Chapter 7

Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling I am just writing the story.

Two weeks had past since Hermione had moved into Snapes chambers and they were gradually settling into a routine. They would dine together for breakfast, discussing The Daily Prophet articles or new developments in potions from Snapes many magazines and books, which there was never an end to. Hermione spent her days in his chambers doing school work that had been dropped off to her by her other professors, although for her it was all really just revision as she was weeks ahead of her classmates in all her classes. She grew lonely in the hours he was gone and it felt like years before he returned in the evening so that they could share dinner and each other's company while they sat in Snapes living room in front of the fire, both with their own books in front of them. It was companionable silence and they both found it quite enjoyable, despite who they were sharing these intimate moments with.

Hermione liked the new potions professor she had met down in the belly of the dungeons. While he was still harsh as a whip and did not hesitate to inform her of her shortcomings, he was much kinder and more patient when away from the steamy potions classroom, where the endless chatter of students and endless mistakes seemed to take a toll on his temper. She missed him during the day no matter how much she tried to deny it. He was one of the first people who could engage in an intelligent conversation with her without being a bore or making fun of her for being "teachers' pet" or a "swat" in their words. With Snape her intelligence felt appreciated and valued and she relished in the feeling, for it was good to distract her troubled mind. She felt as though maybe he had taken a liking to her or as much of a liking as possible considering he was Snape, and she was an "insufferable know-it-all". He seemed to just what she needed most of the time, even when she was having a nightmare she would always wake up to him standing over her bed trying to comfort her as she emerged from the hellish landscape that was her dreams. She felt surprisingly safe with him and she knew that regardless of what her peers thought he was a good man, you just had to dig very deep to find him.

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Snape thought the girl was making excellent progress. She looked much fuller than she had before and was much more inclined to engage in conversation with him and he had to admit that Hermione was indeed the "brightest witch of her age" as everyone so frequently told him. Her mind was full of vast knowledge and she had the ability to form sound opinions when she was not regurgitating textbooks as he had known her to do in class. Yes, indeed progress was being made but she had still yet to tell him exactly what was going on.

During the day when he was away from his chambers he would eavesdrop on the students conversations hoping to hear anything from the students about what could possibly be going on with Hermione, seeing as Potter and Weasley were absolutely no help whatsoever. But alas he heard nothing at all except whisperings about her current whereabouts.

"If only they knew" Snape laughed to himself as he swept down to the dungeons to retire to his chambers.

When he arrived, Hermione was as usual perched on a chair with two cups of tea in front of her. She had taken to having tea ready for him once she had found out how he liked to take his tea. Snape noticed that while she was in fact looking at the page ger eyes were glazed over as though she was not taking in the words in front of her at all. He crept further into the room and realised he was not even aware of his presence. He thought for a minute and realised it was Friday evening, she seemed to get particularly distanced during the weekends, but he had yet to figure out why. He walked around into her field of vision and picked up his cup of tea.

"Thank you for the tea it's nice", he said softly but loud enough to announce his presence to her

Hermione jumped in her seat and looked up to his face.

"You're welcome" she muttered.

"It is said that only a potions master or mistress can make a perfect cup of tea and I must say that this isn't far off Ms. Granger" Snape said in hopes of shaking her out of her odd mood.

She offered a small smile in return but made no further comment.

Snape frowned and sat down.

"Ms. Granger I understand your reluctance to tell me what has happened to you and who has been hurting you in such a way, I am after all the "evil bat of the dungeons"…." he was going to continue with his speech but Hermione beat him to it.

"You are no such thing! And please refrain from saying that ever again" when she finished her rant she looked just as shocked as Snape felt. There was a stillness in the air.

"I am very sorry for shouting but you are none of the things people say you are" Hermione muttered with her eyes downcast.

Snape cleared his throat "be that as it may I would not be offended if wished to speak with a professor you are closer to or perhaps a female professor would be preferred, you are after all one of Minerva's cubs which she holds so close to her heart and she asks about you daily. She has taken to threatening me almost everyday to take care for you adequately also and despite my assurances that you are in fact well and appear to be recovering she is reluctant to believe me"

"There's nothing to talk about professor I am perfectly fine" Hermione said looking everywhere but Snapes eyes

"Then how pray tell did you get those injuries? I know for a fact you are not on the quidditch team with Potter and Weasley" Snape challenged daring her to meet his eyes so that he might get a chance to peek in her mind. While he had refrained from doing so the last few weeks so he would not invade her privacy he was growing increasingly frustrated with her lack of compliance to his requests.

Hermione leaped out of her chair "There's nothing wrong I am fine!" and with that she fled the room leaving behind a fuming potions master.