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Sammie Dumbledore thanks for the review!

Hidden Truths

Chapter 2

The next morning was bright with a few high clouds along with white, fluffy cumulus clouds. Hermione went through her classes as normal. She answered half the questions that were asked. During the last several years Hermione stopped raising her hand at every question even if she knew the answer. To say her teachers were shocked was putting it mildly. McGonagall even was so worried she talked privately to Hermione asking if something was wrong. Hermione explained herself only that she was giving the other students a chance to answer the questions so they didn't rely on her for everything. McGonagall expressed she was impressed with Hermione and encouraged her to keep it up. That was during her 5th year so her classmates didn't expect her to answer every question from now on. Hermione remembered a few scathing remarks Snape said in passing, but they didn't effect her in the slightest then or now.

It was soon lunch, and the three Gryffindors were in their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. Hermione ate a healthy meal for lunch and allowed herself to be less picky and health conscious at dinner. Harry and Ron stuffed themselves like it was their last meal as always. The boys were currently complaining about their next class. Whilst Hermione was nervous it was not for the same reasons the boys were complaining about. The two seemed to always whine about how Snape was a greasy sod. Hermione, however, was nervous because she didn't know if Snape perhaps knew it was her who helped him the other night. There was no reason to think he did. She believed Dumbledore wouldn't tell him for the fear of not letting Hermione continue to help and also knowing Dumbledore, he probably had another unknown reason for letting her help the Potions Master.

Lunch being over, the 7th year Gryffindors filed down to the damp dreary dungeons to the Potion's classroom. The partners in potions were different this year than last. Hermione usually sat next to Neville to help him but she talked Harry into sitting next to the poor boy. Maybe he could help him develop a backbone because obviously the six years prior with Hermione helping him didn't succeed. This left Ron and Hermione. Ron didn't mind that he would hopefully be receiving a higher score in potions with Hermione's help. He was disillusioned when Hermione told him that she was not helping him as she did for Neville. This led to moaning on Ron's part.

"Why aren't you going to help me Hermione?" Ron whined.

"Because you didn't have a problem like Neville did."

"But I'm horrible at potions."

"That's because you don't study. Neville does. He knows the answer in potions, but he is too nervous because of Professor Snape," Hermione explained rationally.

Ron knew there was no changing Hermione's mind so he let it drop.

The 7th years were all soon seated and waited for the entrance of their teacher. They didn't have to wait long; Snape walked quickly with robes billowing behind him down the aisle between Slytherins and Gryffindors.

"Turn to page 374 now," Snape silky voice drawled over the classroom.

Books immediately opened.

"Today you will be making the polyjuice potion. If any of you bothered doing your reading assignments as instructed you all should be able to answer this question. How long does it take to brew this particular potion?"

Harry, Hermione and Ron knew the answer. Hermione opted not to answer the question but jabbed Ron in the ribs to get him to answer. Ron took the hint and raised his hand.

"Mr. Weasley class has just begun. You should have taken care of your needs before class," Snape sneered.

The Slytherins laughed quietly at Snape's comment.

Ron, true to his temperament, quickly stated, "I was raising my hand to answer the question."

Snape disbelieving the boy, "This would be a first in Gryffindor history. So, answer the question already."

"The polyjuice potion takes 21 days to brew, sir," Ron said in his own sneer type voice.

"Amazing and I see that concludes your knowledge of potions; seeing how you never get the answers right on your tests and your essays are rubbish." Snape smirked looking at the young Gryffindor who was doing his best to keep his mouth shut.

Snickers could be heard again from the Slytherin side.

And the class continued with points being deducted from Gryffindors and points awarded to the Slytherins. Scathing remarks flowed from Snape's mouth continuously directed at Harry and his friends or at Gryffindors in general.

Hermione did her work on the potion quickly, and watched Snape closely. She made sure she was being extremely discreet, because she knew Snape's sixth sense about such things. She assumed he didn't know the identity of his helper and she planned on keeping it that way. Hermione also noted he looked healthy - well as healthy anyone could two days after being tortured. For some reason when Snape made insulting comments toward her or deducted unwarranted house points she wasn't as irritated. Usually she would be seething. But after seeing the dark private man in such poor shape - remarks and house points seemed pointless. She knew he had to be such a bastard in front of the Slytherins for his spy career. Oh, Hermione knew he would be a bastard without having to act as a loyal Death Eater but in doing so he had to act worse.

