A/N: Yes, that last cliff hanger was mean of me! I'll be nice now, I promise. g



Ann – So, I'm the 'Queen of Evil Cliffhangers' hmm? It has a nice ring to it g.

Catsrule_Dogsdrool – I won't ask where you got that Snape Internet link from! g Hmm, I can imagine saying "Your robes are on fire" too. Right, I've scared myself now. You really want to be in this story, don't you? Well, you might regret saying that..g

Jasey – OK, you can sit down now!

RowanRhys – Thank you for making this story one of your favourites! That's really nice of you. I hope you will continue to like this story. As for that line that Voldemort said – he said that because he's Evil™. He just wanted to annoy Snape…



Part 8

"……Hermione!?!"

Hermione was walking in the school grounds with Harry, discussing the latest Quidditch game when she paused.

"Did you hear that?" she said to Harry in puzzlement, looking around her. She had heard Professor Snape call her name and - she could swear she had heard it in her head! Disturbingly she had heard terror in his voice. Snape was not someone you imagined feeling terror – that was something you, the student felt in his presence as he casually dissected your latest misdemeanour in an acid voice.

"Hear what?" Harry said curiously.

"I heard Snape call me as if he wanted help – something's wrong" she said slowly.

Harry looked around in puzzlement. "Yes, there's something wrong because I didn't hear anything and I don't see him, unless he's invisible. Now that's a scary thought…ugh."

"I'm not making this up!" Hermione said impatiently, running a hand distractedly through her hair as she turned and stared around her. Indeed, there was no sign of the Potions teacher in the grounds or at any of the diamond paned windows.

"But if something is wrong" she went on, "shouldn't we find out?"

Without waiting for a reply she spun and headed towards the main doors. Harry stared after her.

"If Snape's in trouble, no, I don't really want to find out why!" the tall Gryffindor muttered to himself but nevertheless he started following her.

If Snape really was in trouble though, Hermione thought uneasily, it could mean that the help of Dumbledore would be required. What could terrify someone like Snape? Aware of Harry following her and feeling vaguely silly, she headed inside and down the stairs that led to the dungeons. The best thing to do first was to try and locate him.

Perhaps it had been her imagination after all and he would end up snapping at her for disturbing him. On her way down she passed two tall girls from Ravenclaw, blinking when she overhead one of them asking the other what was the best way to get Snape's attention, telling him that his robes were on fire, or just stick to putting an enchanted apple on his desk?

What was it about Snape that made him so fascinating? Hermione thought in bemusement, convinced with every passing second that she was down here for nothing.

But when she opened the door to the Potions class it was dark and empty. Well, maybe he was in his office. But when she cautiously knocked on his door, waiting a while and then quietly opening the door, there was no one inside the quiet, shadowy room that led to equally quiet quarters. No cold voice rang out asking what was the meaning of this latest behaviour?

"He's probably in the staff room, thinking up new and unusual detentions" Harry said lightly from behind her.

"Come on Herm, you didn't really Snape call you for help, did you? Besides, I'm the one that hears voices sometimes, remember?"

Hermione turned and looked at him, troubled. "I could swear that I heard him!" She was silent for a moment. "Maybe you're right – perhaps he's in the staff room after all."

Harry hesitated. "But if he isn't there – then maybe something could be wrong after all. Come on, let's go and find out."

There was a faint grimace on his face. Hermione knew how much it had took for him to say that – he had no love for Snape at all and would be the first one to celebrate if the Potions teacher left the school.

They both hurried back up to the main floor and went towards the staff room. However, when they approached its door, it opened and Albus Dumbledore walked out, wiping a few bread crumbs from his beard. When he saw Hermione and Harry he gave them a gentle yet curious smile.

"Is there something the matter?" he inquired.

"Is Professor Snape in there?" Hermione said in a deliberately casual tone. "I want to ask him something about the notes he gave us in class today."

Dumbledore gave Hermione a thoughtful look and shook his head. "Why, no. He went to the library a while ago."

Hermione's shoulders sagged slightly in relief. There was a logical explanation for his absence downstairs after all – she must have been imagining things after all. Harry nudged her gently in her side with an elbow. "See?" he muttered.

However, Dumbledore overhead him. "What is it?" he inquired. Feeling foolish Hermione muttered "It's nothing really, sir, I don't think…but a few minutes ago when I was outside I thought I heard Professor Snape call my name. It sounded like it was ah, in my mind and he sounded…afraid. But that's silly of course, because he's in the library."

Thanks to the many defensive spells laid on the library these days, nothing short of Armageddon could harm anyone in there. Dumbledore didn't laugh though but looked at her sharply. "You heard him in your head, eh? Hmm…I wonder if he went to…" then he straightened.

"Would both of you go to my office and wait – no, Hermione, you're not in trouble – wait there until I return. Food and drink will be there on my desk for you." He nodded at them and then hurried off down the corridor.

Feeling distinctly uneasy now, Hermione looked at Harry who stared back at her. "Herm, he *believes* you. If so, then what's going on? Why would Snape call you for help?" he said, his green eyes confused.

"I don't know" Hermione said honestly. "Come on, let's go."

Harry's face had a thoughtful look as he continued to stare at her. "Yes, let's go."

A/N: Right, before you start asking what have I done with the Potions teacher, my answer is that the story will be told from Hermione's POV for a while and yes, there will be a happy ending. I may have to increase the story rating (or maybe not, I'm starting to blush! g ).