CHAPTER 3: Unexpected Worry

Hermione ran, ignoring the stitch in her side. She was breathing hard, it was long way from Snape's quarters to Dumbledore's office. Closing her eyes briefly she tried to sort out her thoughts. Snape's quarters were wonderful, so different from the gloomy dungeons in which he taught. And he seemed almost, nice? How could Snape be nice? To top it all off, Hermione felt worried, actual worry, not that Dumbledore's best spy would be discovered, but actual worried that Severus would be hurt. Wait, when did she start calling him by his first name?

So lost in thought she ran right into two people who happened to be looking for her.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron gasped when they saw who was now lying on the ground next to them.

"Harry, Ron," She said, inwardly groaning. She stood up quickly. "Look, I have to go." They each grabbed an arm before she could run off.

"We've been looking for you," Harry told her impatiently.

"Yeah, it's dinner," Ron said irritably, his stomach growling.

"Sorry guys," Hermione said apologetically. "But I have to go!" She wrenched her arms from their grips and dashed off.

Harry and Ron looked at each other, then ran off after her.

* * * * * * * * *

The dark lord carefully observed the circle of death eaters before him. They all wore the same thing, but he knew who was who. Some stood nervously, at tense air about them. Other stood defiantly, as if asking him to test their loyalty. Then there were a very few who stood casually, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Severus Snape was one of those few.

"My loyal death eaters," The dark lord said, his tone imposing yet rather quite. But the entire room was so silent it carried so making it seem louder. "I have come to the decision that you are becoming to arrogant. You are killing to many muggles and wizards without my consent. And of your ranks I know one of you has just received a great burden from Dumbledore. It would be best if you just come forward and said it, your punishment will be less painful that way." A chill and silent thought went around the circle. Who was the dark lord talking about? Who would he be punishing?

Severus acted like all the others, although he knew only to well who the dark lord was talking about. But, it did interest him as to why the dark lord would care about what happened to one mudblood girl.

"You," The dark lord said, pointing his wand at Severus.

"Me," He said calmly, although his heart was racing.

"Tell me, loyal death eater," The dark lord said in a lofty tone as all other death eaters' eyes glued on Snape. "Why is it you are doing something for Dumbledore?"

"It would have been suspicious had I refused, my lord," Severus lied easily. The dark lord considered this for a moment.

"Fine," The dark lord said. "Crucio!"

* * * * * * * *

Hermione stopped in front of the gargoyle.

"Fizzing Whizbees," She said, panting.

"Hermione!" Both Ron and Harry shouted. "Wait for us!" Ignoring them she began to walk up the staircase. With a final burst of speed they managed to get onto the staircase before the gargoyle shut.

Hermione was already at the top of the stairs. Soon she disappeared out of sight. Harry put a finger up to his lips and motioned for Ron to follow his lead. Ron nodded and they began up the staircase. When there was only five stairs left Harry got down on his knees, so Ron did too. They climbed up to more stairs that way, then stuck their head up so they could hear what was being said.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione said, sounding a little frantic. "Professor Snape had gone to a death eater meeting!" Albus looked over the girl before him and smiled. Her hair was everywhere and her face flushed. In her eyes he could see worry, and a little fear. Yes, he decided, It was the right thing to put them together.

"Thank you, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said calmly. "You should go to dinner now." Hermione's mouth dropped opened.

"W-what?" She spluttered indignantly. "Go to dinner!"

"Yes," Dumbledore said patiently. "It wouldn't be very good for you to starve, now would it?" Hermione gaped at him for a few seconds.

"I can't believe you're not worried," She hissed. "He's only going to be my guardian for a while and I am worried. You are like his father and you're just sitting there calmly like there's nothing wrong!" Harry and Ron looked at each other, their shock mirroring off each other's faces.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said evenly, his tone more forceful. "I assure you I am worried about Severus, but there is nothing I can do." Hermione glared at him for a moment then stalked back off toward the door. Harry and Ron turned around and tried to run away before Hermione could see them but-

"So," She said flatly when they got in the hallway as she stepped out of the passageway. "You heard everything I assume." They nodded.

"Snape's your guardian!" Ron blurted out.

"Man, Mione, we feel bad for you," Harry said sympathetically. For some reason, Hermione felt herself boil over in rage.

"Shut up!" She yelled. "You don't know anything about Severus! He's more civilized and definitely more intelligent than both of you combined! So just shut up!" They both stared at her for a moment.

"What did he do to you?" Harry said finally. Hermione glared daggers at him, then stormed off.

"What about dinner?" Ron called after her.

* * * * * * * *

Hermione went back to Snape's quarters. There she got a book from her new room and then sat on the couch in the main room, waiting for Severus to come back. Though it appeared that she was deeply immersed in the book, she was really not reading a word of it at all. Her mind kept thinking about what had happened over the past two days. First finding out that her parents had died, then getting Snape as a guardian. Then crying in Snape's arms in the Astronomy tower, and coming to his quarters, and what she had said to Harry and Ron. Hermione just didn't know what to think anymore.

* * * * * * * * *

Severus limped through the dungeons.

"William Shakespeare," He said hoarsely, barely managing to drag himself through the doorway. He got a few steps in, then collapsed upon the wooden floor, bleeding badly. The thump he made as he hit the floor woke up Hermione, who had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Professor!" She screamed as she saw the state he was in. His skin was a deathly white and he appeared to be bleeding from the side, his head and his left arm. She ran over to him and dragged him over and put him onto the couch. There she tore off his robe (A.N: He's wearing pants under it for all of those who tend to think bad thoughts) so she could better examine his wounds.

"Oh why did I bring bandages," She whispered, tears coming to her eyes again as she saw the large gash on his side and another running down his left arm. Knowing if she didn't stop the blood flow he would die, she ripped of large pieces of her own robe and bound the wounds as best as she could. The one on his head appeared to have stopped bleeding of its own accord. Making sure he was as good as she could get him, Hermione took one last glance at him and left to get Madame Pomfrey.

* * * * * * *

Oooh! Thank you so much for responses on my question. I like the surfer girl one, but please give me more ideas because I won't pick until the end of this story. And now I have to ask another question: Who wants to tell me what a beta reader is? Wow, that makes three whole chapters and a prologue. Not bad. Next time: Severus has a little guardian angle by his bedside in the nice and totally white hospital wing. Harry and Ron scowl at each other a little, blaming themselves for not keeping a better eye on Hermione and Hermione gets even more confusing emotions, love? Not yet, but don't worry, that will come in good time. Ah yes, and finally I will own something! A certain girl, who I own, will show up in the next chapter. *Sniffles* I so happy. ~ Remo