Chapter 8: What did I do?
So far:
Snape acts weirdly in class – due to his sister dying. Hermione finds out and pities him, starts to get intrigued by him then eventually ends up getting a crush on him. She puts forward an unusual plan that comes in four stages and ultimately ends up in her getting a kiss from Snape that he does not remember. But Hermione still has his book from when she broke into his chambers.
Ginny drags her to a party at which Seamus kisses her just as Severus walks in, intending to break up the party. He is irked by what he sees and later he catches Hermione outside sitting and thinking. She explains how she didn't want the kiss and was going to have to tell Seamus that. Severus doesn't understand why it bothered him so much and why he feels so much better finding out it wasn't mutual.
Later, Hermione finishes the book she took and plans to go put it back in his chambers when he's out. On the way Draco wants to talk to her but she kind of blows him off. She heads down to the dungeons and finds the room empty. She is half way through the storage room when Severus sneaks up on her. Now look at the very last bit of the latest chapter.
Hermione felt like she was in heaven. The rage of swirling emotions inside her was soothed by his touch and flared up when he kissed her. She was still coming to terms with it: he had kissed her! She felt numb but pushed it aside. The way he held her was, in a word, perfect. She had never felt so sheltered and relaxed. The warmth seeping through his robes as she leaned against him was almost too most to bear.
His slim fingers on her neck tingled and the way he kissed, she could not help noting, was similar to his style, graceful, sinister but powerful. She shivered. She had no idea he had felt the same way. In fact, neither did he. He had never before done something like this.
A part of him was sickened with himself for what he was doing but the more powerful part of him told him it was right. But to see her standing there, so close and looking nothing like a girl, and more a mature, beautiful woman. He knew that his feelings must have stemmed from his deepest respect for her knowledge and ability to withstand his snide remarks.
He broke the kiss, keeping his face close to hers and his fingers softly on her neck. He looked into her eyes, they looked dreamy and she was smiling at him. He frowned and looked away. He straightened himself, pulling away from her. He dropped his hands and took a slow step back.
Hermione just stood there, unable to move.
"What's wrong?" she asked, looking at him sadly. He could not look her straight in the eye. She could see his dark emotions of guilt and regret plainly on his face.
"Miss. Granger," he took a shuddering breath and his voice was that which she had never heard come from him before, "I am so, incredibly, sorry," he said slowly, he looked sickened with himself and spoke with the deepest sincerity. Hermione tried and failed to get him to look her in the eye.
"For what?" she scoffed, she understood his discomfort. He looked up, finally, into her eyes with a vexed frown. She was smiling softly at him, knowingly. "If I had wanted you to stop, surely I would have done something," she said pointedly. He saw her reason but it made him frown still harder.
She took a step closer and he breathed in sharply. He was hesitant and he almost took a step away. She slipped her arms around his neck smoothly and he stood still as she tilted her head closer to him and gave a light kiss on the lips before looking at him carefully. He was so confused.
He felt his senses become intoxicated by a sweet smell again. He put his hands on her waist and pushed her gently back. He was surprised by how light she was and he treated her delicately. He glared at her with no malice. In fact, she smiled directly back at him.
"What are you doing here?" he said silkily, now that he said it without any anger, although there was a definite threat, it did not have half as powerful an effect. "By any chance, was that you in my chambers before? Was it you who took my book?" He studied her reactions.
She looked utterly lost for a second before her eyes widened in recognition. She blushed and looked away guiltily. "Perhaps..." she said slowly. She had only just remembered the reason she had come down in the first place. She was surprised when he dropped her abruptly and took a sharp stride backwards. His eyes were glazed and expressionless.
He had been caught unaware and unprepared when his vision was impaired by a flash. He started seeing events that he could not recall.
¤...Hermione kissed him... pulled out her wand... "Explain to me Miss Granger, what the hell was that?"...talking...and then he permitted her to obliviate him...¤
He blinked twice when his vision returned. He was now face to face with Hermione once more. She was looking sad and mystified like an abandoned puppy.
He looked right through her. "I remember..." he muttered, he, himself, baffled. Hermione tilted her head, questioningly. "I remember you kissed me..." His raven eyes regained their spark and his eyes snapped up and focused on her. Hermione was stunned and speechless. She gaped at him wordlessly.
She was feeling that this was a bad thing but Severus on the other hand felt relieved. She had already liked him from the start. He was not to be held completely responsible. He closed his eyes and sighed. He opened them again.
Closing the storeroom door, behind him, he walked over to her and took her wrist carefully. She was puzzled but not ungrateful. He proceeded to pull her gently over to the black door at the back of the room. She noted the way he took her wrist was nothing like Seamus, whose grip was gentle, Severus had a firm but delicate hold.
She simply followed. She was still trying to absorb the events of the last few minutes. He stopped and let go of her just before the black door so he could open it. Hermione was feeling stunned. She looked at the tall dark shadow of him and his blazing black eyes and silky black hair and she could feel nothing other than the deepest attraction and satisfaction. She had got what she had wanted.
The more she looked at him the more she wanted to kiss him again. This time she did not struggle with this feeling so hard.
He moved aside so she could walk into his study before him. She smiled at him. She walked in and made herself comfortable in the middle chair facing the fire, without even stopping to think.
She looked up at him to see him raising a brow at her. "I see you are familiar with my favourite chair," he smirked. Hermione blushed. But that had reminded her of something. She remembered the book in her pocket. She dug her hand inside and pulled out the old, precious book.
She held it up to him as an offering and he swiftly approached her and took it, gliding over to the bookcase. He put it in the alien gap and returned to her side, choosing to sit in one of the other chairs with her.
"Do we have to talk?" she sighed. She already knew why they were here. He was glad he did not have to state the obvious. He looked at her hard and long. He nodded slowly.
"This is not easy for me to understand," he said seriously but as he did she noticed he was studying her face similar to the way he had a little earlier. She did not hold back her smile but kept it small. "How long have you felt this way?" he looked back at her eyes.
She didn't want to answer, just to hold his gaze but she managed to reply. "A little under a month..." He lifted his head as if he was about to nod, then stopped.
"And you took matters into your own hands?" She blushed guiltily. He smiled. "I am not surprised in the slightest." Hermione tilted her head.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I would have expected you to have done such a thing if faced with an emotional problem of that sort. I know your type well. It would eat you up inside until you took action," he said knowingly with a mixed look at her.
"Did it occur to you that the reason you know so much about "my type" is because you are the same? You know exactly how I would feel because you would feel the same?" she said wisely, rebutting his last comment. Severus was floored. He raised both his brows at her and could not think of a sufficient answer. With a feeling of disbelief he realized she was completely right as usual.
She sat back in his favourite tall green chair and folded her arms smugly. He smirked at her. Things were happening so fast. He could hardly believe what had just happened. But happen it did and now things were different.
"Once again, M-" he stopped himself and continued smoothly, "you are correct." He said raising his hands in defeat. "And now the question arises – since situations have changed drastically between us in such a small space of time, is it still appropriate to be calling each other by our titles?" Hermione had not thought of this.
