Chapter 4: The explosion

The following morning she was already sitting on the side of her bed, when the alarm went of.

"Time to get up" she told herself. She jumped from the bed, and went into the bathroom where she took a cold shower. Afterwards she dressed as fast as possible. She cast a drying spell on her hairs, which were dry immediately after. She tied a ribbon in them and placed herself at her desk, starting to read.

Yesterday when she had retired back to her own bedroom she was still amused with Draco's reaction. And as she wasn't really tired yet, she had taken her 'Magical Medicin for dummies' and started studying again. She was almost through with the book when she felt herself dozing of. She placed the book and her notes on the nightstand, and went to sleep.

She had deliberately set her alarm an hour earlier so she could finish the book. And she succeeded in that. She placed the book, together with all the rest she would be needing that day in her backpack, put her robe on and left the tower. She still had 15 minutes, so she decided to go and bring the book back to the library.

Hermione brought the book to Madame Pince, who would put it away for her.

"Good morning Hermione, You finished that one already? You just took it with you yesterday?"

"yeah, is it ok if I keep the other book a little longer? I would love to read that one too"

"No problem, you know you can borrow the books as long as no-one else needs to borrow it"

"Thanks. It's still quiet in here, isn't it. I mean, I can't see anyone but me"

'It's still early, You're my first student today. I don't know if professor Snape's still in here, but otherwise we would be alone yes."

"I think I'm going to look into my books until I need to go to breakfast, is that ok with you?"

"Sure, that's what I'm here for."

Hermione walked to the back of the library, to her favorite place. There were only 2 tables, 4 chairs and a 2-persons sofa. She would always sit there. The other students studied at the tables in the middle of the library, where they had full access to the books, but she preferred the silence. She took her potions book, as that was the first class of today, and started to read it again, this time making short notes. Under the summer vacation she had read all of the books they were going to handle this year, so she could be prepared for classes.

Snape had heard the little conversation between Miss Granger and Madame Pince. And was curious as to which book was that interesting to read without stopping. But they hadn't mentioned the title and so he was at a loss.

He walked back to the potions sector, and continued looking for the desired book. When he heard footsteps he looked to whom they belonged to. And was surprised to see that Miss Granger went to sit in the sofa where he would always sit at night if he were doing some research, and were he sat when he was still a student at Hogwarts. He saw her taking some notes and was curious as to what book she was studying. He turned invisible and silently walked over to her, to glance over her shoulder.

Potions, she was studying potions! And was already further than they would be seeing this lesson. Unbelievable.

Hermione felt a cold breeze and moved her hand up to her arm to warm it up and do away with the goose bumps.

Only seconds later it felt as if someone was blowing warm air to her neck. So she turned, seeing no-one.

She looked puzzled, but thought about Harry and his cloak and in one movement she turned in the chair, and waved her both hands in the air behind her, hoping to hit something.

"Harry, I know you're there, stop playing, I'm trying to study"

Professor Snape looked at the girl with one lifted brow. What was she talking about? He turned, and looked round, but saw no Potter. Her hand caught him off guard.

Hermione again felt a slight cold breeze, located it, and putted out her hand to catch Harry's cloak, and pull it off. She couldn't help grinning, as she smacked into something. She took what she thought was the cloak and tried to take it off. But instead of seeing Harry, she didn't manage to get him rid of the cloak. The cloak was stuck somehow.

Professor Snape didn't know what was happening. He saw Miss Granger pulling at his robe, but didn't know how to react. It was clear to him now, that she was thinking of Harry and his invisibility cloak and he stepped back. But she wouldn't let go. He took his wand and muttered a spell that would make her hand tickle like hell, in the hope she would let go of his robes, which she did. He used that moment to walk to a safe distance.

Hermione was still holding on to the cloak, when she felt something tickle her hand. She couldn't help removing her hand form the cloak, as she needed to itch it. It was rather unbearable. She knew the spell, having read something about it, so she took her wand, and made her hand back to normal.

She heard the bell that announced breakfast was ready, so she putted her book away, and walked out of the library.

She didn't know Snape was looking impressed when she removed the spell on her own. He waited until she had left the library until he removed the invisibility spell and started walking towards the great hall.

