TEN

Hermione and Snape walked across the room and through the door Hermione had noticed earlier. The passage led to Snape's bedchamber. Once in the room, Hermione looked around. To the left was a door that led to the bathroom. Directly in front of her was a large four poster, identical to the ones in Gryffindor Tower, except Snape's curtains were green. The wall to the right was lined with bookshelves, and along the top of the wall was an extension of the window in the sitting room. A large fireplace and hearth occupied the wall in front of her.

Hermione led Snape over to the bathroom door. "I can take it from here," he said.

"Are you sure you will be all right?"

"I'm fine; my strength is slowly returning."

"Okay, I'll stay until you get out?" Hermione said in a questioning tone. Snape begrudgingly nodded, released Hermione, and hobbled into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He should have told her to leave, and he didn't know why he agreed to let her wait. Maybe, he thought her tone was more demanding then questioning. Maybe, faced with the prospect of being left alone, he unconsciously accepted her offer to stay.

Hermione looked around the room. It emanated a feel of academia. The bookshelf was filled with thick volumes, a small table near the shelves was covered in parchment, and the wardrobe was a very modest size.

Hermione wandered over to the bookshelf and started browsing the titles. She contemplated reading a book but thought better of it. As she scanned the titles her eyes caught on a glimmer of gold. Stuffed between a break in the row of books was the Secrecy Sensor she had bought Snape. She reached between the books and pulled it out.

What does he still have this for? she thought. He can't possibly think he can fix it. Hermione tucked the little instrument in the pocket of her robes, vowing to ask him about it if she could muster the courage.

The shower was still running, so Hermione continued to wander around the room, examining Snape's possessions. She came across a tea pot sitting on a small table. She pulled out her wand and taped the pot, it slowly began to steam. She then went over to the hearth, took a handful of floo powder and stuck her head in the fire.

"Hogwarts kitchens," she said. Her head spun, and the kitchens came into view. She didn't have time to look around the kitchen because a house elf was scurrying toward her.

"Miss," squeaked the elf. "What can we get you?"

"Can you please send some sandwiches to Professor Snape's chambers?"

"Right away Miss, right away," squeaked the elf.

Hermione pulled her head out of the fire and stood up. She walked over to the tea pot, which had begun to whistle and poured herself a cup. Within five minutes an elf appeared carrying a tray of sandwiches. Hermione took the tray from the elf.

"Thank you, I am sorry to have bothered you at such a late hour."

"It's no trouble Miss. Can I bring you something else?" squeaked the elf.

"No this is great, thanks."

"Are you sure, Miss?"

"Yes, thank you very much, this is great," Hermione responded. She set the tray down by the tea just as she heard the shower stop. The elf Disapparated.

Inside the bathroom, Snape had carefully stepped into the shower. The hot water relaxed his weary muscles but didn't do anything for his head. He tried to work out which feelings were side effects from the curse and which were actually real. Although Hermione's lips had been like a cold glass of water being thrown in his face, he still couldn't straighten his tangled mind out. He had been quick to get away from her, but now that he was alone he longed for her company.

He had forgotten what it was like to have a friend. And, at the same time, part of him liked the way her lips felt on his cheek for that split second. Was that part the curse or was he really having feelings for Granger? And, were his feelings ones of friendship or something more? She was after all, attractive but most importantly, brilliant. She had a mind that could match his. You're crazy, he told himself. She isn't interested in you, besides she is twenty years your junior. You have nothing to offer her.

Snape finished washing, cautiously climbed out of the shower, careful not to fall, and began pulling clean robes out of a small closet in the bathroom. He didn't know what he was going to do with the girl in his bedchamber. Could he use the side effects of the curse as an excuse to start a normal relationship with another person? Would he even be able to have a normal relationship after all the years of being a loner? Did he even want to accept Granger's friendship?

Events of the night had required him to open up to her, and a true part of him, a non-cursed part, wanted to keep that connection going. Maybe, she won't even be waiting, he thought.