"I don't know," she said honestly, she paused then added, "Severus." He was astounded by the effect hearing his first name had had on himself, he shivered. It was unusual, that was certain, but it was pleasant.
"Of course, around others we will keep our titles," he said and Hermione nodded. She was slightly distracted by him and felt herself slipping into daydream from which she quickly caught herself.
"I loved The Magic of the Ancients," she changed the subject, "Wherever you managed to get a hold of that book?" she asked excitedly. He failed to suppress a smile at the enthusiasm firing up in her golden brown eyes at the subject of books. He swelled slightly and gave her a secretive look.
"It's a family heirloom," was all he answered. She sent him a questioning look but let the matter drop.
A thought crossed Hermione's mind. "What do we do now?" she bit her lip nervously. Severus frowned, all be it a simple question, she asked with good reason. He gripped the arm of his chair softly.
"That topic, I think, should remain untouched and let us just see where things take us..." She nodded again. Spontaneity was always more exciting.
"In that case there are many topics we should leave for now," she said briskly and prepared to stand, but Severus was on his feet before her, there to help her up. She took his hand gratefully and stood.
The touch of his hand was enough to start up her whirlpool of emotions once more. She wrapped her arms around his neck when he let go of her and preferred to lean her head gently against his chest. There was a moment where he was unsure of what to do and was miffed, before he held her too. It was something he never thought he would get to experience: a beautiful and intelligent young woman liked him for who he was and was in his arms.
He closed his eyes and rested his chin on her head. It was so confusing. He had dismissed her for so many years for no real reason other than her hunger for knowledge which was not a good enough excuse. She had been right; the traits that had made him deliberately hostile towards her had been the same as his own.
She lifted her head and kissed him. It was a long lingering kiss. He did not fight it and was depressed when she slid out of his arms and left, looking over her shoulder briefly with a sweet smile.
He nodded his head sharply back but so that she could see the soft look in his eyes.
He watched her slowly close the door behind her with a muffled snap.
O
Hermione walked numbly out of the potions classroom with unblinking eyes. She could barely retrace this day's events. It had been mind-blowing! She focused on the look in his eye when she had left. It had set off a much welcomed chain of reactions, first her heart slowed then sped up and she felt the emotions bubble and spin. She had almost walked back over to him and kissed him again but she thought that it was perhaps better not to.
But now she was in the dungeons corridor. Unable to bear her load of feelings that weighed her down like bricks, she took off at a run. It was much easier to race down hallways when she was not wearing her school robes.
She skidded as she slowed to turn a sharp corner and sped up once more, enjoying the wind in her hair and the burning in her muscles that took her mind off of things.
She was starting to tire by the time she reached the Gryffindor common room. She halted abruptly, scaring the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she asked shakily, eying Hermione sceptically.
"Tomato Salad," panted Hermione waving a hand at her to speed up. The Fat Lady lifted her chin crossly and the portrait swung wide open, allowing her to crawl through the hole in the wall.
She watched the frame close shut behind her and when she turned around she was startled to find Harry and Ron already bounding towards her. She jumped a little and took a small step back.
Trying to calm her ragged breathing, and failing, the boys looked worried. They were at her side and dragging to her the nearest chair in a matter of seconds. Hermione felt as though they were suffocating her. She allowed them to lead her to the armchair.
She plonked herself down on the chair and it sighed at the burden. Harry and Ron stood on either side of her. She looked from one to the other questioningly.
"What's wrong?" she asked them frowning. Harry looked to Ron then back to her, her green eyes ablaze with caring.
"We were about to ask you that," said Ron with a frown to match hers.
"Why?" she asked, gulping. Her breath was back to normal now.
Ron crouched beside her, placing his hands on the arms of her chair so she could see him better. His orange hair and matching freckles stood out against his now pale skin. She stared him down.
"Hermione," he started softly, "Have you been running?" He raised his slightly darker eyebrows.
"Yes," she said with a slight fire at the thought of being interrogated like a young child who has done something wrong.
"Why?"
"I felt like it," she said as nicely as she could. Ron tipped his head sideways and looked up at Harry with a knowing that frustrated her. What the hell did they think was going on? Why the funny looks? "I did!" she said with a tiny hint of the bite she held back.
"And where were you just now?" asked Harry, bending closer to her with a sound in his voice he did not like. He seemed to be accusing her of something. She suddenly went very pale as the blood left her face in the space of a tenth of a second. She felt cold as if she had been dunked in ice-water. Did they know? Had they seen her? Oh, whatever was she going to do?
She sank low in her chair and tried hard to look as normal as possible. "I went out for a walk..." she said quietly. There was a thoughtful and annoyed yet light frown on his face and she raised her eyebrows as a sign for mercy. Her heart was pumping harder than it had been while she was running.
"So," he started, straightening slightly and he was acting sarcastically, she was strongly reminded of Severus. "You deny speaking with Malfoy just now?" he said questioningly but she could tell that he already knew. Hermione, who had been scared half to death relaxed immensely. She sighed, which was mistaken for a sigh of defeat. That was all? She could definitely talk her way out of this one.
"Oh, that?" she said, trying to remain looking reasonably guilty so as not to arouse further suspicions. She was already formulating excuses in her mind. "He said he wanted to speak with me and that it was pressing." They both glowered a little, not at her but her explanation. "I decided that I would hear him out." She sped up before they interrupted because they looked like they were both bursting to. "Just in case, you know? However it turned out he was just going to be his normal self and a total prick, so I left. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less," she finished effectively, folding her arms.
Ron stood and both he and Harry looked reassured. Harry was shaking his head and black hair. Ron was giving him an annoyed look.
"What did I tell you?" he said with a touch of bitterness that was ignored. "Nothing to worry about!" Harry lifted his gaze and fixed it on Hermione. She saw his expression was fiercely apologetic.
"Hermione," he said, looking disappointed in himself, "I'm so sorry." The words brought back certain flashes of recent events. "I was being such a jerk. I had thought for a moment that you were friends with Malfoy," he spat out Draco's name with such hate that Hermione pitied him strongly. What was he going to act like if he found out about Ginny?
"It's ok," she said with a soft smile. "It wasn't exactly a sight one would see every day. Me – actually talking to Malfoy like he was my friend! But no, he was just as rude as usual, although I think now he has gained some new form of manners. It seemed to me that he was acting more like a gentleman." Both pairs of eyes snapped on her with shock. She held up her two fingers a centimeter apart. "Only a little."
They kept their stare on her for a long moment and she started feeling uncomfortable around her closest friends. Life had taken a turn she would never have expected: her best friends where in the dark about her deepest secret and a love tangle amongst Harry, Malfoy and Ginny had gone under way. What the hell was happening?
She wanted to talk to Ginny, now. She was the only one she could tell. Harry and Ron weren't exactly the best at understanding such topics and ignoring small facts like how much they had hated their professor ever since the first time he laid his deep black eyes on them. She had to admit she had never really truly hated him.
"I'm feeling kind of sleepy," she mumbled, avoiding their looks. "I think I'll go to bed." They automatically stood aside so she could get past.
