Chapter 11: Coincidence and likely stories/ They dog your trail like a pack of lies

"Hermione, what do you know about the Battle of Boyne river with James II?"

Hermione looked up at Harry from behind her usual pile of books. "Why do you want to know that?" She leaned back into the soft armchair that harry had been using the night before. Crookshanks was purring on the rug in between them.

He told her what he had overheard, voice low even though they were one of the few students in the Common Room yet. He finished off with the 300 year gap in the history and his wondering if it wasn't due to the Snape's being assassins.

"I don't know what it is with you and Professor Snape," she began in a lecturing tone.

"Besides he's an evil git?" Ron piped in from his place on the rug, quill in hand and an essay held down on the carpet.

"Professor Snape, either of them, would never harm any of the students. Dumbledore would never allow it."

"Snape's a pretty powerful wizard, 'Mione. He could fool old Dumbledore."

Hermione sighed loudly. "Right, Ron, and you were convinced he was trying to kill Harry in first year."

"Oy! Not just me. He had you convinced, too! You wouldn't have set him on fire if you weren't!"

"Only because I was too young to recognize Quirrell for what he was."

Ron laughed. "Like you recognized Lockhart for the fake he was?"

Harry sighed and left the two to their bickering. Gathering his books, he left the common room and headed down for an early breakfast. Just before he entered the Great Hall, he heard McGonagall's voice.

"I just hope, Albus," she was saying, "that Professor Snape doesn't jump out of bounds. They can hardly afford any more problems or inquiries."

Dumbledore's voice sounded tired. "Professor Snape was once one of the more active and publicly known members of the Guild, fortunately not here in Great Britain. I don't believe that an assignment has been taken on in well over 4 years."

"I just hope that the professor doesn't take on any assignments that are two big even for the Ministry."

Harry ducked behind a statue as the two passed. He didn't follow them into the Great Hall, opting for one of the rising staircases.

Somehow, learning that one of your teachers was an assassin killed his appetite.