Chapter Three.
"Hermione, thank you so much for the cloak, I really appreciate it."
"Oh, Professor, it's not a problem, not at all." Was that her voice?
"It's so lovely the way you've kept it, all nice and clean."
"Thank you, Professor. I did it for you..."
Hermione awoke with a start. A dream, it was only a dream...thank God. But about Snape? And that damned cloak? Why? Did she see anything attractive in Severus Snape?
No! She thought, you mustn't think like that! It'll only confuse you into liking him and he's not who you like, is he?
Hermione got dressed and ready for school with the other girls in the Gryffindor dormitory so that they could head down to breakfast before their various classes.
Potions is first. She thought with disgust, I hate Potions. But did she really? Or was she just fooling herself.
Shut up!
"G'morning Hermione!" Ron said as Hermione joined himself and Harry for breakfast.
"Wow, Ron, your face isn't filled with food as usual." Hermione commented. Ron looked crestfallen.
"'Bad night with Snape?" Harry asked.
"Oh yeah, you had detention last night, how did it go?" Ron inquired.
"It was only lines." Hermione said quietly helping herself to the scrambled eggs in front of her.
"You're lucky." Ron said, "He always makes me do something really disgusting. He must like you more than he lets on."
"Did he take the cloak?" Harry asked.
Hermione ignored the question, "He does not like me!" She denied immediately, "He hates me! He hates us all!"
Ron and Harry looked at her outburst with confusion.
"Did he take the cloak, Hermione?" Harry repeated the question.
"And are you ok?" Ron added glaring at the peers who had looked over to see what Hermione was yelling about.
"I'm fine, and yes he did." Hermione snapped.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Well, what happened?" Harry pressed.
"Nothing, he just took it, it was an easy detention." Hermione sighed, "Look, I'm sorry I yelled; I didn't sleep well last night."
"Oh..." Harry said in understanding. He let go of the subject and re-assumed eating his breakfast.
During their first class of the day, which was Potions, of course, Snape literally ignored her; he didn't take points away for her usual, know-it-all behavior; he didn't even acknowledge her existence.
"So, it's not just me, but Snape didn't take notice of me at all right?" Hermione asked to Harry and Ron after class.
"Yeah, it was a weirder class than usual…" Ron agreed.
"I didn't do anything really, terribly wrong today?" Hermione inquired
"Not that I know of, but you gave him his cloak back when he asked you to keep it…I dunno, maybe he's sad you didn't keep it as a token." Harry thought aloud.
"A token?" Hermione questioned angrily, "A token of what?"
"Uh…never mind." Ron said quickly.
"No, really, what?" Hermione was confused; perhaps he did want her to keep the cloak for good. But if so, why would he have accepted it?
"What do you three think that you are doing, loitering outside of my class?" An oily voice inquired. Severus Snape glared down at the three Gryffindors standing in shock outside of the door of his Potions class room, "Now, if you don't mind, you are blocking the path of the students who will soon be down to take my next class…! Five points, each, from Gryffindor! Let that be a lesson to you."
Hermione felt anger boiling up inside of her, "But sir-!" She began.
"Detention! Don't talk back to me, just go!" Snape shouted.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione didn't stop until they were close to the Great Hall, in their pursuit to escape the Potions master.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" Ron asked outraged as they walked down to Herbology.
"I don't want to think about it!" Hermione snapped, quickening her pace. But that's not going to stop me, is it? The girl thought, entering the classroom. Enough!
Ron and Harry talked about a few random topics, but Hermione didn't join in; no matter what she wanted, she couldn't stop thinking about Snape…
What's wrong with me?
"Hey, Hermione."
"Hey, Ginny. Ginny, what are you doing here, this is fifth year of Herbology, not fourth…!" Hermione said confusedly.
Ginny laughed, "I know, Hermione; I was sent to deliver a message to you."
"Oh? Ok…" Hermione took the note from Ginny and unfolded it.
Ms. Granger,
Your detention will be served tonight! No exceptions! And do not be late.
Signed,
Prof. S. Snape
"Great…" Hermione groaned pocketing the note, "Thanks Ginny."
"No problem, you got me pulled out of Defense against the Dark Arts. That Umbridge woman is driving me bloody insane." Ginny said grimly.
"Good luck with her." Hermione said.
"And you with Snape." Ginny returned.
So, here she was again. How did she get here again? Remember, back talk!
"Professor." She greeted.
"Ms. Granger, why are you here?" Severus Snape asked her, not even looking up from the essays he was grading.
"For my detention, sir." Hermione replied.
"We've been through this before, I can see why you are in my office at this moment, but what did you do to get here?" Snape said exasperatedly.
"Back talk." Hermione replied glaring.
"That's correct. So tonight, you will be doing lines." Snape waved his wand aimlessly and the healing draught written on the blackboard behind him vanished and the words 'I will not talk back to Prof. Snape.' appeared.
Hermione was about to protest, but decided against it and sat down at the desk next to Snape's, that had been equipped with parchment, a quill, and an ink well. You suck. She thought, and began to work.
When the detention was over, Snape finally looked up from his essays.
"Ms. Granger, you will never hear me say this again, so listen very carefully." Snape said. Hermione sat up on the edge of her seat and put her class ears on. "I was having a bad day when you tried to return the cloak to me, I was frustrated and I apologize for snapping at you. Now get out!"
Hermione stood for a moment looking amazed at Snape, and then rushed out of the classroom.
On her way to Gryffindor tower, she stopped at the Prefects bathrooms and was surprised to feel tears on her face. She quickly splashed her face with water, and headed to bed.
"Hermione, Hermione wake up."
"What is it?"
"It's that time of the month…"
"What, Hogsmeade?"
"Why don't you just look?"
So Hermione, groaning, lifted herself from her bed, and noticed the blood on her sheets.
It was PMS? It was PMS the whole time! I don't like Snape! It was just PMS! Oh thank God.
Fin.
Author's finishing note: Ok. I don't think that even I saw that coming. I apologize for any boys who were grossed out. And I hope you enjoyed this ficlet. Thanks for reading. Leave your reviews at the door.