She stood slowly, to emphasise her tiredness. She decided it would be best to end things on better terms with them so she gave them both a tight hug before saying her goodnights and walked away.
She went up the spiral steps and right past her dorm room. She had not the slightest intention of sleeping right now. She went up higher until she finally reached Ginny's dorm. She put out a tentative hand and knocked before carefully pushing the door open with the palms of her hands.
The room was empty except for Ginny in front of a vanity dresser in the corner. Hermione was utterly relieved. She smiled at Ginny who grinned widely back. She took a small step into the room and closed the heavy wooden door behind her with a soft click.
Ginny stood up, dropping the hairbrush that had been in her hand, and approached Hermione. Hermione in turn walked over to Ginny's bed and sat on it. Ginny's brow rose quickly.
"Time to talk, I see..." she smirked to herself. Hermione smiled and nodded. Ginny leapt onto the bed, making it bounce violently. Once it calmed down and she had made herself much more comfortable she focused her attention on Hermione, despite the fact her hair had fallen messily over her eyes when she had thrown herself on the bed. "Where were you?"
Hermione's smile turned into an evil, yet nervous, grin. "You're never going to believe what just happened..." she teased Ginny with the thin strand of information knowing it would spark her interest. Ginny sat up sharper and brushed her hair away from her face.
"What?" Hermione grinned harder at the urgency in her voice.
"I went to return the book-" she was expecting to be interrupted and was.
"Oh! Hermione! You broke into his chambers again!" she gaped. Hermione nodded. "Tsk tsk," she said jokingly.
"But that's not what is so exciting – in fact that's nothing compared to what happened when I was down there-"
"Ooh!" said Ginny, ever the master of sound effects.
"I know," said Hermione nodding excitedly, "I had gotten through the classroom without being spotted and was inside his private storeroom when..." she paused and Ginny gasped, anticipating, "...when he snuck up behind me!"
"Oh my gosh!" she squealed nervously. "What happened?! Did he give you detention?!" she was hanging onto every little noise Hermione made, in case it would leak some more info.
"No." she stopped and Ginny widened her eyes expectantly. Hermione then took a deep breath and the smile crept back onto her face except this time it was much softer and a her eyes glazed with thoughts. "It was all so strange, so forbidden, so unexpected and so intoxicating – it happened so fast..."
Ginny could have killed Hermione for the small size portions of details she dropped. She wanted to find out immediately, Hermione on the other hand wanted to drag it out as long as possible.
"What did?" she said as patiently as she could. Hermione closed her eyes briefly.
"He was right behind me and when I turned around he was so close... I could feel the heat of his body..." Ginny gasped, she was torn between being grossed out to new dimensions and sweetly fascinated by the details she chose to give. "I thought he was going to yell at me at first but all I could think of was the tight grip he had on my shoulder... then he loosened his hold and kind of just left his hand there. The feeling of his fingers..." She sighed.
Ginny frowned and wrinkled her nose, "This is Snape we're talking about?" she said, trying with all her might to hide any disgust so she could hear more.
"Nawh," she said sarcastically, "it was Ron." Ginny blushed apologetically. "Where was I, now?" she said looking into the air to refocus.
"The touch of his fingers on your shoulder," she was squeezing her pillow as she listened to Hermione. It was unbelievable what she was hearing, but she was so intrigued she was starting to be able to look over the small factors like imagining Snape.
"He was looking right at me with his pitch black eyes so that I felt like I had disappeared inside them..." Ginny sighed, that was so sweet. "I don't know..." she mumbled closing her eyes again and shaking her head slowly, "he looked as though he couldn't comprehend what was happening but..." she opened her eyes again. "When he leaned closer he paused, so close to my face and you wouldn't believe what I was feeling right then!"
Ginny gasped. "Oh – my – God!" she gaped. "Hermione..."
"And then..." a small smirk made its way onto her lips and she flopped back onto the bed, closing her eyes once more and allowing the softness of Ginny's covers break her fall.
"And then... he kissed you...?" she whispered. Her eyes were so wide that she felt like her eyes might just drop out of her head.
Hermione's smirk transformed into a satisfied grin and Ginny shrieked.
"Hermione!" she squeaked, "Do you realise what this means!?" she was nervous and excited for Hermione who was too struck with emotions to see any downside to what events had taken place.
"Huh?" she beamed, still lying backwards on the bed, not bothering to look Ginny in the eye.
"You are officially involved with a teacher..." she gawked. Hermione was upright in and instant with a horrified frown on her face. She gave her a harsh and mystified stare.
"Ginny! You make it sound so wrong!" she wrinkled her nose too. "But you don't understand... no one will... I just felt so right. I belong in his arms, in his secure grip..." the frown relaxed at her own descriptions. She wanted to flop back onto the bed again but knew it was a waste of time and energy.
"I know, Hermione," she said pityingly, "It's going to be uncomfortable and a huge shock to everyone if it ever got out. But you don't need to think of that now..." She realized she was right.
"Thanks Ginny," she said sarcastically. "Now that's all I can think of..." she shuddered. She did not want to imagine the faces of Harry and Ron and everyone else when they found out... if they found out...
"Oops..." she bit her lip nervously, "sorry." She raised her eyebrows. Hermione sighed.
"Oh!" she had just remembered, "Malfoy – uh, I mean Draco..." Ginny suddenly looked a lot more comfortable and her blue eyes lit up with an icy flame. She smiled in a similar way as Hermione just did. "He wanted to talk to me about you... I ran into him on my way down to the dungeons."
Ginny tilted her head, her dark red hair falling to one side in a straight sheet. She looked straight at Hermione from above her scattered freckles. "About me? What about me?" It was Hermione though who looked the most lost.
"I'm not quite sure. I, in a way, blew him off because I was in a hurry," she mumbled, furrowing her brown eyebrows. "I'm trying to remember exactly what we were talking about..." Ginny never took her eyes off her.
Hermione suddenly raised a quick hand and pressed it against her mouth. She looked at Ginny over her hand. She had only just realized, as she had thought of what they had spoken of, that Ginny was unaware of Harry's feelings.
"Oh Ginny..." she said, her voice laden with sympathy. "There's something you should know..." Ginny sat up straight again, her hair falling back into place. She scowled.
"What...?" she asked slowly, unsure of whether she really wanted to know.
"It's about Harry," she lowered her voice, "He has a serious crush on you... So serious in fact that I think it's more than just a crush..." Ginny gawped. Her crystal blue eyes flickered rapidly from side to side as she went through thoughts and memories in her mind.
"W-what?" she stuttered. Hermione just nodded.
"I'd be careful if I were you – let him know you're not interested in subtle ways, like talking about other cute guys in front of him, you know. And when he find out he might do himself in. He'd flip." Ginny looked so down and deflated in the space of those words that Hermione wanted to make her feel better. "But things are going well between you aren't they?" she asked.
Ginny regained a little of the spark to her eyes. "Very."
"Then that is all you should concentrated on for now," she said firmly. Ginny nodded bluntly. Her eyes were unfocused and dilating rapidly. The panic was being written into her skin and etched into her features progressively as if it was being written onto her by some invisible quill.
