For what it's worth – Chapter 5
Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue. Please?
Author's Notes: Well, I tried to update faster, and even put off all my other fics for this chapter, but I took longer than I expected. (I don't have a Beta, I edit myself). And it's not as long as I'd hoped. It's also a bit dragging than I wanted. It seems all my fics are slowing down at the moment. Maybe it's the weather. But, nonetheless, here it is…
***
Hermione ran down the corridor. The classrooms passed in a blur, and she could've sworn she'd accidently knocked over a first year. She hadn't even stopped to apologise.
This wasn't a 'I'm-late-for-class' mad dash. In fact, this wasn't even an 'I'm-late-for-an-important-exam' sprint. This was a 'If-I-don't-get-to-Snape's-Office-in-five-minutes-there'll-be-a-werewolf-roaming-Hogwarts-and-it'll-be-my-fault' run. This was important. And it was her duty as Head Girl to make sure the students weren't harmed during school hours, and an untamed werewolf could cause some serious harm.
Damned Snape. Hermione found herself thinking. If it wasn't for his ridiculous need to be precisely on time for everything…
Down the corridor. Down another corridor. Turn left. Down the stairs.
"Oh no…" There wasn't a word in any language possible that could have verbally expressed what Hermione was feeling now.
The stair had decided, in all unfairness, to change at that exact moment. For a second, Hermione had the urge to jump the last few steps, but realized that being dead would definitely be worse than being late. The stair moved, sliding to the left, and joined with the fourth-floor corridor.
Great… now CHANGE BACK! Hermione was screaming mentally at the stair, and unconsciously her hand pounded on the hand railing. Hurry up, hurry up… for Merlin's sake, HURRY UP.
Finally! Hermione let out a frustrated breath and tapped impatiently as the staircase moved back, ever so slowly. This time, she did jump the last few steps, and was off again, the thud of her footsteps echoing down the lower level corridors and down into the dungeons. A few Slytherins gave her glares, but having Blaise Zabini as Head Boy had fast taught her to ignore them.
"What's a Mudblood doing down here?"
Of all the damned days. "Malfoy."
"What's the rush, Granger? It better be because you're leaving. Mudbloods aren't welcome down here."
"Malfoy. The word Mudblood is considered offensive." Hermione knew it wasn't really right to abuse her power as Head Girl, but sometimes, some people, really needed to be taught a lesson. She struggled to keep the satisfaction out of her voice. "Thirty points off Slytherin."
Malfoy looked complacently at Hermione, catching her off guard. And it wasn't until a few seconds later did she realize why.
"Really, Miss Granger. Don't you think that's a bit harsh?" A drawl not unlike a regular Slytherin's snaked its way around her.
Hermione spun. Malfoy smirked. And the Potion's Professor sneered.
"Professor." Hermione and Draco said in perfect unison. Malfoy glared at her, but Hermione told herself to stay composed. To not give him the time of day.
"Miss Granger. In my Office, now."
This only caused Draco's smirk to widen. That is, until…
"Mr. Malfoy. Those thirty points will stay off for your being out after hours."
"But I'm a Seventh year Pref – "
"I don't care if you're a Sixth year Prefect, a Seventh year Prefect, or just plain stupid. If you don't go back into the Slytherin Common Room, you'll answering to another fifty points." It was obvious the man wasn't in a good mood.
Malfoy slithered away with his tail between his legs, but not before giving his Potion's Professor a death glare.
*
"Miss Granger." Severus Snape sat down, his expression bordering on tired and extremely peeved off.
"Professor. I thought you wouldn't be here tonight."
"Apparently we were both wrong. But you realize that my not being here would have seriously affected the Wolfsbane Potion?"
She met him with silence. Very suddenly, Snape seemed all the more intimidating.
"Well?"
"Yes, sir." Hermione paused. "Sorry Professor. I'd understand if you wouldn't like me working on the Potion anymore."
"Not necessary. Though you should take this as a lesson. I can't imagine how this would have been any less important than any of the classes you are never late for."
Hermione let a smile slip. "Of course it isn't Professor. It's just certain… staircases are – "
"Always used as an excuse." Snape intervened. He smirked. "Used very often, usually when one arrives late for a Potion's class."
"I'd say."
There was a pause. A soft bubbling could be heard.
"Professor? What's happening with the Potion now?"
"Waiting for it to boil. Two minutes, and the third stage of the Potion will be completed after adding the herbs. Then we start the fourth stage."
