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Chapter Four

'Snape's Wrath'

"What the – Professor, what are you-."

Snape took Hermione by surprise and pushed her forward, knowing she'd slam into the thick oak tree ahead, hoping it would knock some sense into her.  She had no time to protect herself, too surprised by what took place so suddenly.

"You stupid girl; how reckless can you be?  It's bad enough I have to sit through a whole class with you up front, irritating me with your very presence; but to save your life by putting my cover and my life in jeopardy is enough.  What the hell do you think you're doing, Granger?"

"I'm sorry, I just…"

"Shut up," he snapped.  She nearly flew back from the harshness of his tone.  "Who the hell do you think you are?  Isn't it enough Potter has to waltz around the school with his fat head like it was his own palace, then to have you waltz right behind him, but no, I guess it isn't, is it?  You have to have your glory, too," he spat.

"Professor, please, it's not what you think, It was an…"

"SILENCE," he snapped heatedly.  "Your childish behavior, Granger, was what I always expected from you.  What the Headmaster was thinking to appoint you Head Girl was without a doubt a mistake."  Snape was obviously going for the gold.  Whatever his goals were, he succeeded.  Hermione, pinned between his cold hands and the hard bark of the tree behind her, didn't bother to move.  She stood aghast, teary-eyed, and pummeled emotionally.

She felt each word as acutely as he had spat them out, and the tears ran freely down her cheeks, soaking the collar of her cloak.  Hermione mustered all the strength she could to explain what had really happened.  "Professor, I was just trying -"

"To show the underclassmen how Gryffindor you are by filling their heads with anecdotes of your heroic attempts to bring down the Dark Lord's followers."

"Please, I had no idea…"

"Of course you didn't; I had hoped your brain was not as thick as your mane."

"Professor, if you'd just let me explain!"

"I don't have time to listen to you prattle on about your lack of common sense.  Tell me something I don't already know."

"But you're hardly being fair."

"Do you want to know what isn't fair, Granger," his voice low and the silk permeated back into it, "…that the Headmaster and staff of this school have been enduring countless numbers of sleepless nights to bring down the Dark Lord and to ensure the safety of these students, just to have you come along and mess it all up in a night of idiocy so you could prove to Potter you're just as Gryffindor as he is."

"I assure you, Professor, that was not what…"

"I said SILENCE, Granger!  After the trouble and danger you've put this school in tonight, you are in no position to assure me or anyone else of anything."

"I was only trying to carry out my duties…"

"And is this the example you were trying to show your peers and underclassmen.  That you're a troublemaking, attention-seeking know-it-all… but are you not also the Head Girl of this institution?"

"But tonight, Professor, I…"

"Are you the Head Girl or not, Granger?" he snarled.

Hermione was overcome with uncensored emotions.  She had never felt so irresponsible and humiliated in her life.  Snape had made sure she knew it and shouldered every bit of the blame.  What made it worse was that he called her 'granger', as if it was the remnant of a word too degrading to say.

Snape released her, and Hermione saw the disgusted look on his face as he turned away from her and walked up towards the castle.  She did not follow after him; she slid down the trunk of the tree and hung her head between her knees, with her arms folded around her, letting the tears flow freely down her face and into the dirty ground.  It was still dark out, although Hermione could tell it would soon be dawn by the looks of the eastern sky.  Snape stopped where he was and turned to the crying Hermione.

"Oh, get up, Miss Granger, or I'll have Filch come and fetch you with the wheelbarrow."

Hermione reluctantly drew herself up and didn't bother to wipe the tears off her face, and didn't want to be anywhere near her insensitive Potions Master.  She hung her head and made her way slowly up to the castle, not paying any attention to where she was going.  When Snape got up to the wooden doors of Hogwarts, he turned around to a blotchy, sniveling Hermione and said with a sneer on his face.  "Oh, and Miss Granger, in case you thought I had forgotten, sixty points from Gryffindor for your failed, dare I say, lousy attempts at being… bold or brave."  Hermione believed there was no way she could hate that bastard any more than she did at that moment, but this it would not be the last time she felt that way.

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A/N: Thanks Shannon, in case I haven't said it already ;p