Warning

This story is not suitable for readers under the age of seventeen. It contains sexual content, including some non-consensual, and may offend some readers. If this subject is offensive to you, please do not read this story.

Chapter 8 - Potions

Monday morning meant Potions. Harry's least favourite subject from his first week at Hogwarts had failed to move up his popularity list at any time since. Today, Snape's mood appeared to be fouler, if possible, than usual. He wore a scowl on his face and was pacing the dungeon like a caged tiger. There were several things, however, that Harry noticed were different about today. For a start, Snape's mood appeared to be causing problems for everyone - not just the people he usually chose to belittle and humiliate. Malfoy, for instance, was the recipient of a growled "Stupid boy!" for being unable to name the three basic uses of Gillyweed, and Crabbe and Goyle lost Slytherin five points each for spilling their potion into Pansy Parkinson's bag. Secondly, the Potions Master did not seem to take his usual delight in victimizing those who found the work difficult. In fact, he barely noticed when Neville Longbottom inadvertently added three times the required amount of batwings to his cauldron, and his concoction started to send out pink fumes. Most surprising of all, Snape actually paid a compliment to a Gryffindor. Harry never would have believed it, but he heard the words "Excellent, Ms. Granger," as Hermione's potion turned to the green hue that was required.

Hermione, however, was also in a peculiar mood, and appeared to ignore Snape's compliment entirely. Harry turned to Ron in disbelief, but his friend just shrugged. Without words, Harry understood - maybe this was just another example of Hermione's unusual change in attitude lately.

When Snape began quizzing the class on memory potions, the bizarre behavior continued. Harry had discovered, the previous year, that an amazingly successful tactic to avoid being asked a question during this class was to look like he knew the answer. If Snape saw him with his hand in the air he would never dream of asking. It was so successful that Harry had even taken to putting his hand up when he didn't have a clue, just to be certain that he wouldn't be asked. Thankfully, this was not one of those occasions as, unbelievably, Snape picked him, then answered with a curt "Correct!" Hermione's hand was not in the air, which was odd in itself, but Snape chose that time to ask her a question. Her answer was, of course, perfect, despite her lack of enthusiasm, but Snape paused for a moment before his rumbled "Correct," then moved on.

The rest of the class went ahead relatively normally. Snape had not changed completely, Harry noticed, as the teacher sneered at Ron's gray mixture, bubbling in his cauldron. Nor did he seem inclined to let them off homework, as he assigned them an essay to be handed in by Thursday. As the class packed up, Snape's voice cut through those of the students, "Ms. Granger. I need to discuss your project with you. Return here for a few minutes after your final class of the day."

She must have heard him, but gave no indication of it as she left the room, followed by a puzzled Harry and Ron.

Hermione was furious as she stormed down to the dungeon after her last class. "What the hell was all that about this morning?" she demanded. "Do you have any idea how suspicious my friends are already, without you acting the way you did?"

Snape's voice was cold. "What?" he rumbled, dangerously.

"Do you realize that since the first day I arrived at Hogwarts, that's the first time you've ever done anything but sneer at my work in class?" she fumed. "What are people supposed to think?"

"They are supposed to think, Ms. Granger," - Snape's voice was ominously low - "that I expressed satisfaction with the work of a student. I believe that, as a teacher, I have that prerogative?"

"Not when - - - "

Snape interrupted. "As for my behavior, I hardly think you are in a position to criticize, considering your own little display. Did you think that your refusal even to acknowledge me would avert attention?"

"I was just trying to cover for your mistake!"

"Then how am I supposed to act around you, if today was a 'mistake', as you put it?" Although Hermione had been witness to the many negative emotions shown by Severus Snape over the years, it was unusual for her to see real anger in him. Usually, he was far more in control of his emotions, but now, despite the apparent calm in his voice, there was rage under the surface. It brought out the worst in her, and in a moment of fury, she shouted the words that she hadn't even realized she was thinking.

"Well, maybe you should have considered that before you raped me!"

The words seemed to hit both of them like a slap in the face. There was a moment of silence, then Hermione started for the door.

Snape was just a little too quick for her, with his wand, and the door slammed before she could reach it.

"SIT DOWN, HERMIONE!"

Hermione had only heard her professor's voice raised on a very few occasions. Usually, even a whisper was enough to achieve his aims, so to hear his voice reverberating round the dungeon like a cannon stopped her in her tracks. Slowly, she turned. Pointedly, he stepped aside, to allow her to cross to an armchair without having to approach him, but she defiantly remained where she stood. After a moment, he accepted this, standing at a distance as he spoke.

"Hermione," he began, his voice calm once again, "I have done things which can be neither forgiven nor forgotten, by either of us. However, we do have to find a way to deal with this situation. I am still the teacher and you the student. We have to be able to handle classes and everything else that goes on in the school, with some control or neither of us will be able to cope with the rest of the year."

Despite the appearance of calm, Hermione was still seething. "So you're saying we should both just pretend that nothing has happened?"

"Of course not," he snapped, "but another lesson like this morning and anyone with half a brain will start wondering what's going on."

"And you're worried about your job," Hermione's statement was intended to hurt him, but instead, it brought further anger.

"If you're planning on using the threat of my losing my job as your trump card in every hand, then you might as well go and tell Dumbledore what happened, right now," he snarled. "I won't play that game!"

Hermione regretted her words immediately. "No," she whispered. "I've made my decision about that, but, Severus - - - " she paused, " - - - you have to give me some time to come to terms with things."

"I understand, Hermione," he sighed. "I only wish... "

The knock at the door made both of them jump, and Dumbledore's head poked around a moment later. "Ah, Greetings, Miss. Granger. I'm sorry to interrupt ...discussing your Potions project, I presume... I just wanted a word with Professor Snape." His beaming face showed no indication that anything was amiss.

Hermione forced herself to smile back. "Hello, Professor Dumbledore. I was just leaving."

Snape's voice followed her as she reached the door. "We will continue this discussion very soon, Ms. Granger."

"Yes, Professor Snape." She stepped out of the dungeon.