As the week continued Hermione had a few more potion's classes. With each class she had begun to respect Snape just a little bit more. She didn't take insult from his demeaning comments and point losses he inflicted. She didn't understand why this was happening to such a degree but she accepted it.

~~~~~

It was Sunday night and Hermione was in her room up late studying for a test in Astronomy. She already revised her notes for the test but she wanted to go over the material one more time just to be prepared. So she was sitting at her desk surrounded by books checking and double checking information.

That's how she was found a little while later when an unknown owl came through her open window. She was quite surprised at the owl, this would be the first she ever received a letter late at night in her room, post was usually delivered at breakfast.

With the owl, perching on a stack of books, Hermione untied the letter attached to its leg. She had a feeling she knew what and who sent the owl. She was just not expecting a notice so soon; Hermione opened the letter and read the brief message.

Ms. Granger,

Professor Snape has been summoned. The meetings usually last at least 30 minutes.

Thank you for your help,
Albus Dumbledore


Hermione didn't know what to expect when she got the notice from Dumbledore but was glad she could help in some way. She quickly changed into some school robes stripping off her nightgown. Grabbing her wand and two quick spells: Glamoure Charm and the invisibility spell Dumbledore gave her. Hermione had practiced the spell within the confines of her room then into the Gryffindor common room a few times to make sure she had no problem holding the spell in place when needed. The Glamoure Charm made her look vastly different. Short auburn hair, small blue eyes, a half inch shorter in height and her facial bone structure was more rounded. All this was different from her long brown curly hair, warm chocolate eyes. She was pretty most would say but not beautiful.

Hermione made her way to the Entrance Hall to wait for the man. Passing the corridors and descending moving stair cases, Hermione was relieved she didn't see or hear Filch and Mrs. Norris. She was thrilled Peeves didn't show himself either, even though she was invisible she didn't want to press her luck. Once in the Entrance Hall Hermione forced herself to sit down and wait. Pacing could only cause unwanted noise and drain energy she might need in helping Snape. When she was sitting down she withdrew a small piece of parchment. It was full of notes on healing spells and a few potions just in case. She reviewed this while she waited.

Thirty minutes later, she was still sitting, reviewing and invisible, Hermione heard the small noise of the Entrance Hall doors open slowly. A moment later Snape walked through as though he was taking great care not to show weakness. He quickly looked around and saw no one then allowing himself to quit the act and slowly and carefully walk toward the dungeons entrance. Hermione put away her notes, took off her invisibility spell and went to Snape's side.

Snape was surprised at her sudden appearance but didn't go for his wand or say anything. Hermione went to help him by putting his arm around her but he took it back and vehemently whispered, "No!"

"I'm helping whether you like it or not," Hermione whispered back just as vehemently. And she quickly put her arm around his waist and pulled his arm over her shoulders.

"Hospital Wing or quarters?" Hermione asked.

"Quarters," Snape answered in a hoarse voice that sounded as if he had been gurgling rocks.

Hermione gave a curt nod and proceeded to direct the man to the dungeons steps. Descending the flight of stairs was a painful, achingly slow process but the two eventually did it and headed for the professor's quarters. Snape withdrew his wand and removed the wards. Again Hermione paid close attention so she could replace them when she left. She also noticed they were different from his previous wards. Figuring he changed his wards as often as she changed the password to her room.

Walking through the same sitting room as before, she directed his walk to his bedroom door. Inside he lay down on his back in the bed. Hermione waited a few minutes to ensure he was asleep. She planned on checking for injuries more thoroughly and this would have to be done by first undressing him. She planned to leave on a certain article of clothing for decency sake though. Hermione went to his wardrobe and took out some pajamas as last time. Hermione said a simple charm and with a flick and wave of her wand Snape was only covered with his boxer shorts she noticed. Being a young woman she took stock of the man's body without even noticing. Snape was pale throughout his whole body as his face, but he was thin and defined. You could see the muscle developed under his pale skin. His legs were tone and developed like runner's legs. Hermione quickly realized what she was doing and stopped checking out her teacher. She noticed some fresh black and blue bruises on his right side ribs. Broken ribs she concluded. Withdrawing her wand she lightly touched the darkened area and said a spell that would determine the injury and it confirmed he had broken ribs. She then muttered a spell that would mend broken bones. She could hear Snape's breathing become more natural and at ease with this. After mending the bones, she made quick work of healing the bruises above his ribs, on his face and healed his cuts. Hermione glanced over the wizard and his limbs looking for anymore discoloring. His knuckles were red and swollen looking as if he was in a fight. He probably was she assumed, Hermione said a familiar spell to reduce the swelling and helped heal his bruised knuckles. There was one more special thing she wished to do on the wizard. It would help in case he was subjected to the Cruciatus curse, by reducing the pain that was normally felt in the morning. Hermione figured this was all she could do for him and soon said the charm to place his pajamas on.

Hermione located a blanket on Snape's bed and covered him. She noted to herself to find a spell that would make the bed covers go over him. Leaving him asleep and healed, Hermione left and replaced his wards. She put the invisibility charm back on herself and made her way to Dumbledore's office. They didn't mention anything about her checking in after helping Snape but she figured he wouldn't mind a brief report.

Hermione knocked on Dumbledore's door after ascending the gargoyle stairs. She heard him say come in and she went in with the Glamoure Charm on but the invisibility spell off.

"Good evening, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore welcomed her.

"Headmaster."

"I take it Professor Snape is well?"

"Yes, sir. I did a few more healing spells but he looked the same as last time," Hermione informed him.

"At least it wasn't worse," Dumbledore said solemnly. "You should return to your room and rest. Good night Ms. Granger."

Hermione nodded and bid goodnight.