Oh my…

:Jaw drops: Nine reviews for chapter 2::Squee:

Warning: For those Hermione lovers: There is a little but of Hermy abusing in this chapter… (Getting tossed around, and such, no serious damage or anything) (And don't worry, there is not going to be a lot of this in future chapters. It's just for this one.)

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Chapter 3, Just In Time

"What. The. Bloody. Hell. Have. You. DONE!" his calm voice suddenly erupted in a fury of anger and spittle. His outburst shocked Hermione, as she tried to scramble backwards, and tripped on her own feet sending her crashing to the floor. She winced at the pain but was otherwise more worried about Snape looming above her.

His hands were clenching and unclenching, as if just imaging himself strangling her. He dropped down to his knees, and got overtop of her; jerking out his hands to grab her shirt collar and pull her into a half sitting position. They were almost nose-to-nose now, and Hermione could feel his breath being forced out through his clenched teeth.

Her whole body froze, all her muscles tensed into numbness, she could hardly register what was going on. She looked like a doe in headlights; eyes wide open in fear… She suddenly wanted to cry, to just be with her friends so they could offer her a shoulder to cry on.

"Who else has seen that stone!" he demanded loudly, still right in front of her. When he didn't answer, he released his grip on her collar and instead grabbed her shoulders, and shook her.

Her mind snapped partially out of its stupor, enough for her to answer. "I—no one—you are the f—first," she stuttered.

From his death glare, his eyes widened. "What?" he growled. "What did you say?"

"You are the only o—other person to have seen it besides myself—" she said weakly. He was back to being enraged again, as he started to growl deep in his through, teeth clenched once more. "—I was going to go to Madame Pomphrey just after potions, since I had a free period—"

She stopped a let out a small squeal as she saw him raise the back of his hand. She shut her eyes hard, waiting for the blow of flesh on flesh…

Instead of the pain and resounding sound, she heard the large wooden doors of the room creak open. Slowly she opened her eyes, to see Snape, staring up towards the back of the classroom: towards the entrance. His face was still, and he just looked irritated, with his hand no longer raised to slap her.

She tried to crane her neck backwards. She succeeded enough to see the Headmaster standing in the doorway from the corner of her eye. She could see what she thought looked like bewilderment on his face.

"Severus? Miss Granger?" he asked, "What is going on here? I heard that there was a dangerous potion explosion down here. I wanted to make sure everything was alright."

"Every thing is not alright, Albus," sneered Snape. He grabbed Hermione's right wrist and stood up, pulling her with him. She stumbled to regain her balance, which gave Snape the advantage to turn her around and display her now upturned palm. The jewel glinted brightly in the firelight, as Dumbledore stared at the jewel.

The Headmaster gasped sharply, taking in the smiling, feminine features in gold, and the glittering red within the stone. He continued to stare at the jewel, as if refusing to believe what he was seeing was true. This confused Hermione greatly…but she hardly noticed as she regained the right of her mind and realized that her back was pressed up against Snape's chest.

Her stomach churned at the realization and tried to pull herself away. She felt unexpectedly disoriented however, and just fell away to the floor. She chided herself for that move, and looked up to see both Professors staring down at her.

"Get up, you silly girl," barked Snape. Hermione briefly shook her head. She knew she wouldn't be able to stand for very long without aide. Snape just shrugged, and turned to Dumbledore, who returned his gaze.

"Whose the one who first saw it after Miss Granger?" prodded Dumbledore, arching a grey eyebrow at Snape.

The potions professor gritted his teeth and spat out a bitter "Me."

This time the Headmaster's other eyebrow joined the first, in trying to reach his hat edge. "You, m'boy?" he mused.

Snape just closed his eyes and solemnly nodded, accepting this information in a calm manner for the first time.

"Oh dear…"

"Indeed," muttered Snape.

All Hermione could do was stare up at the two in profound confusion. "Professors—what is going on?" she pried, unable to accept knowing absolutely nothing. She was rather fearful, however, of what the answer may be. Was everything going to be okay?

"Miss Granger…" said Dumbledore, pausing to arrange his words, "I would advise that you go back to your common room and wait for your next class to begin."

Hermione furrowed her brow. "But what about the jewel?" She raised her palm in front of her. The two professors stared down at it, neither of them looking very happy about seeing it.

