"Miss Granger, I would like to see you after class. And ten points off for your runny potion, Mr. Longbottom. I'm sure you'll poison us yet."
No matter how Hermione wanted to protest Snape's treatment of Neville, she was intrigued by being asked to see him after class. Certainly she was not in trouble? Not a chance, she told herself. Not this early in the year.
Quickly rushing through the rest of class, and making sure to clean her hands and cauldron thoroughly, Hermione braced herself for some sort of reprimand from Snape. He looked her potion over, and frowned, but did not snarl or take points from her. Neville, on the other hand, was so unlucky with his potion, that Snape told him he had better hope that it was not possible to start the year with negative house points.
Finally, everyone was gone, and Snape turned his attention to her. For one wild moment Hermione wondered if he was goining to kill her, so intense was his stare. To her surprise, merely said,
"I have decided to allow you to help me on a small project. If you accept, let there be no doubt about how much you will help. You will copy notes, legibly, and do the majority of "grunt work," as you students are fond of calling it. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir. . . but why me?"
"Truthfully, Miss Granger, I believe you are one of my best students, and I know you will be silent if I tell you to be so. Do you accept? If not, quit wasting my time."
"Er. . . I do. I was just startled. Thank you for the oppurtunity, sir."
"I expect you tonight after dinner. Be sure to keep up with your other classes, or I will fins someone more capable to assist me. You are dismissed," Snape snapped as she hesitated. Hermione collected her bag and raced out of the classroom at top speed.
Returning to his desk, Snape allowed himself a moment of realization. Placing a pale hand to his forehead he wondered aloud,
"What the hell did I just do?"
No matter how Hermione wanted to protest Snape's treatment of Neville, she was intrigued by being asked to see him after class. Certainly she was not in trouble? Not a chance, she told herself. Not this early in the year.
Quickly rushing through the rest of class, and making sure to clean her hands and cauldron thoroughly, Hermione braced herself for some sort of reprimand from Snape. He looked her potion over, and frowned, but did not snarl or take points from her. Neville, on the other hand, was so unlucky with his potion, that Snape told him he had better hope that it was not possible to start the year with negative house points.
Finally, everyone was gone, and Snape turned his attention to her. For one wild moment Hermione wondered if he was goining to kill her, so intense was his stare. To her surprise, merely said,
"I have decided to allow you to help me on a small project. If you accept, let there be no doubt about how much you will help. You will copy notes, legibly, and do the majority of "grunt work," as you students are fond of calling it. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir. . . but why me?"
"Truthfully, Miss Granger, I believe you are one of my best students, and I know you will be silent if I tell you to be so. Do you accept? If not, quit wasting my time."
"Er. . . I do. I was just startled. Thank you for the oppurtunity, sir."
"I expect you tonight after dinner. Be sure to keep up with your other classes, or I will fins someone more capable to assist me. You are dismissed," Snape snapped as she hesitated. Hermione collected her bag and raced out of the classroom at top speed.
Returning to his desk, Snape allowed himself a moment of realization. Placing a pale hand to his forehead he wondered aloud,
"What the hell did I just do?"