A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers for the encouragement. I hope I don't disappoint you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Part 3
Harry and Ron followed Hermione as far as they dared. Since Snape had begun activity as a Death Eater spy again, Harry avoided him as much as possible. With his luck, however, he had ended up with triple Potions. Snape could only terrorize the Gryffindors and take away house points for screw-ups in class though. Harry did not need a repeat of his Occulamency experience from fifth year. However, truth be told, Snape's focus had shifted from Harry to Hermione in recent years. Harry often wondered at this and all Dumbledore would say was that "Professor Snape's work is vital, and his attention is needed elsewhere."
"What does she think she's doing, taking on Snape by herself?" Ron quietly asked. "I'm telling you, Harry, it's going to be her funeral!"
At that moment, Draco Malfoy, who had been following the pair since they left the Great Hall, spoke up. "Hey, Potter! Trying to do in Professor Snape, are you? Thought you'd send in a distraction and catch him off guard?" smirked the blonde boy. "I've got news for you. Your plan would have worked better if you sent in Weasel. Granger will just get more points taken away for her cheek!" Draco obviously had not changed much over the years. Sure he was taller and had filled out a bit, just like Harry, but his temperament had only gotten worse.
"Sod off, Malfoy," replied Ron. "We could ask you what you're up to since you're not suppose to be here either."
"Nice comeback. I'm deeply hurt." Draco faked a pain in his chest as he said it. "Unlike the two of you, I don't need a reason. I just have to tell Professor Snape you two have it in for him, and that will take care of the problem."
Harry poked Ron in the kidney to get his attention. "Ow," Ron said has he turned and looked where Harry pointed. The door to the office was sealing itself. In a matter of seconds, what had been a door became a wall. For all Harry and Ron knew, they could not get in, and Hermione could not get out. She would be stuck with Professor Snape.
"What are you two up to? You can't do that!" screamed Draco. "I don't know what you're playing at, but I know it's enough to get rid of the both of you," and Draco turned to leave. Suddenly, Harry spoke.
"Malfoy, who are you going to tell? Your precious Head of House is in there, and you're out here. Besides, you have no proof against us." He smiled triumphantly. Draco had no choice. He had to stay. In running, he would lose more than if he stayed. There was no one to help him at the moment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inside the dungeon, a heated argument had begun. Normally, Snape would not have put up with the kind of impudence he was receiving. However, as usual, Miss Granger was different. He had to admit, he had a soft spot for her. Hermione Granger's knowledge was expansive and provided him with a challenge. It was just what he needed. In all his years at Hogwarts, not one of the students had given him a challenge in return, at least not one that was so well thought out and executed.
Hermione remained completely oblivious to her appeal. She was aware of the man in front of her, though. She knew his game. Most of his appearance was a facade; she supposed to keep anyone from getting too close. Hermione also knew some of it came from his past. He had good reason to be afraid of being that close to anyone. Ron had been right when he said Snape was a Death Eater, but his character was that of any other wizard or witch on the Hogwarts staff: bravery in the face of danger (which he proved through his spy activities), caring, and a passion for his position. He pushed all his students, but he pushed her to prepare her for something. 'But for what?' she mentally asked herself. Hermione had only become aware of her potential through the man in front of her. Beneath the intimidating exterior was a man capable of loving and being loved, and she, Hermione Granger, was determined to find that part of Severus Snape.
"Why do you always down grade me?" she yelled angrily.
"Miss Granger, you are aware of what is out there." This was more a statement than a question. "You cannot possibly survive without proper preparation, especially as Mr. Potter's friend," he snapped back.
"Why me then? How come you don't harp on Ron as much? He needs it more than I do,"came her livid reply.
"Young Mr. Weasley does not have your mental capabilities or your potential. How can I teach him any of what I have taught you when he can't get the basics? Ron Weasley, I'm afraid, has other strengths!"
"That still doesn't explain my grades," she prodded. "You always give me more work and a lower grade! I'm tired of all this unearned and unnecessary 'preparation!'"
"Your grades will be rightly adjusted given you prove yourself," he sneered. "Now leave. I have work to do," and he turned to his desk to sit down.
