~ Chapter 6 ~

Hermione's eyes started to fill with black dots and she soon realised she wasn't breathing.

"Granger—for Merlin's sake breathe!" She registered Snape moving her back towards a chair, and she fell down with a thud.

The stricken look on his face caused her to gasp for oxygen, and she buried her face in her hands while her chest heaved for its life source.

Snape didn't say anything else to her, but she could feel his eyes all over, checking to see if she was OK. Hermione lifted her head from her hands and locked eyes with him.

"Hermione…" McGonagall moved towards her with her arms outstretched. She's going to hug me. Hermione flinched away and Snape shook his hand in McGonagall's direction.

"Don't."

Hermione flashed him a grateful smile then tried to focus on breathing properly. She heard Professor Sniderfield approach them but she kept her attention on Snape.

"He raped you?" Sniderfield kept his distance, and she could hear the caution in his voice.

I can't be angry that he might doubt me; a serious claim like that should require one question of assurance.

She began to fiddle with her fingers, then nodded her head. "It happened after the Halloween Ball...after the attack, I went to Professor Snape and he helped...clean me up."

He didn't move from his position on his knees and she hated the passive look on his face. Will he stop helping me after this? I need his council...more than anything.

"Is that true?" Sniderfield directed his question at Snape, who got to his feet and stepped away from her.

"I'm afraid so."

"I will be back shortly with some Aurors. We will detain him immediately then I'll need to take memories from you both as evidence-"

"Wait!" Hermione wailed with panic in her eyes. "I-I...can you keep this away from the public eye. I really don't want people to know what happened."

Professor Sniderfield gave her a look of sympathy, and she flinched away from it. I don't want him to feel sorry for me...does Snape feel that way too? Hermione glanced up at him to see his face as hard as stone. I guess not.

"Of course. I'll conduct this investigation on your terms, Miss Granger. I have two Aurors under my tutelage, and they'll handle this case with the utmost discretion."

"Thank you," She bit her lip and relaxed into the chair.

"Hermione, my dear, why didn't you come to me first? We could've dealt with it immediately," McGonagall said.

Snape turned at the sound of her voice and Hermione spotted the mild curiosity on his face. Does he want to know why I went to him instead of anyone else?

"I…" She didn't feel comfortable admitting the truth behind the matter. I don't want to hurt her feelings, nor offend Professor Snape.

She couldn't tell him that she went to him because of his abrasive manner and his passiveness—or that he's never seemed like the openly comforting type.

He's shown me comfort in so many different ways, but it's never been out of his normal character. She thought back to the way he let her hold him back in the potions room. That's out of character for him.

There was a cruel voice in her mind that suggested she say that he owed her one. I could never throw that in his face. But, the snickering whisper wouldn't go away.

"I knew that Professor Snape wouldn't look at me with sympathy in his eyes," she said. "He wouldn't coddle me and sugarcoat all of the answers to my questions...it's not in his nature to do that, so I ended up at his door instead of yours."

Professor Snape looked away from her, and she spotted the mild hurt on his face, but he soon masked it with his usual stone-faced expression.

"Very well," McGonagall said. "You do not need to attend lessons today, and things will be dealt with tomorrow. Is that OK with everyone?"

Hermione nodded her head along with the others. Professor Sniderfield left the office and she eyed Penny, who circled Snape's feet.

"Can I take Penny for a while?" She asked.

"I expect her to be brought back when we meet later on," He muttered.

"Thank you, sir."

Hermione walked over to him and picked Penny up. She flashed him a smile, but before she could leave, Professor McGonagall spoke.

"I don't think it's wise for you to continue giving Miss Granger council. Poppy will be able to arrange for a professional to help her."

She held in a breath, expecting Snape to hand her over to McGonagall without another bat of his black lashes. Please don't do it. Hermione couldn't think of anything worse than knowing she was a burden to him.

Penny nuzzled her cheek and purred by her ear. He didn't bother to look her way, and it caused a vice-like grip to latch around her heart. I cannot do this without him—I just can't!

