Disclaimer: As usual only the plot is mine.
7/21/05- changed some mistakes that Katie, my beta, found! Thanks Katie!
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Hermione arrived in the dungeons a few minutes late. Professor Snape was sitting at his desk going over papers.
"You're late, Miss Granger," he drawled without looking up. "I would expect more from an apprentice. See that it doesn't happen ag-" Professor Snape had finally looked up at Hermione. He quickly took in her tousled hair and her incorrectly buttoned blouse. He was about to make some snide remark about her 'garish love affairs,' when his gaze rested on her face. She was no longer crying, but had the distinctive look of someone who had been. Her face was tear stained and her eyes and her lips were puffy. She had the beginnings of a love bite on her neck, and in general looked like a girl forced to do something against her will. "Miss Granger, I expect you to explain yourself this instant!" He seethed in his general manner, but inside he thought, 'before I go and hunt down whoever did this to you.'
"I…um… I don't really want to talk about it." Hermione stammered. She gazed at the floor, unable to meet his eyes.
"Miss Granger, if you don't tell me what happened, and I suspect rape, then I shall have to use methods you will not appreciate, in order to obtain answers."
Hermione's eyes grew large when he said 'rape.' "No sir! I wasn't raped. I don't want to go into what happened, but I swear I wasn't raped." 'Not quite anyway,' supplied an annoying voice in her head.
"As you wish." Snape said. "Well, on to business. You did rather well organizing the potions. In light of this, I had decided to begin with a rather difficult potion. However, Madame Pomfrey brought it to my attention today that she is running low on contraceptive potion. And in my opinion, the fewer students successfully procreating, the better. So, tonight I am going to have you brew another batch for her, the instructions are on the parchment lying on your usual desk. You may begin."
An hour later Hermione was stuck on a particularly tricky part of the potion. She wasn't used to the method of stirring required.
"Professor?" Hermione ventured cautiously, when he looked up without biting her head off, she continued. "Professor, I'm not sure how to complete this method of stirring." Snape gracefully walked over to her. After a quick glance at the instructions and the partially completed potion, he stood directly behind Hermione. He took her right hand in his and began to stir, teaching her as he went. At the sudden contact, Hermione started. When she felt his fingers close over hers, she could feel her heart begin to race. After a few moments of stirring, Snape stepped closer in order to check the potion. He was now pressed against Hermione's back. Hermione now felt another heart beat, in addition to her own. Snape's heart felt much like her own, sped up way past its normal rate. She could feel his breathing quicken. Hermione turned her face just a little towards her Potions Master. Once he felt her movement, Snape immediately let go of her hand and stepped back. Hermione's body grew cold without having Snape's warm one next to hers.
"You may go for the evening." Snape said, his words sounded forced. "Come back in two days and we will see if we can begin on a more stimulating potion." Hermione mumbled her goodbye, and raced out the door. She had no idea what had just happened between them. But what she did know, is that later that night she dreamed of Snape. Complete with all of the inappropriateness of a student/teacher relationship.
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AN: Sorry this chapter took so long! I got a bit sidetracked, but I'll should be better! Thank you to Leann Nicole 3, Daru, BeverlyCrusher1701, fansbasket22, and VampiressXxXWriter.
BeverlyCrusher1701- I have always believed that Snape was just playing a role and that he isn't really all bad.
fansbasket22- I love Draco/Ginny fics too! There are tons of them out there if you look!
Thank you to my beta, Katie!