Before the two of them got to the classroom, everyone had already got to know that the famous Hermione Granger had got a month's detention with Snape, which seemed to be simply impossible as it was only the first day of their semester. It would mean she had done something wrong before they had got to the castle, or right after that.
It did not make Hermione feel any better, but knowing Ginny was right by her side, ready to jinx anyone bothering her, she felt that no-one would even dare to pick on her. Nevertheless, she must have heard people gossiping behind her back. Those who had been close to her during the lunch break knew a bit about her detention since they had probably heard her talking to Ginny. However, as people passed it on and on, the original version got changed into something simply unrecognisable.
"Don't listen to them," whispered Ginny as they passed by the rest of the students, her hand on Hermione's back for support. "As if they'd never got a detention..."
"I'm fine, really," Hermione reassured her friend, and to prove that, she smiled softly. "No need to worry about me so much. I'm rather worried about Snape and the detention itself than about others talking about it."
Ginny let out a small snort, but she could not say much more as Snape had just come and opened the door for them. Not waiting any longer, they entered the dark classroom and chose the desk as far from Snape's as possible. For a little while Hermione was afraid that the teacher would tell her to get to the front, but fortunately he did not.
"Sit," demanded Snape as he slammed the door behind himself. His steps were fast and energetic as he approached his desk. "As I hope, I do not need to remind you about the exams at the end of the year. It is your last year at this school and while I am definitely not convinced any of you are prepared for the future life, you will have to live it. And my job is to teach you at least how to brew your potions safely so you do not poison yourselves or anyone else when you pretend to be adults."
Hermione straightened up in her chair, as if her primary goal was to prove Snape that she did not pretend to be mature.
"Take out your textbooks," continued Snape, wandering around the classroom, his hands crossed behind his back, his chin up, "and open them on page fifty two. I believe you have covered the previous chapters so I do not need to get back to them."
Something about the tone of his voice told the students that even if they had not covered all of the potions from the book, they did not really have anything to say in that matter as Snape was not going to help them in any way.
Seeing that Snape seemed not to notice her – apparently that was just another way he had chosen to tease her – Hermione felt relieved and got to work as soon as he had given them instructions. Ginny looked at her smiling softly, then started working as well.
They did not talk much during that class as they did not really have much time for that. The potions were getting more and more complex and their time was quite limited, therefore they had to be fully focused on their actions. As they worked, Snape kept marching around them, taking glances into their cauldrons and wincing at their poor attempts to follow the instructions the way he wanted them to.
Once he finally approached the desk where Hermione and Ginny were trying to chop their ingredients, just as they were told, he winced, having no mean comments. Even though he would rather not admit that, those two girls were quite talented and even though their potions were not exactly perfect, there was nothing he could pick on.
"I am surprised you are doing so well after such a long break, Granger," he hissed at last. Hermione pretended not to have heard him. No, this time she would not let him provoke her. "I thought you would not be able to put your cauldron properly."
Hermione's hand trembled slightly, but she tightened her grip on the knife and started chopping the roots with some strange ferociousness; she had no idea why he wanted to exasperate her, but there must have been some point in his actions...
"If you are not careful enough, you will destroy the table, and believe me, I am not going to ignore that," whispered Snape.
Closing her eyes, Hermione let out a soft sigh. It was more and more difficult to keep her composure, but she had to force herself to stay as calm as possible.
"It's a good choice, Granger," he continued in his quiet, singsong voice, "if you don't watch your tongue, you may earn more than just a detention, and there's no Potter or Weasley to take the blame for you..."
Upon hearing those words, Ginny raised her eyes and glared at Snape, but he did not notice that, completely focused on Hermione.
"But personally... I believe it is better for the school that they have chosen not to come back. Two fools who were lucky enough... I wonder if you considered staying at home, too, Granger, instead of coming back..."
"I think Hermione's behaviour is more than admirable," said Ginny in a fierce voice, cutting in. Her eyes seemed to be glistening with fury she was trying to tame. "Instead of disheartening her, should you not encourage her, Professor?" Hermione glanced at her in shock. "At least this is what any other teacher would do."
Hermione felt her stomach churn. Yes, she had always known that Ginny was a strong and brave girl, but now, she realised she had been underappreciating her all that time. At that moment, she was more than just proud to have her as her friend, but at the same time, it terrified her how far Ginny was willing to go. After all, she risked a lot.
That was probably what Snape thought, too, as he looked at the redhead with surprise mixed with fury. Soon, though, that expression changed and he gritted his teeth, grimacing with wrath. His looks could terrify anyone at that very moment.
"It seems you are really trying to get on my nerves, Weasley. I believe you are not the one to tell me what I should or should not do. Twenty points from Gryffindor, and now shut your mouth and focus on your task."
Ginny was about to stand up, apparently wanting to keep on fighting, but Hermione managed to grasp her wrist at the last moment.
"No! Don't provoke him any further!" she whispered warningly, glancing at her friend. "I am so thankful for standing up for me, but don't... don't do it! I don't want you to get into anymore trouble because of me, Ginny!"
It seemed that Ginny thought of Hermione's words for a while, then decided to let it go. Even though she did so, it was obvious she was quite irritated.
"He's getting on my nerves, 'Mione, and I wonder why you decided to help him back then," she muttered through clenched teeth. "Maybe it would've been better if you just let him die. At least he wouldn't be picking on us like this."
