Hey everyone! SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING in how many weeks has it been? Well, to make up for it, here is a long chapter. I know I promised, not sure if I did, that this would be the chapter where they work on the book, that is definitely in next chappie. This is more detail, and what is going on. Hope you all like it. If this is boring chapter, please let me know! Anyhow, hope you enjoy and thanks for all the reviews!
I apologize in advance for any spelling mistakes! Sorry, hope everything is okay!

Now on to the reviews, FAVORITE THING! LOVE YOU GUYS! What the hell happened to PaintPro1000?

Lady Urguentha: Sssh, not telling :) But I'll give you a clue, since this is a SS/HG fic, it might just be ;) Thank you for the review.

Gwen Drailemac: AWESOME REVIEW! Here is more, and thank you for the review! Please keep reading and reviewing!

Transylvanian: Need not be sorry, I'm just glad you read it! You will be finding out very soon! Yes, vampyre is one of the original ways of spelling vampire. It is our language to spell it like vampire, but the old way is vampyre. There are lots of different ways to spell it. Thank you for the review! Hope you like this chapter.

Jade: I LOVE YOU! You have no idea how awesome it is to read this! So happy you like it, and I promise a happy ending ;) Thank you for the review, and please keep reading and reviewing! Need to hear comments like that!

Porthos: Yay, its Porthos the Pirate ;) Yeah, who's counting :) I can get him into whatever I want, hmmm, shouldn't have said that, now I'll be having nice dreams, or writing about Snape wearing certain things, or lack of ;) Promise not to stop! Which candy company? I love your reviews, thanks so much, and YOU ROCK :) Let me know if you like the chapter. More Severus and Hermione in next chappie.

Merewen/Itarilde: Ai na Dunadan! Mae govannen! Gurth a chythin-edhil! I'll give you the last sentences translation, since it is the hardest, but try and guess the other two ;) Gurth a chythin-edhil means Death to the foes of the elves! So, that should answer your question as to how I know your screen name is elvish :) LOVE IT! My other fic 'The Guardian of the Earth' starting AT 15, is a tale of an elvish princess if your interested in elves. Thanks for the review, keep em coming!

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Pathatlon: I hear ya sister, here is the update. Been lazy too. Thanks for the review!

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I believe that is everyone! I can't believe I'm up to almost 70 reviews! THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!

Now, on to the chapter.

Enjoy,

Greenleaf ;p


She found herself sitting upright, panting for breath. A drop of sweat found its way into her eyes, stinging from salt. 'Salt?' She thought her eyes, searching through the foggy light.

Hermione's eyes adjusted to the semi-lightened room, her candles having gone out a while ago. They had sensors on them, automatically going out at the first sign of light. Just like a night light, but since Hogwarts was minus electrical power, spelling the candles always worked.

Just like her alarm clock. She had collected moonstones and shaped transfigured the dark stones into that of a clock. The special thing about the moonstones was they only need to absorb moonlight once a month, and then you would have glow-in the dark clocks all month long.

Hermione noted that her, ' I'm going to have a heart attack,' breathing and pulse had gone down. Her body felt, icky was the only word she could think of. Like one who had been out walking on a very humid night, and forgot to take a cleansing shower. How you could forget that your body was,well, icky was the millon dollar question.

The dream, oh my, the dream had positively freaked Hermione out. She wasn't sure if it was the real sensation of walking on a beach, smelling the crisp ocean air and feeling the sand squish between her toes, or the oddly, as in ' Deja-vu, I know you from somewhere, but just can't remember where feeling,' of the mysterious shadowed man was behind the freaking out.

Or maybe it was the butterflies, flip flopping and diving in the pit of her stomach that was freaking her out. She had felt butterflies like this, well since Victor Krum had asked her to the Yule Ball.

" No, times those by twenty," Hermione said out loud to no one in particular. Crookshanks who at the time of awaking must have been sleeping right next to her, had had the sheets yanked out from under him, leaving him sprawled on the floor, and looking worse than Hermione's hair in her first-year.

