~Author's Note~

Thanks to all my reviewers! I know that my story seems kinda odd, but trust me, it will make sense. True, Snape is a good guy, but he has other motives for wanting to hurt Hermione, I just haven't told you guys yet! And no, Hermione will not take this lying down! I do believe that she is a strong character, but, if you really think about it, Snape is about 10 times stronger than her. That, plus, add the fact that she was totally shocked and overcome with attraction for someone whom (as you will find out in this chapter) she has like for years. No, she will fight back! That is what this ch is about! Information and payback!

Thanks~

Alyssium

Ch3:

Hermione sat in Potions class, wondering what kind of crap Snape would try to do to her today. Her face fixed with concentration as she stared at the potion she was making. She had decided, over the weekend, that she was not going to just let Snape push her around.

True, he had cried, but he tried to rape me! The only reason that she had not gone to Dumbledore was that she believed she could deal with Snape all by herself.

Snape had made them all do a really complicated potion again. At first, he was happy about confusing the students, but now he fully regretted it. And Hermione wasn't helping any, he noted. She hadn't answered a question all day, in fact, she had kept her mouth purposely shut. Snape had also noticed that she had "accidentally" stepped on his foot, and spilt the potion (which was for making warts) all over his hand. And, to his embarrassment, it had taken him twenty minutes to get it off.

It didn't seem to matter to Hermione that he kept on taking points from Grifindor, she wouldn't let him live this down. And while all the students thought she was being defiant, only Snape and Hermione knew the truth.

Snape, after getting splashed with the wart potion five more times, a couple in uncomfortable places, he saw red.

"Hermione Granger! Detention for 2 weeks for being fuckin' clumsy!" At this, the rest of the class went into a hushed tone, but Hermione just smiled. Her plan was working, so she said nothing.

Snape, who had been expecting a response from her, became ever more flustered. He was so upset that he let the whole class out five minutes early. As all the rest of the students left, a large cheer arose for their savior.

After class, Snape began to clean up the rest of the mess that the students had left behind. His teeth were clenched as he came across the mess that Longbottom had not managed to clean up.

Lousy fuckin' students! his mind screamed. His thoughts were interrupted by a female voice coming from behind him.

"Uhhum Professor?!" came Hermione's cold voice. Snape immediately recognized it, and prepared for the worst.

"First of all, I would like to know what he hell you were thinking when you tried to pull that stunt last weekend! It was totally out of line! Rape! I can't believe you! I should tell Dumbledore!- What are you looking at?" she yelled, and Snape noticed that an anger line can across her forehead. He absently wondered what else would make that line appear.

"You," and after a moment, he continued,

"First of all, Hermione, know that I am more disgusted with myself than you are. I know what I did was wrong. I tried to convince myself that I was doing this for your own good. That you deserved to be punished for being as smart-aleck and being a 'know-it-all'. But I was wrong…"

"What?" came her voice, now startled,

"I thought you-"

"You thought I hated you, you thought I was being a cruel and insufferable bastard." Snape answered her, his voice sharp.

"Yes."

"It was just that I wanted to hurt you so bad. I'm jealous of your abilities. When I was your age, I loved potions. I dedicated myself to them and was as smart as you were, but I never had any friends. James, and Black made sure of it." he said, his jaw clenching.

"Do you think that I have a perfect life? I can't tell you the many times that I wish I were someone else!" she moved closer now, trying to comfort him. The feelings that stirred in both their stomachs caught them both off guard.

"I think I know how you feel," Snape said, caressing her hair. He suddenly realized that he liked the way it felt between his fingers.

Hermione, now realizing that they were close, closer than she wanted them to be, pulled away.

"I-I have to go," she said as she rushed out the door.

Damn! Snape cried. Every time we get close… His thoughts were interrupted by a dark green Snape slithering across the floor. The snake soon transformed into a pale, thin man.

"Master…" came Snape's voice, full of reverence.

"Hello, Severus." came Voldemort's voice, full of malice,

"I assume that you followed my instructions."

"No, I-I couldn't," and when he said this, he saw murder in his master's eyes, so he explained further,

"I-I tried. I just couldn't. So, I told her that I was jealous of her. We have been getting closer…"

"Ah! So you lied to her, to get her to trust you! I always knew you were smart! But you know that I do not accept defiance." Voldemort commented as he took out his wand. First, a silencing charm was put upon Snape, then Voldemort uttered the word Crucio.

Voldemort soon saw Snape's face twist in pain.

"This will teach you to carry out my orders, my way! Now, I want you to get close to her, very close. Gain her full trust, then kill her! The war is not over! Potter will die! I won't kill him right away, no he's not good enough for that! I will make him suffer by killing his friends first!" and with that Snape was released and Voldemort was a snake again. Snape saw him slip through the crack in the door.

Five minutes later, Snape was in Dumbledore's office.

"But he told me to kill her!" Snape argued,

"I can't follow that order, you know it!"

"But," came Dumbledore's calm voice,

"You must not give away our plan and your part in it! You will do as he says."

"You mean, lead her on? How can I do that?"

"Oh, I think you will find a way." Dumbledore smiled, and Snape saw that mysterious twinkle in his eyes.

What the hell is the old man up to now? his mind wondered, but he pushed it out of his mind.

"Fine, I'll do it!" he yelled and stormed out of the Headmaster's office.

Dumbledore watched him leave and smiled to himself,

He loves her and doesn't even know it!

Hermione was in her rooms, pacing. Harry and Ron had tried to get her to come out all day, but she made the excuse for reading and homework.

Why did it feel so good to be near him? she wondered, but she knew that she knew the answer already. And as she admitted it to herself, her eyes began to well up with tears,

Because I love him! I've loved him since my third year, when he tried to save Harry, Ron, and me in the Shrieking Shack. Now, she let the tears roll down her face and didn't bother to wipe them away when they reached her chin.

She had thought it was a silly crush, something she would get over. But now, she knew that she would love Severus Snape for the rest of her life.