"You seem to have got confused about something, Headmistress. Miss Granger is visiting me later to carry on with her master level studies."

Oh...oh, sweet Merlin, thank you! Hermione wished to hug him but knew it would make him uncomfortable while throwing McGonagall over the edge.

"I assumed that was your cover story."

Hermione waited for Snape to respond, but he seemed to draw a blank. "I asked Professor Snape about a week before the incident if he would teach me."

"Oh," McGonagall nodded. "If you ever need a more, mothering touch, you know where to find me."

She managed to contain her rude retort and settled for turning away and leaving the Headmistresses office.

Professor Snape walked her back to her quarters, and they parted ways with muttered goodbyes. Hermione watched him leave until he disappeared around the corner, then ran into her bedroom.

"Hello, Crookshanks, I brought somebody for you to play with," She put Penny down on her bed next to Crookshanks, and they began to inspect one another.

I suppose this is it now.

She didn't know how to feel about the truth coming out. I hope Sniderfield can keep it away from the public eye. There were many thoughts rushing through her mind, but she knew not to focus on them, otherwise, she'll end up worsening her mood.

Her room was rather cold, so she lit the fire and grabbed the throw from the end of her bed. A small twitch caused her body to spasm, and she held out her hands to see if the shaking had eased. No such luck.

There's no way she felt ready to go it alone without Professor Snape. She knew that being dependent on him wasn't good for either of them, but she couldn't help it. He knows exactly what to say to calm me down.

Am I being too much of a burden to him? Does he feel like he owes me? Hermione shook her head and grabbed the furry ball attached to a piece of string from her bedside table.

She waved it above the two cats, and they started to wrestle one another to tap the soft ball. She laughed at the way they toppled over each other, then settled for scratching them both behind the ears.

Somebody knocked on her door.

"Come in," Panic rose inside of her, and it didn't disappear until Richard stepped into the room. Anxiety still rested on her shoulders, but it was easier to deal with thanks to the two pets on her bed.

"Hi," he said. "I just wanted to see how you are...you've been acting odd recently."

"I'm fine," She whispered.

"OK...where's the black cat from?"

"She belongs to Professor Snape."

"He has a cat?" He laughed, and she frowned.

"Why's that funny?"

"Nothing!" he chuckled. "It's just, one, why do you have her, and two, he has a cat?!"

Hermione knew that he wasn't a bad person. But, anger simmered beneath her skin, and her narrowed eyes brought his laughter to a stop.

"Sorry...I didn't mean to...sorry," He rubbed the back of his neck.

"He allows me to play with her now-and-then," she explained. "It's not a big deal."

"She's cute."

"I know," Hermione rubbed her stomach, and Richard shuffled on the spot.

"I spoke to Professor McGonagall yesterday, and she gave us the go-ahead for a Valentine's Day festival."

"That sounds exciting. We'll have a lot to prepare for."

"Closer to Christmas we can ask around for ideas," He said.

"Sounds like a great plan."

"I'm glad you're OK," He nodded his head then left.

She stared at the empty spot by the door and worried her bottom lip with her teeth. I'm pushing people away...I haven't spoken to Ginny and Luna for a while, perhaps I should go and find them. Hermione shook her head and focused on the two animals in front of her.

Later that evening, Hermione bundled Penny against her chest and walked into the potions room. The interior had returned to its original state, and one could hardly tell of the destruction Professor Snape brought upon it.

He sat behind his desk, scribbling away on a piece of parchment. She took a seat before him, and he finished off his red ink abuse and regarded her with worried eyes.

Penny jumped onto the desk and settled down at the edge closest to Snape. Hermione smiled briefly then focused on him.

"Have you noticed her uniqueness?" She said.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean?"

"She responds as if she can understand what I'm saying, and she notices when I'm sad and seeks to comfort me."

"Some animals are intelligent that way," He replied.

"Maybe she's your familiar?"

"They're a myth."

"You never know."

"Stop trying to avoid the matter at hand," He spoke firmly, and she sank back into the chair. "I spoke to Professor Sniderfield, and he will be bringing the Aurors training under his guidance tomorrow morning, then Malfoy will be called into the Headmistresses office and apprehended while everyone is in their lessons. Would you like to be there?"

