Chapter Sixteen: Standing Up to Snape and Hidden Truth's

"Pssssssst."

Hermione refused to look behind her.

"Psssssssssst...Hermione."

The whispering was growing louder, and was having the effect of a bee buzzing past her ear. She frowned deeply and went back to writing down the steps from the board, careful not to confuse any ingredients. Hermione had been pretending to write for a good five minutes now, all in hopes to seem to busy to assist Neville.

Potion's class had turned out to be just what Hermione was hoping for. The same. Snape hadn't shown her any more or any less attention, and he wasn't overly malicious or cruel to her. He saved that honor for Neville, who at this moment was frantically trying to get Hermione's attention.

It had only been a few days since the horrible meeting catastrophe, and after extensive breathing exercises Hermione had gone back down to the Headmaster's office and apologized, agreeing with him that the plan was best for her safety.

The worst of it all was that she still hadn't told Ginny that she wouldn't be coming to the burrow in the summer. Every time it was brought up in the common room or over meals Hermione would grasp at the chance to change the subject.

Now in Potion's class Hermione was determined not to get into trouble, but felt that familiar ache to help a fellow classmate. She couldn't help but feel satisfied when she ordered Neville to do things, she felt like she was his own private Potion's teacher and in doing so often felt a surge of power.
Many called her bossy, and she didn't really let that get to her, she simply liked things done her way and in that regard when it came to ordering about in Potion's, Neville was an excellent pupil.

But now she refused to help him, she wouldn't even turn around to acknowledge him. If Snape caught her even trying to assist him, she knew he wouldn't hold back the cruelty.
Knowing her luck he'd slither over to them with that smirk on his face, and say in a loud voice, Now now Miss Granger, is that any way for a fiancée of mine to act? Ten points!

Moments earlier Snape had gone through the class list, pairing up students with rapid mumblings coming from his lips. To her immense relief he had paired her up with Harry who along with Ron had started acting like their old selves around her again.

"Ready Hermione?" Harry asked with a smile as he motioned to the seat next to her. Hermione nodded brightly and gathered her ingredients on her desk and looked to Harry as he pulled the cauldron onto the tabletop.

After a few moments Hermione noticed that Neville was no longer calling her name, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Soon she and Harry were stirring and mixing and cutting. Everything was going splendidly, and judging by Neville's lack of annoying calls to her, he must be doing fairly well also.

Just to make sure Hermione looked behind her...and held in a piteous sigh. Neville had been paired up with Goyle who was currently laughing and joking along with Malfoy and Crabbe on the other side of the room. Hermione (Who was sure that due to Snape's enormous bias for his own house) saw that he didn't even look up from the article he was reading to tell Goyle to go back and assist Neville.

The said Gryffindor was holding back choked sobs as he looked into his empty cauldron, messily wiping his nose on the back of his arm and wiping the tears from his eyes. Hermione was about to whisper some directions when a cutting voice stopped her.

"Problem, Longbottom?"

Snape's voice cut through the air as Hermione looked up to see him smirking mercilessly at the near crying boy. Everyone in the classroom looked to see Neville sniffling once more, and blinking back the tear droplets still on his eyelashes. Snape gave him an oily smirk of contempt as he stood slowly, knowing this was agony for the dunderhead.

Hermione felt he heart go out for the poor boy, as it wasn't his fault he didn't understand potions. Perhaps if Snape had given him half a chance and worked with him, this wouldn't have ever been an issue. But of course, big bad Snape couldn't lower himself to doing such a thing, and now in turn was persecuting Neville for his own shoddy teaching skills!

"N-no sir. No problem." Neville said shakily, having gone instantly pale the moment Snape even mentioned his name. Hermione prayed that this would be the end of it, Snape would have finished his fun for today. But it didn't stop.

