Chapter Two
Hermione began the long walk to the portait of the Fat Lady. She felt like maybe she should've stayed longer. She hated that she was avoiding her friends. She wasn't even sure why she was doing it. Suddenly out of nowhere, three large bodies stepped in front of her. Hermione looked up and groaned inwardly. It was Malfoy and his two lackies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? If it isn't the bucktoothed Mudblood wandering the halls, all on her own." Malfoy said, with a sneer.
Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
"What do you want, ferret boy?" Hermione replied with a glare.
The sneer left Malfoy's face instantly. He looked furious. Then he raised his hand and slapped Hermione across the face with all his strength. Hermione was stunned and suddenly afraid.
"Don't you ever speak to me in such a way again! If it were up to my father, no mudbloods would even be here. You just wait, the Dark Lord will triumph in the end and then....I think I'll make you my slave.", he finished with a hideous smile.
"Hold her arms, boys." Malfoy said to his underlings. "It's time Ms.Granger gets put in her place."
Hermione was too scared to make a sound and her cheek throbbed with pain from the slap. Then, out of the shadows, a tall figure appeared.
"You foolish boys!", Snape snapped. "Unhand Ms.Granger at once!"
Crabbe and Goyle loosened their hold on Hermione's arms and she yanked herself free. She quickly moved to Snape's side, rubbing her arms.
"That will be fifty points each from Slytherin. And I dare say a month's worth of detention would also do you some good. Now get to bed!", he nearly yelled at them.
Hermione stared up at her teacher in wonder. She had never seen him act that way toward students of his own house.
"And what were you doing wandering the halls on your own, when everyone is still in the dining room. Don't you have prefect duties?", he asked, sharply.
"I'm sorry, sir. I was very tired, and Ron offered to take the first year students up himself.", she said, avoiding his eyes.
Hermione felt Snape looking at her and she finally gave in and turned to face him.
"You'll need to have Madam Pomphrey take a look at your face. Follow me.", he said, softer, this time.
Hermione lifted her hand to touch her sore face and felt something wet. Examining her hand, she noticed blood. Her lip must have opened.
They soon arrived at the infirmary. Snape told Hermione to wait in the doorway and he went over to Madam Pomphrey. Hermione saw them talking softly, then the nurse looked over at Hermione with a face full of compassion.
"Come, child. Let's have a look at that face," she said smiling.
Hermione expected Snape to leave at that point but there he stood, making no effort to excuse himself. Hermione sat down and allowed the nurse to look her over.
"Don't worry, dear. I'll have your pretty face back to normal in just a few moments." She went over to a big white cabinet and took out two small vials.
"Here," she said handing Hermione one of them, "drink this down."
Hermione, reluctantly took it and swallowed the liquid in one gulp. It tasted terrible but she immediatly felt more normal and the pain in her face vanished. Madam Pomphrey then opened the second bottle and bgan to apply some cream to Hermione's face. She could feel the swelling go down immediately, and upon touching her lip, discovered it to be closed. Madam Pomphrey examined Hermione's face once more and smiled with satifaction.
"You'd better take her straight to bed, Severus. Sleep is what she needs most now." She helped Hermione to her feet and bid her two intruders goodnight.
The next morning Hermione awoke to someone shaking her. Her eyes snapped open. She half expected to see Draco, but it was only Ginny.
"Hermione, you overslept! Breakfast is nearly over and classes are about to start."
Hermione cursed loudly and jumped out of bed. How could this have happened! She threw on her school uniform and performed a quick cleansing spell, as there was no time for a bath. Her schedule had been set by her bed and she snatched it up to read what her first class would be. History, well that would be a short enough walk. The two friends hurried down the steps, and once outside the common room, went their separate ways. Hermione ended up being early anyway and sat in a front row desk. No one else had arrived yet so she took advantage of the silence to think about the previous night. Life never ceased to amaze her. Why had Snape been so kind to her? It didn't make sense. He had always seemed to hate her so much. Hermione would have expected him to allow whatever was going to happen to happen. Hermione shivered, involuntarily, and wondered what would have happened if Snape hadn't come along. Hermione went over their last words to one another.
"Professor, I want to thank you for everything."she had said at the common room entrance, tears suddenly forming in her eyes.
"It was nothing. Just make sure you have your wand out, next time you decide to wander the school halls on your own.", then he was gone before Hermione had time to respond.
Students began shuffling into the classroom, dragging Hermione away from her thoughts.