Disclaimer: Not mine as you know.
A/N: Sorry this took so long…I usually write at night and I have been so exhausted lately. Sorry…so sorry. But please review and let me know what you think. Oh this chapter doesn't have Draco irritating Snape. There just wasn't enough room, so that will be in the next chapter! Don't forget to review!
Chapter Twenty
Doing Nothing
From the Head Table Severus watched Hermione step through the door with Potter and Weasley flanking her as if they were her body guards. Sneering at her, he was met with her set of bright angry eyes. She was obviously still sore at him for giving her detention. Rolling his eyes he turned his attentions back to his breakfast.
Hermione marched in and sat down next to Ginny. Harry and Ron took their usual seats across from her. She dug into her breakfast as if she were imagining each bite as ripping someone's head off. Harry and Ron exchanged nervous glances. Harry, nervously adjusting his glasses, attempted to broach the subject of her mood on the first day of classes…a day usually met with her smiling face.
"Hermione? Is…everything okay?"
Her eyes flashed fire toward the Head Table and one Severus Snape. She shook her head no and tore a piece of toast off with her teeth in a most un-Hermione fashion.
"Professor Snape gave me detention," she mumbled.
Ron, who had been constantly stuffing his mouth as if his mother never fed him, suddenly stopped chewing. His fork hit the plate. Both Harry and Ron just stared at her. Ron tried to say something, but could not be understood through his mouthful of food. Hermione winced in disgust at Ron's attempt.
"Chew your food Ronald," she said with a scowl on her face.
"He caught you didn't he," Harry asked. Her only response was a nod. Nothing more was mentioned as Professor McGonagall made her way down the Gryffindor table giving out schedules. When she got to the trio she handed Harry and Ron their schedules and then turned to look disapprovingly at Hermione as she handed Hermione her schedule.
"I must say, Miss Granger that I am quite disappointed. You are the Head Girl and you get detention your first night back?"
Anyone within hearing distance was listening. It wasn't everyday McGonagall was heard scolding the Gryffindor. Hermione looked down into her plate feeling her face turn red.
"I am sorry, Professor. It won't happen again."
Professor McGonagall looked down at her.
"I most certainly hope not."
With those last crisp words McGonagall walked off. With a deep sigh, Hermione looked down at her schedule wondering if the day could get any worse…little did she know it could and it would.
Harry stood up and slightly nudged her up.
"Come on we have Transfiguration first thing."
With a small forced smile, she stood up swinging her bag onto her shoulder.
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Rabastan or Professor Lestrange as he was now known was already in the classroom waiting. He sat at his desk, hands behind his head, feet propped up on his desk. Upon entering the classroom, Harry made a mad dash for the front row. Ron followed closely behind. Reaching the three seats the boys sat down leaving the middle seat for Hermione. She was the last to enter the classroom and Professor Lestrange stood up. Smiling, he looked down at Hermione.
"Good morning," Professor Lestrange said addressing the class. He smiled at the unsure looks of most of the students. "Relax…I am not Professor Snape." At this most of the class laughed, nervously, but still laughed. "First, I believe a little demonstration is in order. Unlike the Headmistress…I cannot turn into a cat. I need a volunteer."
His eyes fell on Hermione. With one finger he beckoned her forward. Behind her, she could have sworn she heard Lavender sigh. Tentatively getting up, Hermione stepped up on the small platform before Professor Lestrange. She was very unsure about the look in his eyes.
"Transfiguration can be quite fun. Some of you girls will appreciate this as will some of the boys, but for totally different reasons I am sure."
At those words Hermione wanted to run away. This couldn't mean anything good for her.
"With a little transfiguration you can take something beautiful and give it the dressing it deserves."
With a slight flick of his wand, Hermione found herself standing before the class in a gorgeous deep burgundy and black corset style dress. Another flick and her hair was pinned elegantly up on her head. Without warning, Professor Lestrange grabbed her, pulling her up against him. Twirling her out and then back in to him, he dipped her back and then up again before stepping back as if to give her the spotlight he had just metaphorically created.
"A simple flick of my wand and you can all see Hermione for the princess she already is." He turned to look at the class…the girls smiling with delight and the boys grinning as if they were just given the biggest treat of their life. Draco even sat…with his mouth wide open. They had all seen Hermione at the Yule Ball in their fourth year, but that was nothing compared to this. Professor Lestrange smiled.
