Title: A Schoolgirl's Fantasy Author: Her Lover's Spy Rating: PG-13 for now, R later Pairing: Hermione/Snape Keywords: Sting and the Police, Forbidden, Accusations Setting: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry and the gangs 7th year AN: Yes, the title of this particular chapie is by John Updike, I found it fitting!

Ch. 1 We are cruel enough without meaning to be.

"The most decisive actions of our life…are most often unconsidered actions."

Andre Gide From his book Les Faux Monnayeurs

(The Counterfeiters)-1926

Professor Severus Snape glided down the hallway in his usual mood, no longer the "I can't wait to catch an unsuspecting 1st year" but more of a world-weary walk. The on-going war had taken its toll on everyone, not excluding the Potions Professor. The hallways were quiet being so early in the morning before even most of the teachers awoke. There was always a solitude to the near empty, morning-sun filled halls that he couldn't explain, it was one of his few joys. Normally he would have lingered, taking his time in the halls, but he had more pressing matters for this morning.

After the latest dark raid, the Death Eaters had come up with a brilliant new way to kill people, and it seemed that they were taking great joy in urging death along. A poison, taking effect in an extremely short amount of time, had been engineered, and with all the attacks St. Mungo's had been entirely filled, leaving various institutions to pick up the slack. Dumbledore, being who he was, said he would take in the overflow and ordered his Potion's Master to try and find a workable antidote. After all his efforts to cure the obvious ailment, nothing had been successful. Working too quickly to counter-act, the poison easily spread to other parts of the body causing madness before the inevitable.

It pained even Severus, who was used to the horrors of war, to see such agony. Too confused by his failures, Snape had gone to find the only other in the castle whose skills might help, Hermione Granger. Over the past year they had cultivated a fairly stable working relationship that was slowly nursed into a friendship between the professor and student. At the request, or rather politely veiled demand on the part of the Headmaster, Hermione had helped brew many of the needed potions when Snape had been too fatigued by the beck and call of Voldemort. It had taken some time, but both had sorted out their differences and quit bickering, for the most part.

Heading towards Miss Granger's rooms, the man turned his mind back to the task at hand, how to keep the poison's reaction time down. The Head Girl's rooms were not too hard to find among the many pictures; they were next to the Gryffindor common room, separated by a flight of stairs. As Snape neared the painting akin to John William Waterhouse's The Magic Circle, the fat lady scowled at him, she could still remember the days when he was just a gifted Slytherin playing pranks upon school mates. He had to search the back of his mind for the correct password, Hermione changed it so many times. Muttering a little Severus remembered quickly, saying it and before the witch in the painting could step aside, he had already swept through the small entry and up the stairs, only stopping at Hogwart's most gifted student's door. He'd knocked a few times without an answer before he opened the door, becoming slightly worried when Hermione didn't come to the door as usual. It did not fail to escape the professor's notice that his student's rooms were immaculate and extremely well organized, but after a quick glance around he confirmed that Hermione wasn't there.

Thinking that she might be asleep, Severus moved on towards her bedroom and knocked once more, hopping she was in there. No answer, so he entered and looked around, the four poster's curtains were drawn and nobody was in the bed; it hadn't even been slept in! Severus was extremely worried by the time that he tried the bathroom, which to his dismay was empty; He growled inarticulately as he swept out of the room, trying to ignore the little voice in the back of his head that whispered that she was with a boy. The black part of his mind laughed and he clenched his fists at the thought, she had every right to be with someone, or she might even be in the library. Trying to quell his feelings, he made up a plethora of excuses, "If she is in the library, then why are you getting jealous?" He could almost hear the malicious laugh, not knowing the answer, he stomped down to breakfast, after all, there was no need to worry, she was in the library, right?

~o0o~

Sleep still beckoning, Hermione groggily opened her eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. After looking around it hit her that she had fallen asleep in the library again, the book she had been reading still in her lap, opened to the 150th page. The sun hit her face as she wondered what time it was, then suddenly remembered that today was Monday, first lesson was double Potions with Slytherin, and she really couldn't afford to be tardy. She grabbed her bag and headed to her rooms to change, already knowing she'd have no time to eat breakfast; the clock pointed to almost late.

~o0o~

Snape in a bad mood could be expected, but Snape in an absolutely pissy mood was something his students weren't used to any more. With not even the Slytherins daring to talk, Harry and Ron could barely mouth to each other about Hermione; she was never late to Potions, not since she was locked in the prefect's bathroom by Malfoy in 5th year. Thinking that she might be doing something for Dumbledore, the two let it drop, also thinking that they really didn't want to make their professor mad. Anyone who would get in trouble today would have detention for days.

