Chapter 11

Hermione gave the gargoyle the password and ascended the stairs to Dumbledore's office. She rapped on the door and waited for admittance. After a few minutes, Albus opened the door and looked at Hermione. A large smile crossed his face as he opened the door wide to admit her. She stormed past him and flung herself into the chair in front of his desk.

"Albus, how could you ask Severus to spy like that?" she demanded without preamble.

He smiled at her benevolently. "Hermione, after your attack I realized it would be beneficial to keep tabs on Voldemort from within his organization. Severus is perfect for that job."

"Do you have any idea what can happen to him?"

"Of course I do."

"But you'll let him risk his life day in and day out anyway?"

"Hermione, it seems that you have a great affection for our Severus," Dumbledore said kindly.

Hermione huffed. "That's beside the point, Albus. You haven't seen him coming back from Death Eater meetings barely able to stand, having been tortured beyond most people's ability to bear. You didn't see him lying on the floor of the Shrieking Shack, nearly dead, gushing blood from the attack of a giant snake! You can't do this to him!"

She was standing now, pleading for Severus Snape, trying to spare him the world of hurt that he had endured before.

"Hermione," he said softly, "I understand the risks and so does Severus. He has agreed to do this for the good of our world. Don't deny him the ability to serve."

"So why did I bother telling him anything about the future? You've consigned him to the same fate as before."

"Hermione, do you really think Severus is the same person as he was when you came here?"

Hermione regarded Albus for a minute. "Of course not, Albus; but it all seems rather pointless when you are making him become a spy anyway."

"I am not making him become anything. The choice was his. He is fully aware of the possible consequences, and he is willing to risk his life to help the Order's cause."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you really care about anybody, Albus? Or is this all just a game to you?"

"I assure you, Hermione, I take these assignments very seriously. I thought long and hard before asking Severus to do this. It is the only way."

Hermione leaned forward on the desk until she was eye to eye with Dumbledore.

"I swear, Headmaster, if he dies, I will seek revenge on you, no matter what year it is." Hermione straightened up and stalked out of the room. She didn't sleep at all that night.

oooOOOooo

Lack of sleep and her trepidation about Severus proved to make Hermione a nasty person the next day. She had deducted hundreds of points and given five detentions during the day. For someone who gave detention perhaps once a month, she had really gone overboard. She stormed toward the Great Hall and dinner, a great cloud of frustration hanging over her. She looked around crossly, feeling much like the Severus Snape of the future, glowering at students as they passed by. The few who looked up at her quickly gave her a wide berth as she looked at them crossly, daring them to do something stupid so she could deduct points from their houses. She turned the corner and was knocked flat on her back by a student running in the hall.

Hermione sat up, looking livid. "What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing running in the halls?" she yelled before noticing the student who had knocked her down was Severus.

"I'm sorry, Professor!" he stammered as he helped her to a standing position. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," she commented as her gaze went past him.

Her eyes narrowed as she noticed her least favorite trouble makers, the Marauders, all standing in a group with their wands extended, panting as if they had just run a marathon. She stormed over to the four Gryffindors.

"What is the meaning of this? Why are you running in the halls with your wands extended?"

The boys put their wands away quickly and stared at the floor, looking as if they had been caught stealing.

"Mr. Lupin, would you mind explaining your behavior?" Hermione demanded lividly.

"Pro . . . Professor Granger . . . we . . . we were just . . ."

"Mr. Black, perhaps you can be a bit more eloquent than Mr. Lupin?"

Sirius flashed a brilliant smile at her. "We were just getting a little exercise, that's all."

"By playing hex the Slytherin, I presume?" Hermione grunted haughtily as she folded her arms.

"No, no, you misunderstand. Severus here was running of his own accord. He had nothing to do with us running. We were just playing a game amongst ourselves, to see who could get to the Great Hall the fastest."

Severus stood to the side, glowering at them as Sirius gave his 'explanation.'

Hermione's eyes narrowed at him. "Mr. Potter," she spat, "if this was just a game, why were your wands extended."

James thought furiously for a minute. "It was for a . . . a Cushioning Charm! In case we ran into somebody, like Snape there did to you."

Hermione held back the desire to hex them all against a wall and watch them slowly slide down it.

She looked down at the floor. "Mr. Snape, what happened here?"