Hermione heard rummaging around in the bathroom and hoped Snape wouldn't fall but didn't think he would react well if she decided to offer him help getting dressed. She chuckled to herself at the thought. After a few minutes, the rummaging stopped and, because she hadn't heard any loud bangs or curses, Hermione figured Snape hadn't hurt himself.

The door to the bathroom opened, and Snape hobbled out. He was wearing clean black robes, and his wet hair hung limply around his face. He clutched the doorframe for support. Hermione tentatively approached Snape to help him back into the room. Up close she saw that although the mud and dried blood had been washed off, he still had cuts and the beginnings of bruises on his face.

She offered him her shoulder to lean on. She's still here, of course, he thought. In a split second decision, he accepted her help and rested his weight on her shoulder. There is no turning back now, he thought as she helped him make his way to the arm chair by the table of tea and sandwiches.

"I thought you might like a little something to eat," Hermione told him. Snape didn't respond, but instead sank down into the chair with a grunt of pain. "Do you feel any better after the shower, sir?"

"Clean," responded Snape. He poured himself a cup of tea and reached for a sandwich. Hermione sat down in a chair across from him. She looked at him for a long moment. He wouldn't meet her gaze. Instead, he stared into his tea cup.

Hermione didn't know what else to say. Snape was back to his cold self. "Other than clean, do you feel any better?"

Snape studied her. It was clear she was making a huge effort to make conversation. His rational side was telling him to shut her efforts down, to kick her out, but he had made his decision upon accepting her shoulder, and he just couldn't force her out … could he?

"A little better, I don't ache as much, but it was a rough night."

"I'm sorry the meeting was so hard on you tonight." They fell back into silence, both sipping their tea.

After a few moments of silence, Hermione took a deep breath and plucked up the courage to ask what had been on her mind since browsing his bookshelves. She pulled the sneek-o-sensor from her pocket and held it in her palm so Snape could see.

His jaw dropped slightly. "What the… where did you..." Snape stared at the object a moment before realizing she had gotten it from his shelf. "Granger, what the hell are you doing rummaging through my stuff?" he growled.

"I didn't, sir. I was merely browsing the titles on your bookshelf and noticed this."

"Browsing is the same as rummaging." He interjected.

Hermione continued as if she hasn't heard him. "It caught my eye and, seeing as it was at one time mine, I thought I had every right…"

"You thought? Well, you thought wrong," Snape interrupted.

"Why do you still have this?" Hermione asked, ignoring Snape.

"It's none of your business," he snarled.

"Fine, then you won't care if I take it back," she replied coolly as she began to pocket the sensor. Snape reached out and grabbed her wrist, preventing her from reaching her pocket. Hermione tried to pull her hand away but Snape wouldn't let go. His strength was returning, for someone who had just been tortured he had a vice-like grip on her wrist.

Hermione looked up and met his eyes. He held her gaze with a penetrating stare that Hermione had never seen before. He was clearly serious, but she couldn't tell how angry he was. One thing she was sure of was although she was enjoying being close to Snape, she didn't enjoy the hold he now had on her wrist. It was harsh and uncaring.

"Actually I do mind, Miss Granger." Hermione opened her mouth to respond but couldn't find the words, she shut her mouth again.

"I want it," he declared as he plucked the sensor out of her hand. His eyes were locked on the sensor.

"O…kay," Hermione replied shakily. She stared at him for another moment before asking a little fearfully, "Sir, why do you want it?"

He was gazing down at the sensor, lost in thought. "I am going to fix it," he said growled at the distraction.

"Sir, you do know this is impossible to repair, right?"

"What?" Snape asked in annoyance. His long fingers still roughly grasping her wrist.

"You're hurting my wrist," Hermione whispered.

Snape gasped and immediately released Hermione. "I'm sorry. I feel… angry… the curse. Perhaps you should leave."

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, a look of concern passing over her face.

"Fine," Snape replied, his head bowed. But he didn't appear fine to Hermione, he now appeared sad.