" Oh, Crooks, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." Crookshanks fixed his glare on Hermione with one of his yellow-green eyes, puffed himself out even more, and stalked off.

Hermione stared at the departing fluff of fur. Looking at the clock again, and seeing it was now 6:35, she thought she might as well get up. Maybe an hour or two of study before lessons began would help calm her mind, and whirlwind of emotions.

Flipping the sheets of off her, she rose steadily from the bed, planting both feet firmly on the cool, deep red, oriental rugs that were scattered across her chambers. Intrictly done in red and gold. Thread after thread, finely woven together, to reveal masterful pieces of artwork of Gryffindor house's symbol, the lion.

As Hermione's feet touched the ground, she felt a crunching sound between her toes. Looking down at her feet and legs, she let out a small gasp. There on her lower leg, ankles, and feet, she had a slight covering of white sand. Looking at her sheets, she noticed sand in there too.

" Oh my gosh, it wasn't just a dream, was it? But how?"

" Accio wand," she muttered. Her wand came flying quietly towards, landing gently in the palm of her hand.

Gripping the wand tightly, she aimed it at her sheets and said, " Scourgify." Then she did the same to herself.

Walking towards her bathroom, she shook her head and decided another hot soak would probably do her mind some good. ' Get a grip, Hermione! How in the bloody hell, here in Hogwarts, could you somehow leave in the middle of the night, and be transported to some beach with a weird guy in the shadows? Please. Total rubbish.'

Strolling through the door adjacent to her room, not bothering to close it. She stripped off her undergarments and stepped into the steaming hot-spring-tub.

Sinking deeply into the warm caress of the water, she sighed deeply. Inhaling the fragrant smells of roses, cloves, and amber musk that teased her senses, and soothed her strained muscles, along with the strange feelings building up inside.

After about her usual half-hour soak, Hermione dried herself with a plush towel, engraved with the customary Gryffindor crest.

Looking at herself in the mirror, searching for a decision on what to do with her curly waves. Grabbing her muggle anti-frizz serum off the counter, she pumped the product into the palms of her hands, and massaged it through out the curls.

This weighed them down past the bushy level and gave her nice, loose curls and waves. She never dried it, even magically it would look a little, shall we say, puffy ? Turning from the mirror, she grabbed her clothes and robes and dressed quickly.

If she wanted to get at least an hour in of study, now would be the perfect time.

Satisfied that she looked presentable to the world, Hermione strode through the bathroom doors once again into her private chambers. Her bed was already made up, dirty clothes from last night folded smoothly, and neatly in a pile on the edge. House elves always doing their jobs, and just this once Hermione was glad of it. Any other night, she would have the clothes piled neatly in a basket for the house elves.

Looking around once for Crookshanks before leaving, and not sighting him. She drew her wand out from her sleeve, and said, " Accio cat food. "

A small, plastic sealed container came gliding through the air like a ship from Star Wars. Catching it in her hands before it made a crashing landing into one's face. She pulled the lid off to reveal a mixture of dry catfood and a sprig of tuna here and there. Hermione had sealed the container to maintain the freshness of both tuna and food.

She bent down and placed the container on the floor. As soon as her fingers left the small, plastic container, it transfigured itself into a small, ceramic bowl, with an added water dish on the side.

Crookshanks still refused to come out from his favorite hiding spot, under the bed.

Hermione sighed as she stooped down next to the large bed, and pulled the bedskirt up. Revealing another world. For Hermione had charmed the bed underneath specifically for Crookshanks. The warm, lazy sun beamed down at large, moss covered rocks warming them. The sun also cast its gaze down on the mixture of green and gold grasses. Birds chirped in the nearby distance. None of it was real, but Hermione felt since Crooks couldn't be let outside all the time, why not give him a nice retreat?

As much as she would have loved to have a large field with moss-covered rocks, and the beaming sun under her bed, it was definitely not real. Searching for Crookshanks, Hermione spotted him perched on one of the moss-covered rocks, sunning himself.