She watched him as he sat, robes billowing majestically behind him as he turned around. After no indication of her even moving from the spot she was standing, Snape grew frustrated.
"Get. Out."
She knew she had him right where she wanted him. Hermione responded, "Professor Snape, sir, I can't leave."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Outside the dungeon Harry, Ron, and Draco were trying to figure out a way to get the door back. None of then had an idea that was plausible or worked.
"We could just take down the wall," suggested Ron. Draco and Harry glared.
"What good would that do? Besides, if you remember, the door was sealed on its own. It's no use trying to put a hole in the wall," replied Harry.
"I don't follow," responded Ron, being his incredibly dense self.
Draco snarled his response. "A magic seal will fix itself. You can try to blast through all you want, but you won't get anywhere. And why," he began yelling, "do I always get stuck with you two morons? I can't believe you consider yourself wizards . . ."
"You brought this on yourself. You followed us," retorted Ron. He was currently trying to not beat up the blond Slytherin.
"ARGH!"
"If you two don't mind," interjected Harry, "we aren't getting anywhere by arguing. You two sound like an old married couple the way you bicker." Harry thought for a moment before adding, "Maybe we should go to the library. There could be something in a book."
"What's the other option," Ron asked as he and Draco glowered at Harry for suggesting such a ridiculous thing. "We are not going to the library. That's 'Mione's thing, not ours."
"Well," Harry began, "we could always tell Dumbledore."
The Headmaster just happened to be in the corridor at that moment. "Tell me what?" he asked as he walked toward them. "Oh dear," he said quietly as he spotted the problem. "Oh dear, indeed."
"Is there anything you can do?" Harry asked the white haired Headmaster. "Hermione and Professor Snape are in there," he added.
Getting closer to the wall, Dumbledore got a strange look on his face. Turning toward the three young men, he responded. "This is all very odd. I'm afraid there's nothing the three of you can do. It's all up to the two of them to get out. I hope for their sakes they're quick about it. Professor Snape and Miss Granger can be the thickest of wizards sometimes," he added quietly, shaking his head. With that, the Headmaster was gone, leaving three very confused students staring at a wall that was once a door.
End part 3
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Part 3
Harry and Ron followed Hermione as far as they dared. Since Snape had begun activity as a Death Eater spy again, Harry avoided him as much as possible. With his luck, however, he had ended up with triple Potions. Snape could only terrorize the Gryffindors and take away house points for screw-ups in class though. Harry did not need a repeat of his Occulamency experience from fifth year. However, truth be told, Snape's focus had shifted from Harry to Hermione in recent years. Harry often wondered at this and all Dumbledore would say was that "Professor Snape's work is vital, and his attention is needed elsewhere."
"What does she think she's doing, taking on Snape by herself?" Ron quietly asked. "I'm telling you, Harry, it's going to be her funeral!"
At that moment, Draco Malfoy, who had been following the pair since they left the Great Hall, spoke up. "Hey, Potter! Trying to do in Professor Snape, are you? Thought you'd send in a distraction and catch him off guard?" smirked the blonde boy. "I've got news for you. Your plan would have worked better if you sent in Weasel. Granger will just get more points taken away for her cheek!" Draco obviously had not changed much over the years. Sure he was taller and had filled out a bit, just like Harry, but his temperament had only gotten worse.
"Sod off, Malfoy," replied Ron. "We could ask you what you're up to since you're not suppose to be here either."
"Nice comeback. I'm deeply hurt." Draco faked a pain in his chest as he said it. "Unlike the two of you, I don't need a reason. I just have to tell Professor Snape you two have it in for him, and that will take care of the problem."
Harry poked Ron in the kidney to get his attention. "Ow," Ron said has he turned and looked where Harry pointed. The door to the office was sealing itself. In a matter of seconds, what had been a door became a wall. For all Harry and Ron knew, they could not get in, and Hermione could not get out. She would be stuck with Professor Snape.
"What are you two up to? You can't do that!" screamed Draco. "I don't know what you're playing at, but I know it's enough to get rid of the both of you," and Draco turned to leave. Suddenly, Harry spoke.