Hermione bit her bottom lip, looking at Snape hesitantly. He had already gone a bit further from their desk and now was scolding one of the Ravenclaws for his rather poor results of brewing the potion. At the same time, though, the girl could not help but wonder if she had been able to just ignore the fact Snape had been dying in the Shrieking Shack... maybe if he had died, many things would have changed to the better, but he was still a man... Moreover, the previous night she had had the impression that there were other emotions slumbering within his heart – ones that were not dark and vile...
But maybe she had not seen them – maybe they had been just her wish, her imagination... Maybe he was still the very same, abusive man he had always been, and the fact she had saved his life had not changed a thing?
By the end of the class, she felt almost completely hopeless. She knew that if she was given another chance, she would do exactly the same, since Snape, even though mean and toxic, was still a person, and she could not let a person die, especially the way he had been about to die, but at the same time, she felt responsible for him treating other students like that.
She was just about to leave with Ginny marching loyally by her side when she heard Snape's voice telling her to stay for a bit. Although she would rather not do that, she came to a halt, but when she turned back, she did not raise her eyes.
"I do not remember asking you to stay, Weasley," growled Snape as he glared at Ginny, "so better leave before I take some more points from your House."
Hermione could hear Ginny swallowing hard before she told her she would be waiting outside the classroom.
"Do not be so scared, Granger," spoke Snape in a rather strange voice, one Hermione had heard the previous night. Was it a way to deceive her? When she finally looked into the man's eyes, it was obvious she did not trust him at all.
"You have been tormenting me all day today, Professor," replied Hermione, her voice quiet yet firm. "After yesterday I no longer know what to think."
A strange kind of smirk appeared upon his thin lips as he reached to touch Hermione's cheek, but she moved back to avoid his touch. It was enough to bring an irritated grimace onto his face, however, his voice remained quite calm.
"I'm amazed you managed to keep it all secret. Even with that Weasley girl," he said, pointing to the door. Hermione prayed that Ginny was not listening. "I must admit that it is much harder than I thought at first."
"Then is this what you wanted to tell me, sir?" she asked, no longer able to hide the fact she was already pretty much annoyed. "If so, I'd better get going, otherwise Ginny will think something bad's happening."
"You are not to leave until I say so, Granger," he snarled, "so stay put until I'm finished."
Knowing that fighting Snape would not do any good, Hermione leant back against one of the desks, gripping its edge tightly as she tried to calm down.
"I'm listening," she said coldly.
"The most important thing," replied Snape, his voice calm once again, as if he had not noticed the coolness in Hermione's behaviour, "is that you are to be at my office at eight sharp. Every minute of delay means one day of detention added to the month you have already earned."
The girl swallowed a curse. How could he be talking about it all so emotionlessly, as if there was nothing strange with a teacher giving a student such a long detention for doing nothing? Because Hermione did not feel guilty. She had fulfilled his wish the previous night, but at the same time, she knew she had done it all because she had wanted it as well. But that was where it should have ended – and now, he was expanding it to enormous size.
"May I know what I'm supposed to do?" she asked slightly trembling.
"Not yet, but you'll see soon," answered Snape, then reached his hand out once again. Since Hermione was not looking at him, she had not noticed that, and this time, he managed to cup her cheek in her hand. His thumb gently caressed her soft skin as he looked at her gently, just like he had the previous night.
He should not be doing that, and both of them knew it; Ginny or any other student could walk in at any moment, but having this girl just in front of him was simply too tempting to Severus. He would not dare to do more... moreover, he would not dare to caress her like that for more than just a few seconds, so in a while, Hermione could breathe normally once again.
Only when he moved back did she notice that she had been holding her breath in nervousness, so now she was rather panting than breathing.
"It's easier to keep it secret when I pretend to hate you, Granger," he said quietly, "but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stand it."
Hermione felt her stomach flip. It was a poor excuse, however, she did believe him for some reason. Maybe because it explained the change in his behaviour. Nevertheless, it did not change the fact the kiss had been his idea. No. More than the kiss – had he not decided to drag her into his room the previous night...
On the other hand, if she said he was the only guilty one there, she would be lying. Even though pretending she still disliked him, she could not deny there was something else she felt. After all, one does not dream about the people they hate, right...?
"Please, stop," she whispered. "Ginny's waiting outside, and..."
"You're driving me crazy, Granger," he said in a low, hoarse voice. "The way you act... even though I know you must pretend nothing has happened... God... it's driving me crazy. It only makes me want you more and more."
"Then you must stop," she barely mouthed, not even able to say it out loud.
It would be for the better, she thought, wondering if she had lost her mind. How was that possible that she hated this man, and yet, she felt for him something more, something like passion or fascination... This relationship had no future. It was forbidden and wrong in so many ways – but maybe that made it so tempting?
"Would you really want it?" asked Snape, cradling her cheeks in his hands once more. His thumbs gently caressed the skin of her face, and at that moment, she was completely defenceless. "Would you really want me to stop?"
"Yes," she answered, firmly at first, but then, her voice faltered. "N- no... Oh God... Just... just let me go."
Her heart was thumping in her chest so hard that she was afraid someone else might hear it. At the same time, she could not help but wonder if Ginny had heard anything they had been saying... or if she had guessed anything Hermione had failed to tell her...
Snape reluctantly let go of her and stepped back. Hermione took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, their eyes met, and she noticed he was glancing at her with something strangely similar to care and worry...
"I'll wait for you at eight in the evening, Granger," he spoke suddenly out loud, his voice back to its cold and emotionless tone, "and I will not tolerate any tardiness. You'd better remember that because I won't be understanding."