"Yes, boys…enjoy while you can. With another flick," he flicked his wand and Hermione found herself in her school uniform again. "And all is back to normal." Taking her hand and bowing in a kind gesture of thank you, he kissed her hand.
"Besides, if I'm not mistaken the princess is already taken."
Hermione feeling embarrassed yet again walked back to her seat wishing more than anything that she could just disappear. All eyes seemed to be on her. Ron and Harry both leaned in toward her.
"What did Professor Lestrange mean by 'already taken?"
Hermione looked between the boys and shrugged.
"How should I know," she whispered.
"Now…that may have been fun," Professor Lestrange continued, "but transfiguration is not all roses and tulips." Here he pointed to posters on one wall…posters that reminded Hermione of the ones Snape had in the Defense classroom the previous year, but instead of dark creatures and hexes there were transfigurations that were either horribly dark in nature or transfigurations that went terribly wrong. With a collective shiver at the images being portrayed, the class listened raptly to their new and fascinating professor.
Transfiguration had never been like this before.
As Professor Lestrange lectured Harry paid close attention, but still took furtive glances at Hermione. He watched her frantically scribble down class notes on a piece of parchment. She was deep in her own scholastic world and didn't notice the boys watching her. Ron looked over at Harry cutting his eyes to Hermione with a question that almost appeared as a grimace on the red-head's face. Harry only shrugged.
They had been watching her since she had returned from being captured. She was not the same Hermione that left them. Harry was the first to notice. She tried to be…he could see that. She was still the bookworm…studying and pushing them to do so. She still seemed to know absolutely everything, but something dark seemed to shroud her when she thought no one was looking.
Harry would watch her when she appeared to be reading in the drawing room at Number Twelve. When she believed no one was watching she still held a book in her hand trying to give the appearance of one reading. Instead, her eyes would dart around nervously as if she expected something evil to step from the shadows and devour her. She continuously shifted in her seat…
His eyes quickly cut to his side where Hermione sat. As he thought about her shifting she began to shift in the seat next to him. Tapping her quill almost frantically she looked nervously around the room. Silently she fell back into deep note taking.
Harry sighed. It was as if she was no longer comfortable in her own skin…as if she questioned her very being. He knew when she was taken that if she returned she would never be the same. No one ever was after facing Voldemort and living to tell the tale. The only problem was this was Hermione. His best friend…the girl whose brains got them through most of their adventures…the girl who was a strong witch defying all that the Death Eaters tried to teach. She was his rock and now she just seemed…broken.
He realized Hermione was looking at him funny as she shoved her things into her bag.
"Harry are you okay? You were rubbing your scar again."
She sat there with her bag in her lap about to stand. Her forehead was crinkled in worry. Harry glanced around noticing the classroom was slowly emptying. Ron, half standing and half sitting leaned over.
"Hey Hermione, can I copy your notes?"
A small smile broke out on Harry's face at the typical question Ron asked after almost every class they had with Hermione. Sighing in frustration and exasperation, Hermione stood flinging her bag on her shoulder.
"Ronald! Pay attention and take your own notes for just once."
She stormed out of the room leaving them behind. Harry looked at Ron and shook his head.
"You knew better than to ask right away, mate."
Ron shrugged.
"Yea, I suppose. Come on we better get to divination."
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Hermione left Transfiguration heading for Ancient Runes. She walked alone listening to the sound of her own feet on the flagstone floor of the castle as all other sound seemed to fade for a moment. It was as if she were in a tunnel. She could feel eyes on her. All the sound around her seemed to crash down on her. The sounds around her didn't seem normal, but louder as if she were hypersensitive to every sound. The sounds clanged and crashed in her head. The eyes still seemed to follow her and she couldn't escape.
She felt her heart beating faster and harder as she looked around frantically for the eyes and an escape route. When she thought her heart would pound out of her chest she saw the door to her Ancient Runes class and ran for it. She abruptly rushed into the class and closed the door behind her.
Her hand momentarily rested on the closed door as if making sure it was closed. When she turned around she noticed half the class that was present watching her odd behavior curiously. With an awkward smile she headed for the seat she sat in every year.
She wasn't in her seat a minute before Draco sauntered in. Hermione was just getting her parchment, quill, and ink out of her bag when Draco took the seat next to her. She looked at him as if he had snakes coming out of his head.
"What are you doing," she hissed.
Draco noticed her looking around nervously. Kicking back in his seat in the same manner Professor Lestrange had in the previous class, Draco smiled devilishly.