" I'm leaving Crooks, and I know you heard me put your food down, so don't act like your asleep. I'll see you later tonight." She saw Crookshanks's ear flick towards her.

Pushing herself out from under the bed, she walked towards the door, books in hand. " Bye Crooks. " With that she was out her door, and heading for the Great Hall to get breakfeast.


Veering away from the Great Hall, Hermione ventured towards the kitchen. The house elves always enjoyed a visitor to smother with some of the best home-made meals in the land.

Opening the door that would lead her into the vast kitchen, bristling with house elves. She was greeted with the familiar sweet smell of toast cooking, and freshly squeezed fruit.

" May I help you, Miss?" A small voice rasped.

Looking down, Hermione saw a very old female house elf. She was wearing a brightly colored dress,with large green baking mitts on.

Hermione flashed her a genuine smile. " Yes, please. I was wondering if it wouldn't be too much trouble, if I might have a few pieces of toast with butter and jam and a glass of juice for breakfeast?"

The house elf disappeared for a moment, returning with a large plate of two huge pieces of toast, two small bowls of jelly and butter, and a glass of pumpkin juice.

" Here you go Miss, glad to be of service." Then she disappeared again before a 'thank you' could be uttered.

" Right, thank you." Hermione said to no one in particular. With that said, she left the grace of the kitchen and found herself heading in the direction of the library. ' On second thought, no one will be in the Great Hall this early in the morning.'

So, her feet on the different path, the one that lead her into the Great Hall. She found herself entering the towering doors that would lead her into the abnormally large room, with its rows of wooden seating baring each House's crest. And of course the platform at the end of the these stretched wooden tables.

This certain wooden table with the banners of all four houses, housed the professors. It was always pleasant having your professors staring at you while eating. Though, with luck the said professors would occansionly strike each other's fancy, and be drawn into a very distracting conversation.

Hermione took an empty seat at the Gryffindor table, ate her breakfeat in silence, and retreated from the Great Hall before the morning-rush would arrive.


First class, Double Advanced Potions. This day Hermione would definitely enjoy it. She, being the only Gryffindor in the entire class, small class as it was. Consisting of three Slytherins, Draco Malfoy being one of them, one Ravenclaw and of course the Know-it-all Gryffindor.

As Hermione drifted down the long staircase that went into the bowels of Hogwarts. She looked at the familiar abyss of darkness that seemed to swallow the staircase, and there seemed to be a never-ending breeze of cold air, drenched with moisture. How one could live down here in the darkness, was beyond the sunshine loving Gryffindor.

" Miss Know it-all has arrived early. How predictable." Hissed a familiar voice cloaked with venom.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the plump figure of Pansy Parkison. Her dull ashy blonde hair lay limp against her shoulders. Her life lately seemed to revolve around trying to make Hermione's a living hell in the dungeons, always making snide remarks. Hermione thanked Merlin that this was the one and only class she had to attend with little miss piggy.

" Morning to you to, Pansy." Hermione surveyed the surrounding group. Draco stood cloaked in the semi- darkness, lit only by the torches. You would never have guessed it was a beautiful fall day outside. Down here, it was always night.

The other Slytherin and Ravenclaw had yet to arrive. Hermione sighed inwardly, wondering how long she would have to endure the glum company of ' Little Miss Rude Piggy' and Draco. He had become Draco shortly after their sixth year. No longer calling her the infamous, 'mudblood,' or anything for that matter. He rarely spoke to her anymore, or Harry and Ron. His face had become ashen since the last time she had seen him. His hair, now past the shoulders was tightly clasped back.

His expression was always hollowed, a very far off look to it. He seemed to be trapped, and was torturing himself. Hermione remembered the vivid image of Draco not even a year-ago, showing up in the Gryffindor common room.

It was a very dark, and stormy night, as Hermione flipped another page of the book she was reading, shifting positions in the warm chair in front of the fireplace. It was late, so late, one of those restless nights worry about when Voldmort would attack.

Deep in thought and staring blankly at the book, a flash of green drew her out of the trance.

