainly are someone else entirely when you are away from school, Miss Granger."

"You… are… too…" I was barley able to get the words out of my mouth before my eyes drooped shut and darkness engulfed me.

Snape's POV

I looked down at her quickly sleeping figure as I pulled the covers over her legs and chest and smiled weakly at how much she reminded me of when I was younger, and how I was able to sleep in as late as she without a regret in the world. And unconsciously I placed the palm of my hand against her forehead and said to her softly, "Sweet dreams." I had never had a daughter of my own or any children at that, and assumed my natural instinct to take care of her was brought about by the needlessness of having to take care of anybody but myself.

She moaned out softly and I smiled again.

I walked over and pulled the drapes in the windows tightly together as to leave no cracks for the sun to sneak through before looking at her one last time.


I leaned my back tightly into the crook of the couch before grabbing an old, faded, worn and torn edition of Dracula by Bram Stoker that I had found in the bookcase and began reading shortly after arriving at the Granger's. I let out a sigh and brushed my hand over the cover twice before opening it up to the correct page and picking up where I had left off.

But I was hardly able to turn, let alone finish, a page before my mind was racing back to what had just happened in the guest room upstairs. What I had said to her, and how I had placed my hand against her forehead… why had I done those things? I had always shown a general dislike of her before, so why now the unintentional and tender affection towards her? She had always had a way to annoy me with her ability to know the answer to anything before she had even heard the entirety of it all. But was that really dislike, or hate? Or was it jealousy of not doing the same thing (though I could have) when I was her age? And her friendship with Mr. Potter and Weasley, was that just jealousy as well?

I shut the book and let my head fall backwards while closing my eyes and letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. Why was I even thinking of these things? Why was I even thinking of her? And foremost, why, out of all the dozens and dozens of students Albus suggested I stay the summer with, had I refused everyone immediately, but merely shrugged my shoulders and said very well when he mentioned her name? Was it because of my attitude towards her that I felt I needed to repent to her?

And she's gotten so beautiful over the years. Her hair, her skin, her voice, her eyes, her lips…

My eyes shot open and the book slipped from my lap and crashed noiselessly to the floor at my feet.

Where – did – that – come – from - ?


Hermione's POV

How can I not have eaten yesterday? I wondered to myself as I stood staring into the half-empty refrigerator. I mean really, not a single thing! I sighed and dropped my elbow onto the door and slapped my hand against my temple. What am I even in the mood for? Something light ought to do it. But no, I haven't eaten in nearly forty-eight hours; I better try at something a bit more substantial.

After deciding what to fix, I walked over to the pantry and began gathering out ingredients: honey, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sesame seeds, twirl pasta and lemon juice. I then made my way back to the refrigerator and pulled out a pack of chicken breasts, baby spinach and shredded parmesan cheese.

Oh, darn! I thought while slamming my hand onto my forehead and closing my eyes; suddenly remembering I wasn't alone.

"Um, Professor Snape, I'm sorry I didn't ask you earlier. You're just so quiet I forgot you were here," I laughed. "I haven't eaten in two days and I'm starving and was about to fix something and was wondering if you'd want to join me?"

"That's very thoughtful of you Miss Granger," he smiled while closing the book in his lap. "However it is very nice of you, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. So no, thank you, but I am fine."

"Really Professor," I told him. "I'd feel terribly awkward eating out there and you in here by yourself… are you sure you won't join me?"

"I can't. I am already a bother to you and your parents by invading in on you all like this with such short notice."

"Well you don't have to be. You can help me cook." I suggested thoughtfully.

"I… I suppose that could work. But I must warn you," he told me while pulling himself into a standing position. "I have never cooked without magic."

"Well you've been my teacher for the past five years Professor Snape," I reminded him as we walked side-by-side into the kitchen. "It's about time I return the favor and teach you something you know nothing about. But you've an advantage."

"And what may that be?"

"You teach Potions, it isn't as if you've never mixed something with your hands before."


"Oh, Professor Snape!" I laughed while placing my hand over my mouth to contain the high pitched giggles escaping my throat. "You're not supposed to fill it all the way up to the top!" I couldn't help but laugh more as I looked over at him, soaked from stomach to socks with water.

"I don't understand," he said with confused eyebrows as he set the now half empty pot onto the counter. "You said to fill it."

"Yes but not all the way!" I was laughing so hard. "I can't believe that just happened! I can't stop laughing!" I said as I took my arms and wrapped them tightly around my stomach and bent over forwards. "My stomach! My stomach! Oh, God! Make it stop, make it stop!"

"Miss Granger!" he said while placing his balled fist onto his hip and looking over at me. "Is it really necessary to laugh at me like this? I've got to stay being wet like this as I can't do magic because an underage witch still lives here!"

"I'm sorry!" I bellowed. "But I just can't stop! I've never seen you like this! I can't, I've never seen you do such a thing!"

"Alright, I understand you find it funny."

"Yes, it is!" I laughed, nearly hyperventilating from lack of rhythmic breaths.

I went to walk forward but stepped misfortunately onto the puddle of water that had leaked to my direction from Snape's too-full pot of water and slipped and fell right onto my back. "Ow!" I laughed, both truly in pain and still entertained. "Ow!"

"Okay, now that was funny!" He laughed while bending over and hanging his head above the tiled floor. "Really very, very funny."

"It wasn't!" I told him through slightly lightened laughs. "It was your fault; I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't filled it all the way and spilled nearly the whole of it onto yourself and the floor! It really hurt."

"Well I'm sorry Miss Granger," he laughed. "Just give me a moment to stop laughing and I'll help you up."

"No Professor, I don't need your help. I can manage myself." I said as I was able to calm myself at last, and regulate my breathing back to its norm. I then rolled onto my stomach and began pulling myself up with my elbows and feet, but hit another spot of water and fell right back down to my bum and back.

"Yes, I can see that," he said as he was too able to calm himself down. "It's my fault, let me help you up."

"Yeah, okay," I said as I extended my hand towards his. "Thanks." I said as he gripped his hand tightly around mine, and cupped his other one around my elbow and pulled me off the floor and back to my feet.

He smiled as we parted. "Back to cooking, then."

TBC