Severus scowled at the four young men as he began his tale. "I was out on the lawn studying when I heard these four laughing as they approached me. I quickly packed my things and stood to leave the area when Pettigrew urged Black to cast a jinx on me. Being warned by the Headmaster about defending myself, I chose to make a run for it before they had a chance to send the jinx at me. The four of them pursued me across the lawn and into the building. I was looking behind me when you came around the corner, and I did not see you. I am sorry to have knocked you down, Professor."

Hermione had been staring at the floor the entire time that Severus had been talking. She now looked up with a murderous glare at Potter, Black, Pettigrew, and Lupin.

Her voice became dangerously soft. "Do you four boys have anything to add to your story?"

Sirius gave her another winning smile. It seemed that he knew there were few women who could resist his tempting grin. Unfortunately for him, Hermione was one of them. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to say something stupid. Sirius decided to keep his mouth shut.

"None of you have anything to add?"

The young men were silent.

"Fine. Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Pettigrew, and Mr. Lupin, as it seems that none of you know how to tell the truth, I will expect a two foot parchment from each of you about being truthful and on the consequences of lying. I expect them on my desk tomorrow morning. Fifty points from Gryffindor for each of you. You are all banned from Hogsmeade weekends for the remainder of the year, and you all have detentions for the next month. Keep it up, boys, and you'll never have another free evening to yourselves."

Peter Pettigrew decided to make a remark then. Pointing at Severus, he said, "Well what about him? He knocked you to the floor. Aren't you going to take points away from him?"

Hermione closed the gap between herself and Pettigrew. She narrowed her eyes at him, wishing to wipe that rat-like smirk off his face.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for talking back to a teacher, Mr. Pettigrew." Without breaking her stare at Peter, she continued, "Twenty points to Slytherin, Mr. Snape, for not starting World War Three."

Peter's eyes widened as Hermione stepped back and regarded the four Marauders. "You will come with me to the Defense classroom now. Mr. Snape, you will accompany us."

"But it's dinner time!" James exclaimed.

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before you decided to torment Mr. Snape. You will have sufficient time to eat your dinner, Mr. Potter. Follow me please."

They quickly made their way to the Defense classroom. Hermione entered, closely followed by the five students. She turned and looked with fury on the four Gryffindors.

"Seeing as you all have an insatiable desire to duel, I am giving you a chance to get it out of your system. You will each have a turn at Mr. Snape, to do with him as you wish, but be warned, he will not go lightly with any of you either. Mr. Black, you first."

They all stared at Hermione incredulously. Had she just ordered them to duel each other? She must have gone mad!

"No low blows or dark magic from either of you," she instructed as she backed away to give them room to duel. Severus pulled his wand out and started to circle Sirius. Sirius did the same. Severus was the first to cast a spell, which Sirius was just able to block in time. Sending a Stupefy hex of his own, he had Severus ducking before shooting one back. Sirius wasn't quick enough and the hex shot him backwards and into the wall. Severus sneered in delight as he saw Black's body crumple in a heap on the floor.

"Well," Hermione mused after a moment, "Mr. Black, where's all your macho bravado now? Why aren't you teaching Mr. Snape a lesson for hexing you into the wall?"

Sirius didn't look at her; he just got up and dusted himself off as he returned to his friends' side, looking sheepish for being defeated so quickly.

"Mr. Pettigrew, you're up," Hermione ordered.

Peter looked scared to death as he raised his wand, ready to battle. It quivered as he stood poised to duel. He sent his spell early, but Severus was ready for him anyway. He protected himself and then sent his hex flying toward Pettigrew. Another of the Marauders slammed against the wall.

"Mr. Snape, a word on your technique," Hermione said as she moved next to him. "When you send your hex out, you should extend your arm straight like this."

She took his hand in hers and shot another spell with him, stretching out his arm fully, pretending to better his flawless technique. The hex left his wand and slammed into Peter Pettigrew, who was still on the floor from the first hex.

"Whoops! Sorry about that, Mr. Pettigrew," she cried, pretending that it had been a mistake. Finally the rat wasn't smiling, and he deserved what he got for leading Voldemort to the Potters in the future.

"So it's more like that," she continued to instruct Severus as she stretched his arm out again, sending another hex at Pettigrew.

Looking up into Severus' eyes, she winked at him as she released his hand. He was looking at her in shock.

"Mr. Lupin, why don't you take a shot at Mr. Snape?"

Remus looked determined as he set up his stance. They sparred for several minutes. Remus was actually a very good duelist. He shot a hex at Severus and knocked him to the floor, but not before Severus had the chance to send one of his own. Both men wound up on the floor, covered in scratches from their altercation.

