Thanks to:

t: great, short name ;)
Amethyst9: about the thoughts /in these/: I know it mainly are just some words or anything. But that's intention. I just want to give the reader a hint of how or what she's feeling right now, but I don't want to describe it much. Everyone can think by himself what that means right now.
TaMissy, Daine - Lilac: hmmm, I dunno if I will let him fall for her soon. It depends on what you think "falling in love" should contain. He will help her, that's for sure, and he's going to realize her true character, but he will not be all dreamy and helpless-in-love immediately. For the other things, I can not promise anything.
TamoraFan, dama-de-tinieblas, Slytherin's Snake,
Ariana Althena Evergreen, Irol, Rachel, someone28, Hermy3, AnImEfReAk81,
Lazy: I had really no intentions to romanticize rape, so I'm sorry if you felt that way. Rape is one of the most terrible things in world. And that's why most of the people don't want to read this. My friend always complained if I told her of a story which contained rape. But I think those things are more than worth to talk about. I don't know what made me write this, but I don't think it's wrong, it's just my way to show that rape is horrible.
Now, I can't promise Snape will stay... Snape. Because it's a S/H story, and it's definitely un-snapish to fall for his student.
Tamerlane, FEAngel258, risi, MM, Bright Phoenix, me4draco06,
Kucarrie: I know they're short, but that doesn't mean I don't write much. I have six chapters already written, they just have to be beta-read, that's why I can't update as fast as I would like to. But no, they won't fight. At least not at that moment. Later… maybe.
Alaskantiger, Voldie On Varsity Track, me, Pandoral15, Hecate Silvermoon, Tanya, I Hate Squirrels, wavy avey, Queen Li, Tiffie101, Stolen Simplicity, stonecoldfox, Anlixa Lightz, xSnapeLoverx, LadyBlack,
ROTCGirl: Thank you for the critique, even though you might see the changes not right now, because I've already written so much. But it really helped me!
I'm not defending myself, but I just wanted to explain to you why I have written some things in that way I've written it.
Hermione did not defend herself in any way or something. Not because she liked it (I really DO hope you could notice that, or I would be a real bad writer…) but more because she knew it would have no sense. How you are going to read in the next chapter, he has been doing that for quite some time, so she just gave up struggling.
And when Snape entered the room, he first just stepped in and didn't look at them before he began to speak. So he just said "Mr Smith, blahblah…" and THEN he stopped talking when he noticed what he's been doing.
About when Hermione left the room… well, he decided not to ask any questions, so he shoved her out and looked into her eyes. And then he talked to smith. But I've written that kind of disordered, sorry for that.
SilentSoul, Kawaiitsuki … Thank you all! Can you believe it? 38 reviews on ONE chapter!! Wow, I can't believe so many people are reading that.

Important Authors Note: This chapter is ...objectionable.

I'm aware that there will be some people who will hate this. And I really mean hate it. However, if you flame me or anything… well, do it. All I have to say is that this story isn't finished with that. If I were you, I'd go on reading the next chapters, before blaming me for something like that. Will you please? Thank you.

-§-- 4. Agreements --§-


There was a knock on the old wooden door of Professor Snape's office.

"Enter!" the Potions Master demanded.

A tiny girl stepped into his office.

'Seventeen years,' Snape thought, 'and she looks like one of those first-years who are frightened because I shot them one of my rather less-than-nice looks.'

She didn't say anything but just slipped into one of the large chairs and looked very lost in the old office of her teacher.

"So, you're here to explain?"

Hermione winced as if she had just realized where she was and who had spoken to her.

"Will you tell anyone?" she asked, ignoring his question.

"If I don't even know what to tell? Doubtful," Snape said, ignoring Hermione sighing in relief.

She already wanted to leave and stood up to do so, but was held back by her teacher.

"Sit down again. Tell me what's going on." His look was deadly, his voice low and cold.

"No," she just whispered and stayed where she was.

"Miss Granger. I want know if I just imagined that your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher had his hands in your robes or if it was real."

"Let go of my arm," she whispered fearfully, staring at the same piece of skin where Smith had grabbed her and dragged her into his office. Snape hadn't even realized he still held her.

"I don't imagine such things. I would have never thought that your grades are as important as to…" He didn't complete the sentence. "But now I think I should report it to the headmast-"

"No! Please, don't tell him! Anything, you hear? Anything! But not to Dumbledore!" Hermione cried out between sobs.

"Miss Granger…" His voice was harsh now. "Stop this childish behaviour. Teacher-student relationships aren't tolerated at this school."

"Please, Professor. I'd do anything!" she cried again, laying on the floor by now, and feeling desperate.

Then her hand wandered to the first button of her robes.

'What the hell is she doing? No…'

"Miss Granger…" he asked, alarmed. "What do you think you are doing?!"

Hermione just sobbed and continued to undress herself.

/This will stop him, at least. /

Snape's eyes widened in shock and his mouth gaped. Was she going to offer him THAT? He stood up immediately, running to Hermione, and forcing her to close her robes again.

"For heaven's sake, STOP THAT!" he nearly screamed through his desperate attempts to properly clothe her again, but as his hands were shaking, he had some difficulties.

