Disclaimer: It's not mine. Well, I mean, it is mine, but just the story. Not the characters or setting.
A/N: Welcome everyone to chapter eight! *Audience screams and cheers* Yes, yes, I know you all thought I'd forgotten my poor story. I apologize, I'm having a hard time working on it right now because of all the studying I'm doing for my college asset test. To put it quite bluntly, I'm brain dead. I hope that this chappy is sufficiently inspired though, I'm rather pleases with it. : ) Toodles! R&R
Chapter 8
It is very ironic that the true key to defeating an enemy is to know them, sometimes better than they knew themselves. He did not know how she found out that he was allergic to daisies, but it was obvious she had found out somehow and then she had used her knowledge against him. Now he must do the same. He knew more about her than she would ever guess. Her greatest fear was heights, her favorite color was a dark sapphire blue, her dearest love was books of any kind, she enjoyed eating something he had heard her raving about to Weasley – A 'Big Mac' – whatever that was. Yes, Hermione Granger would pay. She would pay dearly. Her flowers or candy were still delivered once a week, but that didn't bother him. Oh no, not at all. Smirking evilly he swept onward down the halls.
~ ~ ~
Sitting in his office was a rather smug looking prankster. She was not repentant. He knew it had not been an accident, and she knew that he knew it. Oh well, it was worth it to see Severus Snape circling bewilderedly.
*Flashback*
"…should be adding the shredded bat's spleens now you incompetent twit! You have completely ruined…"
Hermione tuned Snape's ranting out and peacefully continued making her potion. After fifth year had weeded Neville Longbottom from the Potions class she had worked alone, and oh how much more serene it was. Once you learned not to pay attention to Snape's blustering that is.
"Miss Granger," Her head jerked up at the deceptively silky purr, "would you mind ceasing that infernal racket?"
"Sir?"
"Your humming Miss Granger. Ten points from Gryffindor for needless hubbub."
"But sir! I was only…"
"Twenty points for talking back! Keep it up Miss Granger and it will be detention."
The Slytherins snickered at this while the Gryffindors glared at her for having lost so many points. Oh well. She had so much bigger fish to fry, although she wouldn't mind giving that ferret Malfoy a wallop.
Class continued quite normally for the next half-hour. Snape slinking around, giving points to Slytherin and grabbing any excuse to disconcert the Gryffindors, checking everyone's progress. Hermione kept her eye on him as she worked and waited patiently for him to check her potion. Finally he prowled back to her area. He leaned down to inspect her work and…Hermione quickly grabbed her wand, placed it between his eyes and shouted 'LUMOS!'.
The class was instantly thrown into chaos. Snape cried out and stepped back into Pansy Parkinson's desk, tipping it over and splashing the boiling concoction over half the class. The class was screaming and Snape was stumbling around clutching at his eyes, obviously unable to see a thing.
"OUT! OUT! EVERYBODY OUT!" He was roaring, spinning around as students rushed by him, his arms flailing, "And YOU GRANGER!" pointing wildly in several directions as he tried to find Hermione through the light spots floating before his eyes, "report yourself to my office at 8 o'clock tonight for the WORST PUNISHMENT OF YOUR LIFE!"
*Flashback end*
Ah yes, that had been fun. He would make her pay dearly for it of course, but nothing could ever wipe that memory from her brain. Nothing.
~ ~ ~
She had come early, the impertinent chit! That half-grown female had the cheek to show up in his office and beat him there! Bloody hell, was he losing his fear inspiring touch? No, it couldn't be, he still could reduce Draco Malfoy to jelly if he cared to. No, it must just be her. Blast.
"Miss Granger, I believe I said eight o'clock, not seven till. Seven points from Gryffindor, one for each moment early."
"Yes Professor Snape." She answered dutifully. Snape glared at her suspiciously. 'Cheeky brat. Merlin's beard but she's a pain.'
"Your task shall be to resort those potions over there," he nodded toward a high dungeon shelf where a ladder was leaning. "Do try to get it right. As soon as you are finished you may go."
He settled himself at his desk to mark papers, leaving a very unhappy and ashen Hermione Granger looking at the rather rickety ladder he had left her with.
~ ~ ~
"Now then Miss Granger, I assume you know severity of your offence? Such obvious impertinence towards a professor of this school is more than sufficient grounds for expulsion." Hermione's face paled. 'Surely he wouldn't…' "Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall were prepared, though reluctantly, to take such measures. However, as I am the antagonized protégé the final word was left to me. I do hope that you are subtler in the future. Dismissed."
Hermione blinked. 'What just happened here? Did Snape just say that he kept me from being expelled? No way! That must mean he's actually…enjoying this?!'
"Are you waiting from an engraved invitation to Gryffindor tower Miss Granger? Because if you are I doubt it will be forthcoming as it is after one o'clock in the morning. The only ones who might possibly up would be the Boy-Who-Still-Lives and his ridiculous sidekick, and between the two of them I doubt they have the brains to write an invite."
Still stunned by her discovery Hermione merely nodded dumbly and left the dungeons.
~ ~ ~
That had gone well. Hermione had been scared stiff on the tall ladder all night. No doubt she would have a terribly stiff back in the morning. It was not enough, but it was a start and, after all, she did have a month's worth detentions with various teachers and with Filch. He would have another crack at her armor later.
Snape replaced himself at his desk with a wicked smirk. 'Oh dear, it seems I've forgotten to give Miss Granger her excuse slip incase she runs into Filch at this late hour. What a shame. She may very well end up with another detention. Pity.'
And then…he laughed.