"The others can see it. If they ask about it, just say you got it from your boyfriend over the summer," said Dumbledore, smiling knowingly. "and attached it with a spell."

Hermione blushed, and looked down at her hands, Snape looking at her awkwardly. It was true. She did have a secret boyfriend over the summer. She didn't tell the others. She knew she could tell Ron, and he'd understand…but if she told Harry…

She knew Harry had a crush on her for about a year and a half now, by word of Ginny. It started out with Ginny going out with Harry. They were a happy couple for a little while, but something just seemed amiss. Not long after two months of dating, Ginny started coming to Hermione for a shoulder to cry on, but she'd never say why she was crying.

Another month went by and she found out on a Monday that over the previous weekend, Harry had broken up with Ginny, saying the cliché, "I think we know that we both aren't feeling anything from this relation ship—and maybe we shouldn't be seeing one another." Ginny was devastated.

Since then Harry started blushing more around Hermione, and trying to flirt with her. He never got up the guts however to ask her out…at least yet.

Her old boyfriend really didn't matter much to her. She met him at a muggle mall over the summer. His name was Chad. They became friends, exchanged numbers, and she later found out he was a wizard. Not much later they had hit it off. Just before school got back in session, he disappeared. His number was no longer valid, and when she visited his house no one was home. Not a single sign of life.

She went home and found a letter addressed to her from him. She opened it to find the simple words, "We're over with."

It surprised her when she really was not affected by it all. She really didn't care.

But how did the Headmaster know about Chad?

"Go on, Miss Granger. I'll tell you what's going on in due time. But right now—things just aren't right to say." Dumbledore insisted. She nodded, and found that she could stand up straight. She rushed out of the room and to the Gryffindore Common Room, to rest her head until next class.

She plopped down on her bed, and pulled the curtains around her, letting darkness settle around her. What was going on? She didn't know what this stone was that was now embedded in her hand…she had her doubts that going to Madame Pomphrey would do anything.

Was she in danger? Hermione desperately hoped her life wasn't in danger…Then again, she didn't doubt that if the Headmaster had not of come into the potions class when he did, her life would have been in danger.

A chill ran down her limbs as she remembered the pure hate she had seen in Snape's eyes. That murderous heat, ready to catch her on fire and consume her…Her stomach flipped, as she felt tears ready to form. She tried to push them down—but she had been so scared. She was at his mercy. He even made it known by getting down on her level.

He could have easily killed her there, by magic or by physical means. What would he do when they met tomorrow for potions? She shuttered at the thought.

Would he kick her out of potions class for the rest of the year? Was the situation that serious? Would he really do that?

Hermione scoffed at that. Of course he would really do that. He'd do it just for coughing in class. That big ass-hole. That big ass-hole that could kill her at any given chance…

Then something popped into her mind…he asked me who was the first person besides me to see the jewel. What difference would that make? It could have been coincidence that he asked that, maybe just to see something out…but then he got so scared when she said that it was he who saw it first.

But wait! The girl! The girl she ran into. Did she see it? She could have seen it during two instances. When they ran into another, or during class!

'I need to talk to her,' Hermione decided. She was going to get up and go to her next class when fatigue swept in… 'Tomorrow…' With that last though, Hermione fell to sleep, not caring that she was missing the first day of school…just not caring.

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Thank you all, you wonderful reviewers of chapter 2. :)

And now to respond to everyone who reviewed that chapter.

Poppycan: I know, but I still have to ask. 

Mirlanthiriel: Sorry 'bout that. Thank you you're your kind words.

Sabik: Thank you!

HRInuyashaFan16: Heheh, we'll just have to see, no won't we?

septentrion: Only time will tell ;)

lizzieshere: Good lord, who knows? Er…except me. :Grin:

June W: Or rather Dumbles will find out on his own Then again…maybe Tiffany was the first to see it? Muahaaa

Severuslvr: Awe… :Hands tissue: I very glad your enjoying my fanfic! And I'm very honored!

Fuuruma: Thank you! I'm glad you like the ending. Well, even though in this update, you don't find out what it up with the jewel…the time will come… ;)

Love to you all who read my story, and extra love to those who have reviewed!

Cheers!

Also, if you don't find this story to your liking, I would appreciate emails, telling me why and how I can improve. )