"We'll call that a tie," Hermione broke in before either one could get up to resume fighting. "Nice job, Mr. Lupin," she added.

"Mr. Potter, you're the last one up," she ordered.

James looked from Hermione to Severus as he got ready. They quickly bowed to one another. Severus looked at Potter grimly as he shot his first attack. James was quick. He blocked the hex and had one shooting at Severus almost in one motion. They fought furiously. Both young men had quick reflexes, and their hexes shot out with blinding speed. They circled each other and ducked each other's spells for quite a while. James shot a hex directly at Severus' head. He fell to the ground to avoid it, and shot one of his own at James. James was caught off guard and was sent flying into the wall. Hermione smirked at him as he stood up.

She realized that her horrid mood had lifted some. She no longer had the urge to punch each of the Marauders in the face. She walked to the center of the room and glanced over at Severus.

"Nicely done, Mr. Snape," she congratulated. "Now for the rest of you gentlemen, if you continue to act like little boys, you shall be treated as such. If I catch you tormenting Mr. Snape again, you will be marched right back here for more of the same treatment. Is that clear?"

The four looked at the ground and nodded.

"Good, now get out of here, before I have you all duel him again."

She watched as the four boys turned and left. Pettigrew virtually ran out the door, but the other three kept their dignity and walked out with their heads held high.

oooOOOooo

After they had left, Hermione doubled over and began to laugh.

"Hermione, have you gone mad?" Severus asked her.

"I don't think so, Severus, why?"

"Aren't you going to get in trouble for all of this?"

She straightened up and looked at him, her eyes dancing in mirth. "No, it was simply a little dueling practice, monitored by a teacher. I think I followed the rules pretty strictly, don't you? Well, except for that unfortunate incident with Pettigrew." She doubled over and guffawed some more.

Severus stared at Hermione for a while. He was always surprised at the lengths she would go to defend him. He had never met anyone quite as protective as she was. Normally such behavior would anger him to no end, but he found her righteous indignation at his treatment to be refreshing. At least someone cared for his well being and was not afraid to stand up for him. He had found little of that in the treatment he received from others. It was a nice change to have that type of respect from someone.

"Thank you for letting me do that," Severus said gratefully. "It was incredibly satisfying."

oooOOOooo

Hermione straightened up but continued to laugh a bit. She nodded her head at Severus to acknowledge his comment. She wiped some tears from her eyes and realized that they weren't mirthful tears, but that she had started to cry while laughing. Boy was she tired.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Severus asked her with concern.

"No, I'm not," Hermione blurted out. "I didn't sleep at all last night, I've been a total bear all day, and I'm worried sick about you."

Severus closed the distance between them and put his hands on her arms. "Don't worry, Hermione, everything will be fine."

Hermione sniffled. "Of course it will, Severus. Everything will be just peachy."

He smiled at her impudence and wiped the tears from her face.

"I will not be found out. Voldemort will not know the truth about me."

Hermione gazed into his eyes. She didn't see a bit of fear in them. He was determined to do this and he felt no fear. He was remarkably brave.

"Please, just be careful," she told him finally.

"Always," he remarked.

She finally cracked a smile at him.

"I have to go," Severus said regretfully. "Lucius said we needed to leave around now."

Hermione's eyes drifted to his mouth before she snapped them back up to his eyes, where they belonged.

"Hang on a minute."

She took out her wand and healed the scratches and cuts he had received from the duels. He smiled his thanks to her.

"I'll wait for you like I said," she assured him.

"Okay. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

She nodded to him and he turned and left the room. Tears ran down her face once again as she struggled to get a hold of herself. She prayed that everything would go as planned and that Voldemort wouldn't find out about his duplicity. She hoped that inflicting the Mark was enough torture for Voldemort. Hopefully, he wouldn't be tempted to throw a few Cruciatus curses along for the fun of it.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and was finally able to control her racing emotions. Realizing she wasn't hungry in the slightest, she decided to skip dinner altogether and just go wait in the Room of Requirement. She stopped by her room and grabbed her papers that needed marking along with some potions that could help Severus when he returned and headed for her destination. She settled in and began to grade. Her mind was so far away that she had to read the students answers three and four times before she could determine whether they were correct or not, but she slowly made her way through the pile of parchments. She checked her watch frequently and studied the door. No one ever disturbed her.

oooOOOooo

Hermione woke with a start. Somehow, she had fallen asleep while grading. Her head had lolled forward as she slept. When she awoke, she found her neck was aching from the angle it had been in for so long. She curiously checked her watch. What was taking so long? They had been gone for almost three hours now. Hopefully Severus wasn't lying unconscious somewhere, left alone in the cold. Perhaps she should search for him. She decided against it. Even in her overexcited state, she knew a bad idea when she heard one. She went back to grading.

