An Acceptable Risk

Part 15

Hermione walked into the potions room and sat down, and tried to prepare herself for her upcoming outburst.
"Hermione, what's wrong with you?" asked Ron, running into the potions room. "I looked for you at breakfast, and just now, I must have called you four times. Are you alright?"
"She had another run in with your sister, the Slytherin in Gryffindor robes," said Lavender. "She practically attacked Hermione this morning, just because Hermione tried to keep her from oversleeping."
"It doesn't matter Lavender, just leave it alone, will you?" said Hermione softly.

"Looks like one of the Weasley's has some sense," said Draco loudly. "She's the only one who sees things the way they are. And I must say Weasley; she's grown up quite nicely too. I can't wait to attend the Yule Ball with her," he added smirking. Harry didn't say anything, but out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw him stiffen, and draw his hand into a fist. She turned to look at him, and what she saw shocked her. Rage filled his face, and his eyes shot green sparks. Harry was angry, angrier than Hermione had seen him in a long time.

Professor Snape entered the dank potions classroom, his robes billowing behind him like the wings of an overly large bat. He stood at the front of the classroom and fixed the students with his steely gaze. Hermione didn't know if it was her imagination or not, but his gaze seemed to linger on her longer than the others. This was so different than the last time she Harry and Ron had caused a disturbance in class. That time, Ron and Harry had been disruptive. This time it was up to her.

"Miss Granger, are you so advanced in the art of potions making that you no longer feel the need to pay attention in class?" asked Professor Snape. The Slytherins roared with laughter while color suffused Hermione's face.
"No, sir," she mumbled.
"Good, then perhaps you and your partner Mr. Longbottom wouldn't mind demonstrating the proper method for creating a restorative potion. And ten points from Gryffindor for your woolgathering."
"But what are we restoring Professor. It's impossible for us to create the potion unless we are to know what it is for."
"Ten more points for being impertinent Miss Granger. Did you wish to try for more?"
He's goading me on purpose, she thought to herself. I guess this is it.
"Professor Snape, I simply asked a logical question, and I am waiting for an answer. Perhaps the problem is, you haven't prepared for class, and you are trying to cover it up by taking YOUR inadequacies out on the rest of us," said Hermione in a shaky voice. "And further more, I resent the fact that you are continually taking your bad humor out on the Gryffindor's."

"Hermione, will you shut up," whispered Neville. "You're just making him angry."
"No Neville, I will not shut up," said Hermione. "It's about time somebody took him to task for the dreadful way that he treats us. He's simply afraid that any one of us will surpass his clearly limited potions skills, and that's why he berates us so."
Ron jumped up out of his chair and ran to Hermione. "Professor Snape, let me take her to the hospital wing. Something's obviously wrong with her."
"Yes, get her out of my site, but Miss Granger, I believe you have sixth hour free. You will serve your detention then. Perhaps if you spend several of your free periods assisting me in instructing your feeble minded house mates, you will understand that I have no reason to worry about any of you surpassing me."

Snape called the class to attention. "Potter, move up here and work with Longbottom. Perhaps between the two of you, you can endevour not to blow up the classroom. Weasley, I expect you back here as soon as you have escorted Miss Granger to the hospital wing." Ron nodded as he grabbed Hermione's belongings and led her out of the dungeon that housed the potions classroom and pushed her towards the stairs. "Hermione, what is wrong with you. You've never spoken to a teacher that way, not even Trelawney."
"I'm fine Ron," she said. "Just get me out of here." The two walked up the stairs towards the hospital wing. Ron pushed opened the door and waited for Hermione to walk through. When she hesitated, he gave her a small shove and followed her into the room.

"Weasley, Granger," said Madame Pomfrey. "What seems to be the problem? You were in potions, were you not? I suppose one of those confounded concoctions backfired."
"N-no Ma'am," stuttered Ron. "It's Hermione here. She, well, she's gone insane or something."
"Really?" said Madam Pomfrey. "She doesn't appear to be acting insane. Would you care to elaborate just a bit for me?"
"She yelled at Professor Snape. She said he was an incompetent teacher and was afraid that he would be surpassed by his students."
Madam Pomfrey's mouth twitched a bit as she said, "Really? Well Mr. Weasley, I think it would be best if you went back to class now. I'll take care of Miss Granger."
"Are you sure I can't stay? I mean Hermione's my, well, she's my," Ron began.
"I know full well what Miss Granger is Mr. Weasley, and no, you may not stay. Please return to class. You will see Miss Granger later."

Ron walked over to where Hermione stood, and took her hand. "I've got to get back to class now Hermione, but I promise you'll that I'll come visit later. Don't worry, Harry and I will take extra good notes for you." He gave her hand one last squeeze and left the hospital wing and went back to the potions dungeon for the remainder of class. Madam Pomfrey bustled around, settling Hermione on a cot and giving her some chocolate to munch. "I daresay you are working too hard again Miss Granger. Just like the year you had the time turner. You couldn't remember if you were coming or going." Hermione didn't say anything, just nodded and continued to eat her chocolate. "Now I want you to rest here for the rest of this hour and the next."
"Yes Madam Pomfrey," said Hermione agreeably, some color returning to her face. Never in her life had she spoken to any adult, let alone a teacher like that. She closed her eyes and lay back on the cot, and tried to calm her rapid breathing.

Hermione was just nodding off when she heard a voice whisper, "Pssst, Hermione. Wake up." She opened her eyes and turned her head toward the sound. She heard a rustle of movement and caught a glimpse of Harry's face as he lifted the invisibility cloak for a moment.
"Harry," she hissed, looking around for Madam Pomfrey. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to make sure you were alright. I've never seen you act that way before, and I was worried," he whispered.
"I'm fine, but how mad was Snape?"
"He was furious," said Harry. "Hermione, that was great, the way you went off on him like that. He deserved it, he's had it coming to him for years." Hermione couldn't see his face, but in his voice, she heard something that reminded her of the boy he used to be."
"Harry, you have got to get out of here before Madam Pomfrey gets back. I don't want to get into anymore trouble."
"Ok Hermione," Harry whispered. "I just wanted to make sure for myself, and for Ron, that you were alright."
"Well, I am, now will you get out of here! I'll see you and Ron in the Library later, I promise."
"Watch it, here comes Madam Pomfrey. Bye Hermione," Harry whispered. Hermione heard a faint rustling, and then nothing.

"Perhaps Mr. Weasley was correct Miss Granger," said Madam Pomfrey from beside the bed. Hermione gave a small scream and turned to face the nurse.
"Right about what Madam Pomfrey?"
"I thought I heard you talking Miss Granger, but I don't see anybody here but you. Are you certain you are alright."
"Oh, um, yes Ma'am. I'm fine, I was just um, trying to remember everything I needed to get finished tonight."
"MmmmmHmmm," she said in a doubtful voice. "It's time for sixth hour Miss Granger. I suggest that you return to class, and the next time you are feeling this way, come and see me before you share your feelings with your professor.
"Yes Madam Pomfrey, I will, and thank you," she said. She gathered up her books and left the hospital wing and began the long journey back to the potions dungeon.