When Hermione entered the great hall, she saw Harry eating and talking to Ron and Ginny. She was surprised to seeing Harry here, as she was sure that she had seen him only minutes earlier in the library.

"Hey guys" she said while she sat next to Ron, who gave her a hug

"Hey girl, did you sleep well?"

"yes, I did", "Harry? Why couldn't I remove your invisibility cloak in the library?"

Harry looked puzzled. "What do you mean? I haven't touched that cloak yet this year, and I haven't set foot in the library either?"

"Come on Harry, don't make jokes now, I know you were in there"

"Hermione, Harry has been with us this morning" Ginny said, also looking puzzled.

Hermione didn't understand, and looked around, who it could have been. As Harry's cloak was rather hard to get, she guessed no-one but him had one here in Hogwarts. So that meant the person must have used an invisibility spell. She also knew that they wouldn't learn that spell until the last term. So it had to be someone who had learned from his parents. She guessed Malfoy.

"Harry, How long has Malfoy been here?"

"Uhm, I believe he was here before us."

There went her theory. She was scanning the room, looking for empty spots, and student that may have done it. When she saw Snape walking in. She was startled when she saw his robes where slightly crumbled at his side. She was terrified as she was certain she was going to pay for this.

She was still staring at him and his robes, when he felt eyes on him, and found her looking at him in shock. He found it amusing, and tried to hide a smirk. He thought about having more fun and glared at her.

She saw him glare and turned her head immediately, a little blush covering her cheeks at the thought of what she had done. Her friends where confused by her questions and acting this morning. Only Snape needed to hide his smirk at the reaction he had caused within her.

After breakfast Hermione was still a bit unsettled. Ron laid his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"come on honey, some-one pulled a prank on you today, that's not so bad, is it?"

"It is when you know I was pulling at Snape's robes instead off Harry's cloak!" she whispered into his ear. Ron couldn't believe what she had just said. He started laughing,

"Ron, this isn't funny, you should have seen his face this morning!"

"If you don't like my face, than why are you coming here, down in the dungeons to my class? Maybe you should not come at all then. As my face will no longer bother you if you're not in my class."

"But sir!"

Ron had let go of Hermione, walking silently to Harry, who was already sitting in class, talking to Seamus.

"You are dismissed, go find yourself something else to do. As I am sure you don't need my lessons, as you are already studying everything on your own."

He slammed the door right in front of her, leaving her outside. She didn't know what to do anymore. Everything she did was wrong to him. It was probably her own fault as she shouldn't have pissed him off this morning. She slowly walked towards the infirmary, deciding she would help Poppy out instead.

She came into the infirmary, putted her bag down, and looked around. Poppy and Albus came walking out of Poppy's office.

"Good morning Hermione, I gather Snape wasn't pleased on seeing you today neither?"

"no sir"

"Miss Granger, what would you think of a project. You will be helping Poppy throughout the year. She will teach you everything you need to know about healing wizards. If she needs your help badly, you will be asked to come and help her, even when you are in class. If you don't have trouble with that, I would be pleased if you would take on the project. Off course you will be getting extra marks for it."

Hermione was thrilled. She wanted to help out anyway, but now, there were extra marks involved, she would do the best she could.

"I would love to, when can I start"

Dumbledore laughed with the enthusiasm Miss Granger had accepted the project.

"As you don't have any classes now, you can start right now." "I'll leave you two be"

Dumbledore left the room. And Poppy showed her the places of all the potions, items and spell books. Poppy thought Hermione the most important and most used remedies and Hermione wrote everything down with her quill, eager to learn everything Poppy had to teach.

Hermione made a potion against head aches and one against stomach aches. That way, she had had potions anyway. She smiled, happy to be filled with knowledge and left the infirmary after a thank you to Poppy. She was off to the next class which was charms.

As a few months passed it often occurred that Hermione was called away from class to help at the infirmary. No-one except for Ron, Harry and Ginny knew where she was going.

She wasn't allowed much in Snape's class as he always found a reason to dismiss her either before or at the beginning of class. She always copied the notes Harry and Ron made on the subject.

