A/N this is another very short chapter, but that's the reason it's posted.  I've been really busy lately, and the fact that I'm updating at all is pretty amazing.  As is, there might be another short chapter out by next Saturday night… I know it's a long time, and I'll try my best to do something before then, but no promises.  For now, R/R!

Hermione undressed slowly, and stepped into the shower. She tried to recall yesterday's events in exact detail.  She had made a mistake last night, had taken longer than she ought to have done to dissemble.  She needed to play everything down in front of Snape when he asked the inevitable questions, because if he were to find out then quite possibly everything would be over.

What had happened, exactly?  She had met Malfoy on top of Slytherin Tower, where he had done his usual.  As was normal, he had threatened her with the deaths of her parents.  Of course, he did not realise that she actually wanted her father dead, but her mother was another story.  She smiled bitterly – she didn't even like the woman, not anymore, and yet this was what had become of her life because of her mother. 

So Malfoy had raped her and beaten her more than he usually had.  Then he had left, and Snape had arrived almost immediately.  He hadn't wanted… what she had offered in exchange for secrecy, but had seemed quite concerned for her.  Very out of character, but perhaps there really was more to him than his teacher persona.  There was much more to her than met the eye, too.  Hermione knew better than to judge by appearances.  That lesson had been learnt the hard way.

Snape had taken her back to his rooms afterwards, and given her a couple of potions to accelerate her healing.  She was thankful for these, because the healing she knew was time-consuming and tiring.  At least with the potion she needed to do much less healing of herself.  Why had he done all of this?

The sudden thought made her freeze.  Why had he respected her wishes and not taken her to the hospital wing?  Why give her potions and privacy instead, and allowed her to wait overnight to explain.  Dumbledore would have demanded instant answer, and Pomfrey would have fussed until Hermione either broke down or was driven insane.  Snape had just offered quiet and subtle comfort, not rushed her, and helped her in the way he knew best without pressuring her into anything. 

Could he perhaps be a spy, working with Draco Malfoy, or even Lucius Malfoy, to see how much Hermione would reveal?  She would have to be very careful indeed.  In her experience, few people did things without motives.  And, superficial appearances or not, she could not see Snape voluntarily picking up a student he hated and tending to her in his own rooms.  Something was going on.  She would have to be careful.