Hermione was still crying but didn't do anything anymore, though Snape would prefer she would begin to tend to her appearance now.

When Snape thought he had enough buttons closed, he stood up again. He had never before wished so desperately to be in another place than in his office.

He looked at the bundle of clothes, hair and tears that lay on his floor, still trembling quite badly.

She was pitiful.

She cried like a baby which was only waiting for his mother or father to come and calm her down.

But nobody was coming.

'What to do now?' Snape felt helpless. 'Where are those women when you need them? What to do with a girl that's crying on your floor and offering for you to use her body?'

"Miss Granger…"

She didn't respond. She continued to sob loudly, as if she did not even care that there was another person in the room.

"Miss Granger!" he said, more sternly, but she gave no reaction.

"Hermione!" he tried desperately. She looked up, gulping another sob.

"Stop crying now, girl. I won't tell anyone, if it's that you wanted. Just… forget what happened today, alright? And never do that again."

Hermione looked at her Potions Professor in astonishment. He wouldn't tell anyone but still didn't take her? Surely, she hadn't expected him to refuse her.

It must've been years, or decades.

"Miss Granger, just would you … now… please… close the buttons of your robe again," Snape pleaded, and his voice was shaken. He was afraid.

'Severus Anthony Snape, put yourself together. And will you stop trembling!' he exclaimed to himself while he bundled his hands in to fists.

Hermione had stopped sobbing, though there were still tears running down her cheek. She stood up and wanted to leave this horrible room, but Snape held her back.

"Er… Miss Granger… You know… maybe it's not a good idea for you to go outside now that way," he pointed out. Then he showed her a door, and said, "There's a bathroom, so if you please…"

Hermione just nodded and went into the bathroom.

Snape was just on the very edge of screaming "FUCK", but when he thought about the young girl in his bathroom, he didn't give in to the urgent need.

Instead of that, he sat down at his chair, and laid his head in his hands.

He had a headache. What the hell was that about? Did she really think that everything could be solved with prostitution?

He stood up and paced up and down his office nervously.

What if he got that wrong? Hermione didn't look happy at the moment he came into Smith's office. She wasn't enjoying this, but otherwise who would?

'What if he was -?'

Snape didn't finish that thought.

'But Hermione looked so desperate…

'Gods, Severus, what are you thinking? Hermione? Next, you'll admit that she looked damn sexy on that floor, more than willing to - '

'Stop, stop, STOP THAT! What the fuck are you thinking? She is a student, and she is one of that Harry Potter's friends, and no, she did NOT look sexy, and she was anything else other than willing to do that!' the voice of rationality said.

His body, however, spoke another language.

'When is that Granger-girl going to leave the bathroom?' he thought, knocking on the door.

Hermione had been standing in front of the mirror some time.

She hated her reflection.

She wanted to scream, but she knew she had to put herself together. Snape already thought she was a maniac.

She didn't need that. Why had he refused to take her? Wasn't she good enough? Then why had he promised to tell no one nevertheless?

Hermione looked around in the bathroom of her least favourite teacher. Well, maybe second-least favourite, Smith counted.

Something very useful caught her sight - a silver blade, encased with a black shaver.

Hermione took it in her hand. The sharp blade blended in the violent light of the bathroom.

/Seductive./

Soon the sleeve of her robe had been put up, and a skinny arm full of scars appeared.

The blade had been pressed against her flesh, the pain stinging and causing her to whimper.

But still, she didn't take the blade away from her arm.

Blood ran down her wrists, and Hermione felt both relief and guilt.

But her tears had stopped some time ago, and she had washed her face with cool water before.

No one was going to know.

And it felt so good.

Hermione heard a knock on the door.

She was shocked, and let the blade fall down to the cold, marble floor.

Snape stepped into his bathroom.

Why hadn't she locked the door?? Oh, there was no way to lock the door.

Hermione just stared at him and didn't move. Her sleeve was still up, and Snape could see her scars and her new wound.

The Potions Master gasped. This was getting worse and worse. Wordless, he stared at her wound.

When Hermione wanted to go, he said sharply, "Don't move," and went to a cupboard, taking out a purple bottle.

He opened it and went to Hermione. She winced as he took her hand and forced her to stand still.

Snape let some drops of the shiny liquid drop down on her wound and it closed immediately, leaving nothing but smooth skin.

Hermione wanted to say something, but he quieted her.

"Promise me to never do that again!" he demanded.

/NO! I want to do that! / she thought, but didn't say anything. Snape answered her nevertheless.

"No. You don't want to do that. You just want to release the pain you hold inside. It's no solution. Stop that. Promise." His voice was more of a whisper, but it left no doubt that he was serious.

"I-I promise," Hermione managed to say and then left his rooms, feeling relieved to be alone again.

-§-

N/A: too much? Anyway, I'm going to post the next chapter soon. That means, if you want to read more of it... §grins§
And I'm sorry for the delay. I really meant to post earlier, because I've already written A LOT (and that means exactly that) but I didn't want you guys to see all the terrible mistakes of mine... so thanks for my beta-reader!!