"Malfoy, who are you going to tell? Your precious Head of House is in there, and you're out here. Besides, you have no proof against us." He smiled triumphantly. Draco had no choice. He had to stay. In running, he would lose more than if he stayed. There was no one to help him at the moment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inside the dungeon, a heated argument had begun. Normally, Snape would not have put up with the kind of impudence he was receiving. However, as usual, Miss Granger was different. He had to admit, he had a soft spot for her. Hermione Granger's knowledge was expansive and provided him with a challenge. It was just what he needed. In all his years at Hogwarts, not one of the students had given him a challenge in return, at least not one that was so well thought out and executed.
Hermione remained completely oblivious to her appeal. She was aware of the man in front of her, though. She knew his game. Most of his appearance was a facade; she supposed to keep anyone from getting too close. Hermione also knew some of it came from his past. He had good reason to be afraid of being that close to anyone. Ron had been right when he said Snape was a Death Eater, but his character was that of any other wizard or witch on the Hogwarts staff: bravery in the face of danger (which he proved through his spy activities), caring, and a passion for his position. He pushed all his students, but he pushed her to prepare her for something. 'But for what?' she mentally asked herself. Hermione had only become aware of her potential through the man in front of her. Beneath the intimidating exterior was a man capable of loving and being loved, and she, Hermione Granger, was determined to find that part of Severus Snape.
"Why do you always down grade me?" she yelled angrily.
"Miss Granger, you are aware of what is out there." This was more a statement than a question. "You cannot possibly survive without proper preparation, especially as Mr. Potter's friend," he snapped back.
"Why me then? How come you don't harp on Ron as much? He needs it more than I do,"came her livid reply.
"Young Mr. Weasley does not have your mental capabilities or your potential. How can I teach him any of what I have taught you when he can't get the basics? Ron Weasley, I'm afraid, has other strengths!"
"That still doesn't explain my grades," she prodded. "You always give me more work and a lower grade! I'm tired of all this unearned and unnecessary 'preparation!'"
"Your grades will be rightly adjusted given you prove yourself," he sneered. "Now leave. I have work to do," and he turned to his desk to sit down.
She watched him as he sat, robes billowing majestically behind him as he turned around. After no indication of her even moving from the spot she was standing, Snape grew frustrated.
"Get. Out."
She knew she had him right where she wanted him. Hermione responded, "Professor Snape, sir, I can't leave."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Outside the dungeon Harry, Ron, and Draco were trying to figure out a way to get the door back. None of then had an idea that was plausible or worked.
"We could just take down the wall," suggested Ron. Draco and Harry glared.
"What good would that do? Besides, if you remember, the door was sealed on its own. It's no use trying to put a hole in the wall," replied Harry.
"I don't follow," responded Ron, being his incredibly dense self.
Draco snarled his response. "A magic seal will fix itself. You can try to blast through all you want, but you won't get anywhere. And why," he began yelling, "do I always get stuck with you two morons? I can't believe you consider yourself wizards . . ."
"You brought this on yourself. You followed us," retorted Ron. He was currently trying to not beat up the blond Slytherin.
"ARGH!"
"If you two don't mind," interjected Harry, "we aren't getting anywhere by arguing. You two sound like an old married couple the way you bicker." Harry thought for a moment before adding, "Maybe we should go to the library. There could be something in a book."
"What's the other option," Ron asked as he and Draco glowered at Harry for suggesting such a ridiculous thing. "We are not going to the library. That's 'Mione's thing, not ours."
"Well," Harry began, "we could always tell Dumbledore."
The Headmaster just happened to be in the corridor at that moment. "Tell me what?" he asked as he walked toward them. "Oh dear," he said quietly as he spotted the problem. "Oh dear, indeed."
"Is there anything you can do?" Harry asked the white haired Headmaster. "Hermione and Professor Snape are in there," he added.
Getting closer to the wall, Dumbledore got a strange look on his face. Turning toward the three young men, he responded. "This is all very odd. I'm afraid there's nothing the three of you can do. It's all up to the two of them to get out. I hope for their sakes they're quick about it. Professor Snape and Miss Granger can be the thickest of wizards sometimes," he added quietly, shaking his head. With that, the Headmaster was gone, leaving three very confused students staring at a wall that was once a door.
End part 3