"We? You'd like my help now?"
"Miss Granger. Pray tell me, why did you come to the dungeons in the first place?"
"Right."
*
The cauldron resumed its familiar bubbling state after the herbs were added and Hermione shifted on her stool. Like usual, the process of the Wolfsbane was almost too erratic to handle, what with the huge time-spreads in between stages of the Potion. But the wide assortment of components made up for that easily. Hermione could've sworn that even someone who hated making Potions would had been fascinated by the effect the Snake Skin had on the Dragon's Tooth. She had been.
"Is frothing normal, Professor?" After dropping in the Viper's Skin, the Dragon's Tooth's pearly white exterior suddenly began to bubble.
"Yes. You should watch this. Not as interesting for one who had seen it before. But, I'd imagine you'll find it quite amazing."
The frothing stopped, the pearl-white foam – almost like soap suds – drifted to the side, spreading in a circle of silver. The Dragon's Tooth, its outer layer now shredded, revealed a brilliant sapphire blue underneath. The tooth melted, its blue spreading in lines not unlike veins, to the edges of the cauldron. It crept up the Snake Skin in patterns that reminded Hermione of a bird's wing. It amazed the girl to realize all this was happening above the surface of the Potion. It tugged and eventually drowned the silver foam, save for a thin white line on the outer rim of the cauldron. The same silver circle replicated itself, only smaller, and inside the first circle. Then the rest of the Potion was completely bathed in midnight blue.
Hermione didn't say anything at first, hypnotized by the circles of silver. Then: "Amazing? That's probably an understatement Professor."
"Probably."
"What causes the potion to become a pure silver colour?"
"The Wolf Blood. Crystallized so that no oxygen is present. Pure, uncontaminated blood."
"Essence of wolf."
Snape nodded, and didn't say anymore. Hermione sighed, resuming her task in slicing listed ingredients. Resetting the timer, she noticed the silence was fast becoming unnerving. Not awkward, just monotonous. She longed for conversation. Something to make time speed up. To lighten the mood.
"So. How was your day, Professor?"
Pause. God, the man didn't even turn around to face her.
"Professor?"
"Miss Granger." Snape didn't turn, but Hermione noticed his tone was oddly strangled. "I'd like you to finish stage four of the Wolfsbane, and immediately alert Head Master Dumbledore that I have a meeting to attend to."
And before Hermione knew it, Severus Snape disappeared with a pop. A reciting voice in her head told her that apparating was impossible in Hogwarts Grounds, but Hermione knew there was more important things at the moment. It didn't take a genius of a witch or wizard to understand that the 'meeting' Professor Snape was attending was, in fact, a Death Eater one. Being friends with Harry Potter didn't hurt either.
Hermione checked the Potion again, making sure she had sufficient time to get back and add the next ingredient. Then she was running, for the second time in three hours, down the corridors and to Gryffindor Head Office. Intellect told her that going straight to Dumbledore's Gargoyle without a password was just plain idiotic.
"Professor." She breathed heavily, holding her side. "I need to speak with Professor Dumbledore."
Minerva McGonagall was in a bad mood. "What, Miss Granger."
Hermione made sure the door was closed. "Professor Snape's gone to a Death Eater meeting. He told me to alert Professor Dumbledore."
The sour mood of McGonagall suddenly got worse. Her head was in the fireplace and talking to Dumbledore within the next thirty seconds. Within the next sixty seconds, Dumbledore was inside McGonagall's Office.
"Miss Granger. Professor Snape said this?"
"No, not exactly. He said he was attending a meeting. I deduced it to being a Death Eater meeting. He apparated after that."
Dumbledore nodded, though he obviously didn't like what he was hearing. And Hermione couldn't figure if the disapproval was for her or Snape. Dumbledore turned back to McGonagall.
"We'll try and trace him. In my Office." Then, back to Hermione. "Miss Granger. I'd advise that you let no one hear of this matter. I also understand that you have been assisting Professor Snape with the Wolfsbane. If any extra hands are required, do not be afraid to ask."
The fire turned green again, and they were both gone. Now Hermione was even more worried for Snape than before. She knew he probably often attended Death Eater meetings over the course of her schooling years, but she had never actually thought for his safety.
Hermione returned to Snape's Quarters, and returned to brewing the Wolfsbane. Luckily, the fifth stage was quite simple, and easily managed, so Hermione wasn't troubled. What she was troubled about though, was if Severus Snape as going to be alright or not.
***
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