Part 5
Potions class had radically changed since her first year. Most of the Slytherin students were long gone, their parents having readily sworn allegiance to You-Know-Who. Not surprisingly, Crabbe & Goyle had left. What was surprising was that Draco Malfoy had stayed.
Draco was growing up to be a tall, lean man, his white blonde hair nowadays down to his shoulders. He would have been the pin up poster boy for Slytherin, if it wasn't for a jagged scar that ran from his left temple down to his chin that he grimly refused to have healed.
It had been inflicted by Draco's enraged father when Draco had had an unexpected crisis of conscience and refused to swear allegiance to You-Know- Who, and his father had lashed out at him with his wand. Only by apparating to Platform 9 ¾ and fleeing to the relative safety of Hogwarts had he managed to escape certain death. Soon afterwards a letter had arrived at Hogwarts from Lucius Malfoy, informing the school that he did not have a son.
Draco had been very subdued for months afterwards and even Hermione had felt sorry for him. These days he was back to his usual snobby self but in an odd way could be relied on if there was a genuine threat to Hogwarts. He had never bothered Harry about his scar again….
Ron (who was currently going through a rapid growth spurt that made him clumsy at times) peered at Hermione in concern, his face anxious.
"How many detentions did Snape give you for being late?" he whispered, so as to not attract the attention of the Potions teacher who was currently writing today's lesson on the blackboard, occasionally turning to snap at students if they made too much noise.
Hermione smiled reassuringly. "None" she said softly.
Ron gave her a confused look and Harry, by now one of the most handsome boys in school, looked at her in amazement.
"None?" they both hissed in surprise.
"When I heard Snape laughing at you before I thought it was because he had given you two detentions at least, like cleaning the bathroom with a toothbrush" Harry muttered softly, frowning at her.
Hermione hesitated. She couldn't very well tell them Professor Snape had had laughed in amusement at her joke, that she had actually made a joke with him. She had never told them of her confused feelings about him.
"I don't know why he was laughing – he had been annoyed that he couldn't very well give me a detention for lateness when he was late himself" she whispered carefully.
If anything, Ron looked more confused. "Why would that stop him?" he said aloud and blanched when Professor Snape's cold voice rang out.
"Mr Weasley, are you here to learn something or babble like a loon? Five points off!"
The students fell silent and Hermione, feeling like she had had a lucky escape, focussed on the lesson. When it was over, and Snape grumbled at the class to "get lost so I can have some peace" Hermione and Harry headed off to their next class, Ron having hurried off in another direction to his one. As they were walking along, Hermione was about to tell Harry about the return of the Mirror of Erised when she paused.
What good would it do really, but awaken painful memories? She doubted that he would go back to the mirror to see his parents, for he had a magical moving photo of them, but what if he did? What if he was ensnared by the mirror again – would he thank her afterwards? She silently sighed, determined not to think about the mirror again. It would only remind her of what was out of her reach.
She was brought out of her reverie when Harry commented thoughtfully "You know Herm, I think Snape likes you in his own peculiar way."
"What do you mean?" she said cautiously. "That's disgusting of course" she added hurriedly.
"Well, he never seems to deduct as many points from you, or gives you as many detentions as the rest of us. Plus, he never seems to give you that 'You're Slime From a Pond' look like he does to Ron or me."
"Nonsense!!" Hermione retorted, trying to sound outraged. "You should see some of the comments he puts on my assignments – 'This could be A+ instead of A if you actually applied yourself' and 'I mistook your work for that of a first year'."
Harry's face relaxed. "Sorry, what was I thinking? I must have drunk one of his nasty potions by mistake."
Hermione was silent. Was it true, that Professor Snape seemed to like her? With him, it was hard to tell, and was she wasting her time really, in wondering if he did? Probably. If Harry ever knew about the way she felt about the Professor, despite all the adventures they had shared, he would call her a traitor in an instant…and would he be right?
A/N: I'm glad people enjoyed the last chapter smile. Even Severus has to laugh sometimes! (Sorry about spelling 'Granger' wrong!). Now, please don't be alarmed if you don't see an update for a little while as I'll be on vacation. However, I won't be far from a pen and paper – it will be hard to rest until this story is finished!
