Disclaimor: All things Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling.



Hidden Truths

Chapter 3

When Hermione woke up the next morning she was a bit nervous. Her first class was Potions. She wanted to also see Snape to see how he was and if she did the healing spells correctly, though she was pretty sure she did. Hermione got ready fast. The boys and Ginny would be expecting her soon; she agreed to go over the polyjuice potion briefly with them to make sure the guys understood it. She left her room for the common room.

"Hermione you ready?" Ron asked once seeing her.

"Yep."

"Great, let's go to breakfast. I'm starving," Harry chimed in standing up next to Ron.

"Me too," Ron agreed.

Hermione shook her head, "After what you two ate last night how can you even think about food?"

"We're going teenagers. We need nourishment," Ron grinned.

Hermione and Ginny just looked at each other and laughed.

Finally leaving through the portrait hole, the four students headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. When they arrived the boys filled their plates to capacity and started to stuff themselves. Hermione, still a bit anxious over class ate very little. Ginny talked to some other girls in her year that were already at breakfast. Once the plates were half empty of food they started to go over the polyjuice potion with Hermione's help.

Time passed swiftly and the 7th year Gryffindors and Slytherins found themselves in the dungeons potions classroom. Snape was already at his desk when Hermione walked in behind Harry and Ron. From what she could tell he looked the same as always. She wasn't worried about him finding who helped him last night. She didn't say enough to leave him clues it was she. But she did worry about him going to Dumbledore and asking who helped him.

Severus sat and watched his next potions class students wander in at their own leisurely pace. He sometimes wondered why he ever agreed to teach. Ninety-eight percent of the students never cared about anything other than passing grades. He was ashamed of his own house. Even they relied on his so called favoritism to pass potions that they did the least amount of work. He hated having to let them slide because he had to play loyal Death Eater. Severus promised himself once again, when Voldemort was dead he would require the same amount of work from his Slytherins as he did every other house. There were at least two students in this class that gave their best. And one from each house at that - too bad they were enemies because they could be great lab partners.

Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger.

Everything else, besides their studies, they were opposites. Male-female, pureblood-muggleborn, Slytherin-Gryffindor, bad... Well maybe there were a few other similarities but nothing that could be publicly known.

Malfoy and Granger were two of the reasons he kept teaching: Malfoy because he had a chance and Granger though because she loved to learn. She was a teacher's dream now - but when she first came to Hogwarts she was the nightmare. It was ironic that she could be the nightmare and the dream student. Granger was first the nightmare student because she constantly raised her hand at every question asked never giving the other students the chance to answer. The class soon learned to rely on her to know all the answers and she did at that. It soon taught the other students they didn't have to study she would do it for them and they could get the answers out of her in class. But the past several years she turned into the dream of teachers. She always knew the answers but she didn't raise her hand to every question. She forced the other students to start to participate in class and learn on their own. If needed she could be called upon and tell the answer - for some reason the students took the information better from someone their own age than from a teacher. Not that Severus took use of this; he also got students to work because they feared him and what he could do to them. He would never physically hurt them but they still feared what he could do just that if they angered him so.

Severus also regretted not being able to encourage his two best students together but his role as a Death Eater prohibited his desire. Supporting a Gryffindor muggleborn witch and a friend of that Potter would not go over well with Voldemort. But if he could he knew Malfoy/Granger team in class would be a sight to see.

Severus stopped reflecting on what he desired and turned back to reality. He had to favor the Slytherins and degrade the Gryffindors.

"For those who wish to continue to waste my time as you stroll into my class I would be more than happy to waste your time for my benefit and assign detention," Severus snarled at the Gryffindors. Severus knew they weren't the only ones strolling into class half the Slytherins did also but he continued to show favoritism by ignoring this fact.

As expected, the Gryffindors sneered at his unfairness but they kept their mouths shut. They didn't want to tempt Severus further into giving them detention. Quickly seating and waiting for instruction.

"We'll be working on the polyjuice potions still and you are to have a three foot essay on the origins of the potion and why it was created by next Monday."

Several students groaned including Slytherins but Severus dealt with the Gryffindors, "Ten points from Gryffindor for interrupting class."

The students shut up immediately.

"Get to work!"

Books could be heard being placed on the tables and chairs being moved to access their cauldrons.

Severus went back to his desk; today's ingredients of the potions were easy to manage so he let himself have a few minutes more of thinking. One subject kept intriguing him. Who helped him last night and the previous night when Voldemort called him? The first night he assumed it was a coincidence that someone helped him. Most people refused such close contact with him if at all possible, so he had written off the night as a one time occurrence. But again last night it was the same girl dressed in school robes with no indication of house colors helped him to his quarters. He didn't recognize the girl. No one in school looked like her but she was wearing the standard school robes. Other factors also made him question the possibility whoever helped him being a student of his. One they offered help twice. Most of his students would be repulsed by the idea of even touching him if he needed help. Another factor was whoever the girl was, knew enough about healing charms because when he woke up this morning he was completely healed. He assumed she placed some type of reverting charm for the Cruciatus curse on to him to help with the pain that was associated with the Unforgivable curse. The first time the girl helped him he had to heal his body but none of his facial bruises. So it was obvious the girl was smart and talented enough. This was not including that his private wards were in place both mornings after he woke up. It was also clear he had to be undressed for the girl to help him last night while he still had on the same boxers thankfully. The idea of some one seeing him beaten like that was not comforting or welcome thought.