"It looks like a problem." Snape snapped, angrily standing and walking slowly up the aisle that separated Hermione and Neville's tables. Hermione and Harry watched the scene play out, along with the rest of the class who were pretending to work but in truth looking at Snape and Neville. "You haven't even started on your potion."
"No, please sir." Neville pleaded, trying to whisper his plea. Snape although as the unfeeling bastard that he was ignored poor Neville's whispered begging and went on surveying the boy as he circled him, knowing that would only cause Neville to become more and more nervous.

Goyle chuckled loudly, along with the rest of the Slytherin's as Neville looked to them embarrassed a moment before meeting Snape's dark eyes again, trembling, much to the glee of one Malfoy.

Neville seemed to be a bit of amusement for the Slytherin's in the class, too often was he the butt of their jokes and entertainment. Sometimes Draco would slip something into Neville's potion just to have it blow up and have Snape scream at the poor boy. Time and time again the Gryffindor's had defended Neville, but Snape with his usual bias ignored them and now, with a crushing smirk he went on patronizing the shaking boy.

"In all my years teaching here I have never come across a more inept and more moronic boy than you...Stop your blubbering Longbottom, it's most unbecoming."

Hermione clenched her teeth in anger as Snape said this, and with every tear that Neville choked back Hermione found herself growing more furious and more furious. Poor Neville was going to burst out sobbing in a moment, and she felt herself blinking back sympathetic tears as she viewed Neville's tearstained face. Had Snape no sympathy for him? Did he not realize Neville's hardships? Evidently not.

"Your blatant lack of talent amazes me at times." Snape was going on, enjoying the chuckles from the Slytherin side of the room. "I still wonder myself if you're not a squib."

Neville's lower lip was trembling now and a feeling of pure black hate towards Snape sprouted within Hermione and before she could even stop herself, she saw red, her body shook and her hands curled into furious fists as she yelled out;

"JUST SHUT UP!"

Snape whirled around with black, bottomless eyes filled with sudden fury. His pale lips were twitching in anger and Hermione felt a lump of fear form in her throat.

Harry looked to Hermione in shock, had his long time friend the bookworm just told a teacher, this teacher of all of them, to shut up? Hermione Granger? The girl who cried and nearly fainted when they spelled him that time in the shrieking shack?

Snape's eyes were narrowed on Hermione's and she felt herself growing faint but she still held firm. Poor Neville didn't deserve to be humiliated. When Snape finally spoke to her his voice was venomous and barely above a whisper.

"What did you say to me Granger?"

Now, this is the point in the horrid event where Hermione could have just pretended to have said something else. She could have pretended to faint, or even run out of the room screaming. In the end she did none of these.

Instead, with a well placed scowl on her face that rivaled that of Snape himself, she looked up at the tormenter of many and said in firm tone:

"I said, Just. Shut. Up. You're being unnecessarily cruel and Neville's trying his hardest."

At this admonition one could have heard a pin drop in the dungeons. The Slytherin's were looking to Hermione in shock and even Snape looked close to sputtering as Hermione finally slumped back into her seat and began crushing some beets feeling the pulsing in her temples slowing. Snape was still glaring at her.

"Excuse me?"

Now after what Hermione had said and done she felt a sense of pride wash over her, and that small look of thanks in Neville's eyes had been all the payment she needed. But now that the heat of the moment was gone, and no more was she to play the valiant hero, she felt more scared than she had ever in her life.

What could she say?

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out and she saw a flicker of cruel amusement cross over in his bottomless eyes. Eyes that saw nothing but shades of gray in life.

"I thought as much."

Hermione's cheeks burned with shame at the injustice of it all and she began to write on her parchment, trying to deflect the looks from all around the classroom. It had been a stupid thing to do, but it had to be done.

Snape was at the front of the class now, looking at Hermione with a strange look in his eyes. The class hung onto his every word, pretending to be working; they all knew what would happen next. The Punishment.

Snape himself was almost speechless. Almost. This didn't happen very much, but at Granger's outburst he had nearly gaped at her. Imagine that little brat yelling at him? To protect Longbottom? Honestly, there was house pride and then there was just being a nuisance.