She had read all the spell books in the infirmary and knew exactly how to cure the aches and diseases. She talked to the students, helped them with their problems and they were pleased with the new school nurse.

Every thing went well in Hogwarts.But now, a week before the Christmas holidays Trelawney's prediction came true.

Snape was teaching a first year of Huffelpufs and Ravenclaws. He saw that Louis Longbottom, Neville's younger brother added erumpent fluid instead of essence of Hellebore. Professor Snape ran as fast as he could while yelling "HIDE!" to protect Louis and his partner who didn't realize what they had just done. He jumped in front of them pushing them backwards. The cauldron exploded, and Professor Snape was badly injured. Although Professor Snape didn't even mind to be rid of another Longbottom (as he was as bad in potions as his older brother Neville), Louis was under his protection, and he took that responsibility with great care.

Dumbledore had seen it all happen and had accioed professor Snape and all the students who weren't able to walk their selves, to the infirmary. Hermione was called away from class and ran directly to the infirmary having heard the explosion.

There were 25 injured there. 16 in the two row of beds and 9 were sitting in comfortable chairs. Hermione hurried of to Poppy.

"What happened?"

"There was an explosion in first year's potion class"

"Ok, where do I start?"

"Well, Professor Snape is badly injured; the 9 sitting on the chairs only need a check up, and a potion to calm them down. The other 15 students are injured too. As I still work faster than you, I will handle the 9. Like that, it will be much quieter in here, so we can work in peace. You can start with professor Snape, as he has to be handled before he awakes. He doesn't like being taken care off. Do you know what to do?"

"I think so, yes"

Hermione went to the bed, the closest to the back. She putted a screen around it, so he could have his privacy, she thought he would like that. She took her wand and casted spells to look what the troubles were. His Arms and a few ribs were broken, his face, hands and the top of his chest were burned. She thought it unbelievable that the heat had even gotten through all those layers of cloth. There were also a few scratches and he had a severe concussion.

She would start with the easiest. She would fix the broken boned first. She took a wound cleaning potion and the burn-healing paste but stood there only looking at the professor, scared that when he would wake, he would be screaming at her. She didn't dare touch him, nor removing any of his clothes.

Dumbledore stood behind her, wanting to see his professor, and how good of a job Hermione did. He looked thoughtful when he saw his price student standing awkwardly looking at professor snape, fear was in her eyes.

"You do not need to fear him. He will be asleep for a few hours."

Hermione hadn't expecting someone, and jumped.

"I do not fear him, professor, it's just....", "Although I can handle students, this I can not. He still is my professor, and is angry with me as it is. I am not looking forward to be dismissed again, nor do I look forward to receive one of his snarky remarks....again. If he wakes up, and finds out I have undone him of his clothes..."

"I see. But you will need to learn to overrule your fears. You can not stay hiding for an 'overgrown bat' he chuckled when he said this. You will need to do this by yourself. I will tell Poppy you will be taking care of Professor Snape, both day and night. He is now your private patient. I want you to learn. I'm sure Poppy won't mind as he doesn't let her touch him. I will put an extra bed in the office. You can sleep there."

Hermione only reluctantly agreed. But she was still standing doubtfully.

"He will not wake in at least another 2 hours. You do not need to fear."

Hermione was still looking at Professor Dumbledore, not sure if she could do it. She hoped that his clothes would come of immediately, without a spell from her. That way she could say it wasn't on purpose. She decided she would go for it and snapped her fingers playfully while turning back to face her patient. She was shocked when she saw him laying there with only his pants on. She turned to professor Dumbledore, who stood in mutual shock, not knowing she possessed such wandless power.

"Excellent Miss Granger, I will leave him in your responsibility now"

He left her while whispering 'interesting' to himself.

Hermione didn't know where she had it. She turned to Snape, and back to the empty spot where Dumbledore was standing only minutes before. She saw his shock, he had nothing to do with it, but that meant she had done it herself. She still couldn't believe it.

Suddenly she took her act back together, when she noticed the state he was in. She needed to take care of him. So she putted the wound cleaning potion on his wounds and very carefully rubbed the burn-healing paste on his body, and closed the sheets around him, only revealing his head.

Afterwards she went to help Poppy with the other students.