"Oh Ginny..." she said again and this time she got up and reached over, pulling her into a comforting hug. Ginny was unresponsive and just remained stiff in her arms. "It will all work out for the best. You'll see..." she repeated the words Ginny had told her when this had all started. "You'll see..."
She studied hard that night but got her nights sleep, feeling like she had accomplished a lot.
Spontaneity... It sounded such a wonderful notion in the mind... but in reality it can be even better.
Monday.
Monday meant Potions first lesson as it had before when she had put into action her nightmare of a plan. She shivered with delight when she woke up. She could not remember being so excited about classes and that was saying something because she was the most easily excited by the thought of school.
She was especially cheerful at breakfast despite Ginny's solemnity. She grinned at Ron and Harry when ever they spoke to her and she had a smirk to her lips the entire time she ate. When asked why she was so happy she simply declared she was in a good mood.
Ron did his usual spin of the finger beside his ear and Hermione just grinned harder at him. Giving up on his attempts to frustrate her he shook his head and changed the topics to Quidditch and left Hermione to her smiling.
She was floating on air as she tried to walk calmly behind the boys instead of skipping. The mere thought of his piercing eyes, his long black hair, his soft sinister voice and the billowing of his robes made her heart speed up and the fact he had kissed her had completely changed it from a dark and heavy feeling to a light bubbly feeling.
The three of them queued up in the Gryffindor line to go in. She was brought out of her daze when she saw Harry throwing dirty looks at Draco. Hermione looked at Draco who was looking slightly unnerved but sneered back.
"What is it?" she asked Harry, wondering why he had deliberately started a glaring match between the two of them.
"That scum insulted you," he spat, not taking his frosty gaze off of Draco.
"What? When?" He pulled his eyes away for a second to look at her.
"Yesterday, remember?" She suddenly remembered her excuse and her cinnamon eyes lit up with recognition.
"Harry," she said with a slight annoyance, "I can take care of myself! I don't need you to stick up for me, but I really do appreciate it," she added quietly. "So stop deliberately getting yourself into a bad position with Malfoy...today."
Harry did not want to let Hermione defend herself and she could read it in his eyes. He was so much like a big brother.
"Just drop it," she muttered calmly. Harry decided to do as she asked and dropped his glower.
The line started to move and both the Slytherin and Gryffindor queue began to merge as they went through the door. Harry and Ron went ahead of her and were on their way to their desks. Hermione paused, standing next to Draco she whispered, "Don't worry," under her breath. She did not wait to see the relief in his eyes as she went to join her friends.
She settled herself in her seat, her good feeling returning faster than you could say "Potions". She brushed some brown corkscrews out of her matching eyes and when one small one fell back in front of her face she half- heartedly attempted to blow it out of the way.
She forgot about her annoying strand of her in an instant when Snape burst in, in his usual dramatic way. The poor door slammed into the wall the same way it did every day and swung back weakly on its hinges as he swept up the aisles between desks up to his desks in a flurry of black. Hermione just stared at him, wondering if she was dead because her heart had stopped.
Once he was up by the blackboard he swirled around abruptly and glared at the class. Hermione knew that he would be forced to treat her the same way as usual and she was just fine with that. She loved it.
His eyes only caught hers for a split second but it was enough. He turned away and waved his wand so that the instructions appeared on the board.
"Today you will hopefully learn how to appreciate the most delicate and intricate steps and their importance because you will be making the most powerful mind controlling potion yet heard of... I trust you won't be as careless as usual on this one..." Harry glared, he was hardly ever careless but if he wanted to pass potions in his NEWTs he would have to bite his tongue, he was so close.
"Shouldn't we start revising, Professor?" said Dean from the back of the cold room with confusion. "Exams are two weeks away!"
"That" he snapped, "Is for me to decide and not you. You may find that this potion will be mentioned in the exam."
He pulled his chair back and sat in it, shrouded in his robes in the normal way. "You may begin," he said lazily and the class immediately started bustling as people got up for their ingredients.
Hermione stood and glanced up at him, leaning over his desk as he marked papers, the concentrated frown on his features and his black hair falling softly against his face. She looked away again. She had better get her stuff.
As she left the room and entered the student storeroom she felt his piercing dark gaze on her back, but she did not turn around. She gathered up all she needed and came back into the moving classroom. People were getting up and returning to their seats at the same time.
Once again she felt the burn of his stare on her back. She dared to turn around and look up at him, but she saw he was not looking at her, but grading papers like she had seen him do earlier. She wondered if she had been imagining things and sat down.
...
She scratched some notes down with her eagle quill as her potion simmered and subtle grey fumes rose off of the turquoise, thin liquid. She breathed them in, knowing that the fumes of this particular potion were most certainly not harmful. Once again she felt his black eyes on her bowed head. She tried to ignore them because she knew if she looked up, he would be looking away again.
She skinned and sliced her mandrake root calmly and measured out an ounce on her copper scales. She tipped the slices into her cauldron and stirred it four times clockwise before stirring even slower in the opposite direction seventeen times. She thought back to their first year and his opening speech. She could not remember it word for word but knew what he had talked about.
She let a small sigh escape her lips.
...
The lesson ended and she had only looked at him in the eye once, at the very beginning of the lesson. She felt a little less like floating on air but was still mesmerised by his grace and the effect he had on all those around him. One could not "not notice" Professor Snape.
She followed Harry and Ron out of the room, looking over her shoulder once, hoping he would look at her. He did not. She dragged her eyes away, not wanting to arouse the smallest suspicion.
She let the crowd carry her away and barely remembered that it was Charms she had next. She adjusted her bag and followed Harry and Ron, trying to shake an unusual feeling irking her. She had felt his gaze – it had not been her imagination. She was sure. But she had hoped for a little more eye contact than she had received. It was worrying her slightly. Telling herself that he had had to act that way was not effectively working on her and she could not understand why.
She managed to concentrate all through Charms while they revised the main things they had learnt.
Lunch could not come soon enough.
"Hermione," said Harry, as he dug into his chicken and mushroom pie, "Did you get enough sleep last night?" He and Ron were giving her funny looks as she forced forkfuls down her gullet.
"Yes," she looked up. They did not seem to believe her. As she shoved another mouthful of food into her mouth she realized that if she stayed then she was only going to end up getting pelted with questions about her study patterns. Besides she was not hungry in the slightest.
She dropped her full fork onto her plate with a clatter. "I think I'll go study in the Library..." she muttered so that they could barely hear. Harry rolled his eyes at her and she just blinked.
She stood up and stepped carefully over the bench. She picked up her bag next to her and slung it over her shoulder and slipped out of the hall.
She kept her word, heading directly for the Library, knowing that she might get some peace there.
She could not remember walking there. Maybe she did not have as much sleep as she had thought.
She could see the open entrance of the library at the end of the hall with many conjoined corridors. She could see the shelves piled high with books, even from her distance. She was walking slowly and really was not thinking about her actions.
She had just passed a tall suit of armour under the glow of a burning torch.
Suddenly a hand grabbed her tightly by the upper arm and spun her around.
Sorry for such a cliff hanger – But I think it was a good place to end.
