In the Darkness

Don't you just love that new HIT counter? I was so shocked, pleased, but shocked to find that this story has been viewed 2581 times! I was amazed. I didn't expect people to react the way that they have. I just wanna thank EVERYONE who has read this, regardless if you left a review. I reply to all reviews at the bottom. Thank you again, and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 10

Hermione got up in the morning only to find that Harry and Ron were out all day practising Quidditch on Harry's Firebolt. She found Lavender and together they sat outside in the spring sun, Hermione catching up on her homework as Lavender chatted away about her sordid love life, and sometimes the lack of it as the result of her "women's monthly problems." Before long it was lunchtime and still Harry and Ron were no-where to be found, and seen as Lavender had to meet Seamus, Hermione decided to visit Hagrid, and ended up stopping longer than she wanted, drinking copious amounts of tea and talking about up coming exams and life in general. Hagrid gently reminded her that it was in fact tea time, and together they made there way back to school and the Great Hall, only to find Harry and Ron sat together eating. She walked up happily to them.

"Hey guys! Haven't seen you all day, didn't think that Quidditch would be that long."

"It wasn't, we were finished by 3. Where were you?"

"At Hagrids." She got a few items on her plate and began eating, not realising how hungry she was.

"So Herm, how did you're detention go last night?" Ron asked as Hermione and Harry looked at each other, Harry trying not to smile, "Sorry I wasn't up but I was knackered from Quidditch…"

"No problem Ron, it was ok, my arm hurts still, he made me clean all the cauldrons." She said through a mouthful of pasta.

"Just like we said!"

"Just like you said."

"Did he make any snide, cutting remarks? Or were they all blatant with the intention to hurt?" Hermione had to improvise.

"A mixture really."

"Did you count them?"

"Er… yeah I did…."

"Didn't you say that there were only 6 or something?" Harry intervened

"Yeah, 5 or 6, he was busy marking papers or something."

"Wow, that's a surprise, what did he say?"

"He said… er, let me remember some of them, erm, one of them was… erm, oh, that was it, it was that the reason why he caught me in the first place was because Gryfindors had no idea of placing or rules, which was why Gryfindor do badly at Quidditch."

"Oh! That was nasty! Below the belt! What else?"

"I can't really remember, I was really tired…"

"Didn't he say that one, erm, oh what was it, oh yeah 'That isn't clean! I wouldn't serve a Hippogriffs dinner in that, let alone perform complex potions in it!'?" Added Harry, improvising helpfully.

"Oh yeah, he said that to me too, when I had to do that." Ron confessed.

"Yeah he said it to me too." Harry said whilst looking at Hermione.

"Guess he must say it to everyone…"

"Guess so." Hermione finished.

"And you've got another detention with Snape tonight haven't you? Bet you're not looking forward to that…"

"I'm sure she is." Harry snidely added, a grin widening over his face. "She'll find something to entertain herself with…" Hermione's eyes widened as she tried to get him to stop, but luckily Ron hadn't noticed and wasn't really listening, more focused on getting the last bit of jam on his toast. Harry just smile and winked at Hermione. She simply smiled sarcastically back. Snape wasn't at breakfast luckily, saving her the humiliation of Harry's remarks. She began to wonder where he was and what he was doing, imagining him lent over a cauldron in his chambers, steam billowing everywhere…

"What you thinking? Wondering where your sweetheart is?" Harry said in her ear.

"He's not my sweetheart."

"Liar."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yes, I do. I saw your face drop when you walked in here to find that he wasn't here. It was obvious."

"You saw my face drop when I saw you sat there with a smug little gin on your face as you looked at me. Besides, you're out of your mind. I do not fancy him at all, and I am not bothered at the fact that he isn't here, if anything I'm glad, because that way I don't have to put up with you making stupid, totally untrue comments to me."

"But they're not untrue though…"

"Yes, Harry, they are. Now give over." She said. Harry continued to grin at her as she ignored his gaze and continued to eat.

"Eh up, Lover Boy's here…" Hermione looked up to see Snape striding down the Great Hall to the main teachers table at the front, taking his usual place as he gave a curt nod to the headmaster and a few other teachers, obviously ignoring the rest. When seated comfortably his eyes lifted and wandered across the room, falling eventually upon Hermione. She only saw those black pools of his eyes for a moment before turning away as soon as she could, not wanting Harry to catch her looking at him. Too late.