Severus planned on paying Dumbledore a visit about his mysterious helper during his next free hour. Severus wasn't sure if he should be angry or grateful for the help and the intrusion in his personal life. Surely whoever was helping him knew the type of person he was and still is with the obvious Death Eater robes and blood being on them. True enough it was usually his blood and some of the victims he had to watch be beaten once in a while. Voldemort called him usually only for his beatings and Severus was never around the other Death Eaters unless Voldemort was there.

Severus stopped his thoughts as he noticed Longbottom making another error with his potion. "Longbottom pay attention to what you are doing. Ten points from Gryffindor," he scowled.

Longbottom was the worst student he had seen in years. Severus stood up from his desk and prowled around the class to catch mistakes the dunderheads would make.

During class Hermione watched her teacher closely as she finished what she needed to do to her potion. She then started to work on her essay which she knew the information about already - she read all about the polyjuice potion during her second year when she made it. Though she was watching him closely she was not obvious in her movements. As she watched him it appeared he was all right physically, which she was grateful for. He also gave the appearance he did everyday and that he wasn't tortured last night. She supposed it was years of doing such things that it was normal for him. She knew he was doing this since Voldemort came back, but she wondered if he had to do this before Voldemort first disappeared. She didn't think he did. Voldemort wouldn't have suspected him a spy then but Voldemort might suspect now though. Hermione wondered at what Snape had to do to prove his loyalty to Voldemort. She guessed nothing pleasant and also suspected the summer after her 4th year he spent much time recovering from beatings repeatedly. She wondered if she could ask Dumbledore, but thought again about it. If she did ask it would be intruding on Snape's personal life and she was doing that enough with helping him after being summoned.

Hermione thought about her reaction of seeing the dark man clad only in boxer shorts - satin dark green boxer shorts at that she later realized. Seeing him everyday in his black robes always made him appear too thin like skin and bone. But she now knew the man took care of himself physically, and he was well toned with defined contours.

Hermione stopped her wandering mind and got back to work on her essay. Whatever she was thinking about Snape she knew she would have to keep it to herself. She knew what she was starting to feel. Hermione respected the wizard for what he was doing to help the side of good. She knew the man also had a great mind that was respected outside of England where people didn't know he was once a Death Eater. His work in Potions was well known. This added to her respect and admiration and now knowing what he looked like under his dark robes was doing more to her. His facial features were hard edged, a dark sultry sexy look. His nose was hooked and looked like it had been broken before but it gave him more of an edgy look. Most women didn't like this but Hermione's taste ran along those lines. She never was interested in pretty boy looks. So the line came down to it, Hermione Granger had a crush on her Potion's Professor, Severus Snape.

~~~~~

In Dumbledore's office, Severus was sitting in a leather-bound chair in front of Dumbledore's huge desk. It was Severus' free hours and he had a few questions for the Headmaster.

"Albus, do you know whose been assisting me when I return?"

While Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, like they normally did he asked, "Severus, are you telling me you are allowing some one to finally assist you?"

Severus knew the older wizard was fooling with him, "Albus tell me who it is."

"Describe the person to me," Dumbledore said.

Scowling, Severus proceeded to give the best description of the lady who appeared both nights he was summoned. After he was finished Dumbledore finally spoke.

"It doesn't sound like a student that I know of," Dumbledore told the little white lie.

Severus knew then that the Headmaster knew who it was but was not going to be telling anytime soon. The younger wizard shook his head in disgust and made his excuses to leave and get back to work. He figured he would have to learn the girl's identity on his own.


To Be Continued...
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Melissa Jooty - thank you for your review! Guardian Angel I didn't think of that... but it could fit in the story. ;)

Ezmerelda - thanks! I hoped this plot line was a bit different out of the SS/HG stories I've read I don't remember one like this so I tried it. Sorry about the story being choppy, but I was cutting my teeth at writing with this. I tried to smooth it out... it should get easier with more chapters. But any critique is welcomed!

hermie4sev - thank you!

Jana B - They will be getting to know each other soon! I promise and thank you for your review!

Tabii - thank you!

February Dreams - thanks! I just hope the concept continue to works and the rest of the story I wrote.

Kaira - thank you! Hidden identities always intrigued me also. Such as SilverDawn's "Salvation Don't Pass Me By" even though it's incomplete I love the concept. I've been tempted to take the concept like she did and write my own but I can't think of anything too original like hers that I haven't tried writing one. Of your stories I was actually reading "Dreaming's Not A Crime" when my computer crashed. I've been looking for it, now I can keep reading it, thanks!

Beccs - thanks!

Amethyst - thank you!