Chapter 14
"100 points from Gryffindor Miss Granger, argue and I shall double the loss." He said, not raising his voice the slightest bit, making Hermione shiver in anger and fear. "Now, as for your detention, it'll take place tonight, as you might know it's the full night and I require a particular ingredient that can only be harvested on this particular night…"
"What do you need werewolf's blood for, sir? The only potion that requires werewolf's blood is extremely dangerous and difficult to make, and…" Hermione began, going back to her Know-It-All self.
"Miss Granger, I am the only Potion Master in the whole of the United-Kingdom. I do think that I know what werewolf's blood is used for… you might know that it is commonly used to brew poisons, what you don't know is that it can be used as a counter poison too. Now, I do believe you have class, let me write you a note…" He had said almost as if she hadn't blatantly insulted him a few moments ago.
He handed her a note, she picked up her books bag and left the room hurriedly without a second glance back at him. She knew that she had crossed the line, it wasn't like her to insult a teacher like that. She should have controlled her emotions, but it was so damn difficult for the moment. She didn't know why, but when she had seen him hurt like that, her stomach had churned.
She shook the thought away and went to her next class: Arithmancy. She loved that class, the fact that magic was relying on extremely complex maths equations made her very fond of this class. Professor Vector, was also one of the best Arithmancer in the country. She was currently teaching them how to translate a charm into an equation and how to make it better
While most of the class had chosen some basic charms like Alohomora or Wingardium Leviosa, Hermione had chosen a much more difficult charm: Accio. She had already transfered the charm into the equation and was now looking to have it reach from a further distance.
She walked up the steps of the north tower and knocked on the door of the classroom. When she heard professor's Vector voice on the other side of the door, she came in the room and handed the note to her before going to her desk and setting up her things quickly.
She took her equations out and presented it to Professor Vector who was passing through the rows of chair, and correcting their works.
"Well done Miss Granger, you've managed to transfer Accio into the correct equation. Now what do you want to improve in this formula?" Professor Vector asked to Hermione, a slight smile on her lips.
"Well, professor, I thought I could expand the distance at which the spell works. You see, often pupils forget their books in their dorms and for some of them, simple Accio spell is impossible to use because their stuff is too far away for the spell to work." Hermione explained to Mrs. Vector.
"I think it is a brilliant idea Miss Granger. Don't forget to take the Sptimium Law and the Composite Charms Law into your calculations. Actually, could you recite those both law for me. Let's say that if you get the answer correct, I'll count it as extra credit." The witch asked with a glint of malice in her hand as she conjured a clipboard out of thin air without a single word or wand movement.
"Of course, Professor. The Septimium Law says that it is possible to lengthen the distance of one's charm only by doubling the strengthening of the charm and focusing the potency of it accordingly. It means that for the Accio Charm, I must strengthen the core magic of it and make it so that it's a lot more precise. If I didn't respect that law, the targeted object would not soar towards me, rather all the objects that had a similar use and shape." Hermione answered before looking at her professor for a sign that she had been right and that she could continue.
"Very impressive. Now the Composite Charms Law, if you please."
"Of course, the Composite Charms Law says that for any Composite Charms, the core magic used in the using of those Charms can only be strengthened by multiplying the magic needed to perform the Charm, unless the formula is changed to be more precise. Are considered Composite Charms any charms conjuring up an object out of thin air or summoning one." Hermione explained once again, smiling after to her Professor.
"Miss Granger, it's an O once again. I'm very impatient to see how you manage to expand the reach of the Summoning Charm. Good Luck." She said, writing on her clipboard before walking away and looking at another student's work.
Hermione worked on her task for the rest of the hour and when the bell rang, she had already included the Composite Charm Law to her calculations by changing the incantation from Accio to Evocatio longinquo aucta.
She packed her stuff in her bag and left the classroom, bidding Professor Vector goodbye. She quickly went to the Great Hall where the dinner was being served and sat next to Harry and Ron. Both of which had already taken large amount of food on their plates and had begun eating eagerly.
"Blimey 'Mione, whatever has taken you so long?" Ron asked between two forks of beans.
"I had Arithmancy class Ron, you know, like every day." Hermione replied quite annoyed at Ron.
"Sorry 'Mione. By the way, what's your punishment with the greasy git?" Ron asked, a hint of compassion in his voice.
"I only have to help him tonight to collect ingredients for some potion he has to make." She said, helping herself with the food from the dishes in front of her.
She played with her food, not eating much. There was not much chatter as all of them were still under the shocking news of Cedric Diggory's death. Suddenly she remembered her detention with Professor Snape and she bade her friends goodnight before taking her book bag and sprinting towards the dungeons.
