Hermione groaned when Ron began firing questions at her the moment she sat down to breakfast. She had expected it. It was obvious that she'd been forced to spend the night with Professor Snape because of the temporary sticking charm. Even the ever unobservant Ron had come to that conclusion.
"So, what was it like?" Ron asked with what could only be described as morbid curiosity. He was looking at her questioningly, but at the same time his face bore a look of disgust.
"Ron, you're starting to sound like a gossiping woman," Harry said, frowning at the red head. "Please refrain from turning into your mother in public." Hermione snorted with suppressed laughter and Ron blushed.
Grinning at Harry, Hermione said "Professor Snape really isn't all that bad. He didn't scold me. He even let me read one of his books."
"Did you sleep in his bed?" Ron piped up. He quickly crammed a biscuit into his mouth when he caught sight of the looks on Harry and Hermione's faces.
"Ron you never cease to amaze me with the way you just continue to come up with the most utterly idiotic things to say," Hermione said fighting back a smile. If his mouth hadn't been bulging because of the biscuit, Ron would have grinned sheepishly. Harry was struggling not to roll his eyes. "No, I didn't share his bed," Hermione told them, blushing at the idea. "We ended up falling asleep on the couch." She decided to leave out the fact that she had found herself between Snape's legs and leaning back against his chest that morning. She suspected that information wouldn't have been received very well.
"Wow," Harry said, looking slightly impressed. "I would have thought that the git would have loved the opportunity to be nasty to you."
"Oh Harry," Hermione said, as if recalling something dreadful. "When I woke up I got up and tried to move away from him, thinking that the spell had worn off completely. It hadn't. I ended up in his lap." She covered her face with her hands looking humiliated.
Harry's lips twitched as he fought back a smile. Poor Hermione, he thought sympathetically.
Ron, on the other hand, was not so sympathetic. "Bloody hell, Hermione! You just threw yourself at him." He shook his head. "The poor greasy bastard probably never saw it coming." He had a wicked grin on his face.
"You make it sound like he was ambushed and assassinated," Harry muttered.
Hermione bristled with indignant anger. "Ronald Weasley, if you're going to speak at least attempt not to sound like a half-wit."
Harry was helpless to stop his laughter. Hermione's look softened a little when she looked at him as he struggled to control himself. Ron's expression was one of mingled embarrassment and amusement.
"Anyway," Harry said, suddenly serious. "Malfoy has detention for a month with Filch. Can't say I'm disappointed about that. I think he's up to something a little more serious than just gluing you to Snape though." He looked warily in the direction of the Slytherin table. "You'll have to be really careful."
"Did Dumbledore say anything about it?" Hermione asked uneasily. She didn't very much like the idea of being a target for Malfoy.
"He hasn't said anything," Harry said slowly. "But, he's concerned. He looked really worried."
"He did tell us to stick together," Ron added.
Hermione sighed. "Will just have to keep a close eye on Malfoy, just in case he's plotting something. If he is, I just hope it isn't serious enough for it to involve his father or the dark lord in some way," she said, shivering involuntarily at the thought.
"Don't worry," Ron said to reassure her. "I'm sure it's just Malfoy being a prat as usual. Let's get to class and not think about it right now."
Hermione stood up and chanced a look at the head boy. He was, as usual, sitting with his group of Slytherin thugs. However, this time, he was meeting her gaze with a calculating look. The evil glint in his gray eyes made her mouth feel suddenly dry. She quickly followed her friends out of the Great Hall.
Hermione worked diligently in potions that day. She was so focused on the potion brewing in front of her that she didn't notice when Snape came over to the table where she was sitting near Harry. She was slightly startled by his presence as he peered into her cauldron. Her potion was a leafy green color and it had a smooth consistency. She frowned when she looked at the thick almost-black mixture in Harry's cauldron.
"Forty points from Gryffindor," Snape said sneering. "I assumed that even a simpleton like you could read instructions by now. Apparently not." He turned to the class with a smirk. "Miss Granger is the only student to brew this potion properly. The rest of you will turn in three feet of parchment on the properties of the potion to be turned in at the next lesson," he snapped. He looked back at Hermione. "Put some into a vial, label it and put it on my desk," he said smoothly before walking away.
Hermione left the classroom after putting the vial on Professor Snape's desk. She met Harry and Ron just outside the door. Harry was furious with Snape. "I'm so tired of the greasy bat playing favorites," he said vehemently.
"Stop being such a martyr Harry," Hermione said impatiently. "He gave the Slytherins that assignment too."
"I was talking about you," Harry retorted angrily. "Snape favors you because you're his apprentice."
"Don't be ridiculous Harry," Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"He didn't criticize your potion. He didn't assign you homework," Harry said, scowling.
"And that couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that her potion was in perfect condition," said a silky voice, interrupting the argument. The three Gryffindors turned to see Professor Snape standing in the doorway. Harry's face turned a slight shade of pink as Snape glared at him. "Miss Granger doesn't get high marks from me because she is my apprentice," he said smoothly. "She is my apprentice because she gets high marks. Her grades have always been irritatingly high. I do not feel that it's necessary to correct her potion making. She did not receive the assignment because she obviously already knew the material." Snape folded his arm imperiously across his chest.
"Sorry Hermione," Harry muttered. "I'm a bit uptight today." He looked at her apologetically.
Hermione smiled at him and then looked back at the professor. "We'll see you at dinner Professor Snape," she said with small smile.
Snape nodded at her stiffly and then retreated to his classroom. He didn't normally defend his students, but he certainly didn't want anyone to think that he was favoring his apprentice. He scowled. Albus and Minerva would never let him live it down.
Hermione, Harry and Ron walked down the hallway and out to the grounds to go to their Care of Magical Creatures class. "Snape actually defended you," Ron said suddenly looking at Hermione. "That's strange. I didn't think he'd stand up for anyone."
"Well, I was being a prat," Harry said glancing at Hermione. "I've been worrying about what Malfoy is up to, and Snape just makes me so angry…." He trailed off.
"I know Harry," Hermione said gently. She grinned mischievously. "If it makes you feel better, I'll hex you the next time you verbally attack me like that."
Harry raised his eyebrows at her. "Duly noted," he said slyly. He led the way to the next class with a smile.
