Chapter Eleven

And you… You can sing me anything- Peter Gabriel

Hermione slowly woke up and felt a deep vibrating on her chest. She opened her eyes and was greeted by a wall of brownish- orange fluff, Hermione smiled and reached up to scratch behind Crookshanks' ears. She sat up slowly and looked around the room. She quickly realized that she wasn't in Gryffindor Tower, it was way too clean. She remembered laying down while cleaning the Infirmary, "I guess resting my head turned into falling asleep." She told the cat as he grumpily meowed at her. There was small pop next to her, she looked to the little table by the bed and saw her uniform and a note. Hermione smiled as she realized who it was from, she didn't need to read the note but she did anyway.

Hermione,

I know you didn't return to the Tower last night. I'm just going on a general assumption that you fell asleep in the Infirmary and not that Snape gave you to Voldemort like Ron says. I had Dobby bring you clothes and I better see you at breakfast.

Harry

She shook her head as she grab the clothes and headed for the little bathroom in Poppy's office. After getting dressed she realized she had nothing to do her hair with. She huffed and decided it wasn't worth it, her hair wouldn't cooperate anyway.

Hermione left the Infirmary and headed down to the Great Hall. She walked in and quickly found her friends, gathered together near the middle of the table. Harry had saved her a seat, she took it quickly and was happy to see that there were already pancakes on her plate. "So Hermione," Fay started "How was it working with Professor Snape?" She asked. Hermione stopped cutting her pancakes and thought. "I guess it wasn't too bad. He spent most of his time in Poppy's office doing paperwork for her." She replied. "So he was basically a useless git like always?" Ron snarked. Hermione kicked his legs cause him to yelp. "When does Madame Pomfrey get back?" Harry asked her. "I'm not sure, I haven't been told much about the" Hermione was cut off by a loud pop. A note appeared in front of her. She unfolded it and read it quickly.

Miss Granger

Please accompany me in my office after breakfast. I have matters to discuss with you. The password is Chocolate Frog

Professor Dumbledore

"Who's it from?" Harry asked

"Professor Dumbledore. He needs to speak with me about something." Hermione responded "I'm going up to his office after breakfast."

"Would you like me to go with you?" Harry asked

"No I should be fine. Thanks anyway though." She said with a smile

Breakfast continued rather boringly. Once everyone was done and leaving the Great Hall, Hermione made her way to the Headmaster's office. When she reached the Gargoyle he looked to her curiously.

"Chocolate Frogs." She told it. The gargoyle nodded and stepped aside and Hermione made her way up the stairs. She reached the top and knocked on the door. "Come in." Dumbledore called from the other side. Hermione pushed the door open and stepped into the circular room. She took a moment to glance around at all the odd things, she'd only been up here once before, after her paralysis was reversed.

"Miss Granger, thank you for joining me." The Professor said.

"You're welcome sir, what did you need to talk to me about?" She asked him

"I have a request to make of you, Miss Granger."

"Yes sir?"

"First, how much of Professor Snape's role in the war do you know about?"

Hermione thought for a minute, "I know he's a spy for our side and that you trust him."

"Good, good." Dumbledore muttered to himself. "Tom Riddle tries to live a very aristocratic life style. Parties, dinners, balls. He likes the social aspect as much as the genocidal one." He told her as he started pacing. "What does that say to you Miss Granger? What would you say he's looking for?" Hermione was confused by this, she wasn't sure why the Headmaster was asking these questions. "Um… I would say he's probably attracted to power. Power and control." She said. "Very good. And what would happen if he lost his control over someone?" He asked

"He would probably be angry, would want to punish them. Harshly."

"Cruciatus?"

"Yes probably."

"And how would you feel if you knew that was going to happen to you?"

"I would be terrified. Sir, why are you asking me all these questions?" Hermione asked