Hermione reached out and placed hand over Snape's. His eyes darted up and met Hermione's for a split second before he pulled his hands away from her. Hermione was disappointed by his sudden retreat.

"Professor, don't," she said, reaching for his hand again. Snape kept his hands out of her grasp. "Sir, what's wrong? You can talk to me. I won't repeat it."

"I… I'm sorry. I can't handle the effects of the curse. I shouldn't have hurt you."

"I'm fine." Hermione assured him. "It's nothing I can't handle." She reached out and gave his hand a quick squeeze. "I'm an Order member and a lot smarter and tougher than most people."

Snape snorted a laugh. "Not very modest are you Granger."

"You do know that sensor is damaged beyond repair, right?"

"Yes, I just… it's just… I feel bad about… I'm sorry I lost my temper… I didn't mean to break it."

Hermione let out a laugh. "Wow, I never thought I would hear Professor Snape say those words together."

"What words?"

"I and sorry," Hermione chuckled.

"I will remember never to use those two words together around you in the future." Snape poked back.

Hermione smiled. "So, you really just kept it out of guilt?" She prodded, trying to get Snape back on track to what she wanted to know.

"I kept it because my favourite student gave it to me," Snape told her sarcastically.

Hermione laughed out loud. "Now, I know there's something wrong with you, Professor."

"It's true," he said seriously this time, staring into her eyes. Hermione's mouth dropped, she was speechless. Snape laughed, "Fine, your right, it's not true." Snape teased. He was enjoying bantering with her, it made him feel like a normal person. "But, you are the first person to give me anything in years… well except for Albus," Snape said, turning suddenly serious, his eyes locked on Hermione's.

Hermione's breath caught in her throat. The intensity of his gaze began to make her self conscience. She didn't know how to respond to him. "Professor…" she whispered.

"Don't worry, Miss Granger, I will be back to my surly self tomorrow, and I will return to treating you like every other Gryffindor. It's just that tonight is… different... the meeting really did me in this time."

"I don't want you to go back to yourself tomorrow. I don't want you to treat my like every other Gryffindor, or every other student for that matter. I think I like you better when you are cursed." Hermione blurted. She paused. "Professor, you know it's okay, right? I mean everything's okay… breaking the sensor… talking… and …" Without thinking, Hermione bravely slide to the edge of her chair, keeping her gaze locked on Snape. "All of it," she finished.

"No, Miss Granger. Despite the fact that you are of age and have a prominent position in the Order, you are still my student." Snape sighed, breaking his eye contact with her. "Why are you so willing to accept me, Miss Granger, especially after all those years of dislike? I'm not a nice man."

"I don't believe that, sir."

"Miss Granger, you're a smart witch, you've already been victim to my anger once tonight.

"I know the effects of the Cruciatus curse. The lingering physical pain and weakness are obvious. But there are mental effects as well, agitation, disorientation, heightened and false feelings, even occasionally hallucinations, ending in madness as in the case of the Longbottoms. Clearly you are not yourself."

"No, I am a cruel, greedy, and unfair. You have seen that enough of me in class that you should know I have no redeeming qualities."

"I…I… I know you are capable of good, you show it every time you put on that Death Eater robe and mask and report to the Order about Voldemort's inner circle. You wouldn't do that if you didn't care…."

"You may be as delusional as I am tonight. I am not good; I am selfish and uncaring. You don't want to be friends with me, Miss Granger. I would seriously reconsider you proposition of friendship."

"With all due respect, sir, I am perfectly capable of deciding with whom I want to be friends, and how I feel about people. I know perfectly well what I am getting myself into," Hermione told him, becoming agitated.

"You know what you're getting into do you…you want your life to be at risk every time I am in the Dark Lord's presence? You want to risk him discovering your depth of involvement with the Order? You trust me to be able to keep your position in the Order a secret? And what about our… friendship? You would trust me to be able to keep any relationship… friendship… we may have from the Dark Lord? Keep it from him no matter what… no matter what he does to me?" he asked in a haunting tone, slowing leaning forward toward Hermione.