Ten minutes later, she was in front of the door leading to Snape's classroom. She took a small moment to rearrange her disheveled clothes before knocking on the dark wood the door was made of. The door of the office flew open and the Snape appeared on the threshold, looking visibly angry at her.
"Miss Granger, just in time." He told her rather harshly.
"I'm sorry, I was caught up in my meal." She said, trying to not be punished further more.
"Anyways, you can leave your bag here, we will come back and fetch it once we've collected the werewolf's blood." He informed her.
She laid her bag on one of the neighbouring and took only her wand with her. Snape had a small pouch in his hand.
"Come along Miss Granger, and please do stay close to me. We've already lost a student and I don't think the Headmaster would be very glad if you died to because of a dunderhead like mistake of yours." Professor Snape told her, opening the door and making her sign to get out of the office.
Twenty minutes later, the both of them were on the border of the Forbidden Forest. The night had fallen a long time ago and although they were in June, the air surrounding Hermione was extremely cold. She shivered a little, but Snape didn't see.
"Now, Miss Granger, be aware. Look around you all the time. If you see a werewolf, tell me and we'll see how to approach it to take some of it's blood."
Hermione's heart clenched. It was still a human being that they were going to harm. A werewolf was a man that had no choice but to transform into a werewolf when the full moon came. She knew that those transformation were often extremely painful and that the persons subject to them found the pain so unbearable they couldn't control themselves anymore and sometimes tried to hurt even their best of friends.
"Miss Granger, are you coming or not. I have told you not to stay too far behind me. Ten points from Gryffindor for your absentmindedness."
Hermione rushed and, in a few steps, she was behind him. The sir around them grew colder and Hermione shivered slightly, rubbing her arms to heat herself a little up without much success. She walked alongside him, for each step he was taking, she herself had to take two steps.
Suddenly, both of them heard bushes move on their left, immediately, his wand was raised and pointed towards the bush. After a few seconds, the bush moved to the side and a centaur appeared.
"What are you doing here Humans?" He asked suspiciously.
Snape bowed and so did Hermione after a few seconds, she knew that centaurs were extremely proud creatures and could get easily offended. Bowing to them was a sign of respect that most of them appreciated. They were after all on their territory.
"Please, excuse us, venerable centaur, my student and I wish you no harm. We are her to collect a very precious ingredient for an antidote and…" Snape began, speaking with extreme deference.
"What ingredient are you looking for?" The centaur asked without any ceremony.
"Werewolf's blood. I want to create for people who have been bitten by werewolves so that they won't be in such extreme pain when transforming and so, less dangerous." He explained simply to the centaur.
"Very well, but do not harm any other creature or plant. If you do, my wrath will be mighty." He warned them.
"We wold never dare. Farewell venerable centaur." Snape replied bowing once again.
They both continued to walk. After an hour the coldness had definitely installed itself inside the forbidden forest and Hermione was frozen to the bone. She shivered, and this time, Professor Snape saw her.
"Haven't you brought a cape with you Miss Granger?" He asked, already knowing the answer and mentally kicking himself for not having thought about it sooner.
"I'm sorry sir, but no, I haven't. I am quite regretting it now…" She said, shivering further more.
That's when he did something that surprised her. He reached for the buttons holding his cape in place and undid them before removing his cloak and handing it to her. She took it and wrapped herself in it, immediately, she felt his warmth and perfume surround her, and quite strangely, she found that she didn't mind.
"Thank you sir, I do hope you won't be cold." She told him, tightening the cloak around her.
"I won't Miss Granger. Now, stay alert. We don't want any werewolf to sneak upon us."
A few seconds later, they heard the howling of a wolf and immediately both of their wands were raised. Suddenly, a werewolf jumped from a bush on their left. Severus interposed himself just in time between the beast and Hermione who was frozen in shock. He tried to get the best off of him and managed to, seconds before being bitten by it. He stayed with his wand pointed at the werewolf and advanced it prudently.
"Do you think he's dead?" Hermione asked quietly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"No, be careful, we don't want to approach…"
Before he had the time to finish his sentence, another werewolf jumped, this time on their right and caught Hermione by the ankle.
"Professor, please, help me!" She screamed, clearly panicked.
He turned around and sent a stunner at the beast who let out a pain filled wail before falling to the ground a few meters away and stating completely still.
"Miss Granger, are you alright?" He asked, his eyes filled with worry.
It was the first time she had seen him like that, his eyes filled with an emotion other than anger. She looked at him and without a second thought threw her arms at him and kissed him on the lips. It took only a split second for him to reply.