Luv Snakecharmer.
So far:
Snape acts weirdly in class – due to his sister dying. Hermione finds out and pities him, starts to get intrigued by him then eventually ends up getting a crush on him. She puts forward an unusual plan that comes in four stages and ultimately ends up in her getting a kiss from Snape that he does not remember. But Hermione still has his book from when she broke into his chambers.
Ginny drags her to a party at which Seamus kisses her just as Severus walks in, intending to break up the party. He is irked by what he sees and later he catches Hermione outside sitting and thinking. She explains how she didn't want the kiss and was going to have to tell Seamus that. Severus doesn't understand why it bothered him so much and why he feels so much better finding out it wasn't mutual.
Later, Hermione finishes the book she took and plans to go put it back in his chambers when he's out. On the way Draco wants to talk to her but she kind of blows him off. She heads down to the dungeons and finds the room empty. She is half way through the storage room when Severus sneaks up on her. Now look at the very last bit of the latest chapter.
Hermione felt like she was in heaven. The rage of swirling emotions inside her was soothed by his touch and flared up when he kissed her. She was still coming to terms with it: he had kissed her! She felt numb but pushed it aside. The way he held her was, in a word, perfect. She had never felt so sheltered and relaxed. The warmth seeping through his robes as she leaned against him was almost too most to bear.
His slim fingers on her neck tingled and the way he kissed, she could not help noting, was similar to his style, graceful, sinister but powerful. She shivered. She had no idea he had felt the same way. In fact, neither did he. He had never before done something like this.
A part of him was sickened with himself for what he was doing but the more powerful part of him told him it was right. But to see her standing there, so close and looking nothing like a girl, and more a mature, beautiful woman. He knew that his feelings must have stemmed from his deepest respect for her knowledge and ability to withstand his snide remarks.
He broke the kiss, keeping his face close to hers and his fingers softly on her neck. He looked into her eyes, they looked dreamy and she was smiling at him. He frowned and looked away. He straightened himself, pulling away from her. He dropped his hands and took a slow step back.
Hermione just stood there, unable to move.
"What's wrong?" she asked, looking at him sadly. He could not look her straight in the eye. She could see his dark emotions of guilt and regret plainly on his face.
"Miss. Granger," he took a shuddering breath and his voice was that which she had never heard come from him before, "I am so, incredibly, sorry," he said slowly, he looked sickened with himself and spoke with the deepest sincerity. Hermione tried and failed to get him to look her in the eye.
"For what?" she scoffed, she understood his discomfort. He looked up, finally, into her eyes with a vexed frown. She was smiling softly at him, knowingly. "If I had wanted you to stop, surely I would have done something," she said pointedly. He saw her reason but it made him frown still harder.
She took a step closer and he breathed in sharply. He was hesitant and he almost took a step away. She slipped her arms around his neck smoothly and he stood still as she tilted her head closer to him and gave a light kiss on the lips before looking at him carefully. He was so confused.
He felt his senses become intoxicated by a sweet smell again. He put his hands on her waist and pushed her gently back. He was surprised by how light she was and he treated her delicately. He glared at her with no malice. In fact, she smiled directly back at him.
"What are you doing here?" he said silkily, now that he said it without any anger, although there was a definite threat, it did not have half as powerful an effect. "By any chance, was that you in my chambers before? Was it you who took my book?" He studied her reactions.
She looked utterly lost for a second before her eyes widened in recognition. She blushed and looked away guiltily. "Perhaps..." she said slowly. She had only just remembered the reason she had come down in the first place. She was surprised when he dropped her abruptly and took a sharp stride backwards. His eyes were glazed and expressionless.
He had been caught unaware and unprepared when his vision was impaired by a flash. He started seeing events that he could not recall.
¤...Hermione kissed him... pulled out her wand... "Explain to me Miss Granger, what the hell was that?"...talking...and then he permitted her to obliviate him...¤
He blinked twice when his vision returned. He was now face to face with Hermione once more. She was looking sad and mystified like an abandoned puppy.
He looked right through her. "I remember..." he muttered, he, himself, baffled. Hermione tilted her head, questioningly. "I remember you kissed me..." His raven eyes regained their spark and his eyes snapped up and focused on her. Hermione was stunned and speechless. She gaped at him wordlessly.
She was feeling that this was a bad thing but Severus on the other hand felt relieved. She had already liked him from the start. He was not to be held completely responsible. He closed his eyes and sighed. He opened them again.
Closing the storeroom door, behind him, he walked over to her and took her wrist carefully. She was puzzled but not ungrateful. He proceeded to pull her gently over to the black door at the back of the room. She noted the way he took her wrist was nothing like Seamus, whose grip was gentle, Severus had a firm but delicate hold.
She simply followed. She was still trying to absorb the events of the last few minutes. He stopped and let go of her just before the black door so he could open it. Hermione was feeling stunned. She looked at the tall dark shadow of him and his blazing black eyes and silky black hair and she could feel nothing other than the deepest attraction and satisfaction. She had got what she had wanted.
The more she looked at him the more she wanted to kiss him again. This time she did not struggle with this feeling so hard.
He moved aside so she could walk into his study before him. She smiled at him. She walked in and made herself comfortable in the middle chair facing the fire, without even stopping to think.
She looked up at him to see him raising a brow at her. "I see you are familiar with my favourite chair," he smirked. Hermione blushed. But that had reminded her of something. She remembered the book in her pocket. She dug her hand inside and pulled out the old, precious book.
She held it up to him as an offering and he swiftly approached her and took it, gliding over to the bookcase. He put it in the alien gap and returned to her side, choosing to sit in one of the other chairs with her.
"Do we have to talk?" she sighed. She already knew why they were here. He was glad he did not have to state the obvious. He looked at her hard and long. He nodded slowly.
"This is not easy for me to understand," he said seriously but as he did she noticed he was studying her face similar to the way he had a little earlier. She did not hold back her smile but kept it small. "How long have you felt this way?" he looked back at her eyes.
She didn't want to answer, just to hold his gaze but she managed to reply. "A little under a month..." He lifted his head as if he was about to nod, then stopped.
"And you took matters into your own hands?" She blushed guiltily. He smiled. "I am not surprised in the slightest." Hermione tilted her head.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I would have expected you to have done such a thing if faced with an emotional problem of that sort. I know your type well. It would eat you up inside until you took action," he said knowingly with a mixed look at her.
"Did it occur to you that the reason you know so much about "my type" is because you are the same? You know exactly how I would feel because you would feel the same?" she said wisely, rebutting his last comment. Severus was floored. He raised both his brows at her and could not think of a sufficient answer. With a feeling of disbelief he realized she was completely right as usual.
She sat back in his favourite tall green chair and folded her arms smugly. He smirked at her. Things were happening so fast. He could hardly believe what had just happened. But happen it did and now things were different.
"Once again, M-" he stopped himself and continued smoothly, "you are correct." He said raising his hands in defeat. "And now the question arises – since situations have changed drastically between us in such a small space of time, is it still appropriate to be calling each other by our titles?" Hermione had not thought of this.