"Let's just say I told the other Slytherins I was…friendly toward you now."
Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, she took in what he said. Rolling her eyes she turned to face the front of the class as the professor walked in.
Halfway through the class found Draco and Hermione with a line from an ancient Rune text they were to work together to translate its meaning. It didn't prove to be an easy task.
"I am telling you Granger that rune is Fehu."
Hermione sighed and began to rub her temples.
"No it is not, Malfoy. Once again you are assuming this is written with the Elder Futhark runes simply because those are the ones you hear of most often."
She glared at him and then pointed roughly at the rune.
"Look at the shape, Malfoy. It does not look anything like Fehu. This rune would appear upside down. It is Fa from the Armanen Runes."
Draco glared back. He knew she was right, but found it so much more entertaining to get her all riled up. Shaking her head, she looked back down at the runes. The sound of class ending did not disturb Hermione. Draco turned to retrieve the parchment from between them when he noticed Hermione staring at the parchment as if she were in shock.
"What is it now Granger," he asked expecting some know-it-all response. Instead she simply pointed at the last rune on the parchment. It seemed to stick out like a sore thumb…a rune that looked like a bolt of lightening…a rune that looked like Harry Potter's scar.
"Its Sig," she whispered. "That rune has basically the same meaning in all traditions…in all dialects. The Nazis called it the 'victory rune," she said getting excited not caring who stared at her on their way out the door. "It symbolizes the power of the sun…the defeat of light over dark…"
Draco sighed, standing up looking down at her.
"Wonderful, so boy wonder has nothing to fear because he has a rune etched into his forehead. Wonderful. We should all get one."
Hermione rolled her eyes and followed Draco out of the classroom.
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Hermione fell out of the cupboard and right into Harry's arms. Ron and Harry both looked as if they wanted to laugh as Hermione righted herself and began flicking dust off her.
"Obviously there is not a horcrux in there," she said.
They looked around them wondering where to check next. They were currently standing in the room of requirement that Harry hid his potions book in the year before. It was a sea of hidden objects and going through it all could take all year and then some. Hermione shrugged slightly.
"There might be a spell that will help us locate something like that. I'll have to look it up later." She bent down and picked up her bag. "Right now I need to run to detention though."
Harry and Ron both gave her pitying looks as she headed toward the door.
"See you boys later."
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Snape sat at his desk deep in thought when he heard the knock on his classroom door. Standing up he stepped into his classroom.
"Enter."
Hermione stepped into the classroom. Closing the door behind her, she looked around. The room looked abandoned. Then her eyes fell on her professor standing in a doorway.
"Follow me," he stated tersely.
He turned around and stepped back into his office. He could hear the rapid shuffle of her feet as she quickly followed his instructions. When Snape got to his desk and stepped behind it, he turned around to find Hermione standing nervously just inside the door. He pointed to a table that sat perpendicular to his desk.
"Sit."
He watched her rush to the seat and sit down looking back up at him so expectantly.
So eager to please.
He felt one corner of his mouth turn up in a slight predatory smile. Hermione blinked nervously and quickly looked around the office as if checking for escape routes. Snape had noticed this behavior in her ever since he brought her back to his mother's childhood home. It was expected, but seemed worse now that they were in the castle.
Snape's smile fell slightly as he reminded himself why she was here for detention.
"You do realize why you are here," he asked not expecting an actual answer. He stepped closer to the table she sat at and leaned over to be eye level.
"I swore I would protect you. Tell me Miss Granger, how am I to get any sleep at night if I have to stand watch by Gryffindor tower in fear of you gallivanting off to the restricted section of the library at night?"
Snape cocked one eyebrow as if waiting for her to answer. Standing up straight, he towered over her. Looking down at her he began to face a dilemma. He was no longer the Potions Professor therefore detentions with him could hardly include scrubbing cauldrons without magic. His mind immediately jumped to an essay…one that would make most of the student body cringe. Most of the student body that is, not Hermione Granger. She would welcome any academic challenge with delight.
Hermione sat there nervously waiting for whatever heinous activity he would give her for her detention.
"Get out one of your school texts."
With her brow furrowed in confusion she reached into her bag and pulled out the first book that she felt her fingertips touch. With a loud thump, she plopped the book on the table in front of her. Snape made his way behind his desk and sat down grabbing a book of his own. Hermione glanced around at the many bookcases lining three out of four of the walls. She was surrounded by the many books of Severus Snape. Her eyes fell onto the dark brooding man. He sat at his desk leaning forward slightly over an open book. His black locks falling slightly forward hiding part of his face and casting the rest in shadow.