"What do you see in his eyes today Hermione?" He teased gently.

"Piss off Harry." She said bluntly.

"I think that he fancies you. I think that he'd love to have you over his desk."

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, shocked.

"Imagine, those rough hands touching your body, those callous eyes looking at every inch of you…" He said quietly, leaning in to her so that he was whispering it in her ear. She tried to push away the images in her mind of these scenarios, but they wouldn't go. She tried to be repulsed or even laugh, but for some reason, she couldn't. She couldn't stop her eyes from wandering up to the main table, only to see Snape watching her, glancing away from her gaze as their eyes met.

"Yes, imagine me, slowly sliding his pants off as I lay underneath him, that pale chest rubbing against mine…" She purred in his ear, still looking at Snape as he began to pick food from the trays in front of him. Harry stifled a laugh as he slowly pulled away from her ear, obviously hearing too much.

"That's sick." He said grinning. "Funny, but sick."

"Now you know how I feel every time you say something like that about him." Harry just smirked. "Ron, what time is it?"

"Erm, 6:30. Why?"

"Just wondering. What are you guys doing tonight?"

"Not a lot, we've booked a game of cards for the lads. Sorry, you're not invited."

"Oh no, I am deeply disturbed that you didn't invite me." She said sarcastically. "I get to enjoy another evening with Snape." She realised what she had just set herself up for.

"Oh, I'm sure that you will find it a most positive experience Hermione." Harry grinned. Hermione just gave him the I-Am-Not-Amused face.

"What time's your detention?"

"7:30. Why?"

"Just thinking we can go to the common room and chill out before you go if you want, we haven't seen you all day."

"I'd prefer to take a walk outside, get my last moment of fresh air before I am trapped in the dungeons with the man himself."

"Ok, we'll walk with you. Tell us when you're ready."

"I'm good to go now if you two are."

"Ok, let's go then. You might wanna get a jumper Harry, it's gonna be nippy out there."

"Yes dad." Harry replied to Ron. As they got up to leave, Hermione resisted the temptation to look at Snape and see if he was looking at her. She walked out of the Great Hall, not knowing that the Potions Master was indeed watching her leave.

Ok, sorry that this was such a dodgy chapter, the next will be better I swear! I know that the past chapters haven't really moved the story anywhere, but the next one will! I am gonna start writing it STRAIGHT AFTER this one, i'll get it out to you tomorrow hopefully. REPLIES!

Anarane Anwamane- I never looked at it that way. But I suppose that he could, if he wanted to.

Severus-Fan- Glad you like it.

storkee13- Thank you

BlueJay- I know! I am sorry for leaving you so long! Never again!

Princess Kalye- That is the question!

eknibbe- Of course Hermione will sing again. I just didnt want to cram everything into one night. Her first detention, then risking getting caught again? Nah! But she will sing again...

Lene- I love your reviews. I know that this is YET ANOTHER of their conversations, i'm sure by now it must be getting boring, however, the next chapters will be better, I swear it.

Mr Rusty Ryan- Thank you

SilverandSilent- Blushes I've never been bowed to before! Why thank ya kindly!

RainynDawn- Thank you. Thats what I think. I will hurry with my chapters, i'm just so busy all of the time!

ssslytherin- Christian Bale is so hot. His body is almost perfect. Not as perfect as Gerard Butler, he is the master of all sexy men, but he's close. I know, Liam Neeson is sexy as sin in that film. It's kinda wrong to admit, but there is something about him, even though he is 53... its the voice... OH JESUS the voice... You know who else I find strangly good looking due to the voice? Laurence Fishburne. Strnage, I know, however, theres just somethin about the voice... you gotta love the guy in The Matrix.

Fairy of Fire and Fury- THANK GOD! YOU HAVENT ABANDONED ME! I love your reviews. They mean a lot to me.

blackthornroses- Aw! Thank you! Love that review!

89- Don't you find it relatable? Man, maybe my friends and I aren't that strange after all! Perhaps all 17-18 yr olds have those kind of conversations...

More tomorrow, I will try hard to get it to you all! Please leave me a note!