Chapter Five:
"So how can we find ourselves
Trapped in our own private hells
Where we just scream but no one can hear.
'X' marks the spot where the dig begins
The treasure is found within.
The broken hearts that are soaked with fear."
Slow Dance, Senses Fail

The students took their seats, all awaiting the arrival of their D.A.D.A. professor. Professor Lupin had been reinstated since people believed that having a werewolf on the good side would be an asset. Of course, this meant that he sometimes missed some of the classes. Most of the students loved him greatly for he was the best D.A.D.A. professor they ever had. Others were still a little afraid that if they ever angered him too much, he would go wolf on them. Hermione couldn't convince them otherwise no matter how many facts of proofs she brought to them that Lupin only changed into a werewolf on the full moon.

Harry and Hermione took their seat, looking between them at the empty chair which would've held Ron. Harry stared at the stool a little longer than Hermione who turned away once she felt tears began to brim in her eyes. "Maybe one of us should sit there," Harry suggested. Harry hated the gap between them. It was symbolizing the mental gap that was already forming between them. Silently, Hermione pushed her books over sat down in Ron's seat. She secretly wished that he would walk in the door and ask for his seat back but his voice never came.

Harry starred down at Hermione's trembling hand. She was crying again, he could tell. He placed his hand over hers, taking it in his own and squeezing it for comfort. "Breathe. It'll be over soon," he whispered. Hermione looked up at him and he wiped away her tears. "Remember you've still got me. Best friends forever, no matter what." She gave a small weak smile as she nodded, putting her other hand over his.

"No matter what." They gave each other small smiles, holding the others hand for support, to make sure they were really there and not a figment of their imagination. All in all, the room was quiet except for some people who had moved on. Of course, these were the people who didn't know Ron. Or, they were the ones who didn't like Ron.

"I miss him," Harry whispered as he looked down at his books. Hermione didn't answer him but squeezed his hand gently.

"Settle down," the soft, silk, deep voice of Severus Snape resonated through the room, sending chills up students backs as they all sat facing forward. "As you all know, Professor Lupin underwent his transformation last night, therefore he cannot make it to class today. He has asked me to fill in for him." No one questioned this. No one made a sound. Ron would have. It was unsettling; the eerie silence that fallowed Snape's last sentence. "I know that all of you learned about the unforgivable curses in your fourth year by Alastor Moody, or who we thought was Moody. Dumbledore has asked me to review them with you."

"You're not going to put them on us like Moody did, are you Professor?" Pansy called out. Severus looked over at her, a sneer on his lips as he raised his eye brows.

"No, Ms. Parkinson. That would be illegal. Next time you wish to ask a question, raise you hand." Pansy shrank back in her seat, leaning into Draco Malfoy's shoulder as she did so. Severus's eyes danced over the class, noticing that Hermione had taken Ron's seat. "Someone give me an unforgivable curse and we'll start with that." A few students shot their hands up in the air to be called on. Hermione was not one of them. "Mr. Zabini."

"The Cruciatus Curse." Severus nodded and with a wave of his wand, information of crucio filled the black board.

"Mr. Longbottom, tell me the effect of the Cruciatus Curse," Severus said, looking at the some what plump boy who sat in front of Harry. Neville stared at Severus for a moment, unsure of what to say or what to do. "You do know the effect of the Cruciatus Curse, yes Longbottom?"

"It tortures the victim," Neville stated bitterly, glaring at his potions professor. "It is usually used to extract information from victims. All you feel is pain. Mind numbing pain that swarms your body and it keeps coming. It doesn't ever seem like it'll stop. And when it finally does, it leaves you weak, sore, and sometimes even-" he stopped himself, looking down at his books. To everyone's surprise, Severus did not push for Neville to finish. He only nodded and stated that Neville was correct.