"Y-e-s," Hermione replied tentatively.

"Because, you understand if he were to learn what I know about you, you would be targeted. You would be killed… and worse." Snape watched the colour drain from her face. "The Dark Lord wants to eliminate the people who oppose him the fiercest, especially Muggle-borns. And your involvement with one of his Death Eaters would make killing you even sweeter. If this friendship, or whatever you think is happening tonight, were to come to pass your life would be in considerable danger on a daily basis." Hermione swallowed hard.

"I trust you to not betray me, sir. And… if I could help make your spying duties easier or more affective, the risk is worth it. Plus my friendship with Harry already puts a target on my back."

"What if it didn't make my spying more affective?"

"It would still be worth the risk. You would still have my friendship, sir."

"Why is that Miss Granger?"

"I don't know..." Hermione stammered. Why does he always make me feel like a child, she thought. Snape studied Hermione. His questions were making the courage that had been with her throughout the night falter. "Not because I feel it's my duty or because it's my Gryffindor nature," Hermione added, upon seeing the conflict on Snape's face. "I guess because you intrigue me, Sir. You… someone in your position… a spy… a loner… is not something I can relate to or know a lot about. I want to learn what it's like, understand that kind of life."

"Why would you ever want to know what my life is like?"

"Because I don't understand it. I want to understand just for the sake of understanding. I want to be a know-it-all." Hermione smiled weakly. She was trying so desperately to continue acting like his equal, despite the fact she felt like a student being grilled about a lesson. They fell into silence. Snape leaned back and began munching on a sandwich and sipping his tea.

After a few minutes, Snape broke the silence. "Does your friendship include the…" He rethought his remarks and said, "What about the…" He was unsure of how to approach what he wanted to say. Instead, he abandoned his question and told her, "I can shorten your learning process and save you a lot of trouble; my life is lonely. I should get to bed, Miss Granger." He abruptly finished.

"Sir, what did you want to say?" Hermione asked, knowing he was attempting to talk about the intimate moments that had occurred between them. His indecision made her courage flood back to her.

"Nothing." Snape stood; he was wobbly on his feet. Hermione jumped up and grabbed his bicep to steady him.

"Sir, what's the rush?"

"It's three in the morning, I've been tortured, I'm tired, and I want to go to bed. So, if you would be so kind as to release me, you can be on your way."

His words stung, just when she thought she was getting close to her professor he returned to his normal self. I don't know why I even care, she thought. "Fine," Hermione said, letting go of his arm. She turned to go and muttered under her breath, "If you can't say what you want then suffer alone."

"What was that, Granger?"

"Nothing, sir, I said good night." Hermione turned and strode to the door.

Snape took half a step towards his bed but lost his balance when he put weight on his injured ankle. He reached for the back of the arm chair to break his fall but was unable to catch himself, and he crashed to the floor.

Hermione stopped walking when she heard him fall. For a split second she wasn't going to stop. If he didn't want my help before why should he get it now, she thought. But she spun around.

"Granger," he said as she turned and looked down at him.

"Yes, sir?" she responded, making no attempt to go to him, despite the fact seeing him lying on the floor made her feel really bad.

"Help me, you insufferable chit." He admonished her. Hermione's heartache disappeared upon his harsh words.

"Oh, so now you want my help? Thirty seconds ago you wanted me to leave."

"Get over here," Snape commanded. Hermione walked back over to him, stopped, and looked down at him.

"Yes, sir. Do you need something?"

"You bloody well know what I need."

"No. I'm sorry, sir, I don't know what you need. If you need something you are going to have to be specific."

"Will you stop babbling and help me up and over to my bed." She stooped down and hooked Snape under the arm and pulled him up. Snape grabbed her arm and leaned on her as she helped him to his feet.

"You okay?"

"Fine."

"Anything else broken?"

"I don't think so." Hermione helped him over to his bed, Snape hobbling the whole way.

