A/N; I'm glad you're liking It so far, thats good because I love writing this Fic.
Anyway, as promised here Is your next chapter...
She tried to think about positive things, she really did, but the trip down to Hogsmeade was driving her insane with worry and dread.
What the hell exactly did Snape think he was playing at? Going and getting himself killed, well as good as killed if he didn't show up on Voldemort's doorstep with a freshly plucked Gryffindor student.
Flaming idiot!
And it wasn't just Snape's imminent death that worried her; she was practically leading her friends to their death by accompanying them to Hogsmeade. What if they decided to start picking them off now, it would obviously be an opportune time. And there she was doing absolutely nothing to stop the whole thing!
Completely insane!
If only to add to her growing list of things that were really ticking her off today Ron was acting like a complete fool. She had obviously been way too distracted and her mind had been way too preoccupied to have 'The Talk' with him. So now here he was, acting like the besotted teen he was, a big goofy grin plastered over his face.
He even had the nerve to buy her flowers!
"You OK?" Harry asked for like the humteenth time on their walk down.
Sick of answering him she raised her eyebrow and gave him a sideways glance. That shut him up. For now at least.
She needed to think, she needed to sit down somewhere quiet, preferably the library and analyze this. She had this overwhelming urge to tell Harry about the whole situation, after all it involved him more than anyone else, but every time she tried she felt like she was betraying her Professors' trust. Not that she didn't place Harry before her professors, but she figured if they wanted him to know, they would tell him.
So now here she was stuck, headed for The Three Broomsticks, when all she wanted was to be alone.
"Get you a drink 'Mione?" Ron asked happily as they all sat themselves round a table.
"It's Hermione Ron" she snapped angrily.
"OK, ok, keep your shirt on" he winked at her.
Hermione not feeling in the mood for being polite this very instance rolled her eyes and sighted frustrated at him.
"You sure nothings bothering you?" Harry asked concerned, "I mean you are acting rather mean".
"I'm fine Harry" she sarcastically exclaimed, "freakin peachy".
Harry and Ginny exchanged glances.
"Here you go 'Mione" Ron said placing her drink in front of her, "drink enough of that and it should cheer you up".
Hermione looked at him livid, "I'm not upset Ron" she shouted, "I just don't want to be here that's all". With that she stood up and made her way towards the exit.
Ron looked at Harry and his sister bewildered. "Hermione, hang on!" he shouted chasing after her.
She knew she was being overly unpleasant, and she knew it wasn't Ron's fault. If she had just been straight with him from the beginning then she could have probably avoided this whole outing. She could be safely in the library thinking things over, things that desperately needed to be thought about.
"Hermione?" Ron breathed heavily after running to catch her up.
They were standing in the middle of one of the many streets in Hogsmeade and Hermione realised that they had started to attract a crowd.
Great this was all she needed.
"Ron I don't have time for this" she told him calmly.
"Well you can bloody well make time" he demanded, "I didn't bring you her so you could ditch me as soon as possible".
"No you didn't" she argued back, "and if you would have just listened to me in the first place you would have noticed that I didn't even want to come".
"Oh that's nice Hermione" he said going red in face, "I go out of my way to make this day nice for you and all I get is you storming out on me".
"Make this day nice?" she said in an anger whisper, "all you did was buy me a drink so far!"
"Well if you'd given me a chance…"
"That's not the point" she sighed, "Ron I love you, but only as a friend" she stressed.
Ron looked positively crestfallen.
"I'm sorry Ron" she said sweetly before turning and heading back up to the castle, leaving Ron standing alone in the street.
IIIII
Severus had watched the whole exchange from inside the Hogs Head, he found it surprisingly interesting. Finally Granger had the courage to tell that leech how she felt. Maybe he wouldn't be following her round like a lost sheep anymore. Not that it was any of his business what they did. Not that he cared.
IIIII
Hermione made it as far as the Post Office before she had to stop to catch her breath, she had taken off at such a pace she didn't realise how exhausted she was.
Collapsing onto a nearby bench she let her head fall into her hands, she shouldn't have been so mean to Ron, he really didn't deserve that. But what else could she have done? She had tried being subtle and that didn't work.
She took a deep breath and straightened up, running a hand through her hair as she did so.
From across the street she was completely oblivious to the pair of eyes that were upon her. As he stuck the shadows and the crowded areas of the town as not to be seen, he followed her silently.
He wasn't entirely sure why he had the sudden urge to stalk the girl, the rational part of his brain told his it was due the increasing threat of a Death Eater attack. It seemed a reasonable enough excuse for now.
If he were to be completely honest with himself he would have to admit that he found her slightly fascinating, he wanted to know what she was up to, where she was going and why she was in such a hurry to get there.
He watched as she made her way up to the post office and from there on up to the castle. She was walking slowly, and her eyes seemed to be tracing invisible lines in front of her mind. She was clearly deep in thought.
Suddenly a movement in the trees caught his eye, keeping back as not to be seen Severus watched as Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson appeared from the bushes behind Hermione.
This couldn't be good, he saw Draco put a finger to his lips an indication for pansy to be quiet.
Draco, treading softly followed Hermione up to the castle, pansy in tow.
Hermione still deep in thought didn't notice the three Slytherin's following her, Severus included. She kept mumbling her thoughts to herself under her breath.
Suddenly Draco made his move, Severus tensed up.
"Oi, Mudblood" he sneered.
"Get lost Malfoy" Hermione said without even turning around.
"Mudblood" he repeated, "I was speaking to you".
"And your point is?" Hermione asked still not stopping or turning around.
"Look at me when I speak to you filth!" he demanded.
Hermione just kept walking.
Severus had to praise her integrity, she just ignored the boy, sure it made the little Slytherin angrier, but he was amazed with how calm she remained. Especially when he knew Potter and Weasley would have jumped at the chance to hex Draco the first opportunity they got.
He suddenly felt a chill go down his spine.
Draco without warning pulled out his wand and pointed it directly at Hermione's back. A very Slytherin thing to do Severus noted before he started to have what he presumed was a panic attack.
He had to do something, why he even cared was beyond him, he didn't have time to think about it anyway. A sudden urge to protect the girl filled his head and before he knew what he was doing he was marching towards the scene, his wand drawn.
"Mister Malfoy" his voice growled.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide in shock at the look on his Head of House' face. Snape was fuming.
Hermione also turned around at the sound of Snape's voice. She didn't even realise that Draco was still there, but she could tell from the sight in front of her that not only had he continued to follow her he was about to attempt to hex her as well. She was actually thankful for Snape showing up, though she was rather surprised that he was bearing down on Malfoy so much.
Draco looked absolutely petrified. Pansy had run away.
"Sir I…" Draco began lamely.
Severus didn't want to her it, "headmasters office NOW" he bellowed.
Draco with one last frightful look at his professor, turned on his heel and marched up to the castle.
Hermione was sure she head him mutter something about 'His Father' as he passed.
She looked at Snape now, expecting the shouting, the punishment. But strangely none came.
He was just looking at her; he had her fixed with a piercing stare.
Nervously Hermione began to shuffle from foot to foot, "sir…I'm sorry" she began.
Severus raised his hand to dismiss whatever it was she was about to say. Instead he stepped forward grabbing her arm tightly and leading her towards the castle.
A/N; You know what would make me really HAPPY...?
If you left a Review...Would also make me write faster...