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She came the next night at the same time, and she kept coming. At first, Snape tried to frighten her out coming back by telling her about his days as a Death Eater, but she stubbornly refused to be swayed. She proved a sympathetic and intelligent listener. Gradually, Snape came to relish their late night conversations. They talked about nearly everything, from the inconsequential, to things they had never told anyone else. Originally, Snape had worried that becoming friends with a student would interfere with things in the classroom, but he soon found that it wasn't a problem. Hermione behaved as she always had, as did Snape, although he did try to keep the Gryffindor point deductions to a minimum. The only thing that changed happened in class about a week from Hermione's first visit. Snape noticed Potter and Weasley staring him strangely. Actually, it was no unusual thing for the Gryffindor duo to look at him with loathing, but there was no malice in their gaze now. Instead, it was something more akin to bafflement. Snape had snapped, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley. Surely you have better things to do than to watch me? Like work on your potions?" They had given him odd smiles, and returned to their work without a word. Snape was mystified by it and had decided to mention it to Hermione.
That night, she arrived right on schedule. Snape had the tea ready and she accepted a cup gratefully. When she was settled, Snape began, "Miss Granger, I have noticed something very odd. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley seem to be regarding me in an even stranger manner than usual. I was wondering if you might shed some light on the matter, since you certainly know them better than I." She said nothing and, strangely, looked embarrassed. Finally, she said very quietly, "They found out I'd been coming to see you." He scoffed dismissively, "Is that all? They're even shallower than I thought."
"That's not all they found out," she said, even more quietly than before. Then, she mumbled something unintelligible. "What?" Snape asked, leaning forward. Barely audibly, but more clearly than before, she murmured, "They found out I have a crush on you." It took a moment for the words to sink in, but that moment was all she needed to flee the chamber, her very demeanor a study in embarrassment. After she was gone, Snape sat for several long moments, shocked into immobility. That had definitely been the thing he had been least expecting. At first he was taken aback be her confession, but the more he thought about it, the less the idea seemed to bother him. Over the course of the last week, he had come to value Hermione's company greatly. He'd even, God forbid, come to like her. He vowed to put things right with her the next night, and immediately began formulating plans.
The only problem was that Hermione didn't come the next night. Or the one after that, or the next. In class, she studiously avoided meeting his eyes or speaking to him any more than was necessary. Harry and Ron continued to watch him strangely.
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Snape sat up again, waiting for Hermione, but he knew it was even less likely that she'd come tonight. The students were in Hogsmeade, and it was not likely that she would pass that up to come sit with him. He had just resigned himself to yet another lonely night when there was a tentative knock at the door. Trying to restrain a silly grin, and knowing he was failing miserably, he opened the door, and stopped dead in his tracks. Dumbledore stood there, looking every inch his 116 years. With him was Minerva McGonagall. Snape instantly knew it was something serious. Dumbledore often came to visit him, but the Gryffindor house head never did. He had a sudden feeling it was something about Hermione, but he dismissed it as idle fancy. He knew Hermione hadn't told anyone besides Harry and Ron about their late night talks and she had sworn them to secrecy. There was no way for either of the other two teachers to know.
He invited them in, and after conjuring an extra chair, asked, "What brings you here?"
"There's a . . . problem, Severus," McGonagall said carefully, "When the students came back from Hogsmeade, Hermione Granger was not with them. Since it is highly unlikely that she decided to stay longer in town of her own volition, Dumbledore and I feel it safe to assume that there was some form of foul play involved." Trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, Snape said, "What does this have to do with me?"
"It's been noticed that you and Miss Granger are rather close," Dumbledore commented, "When Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley were told of what had happened, they told us about your friendship with Hermione. We were hoping that you might have some idea where she is." Snape shook his head, his anger rising, "I have no idea. I hope you're not insinuating that I had something to do with her disappearance, Albus."
"No, of course not, Severus," Dumbledore said placatingly, "We are merely exploring all our options. We are not placing blame on anyone yet. However, this is where your part in this comes in. As you know, the citizens of Hogsmeade are carefully observed to avoid any Dark presence so close to the school, so that leaves the students. I have asked all the House Heads to keep an eye on their students. I am asking you to do the same, because as much as it pains me to think it, of any student in this school, it is more than likely the Slytherins who have done this." Snape nodded, "I agree, Albus. Do we know if she is alive or . . .?" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
The Headmaster's eyes grew shadowed as he said, "I don't know, Severus, but I fear the worst."
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