"Get your cauldrons out. Madam Pomfrey needs another batch of Restoro solution for her stores, lets hope that your attempts end up satisfactorily. Anyone caught fooling around will have to drink their potion, hopefully you'll only get a mild buzz. Don't let me see anything amiss." He glared pointedly at Dean Thomas, "What are you waiting for? Begin!" As Snape barked out for everyone to start, a cacophony of metal banging and glass clinking ensued, all being careful not to make too much noise to annoy the dark man that was their teacher.

The class was quiet except for slight sounds, so when Hermione opened up the slightly creaky wooden door, everyone heard, including the one who she wished hadn't. "Miss Granger!" The girl looked down at the floor, this was far worse than expected. "I expect my students to be in class at the appropriate time, so if you do not intend to learn you may go back out that door you just came through." She sighed but kept her mouth shut. "Twenty points from Gryffindor, now sit down!"

As soon as she started to shuffle her feet towards her desk she let out a breath she had been holding, this was going to be a long day. "Pardon, Miss Granger? I don't appreciate it when people mutter behind my back, another 10 points from Gryffindor and detention tonight. Go sit down and work on this with Mr. Malfoy, I'll discuss detention with you after class." Barely making her way to the assigned seating arrangement, she caught Ron's look plainly say that Snape was an insufferable git, normally she would have defended her professor, but today, she totally agreed.

The class passed slowly, time seeming to creep by; no one tried any antics, apparently discouraged all anxiety on the field of pranks. Malfoy had lightened up and so it wasn't so much him that made the hours slowly tick by, but the glares in Snape's direction proved to all that the Head Girl was mad. Luckily, the end of class came, and Hermione was just too tempted to leave, but she could not shirk off her detention, with a word to her two best friends she walked towards Snape. What Ron had said kept playing over in her mind, "Don't let him get to you, Hermione, most likely he got the nasty end of a wand and doesn't want to admit it. Just take the punishment and don't get yourself in more trouble." For once Ron was right, as long as she could get through tonight she would be fine, just keep herself quiet. Now that was a task.

Trying to keep her anger under control, she slowly walked over to Snape's desk, doing her best not to drag her feet. The professor in front of her barely glanced up, apparently some research scrolls done by third years were more important than her upcoming detention; she wished that he would just tell her to leave. Hermione's wish wasn't granted and she was forced to stand there until he spoke, "Miss Granger, I realize that in the past two years you have never been late to my class, but I do not accept tardiness." Was this Snape trying to show some sort of acceptance? "Your detention will be at 9 o'clock tonight; I hope you like the smell of cleaners, Miss Granger, because my cauldrons are extremely dirty."

Her dismissal was evident. She seemed calm before she left his room, erupting only after she shut the dungeon door. The gall of that man! Not even looking up at her when he punished her! Hermione wished him to burn in the seven hells. "Ooooooooooooooooooh!" Snape was supposedly her friend, at least her colleague, and now, he was acting like the evil teacher she despised earlier in her student life.

"My, my, my! Is the clever Gryffindor Head Girl getting frustrated at the Slytherin Head of House? I would never have thought to see the day when Granger would let her anger get the better of her. I think I should mark this on my calendar." Hermione heard a soft voice from behind her; she could hear the amusement tickling the corners of the words. She turned to see a languidly posed Draco Malfoy leaning against a tapestried wall, that patented smirk playing on his lips.

"Sod off, Draco." This was not what she needed.

"We're on a first name basis now, Hermione? I thought that you hated me far too much to even think of my given name, you should try saying it more often. It sounds so wonderful when you say it." That annoying smirk got bigger.

Her anger was almost to the boiling point, soon to flow over. "You may be Harry's friend, but you aren't mine, so, I suggest that you leave me alone before I hex away your reason for living."

"Oh, I'm hurt. You don't love me anymore."

"You're right Draco, my heart now belongs to another." Back behind her she could hear him snort. It was funny, she even left with a smile on her face as she left for Advanced Arithmancy.

~o0o~

"Can you believe the never of that man! He didn't even look at me when he gave me detention, it's not even anything worthwhile, it's cleaning cauldrons! For Goddess' sakes, he could have at least put me brewing potions, something useful." Hermione's anger hadn't cooled down at all during her classes and when lunch finally came, she was livid. Calm and collect had nothing to do with Hermione Granger today.

"Hermione, he knows that you enjoy doing potions, that's why he's making you clean." Ron helped himself to another drumstick. "Hey, it could be worse, he could have given you double detention. If it were Harry or Me, the git would of been a real jerk. Personally, I would rather have detention with Filch, at least he just hates the students, he doesn't try and overly intimidate 'em." She had to admit that Ron was right, so Hermione calmed herself down, gently reaching for a goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Where's Harry?"

"He's over with Draco."

Hermione nearly choked into her juice filled goblet.

