Title: Inverted
Author: SevenAgainstThebes
E-mail: sevenagainst_thebes@yahoo.com
Pairings: HG/SS eventually
Disclaimer: JKR owns all HP characters, places, etc. etc....I merely get to borrow them for this little writing exercise.
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Chapter 5: Normal
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Hermione pulled up the blankets to her chin and in her most persuasive tone, she said, "Madam Pomfrey, I really think I should stay in the infirmary a little longer."
"Nonsense, Miss Granger. You look all right to me and the Headmaster has said that you are to resume your normal schedule today." Madam Pomfrey laid down her school uniform and robes on the bed and patted her reassuringly on the head. "Now get out of bed, dear, and you'll have breakfast in the Great Hall this morning."
"But what if something happens again?" she persisted.
"Please cease with this irritating melodramatic behavior, Miss Granger." Snape had entered the infirmary and stood with his arms crossed at the doorway. "The Headmaster has already arranged for some precautionary measures so there is no real reason for you to insist on staying in the infirmary." He lip curled into his customary sneer. "In my opinion however, having both you and Potter out of my classes is no great loss."
Hermione glared at him, kicked off the blankets and stalked off to the bathroom with her clothes in her arms. After the door closed behind her, Madam Pomfrey turned her attention to Snape.
"Now, Severus, I really hope you're going to be a little more gentle with the girl. She's been through a lot these past couple of days."
"Poppy, most people would think I'm being positively pleasant to the girl. I haven't made her cry yet have I?" Snape said wryly.
In response to that comment, Madam Pomfrey smacked him on the arm. "Don't you even dare, Severus. Albus would have a fit."
"Not to worry, Poppy. Albus has already given me the "you-must-play-nice-with-others" speech more times than I can count." He moved further into the room and sat down in one of the chairs that were against the wall. "I only need to have a quick word with Miss Granger."
The bathroom door opened and Hermione walked out, her neatly folded nightdress in her arms. "Madam Pomfrey, I need to get this washed." With a sidelong glance at Snape, she continued. "I spilled something on it last night."
"Of course, dear. I'll just take it and have it returned to your room later this afternoon." Madam Pomfrey gestured at Snape. "Professor Snape needs to talk to you." She left the room.
"Miss Granger." Snape tried to catch her eye, but Hermione was resolutely avoiding his gaze. "I have come to inform you that after dinner tonight, you are to report to my office for detention."
She nodded, signaling that she had heard what he had said. "Is that all, Professor?"
"I also want you to stop behaving like a tantrum throwing five year old and start acting like the mature young lady that all your other professors insist you are."
"Fine." She spat out, between tightly clenched teeth. "I'll do that just as soon as you stop behaving like the greasy git in the classroom and start acting like a decent human being."
As she left, he looked after her with something bordering on amusement.
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"Hermione."
She looked up from her food to meet the troubled look that Ron Weasley was giving her. "Ron."
"You're all right then?"
"I think so." She bit her lip. "I didn't hurt you badly, did I?"
"Nah, Madam Pomfrey healed me right away." He sat down next to her. "Is Harry going to be all right?"
"Professor Dumbledore thinks so," she said slowly. "I'm really sorry, Ron. I don't know what happened...I just blanked out and the next thing I can clearly remember is being in the infirmary."
"I'm just glad you're back, Hermione." Ron gave her a lopsided grin. "Can you pass me the pumpkin juice?"
She smiled and passed him the pewter jug. "I have detention tonight."
"Detention?" Ron lifted the goblet of juice to his mouth. "What for? If there's one person to blame for this mess, it's You-Know-Who. It's not like you wanted to hurt Harry."
'Did I?' she wondered. "I think Professor Dumbledore wants me to take Occlumency with Professor Snape."
Ron choked on the pumpkin juice. He coughed and blotted at his face with a napkin. "Snape?! But he threw Harry out last time! Didn't even want to teach him because Harry found out something about his past."
"I know."
"So are you going to go to Dumbledore and tell him that you can't learn Occlumency from Snape?"
She glanced at the staff table where Snape sat, morosely sipping at his coffee. "I don't know...I mean, Professor Snape hasn't done anything bad to me yet."
"For your sake, Hermione, I hope he doesn't. I don't think we can afford to have you go crazy on us again." He gave her a hug. "Now that we've got you back, maybe Harry will come around soon."
"I hope he does."
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