"How do you know so much about it Longbottom?" Draco Malfoy sneered, grinning evilly as Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle snickered next to them. Neville stared at him wide eyed, unbelieving. "Well. Why don't you tell us? Or are you embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed. My parents where great people. People who deserved better than what they got. Like you can even pick on me about that. Your father is in Azkaban isn't he? Your father is a murderer! And your mother is right up there with him!" Neville shot back with venom that no one had ever witnessed before. He looked around the room, as the students stared at him.

"You shut up about my mother, Longbottom!" Draco yelled, standing from his seat while extracting his wand from his robes and pointing it at Neville who also stood up from his chair and pointed it at Draco. It was now that Severus glided through the room, standing between the two boys and glaring down at them. Neville sat back down in his seat, pocketing his wand and returning to staring down at his book.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for insulting another's family," he sneered, glaring at Neville who sat helplessly in his seat. Ron would have stood up for him. Ron would have jumped out of his seat and yelled at Severus for being unfair like always. His unsaid words hung heavy in the air, creating thick tension between the students and Severus. He sighed, looking at Draco who sat in his seat with a smug smile on his face. "Fifteen points from Slytherin."

Across the room, gasps could be heard. The only thing louder was Malfoy jumping from his seat outraged, demanding the reason as to why he lost five more points than Neville. Neville was sitting in his seat, still staring down at his books. Only, a smile graced his lips.

"Harry, I'll meet you later, alright? I need to ask Professor Snape about something." Harry cocked an eyebrow up at this as he looked at her, trying to figure out what she wanted to talk to Snape about. Finally, he shoved the last of his books in his bag and shrugged.

"Okay. I'll see in you at lunch. You'll be okay? You don't want me to wait for you or anything?" he asked, his green eyes boring into hers. She shook her head, smiling reassuringly at him. He nodded, pulling his bag over his shoulder. "Alright. See you at lunch," he stated, kissing the top of her forehead lightly before departing. She watched him leave the room, making it empty except for her and Severus.

"You would like to speak with me, Ms. Granger?" His silk like voice echoed through the empty room even though he spoke softly. She turned around, nodding her head as she walked over to the desk at which he sat.

"That potion you gave me. What exactly does it do?" she asked. Severus was busily grading papers from one of his potion classes. He raised an eyebrow, marking the paper he had been working on as a failing grade.

"That much is obvious, isn't it? It induces dreamless sleep. Just sleep, nothing more. No dreams, nightmares. I also mixed laudanum in it to relax you. Dumbledore asked me to. Why do you ask?" He looked up at her, clasping his hands on the desk as she shifted from side to side.

"That's what I thought it did. But, you see, I ended up dreaming of Ron. Only it wasn't a dream. It was more of a memory," she stated, glancing at him. He was intrigued by this as his brows furrowed together in confusion.

"What was this memory about?" he asked as he stood up from his seat, grabbing the pile of papers as he began to glide out of the classroom, Hermione fallowing closely behind him.

"Well, that's really private! I'm not about to tell you about a memory that happened between Ron and I!" she exclaimed. They walked down the hall, towards Dumbledore's office. Students cast glances at them, not noticing anything out of the ordinary about Hermione talking to a professor.

"Ah. One of those memories. Yes you are right. I don't want to hear about that," he stated, a small smile playing on his lips. Hermione blushed under his gaze, looking away from him and down at her shoes. "Well then, this is very interesting. It seems the laudanum has affected the potion some how, quite curious. If you'd like, I'll make a fresh batch, without the laudanum," he stated. They were now standing in front of the statue that led up to Dumbledore's office.

"I would like that very much. Thank you professor." She turned to leave but his hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned around, looking up at him. He was staring down at her, trying to read her the same way Harry was earlier. His dark eyes bored into her and she knew he was trying to see inside of her head. No doubt just to find out if she was okay, if she wasn't thinking of hurting herself in any way. But the thought of him rifling through her thoughts made a shiver run up her spine. She pulled away, out of his gasp. "I'll see you in Potions, Professor," she whispered before turning around and quickly walking away. Severus stared at her retreating form, worried and concerned.