CHAPTER 2: End of the School Year Draws Closer

Morning came swiftly and with vengeance. The sun beat down brutally on top of all the students and most had escaped into the cooler parts of the castle because exams were finished, as were classes for the year. Hermione walked around the deserted ground outside. She had no wish to take part in the talks of what they were going to do during their last summer as free, non-working, men and women. The memory of last night crept up on her with unwanted clarity. What had she been thinking to do that? It was Snape for crying out loud! At first she thought of avoiding him until the end of school year feast, but then she remembered he was now her guardian, and visibly paled at the prospect of having to put up with him all summer, if not longer, with that hanging over her head.

She sighed and sat under a big pine tree, hoping that perhaps the shade would help clear up her clouded head. She leaned back… and felt something a tad bit softer than a tree trunk. Holding her breath she turned her head around and saw-

Professor Severus Snape, asleep under the pine tree. Had the situation not been so embarrassing she might have felt inclined to laugh. He looked so much younger, more innocent when he was asleep. But she had a feeling he would not look so much like that if he were to awaken and find her lying on top of him. She quickly sat up, praying he wouldn't wake up. For some reason she couldn't fathom, God had turned against her and sure enough, Snape woke up.

"Miss Granger," He said, sounding coolly amused. "We seem to be making a habit of running into each other in the most deserted of places." She giggled nervously.

"Yeah, well," She said hurriedly. "I better be going." He smirked.

"Why?" He asked.

"What?" She said, her mouth dropping open. Did Snape want her to stay with him? Was the universe coming unglued? No, Hermione decided, just hers.

"I sincerely doubt you have somewhere urgent to go," Severus said, looking at her curiously. Why ever was she staring at him? "You could come to my quarters now and figure out where you were going to sleep, if you wish."

"Oh," Hermione said, feeling somewhat disappointed. Why? A little voice asked inside of her. This is Snape remember? Anyhow, what did you expect? To be honest, she wasn't sure. And she didn't want to know. "All right."

"Come on then," Snape stood up quickly and waited for her to do the same. Making sure she was going to follow him, Severus started the rather long walk down to his carefully hidden quarters. Wouldn't want nosy students to come and mess around in there, now would you?

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Students, who had foolishly gone into the dungeons, thinking that the potions master was out, scrambled out of corners, and those who had been making out in the shadows quickly broke apart and dashed away from the scowling potions master. Severus looked around to make sure everyone had gone, if a student heard the password to his quarters it would only be trouble. He didn't really want to have to explain to angry parents why he had hexed their child. Once he was sure everyone was gone he turned to Hermione and said, "Come on." She nodded and scurried to catch up as he strode off toward a statue of a rather mean looking snake.

"William Shakespeare," He said in a tone barely more than a whisper. Severus may have been almost completely positive no one was listening in, but he wasn't going to take any chances.

"You know who Shakespeare is?" Hermione said in a disbelieving voice as the statue moved aside to let them in.

"Not all muggles are incompetent fools, Miss Granger," Snape said, temporarily forgetting she was muggle-born, stepping through the doorway. "I personally think Shakespeare really should have been a wizard."

"Muggles are no more incompetent than wizards, Professor Snape," Hermione said coldly, tears once more stinging her eyes.

"Miss Granger," Severus said sharply, turning around with every intention of telling her off for using that tone of voice with him. But when he came face to face with her he found her crying once more. Why is it these muggle born witches can't seem to stop crying? He thought irritably. Then it dawned on him.

"Muggle-born," He said faintly. "Miss Granger, I am sorry for what I said about muggles. I did not mean to insult your parents." So blinded by the grief that had once more engulfed her, Hermione failed to be stunned at Professor Snape's apology.

"Oh, I'm sure you didn't," She spat, her bitter voice ringing throughout the dungeon. She trembled, not really feeling angry at Snape but more so at Dumbledore for doing this to them, and a bit at herself. Voldemort wouldn't have killed her parents it it wasn't for her friendship with Harry. Deep down she knew she shouldn't feel guilty over something an evil, stonehearted man had done. But yet she couldn't help it.

