"Miss Granger, you have not answered a question in two weeks. If you would not mind, tell us what another name for wolfsbane is." It was not a question, nor a request, but Hermione's tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She shook her head, hoping he would not force her.
"Miss Granger, I know very well you know the answer. As I recall, you nearly knocked Mister Potter's glasses off when I asked the very first day you ever set foot inside my dungeon. Answer the question."
"A-aconite, sir," Hermione said in a whisper.
"What Miss Granger? Speak up so the class can hear." He knew how cruel he was being, but somewhere inside that frightened girl was the Hermione who had slapped Draco once.
"Aconite," Hermione repeated, staring down at the table. A few of the Slytherins snickered.
"Mister Malfoy, did you hear Miss Granger's response?"
"No sir," the blond replied nasitly. He had heard, Snape was certain.
"Well, Miss Granger?" Hermione's eyes told him all he needed to know. She would never love him again. That was what he wanted.
"Aconite," Hermione said, fighting off tears.
"Thank you," Snape drawled. "Five points from Gryffindor for holding up class."
"That isn't fair!" Lavender protested. "Just because you're terrorizing poor 'Mione doesn't mean she has to lose points for it!"
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Miss Brown. One more word," Snape said, forestalling her protest, "And I will take fifty for defiance."
"Excuse me, Severus, but may I borrow Miss Granger for a moment?" Professor McGonagall was standing in the doorway. She seemed worried, and Snape had no doubt the news she had was not good.
"Yes," he answered, and Hermione followed her Transfiguration teacher into the hallway. The rest of the class watched her go, but he called them sharply to order and set them to work on their assignments.
In a moment, McGonagall reappeared, and gestured for him to join her in the hall. He came reluctantly. The last thing he wanted was to see Hermione crying, which would be the only reason Minerva would call him out. Even though she was crying, Hermione tried her hardest to keep calm. Snape only admired her more for it.
"Miss Granger has lost her parents. A car accident, I'm afraid. Could she be excused, Severus?"
"You are excused from the class, and tonight's homework, since it would require you to be in the class. I do, however, expect you to brush up on the wart removal potion we will be working on the next time this class meets. My condolences on your loss," he added more gently.
"Thank you sir," Hermione said softly. Minerva stepped in and placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Come along, I think you should send a letter to your aunt. She'll want to come and discuss this with you."
Snape watched them go, and allowed himself a rare moment of self-pity. His parents had long since died, and he knew what it was to lose someone you loved. Despite what others might think, Snape knew Hermione had loved her parents, and leaving them had been the hardest thing she had done in her life.
"If all your challenges stay this easy, Miss Granger, consider yourself blessed," he murmured, and then swept back into the classroom to take points from Neville for melting Harry's quill in his cauldron.
"Miss Granger, I know very well you know the answer. As I recall, you nearly knocked Mister Potter's glasses off when I asked the very first day you ever set foot inside my dungeon. Answer the question."
"A-aconite, sir," Hermione said in a whisper.
"What Miss Granger? Speak up so the class can hear." He knew how cruel he was being, but somewhere inside that frightened girl was the Hermione who had slapped Draco once.
"Aconite," Hermione repeated, staring down at the table. A few of the Slytherins snickered.
"Mister Malfoy, did you hear Miss Granger's response?"
"No sir," the blond replied nasitly. He had heard, Snape was certain.
"Well, Miss Granger?" Hermione's eyes told him all he needed to know. She would never love him again. That was what he wanted.
"Aconite," Hermione said, fighting off tears.
"Thank you," Snape drawled. "Five points from Gryffindor for holding up class."
"That isn't fair!" Lavender protested. "Just because you're terrorizing poor 'Mione doesn't mean she has to lose points for it!"
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Miss Brown. One more word," Snape said, forestalling her protest, "And I will take fifty for defiance."
"Excuse me, Severus, but may I borrow Miss Granger for a moment?" Professor McGonagall was standing in the doorway. She seemed worried, and Snape had no doubt the news she had was not good.
"Yes," he answered, and Hermione followed her Transfiguration teacher into the hallway. The rest of the class watched her go, but he called them sharply to order and set them to work on their assignments.
In a moment, McGonagall reappeared, and gestured for him to join her in the hall. He came reluctantly. The last thing he wanted was to see Hermione crying, which would be the only reason Minerva would call him out. Even though she was crying, Hermione tried her hardest to keep calm. Snape only admired her more for it.
"Miss Granger has lost her parents. A car accident, I'm afraid. Could she be excused, Severus?"
"You are excused from the class, and tonight's homework, since it would require you to be in the class. I do, however, expect you to brush up on the wart removal potion we will be working on the next time this class meets. My condolences on your loss," he added more gently.
"Thank you sir," Hermione said softly. Minerva stepped in and placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Come along, I think you should send a letter to your aunt. She'll want to come and discuss this with you."
Snape watched them go, and allowed himself a rare moment of self-pity. His parents had long since died, and he knew what it was to lose someone you loved. Despite what others might think, Snape knew Hermione had loved her parents, and leaving them had been the hardest thing she had done in her life.
"If all your challenges stay this easy, Miss Granger, consider yourself blessed," he murmured, and then swept back into the classroom to take points from Neville for melting Harry's quill in his cauldron.