Hermione Granger continued walking down the path to Hogsmeade, trying to think of a few gift ideas, but the more and more she thought, the more she realized how little she knew of the man.
Severus Snape stood beside her when Voldermort stormed the castle, he was faithful to Dumbledore for he helped defeat Voldermort, and safe her life. Hermione was in her Seventh year, when the battle between the Light and the Dark grew stronger.
She was then taking Advanced Potions, which only had five students, three Ravenclaws, a Slytherin, and herself, a Gryffindor. She was the first Gryffindor in a decade to take Advanced Potions, and she like every other subject worked very hard to insure that she receive top marks.
She remembered one day in class when Snape asked her to stay after.
ÒMiss Granger, you will stay after and explain to me the correct way to slice Bichorn root!Ó He yelled, as Hermione was trying to say a spell to stop the bleeding in her finger.
ÒYes sir.Ó She whispered. Snape looked her in the eyes and Hermione looked right back, with silent tears in her eyes. Within seconds SnapeÕs foul face softened and she watched as he withdrew back to his desk.
Hermione cleaned her cauldron and placed the ingredients back on the shelves, where they belong, and walked over to SnapeÕs desk, where he was writing notes to the Third years on the last exam on Sleeping Draughts.
ÒYou wanted to see me sir.Ó She started out.
ÒMiss Granger, I would think that being in Advanced Potions you would have learned by now how to handle the ingredients. I do not care if you were daydreaming, if you cannot focus on strictly potions while you are in here, I must ask you not to bother coming. Do you understand me?Ó He bit out at her.
ÒSir, I am sorry, the knife just slipped, I know the proper way.Ó Hermione said.
ÒYes, the proper way to muck things up!Ó At this Hermione grew angered and raised her voice.
ÒIt was a mistake! You cannot tell me that you have never in all you life made a single mistake!Ó She yelled.
ÒDetention Miss Granger! And if you raise your voice to me again you will be looking at a suspension. And as to your question, I have made mistakes, but I do not think you or your companions have any idea the sort of impact a single mistake can make to ruin your life!Ó He said in a deadly whisper.
Hermione did not know what to say in return, if she responded at that moment she probably would have faced suspension, so she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
Ò8 oÕclock Miss Granger!Ó He said as she put her hand on the door.
ÒSee you then!Ó She bit out.
Later that evening, Hermione saw that the PotionÕs room door was ajar, so she pushed it open a bit further and waited for Snape.
While she was waiting she walked around the doorways and saw a Latin inscription, which she had never seen before. She read it first in Latin, then spoke the translation aloud in English.
ÒTo sit alone with my sins shall be enough punishment to last a lifetime.Ó As she said these words the wall that stood before her disappeared and she was now faced with a long winding tunnel. She entered the pathway, and heard what sounded like an animalÕs cry. She got a sense of dŽjˆ vu, when the sound struck her ears. It reminded her of the time Harry, Ron and her went looking for Sirius Black in their Third year. She shuttered at the thought.
Curiosity got the better of her when she looked at the time and saw it was nearly 8:30. ÔWhere is Snape?Õ She thought. She heard the cry again and walked through this new doorway.
ÒLumos!Ó She shouted as her wand now lit the way.
She followed the pathway until she came to a staircase with windows. According to the direction she was walking towards she was near the Infirmary.
The cries were increasing, and Hermione grew frightened by the noise. She wondered if she was headed towards SnapeÕs chambers. She reached the door, in which she thought the cries were coming from and started to turn the knob. Just as she began opening the large wood door, there was a hand placed on her shoulder. She screamed and dropped her wand.
ÒHermione! It is alright, there is no need to be frightened.Ó She recognized the voice, it was the Headmaster.
ÒHeadmaster, oh I am so sorry, I just heard the cries, and wanted to help, I was waiting for Professor Snape, but he never came, and I am sorry.Ó She stuttered.
ÒHush, child, I am not blaming you. Curiosity is one of the more dangerous traits of the Gryffindor, if you know what I am saying.Ó He smiled.
ÒProfessor Snape sent me down to the dungeons to tell you that he is unable to attend your detention, but I do believe your time has past, so if you follow me I will show you out to the Great Hall.Ó He said as he guided her away from the door.
ÒHeadmaster what is that noise?Ó She asked.
ÒNoise? I donÕt hear anything.Ó He said avoiding her eyes.
ÒSurely you heard those cries?Ó She questioned again.
ÒYou donÕt give in easily do you Miss Granger?Ó
ÒNo, never.Ó
ÒYou are in the Staff hallways, and the door that you nearly opened was right below the Infirmary. Poppy must have a few patients in pain, that is all.Ó He said, but Hermione knew there was something he wasnÕt telling her.
ÒI must ask you that, while you are a student here that you do not go wandering in these corridors again.Ó He said stopping and looking in her eyes.
ÒYes, sir, of course.Ó Hermione replied.
ÒWhat happened to Professor Snape, he never misses a detention, he hands them out like candy.Ó She asked as they reached the great hall.
ÒSeverus, forgot this afternoon, that he had a meeting with me at 8:00, that is all.Ó Hermione wondered if he was telling her the truth again. Why would he had forgotten, and why did SnapeÕs classroom have a secret passageway leading up towards the Infirmary?
Hermione never did go down the staff hallway until she herself was a staff member. She couldnÕt help to think about her unanswered questions that night, and whether or not Snape would remember that night or not. What struck her most was the way he went from complete anger, to almost a pained and saddened look when he looked into her eyes.
Could he read minds? She had remembered reading somewhere that some wizards and witches had the ability to read minds, but it took a lot of practice, and a special magical ability. It seemed all through out her schooling Snape would somehow know they were lying, or if they were afraid of him before anything was said.
She had tried to remember what at that moment she was thinking, but could not remember. Whatever it had been it would to have been something outlandish, because it caused him to recoil back to his desk.
She had now walked all the way to the shops in Hogsmeade and was still no closer in knowing what to get Severus for Christmas. Whatever she was to get him, she wanted him to take pleasure in it, perhaps for once in his life feel happy.