Some time later, the door flew open and Severus staggered in holding his arm gingerly. Hermione flew off the couch and was by his side within seconds, supporting his limp figure. She guided him to the couch and laid him down on it. Pulling a vial off the table, she told him to drink it. He downed it in a gulp and closed his eyes, letting the potion work. After a few minutes, he opened them again and thanked her.

He cradled his left arm in his other hand. Looking at him, she gingerly took his arm and rolled his sleeve up, exposing the Mark. It was still red from being tattooed on. Hermione grabbed a jar of salve and opened it. She smeared the Mark with the healing salve, and Severus closed his eyes in relief as its coolness soothed the angry red tattoo. When she was done, she looked up at him.

"What else can I do?" she asked.

He shook his head. "You've already done enough." He could barely make eye contact with her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked tentatively.

"It is what it is. Voldemort was happy to get another follower. I was happy he wasn't suspicious."

He was still looking away from her. He was also shielding his arm, so she couldn't see his Mark.

"Severus, look at me," she demanded.

He wouldn't turn to look at her. She could tell he was embarrassed by what he had done.

"Are you ashamed to look at me?" she asked quietly.

"I have degraded myself, Hermione. I have marked myself with a sign of evil."

"You have bravely walked into the lion's den and come out unscathed. I know this Mark usually signifies evil, Severus, but you should not be ashamed of it. It represents the opportunity to destroy that evil as long as it graces your arm."

He closed his eyes. "Don't make it into what it's not," he berated her.

"I'm only telling you what it is."

He finally turned to her and searched her eyes. There was no pity, no lies there. He reached out and pulled her close, placing a kiss softly on her lips.

"Thank you, Hermione," he whispered.

Hermione looked at him nervously and pulled away.

"I know you don't feel the same way I do, Hermione, I just wanted to thank you."

She smiled tentatively at him. She reached out and took another vial off the table.

"This is a Dreamless Sleep Draught. I thought you might appreciate a night without any nightmares. Just stay here tonight. I'll see you tomorrow in class, okay?"

He nodded to her and she left the potion in his hand. She got up and stared at him. Without thinking too much about it—a tall order for her—she quickly leaned down and brushed her lips against his in a quick kiss. She turned and raced from the room yelling good night over her shoulder, leaving a shocked Severus Snape staring after her.

Hermione slammed the door and leaned against it, closing her eyes and putting her head in her hands. She had let her guard down and had kissed him. How could she have done that? It was all his fault! Why had he kissed her so wonderfully? Why had her stomach dropped to the floor when his lips touched hers? Then he had said she didn't feel the same way he did. Oh how wrong he was! She thought about him day and night. She couldn't get him out of her head. She loved him. She loved him. She mulled over those three little words. How they had changed her life. When she was with Severus, she was happier than she could ever remember, even when they weren't doing anything.

But what would be the cost of their love? How would things work out? She knew how they would work out. She would leave him and return to her time. He would resent her for it, and when she appeared in the future, he would have nothing to do with her. Then she would be crushed. It was all so obvious. She needed to box up her heart and keep her emotions hidden away; they would just cause heartbreak. She pushed everything away from her. She was Hermione Granger, Assistant Professor at Hogwarts. She wasn't in love with anybody and would never be during this time period. She would return to her real time and live her life happily without Severus Snape. Perhaps she could find some spell or something to keep her from thinking about him. She would have to do some research. She headed back to her room with the intention of doing just that, however she never cracked a book open.

Instead she sat on her chair with her legs pulled up to her chest, hugging them with her arms. She didn't want to stop thinking about him. She enjoyed thinking about him. Thinking about him made her happy. Being with him made her happy. Everything about him made her happy. She couldn't believe she had fallen in love with Severus Snape.

A/N: Next up: Lucius has a problem.

Thank you for all of your lovely reviews! Well, that chapter had a lot going on! Now I guess the big question is this: What will Hermione do with her realization that she is in love?