"I want you to understand what Professor Snape is going through before I ask you for a favor." The old man told her. "Professor Snape knows he's going to be punished?" Hermione said, slightly shocked. "Yes, Halloween night. Riddle always does something big that night. Every night for years Severus always returns to me damaged beyond what he normally does." Dumbledore said solemly. "What's the favor sir?" Hermione said skeptically. "Madame Pomfrey is not going to be back until after Halloween. It'll be hard for Severus to run the infirmary by himself while preparing for Halloween night." Dumbledore told her. "And what does that have to do with me?" she asked. "I need you to help run the infirmary during the day. Instead of your classes." Hermione jumped up, shocked at the thought of missing her classes. "S-sir I can't miss my classes, what about my grades? What about final exams? If I can't pass those I'll be held back a year and won't graduate with everyone!" She yelled. Once she realized that she just screamed at the headmaster she promptly sat down and blushed bright red while looking at the floor. Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat before speaking again. "Miss Granger." He said sternly, Hermione looked up at him, surprised to see that he looked slightly amused. "First, if you are doing me a favor I guarantee that you will not be held back for it." He told her as she nodded. "I've already discussed this with your professors and they are more than happy to allow you to turn in the daily homework and miss the classes. You'll stay on track with the rest of your classmates and once Madame Pomfrey returns you will be able to rejoin the classes in the same spot as everyone else." The Headmaster said. "Now, knowing all this, would you be willing to help us out?" He asked her. Hermione thought for a moment. Spending this much time with Professor Snape would be detrimental to her mental health, but he needed it and she was too nice refuse. She nodded and the old man beamed. "Wonderful, your homework will find you tonight after all classes are finished, you may eat in either the great hall of the infirmary for meals and you are more than welcome to come to me if you need anything." Hermione thanked him and exited his office, once she reached the bottom of the stair case she took a deep breath and prepared for what she was sure to be a very long few days.

*HGxSS*

Severus entered the infirmary and proceeded to prepare for the days varying patients they would have throughout the day. He was sure he wouldn't be much emotional help to any poor young students that came in looking for comfort. He wasn't in the mood to even pretend to be comforting. Between Halloween approaching and the anniversary getting closer, he couldn't handle anything today. He groaned slightly when he heard the Infirmary door open, he turned to find Hermione Granger standing there instead of a sick student. "Miss Granger, why are you here and not at your first class?" Severus asked her. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to help you until Madame Pomfrey returns." She told him as she set her stuff down in the office.

"Why would he do that?" He asked

"I'm sure he has his reasons." Hermione told him, she thought it be best to not tell her professor that it was because the old man thought Snape couldn't handle it. "So I'm stuck with you for the next several days?" Severus grunted to the girl. "Yes, sir." She replied as she sat down. 'Wonderful' Severus thought to himself sarcastically.

*HGxSS*

Hermione was in Poppy's office filling out a couple reports for some of the students' files. She faintly heard the Infirmary door open but she assumed that whatever was happening, Professor Snape could handle it. That was until she heard loud voices, she stood up slowly to see if she was needed when she heard Professor Snape's voice above the rest. "MISS GRANGER!" She ran out of Poppy's office and was greeted by the sight of Harry, Ron, Neville, and Ginny, along with Draco, Blaise, Goyle, and Pansy. All eight kids were bloody, Neville was cradling the back of his head and Blaise looked slightly green as he held his stomach. The Gryffindors were in worse condition than the Slytherins, which meant that Hermione had to handle the Slytherins so Professor Snape could do more advanced, painless healing on the Gryffindors. Hermione handle Goyle first as he looked to have the least damage, he had a few mild cuts from a slicing hex. She started spreading small amounts of stitching salve on each cut, occasionally Goyle would grunt in pain and Hermione would apologize quickly, to which he would grunt again. Just as Hermione was finishing with Goyle there was a gross retching sound behind her. She turned quickly and saw Blaise doubled over and a slug on the ground, he gagged again and another slug fell out of his mouth. Severus saw this too and quickly conjured a bucket while Hermione turned sharply to glare at the red head whose ears were slightly red. She put her hands on her hips and did her best to sound like the Weasly Matriarch as she yelled, "Ronald Weasly! I can't believe you would use that spell on someone else! After everything you went through that day in second year!" The four Gryffindors shrunk away from her. Severus had to fight very hard to keep from laughing at the terrified expression on their faces. Ron opened his mouth to defend himself but Hermione's glare made him quickly shut his mouth and hung his head. Hermione turned back to Goyle who watched her warily as she looked him over again. "Alright, you should be good but if any of the cuts hurt or tingle weirdly you should come back." She told him, he nodded and went to sit out of the way as Hermione moved on to Pansy, who looked perfectly fine. "What happened to you, Ms. Parkinson?" Hermione asked. Pansy glared at her as she unfolded her arms to reveal her right hand, which was incredibly swollen and a very ugly shade of purple. Hermione gasped slightly, "Stinging hex?" she asked Pansy who just nodded. Hermione ran to the back real quick to grab some swelling solution along with a numbing salve, she returned to her classmate, who looked slightly nervous about being worked on by Hermione. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Pansy asked. "I'm positive. Now this first salve will numb your hand, but it might hurt the first few seconds." Hermione told her, Pansy nodded and Hermione started rubbing the numbing salve into her hand. The girl hissed in pain and Hermione apologized quickly but continued to work the salve in. Hermione squeezed and pinched Pansy's hand, "Does it still hurt?" She asked her. Pansy shook her head, watching Hermione wearily. The Gryffindor girl could tell that both Pansy and Goyle were unsure of what to think of how Hermione was treating them. Draco seem stoic as ever, and Blaise was too busy throwing up slugs. Hermione opened the jar of Swelling solution and dipped a soft cloth into it and started rubbing small circles on Pansy hand. Slowly her hand returned to normal size, unfortunately it was still a very ugly shade of purple. "Can't you do something about that?" Pansy asked angrily. "I don't think so. The bruise left after a Stinging Hex can't be removed with a Bruise Cream." Hermione responded, she turned to Professor Snape, "Unless you know of a way to fix it." She asked him. "No, you're right. It has to heal the bruising on its own." He responded without even turning around. "Besides Ms. Parkinson, it was your choice to participate in such a petty fight, you can deal with the consequences." He told her coldly as she glared at his back. Hermione move to the next bed where Draco sat, he glared daggers into her skull as she stood in front of him. She took one look at him and could tell what was wrong, a broken nose, an easy fix. "It'll just be one spell, ok?" She told him. "I don't need your help. I'll wait for Professor Snape." He spat at her. Hermione squared her shoulders. "He's busy. I'll be dealing with you." She said as her eyes narrowed. "Like hell you filthy"