"I don't know," she said honestly, she paused then added, "Severus." He was astounded by the effect hearing his first name had had on himself, he shivered. It was unusual, that was certain, but it was pleasant.
"Of course, around others we will keep our titles," he said and Hermione nodded. She was slightly distracted by him and felt herself slipping into daydream from which she quickly caught herself.
"I loved The Magic of the Ancients," she changed the subject, "Wherever you managed to get a hold of that book?" she asked excitedly. He failed to suppress a smile at the enthusiasm firing up in her golden brown eyes at the subject of books. He swelled slightly and gave her a secretive look.
"It's a family heirloom," was all he answered. She sent him a questioning look but let the matter drop.
A thought crossed Hermione's mind. "What do we do now?" she bit her lip nervously. Severus frowned, all be it a simple question, she asked with good reason. He gripped the arm of his chair softly.
"That topic, I think, should remain untouched and let us just see where things take us..." She nodded again. Spontaneity was always more exciting.
"In that case there are many topics we should leave for now," she said briskly and prepared to stand, but Severus was on his feet before her, there to help her up. She took his hand gratefully and stood.
The touch of his hand was enough to start up her whirlpool of emotions once more. She wrapped her arms around his neck when he let go of her and preferred to lean her head gently against his chest. There was a moment where he was unsure of what to do and was miffed, before he held her too. It was something he never thought he would get to experience: a beautiful and intelligent young woman liked him for who he was and was in his arms.
He closed his eyes and rested his chin on her head. It was so confusing. He had dismissed her for so many years for no real reason other than her hunger for knowledge which was not a good enough excuse. She had been right; the traits that had made him deliberately hostile towards her had been the same as his own.
She lifted her head and kissed him. It was a long lingering kiss. He did not fight it and was depressed when she slid out of his arms and left, looking over her shoulder briefly with a sweet smile.
He nodded his head sharply back but so that she could see the soft look in his eyes.
He watched her slowly close the door behind her with a muffled snap.
O
Hermione walked numbly out of the potions classroom with unblinking eyes. She could barely retrace this day's events. It had been mind-blowing! She focused on the look in his eye when she had left. It had set off a much welcomed chain of reactions, first her heart slowed then sped up and she felt the emotions bubble and spin. She had almost walked back over to him and kissed him again but she thought that it was perhaps better not to.
But now she was in the dungeons corridor. Unable to bear her load of feelings that weighed her down like bricks, she took off at a run. It was much easier to race down hallways when she was not wearing her school robes.
She skidded as she slowed to turn a sharp corner and sped up once more, enjoying the wind in her hair and the burning in her muscles that took her mind off of things.
She was starting to tire by the time she reached the Gryffindor common room. She halted abruptly, scaring the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she asked shakily, eying Hermione sceptically.
"Tomato Salad," panted Hermione waving a hand at her to speed up. The Fat Lady lifted her chin crossly and the portrait swung wide open, allowing her to crawl through the hole in the wall.
She watched the frame close shut behind her and when she turned around she was startled to find Harry and Ron already bounding towards her. She jumped a little and took a small step back.
Trying to calm her ragged breathing, and failing, the boys looked worried. They were at her side and dragging to her the nearest chair in a matter of seconds. Hermione felt as though they were suffocating her. She allowed them to lead her to the armchair.
She plonked herself down on the chair and it sighed at the burden. Harry and Ron stood on either side of her. She looked from one to the other questioningly.
"What's wrong?" she asked them frowning. Harry looked to Ron then back to her, her green eyes ablaze with caring.
"We were about to ask you that," said Ron with a frown to match hers.
"Why?" she asked, gulping. Her breath was back to normal now.
Ron crouched beside her, placing his hands on the arms of her chair so she could see him better. His orange hair and matching freckles stood out against his now pale skin. She stared him down.
"Hermione," he started softly, "Have you been running?" He raised his slightly darker eyebrows.
"Yes," she said with a slight fire at the thought of being interrogated like a young child who has done something wrong.
"Why?"
"I felt like it," she said as nicely as she could. Ron tipped his head sideways and looked up at Harry with a knowing that frustrated her. What the hell did they think was going on? Why the funny looks? "I did!" she said with a tiny hint of the bite she held back.
"And where were you just now?" asked Harry, bending closer to her with a sound in his voice he did not like. He seemed to be accusing her of something. She suddenly went very pale as the blood left her face in the space of a tenth of a second. She felt cold as if she had been dunked in ice-water. Did they know? Had they seen her? Oh, whatever was she going to do?
She sank low in her chair and tried hard to look as normal as possible. "I went out for a walk..." she said quietly. There was a thoughtful and annoyed yet light frown on his face and she raised her eyebrows as a sign for mercy. Her heart was pumping harder than it had been while she was running.
"So," he started, straightening slightly and he was acting sarcastically, she was strongly reminded of Severus. "You deny speaking with Malfoy just now?" he said questioningly but she could tell that he already knew. Hermione, who had been scared half to death relaxed immensely. She sighed, which was mistaken for a sigh of defeat. That was all? She could definitely talk her way out of this one.
"Oh, that?" she said, trying to remain looking reasonably guilty so as not to arouse further suspicions. She was already formulating excuses in her mind. "He said he wanted to speak with me and that it was pressing." They both glowered a little, not at her but her explanation. "I decided that I would hear him out." She sped up before they interrupted because they looked like they were both bursting to. "Just in case, you know? However it turned out he was just going to be his normal self and a total prick, so I left. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less," she finished effectively, folding her arms.
Ron stood and both he and Harry looked reassured. Harry was shaking his head and black hair. Ron was giving him an annoyed look.
"What did I tell you?" he said with a touch of bitterness that was ignored. "Nothing to worry about!" Harry lifted his gaze and fixed it on Hermione. She saw his expression was fiercely apologetic.
"Hermione," he said, looking disappointed in himself, "I'm so sorry." The words brought back certain flashes of recent events. "I was being such a jerk. I had thought for a moment that you were friends with Malfoy," he spat out Draco's name with such hate that Hermione pitied him strongly. What was he going to act like if he found out about Ginny?
"It's ok," she said with a soft smile. "It wasn't exactly a sight one would see every day. Me – actually talking to Malfoy like he was my friend! But no, he was just as rude as usual, although I think now he has gained some new form of manners. It seemed to me that he was acting more like a gentleman." Both pairs of eyes snapped on her with shock. She held up her two fingers a centimeter apart. "Only a little."
They kept their stare on her for a long moment and she started feeling uncomfortable around her closest friends. Life had taken a turn she would never have expected: her best friends where in the dark about her deepest secret and a love tangle amongst Harry, Malfoy and Ginny had gone under way. What the hell was happening?
She wanted to talk to Ginny, now. She was the only one she could tell. Harry and Ron weren't exactly the best at understanding such topics and ignoring small facts like how much they had hated their professor ever since the first time he laid his deep black eyes on them. She had to admit she had never really truly hated him.
"I'm feeling kind of sleepy," she mumbled, avoiding their looks. "I think I'll go to bed." They automatically stood aside so she could get past.
She stood slowly, to emphasise her tiredness. She decided it would be best to end things on better terms with them so she gave them both a tight hug before saying her goodnights and walked away.