"I...I…" She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm unsure. Will you be there?"

"Yes, I do not have to teach first thing in the morning."

"I'll go then," She didn't want to be in a room with him without somebody around to make her feel comfortable.

"I also have more troubling news," he said. "I'm going to ask you not to take anymore Dreamless Sleep for a few days."

"O-Oh," She started to fiddle with her fingers. "If you say so."

"Miss Granger, I have faith in you, and I will be around if the nightmares get too much."

"You will?"

"I don't care if it's late into the night. If you feel unsafe for whatever reason, knock on my door and I'll allow you to rest on my sofa."

He seemed shocked by his own admission and she gave him a grateful look. "I appreciate everything you've done for me...but, I don't wish to be a burden-"

"Don't be ridiculous. I wouldn't have offered if I didn't wish to help you."

She smiled. "Thank you, for everything, sir."

"There's no need to thank me. I'm doing what anyone else would do."

If that wasn't a cold, hard slap in the face then Hermione didn't know what was. She masked her hurt and nodded her head. Why am I upset? He's doing everything I've asked of him. There's no need to feel hurt by his comment.

...

Hermione shot up in her damp bed, causing Crookshanks to screech in fright and jump down onto the floor. Her chest heaved for oxygen and sweat masked her body.

Nightmare...a really bad nightmare.

Her worn eyes blurred until she rubbed her vision clear with the heels of her hands. She tossed back her quilt and took in a few deep breaths.

It's just a dream. Nothing more, nothing less.

She hadn't expected it to be so bad, and she wanted nothing more than to race down to Professor Snape for comfort. It's almost time for breakfast anyway.

Hurt still lingered in her heart, and she couldn't work out why his words had affected her badly. My mind's not in the right place at the moment.

Hermione took a quick shower and got herself ready for the strenuous day ahead of her. Today is the day Malfoy will be caught...they'll take him away, and that will be it. I think.

Once she prepared herself to head out of her room, a fake smile grew on her face. It scared her how easily she could put it on and have no one figure out that something was wrong with the know-it-all.

It wasn't until she arrived near the Great Hall that the smile flew from her face. A shrill crowd formed around something, loud cheers and swoons followed, and Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion. What's going on?

"Hermione!" She recognised that voice and the one that followed.

"There you are, 'Mione!"

She felt like someone had poured cold water over her body. Chills shot up her spine as they pushed through the crowd and headed towards her.

Hermione shook her head at them and started to walk backwards. She didn't have time to process her next move until she realised she'd ran away. Her feet seemed to have a destination in mind, and she found herself immersed in the coldness of the dungeons.

Her fleeting self slammed into a slender frame, and she almost took him to the ground, but he managed to grab her and the wall before it could happen.

The familiar smell immediately put her at ease, and she latched onto his waist for the comfort he always brought her. His hands came to her elbows.

"Bloody hell...Granger, what's wrong?" He sounded winded.

"H-Harry and Ron are here," She sobbed into his chest, and her body trembled against his own. "Why? Why are they here? I can't face them, not today!"

His grip tightened on her elbows, and he tried to get her to let him go, but she shook her head.

"Take a deep breath," He talked her through a standard calm down routine, and she soon relaxed against him and took a step back. His hands stayed at her elbows. "Potter and Weasley?"

"Yes," she sniffled. "Are they the ones studying under Professor Sniderfield?"

"I'm guessing so."

"Hermione?" They both glanced at the end of the corridor to see a mortified Harry and Ron, staring at their close proximity with looks of venom on their faces.

AN:/ Hello! I'm down here from now on! A HUGE thank you to everyone who favourited, followed and reviewed! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As you can see, Hermione is experiencing a variety of complicated emotions, while trying to keep her mind focused on getting herself back on track. She's slowly becoming more aware of how dependent she is on Snape! Sorry for another cliffhanger, but I've got to keep all of you on the edge of your seats! I'll be back in a week!