Chapter 10

Harry's and Ron's fears were unfounded because naturally nothing happened over the next weeks. Hermione still came to Snape's office or classroom every Friday but they felt that everything important had been already said and concentrated on their project now. It was indeed difficult but they still made some progress and after a while became confident that with time they would succeed and many children (and adults) would profit by drinking a better tasting Skele-Gro.

It was already the middle of November when Snape did something that was completely out of his character: he helped Hermione – in public.

"Draco…" Hermione said annoyed. "Please let me through."

Malfoy and his friends stood in the corridor blocking the way completely. "Why should I?" he sneered coldly.

"Lesson starts in seven minutes!" she told him but he didn't care. She tried to get past but the boys made no roon. "What do you want?!"

"Well…," Draco teased and came closer to threaten her. "We heard that you became friends with our lovely Potions Master."

"That's rubbish," she snapped at once but inwards panicked. No one should know about them – it wouldn't be good.

"Blaise saw you sneaking into his office last Friday!"

"I didn't sneak! I was there on an official business."

"And what could that be?" Malfoy asked loudly, ridiculing, so that the students around them who were approaching could hear him. "What on earth could the best Potions Master in a century have to do with you? You – a filthy little Mudblood!" The word echoed through the corridors and the other Slytherins laughed.

She saw Neville in the crowd who wasn't sure if he should interfere or not. She slightly shook her head to signal him that he shouldn't, and he seemed to understand because he dropped his gaze.

Even Blaise Zabini looked like he wanted to intervene but didn't.

"So, Mudblood," Malfoy called her attention again, "what do you say now?" He grinned evilly.

"Only that it doesn't bother me when you call me a Mudblood. It is nothing to be ashamed of and your ignorance only shows your stupidity. So I will not be provoked by an arrogant, ignorant, spoilt, inconsiderate, mindless, stupid, low-life son of a Death Eater!"

For a moment Draco stared at her in shock – then he slapped her in the face, the sound echoing from the walls.

There where gasps of the students around them and even the Slytherins didn't seem so sure of Draco's action –a shocked silence followed.

Hermione held her cheek which burned like hell, and couldn't decide if she would cry or attack Malfoy. In the end, it wasn't her decision what happened next.

Out of nowhere, Snape suddenly stood in front of Malfoy and glared at him as if he wanted to kill him.

Draco's mien changed at once from proud to submissive.

"Mr Malfoy," Snape said quietly but in his most dangerous voice. "If I see you hitting a girl ever again, I will hex you into a defenceless slug. And if I hear you saying the word Mudblood ever again, I will cut out your tongue – without magic."

Draco paled because Snape was deadly serious.

When Snape whispered his last threat Crabbe and Goyle thought Draco would faint any second.

"And if I see you bother Miss Granger one more time, I will hunt you down and make you wish that you were never born."

Draco swallowed.

"Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good." Snape looked around. "Go on!" he suddenly bellowed. "There is nothing to see here!" He turned again to Draco. "You, too," he growled.

Malfoy and his friends literally ran away.

"Miss Granger, follow me," Snape demanded indifferently and went with Hermione into an empty classroom nearby. When he had closed the door and they were alone, his gaze changed from mean/bitter to worried/sympathetic. "Are you alright?"

Hermione just nodded, still holding her cheek. "Thank you," she whispered and didn't even notice that she trembled. She had never been hit before in her life and she wasn't sure what was worse: the pain in her cheek or the feeling of worthlessness…

Snape gently took her hand away from the cheek and looked at it but except that it was slightly red there was no wound – except for the one inside her. Therefore, he looked her straight in the eyes and slowly but seriously insisted: "Listen carefully now, Hermione: you are not worthless. You are an especially intelligent, warm-hearted, caring, great, beautiful person and no one – no one! – is allowed to treat you like Malfoy just did. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

She nodded slowly but nevertheless she was on the verge of tears.

Wordlessly, he took her in his arms, and she cried into his shoulder.

"It's alright," he whispered to comfort her while stroking over her hair. "Everything is alright now."