Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to J. K. Rowling.
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Chapter 4:
There was this strong smell in her nose, which felt like a slap to her face, though it was not exactly bad. She opened her eyes to see Snape a few inches from her, gasping and abruptly sitting in her place, forcing herself against the wall, she noticed this was obviously not her room and felt lost, desperately trying to remember how she got there and looking for her wand, which was nowhere to be found.
The man just limited himself to raise both of his brows while slowly nodding, indicating how not offended he was for such a reaction. "Your wand will be returned the moment we are done here." Hermione focused her attention on his hands; the man had just bottled something, which she could only recognize as some minerals he had been using to wake her up.
"… What… why am I… when?" She followed him with the eyes, the Potions Master walked till the other extreme of the room, and placed the bottle in one of the bookcases, slowly turning around to see the girl and staying in that exact place.
"How do you feel?"
She inspired, trying to find the words "… extremely disoriented, but in no physical pain."
"How much do you remember?" Realizing he was demanding some mental effort from her, she began to examine the room, the bookcases, the sofa she was sitting on, the blanket covering her legs, and then him.
"Detention"
"I was expecting more than one word sentence."
"I came for detention, I was sitting at the desk, and you…"
"And me…?"
"You were interrogating me." The man's face disarranged, expressing how he differed from that thought, but not interrupting. He knew she had just remembered something uncomfortable because her face was rushing red and avoiding eye contact. "… I am really confused, and it is clear you know what happened, is this really necessary?" She felt like a toy.
Suddenly feeling empathic with the girl, though still remaining in the exact opposite of the room, he spoke "I need to know if there is any memory loss, I can assure you, Miss Granger, this is neither amusing nor entertaining for me either, now, continue." Memory loss? How big of a mess was she into?
"You commented on how you thought my…" she stopped thinking in a proper word "behavior may have been because of some potion or charm."
"How did you feel?"
"Pretty embarrassed" She answered almost instinctively, feeling the same level of embarrassment as before.
"And then…?"
"Then…" She focused her eyes on the blanket again, had he given it to her? It was black, a rather odd color for a blanket. "I told you how it was a onetime thing, and… I did feel different then."
"Numb? Dizzy? Light-headed?"
"Warm"
"Warm…? Could you elaborate?" She closed her eyes, trying to remember the feeling, concentrating in the moment.
"It was like… being in a really cozy and warm place inside my own body, like falling asleep while being awake at the same time." The girl raised her eyes to look at the man again "I saw you talking, but I couldn't hear you anymore, you sounded far away. From that point the numb feeling prevented me from doing much, then the desk… what is happening to me?" The last part sounded breathless.
Snape hesitated a few seconds "I'm afraid; I have no answer for that question… yet. However, I'm certain this is a potion's doing, since for the moment it happened we had already been alone for more than 15 minutes, and charms tend to act immediately. "
"So… there is someone out there who is basically poisoning my food?"
"There are many ways a potion can get into your system, Miss Granger, sometimes inhaling or getting in touch with it is enough." She felt like her world was going down, being a prefect meant being in contact with hundreds of students every day. It could be anyone.
"Are you sure it is just me? Maybe this was some kind of accident and there are actually other students affected by it." He actually seemed to consider the option, but then continued.
"As trivial as it may seem, I have not reported more inappropriate behavior than usual…" He marked the word more and usual, implying certain level was normal, nothing surprising for Hermione, thought. Besides, I am positive that if this was affecting other students, this topic would have been discussed with the staff." He paused, deciding if to comment or not the next "Actually, Miss Granger, I've come to a few conclusions, they may help you prevent it for happening, at least till finding a proper solution for such matter."
"I'd love to hear them, professor, thank you." Anything that could stop her from going nuts again was more than welcomed.
"First, and I am counting with you already being aware of… my reasons." He said this in a way Hermione understood he meant the revelation of his memories, a complete life under disguise and nodded. "I'd like to clarify that I do not hate or disfavor any of your friends, including Harry." His tone of voice sounded strangely familiar for Hermione, who was used to the venom at the pronunciation of such name. "At least not for any personal reasons. You know my ways, and you must recognize they can be… disruptive." Well, he was right; it would be ridiculous to praise them now considering their usual behavior during the previous years.
"I'm sorry, sir, even though I do appreciate such a comment, I do not see where this is taking us."
"Watch your back, Miss Granger. Whoever this person is, it is close to you… and I incline to call it a him, actually."
"You could not be implying that Harry or Ron could-"
"I am not implying anything; I am telling you that you have at least been chosen for this, not once, but twice, how big are the chances for a complete stranger to curse you twice."
