Hermione leaned shakily against the stone wall in the Potions classroom.

That didn't happen. . .That didn't happen. . .It couldn't have! Her mind whispered repeatedly to herself.

She drew her arms in front of her and hugged herself tightly.

"It couldn't have. . ." She whispered as her mind dived into the previous events.

(AN: Hermione's memory picks up when Graham has trapped her in the library :AN)

I can't believe this is happening! Not again. . .I can feel his warm breath on my ear. And I can smell it too. . .Not good. I hear the beginnings of a whisper. Some disgusting comment, I bet! But, after that. . he will. .he will! No! I feel tears slide down my face and hear a small gasp from him.

Then his grip on me loosens. .no. .it's completely gone! What's happening? I spin around and find Graham now several feet away from me, staring wide-eyed at Professor Snape.

"Professor Snape!" I gasp. How did he know what was going on? He couldn't have! Not even I knew, until it was too late. . .I lean my back against the cold stone. This is getting to be too much.

"Miss Granger, Mister Pritchard, may I ask what is going on?" Why does he always do that? He always says something in the form of a question but that's the last thing it is.

"Nothing, Sir," Graham says. Gee, nothing? Bastard. I shoot an icy glare at him.

"Miss Granger, what about you, is 'nothing' going on?" Oops. I think he saw that glare - Wait. Look at his eyes. . .They seem so knowing. He knows what's going on, I know he does. But how did he know it was going to happen? He can't be psychic, not with his obvious, ahem, distaste towards Professor Trelawney. However, that one time, he did say he observed more than most. .Noticed more than most. . .

He must have been watching Graham. It must have been so obvious to him. It should have been obvious to me. With the way he kept on looking and smiling at me. . .I clutch my arms to myself. All of the sudden it feels so cold, with Graham's glare and Snape's. . .Snape isn't glaring at me, he has that same look in his eyes - though, buried rather much deeper this time so most won't see it - He looks concerned.

He seems so intent on something. I wonder what it is.

"Nothing, Professor Snape." He doesn't believe me. Nobody would. Not with the position he walked in on us in, and how weak my voice sounded. I wouldn't believe myself.

Professor Snape stiffens. Yes, evidently he doesn't believe us - Why am I not surprised?

"Are you two sure you wish to proceed with that story?" He doesn't sound happy. Why is he looking at Graham like that? He couldn't possibly know about what he did. . .I don't want anymore trouble. . .

"Professor, really, nothing was going on. I was just. .trying to tell Hermione something," You know, Graham is really horrible at lying. Even I did better than that.

"Miss Granger, would you care to explain what was going on, as I am quite sure it was more than 'nothing.' " Oh. . .Why does he look at me like that? It really is quite unnerving.

"Professor, h-he is right. Nothing was going on. Honest." I take that back. Graham is a better liar than me.

Snape's eyes narrow briefly at me. He knows. He always knows when a person is lying. I wonder if its occulmency. . .No. He wouldn't do that - at least, I hope not.

"10 points from Slytherin and Gryffindor for lying to me. And another ten points for being caught in a compromising position." Hey! I didn't exactly have much of a say in that 'position'! "Mister Pritchard, return to your dormitory at once."

Graham looks at him uneasily and quickly leaves the room. Well, it looks like he doesn't need telling twice. Git.

Professor Snape looks at me with his dark eyes shining clearly in the darkness. Wow, that's almost creepy, well, if they didn't look so sexy. Oh! I can't go around thinking about my professor like that!

"Follow me." He says then leaves the room with his robes sweeping around him. I guess I don't have much of a choice but to follow, I don't think he would be very happy if I didn't follow.

He keeps walking until he stands before the Potions classroom.

He pushes the door open and steps inside, I follow.

"Miss Granger, now that Mister Pritchard is not here to influence you, what were you two doing before I walked in?"

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. This isn't good. Why couldn't I have just gone to my dormitory? Why is he doing this to me? Why is he looking at me like that? He seems so intent on something. . .I just want to be out of this nightmare. It isn't fun. It never was fun. I want out!

"Professor?" That's good. Sound weak. Sound tired. Perfect. "May I go to my dormitory? I'm feeling rather tired." Yes. Not even he can deny that.

"No. Tell me what happened." Bastard. I can't tell you. You know that, I know you do. And for some odd reason, I seem to think that you know exactly what has been going on.