She went up the spiral steps and right past her dorm room. She had not the slightest intention of sleeping right now. She went up higher until she finally reached Ginny's dorm. She put out a tentative hand and knocked before carefully pushing the door open with the palms of her hands.
The room was empty except for Ginny in front of a vanity dresser in the corner. Hermione was utterly relieved. She smiled at Ginny who grinned widely back. She took a small step into the room and closed the heavy wooden door behind her with a soft click.
Ginny stood up, dropping the hairbrush that had been in her hand, and approached Hermione. Hermione in turn walked over to Ginny's bed and sat on it. Ginny's brow rose quickly.
"Time to talk, I see..." she smirked to herself. Hermione smiled and nodded. Ginny leapt onto the bed, making it bounce violently. Once it calmed down and she had made herself much more comfortable she focused her attention on Hermione, despite the fact her hair had fallen messily over her eyes when she had thrown herself on the bed. "Where were you?"
Hermione's smile turned into an evil, yet nervous, grin. "You're never going to believe what just happened..." she teased Ginny with the thin strand of information knowing it would spark her interest. Ginny sat up sharper and brushed her hair away from her face.
"What?" Hermione grinned harder at the urgency in her voice.
"I went to return the book-" she was expecting to be interrupted and was.
"Oh! Hermione! You broke into his chambers again!" she gaped. Hermione nodded. "Tsk tsk," she said jokingly.
"But that's not what is so exciting – in fact that's nothing compared to what happened when I was down there-"
"Ooh!" said Ginny, ever the master of sound effects.
"I know," said Hermione nodding excitedly, "I had gotten through the classroom without being spotted and was inside his private storeroom when..." she paused and Ginny gasped, anticipating, "...when he snuck up behind me!"
"Oh my gosh!" she squealed nervously. "What happened?! Did he give you detention?!" she was hanging onto every little noise Hermione made, in case it would leak some more info.
"No." she stopped and Ginny widened her eyes expectantly. Hermione then took a deep breath and the smile crept back onto her face except this time it was much softer and a her eyes glazed with thoughts. "It was all so strange, so forbidden, so unexpected and so intoxicating – it happened so fast..."
Ginny could have killed Hermione for the small size portions of details she dropped. She wanted to find out immediately, Hermione on the other hand wanted to drag it out as long as possible.
"What did?" she said as patiently as she could. Hermione closed her eyes briefly.
"He was right behind me and when I turned around he was so close... I could feel the heat of his body..." Ginny gasped, she was torn between being grossed out to new dimensions and sweetly fascinated by the details she chose to give. "I thought he was going to yell at me at first but all I could think of was the tight grip he had on my shoulder... then he loosened his hold and kind of just left his hand there. The feeling of his fingers..." She sighed.
Ginny frowned and wrinkled her nose, "This is Snape we're talking about?" she said, trying with all her might to hide any disgust so she could hear more.
"Nawh," she said sarcastically, "it was Ron." Ginny blushed apologetically. "Where was I, now?" she said looking into the air to refocus.
"The touch of his fingers on your shoulder," she was squeezing her pillow as she listened to Hermione. It was unbelievable what she was hearing, but she was so intrigued she was starting to be able to look over the small factors like imagining Snape.
"He was looking right at me with his pitch black eyes so that I felt like I had disappeared inside them..." Ginny sighed, that was so sweet. "I don't know..." she mumbled closing her eyes again and shaking her head slowly, "he looked as though he couldn't comprehend what was happening but..." she opened her eyes again. "When he leaned closer he paused, so close to my face and you wouldn't believe what I was feeling right then!"
Ginny gasped. "Oh – my – God!" she gaped. "Hermione..."
"And then..." a small smirk made its way onto her lips and she flopped back onto the bed, closing her eyes once more and allowing the softness of Ginny's covers break her fall.
"And then... he kissed you...?" she whispered. Her eyes were so wide that she felt like her eyes might just drop out of her head.
Hermione's smirk transformed into a satisfied grin and Ginny shrieked.
"Hermione!" she squeaked, "Do you realise what this means!?" she was nervous and excited for Hermione who was too struck with emotions to see any downside to what events had taken place.
"Huh?" she beamed, still lying backwards on the bed, not bothering to look Ginny in the eye.
"You are officially involved with a teacher..." she gawked. Hermione was upright in and instant with a horrified frown on her face. She gave her a harsh and mystified stare.
"Ginny! You make it sound so wrong!" she wrinkled her nose too. "But you don't understand... no one will... I just felt so right. I belong in his arms, in his secure grip..." the frown relaxed at her own descriptions. She wanted to flop back onto the bed again but knew it was a waste of time and energy.
"I know, Hermione," she said pityingly, "It's going to be uncomfortable and a huge shock to everyone if it ever got out. But you don't need to think of that now..." She realized she was right.
"Thanks Ginny," she said sarcastically. "Now that's all I can think of..." she shuddered. She did not want to imagine the faces of Harry and Ron and everyone else when they found out... if they found out...
"Oops..." she bit her lip nervously, "sorry." She raised her eyebrows. Hermione sighed.
"Oh!" she had just remembered, "Malfoy – uh, I mean Draco..." Ginny suddenly looked a lot more comfortable and her blue eyes lit up with an icy flame. She smiled in a similar way as Hermione just did. "He wanted to talk to me about you... I ran into him on my way down to the dungeons."
Ginny tilted her head, her dark red hair falling to one side in a straight sheet. She looked straight at Hermione from above her scattered freckles. "About me? What about me?" It was Hermione though who looked the most lost.
"I'm not quite sure. I, in a way, blew him off because I was in a hurry," she mumbled, furrowing her brown eyebrows. "I'm trying to remember exactly what we were talking about..." Ginny never took her eyes off her.
Hermione suddenly raised a quick hand and pressed it against her mouth. She looked at Ginny over her hand. She had only just realized, as she had thought of what they had spoken of, that Ginny was unaware of Harry's feelings.
"Oh Ginny..." she said, her voice laden with sympathy. "There's something you should know..." Ginny sat up straight again, her hair falling back into place. She scowled.
"What...?" she asked slowly, unsure of whether she really wanted to know.
"It's about Harry," she lowered her voice, "He has a serious crush on you... So serious in fact that I think it's more than just a crush..." Ginny gawped. Her crystal blue eyes flickered rapidly from side to side as she went through thoughts and memories in her mind.
"W-what?" she stuttered. Hermione just nodded.
"I'd be careful if I were you – let him know you're not interested in subtle ways, like talking about other cute guys in front of him, you know. And when he find out he might do himself in. He'd flip." Ginny looked so down and deflated in the space of those words that Hermione wanted to make her feel better. "But things are going well between you aren't they?" she asked.
Ginny regained a little of the spark to her eyes. "Very."
"Then that is all you should concentrated on for now," she said firmly. Ginny nodded bluntly. Her eyes were unfocused and dilating rapidly. The panic was being written into her skin and etched into her features progressively as if it was being written onto her by some invisible quill.
