Allo! Cordyangel here! Hope you have fun reading this chapter and when you're finished check out all my other stories. Except maybe Closer, cuz that's not even Harry Potter. But especially check out my new story, Behind Closed Doors. I like cross promoting!

Disclaimer: Though Anthony Rapp and Alan Rickman share the same initials, they DO NOT share the cage in my bedroom.

Chapter 4: Don't Let Them See You Sweat

GORDON

Look - I find some of what you teach
Suspect
Because I'm used to relying on intellect
But I try to open up to what I don't know

-Life Support RENT

"That would probably frighten me more if I weren't already dying, professor."

Those words made Snape wonder what was going on with his former student. Already dying? She was seventeen! What could she possibly be dying of? Snape's mind flashed uneasily to the sight of Hermione collapsing onto his floor. Now that his interest was piqued, he had to figure out what was going on. Curiosity killed the cat. The Muggle saying popped into his head, unbidden. Snape shooed it away and surveyed the room. If he was going to get to the bottom of this, he had to get her out of sight before Malfoy returned.

"Nice try-" Severus heard footsteps. Draco was coming up the walk. "Shit!" Snape hissed. He glanced around wildly until his glance fell on an obscure closet. "Get in there," he opened the door and threw Hermione in. "If I hear a peep out of you I will kill you. Do you understand?" He asked, grasping her chin and shaking her head.

He had just slammed the door shut when Draco walked in carrying groceries. "Hey Severus. Whatchya doing?"

Snape ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit. "Nothing. How was your visit to Azkaban?"

Draco made a face. "Same as usual. Father berated me for allowing you to kill Dumbledore. Laughed when he found out we'd been sequestered. Said that if I wasn't man enough to kill the old bat myself, than I shouldn't be protected. Then he went on and on about how I ruined the Malfoy reputation."

"As if there's much of one now that Lucius' is in prison" Snape snorted at Lucius' audacity.

"My sentiments exactly. And mum, she was just so happy I didn't die. And she thinks you're the best thing since self-spelling wands." Draco scowled again. "I told her I didn't need your help though. I could've done it myself."

Severus shrugged, he didn't really feel like getting into this conversation again. "Your mother didn't seem to think so."

Draco must've been sick of the same old argument as well, because he opted to ignore Severus' comment. "Did you eat yet?"

Severus didn't eat. It wasn't as if he had a disease or anything, He'd always had a small appetite but recent circumstances had obliterated the last of his appetite.

Realizing the stupidity of his question, Draco continued anyways. "Well, I brought back some stuff. Eggs, breath, that sort of thing." Draco started unloading the groceries. "Shit," he exclaimed, surveying his purchases and receiving a disapproving glance from Severus. "I mean shoot. I forgot milk. What the hell can we eat with out milk?" Draco grabbed the cloak he'd dumped on a chair. "I'll be right back, okay?"

The second Draco left, Snape yanked the closet open.

"Wow," the closet was so small that Granger could not even sit down. "You sure do know how to put a girl up."

Snape shoved her against a wall. His hands were on her forearms, pressing into them. Instead of trying to squirm away, Granger looked at him calmly in the eyes as he spoke. "Do you think this is a game? Why are you still here?"

"You're the one who stuck me in your closet," Hermione reminded him.

"Yes, well I couldn't very well have you waltzing around when Draco was here, now could I?" Despite himself, Severus was being drawn into a conversation. He tried to remember his goal and push his curiosity aside. He had to get Granger out.

It appeared as if at the mention of Draco, Granger had frozen. Her eyes clouded over and she stumbled a bit. Regaining her senses, she answered him. "You could've killed me. But you didn't."

"Not yet anyways."

"I know you won't Professor. And I told you, I don't believe-" Hermione began.

"Oh, this again. Tell me Ms.Granger, what makes you so sure? A hunch? Woman's intuition perhaps?" Contempt was dripping of his voice in copious amounts.

"No, Logic." Behind Hermione's eyes blazed an inner fire that Severus had learned the hard way only manifested itself when she was sure she was right. And how often was she not?

"Really?"

"How else would I know you're the secret keeper for the Order?"