"I'm sorry, Professor, but I can not." I say meekly.

"Why not? At least answer me that." Since when does he take anything less than what he asks for? I seem to be learning an awful lot about Professor Snape. . .What other secrets does he have?

"I. .I can't." Why do I feel like I'm ready to cry? "It's complicated."

"I am not a simple-minded fool, Miss Granger. I assure you, I can understand what you want to say." His eyes. . .They seem so intent again.

"You should know," Wait! Why am I saying this? I can't. I can't! I can't! "You should know exactly what has been going on." My voice is so quiet. . .Why am I telling him this? Oh. .My eyes are burning, I'm going to cry again. No! Not in front of him! I am not that weak!

"What I do and do not know is not that subject of this conversation. The subject is you and what is happening to you."

Bastard. I swear all men are bastards. But, I feel like I should tell him. But he knows enough! Remember, the other night, when I cried so hard. . .He knows enough!

"Professor Snape, what you know is part of the topic of conversation because it ties into me. Please don't play word games with me. I really do not think that I am up to par as of this moment."

"No games," He says softly. "That I can and will agree to, if you tell me the truth."

You know. . .for being such a studious student, I really should be able to come up with a different word other than 'bastard' to describe him. Though, it is quite fitting, ne?

"Fine," I sigh, irritated. "Graham did it. You know he did. I know he did. But, please," I look at him with pleading eyes. "Don't do anything about it. I can handle it. I can handle Graham. Please, don't make this more complicated," I whisper.

He looks at me. He looks at me with eyes that can see everything and show no one what he sees. His eyes seem to clear.

"Miss Granger, I am bound by my duty as a professor at this teaching institution to inform Professor Dumbledore of what has occurred and who is behind it." Shit. "But," But? "I am also bound by other, overriding, duties to not create any more turbulence and tension. So, for the moment, I shall keep your secret and no one shall be informed of what has happened." He really is going to keep the secret? Snape keeps secrets? Figures, his whole seems to be a secret.

WAIT!

What does he mean by 'create more turbulence and tension'? What is he hiding? I narrow my eyes. He's not getting away with it that easily.

"What are you hiding?" I ask sharply.

"Leave, Miss Granger. Your presence is no longer necessary here," He turns around and begins walking to his desk.

"No. Tell me what is going on," When did I get this brazen?

"Leave! Or more points shall be deducted from Gryffindor!" His voice his sharp and strong, but I am stubborn.

"No! Tell me!"

"Miss Granger," He growls, "You are becoming a nuisance."

"I don't care," I glare determinedly at his back. "You are hiding something that I should know."

He turns around and faces me once more, glowering. "Twenty points from Gryffindor," He says softly.

"Points mean nothing compared to what you are hiding, that much is obvious."

His face softens from a glare to mere blankness. "What I am keeping from you must not be told to anyone, including yourself. Stay there." He walks out of the room and into his office.

Hermione closed her eyes. She had just told her teacher who had raped her. She had just tried to force her teacher to tell her confidential information. She had also just been caught with Graham in the library, with him attempting to. . .No, she wouldn't think about it. She can't think about it all the time. No.

Professor Snape walked back into the classroom; he was holding a small vial with a green liquid in it.

"Roll up your arm sleeves," Snape said.

"What? Why?" Hermione looks at him confused.

"Just do it," He demanded not unkindly, but not kindly either.

Hermione eyed him skeptically, then gave in - she had been opposing him too much today anyways. With a little struggle she rolled up her thick sleeves and her eyes widened briefly. There were large bruises over her upper arms.

"That's what I thought," Snape said gruffly.

Hermione looked at him absently. She had forgotten how tightly Graham had grabbed her, not unlike the first time.

"Take this," He handed her the vial.

"What is it?" She asked, taking the vial.

"It is a potion that will make the bruises go away, I took the same potion after you had hit me the other night." Snape said, but didn't sound like he was accusing her of anything. But Hermione still felt guilt knead her stomach as she swallowed the disgusting tasting liquid, nearly spitting it out, surprised by the vial taste.

She waited a few moments before looking at her once wounded arms.

"They're gone," She said softly.

__________

AN:

Wow, I didn't expect to write this this quickly. Pretty good. I did go over and edit the last chapter, I just changed a few things and made it flow better. I didn't add any new scenes or anything.

And, of course, thanks for all your reviews!