A/N: I am not happy with this chapter. Don't know why, just know that I'm not. (George agrees with me, don't you George? *George nods*) Maybe you'll enjoy it though….
Chapter Four:
Hermione was still sitting in shock. She was being targeted by Death Eaters? And she had to go live with Snape? ALONE? She took a deep breath and glanced in the direction of the Headmaster. He was still smiling down at them, seemingly amused at the look of disgust on Severus Snape's face. Maybe if she just shut her eyes and counted to three she'd wake up in her dormitory and this would all be a very bad dream?
One…Two…Three…
Hermione cautiously opened one eye. She looked straight at the face of Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of the time, and she wanted to cry. She took another deep, calming breath, and stood up. Snape looked at her curiously. Pretending not to notice, she calmly walked out of the room.
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Snape stared as Hermione exited the room, acting as if the conversation had never taken place. He shook his head and glanced at the Headmaster. His role model and father figure for the past few decades, and felt a strong urge to beat him to a bloody pulp.
"Should I follow her?" Snape hissed.
"No, let her go. She needs some time alone before you leave." Dumbledore said patiently, "And Severus, do try not to anger her…she is powerful, and I certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of her stunning spell."
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Hermione walked with no general idea of where she was headed. She needed to clear her head, to get away. She needed to pack, but she put it off. Hermione wandered around until she found herself at the foot of the staircase to the Astronomy Tower. She marched up the steps, and sat down to have a long, hard cry.
Hermione stayed at the Astronomy Tower for almost an hour before Snape found her. He quietly climbed the stairs, and looked around. Finding no one, he turned to leave, but stopped when he heard a soft sobbing. Snape followed the sounds to a corner where Hermione was curled up in the shadows, her knees to her chest and her arms around her legs. Snape paused, not sure of what to do. He decided against touching her, and softly cleared his throat.
Hermione spun around, drying her eyes with her sleeves. She stood up to face him with as much dignity as someone just discovered crying her eyes out could muster. Despite her embarrassment, she looked up at him, and met his gaze.
"Miss Granger, we will leave in an hour." Snape said quietly. "Meet me in the Potions classroom."
"Yes, sir." Hermione whispered, before moving past him and running down the Tower stairs.
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Hermione went to the Head Girl's room and packed in tears. When she had almost everything packed, she caught sight of a picture on her mantle. She picked it up and ran her fingers over the smooth glass. Three young children smiled up at her, waving happily. Harry and Ron, with herself in the middle, in their first year. Hermione's sobs grew as she wrapped the frame in a shirt and buried it in her trunk.
Hermione used her wand to shrink her trunk and shoved it in her pocket. She was wearing muggle clothes, unsure of how they were traveling. Hermione sadly cast one more look about the room, before closing the door and locking it behind her. Locking away her life with it. She hurriedly made their way to the Potions classroom. Snape was already on edge, and she didn't want him mad at her for being late.
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Snape lit the fire in his sitting room, and then he went into the classroom to wait for Hermione. He actually felt bad for her, which was saying something, as Snape never really felt anything for anyone. He felt hatred, and disgust, but never sympathy. When he'd found her crying in the Astronomy Tower his heart broke for her. She was suffering much like he had for so many years.
Hermione burst through the door, interrupting his thoughts. She walked over to his desk and stood there silently. Snape merely nodded at her and threw some powder onto the fire. The flames turned a poisonous green, and he stepped inside.
"Snape Manor."
Seconds after he disappeared, Hermione rushed into the fireplace. Repeating his words, she found herself spinning quickly and tucked in her elbows. Hermione stepped out of the fireplace of the Entrance Hall at the Snape Manor and stood in reverence. It was beautiful. It was falling to pieces, but it was beautiful.
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Snape watched as Hermione stepped out of the grate and stared around. Her face lit up as she examined the Entrance Hall. Snape cleared his throat again. She didn't say anything, just looked at him. Snape motioned for her to follow and led her up a staircase to a corridor with three doors.
"These are your quarters." he explained, "there will be a House Elf here in the morning to show you to the kitchen."
Snape watched her face for some sign of disgust at his owning House Elves, but none came. She merely nodded.
"Goodnight, sir." she said.
"Goodnight, Miss Granger."
Hermione stepped into her room and pulled her trunk out of her robes. She returned it to its original size and took out her nightgown. When she picked it out, a shirt fell from the trunk and unfolded to reveal the picture. Hermione sadly set it on the table next to her bed and pulled on her nightgown. Hermione didn't even have time to examine the beauty of the room; she was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
