Journal Entry September 11, 1998
As I look down at her from my place at the high table I wonder for the first time really where her true loyalties lie. She stands firm beside Potter and Weasley but she has been so different as of late. Very distant I have noticed so I am sure that her friends have noticed as well, maybe I should ask Potter about it… Nah, don't think that would go over very well, "Potter what's wrong with Granger she is freaking me out lately?" Well it looks as if I will have to find out about it on my own. I walk over to where she sits with her friends at the Gryffindor table and as I come up behind her I notice her pulling her robe down over her left arm, curiouser and curiouser as Alice would say, I make a mental note to myself to go see Dumbledore at once. She looks at me and says without a hint of fear "Well hello Professor Snape, did you sleep well ?" Managing to hold onto what little bit of composure I had left at least in front of the students, I finally made the connection. I suppose I was in denial before, but this was still not really bloody likely. She has turned. She is one of the Newly Initiated. My heart sinks in my chest as I realize what I must do.
He just stares at me from his lofty seat trying to read me from afar, but he can't he won't because I have learned my lessons well, he could stare all day and it would only make his eyes tired. I have done it, he will be mine and my Master will be happy. This union will be a powerful one…the Master will be pleased in my progress.
Wait…now he is coming towards me, I pull down my sleeve to cover up my new brand of loyalty and I decide then that I must make mention of our night time meetings in some way.
"Hello Professor Snape, did you sleep well?" I ask with a grin, he shudders and I laugh to myself knowing then that he will be easier to break than I thought.
He leaves the Great Hall probably in search of Dumbledore to speak to him about little Hermione Granger's "issue", let them talk, I will get what I want.
But Albus, I believe she has already taken the Dark Mark I screamed loudly at the Headmaster. "If she has my dear boy there is surely nothing that either you nor I can do, you know that." There is no way I will just sit by and let you give up on her, she is the brightest witch of this age and you will just give up on her like she is a lame horse! "Severus, what do you think you can do for Hermione that no one else has done? You of all people? You have put fear into her since she was a first-year and now you are telling me that all of a sudden you want to care about what happens to her? I do care for her…I stammer before I can catch myself, I mean I care about what happens to her. Unconvinced, Dumbledore looks me dead in the eye and asks me "So Severus, tell me about your dreams?"