There laying, in a heap in front of the fireplace was a bloody figure, wrapped in a soaking wet cloak. She gasped as the figure clawed his way onto his side. Cringing with pain, and gasping for air.


Throwing the book down, Hermione immediately lunged forward, wand-arm stretched in front of her, ready for battle. But, sadly, she doubted there would be any fighting.

" Granger.." The figure gasped. Hermione jumped a little at the sound of her name being uttered. Kneeling down next to the blood-stained figure, she saw a pale mane of silver-white hair, drenched with the cold rain, and stained in places with blood. The face seemd familiar, and she would have recognized it instantly if not for the gore.

" Granger... they...are...here...coming...you...Potter...Dumble...Severus...oh gods...Severus..." The man rasped, tears beginning to flow. " They know, Severus needs help!" The man managed to finish a whole sentence.

" Help...please..." The recogniction made Hermione gasp. " Malfoy?" She gasped. And it was indeed Draco Malfoy. Without thinking Hermione dragged Malfoy back towards the fireplace, grabbed the floo that stood in a pot by the fireplace and threw it into the flames.

She dragged Draco in with her, and shouted, " DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE!" In a swirl of green, they flooed into Dumbledore's office.

Luck seemed to be on Draco and Hermione's side that night. Luck in the fact that Dumbledore had not departed early in the day for a convention, luck for that he was still up and about in his office at this late of hour. For if not for luck, Draco would have been dead from loss of blood.

If not for Draco's warning to Hermione, not only would he have carried the warning of attack to his grave, but the school and wizard world would have lost much that eve.

The sight of his still-form still haunted Hermione to that day. She would have lost Severus Snape as well if not for Draco's warning. It still amazed her that Draco had come to the Gryffindor Common, seeking her aid. When she questioned him of it in the hospital, he simply replied.

" If I had gone to Slytherin, they would have stuffed me in a closet, debating on whether to kill me or let me die, Hufflepuff would have been smitten to death with the blood and passed out, and Ravenclaw would have debated on what to do with the son of a Death Eater. But Gryffindors, they'll put aside all our antinomy for the moment, and with their air-filled heads full of bravery and saving the world, do the right thing. For it is your way, loyal and brave Gryffindor."

Since that moment there was silent understanding between, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco. In the halls they would acknowlege each other's presence. Draco wanted nothing of his father's world, and had told him. He suffered dearly that night under attack after attack. His father was dead as was his mother.

" Don't ever address me by my name, mudblood." That piggy voice hissed at Hermione bringing her back to the real world.

Hermione quirked a Snape worthy brow at Pansy. " What did you call me?" She drawled in a very, deep low voice.

" You heard me, mudblood."

In a swift, fluid motion, Hermione had Pansy backed against the wall, wand pointing directly into her windpipe.

" You call me that one more time, just once more, Miss Piggy and you'll be eating eating dragon dung for the next three days, then we shall see who's the mudblood. Do I make myself clear." She ground the wand a little deeper for emphasis.

" Well?" She asked receiving no response, but Pansy squirming, trying to get as far away from her as possible.

" Crystal." She gasped.

" What is the meaning of this? " A voice hissed from behind. A very familiar, dark voice that echoed off the walls, as ripples effect the smooth surface of water.

Hermione released Pansy, and stepped back, turning to face Professor Snape. " Nothing, sir." She said through clenched teeth. That word still got to her, and it wounded her to the quick. Though, she would not show it, not wanting to see the look of satisfaction on that fat bitch's face.

" Nothing? I"ll be the judge of that, Miss Granger. 5 points from Gryffindor for assault on another student. Keep it up, Miss Granger, and I will be giving you detention."

Hermione almost asked him if that was a promise but decided on another course of action. " You may all take a seat, while we wait for your classmates.

Hermione took a seat at the front of the class, to her left sat Pansy and Draco. Why he let her hang all over him was beyond her.

The other two students arrived shortly, taking a seat together behind Pansy and Draco. This was how Hermione liked it, solitude to make the finest potions without the inconvenience of Harry,Ron, or Neville.

