Chapter Three

At last it was time for the final class of the day. Hermione started for the dungeons with Harry and Ron. Hermione was a bit nervous about Potions, after what had happened the previous night. The Gryfindors always did Potions class with the Slytherins. She hoped Malfoy wouldn't try anything again.

Her two friends were currently in the middle of a heated debate on what was the worst thing about Snape. Hermione blocked out their words. How could they act so normal after everything? Harry should still be mourning his godfather's death, instead he was joking around about a hated teacher. And Ron surely should be showing some sign that he went through a terrible ordeal only a few months ago. Maybe she was just taking it all too hard. Maybe she was being unreasonable.

They finally arrived at the classroom. Malfoy and his croonies were already there, leaning against the wall, waiting for the door to open. Upon seeing Hermione, Malfoy stood up straight and walked over to her.

"If you think that Snape's interference, last night, is enough to keep you safe, you're dead wrong. Snape won't always be around to save the day. You'd better watch your back from now on, because you can be certain, I'll be watching.", Malfoy whispered in her ear.

Hermione glared at him but didn't respond. Then Malfoy spun around and walked back to his friends. Harry and Ron seemed to have missed the whole exchange, and Hermione wasn't sure if she was disappointed or relieved about that.

The door opened, and students poured in. Snape made no beginning of the year speech, as all the other teachers had. There were instructions for a stomach remedy potion on the chalk board and the students found tables and immediately began preparing the complicated recipe. Hermione, as usual, shared a table with Neville. She set about organizing the ingredients she would need. Hermione found the challenge of this difficult potion to be invigorating. For the first time in quite a while she was able to forget her problems, and focus on something else. She noticed that Neville, as usual, was having trouble with the recipe. Hermione discreetly helped him and turned back to her own cauldron. Just then she heard the familier swishing of robes and looked up to see Snape next to her desk. He was glaring down at her. Hermione waited for him to punish her for helping Neville but he only looked closely at the contents of her cauldron and said," A little more ginger root would do good, I think.", then walked away. Hermione, confused, looked at her potion. She had put in just the right amount. Then she noticed a small folded piece of parchment on her desk. Surprised, she picked it up and looked at her teacher. He was busy writing an assignment on the board and didn't notice. She quickly finished her brew and opened the parchment. On it was written a few sentences in small, neat handwriting.

Ms. Granger,

It is my duty to inform you that the Dark Lord has planned a scheme which involves your kidnapping, although

I don't know what he plans on doing after that. You must, from now on, be

with somebody at all times. If you are sent home or protected here at school, the Dark Lord will know that

there is a spy in the school, and under no circumstances must that happen. Be careful and never

leave your common room without a friend beside you and your wand at the ready.

-Professor Snape

Hermione's hands were shaking, and she suddenly felt sick. This had to be a joke, right? Even if it were true, why did Snape alert her to the plan? She glanced at Malfoy. Was he somehow in on this? Is that what his threat was about? Hermione was desperate for class to be over so she could try talking with Snape about everything. At last the bell rang and all the students began filing to the front of the class room to give Snape a sample of their potions. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm as he was leaving and asked him to wait for her outside the classroom. Then she arrived at Snape's desk and handed him her potion.

"Professor," she whispered,"can we talk for a moment?"

Snape hurredly looked around them, then glared down at her.

"You foolish girl, why do you think I wrote the note? We can never be caught speaking together! Write me a letter if you must. And, for heavens sake, be discreet about giving it to me. Now, you are excused!" Then he turned and walked away.

Hermione stood there for a moment, stunned. Then went to join Harry and Ron. Harry was the first to speak up.

"Hermione, what's wrong!? You look as white as a ghost."

"You really do, Hermione.", Ron added worriedly.

Hermione tried to smile at them, but instead crumpled into tears. It was all just too much for her to handle. And yet she couldn't tell them, she just couldn't. But she also couldn't pretend, anymore, that everything was okay. Harry hugged her close as she cried and Ron gently rubbed her back.

"Did Snape say something to upset you?", Ron asked protectivly, glaring toward the classroom door.

"No, No, it's nothing like that.", Hermione cried.

"Is it Sirius, Hermione?", Harry asked softly.

"That's only part of it.", Hermione gasped between sobs.

"What's the other part, Mione?", Ron asked.

Hermione's sobbing, at last, subsided and she wiped her face.

"I'm so sorry, but I just can't tell you.....not yet anyway."

Harry and Ron looked at eachother, confused and a bit annoyed.

Harry then took Hermione's hands and looked deep into her eyes.

"Hermione, we've been friends too long for this. Whatever's going on, Ron and I can help you through it. We've never kept anything from each other. Why start now?"

"You have to trust us, Mione.", Ron added.

"Yes, but you both need to trust me too. I know what I'm doing. You don't need to worry about me. Honestly, I don't even know why I was crying, I must have had a lot of stress building up inside me" Hermione said with a forced smile."We really should get to the common room now.", she added, and started walking away before they could respond. They quickly caught up with her but she hurried on as to not let the conversation go any further. Harry and Ron realized that it would do no good to say anything more, so they let it go. At least, for the moment.

Later that evening as Hermione was getting ready for bed, she took off her robe and out of one of her pockets fell a folded piece of parchment, similar to the one Snape gave her, earlier. She simply stared at it for a moment, then bent to pick it up. The letters were written in a larger sloppy scrowl. Hermione quickly read the note.

Ms. Granger,

Meet me in my chambers at 12:30, tonight.

It's urgent that we speak. Come alone!

-Professor Snape

Hermione read it through a few more times in confusion. Hadn't he said never to wander the halls alone and that the only way for them to speak would be through notes? Hermione looked at the clock. It was 11:30. Her roommates were still up and having a quiet conversation on Lavender's bed. She again read the note. He must have written the note in a hurrry. The handwriting was a bit different. And maybe when he said that they could never risk speaking face to face, he had only said it for fear that someone was listening. Taking a book, Hermione told her roommates that she was going down to the common room to read for a while. From there she would head to the dungeons at the right time.

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