** Disclaimer in part one***
Previous instalments at: www.autumnpenguins.com
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The few hours that passed between the event in the tower and the next day were not kind to Ron, Harry, Hermione or Salazar. Ron and Harry felt like complete asses and knew it was up to them to repair the damage. Hermione hadn't so much as looked at the two the entire day and spent all of her time with either Neville or Salazar. The frostiness between the three was picked up by nearly everybody. A few chose to glean it for all it was worth. "The dream team has finally split up has it?" Draco Malfoy said with malice.
"Pitty that. It's so much easier to insult the three of you when you're all together. Now it looks like we'll have to split it up between the two great prats of Gryffindor and the Ice queen with her rubbish boyfriend who doesn't even fit into any house."
"Where is he? Is he too afraid of his uncle to come to potions? Figures, he is the cowardly type." Draco said while rubbing his left forearm absently.
"Leave her alone Malfoy" Harry growled.
"It's the golden boy coming to her defence, yet again. If I didn't know you were a faggot, I'd think you had a thing for the mudblood." Draco answered coolly.
Hermione had had it. She wasn't one to loose her temper completely very often, but when she did, damage was done. Instead of turning to Malfoy she cast her eyes on Snape. She knew he could hear every word that had passed between Draco and Harry. A cold fury had been weighing her down since the previous night, and had quickly built to a fever pitch in potions. Laying aside that it was against the rules and disrespectful she opened her mouth. "What is the matter with you?"
Total silence covered the classroom at Hermione's hissed words. Snape looked completely taken aback. Not giving him the change to answer her own question she continued. "Every day you sit there and let people like Malfoy get away with saying and doing horrid things. You let him insult anyone who isn't in bloody Slytherin house, and who isn't a damn death eater. You let them hurt innocent people with hateful words and potentially dangerous stunts. You are supposed to be a teacher, you are supposed to ensure student safety but you don't. So what the hell is wrong with you?" Hermione finished, voice shaking in rage.
"You impudent girl, get out of my classroom. That will be 100 points for Gryffindor and three days of suspension for you Miss Granger," he said, dragging out the syllable of her names as if they were poisonous. Snape's eyes glittered with untold anger as he laid out his sentence.
Hermione rose from her seat loftily, holding his gaze the entire time until she slammed out the door. Nobody spoke a word for the rest of the class. It would be a day that would live in infamy; Hermione Granger had yelled at a Professor Snape and lived to tell the tale. "That was absolutely brilliant!" Harry exclaimed as they walked towards the Great Hall.
Ron however looked worried, "if she yelled at Snape, what do you think she's going to do to us?"
Harry's face fell as the two silently contemplated how Hermione's wrath would affect them both.
The next time the two boys saw their friend again was during dinner. She was engaged in conversation with Salazar when five owls swept through the air. Two landed in front of Hermione and extended their legs to her while Harry, Ron, and Salazar retrieved notes from the other three. Harry received detention with Filtch, Ron with McGonagal, and Salazar with Hagrid. Hermione unrolled the first note
Dear Hermione,
Your presence is requested in my office upon the completion of dinner.
The password is 'Oreo'
Yours Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
'That was more pleasant than I anticipated' Hermione thought to herself. She looked at the other rolled up parchment certain that it contained her detention assignment. With resignation she opened it.
Miss Granger,
You are to serve detention with me for the next three days. Come down to the dungeons after the inevitable meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore.
Severus Snape
"You got detention with Snape?" Ron asked automatically.
Hermione gave him a withering look she wasn't ready to forgive the boys quite yet. They took the cue and the four finished their meal before heading off to their separate appointments. Salazar ran after Hermione's slowly retreating figure. He gently whirled her around and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. She kissed him back and smiled for the first time all day. "Thanks," she said and pecked him on the cheek. "I needed that."
"I'll see you after detention then."
"Bet you get out a lot earlier. Detention with Hagrid isn't really detention at all." Hermione said.
They leaned in for another kiss before finally departing. Hermione walked towards the gargoyle griffin as Salazar went in the opposite direction. "Oreo" she muttered and the revolving staircase was exposed. She entered the office and walked towards the two armchairs seated away from the fireplace. Dumbledore had once said that he preferred a fire to gently toast his back as opposed to the more traditional 'front bake'. Ron simply chalked it up to Dumbledore being barking mad.
"As always, it's a pleasure to see you Hermione" Albus greeted her warmly.
"Thank you sir." Hermione said and sat in the chair that Dumbledore pulled out for her.
"I understand that your presence is requested elsewhere tonight Miss Granger, so I shall attempt to be concise. Though if I manage that, it will be the first time in my many years." Dumbedore's eyes twinkled as he spoke.
Hermione just smiled, not quite sure what to say. She'd calmed down considerably since the mini snogging session with Salazar, and her reasons for being here in the first place came crashing down on her.
"I understand there was an incident in potions today."
"Yes sir."
"And Professor Snape apparently thought it significant enough to warrant a three day suspension. That's pretty serious Miss Granger, especially considering your previous record. In all honesty do you feel that the punishment is fair?"
Hermione could hardly believe it, was the Headmaster questioning Snape's judgement? She took a deep breath. "Well sir, in all honesty, no I don't believe it was fair. I don't regret what I said, but I do not feel that it calls for such a long suspension."
"I suggest you take it up with Severus then, Miss Granger. That is all. Enjoy detention" he said eyes sparkling.
Hermione stared for a few seconds before composing herself and heading to the dungeons. Albus Dumbledore had just told her to argue with Professor Snape about a detention that he handed out. Ron was right; the Headmaster was an absolute loon. Hermione paused at the door before knocking softly and entering the dragon's lair. She was going to pick a fight with Severus Snape, and by Merlin, she was going to win.