"Sir," Hermione asked licking her lips. "What would you have me do?"
Snape looked up…a glint of triumph in his eye.
"Nothing."
"Nothing sir?"
He smiled as if he were receiving an early Christmas present.
"Did I stutter Miss Granger? You are to sit there with the book in front of you…surrounded by books and you are not to crack open a single one. You will sit there and read nothing…study nothing…do nothing."
Hermione sat there and simply blinked. Snape bent back over his book seeming to be deep within its pages already. Coming to her senses, she looked around. She was surrounded by books and had one sitting directly in front of her and yet she was not allowed to so much as open the cover. Her eyes traveled from book to book on the shelves trying to at least read their titles. It was a futile attempt, but it was something to do. She couldn't stand to just sit there for Merlin knew how long and do nothing. Her eyes glanced over Professor Snape. She had a feeling he already knew that about her.
The time passed painfully slow. She wondered if this was what her detention would be like everyday as she did have detention for a week. She would go mad if it was. Looking back as Professor Snape, he held the book in his hands and actually relaxed back into his seat. Hermione could read the cover.
Moste Potente Potions.
Snape knew she was reading the cover of the book. With a very telling grin he looked over the top of the book at Hermione.
"You might find this book interesting Miss Granger. It has very well written instructions for a Polyjuice Potion."
Hermione thought her heart stopped for a moment. They had always wondered if Snape knew about her potion brewing in Moaning Myrtles bathroom.
"Really sir? How fascinating."
The sarcasm in her voice was not lost to him. He simply nodded.
"However you will only find this book in the restricted section I am afraid."
He seemed to be watching her for some sort of reaction. She offered him none, but refused to look him in the eye. That simple act was all the admission he needed. He went back to his reading. A few moments later Snape was pulling out parchment and jotting something down from the book.
"I could do that for you sir," Hermione offered.
The quill stopped moving and Snape looked up. His eyes were dark…forbidding. The light from the fireplace danced across what facial features were seen through his hair. Hermione swallowed. Last year this look from him would have screamed death…torment…it would have sent fear running in anyone's veins that stood in its path. But now? With this younger looking Snape? Now he was purely dangerous on a whole new level. He stared at her across the table through his curtain of black hair. The same look that struck fear in ones heart. The angst of his youth reflected more clearly in his eyes as they glinted with some unknown delight. It was enough to make one want to do whatever he would command. As if he had seen where her thoughts were wandering off to, his lip turned up and he snarled at her.
"No. You will do nothing."
Time ticked on. Finally after what seemed like forever Snape looked up.
"You may go."
Hermione shoved her book back in her bag and stood up. How would she survive a week of this? Snape stood and stepped around from behind his desk ready to escort her back to Gryffindor Tower. He was her shadow. Irritated she stormed off through the castle. Outside the portrait Snape stopped her from entering.
"Miss Granger, I may have sworn to protect you…to keep you safe, but that does not mean I will be forced to lock you inside some hidden tower and watch over you every minute of every day. Despite how Rabastan may feel …you are no princess."
Hermione looked up from the ground…eyes blazing. Hurt and anger mingled in their reflection.
"No, I am not Professor. And if I were I certainly wouldn't expect you to be my white knight."
She turned abruptly, slamming the portrait behind her. Snape stood there for a moment before turning and beginning to sweep down the corridor. A voice stopped him…a voice from the shadows.
"Brilliant Severus. Always did have a way with the girls."
Snape stopped frustration and irritation clear on his face.
"What is it now Rabastan?"
Rabastan stepped out of the shadows…apple in hand munching quite comfortably. He shrugged his shoulder.
"Was it necessary to lie to the girl Severus?"
"What are you on about?" Rabastan's chewing slowed down and he swallowed as he watched and weighed the expression crossing Severus' face. They had been friends for so long they knew each other like the back of their hands. Rabastan was one of the few people that could actually tell Snape what he thought without being hexed into oblivion.
"Well, for one Severus, if it were necessary to keep her safe you would readily lock her in a tower and watch over her your every waking moment…and I don't think that is solely because of a dying man's wish…unless of course, you are the dying man."
They had reached Rabastan's quarters and with a sly smile, he dropped his wards and entered leaving a fuming mad Severus Snape behind. Rabastan almost felt sorry for any students Severus may come across on his way back to his own quarters.