" Alone as always, Miss Granger. " Snape stated the obvious, very much back to his old self again, baiting her. She heard Pansy snicker. Clenching her teeth together. " One must not embark in such child's play." Her gaze was directed at Pansy, causing her to shut up.

" Another five points from Gryffindor, for refering to my lessons as child's play." She heard Pansy began to snicker again.

" Do shut-up, Miss Parkison, you sound more and more like a pig everyday, before I remove points from your house."

Everyone choked back laughter at the expression on Pansy's face, but were silenced by Snape's piercing glare that demanded silence.

" Now, moving on with the lesson, I have so carefully planned for you. I must congratulate you, for outlasting all these years with me. Only five of you remain after seven years. You five, as much as I hate to say it, are the next Potions Masters in the making. Only one of you will truly become the best, and have the honor of working with me." His gaze moved across the room, resting on each of us. Barely looking at a certain Gryffindor, he turned and walked towards his desk.

" The potion we brew today will take the course of the day, all other lessons have been canceled."

" Now," he continued, " I will give you the ingredients, you will brew Wolfsbane potion. This potion requires armadillo bile, powdered root of asphodel, the essence of belladonna, bezoar, monkshood, chopped daisy roots, hellebore, and the final ingredient knotgrass."

" Can anyone tell me of the orgins of hellebore and its believed effects?" All but one hand was raised in the air, much to the dismay of Severus Snape.

" Yes, Miss Granger. Please do tell us your thoughts." He said, hiding a small smirk.

" Well sir, there are several kinds of hellebore. The name originally comes from the Greek word 'elein' meaning ' to injure' and bora, meaning food, indicating the obvious, which is hellebore is poisonous. Some believe it to be a purgative, sometimes of bad things generally, used for things like protecting livestock from evil spells, and in powdered form for invisbility."

" Correct, Miss Granger, I award the five points taking from Gryffindor back."

" Now, each pair will take their turns and get the supplies from the storage cabinet. Go." He turned away from them and took a seat at his desk.

Draco and Pansy went first, then the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Hermione did not know their names went next, and she was last as always in this class .

She quickly got the labeled supplies and made her way back to the table. Snape saw that everyone had the proper materials before beginning.

With a flick of his wrist, their cauldrons were slowly boiling. " First, I want you to chop the daisy roots, I want them thin. 1/2 of an inch in size, and 1/4 of an inch in width."

The only noise was the sound of the blades slicing and dicing the daisy roots. Hermione was finished with hers,and waited for further instructions.

Professor Snape walked to her table and observed her work closely before moving on.

" Now, you will place the chopped daisy roots in your cauldron. Next, measure one fourth of an ounce of the armadillo bile, pour that in along with the daisy roots. Then stir the cauldron twenty times to the left and twenty times to the right. Then we must allow it to brew for two hours. We will prepare the other ingredients while we wait.

" Sir, if I may, why..." Before she could finish, Pansy started to speak, very loudly.

" Mudbloods, can't keep their mouths shut, and they are always so impatient."

Hermione shoved herself backwards, knocking her chair over with a loud clatter. " I warned you, Parkison. One more time, and then that would be it." Hermione said very quietly.

" Oooh, whats the mudblood going to do, back me up against the wall with a Professor present, a Slytherin Professor at that. Who also thinks your just a mudblood who does not belong here."

Hermione said nothing as she walked towards Pansy, starting to chant a spell, wand pointed at her.

" What do you think you are doing?"

" Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. With the beat of a dragon's wing, and the churn of the stomach, give this girl what she asks. Wash her with mud, wash her with blood, dragon. Turn the words of garbage into ture crap. Three days hence will this spell last." With a flick of the wrist and a yelling Pansy. All was suddenly quiet.

Pansy's face had paled, as she started to turn green. Her mouth opened to speak, but a large, steaming drop of dragon dung fell out.

