Disclaimer: Everything in the potter universe does not belong to me, except the plot, which not many people would claim.

Chapter 3.

" Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same"

She lay on the ground for a moment, praying to whatever immortal God that was up there, to spare her the humiliation of anyone seeing her. No one came thankfully. Hermione picked herself off the floor and gathered the shards of glass, which was all that remained of her precious potion. Despite the fact that she told Snape no, Hermione desperately wanted the draught, a nights sleep gnawed at her like an infant beginning to teethe.

"Ow." She muttered and slugged on to her dorm, Tomorrow there would be a bruise on her face, and hell to pay from Severus Snape.

Being in the castle must have done Hermione, some good because she slept like a rock, though sadly she also slept through breakfast and right through first bell. Sunlight poured through her room and woke the beauty who peeled open an eye and hissed. It took her several minutes to clear the haze in her mind and properly wake; sitting up she looked at her watch and sighed. 'Why even go to class? Bad luck is my new best friend now' she frowned at the thought, got dressed quickly, and made her way down to class. Potions.

Professor Snape had just finished taking roll and noticed Hermione was not in class. He felt a strange feeling. Worry, one of dread and fear. The feeling was new to him. It lolled around his mind, like a bubble in a bathtub. He felt a trickle of sweat roll down his temple and his mind filled up with endless possibility's. She had not been herself since the episode on the train, could she have been trying to tell him something? Was she in danger? 'Damn!' he thought angrily, why didn't he just listen to her instead of knocking her unconscious? Perhaps he should send someone to go look for her? No that wouldn't look to good with Draco Malfoy in his class, honestly, how would it look if big bad death-eater Snape was worried about a mudblood? The word itself sickened him. The thought that Miss Granger was in trouble made him sick too. Weird. The Door to the class slammed open and Hermione slid in almost falling down, breathing as if she had run all the way down here. Snape looked closer and saw that one side of her face was a disgusting shade of purple and black. What the hell happened? His look must have said something because she put her hand to her face and muttered something incomprehensible.

" What's that?" He said putting on his 'im-a-bad-ass-dont-mess-with-me' voice. She sat down and wouldn't look at him.

" I expect an answer, Miss Granger"

" I'm Sorry I'm late." She said quietly. The Slytherins snickered. " Five points from Gryffindor, and detention with me" A few people gasped, detention? That was a bit harsh for being a few minutes late wasn't it? The potions master glared at them fiercely. They hushed.

" What happened to your face mudblood? Walk into a door? Or maybe weasel likes it rough... Got a little out of hand, did it?"

" Shut up Malfoy" She said coldly, the slytherin smirked and made an obscene gesture. Snape pretended he didn't see it.

They could here Ron gag and point at Hermione, while his girlfriend, Lavender giggled. Malfoy noticed and raised a curious brow.

" Mr. Weasley would you like detention also? I am not one to be reckoned with today, so do not test me."

The red head made a sour face and sulked. Harry gave him the evil eye. Snape turned his attentions to class and began.

Hermione stirred her potion watching her swirling reflection go round and round. The bruise was rather large wasn't it? She felt self conscious, and wanted to take a long hot shower. Her whole body felt sticky and awkward. What would her parents think if they knew she hadn't brushed her teeth this morning? A small smile graced her features as a mask. She even allowed herself a laugh, a bitter angry laugh. Tears threatened to flow down her cheeks. 'God what a baby I am, I can't even keep my emotions in check.' a tear slid down her cheek and dropped into her solution, turning it a sick yellow green. The potion was ruined.

" Damn it!" She swore quietly attracting the attention of Neville her partner.

" Is it supposed to turn that color Hermione?" He pointed out stupidly, but with good intentions. She put a hand to her forehead and took a deep breath to steady her emotions.

" No."

" Did I mess it up?! What did I do? Shoot this is my first grade of the semester, what are we going to do?"

His panic only seemed to disconcert her more. Snape glided over with the silence of a lamb.

" Problem?" He asked simply.

" I ruined the potion professor im so sorry!" He cried. Hermione could have let him take the blame, but it wouldn't help the situation anyway.

" No you didn't Neville. I did it." She said " I'm really sorry."

He gasped. Not the all perfectionist Hermione Granger. Crimany, this boy was disillusioned.

" You?"

"Well this is a waste of supplies." Snape muttered coldly and slashed his paper with a red pen.

" Professor please, The potion would have been fine if it hadn't been for me, don't take it off his grade."

" You can't prove that Miss Granger." She was begging with her eyes. He broke.

" Longbottom!" The boy jumped and looked painfully hurt.

" Can you be satisfied with a B?" The questioned surprised the young man who nodded a thousand times. It was more than he could ever wish for in these circumstances.

"Five more points from Gryffindor for ruined supplies." Hermione did her best not to spit on the man out of pure spite.

The bell rang and class was over. They stood up and got ready to leave.

" Miss Granger, May I see you for a moment?" The class 'oohed' and chorused in ' your in trouble'. Sometimes it was hard to tell if these students were 17 years old or elementary students. She walked over; Snape met her half way, taking her face into one hand. She jerked away violently as if burned.

" Does it hurt that badly?" It was a statement more than a question.

" No. I was just surprised." Mistrust was in her eyes. He took her face again, this time she did not move. He was examining her, every few moments he tisked disapprovingly or went " mmmhmmm" like a doctor would in a typical movie.

" What?" Her annoyance was starting to show.

" What happened to your face?"

" I fell last night coming from your office." He met her eyes with concern

" Is that so? Why didn't you go to the hospital wing?"

"Because I was tired and needed to fall asleep"

" Did the dreamless sleep draught work for you?" He said expecting a yes and a thank you.

" No, I didn't use it. I dropped it and the bottle broke." He frowned deeply giving his features a very similar look to her own.

"You know miss granger." He said stepping away from her. " It seems you have a severe case of butterfingers."

She laughed. He couldn't be serious. The word itself was laughable just because he had said it. But moreover that he thought she was clumsy. She was Hermione Granger after all; who didn't make many mistakes.

" Everyone gets a case, don't think just because your good at stuff that it makes you impenetrable to making a one every once and a while."

" I know that." She said pouting. His lips twisted into something of a smile, and he took her face into his hands.

" Are you sure about that?"