Severus was once more feeling quite baffled and useless. What was one to do in a situation like this? He was not one to give out comfort, although he knew all too well what it was like to lose your parents to the dark lord. However his experience had been worse. It had left him cold and distant from everyone, knowing that getting close to another person was a chance to get hurt again. It had even led up to his becoming a death eater. He didn't want Hermione to end up like him, but he still had no idea what to do about comforting her. Curse you, Albus, he thought, Curse you.

"Miss Granger, why don't you come in?" Severus said, placing an arm around her shoulder and wondering if it was the right thing to do. She nodded briefly and wiped her eyes on the right sleeve of her robe. She leaned in closer to Severus as they walked in, feeling the need for a comforting touch. This is Snape, remember?! A little voice inside her screamed. What do you think you're doing?! You might as well try and get comfort from a cactus! But she silenced it and closed her eyes as Severus led her into his quarters.

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The dark lord sat in a great armchair before a dead fire. The air was stale with the June heat and it was quiet. He was the only one in the Riddle house. It had been almost an entire day since he had killed those pitiful muggles. He remembered the exhilaration of it, the surge of power flowing through him as he said the killing curse. He realized then he had allowed the death eaters too much power and gave them too many of the jobs he should handle himself. Yes, the dark lord needed to speak with his followers, one in particular, and mother had always said there was no time like the present. Lifting up the left sleeve of his robe, revealing an unnaturally pale arm, he rolled it so it would stay and placed one long finger on the mark that had come to represent himself and his work. It burned even darker but he felt no pain. However, all those who had taken and oath to serve him forever would be, and would know to come. They had not the courage to disobey.

* * * * * * * * *

"It would help if you open your eyes," Snape suggested. But Hermione had trouble deciding whether to call the tone sarcastic or playful. Her grip on his arm tightened, he winced, sure there was going to be little marks from her fingernails. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for anything from a dark cave with bats and demons to a gloomy room with objects used to torture students with and a few skeletons lying around. But when she opened her eyes she gasped anyway. It was definitely not what she expected.

The walls were and emerald shade with beautiful art, muggle and other alike. The ceiling was like the one in the Great Hall, showing the weather outside so at the moment it was just a clear blue with a dab of clouds here and there. The floor was a dark brown, smooth wood. A carefully placed fireplace sat in the middle of the east wall, a medium sized couch was several feet away from it and when Hermione went over and touched it lightly she found it to be a fine black leather. On it lay two dark purple pillows, one at each end, their cases were made of velvet, and for the first time Hermione wondered how much money Snape really had.

Turning around she realized that Snape's quarters were not so much fashioned in a square but a pentagon. At the more northern wall was a door and two more to the west. She wondered where they led.

Severus smirked as he watched the awe wash over the girl's face. He knew this must be shocking. After all he was the mean potions master, less formally known as a greasy-git.

"As much as I know you'd like to stay here, Miss Granger," Severus said. "I think it would be best if you came and saw your room." She nodded and walked over to him in sort of a daze. He led her to the second door on the west wall. As he opened the door her eyes became even wider, feeling like they would never go back to their normal size again.

The room was painted a dark midnight blue with the same enchantment on the ceiling as outside. In the middle was an enormous canopy bed with silver sheets. The frame was the same color as the floor outside, for here there was a thick carpet that was a deep scarlet shade. A door was on the eastern wall. In the corner was a chair that looked soft and comfortable, perfect for reading. A little table stood beside it, the same dark wood as the bed. On it were a candle that appeared unused and a vase of fresh flowers. Leaning up against the western wall was a gigantic book case filled with books Hermione had been dying to read and other she had never even heard of.

"Wow," Hermione managed to say. Severus almost smiled at her reaction, but then suddenly pain seared through his left arm. Clutching it with his right hand he grimaced.

"Miss Granger," He said through clenched teeth. "Please go and inform Dumbledore I've gone to a meeting." Briefly their eyes met and she turned pale, knowing that he was going to a death eater meeting and would soon be in Voldemort's presence. Then she nodded and ran off to the headmaster's office.

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Next Chapter: Snape goes to the death eater meeting and Harry and Ron find out about what Hermione will be doing this summer. (Cackles evilly) ~ Remo