"But why would they like to do that? They are my friends, and besides-"
"Do not play naive." The man moved from the bookcase, raising the hand he had been using to support himself. "You have seen what this potion can do, you have lived it" He said the last indicating the desk and chair, causing Hermione to blush fiercely and look nervous between the desk and the man's face. "And I am sure this was not intended to happen to me. There is simply not someone stupid enough to curse me as well."
"You don't know, they would not do such a thing, they would not dare, that would be completely and utterly-"
"Unforgivable? Whoever is behind this already knows that… what takes me to my second conclusion, which is actually a command." The girl calmed down, she wanted to continue arguing about her friends' culpability on this, but she just became too curious about this second conclusion. "You have completely prohibited to discuss this topic with anyone."
"Why?" She was pretty good with secrets, but this was too big, she wasn't sure for how long she could keep it.
"Let's say you tell about this to… Ronald Weasley, for example, and let's say he actually is the one to blame… what do you think would happen?"
"I'm telling you, it can not be Ron."
"What. Would. Happen."
"Assuming, hypothetically that was Ron's doing… it would continue happening, because he would have confirmation that it is working." She covered her face with both of her hands. This was more messed up than she thought. The man was right, she couldn't trust anyone.
"Precisely… maybe, and just maybe, the lack of response will lead this person to believe it is not working, causing him to desist."
"I understand, and I will not comment this with anyone, but if this happens in front of others… How about a class? Or the Great Hall?"
"I will keep an eye on you during both scenarios, potions class and every visit to the Great Hall, I am assuming you would have no problem with me… stopping you by any means."
"Do whatever you have to do, sir, anything would be better." The man nodded, having her agree made him feel more in control, with more options.
"As for the other classes or social life aspects, I would advise you to immediately leave the room the moment you start feeling the effects, do you think that could be possible?"
"I guess I could sit next to the door and excuse myself later."
"I also would like you to bring me a sample of every piece of food you have, anything that gets into your body, it may be helpful."
"I will, I was also wondering if there was any other way I could help… maybe look for the potion's name or conduct a research."
"There are more than 2.000 different potions in the world, each one of them with different ingredients, proportions, preparation and antidotes. Though, I do have a vague idea of where to seek, this may take a while" The man focused his eyes on one of the bookcases next to Hermione. "For what your assistance would actually be helpful, especially when the time comes to check on… symptoms."
"You just tell me what to do, I can come every day after my classes, I can also spend the nights at the library, Madam Pince trusts me with the key."
"That won't be necessary; there is no potions book in the library that is not in my possession as well. Though, you are free to look on your own, I suggest you to filter the search by submissive effects."
"Submissive? Is this what it really is about?"
"You do follow simple instructions under the effect of it, so I consider it a start point." He stopped a minute, spacing out, in which Hermione looked at him expecting for any instruction. "Saturday seven o' clock, here. I hope you have no plans, it may be a long evening."
"I'll be here" She stood up, carefully leaving the blanket in her side. The man took her wand from his robes and handed it in her direction. Hermione walked his way and intended to grab it, but Snape quickly pulled it away. She looked at him confused and a bit upset, was he playing with her?
"One last thing, Miss Granger, you must already be feeling helpless or even scared. Furthermore, if you ever feel like asking for help to Madam Pomfrey, know that I consider that a perfect valid and reasonable option." She looked at the man, who spite his words seemed uneasy.
"I will most surely consider it." Expecting him to return her wand in that moment, she looked at his hands, but received nothing.
"However, if you decide to do so, I'll ask you to let me know in advance, so I can report this to McGonagall as well." She alarmed, what would McGonagall say? Would she be disappointed? Embarrassed? Pity her? Expel her? Probably not the last one, considering she was cursed, but forbidding her to go to classes was actually plausible.
"What? Why? Would that be really necessary?"
"Under such circumstances, of course it would be. As a professor it is expected for me to notify of any cursed or hexed student to the Headmistress."
"Why haven't you done it then?" The man smiled slightly, which Hermione considered to be creepy at the moment.
"I just thought that, perhaps, you would feel uncomfortable with such information. On the other hand, I am sure she must be still available, in case you want me to-"
"No!" Holding both of her hands in the air, gesturing him to stop. "That won't be necessary, I think… I think we are good."
"We are good?"
"Yes, I mean, I am good with the two of us working in this" She noticed the expression in Snape's face and realized she had suddenly started to act way too casual. "And I'm thankful for it, professor."
"Do not be, there is nothing to be thankful about this situation."
"Of course not." The girl looked at her shoes, feeling out of place.
"Here is your wand, Miss Granger, and even though you are expected here on Saturday, it'd be appreciated if you let me know if anything happens before." She took her wand from the man's hold and saved it in her skirt.
"Good night, sir."
"Good night."