He was deeply offended at the gall Granger had displayed in telling him to shut up, he couldn't imagine and more out of character and rude thing to do when he was trying to strike fear into that dunderhead Longbottom and get him to listen. That was the only way to teach; intimidation.

She was obviously taking this 'fiancée' thing too far and thought she could walk all over him, in his own classroom! Well he'd show her.

Although he would have loved to personally deal with the little chit, his evenings were full, and to be perfectly honest he refused to deal with her longer than he had to. He knew he'd be seeing far too much of her this coming summer. He just hoped the little baby would learn her lesson with Filch.

"I think detention for a week with Filch will change your attitude Miss Granger." Snape said tersely as Hermione hung her head defeated. Detention? Her? She blinked back humiliated tears as Snape continued venomously, making sure his point was made.

"And if that doesn't work, I'm sure expulsion will."

As the weeks dragged on Hermione's spirits soon began to diminish. The golden trio had only a few more weeks until the summer break, and normally she would have been overjoyed at the chance to catch up on some new reading. But she now realized what was to become of her summer's destiny. She was doomed to a dismal summer with Professor Snape. Just the thought of Harry enjoying his summer with everyone else at the burrow, and waking up to a lovely breakfast cooked by Mrs. Weasley, made Hermione sick. Professor Snape was sure to make her summer as miserable as possible.

The weather was warming up even more, and far too often Hermione fell prey to a mid afternoon slumber outside under a warm beam of the sun near the lake. The repetitive ripples of the water hypnotized her as she dazed off many afternoons. It Seemed sleep was the only way to elude what her life was slowly turning out to be; horrid.

After that afternoon in Potions class, not only did the Gryffindors come up after class and congratulate her on her outburst, even some of the Slytherin's hadn't been so bad. Malfoy had stopped calling her mudblood for a whole hour, and this had been a welcome commodity.

Neville himself had come up with a box of cookies (sent by his Gran), and giving Hermione a shy hug had handed them to her and thanked her endlessly. She had been flattered by all the attention at first, but by the end of two hours she was starting to understand how Harry felt every day.

Filch hadn't been so bad, her detention was only polishing trophies around the school, and believe it or not that had been a big job, although not as dreadful as washing bedpans by hand. Hermione suspected Filch was easy on her from pity and as a normally proud girl Hermione would have refused such an offer, but she couldn't help but welcome it now. Another part of her was sure Filch was pleased someone finally told Snape off.

Since then she'd been near silent in class and Snape hadn't even given her a second glance. They'd also not had any meetings since the last one, and Hermione wondered if it was because they wanted to give her a break or because they were at a loss. Neither ideas gave her a confident feeling.

"Hey 'Mione." Harry said catching her on one of her relaxing binges outside under the cooled confines of a tree. The shade was bringing relief as she watched the lake glisten under the sunlight's watchful gaze. She had been reading a new updated version of 'Most Potente Potions.'
"Hey Harry." She said sluggishly, her eyes closed as the back of her head rested on the gnarled trunk of the tree. Harry looked around the nervously before looking back at Hermione.
"Aren't you worried to be out here on your own?" Harry asked a bit frightened and Hermione could only offer a saddened laugh as she shook her head.
"Dumbledore assures me that Voldemort won't act again for some time, but just in case..." she motioned with her head to her right of her as Harry turned to look.
McGonagall sat a few yards away under the confines of a black umbrella, reading some book intently. Harry looked back to Hermione's smiling face and sat next to her, much closer than normal and for a few moments they sat in contented silence. Hermione wondered how many days like this she would have.

"How have you been?" He asked leaning his head against the tree trunk as well, looking out to the lake as Hermione was before. She shrugged lightly, scratching her calf absently as the grass tickled it.
"Fine. I try not to think too much about the future." she admitted sadly, looking to Harry's eyes a moment before breaking away. Harry nodded, looking to her peculiarly.
"You look happier." He said with a comforting grin.
"I am." she admitted with a small smile, "The Headmaster assures me this whole thing won't ever happen...but you know me. I worry."