He fell down heavily onto the bed cloths. "Thank you, Miss Granger. I'll be all right, I just need to rest." He swung his legs up and leaned back against a pillow, letting out a sigh.

"Do you need anything, sir?"

"Did you really not want to help me, Miss Granger?"

"What do you mean, sir?"

"You were going to leave me on the floor; I basically had to beg for your help." Snape said.

"I don't know, sir, I am not in the habit helping people who treat me poorly."

"Does that mean your offer of friendship is off the table?"

"That really depends on you, sir. I think I have made my intentions clear. If you want my friendship it's yours, but if you would prefer I left you alone, I promise I will no longer meddle in your affairs."

"I don't want you to leave me alone," Snape whispered, swallowing his pride.

Hermione was taken back. She paused, not sure whether she had heard him right. He must need help pretty bad, she thought. Snape was nothing if not strong willed. "What has changed your mind, sir?"

"Your bright, I trust you… and… I don't think I can do this alone… I don't want to do it alone."

Did he just call me bright? A smile spread across Hermione's face, a complement from Snape was the highest honour she could get. And now maybe she would get to know him, something she had found herself wanting more and more over the past few months. Her growing desire to be close to him may finally be satisfied; then maybe she would be able to stop thinking about him. Her intrigue would be quenched. She was excited Snape wanted to accept her friendship. Suddenly, she found herself reverting to the giddy school girl… again… she had to get a hold of herself.

"I appreciate your confidence in me, and I won't let you down, but I also won't be toyed with. You kick me out again and next time I am not coming back." Hermione bravely asserted.

Snape's mouth hung agape. He had never been admonished by a student, or in recent years anyone except the Dark Lord. One thing that could be said about Granger was she was sorted into the right house; she had the bravery treasured by Grodric Gryffindor.

"Why can't you just say you want help?" she asked upon seeing his shocked expression.

Hermione studied him, waiting for an answer. "I don't know what I want."

"Well that is obvious, Professor," Hermione said in a patronizing tone.

"Part of me wants your help but… I didn't know what your intentions were."

"I thought my intentions were clear," she responded.

"They were… they are… I know you aren't out to sabotage me. But, I am not used to accepting help, but tonight I didn't have a choice. It's a new experience for me." That hadn't been exactly what Hermione meant by intentions, but it seemed Snape was determined to avoid talking about the intimacy of the night.

"So, accepting my offer of help tonight was out of necessity?"

"Obviously. That's the only way a student would ever see the inside of my chambers," said Snape.

Hermione was disappointed. She had desperately wanted to help Snape, thinking it would lead to her getting to know him. But, now that she had helped him, it didn't matter. He wanted nothing but the necessities from her, survival. No getting to know each other, no friendship, and no closeness. Her determination could only carry her so far before she had to abandon the task. At least I helped the Order, she thought.

Snape's skills always gave him the appearance of being able to read minds, and now, more than ever, she felt like he knew what she was feeling for him. Like he knew she wanted to do more than help and maybe be even more than his friend. But she was done, she didn't want to feel like a fool grasping for something she would never reach. He was probably laughing at her, humouring her school girl crush. She wouldn't do it any more; she would stand up for herself and let him know she wouldn't be treated like anything less than an equal. She was, after all, as much a member of the Order as he was. But it was taking all her courage to talk to her professor like she had been.

"Well tonight I am not a student, sir, I am a member of the Order working for the fall of Voldemort."

"Fine what ever you want. Your mission was successful; you managed to obtain the information from me about the Dark Lord's newest supports, now you can take that knowledge to the top members."

"Then stop treating me like a student! We are equals tonight."

Snape tossed his head back and laughed, which made Hermione even madder. Her indignation showed on her face. She opened her mouth to protest but Snape cut her off. "Granger, you are a formable witch. And yes, when you are in your adult roll as an Order member I don't see you as my student."