Her words were jumbled, " WHA..DI..YOU...DO..." She tried to scream, but the more she tried to talk, the more dung began to fill her mouth and spill out onto the floor. Her complexion now was an ashen green.

" I'd say you have the doo, Pansy." Hermione said, stifling a laugh.

" Miss Parkison, go to Madame Pomfrey this instant, and stop trying to speak, you are flinging dung all over my classroom. Out. Now." She turned and fled from the room.

" As for you, Miss Granger, hexing another student in this class will not be tolerated. You will finish this potion. Then you will stay here and have your evening meal, and scrub every cauldron, along with my floor. I do not care if you are here till tomorrow, I will not tolerate this IN MY CLASSROOM!" He bellowed in an extremely angry tone. Hermione half-expected him to pound his fists against his chest.

" Professor, she insulted my..."

" That will be taken care of. Return. To. Your. Potion. Now." His eyes had a deathly glint in them. As they saying goes, ' If looks could kill, she would probably be dead right now.' He was either the best actor in the world, or he was dead serious. No pun intended.

So, Hermione closed her mouth and concentrated entirely on the ingredients. The distand echo of Snape's voice, drilling them throughout the day on the precise amount of each ingredient.

Hermione refused to believe the cause of her blurred vision was from tears. It had to be from such a strenuous days work on this potion. There had been no break for lunch, or a break at all. Every minute, every second was dedicated to this potion.

As she stirred the cauldron one last time, its eerie silver color resembled that of the pensieve she had seen twenty some odd hours ago.

She heard the faint thumping of footsteps approaching her. The chill went up and down her spine, feeling the shooting gaze of someone's piercing dark orbs boring into her back.

Then a wisp of warm breath on the sensitive spot of her neck sent shivers along her spine, giving her goosebumps. Seeing a blur of black pass her, and stand directly to the side of her table, peering into the steaming cauldron, a wisp of dark, glossy hair fell forward, abstracting his vision. A large hand brushed it gently behind his ears, returning to the close inspection of her potion.

He removed his gaze from the steaming pot of wolfsbane, and looked directly into her amber gaze. " How many stirs have you given it, Miss Granger? "

" Since which ingredient was added, sir? " She asked him hollowly.

" Since the entire potion, Miss Granger. I have never seen you not put any heart into it. Do snap out of your, foolish girl daydreams, or you might just ruin this potion."

" I have stirred the entire potion, calculating back to 8:30 am and 45 seconds, five hundred, fifty five times, Professor. And as for the question of my so called daydreaming, sir, I would hardly call concentration on your work ' daydreaming' as you so bluntly put it. I have never ruined a potion in this classroom since the start of term, nor do I intend to. I believe this potion is done, and ready for bottling. So, excuse me please."

She shoved herself past him, towards the supply cabinets, grabbed a large glass bottle the color of emeralds, with a flick of her wand the potion poured itself neatly into the bottle, the cork then was firmly popped into place. Her cauldron spotless after a quick cleansing spell. She was finished before her classmates.

She liked the endings of her days here in potions. Singled out with no partner, yet she always managed to finish before those with two working together.

She labeled the bottle for Professor Snape, and left the bottle on the desk. Grabbing her pack filled with books, she waited until his attention was drawn elsewhere, and then she fled the room.


Oh, she had every intention of returning later, but not before her bag was in the dorms, and she got something from the kitchens to eat. She'd be damned if Severus Snape thought he could order her around. Thinking on the original plan, of being in a certain mood to give her detention was one thing, but blantanly questioning her ablity at brewing potions? What happened to the Severus from last night? Was it all just a dream?

These questions ran through her mind the entire way back to the Gryffindor Tower. What freaked her out the most was, why did she care? Never before had Snape been able to get to her, but after last night and the side she had seen of him, and how he seemed to truly care. The look in his eyes as he stroked the side of her cheek. The shivers that simple breath of air blown on her neck had caused.

She reached the Fat Lady. " Coco puffs," she mumbled as the curtain was drawn back to emmit her inside.