Potions class had radically changed since her first year. Most of the Slytherin students were long gone, their parents having readily sworn allegiance to You-Know-Who. Not surprisingly, Crabbe & Goyle had left. What was surprising was that Draco Malfoy had stayed.
Draco was growing up to be a tall, lean man, his white blonde hair nowadays down to his shoulders. He would have been the pin up poster boy for Slytherin, if it wasn't for a jagged scar that ran from his left temple down to his chin that he grimly refused to have healed.
It had been inflicted by Draco's enraged father when Draco had had an unexpected crisis of conscience and refused to swear allegiance to You-Know- Who, and his father had lashed out at him with his wand. Only by apparating to Platform 9 ¾ and fleeing to the relative safety of Hogwarts had he managed to escape certain death. Soon afterwards a letter had arrived at Hogwarts from Lucius Malfoy, informing the school that he did not have a son.
Draco had been very subdued for months afterwards and even Hermione had felt sorry for him. These days he was back to his usual snobby self but in an odd way could be relied on if there was a genuine threat to Hogwarts. He had never bothered Harry about his scar again….
Ron (who was currently going through a rapid growth spurt that made him clumsy at times) peered at Hermione in concern, his face anxious.
"How many detentions did Snape give you for being late?" he whispered, so as to not attract the attention of the Potions teacher who was currently writing today's lesson on the blackboard, occasionally turning to snap at students if they made too much noise.
Hermione smiled reassuringly. "None" she said softly.
Ron gave her a confused look and Harry, by now one of the most handsome boys in school, looked at her in amazement.
"None?" they both hissed in surprise.
"When I heard Snape laughing at you before I thought it was because he had given you two detentions at least, like cleaning the bathroom with a toothbrush" Harry muttered softly, frowning at her.
Hermione hesitated. She couldn't very well tell them Professor Snape had had laughed in amusement at her joke, that she had actually made a joke with him. She had never told them of her confused feelings about him.
"I don't know why he was laughing – he had been annoyed that he couldn't very well give me a detention for lateness when he was late himself" she whispered carefully.
If anything, Ron looked more confused. "Why would that stop him?" he said aloud and blanched when Professor Snape's cold voice rang out.
"Mr Weasley, are you here to learn something or babble like a loon? Five points off!"
The students fell silent and Hermione, feeling like she had had a lucky escape, focussed on the lesson. When it was over, and Snape grumbled at the class to "get lost so I can have some peace" Hermione and Harry headed off to their next class, Ron having hurried off in another direction to his one. As they were walking along, Hermione was about to tell Harry about the return of the Mirror of Erised when she paused.
What good would it do really, but awaken painful memories? She doubted that he would go back to the mirror to see his parents, for he had a magical moving photo of them, but what if he did? What if he was ensnared by the mirror again – would he thank her afterwards? She silently sighed, determined not to think about the mirror again. It would only remind her of what was out of her reach.
She was brought out of her reverie when Harry commented thoughtfully "You know Herm, I think Snape likes you in his own peculiar way."
"What do you mean?" she said cautiously. "That's disgusting of course" she added hurriedly.
"Well, he never seems to deduct as many points from you, or gives you as many detentions as the rest of us. Plus, he never seems to give you that 'You're Slime From a Pond' look like he does to Ron or me."
"Nonsense!!" Hermione retorted, trying to sound outraged. "You should see some of the comments he puts on my assignments – 'This could be A+ instead of A if you actually applied yourself' and 'I mistook your work for that of a first year'."
Harry's face relaxed. "Sorry, what was I thinking? I must have drunk one of his nasty potions by mistake."
Hermione was silent. Was it true, that Professor Snape seemed to like her? With him, it was hard to tell, and was she wasting her time really, in wondering if he did? Probably. If Harry ever knew about the way she felt about the Professor, despite all the adventures they had shared, he would call her a traitor in an instant…and would he be right?
A/N: I'm glad people enjoyed the last chapter smile. Even Severus has to laugh sometimes! (Sorry about spelling 'Granger' wrong!). Now, please don't be alarmed if you don't see an update for a little while as I'll be on vacation. However, I won't be far from a pen and paper – it will be hard to rest until this story is finished!