Hermione was shocked. He never acted like he saw her as an adult and Order member. If he didn't see her as a student when they were working for the Order, why did he treat her so horribly? "But trust me," Snape continued, "you want boundaries; you don't want me to treat you like any other witch or any other Order member for that matter. You should be happy the line between your student roll and your Order roll is blurred, and that I error on the side of viewing you as student."

"Why?" asked Hermione, confused.

"Because, if you were any other witch you would not like the way I treated you, or what I would try to do to you." Hermione swallowed hard.

Do to me? she thought. What the hell is that suppose to mean?

The confusion was evident on her face because Snape said, "I have nothing but respect for you. You are bright and one of the few witches or wizards I've met whose mind can rival my own. We are equals. And you know I don't say that about many." Hermione would never have thought he viewed her as an equal. But why would those feelings make him treat her differently than if he saw her as only an Order member.

"What would you do to me, sir?"

"You're a good looking young witch, Miss Granger. If I felt any less for you I wouldn't have acted so…honourably… earlier. If you were an ordinary witch I would have taken advantage of my position. I would have given in to the desires the curse and torture invoked in me."

"And what desires were those, sir?" Hermione asked, her pulse quickening.

"Normally, I wouldn't let anyone as close to me as you were tonight, Miss Granger."

"There is nothing wrong with accepting help, sir," Hermione responded, knowing full well he wasn't referring to her help.

"You know I wasn't referring to your help. I told you I have come to terms with having to accept your help… I was referring to the physical… desires… which I believe to be false, brought about by torture. If you were any other witch, I would have given into those desires." He paused. "I am a selfish man, Miss Granger. A man of instant gratification. So you see, you are lucky I don't treat you like any Order member because I could care less what I did to any of those other fools in the Order."

Hermione gulped, she now knew it was on Snape's mind. The way he had been looking at her, it now seemed to make perfect sense. It wasn't friendship, or feeling she had seen in his eyes. It was something much less innocent. Now that Snape's feelings were stated directly, disappointment washed over her. She had wanted him to like her, not lust after her. Snape's intentions being laid out in the open caused her stomach to feel like it was in her throat.

Snape saw her become nervous with realization. "Yes," he responded. Maybe, now that she knew what he had been thinking she would understand why he kept telling her to leave. He thought too highly of her to give in to desires arising from a curse.

Hermione sat down on the edge of the bed. Snape gazed up at her, surprised she hadn't fled upon his last revelation.

"You don't have to hold back," she told him.

"Excuse me?" Snape chocked.

"Don't hold back. I want you to be yourself around me." Hermione felt tears building behind her eyes and a large lump forming in her throat. She had to keep it together. She didn't want to leave him, and she wanted his feelings to be real, wanted his looks to be ones of care instead of cursed induced desire.

"Granger, what I am feeling is not me, it is the side effects of the curse."

"Okay, well I want you to be yourself all the same," Hermione replied, bravely.

Snape slouched down in the bed. Hermione studied his face, he was handsome and she longed to be closer to him. She longed for him to want to be closer to her. She wasn't giving up, maybe she could crack his curse encrusted exterior. She reached down and pulled up a green duvet, which was folded at the foot of the bed, over Snape.

"You mean to say you are giving me permission to…" Snape tailed off, confused.

"I am not giving you permission for anything," Hermione quickly and boldly asserted. "But… if you really feel the way you say you do about me and the rest of the Order, then I am guessing there aren't many people you feel you can talk to or confide in… that you feel most people are beneath you. So tonight I would like to not treat you as my professor."

"Miss Granger, if you look back on your attitude toward me tonight, I think you'll find the last thing you treated me as was a professor."

"S…o…rry, sir." Hermione faltered.

"Don't be. You earned the right."

"Sir, the side effects… are you sure…" Hermione stammered, trailing off. She wanted to shout are they the only reasons you are having feelings towards me? Is it only because I am here, would you desire anyone who was here. Instead she asked, "Are they wearing off at all?"

"A little. I will be better by morning. You can go if you want… I will be okay."

"Oh, are you sure sir?"

"Yes," he told her, yawing. Hermione stood up.