"I told him just to go over there after those two were making eyes at each other. It really gets sickening, you know, to watch your best friend and who you thought was your worst enemy blushing at each other. You should be happy you missed it." Ron pulled a face. "It's Harry's choice of course, but he could have at least gone for a Ravenclaw, I mean…Draco?" The Boy-Who-Lived's best friends had taken a little while to get used to Harry's idea of a relationship, but they were accepting. Not many people liked the idea of their golden boy dating who was supposed to be the epitome of evil.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to those two. I don't see how on earth Harry can put up with Draco's smart mouth."

"Yeah, Draco is a smart-ass."

Hermione giggled, "Don't tell me you're swinging Harry's way now, Ron!"

"Don't worry, luv," Ron leaned over and gave her a kiss, "I'm perfectly straight." As she left to go to the library, she had to say he was most definitely not gay.

~o0o~

As the sky got dark, Hermione realized that she should be going inside, so as not to be late. She had enjoyed, for once, watching Ron and Harry practice their quidditch strategy, and so had Harry's fan girls. She guessed it really didn't matter to them that he was gay; they still had roaring crushes on the poor boy. Normally she didn't enjoy watching a bunch of sweaty guys trying to out show each other in the air, but it had been extremely funny to see all the guys jockeying to the best position to push everyone out of the way. Laughing along with the rest, Hermione left the pitch and headed back to the castle. Looking at her watch to see how much time she had till 9, she walked off towards the dungeons, better early than late. Passing a few occasional students, 'Mione came to a halt in front of the potion's classroom and went in a few minutes early. She didn't see how Snape could stand to stay down here all day, but, she admitted, the gloom and doom atmosphere fit his personality quite well.

"You're late." The cold, silky voice reverberated off the walls in an odd way, leaving her to feel as if she was being judged and found wanting. "I thought I told you that I wouldn't appreciate it if you were tardy."

Plucking up her courage, Hermione took off her cloak and stood her ground. "I'm not late."

A quirked eyebrow, "What?"

"I said, I'm not late."

"You are late, Miss Granger."

"No, sir, I am not. My watch is set to the school clock and it says I still have two minutes."

Professor Snape rose from behind his desk and stood in front of a very composed Hermione, "You. Are. Late."

Sticking out her wrist, she uncovered her watch, "I'm early, look at my watch." He grabbed her wrist and glared at the watch, scowling more and more progressively.

"Get to work. My cleaners are under the cabinet, and no magic, Miss Granger. Or you'll have more work to do later." Was this Snape accepting that she was right, no - she rethought that, it was more like retiring with honor, no defeat. As she took off her robes and rolled up her sleeves, she noticed that her professor was more sullen than normal. Granted he always seemed to be grumpy it seemed as if he was purposely making himself angrier. She smiled at his obvious discomfort and started to work on the 20 some odd cauldrons that were scattered about the room. After the course of six of the metal behemoths, she spilled the wizard equivalent of bleach on her skirt; she grabbed her wand, trying to remove it before her clothes were ruined. Muttering about the injustice of it all, she got ride of the spill and went to put her wand up when she heard someone behind her.

Hermione was spun around as Severus grabbed her wrist, twisting out of his grasp, she held her wand close. "What was that for?" She managed to sputter out.

"I told you, do not use magic!" He hissed out his words, true to his house name.

"I didn't use it on the stupid cauldrons!" The indignant girl backed up against the cabinet, gesturing to her skirt. "I was trying to get the cleaner out of my skirt, I don't want a big white spot on my front."

"Don't you get an attitude with me, girl." That damned silkiness was back, but Hermione Granger, she was a Gryffindor, she wouldn't back down.

"I wasn't, if you were looking and weren't so intent on acting like such an ass," She did NOT just say that! "You might notice!"

"Miss Granger," He advanced, Hermione couldn't help but feel a tad bit helpless, "I do notice when my students don't do what they're supposed to. Just like I notice when they do not spend the night where it would be appropriate." How the hell was that any of his business?

"What are you implying, Professor?" Don't he dare toe the line!

"You know what I am implying, Miss Granger." He stared her down even more.

"How dare you? How, dare, you!" He didn't really see Hermione's reaction, but he surely felt it. Her slap had hit him squarely in the jaw, causing her own hand to sting, but it caused exactly what she wanted. Surprise shot through Snape's eyes after she brought her hand down and, extremely upset, Hermione fled the room, grabbing her things and sailing out the door. Still recoiling from the well-aimed slap, it didn't even occur to the man to take any points away from her house.

That was Chapie 1, hope ya liked. Just hit that little review button to tell me, flames, etc. don't bother me. And a big thank you to my wonderful beta, Kitty Rose, who helped me get this story off the ground in the first place!