"Oh Ginny..." she said again and this time she got up and reached over, pulling her into a comforting hug. Ginny was unresponsive and just remained stiff in her arms. "It will all work out for the best. You'll see..." she repeated the words Ginny had told her when this had all started. "You'll see..."
She studied hard that night but got her nights sleep, feeling like she had accomplished a lot.
Spontaneity... It sounded such a wonderful notion in the mind... but in reality it can be even better.
Monday.
Monday meant Potions first lesson as it had before when she had put into action her nightmare of a plan. She shivered with delight when she woke up. She could not remember being so excited about classes and that was saying something because she was the most easily excited by the thought of school.
She was especially cheerful at breakfast despite Ginny's solemnity. She grinned at Ron and Harry when ever they spoke to her and she had a smirk to her lips the entire time she ate. When asked why she was so happy she simply declared she was in a good mood.
Ron did his usual spin of the finger beside his ear and Hermione just grinned harder at him. Giving up on his attempts to frustrate her he shook his head and changed the topics to Quidditch and left Hermione to her smiling.
She was floating on air as she tried to walk calmly behind the boys instead of skipping. The mere thought of his piercing eyes, his long black hair, his soft sinister voice and the billowing of his robes made her heart speed up and the fact he had kissed her had completely changed it from a dark and heavy feeling to a light bubbly feeling.
The three of them queued up in the Gryffindor line to go in. She was brought out of her daze when she saw Harry throwing dirty looks at Draco. Hermione looked at Draco who was looking slightly unnerved but sneered back.
"What is it?" she asked Harry, wondering why he had deliberately started a glaring match between the two of them.
"That scum insulted you," he spat, not taking his frosty gaze off of Draco.
"What? When?" He pulled his eyes away for a second to look at her.
"Yesterday, remember?" She suddenly remembered her excuse and her cinnamon eyes lit up with recognition.
"Harry," she said with a slight annoyance, "I can take care of myself! I don't need you to stick up for me, but I really do appreciate it," she added quietly. "So stop deliberately getting yourself into a bad position with Malfoy...today."
Harry did not want to let Hermione defend herself and she could read it in his eyes. He was so much like a big brother.
"Just drop it," she muttered calmly. Harry decided to do as she asked and dropped his glower.
The line started to move and both the Slytherin and Gryffindor queue began to merge as they went through the door. Harry and Ron went ahead of her and were on their way to their desks. Hermione paused, standing next to Draco she whispered, "Don't worry," under her breath. She did not wait to see the relief in his eyes as she went to join her friends.
She settled herself in her seat, her good feeling returning faster than you could say "Potions". She brushed some brown corkscrews out of her matching eyes and when one small one fell back in front of her face she half- heartedly attempted to blow it out of the way.
She forgot about her annoying strand of her in an instant when Snape burst in, in his usual dramatic way. The poor door slammed into the wall the same way it did every day and swung back weakly on its hinges as he swept up the aisles between desks up to his desks in a flurry of black. Hermione just stared at him, wondering if she was dead because her heart had stopped.
Once he was up by the blackboard he swirled around abruptly and glared at the class. Hermione knew that he would be forced to treat her the same way as usual and she was just fine with that. She loved it.
His eyes only caught hers for a split second but it was enough. He turned away and waved his wand so that the instructions appeared on the board.
"Today you will hopefully learn how to appreciate the most delicate and intricate steps and their importance because you will be making the most powerful mind controlling potion yet heard of... I trust you won't be as careless as usual on this one..." Harry glared, he was hardly ever careless but if he wanted to pass potions in his NEWTs he would have to bite his tongue, he was so close.
"Shouldn't we start revising, Professor?" said Dean from the back of the cold room with confusion. "Exams are two weeks away!"
"That" he snapped, "Is for me to decide and not you. You may find that this potion will be mentioned in the exam."
He pulled his chair back and sat in it, shrouded in his robes in the normal way. "You may begin," he said lazily and the class immediately started bustling as people got up for their ingredients.
Hermione stood and glanced up at him, leaning over his desk as he marked papers, the concentrated frown on his features and his black hair falling softly against his face. She looked away again. She had better get her stuff.
As she left the room and entered the student storeroom she felt his piercing dark gaze on her back, but she did not turn around. She gathered up all she needed and came back into the moving classroom. People were getting up and returning to their seats at the same time.
Once again she felt the burn of his stare on her back. She dared to turn around and look up at him, but she saw he was not looking at her, but grading papers like she had seen him do earlier. She wondered if she had been imagining things and sat down.
...
She scratched some notes down with her eagle quill as her potion simmered and subtle grey fumes rose off of the turquoise, thin liquid. She breathed them in, knowing that the fumes of this particular potion were most certainly not harmful. Once again she felt his black eyes on her bowed head. She tried to ignore them because she knew if she looked up, he would be looking away again.
She skinned and sliced her mandrake root calmly and measured out an ounce on her copper scales. She tipped the slices into her cauldron and stirred it four times clockwise before stirring even slower in the opposite direction seventeen times. She thought back to their first year and his opening speech. She could not remember it word for word but knew what he had talked about.
She let a small sigh escape her lips.
...
The lesson ended and she had only looked at him in the eye once, at the very beginning of the lesson. She felt a little less like floating on air but was still mesmerised by his grace and the effect he had on all those around him. One could not "not notice" Professor Snape.
She followed Harry and Ron out of the room, looking over her shoulder once, hoping he would look at her. He did not. She dragged her eyes away, not wanting to arouse the smallest suspicion.
She let the crowd carry her away and barely remembered that it was Charms she had next. She adjusted her bag and followed Harry and Ron, trying to shake an unusual feeling irking her. She had felt his gaze – it had not been her imagination. She was sure. But she had hoped for a little more eye contact than she had received. It was worrying her slightly. Telling herself that he had had to act that way was not effectively working on her and she could not understand why.
She managed to concentrate all through Charms while they revised the main things they had learnt.
Lunch could not come soon enough.
"Hermione," said Harry, as he dug into his chicken and mushroom pie, "Did you get enough sleep last night?" He and Ron were giving her funny looks as she forced forkfuls down her gullet.
"Yes," she looked up. They did not seem to believe her. As she shoved another mouthful of food into her mouth she realized that if she stayed then she was only going to end up getting pelted with questions about her study patterns. Besides she was not hungry in the slightest.
She dropped her full fork onto her plate with a clatter. "I think I'll go study in the Library..." she muttered so that they could barely hear. Harry rolled his eyes at her and she just blinked.
She stood up and stepped carefully over the bench. She picked up her bag next to her and slung it over her shoulder and slipped out of the hall.
She kept her word, heading directly for the Library, knowing that she might get some peace there.
She could not remember walking there. Maybe she did not have as much sleep as she had thought.
She could see the open entrance of the library at the end of the hall with many conjoined corridors. She could see the shelves piled high with books, even from her distance. She was walking slowly and really was not thinking about her actions.
She had just passed a tall suit of armour under the glow of a burning torch.
Suddenly a hand grabbed her tightly by the upper arm and spun her around.
Sorry for such a cliff hanger – But I think it was a good place to end.
Luv Snakecharmer.