"You won't have to marry that git Hermione, so don't even think about it." Harry said determinedly pounding his fist lightly onto the lush grass ground as Hermione laughed lightly at his boyish gesture.
It was then that Hermione noticed how Harry was staring at her, very intently and she looked to her hands a moment, not sure of what to say next as the air around them changed and became a bit awkward.
"There's something I need to tell you Hermione." Harry said softly, thankful that Hermione wasn't turning around to face him as he spoke. He licked his lips a bit, looking nervously to the oblivious Hermione who said serenely in the grass.
Harry absently moved his spectacles up the bridge of his nose and prepared to speak when Hermione whirled around to look at him, her large brown eyes wide as she offered a quizzical look at the boy who lived to be humiliated.

"What did you want to tell me Harry? Is it serious?"

Harry shook his head, as he felt his stomach flip, stopping him from doing something he may regret later. He internally berated himself for being such a coward as Hermione looked back to him with a strange look on her face as Harry gradually met her gaze and began to blush a bit.

"Are you alright Harry?" she asked concerned, "You look a bit flushed. Have you been in to see Madam Pomfrey?"

Harry sighed, shaking his head and assuring her that he'd just gotten a little heated walking over to her. She nodded, accepting this excuse out of awkward obligation. As if to clear the air, Harry moved a bit away from her and cleared his throat.

"What're you reading?"

Hermione's face suddenly lit up, as she held up the copy of "Ponte's Potions." from her lap for Harry to see. Harry wrinkled his nose in question at the offending novel and she shrugged good naturedly, smirking a bit at her friend's expression.

"It's really a fascinating read." she explain whole heartedly, trying not to look too obvious. But Harry a perceptive male at times looked to her strangely, a small frown on his lips.

"But, you usually don't read too much Potion's stuff." Harry said carefully, "You're loads of chapter's ahead anyway."

"Don't be sickened Harry." Hermione said softly, "But I suppose I'm just reading up on potions in case..." Hermione trailed off, not completing her last thought. She didn't need to. Harry was already making a face at her expense and she felt her cheeks turning red. She was already humiliated enough.

"...I just don't want him to hate me anymore Harry."

"So you figure if you read up on Potions he's going to like you?" Harry asked loudly, hands on his hips as he looked to her from his stance, standing a few inches away from her. "You think that if you read a few books that when you two get married he'll be a prince?"

Hermione was surprised to see that he looked furious and squinted into the sunlight to look closer at him. His lips were in a firm, thin line and she couldn't help but notice the way his green eyes were flashing .It figured though, if anyone hated Snape more than she did it had to be Harry.

"But, Harry..." Hermione delegated, "You think I want to marry him?"

"That's what it sounds like to me."

"That's preposterous!" Hermione squeaked in indignation, shaking her head in almost disbelief at the conversation they were having. "I'm just being prepared. If I'm stuck married to Snape for the rest of my life I want us to be able to be at least civil to one another."

"This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life." Harry said in a loud voice, gathering his belongings and standing angrily. Hermione too stood, brushing the grass from her skirt and glaring angrily at the boy she thought was her friend.

"Who gave you the right to have say over my life? Your not acting like a very good friend right now Harry!" Hermione bellowed furiously.
"Yeah well, maybe I'm not your friend anymore, am I?" Harry sputtered, screaming the first thing that came to mind.

Hermione suddenly exploded into an angry bout of tears, pushing Harry's shoulder as she rushed past him back into the school. McGonagall saw this and gathering her book and umbrella rushed after Hermione calling her name.

Harry watched after Hermione as she ran off in a huff, her books clutched to her chest as angry tears welled in her eyes. He angrily slammed his fist against the tree trunk, confused at the emotions stirred within him.

He'd never be able to tell her the truth.