"Episky!" Hermione shouted, efficiently cutting off the derogatory term about to exit Draco's mouth. There was a sharp crack as his head snapped back. He righted himself and his eye's burned with anger. Draco opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Professor Snape turned around. "Well, you've all been properly healed, other Mr. Zabini who has to stay here so we can keep an eye on him. Now, how to deal with you all." He told the group who looked like they were dreading what he was going to say next. "I believe fifty points each is acceptable. And detentions for all of you for the next two weeks. Every night after dinner you will come and organize the school Potion ingredient storage." He told them, they all responded with groans. He dismissed them. The students collected their things and headed for the door. Pansy stopped behind everyone else and turned back. "Ms. Parkinson there is really nothing we can do for the coloration of your hand." Snape told her. "That not what I came back for. Blaise doesn't deserve detention, he didn't partake in the fight. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." She said. "Is that so?" Snape asked, the girl nodded in response. "I'll have a discussion with him about it when he can speak again and I'll see if he needs to be punished." He told her. She nodded again and turned back to the door. Only to stop again once she reached it. "And sir?" She said not looking at him. "Yes?"

"Longbottom doesn't deserve it either."

There was a pause, in which Hermione was sure her jaw was laying on the floor. Professor Snape nodded. "Very well. Now get to your class." He said as she left the room. Hermione shook her head and started cleaning the beds up.

Later Hermione was finishing the reports for the incident when Professor Snape came into Poppy's office. "Ms. Granger." He said and her head snapped up. "Yessir?" She said quickly. "You can go back to your dorm now. I can finish the reports and Blaise just left. Take the rest of the afternoon to be a student." He said. "A- are you sure?" She asked. He nodded and she collected her stuff. "Ms. Granger!" He called as she was leaving. She turned sharply and interrupted him. "Please. Stop calling me that. Every time you yell Ms. Granger I'm afraid you're going to yell at me that I'm doing something wrong." She said, almost desperately. "What do you propose I call you then?" He asked, slightly taken aback by her yelling. "Well while I'm here most of the other teachers just call me Hermione." She said looking to the floor. The silence seemed to drag as Professor Snape stared at her.

.

.

.

"Very well. You did well today. With the Slytherins." He told her.

"Thank you, sir." She said as she headed to the door. "Good evening sir."

"Good evening… Hermione." He said. A small smile graced Hermione's face as the door closed behind her.

A/N HEY LOOK! A THING I DID! Finally. Sorry it took so long guys. I'm pretty happy with this chapter and I hope you guys are too. As always leave a reveiw please and thank you and I just set up A facebook, twitter, a tumblr for you all to follow if you'd like. The links are on my profile. The next chapter probably won't be for a while as my job takes up most of my time now but I'm thinking of doing a Christmas one shot. Happy reading!