"Goodnight sir," she said, as she walked toward the door to the sitting room. When she reached the doorway she said, "Sir, if you need anything…" She flicked her wand and extinguished the candles, plunging the room into darkness. The only light was from the moon, leaking in from the narrow window. "…just send me a message."

As Hermione was passing through the door to the sitting room Snape told her, "You don't have to go if you don't want to." In the darkness he had more courage. He wanted to take a chance; maybe it wasn't the curse, perhaps it was more, and maybe, just maybe she didn't find him completely repulsive. Plus, if there were any complications with the curse's side effects it would be helpful to have her there.

"Oh," said Hermione, shocked. "Um… do you want me to go, sir? If you want to be alone…" She trailed off, and then added as a second thought, "I don't necessarily want to… I want to make sure you are okay."

"Come here," he whispered.

Hermione's pulse quickened. She walked back to Snape's bed and stood over him. "Don't go," he whispered. "There might be complications. I might need help. I promise I won't do… try anything."

"Okay, I can stay," Hermione replied. She pulled a chair over to his bed side and sat down. Both sat in silence for a long time. When Snape hadn't stirred Hermione figured he had fallen asleep and she slumped down in the chair, trying to get more comfortable. It was going to be a long night.

Her eyes had adjusted to the dark, and she could see Snape had shuffled over to the far side of his bed. There is plenty of room, she thought. Plus I am doing him the favour of staying and making sure he is okay. She tentatively got out of the chair and slipped into his bed on top of the green duvet. She sunk her head into the pillow and began to relax. She hadn't woken him up. It was exactly what she had been hopping for. As soon as she relaxed Snape rolled over.

"What are you doing, Miss Granger?" Hermione's heart plummeted into her stomach, she had woken him up. He was going to be mad now. She leapt from his bed.

"N-o-thing, sir," Hermione stammered, terrified.

"Why were you in my bed?"

"I can't sleep in that chair," she told him, on the verge of tears. She now felt like the crazy student, throwing herself at the professor who wanted nothing to do with her. She was embarrassed and upset and her voice reflected it. It took all her courage not to flee.

Snape chuckled, he could hear how upset she sounded. "Sorry, sir…" Hermione began.

"You should probably know that if I start talking to myself, forget where I am, or go into convulsions, complications from the curse have set in and it will be time for you to get Madam Promfry," Snape told her as he lifted up the duvet and waited for her to crawl back in bed. He pretended not to notice her sudden embarrassment of being caught in his bed.

Hermione just looked at him. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness but she wasn't sure she was reading Snape's gesture correctly. Is he lifting that up for me to get in? Hermione thought. She wasn't sure, so she just stood in the dark waiting for Snape to make the next move.

When she didn't move Snape figured he had frightened her, given the way she had jumped three feet in the air in her scramble to get out of the bed, and how she now stood frozen.

"Are you going to stand there all night?" he asked.

"Huh? Where should I go?"

"Are you going to lie down or not?"

"Oh, I thought… I didn't think you…" Hermione finally settled on, "Yes." She crawled under the duvet and Snape dropped the blanket on top of her as her head sunk into the pillow.

"Remember, convulsions or mutterings mean complications. You're here to serve a purpose, Miss Granger."

"Sir, are complications… likely?"

"No, but with what I was put through we're in uncharted territory so be on the look out."

"Yes, sir."

"Goodnight, Miss Granger," Snape said rolling onto his back and shutting his eyes. Soon the sounds of Snape's deep breathing filled the room. Hermione knew he had fallen asleep. But she couldn't sleep.

She lay awake on her back, staring at the ceiling in disbelief. How had she ended up in her professor's bed? The man she had been admiring from afar for months. I wonder if that means we are friends now. Or if we will just go back to the way things were. I hope he isn't angry with me tomorrow, she childishly thought. Her mind went around in circles, wondering how she ended up where she was now. Just as she was telling herself everything would work out and she needed to keep it together, she drifted to sleep.