Disclaimer: Everything in the potter universe does not belong to me, except the plot, which not many people would claim.
Chapter 5.
" Do not despise your situation:
in it you must act, suffer, and conquer.
From every point on earth
we are equally near to heaven
and to the infinite."
Snape had absolutely no intention of giving the Gryffindor the book; she looked as if stress was ready to consume her as it was. He was perplexed that her parents had died and no one knew about it, she hadn't given much indication other than the scene on the train.... Ok maybe that was a very large indication. He figured that being a woman she was naturally weepy and hormonally imbalanced that caused her to act completely mad. Perhaps he'd just spent too much time with teenage girls. He was walking down towards the dungeons musing on this particular woman, when a familiar and very much annoying voice stopped him.
" Professor! I heard about the mudblood, did she die?" The arrogant heir to the Malfoy claim was trying to keep up with Snape's long strides.
" No Mr. Malfoy, and I suggest you keep your infantile pet names to yourself, lest some other professor with less patience than I decides to take action against you, I dare say that I will not stop them." His tone was sharp but considerably nicer than the one he used in class. It was because Draco was an informant to his father, who was close to the dark lord.
" Yes sir, but what of her."
" She had a stomachache." There. Simple enough. Not a lie, but it was certainly not the truth either.
"Pity, I heard she was dying. Rid us of another Gryffindor, don't you think?" His trademark smirk was in place.
" I would not wish death on a student, not even one as annoying as you." Snape made it so it sounded almost affectionate despite the fact that he wished not death on Draco, but a painful kick in the ass in the near future. God how he prayed. "Don't you have somewhere to be? Like in class?" He finished, trying to rid him self from the younger boy. Draco looked down at his watch.
" Your right, first year Hufflepuffs are due to becoming down from the divination tower, I should 'escort' them back." A wicked smile graced his beautiful face. Snape was disgusted and clearly showed that he wanted nothing to do with Malfoy.
" If you curse any of them, I will make sure that you have detention for a month with Filch, Do I make myself clear Mr. Malfoy?" Snape watched smugly as the grin slightly faded from Draco's mouth.
" Crystal sir."
" Run along then, I don't have time to deal with you." He swept on, his robes billowing dramatically from behind him. The potions master spent the next several hours teaching idiot students, who refused to accept that dragons blood was not to be infused with thistle root. He lost several cauldrons during the day and Snape's nerves were beginning to lose its flexibility. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, while grading papers. What was he to do about these children? It seemed that every year they seemed to get worse. He came upon potter's paper, a nice change. Something to vent his anger out on. The ugly red slashes began.
Hermione sat back trying not to drum her fingers. Why did it seem everyone was walking on needles with her today? She grimaced at the thought of her behavior earlier today. What had made her act so strange? She seemed to get emotional with the flick of a switch these days. 'The loss of your parents perhaps?' a voice inside her said. It was no excuse really; after all they had been dead now for a little over 3 months, she should be moving on now. ' Are you kidding me? You've barely begun to heal, the emotional process can take months to even make progress!' She snorted.
" I can get through this!" She announced bravely in the dark of night. " I know I can." Hermione certainly didn't feel brave; She could hardly get over the fact that she had wept like a girlish maiden in the arms of professor Snape. It must have been rather disgusting for him to have to hold her why she acted like a fool. ' He certainly didn't seem to mind' the voice chirped again.
" The hell he didn't." She said loudly. Realizing that she was talking to her self again, she blushed. Oh No! Was she schizophrenic? Talking to her self in the middle of the night? No wonder poppy had wanted her to stay over night for observation. People must of thought she was a bloody lunatic.
Hermione laid back and tried to relax, but all she could think about was the look on her potion masters face. It wasn't horror really, just surprise. Perhaps he didn't despise her so much as she thought.
It was a good thought.
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The next day, after a fair amount of convincing, Hermione was relieved of her bed duties and allowed to leave. She made her way right to the library as if meeting an old friend. The library smelled of many things, dust and mold being the main complaints. She had long ago, ignored that particular fragrance and learned to find the smell of fresh ink and book paste refreshing. Hermione swiveled her way past non-fiction, past fiction, through the never-ending stacks of periodicals and into her favorite spot between reference and biographies. It was nearest to the back, where not many people went. Between the J's and K's lay a cushion for her sitting pleasure and a small lantern for her nightly reading. Madame Price kindly brought books she thought Hermione might like to the spot, where the Gryffindor would often scan through them and decide whether or not they were acceptable. Today there were several books, " Newts for the stupid" "Vampires are friends too" She snorted ' not likely' and " Have your pumpkin pasty and eat it too; 1001 tips to feminism" Hermione eyed this one suspiciously, was Madame prince trying to hint at something? She picked it up and flipped through the pages, no way was she actually going to check it out...but it didn't hurt to look. Several hours later, She felt the strain on her eyes and decided it was time to leave.
" Did you like the selection dear?" The kind librarian asked a slight knowing smirk on her face. The brown haired Gryffindor blushed and nodded
" Yes, very much thank you Madame."
"Call me Ethel dear, and anytime really. I was young once also you know." She winked and they laughed because the woman was never particularly old.
Once out of the confines of the library, she wandered around the castle. It was a Saturday after all, and everyone was at Hogsmade. That meant the common room was empty except for a couple first and second years! She could finally study in peace without having someone there trying to copy her notes. Paranoid? Course not, cautious to extremes, maybe. It was empty when she got there, perfect. Looking at her watch she noticed it was half past three and a beautiful day... maybe they were all getting skin cancer outside or something? Then it hit her, like a muggle standing in the road! Today was the big game between Slytherin and Gryffindor; everyone who was anyone was going to be there.
"Good thing I'm a nobody then!" She chuckled, pushing a space of the table and putting her books down. Minutes upon minutes later she was bored. Studying was reducing her into a carrot like state, so taking a walk might make her feel better, Hermione concluded with a click of her tongue.
" What would a Gryffindor be doing so close to the dungeons?" A silky voice full of venom whispered behind her, She jumped and turned around seeing the eyes which reminded her of coals from the fire of hell.
" Hello Professor Snape" He looked down upon her with a slight frown; she was acting too casual for his tastes
"Where are you going?"
" For a walk, would you like to join me?" She said nonchalantly, his eyes widened and she knew he was about to snap NO! But for the life of me he didn't...
" Alright." He shrugged trying to act like a greasy bat and followed her out to the gardens.
A/N: Ok this chapter isn't exactly what I'd call brilliant, but I've got school coming up and I have to study. I'll try to keep chapters coming in on a regular basis. Oh and the poem is by Henri Frederic Amiel