Hardly staying for minute in her room, but to throw the bag onto her bed, and to wash her face. Then she was off again, noticing for the first time today, the growl coming from the pit of her stomach. It was now almost six o'clock. Dinner was served at seven, so to the kitchens she would go again, but this time she would stay there.

No one would look for her here, she moaned at the thought of how many points Severus had probably removed from Gryffindor for her departure.

" Always make them up in a class that actually awards points for knowing something nobody else does." She mumbled, striding down the staircase, towards the kitchens for the second time in one day. Whether the house elves would be weary of her presence or happy, she did not know.

Passing through the small door that lead into the wonderful smelling kitchening. The smell beckoned to her, as she sighed happily. inhaling the fragrant smell of spices and herbs being cooked.

" May I help you, Miss? " A small asked. Looking down, Hermione saw the same house elve from early.

" Hello again, I'm Hermione." She extened her hand towards the small house elf. The house elf seemed hesitant to shake hands, but she reached a slightly shaking hand forward, grasping Hermione's firmly.

" Nice grip." The house elf blushed a little before reply, " Thank you. Tis from all the gardening I do,you know. You can never weed enough around here. Always things to do."

" I'll believe that. May I ask your name?"

The little house elf blushed again. " Dafy, at your service, Miss?" She did a little bow after stating her name, causing Hermione to giggle for the first time today. She bowed back and said, " Pleased to meet you, Dafy."

After the small giggle, Hermione suddenly realized how much she missed Harry and Ron. They always made her laugh. She would not see them tonight, for after this meal, she would return to the dungeons when Severus would be attending dinner in the Great Hall, and start the work she was suppose to do, and then hopefully there would be time to study the riddle and find some answers.

" What can I get for you, Hermione? " The house elf meekly said her name, causing Hermione to smile.

" A bowl of butter-nut squash soup would be delightful."

" Follow me." Dafy lead her to a small table hidden behind the counter-tops of this vast kitchen.

Hermione took a quick seat and said thank you before Dafy scurried off.

In less than a minute a bowl of steaming, creamy butter-nut squash soup appeared before her, with a large glass full of pumpkin juice. A small basket of rolls had appeared also, along with napkin and silverware.

Placing the napkin in her lap, Hermione grabbed the spoon and dug into her soup. She savored the creamy, delightful taste. Dafy had sprinkled cinnamon over the soup. She grabbed a roll and lapped the soup and pumpkin juice down.

" How is it, Hermione?" Dafy suddenly appeared, very curious for the answer.

" I must say Dafy, I have never tasted anything so wonderful!" she exclaimed, " Thank you so much, it really hit the spot."

Dafy blushed with pleasure. " Thank you, miss, you're to kind." Dafy's head shot up looking at the time.

" Oh my, everyone will be arriving in the Great Hall for dinner. Must get to work quickly. Nice meeting you, Miss. Please stop by again." Then with a pop, she was gone.

' I must be going too," Hermione thought to herself. Better get down to the dungeons. The book was tucked safely in her robe pocket.

Rising from the table, Hermione made her way to the door, opening just a crack, she peered out into the empty hall. Loud noises coming from the Great Hall pointed out that everyone was there now.

So, she quietly ventured out into the hall and made her back down into the dungeons.

Following the long circular lane of blazing torches, Hermione found herself in front of Professor Snape's door.

She pushed gently on the door, not expecting it to open. He had probably locked and warded it before leaving for dinner, but much to her surprise it gently creeked open. Revealing a very empty classroom, not a sign of Severus anywhere.

' Odd,' she thought, walking into the deserted room. Noticing just that minute the classroom was clean. She wouldn't say sparkling, because you don't say that about the dungeons classroom, but she had expected to see cauldrons stacked upon cauldron, awaiting her to scrub them, and maybe a sign of that dragon dung she had hexed on Pansy, but there was not a trace anywhere.

She sniffed the air, nope, not one whiff of dookie clung in the air. Just the familiar smell of spice, and sandalwood, the signature scent of Severus.

Just at that moment a deep voice spoke from the shadows. " You're late."