Chapter Twelve

The Return

The further into the forest he went, the more Severus fumed. When he eventually found Hermione she was going to be one sorry Gryffindor. He had had plenty of time to think as he followed her meandering footsteps and while he was sure he couldn't get her expelled, she would have so much detention for this little lark that she'd still be serving detention after she had graduated.

Reaching a rise, Severus paused to listen and to call out "Miss Granger" in a quietly firm voice.

"I'm here, Professor Snape" Hermione called, coming from behind a huge oak tree at the top of the ridge.

"Are you all right?" he asked as she hurried towards him, her face pale, her book bag slung over one shoulder.

"Yes sir" she replied meekly then winced at the searing look he shot at her.

His voice was icy as he looked stonily down at her.

"Your friends have been quite anxious about you Miss Granger" he spat, then turned and indicated her footprints.

"Follow these" he uttered abruptly, then held the lantern high as Hermione preceded him, back to Hogwarts.

Hermione had seen the light from the lantern as she walked towards the trees she recognized from the ridge, and then heard her name called again by a very familiar voice.

She wished she was wrong, why did it have to be Professor Snape, of all people? He was remarkably calm, Hermione thought, considering the situation, but decided against asking questions, especially asking if she were expelled.

'No point giving him any ideas' she thought ruefully as she trudged through the forest, feeling his hard stare boring into the back of her head.

Eventually they arrived back at the mushroom circle and Hermione felt sick as she remembered she had left Harry's invisibility cloak lying on the ground.

It wasn't there.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Hermione gasped as she felt Severus bump into her back.

"Miss Granger" he ground out "what in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"I'm sorry Professor Snape, I, I've lost Harry's Invisibility cloak, I left it here."

Hermione's voice cracked and she muffled a sob. She couldn't cry in front of Professor Snape, even though the tears were close and threatening to fall, she just couldn't.

"Yes, you did" he agreed, his voice cold and distant.

With a sniff Hermione turned to look up at him, her eyes huge pools of misery.

"How, how did you know I had it Professor?" Hermione asked quietly.

She knew she was in trouble, she just couldn't believe how cold and heartless he was being, even under the circumstances.

"I know you took it, Miss Granger."

He looked down thoughtfully at her upturned white face then sighed heavily as he continued.

"Mr. Potter took the incentive to acquaint me with his concern's regarding your absence and his missing cloak."

"Oh."

Hermione bit her lower lip thoughtfully, wondering if she dared ask.

"Yes, I found his cloak" Severus replied tiredly to her questioning look "and yes, I have it in my possession."

Severus smiled grimly at her hopeful look, dashing her hopes with his next words.

"I plan on handing it over to Dumbledore tomorrow morning when I acquaint him with your little" he paused, his dark eyes unreadable, his lips a thin white line "adventure."

"Oh" was all Hermione could say, then, subdued and worried she continued following her footprints until they reached the path back to Hogwarts. With a muttered counter-spell from behind her her luminous footprints disappeared and, head down and fighting the tears pricking at the back of her throat Hermione continued the near silent walk to Hogwarts.

Once inside, instead of heading directly to the dungeons as she'd imagined, Severus accompanied her all the way to the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

"I shall expect to see you at Dumbledore's office sharply at ten Miss Granger, do not be late."

His voice was cold, emotionless, and Hermione bit back her plea; she was sure it would be useless.

"Yes, Professor Snape" she murmured softly, then said the password and passed out of his sight through the portrait hole

~*~

Severus watched as Hermione stepped through the portrait hole and disappeared from his sight. He should have felt vindicated he knew, yet, he only felt an emptiness that he would have to report her transgressions to Dumbledore and face the possibility of her expulsion.

'Well' Severus thought as he turned and made his way to his quarters 'perhaps she simply wanted to meet the fey, she's safe and there's been no real damage done.'

Severus felt guilty and was therefore doing his best to rationalize away what might have been a tragedy, and he knew it. Angry at himself, Gryffindor's and the world in general he doused the lantern and left it in the potions classroom before heading to bed in a very foul mood.

~*~

When the portrait closed behind her, Hermione was very happy to see that Harry wasn't there still waiting up for her return. She already felt guilty enough about Professor Snape keeping Harry's invisibility cloak and she didn't want to add to that the guilt of worrying him and causing him to lose sleep over her as well.

As she made her way up to her room, Hermione reflected that perhaps Professor Snape hadn't been as terrible to her as he might have been. She had more than expected to be dragged bodily to Dumbledore right there and then and sent packing. Her throat constricted painfully at that thought though she knew that was what she deserved. As she quietly got ready for bed, the tears that had been threatening finally came and Hermione cried herself to sleep.