A/N; I think I like this chapter best so far. What do you lot think?

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Hermione winced as the grip on her arm tightened. His long slender fingers wrapping themselves around her soft skin, pinching, as he dragged her towards the castle.

"Sir…" Hermione began, she wanted to apologise again, though she had no idea what she had done wrong.

It was Malfoy who had been calling after her, she had ignored him, and it was Malfoy who had attempted to hex her. And he would have if Snape hadn't stopped him.

That was strange, Snape shouting at Malfoy. She couldn't recall a time she had ever witnessed that happen before, and to do it in her defence, very peculiar.

Maybe Snape was annoyed because she had ignored Malfoy, thus rendering him unable to punish her and forcing him to take action against Malfoy. Though sending him to the headmaster was a bit extreme.

Maybe he was really annoyed, and was now carting her off for some severe punishment.

Most likely.

IIIII

Severus had no idea what he was doing, he was surprised he had reacted as he did, Draco would be fuming no doubt, probably mention the whole thing to his father earning Severus a nice dose of the Cruciatus curse. That is if he wasn't killed the next time they met.

He knew it was likely.

But Hermione Granger, what was he doing there?

He knew on some level he was protecting the girl, buy why? He had never cared before.

He also wanted to punish her, partly because she was a Gryffindor and he enjoyed punishing them oh so much, and partly because she had caused him to nearly have an anxiety attack. He didn't know nor want to think which reason was the more likely.

They rounded a corner into the castle and Severus pushed open the nearest classroom door and threw her inside.

"Sir?" Hermione asked rubbing her arm. There were red marks where he had been holding her.

Breathing heavily Severus just stood and looked at her for a moment, his dark eyes expressionless.

Hermione felt naked under his stare, she felt like he knew what she was thinking. This was possible she knew, but she doubted he would invade her mind like that.

Severus didn't need to read her mind to know what she was thinking, the look on her face said it all, he could see the thoughts flashing past her eyes, she was confused, maybe a little scared, he noticed her hands twitching nervously. He liked the fact he could make her feel this way.

What was he thinking? He didn't want to make her feel anything.

"Miss Granger" he began, moving towards her slowly.

Hermione gulped and took an unconscious step back, he looked positively predatory.

"I understand that you senseless need to be brave clouds your judgement from time to time, what with being a Gryffindor and all, but often your bravery results in injury and given who you are, and how idiocy and bravery are only a thin line from one another I would have expected you to know better" he sneered.

Hermione looked livid, "Sir I-"

"Have you any idea how dangerous it is to be outside the castle grounds on your own?" he demanded, his fist clenched.

"In fact sir" Hermione began outraged, "I know full well the danger we face, and it's not just me that needs to be careful when outside alone and unprotected". She huffed. She didn't dive a damn that she was shouting at Snape like that, she figured she was in line for some sort of punishment anyway.

Severus' eyes flashed angrily. He began to walk towards her, his fists still clenched.

Hermione took another step back until she felt the top of a desk behind her bear into her legs, she was stuck. The thought 'between a rock and a hard place' sprung to her mind, but she quickly forgot that when her professor slammed his hands down on the desk either side of her.

"Do you know just how dangerously Draco Malfoy can be when provoked?" he asked in a dangerously low whisper.

"I-I didn't provoke him sir" Hermione stammered, he was so close she could practically smell the potions on him.

Severus with one hand firmly planted either side of her studied her face closely; yes she was scared now indeed.

Hermione looked at him with an equally scrutinising stare.

Eventually he straightened out and took a step away from her. "Don't you ever, ever do that again" he growled.

Well that was it; as far as Hermione was concerned she hadn't done anything wrong, "excuse me Professor"she exclaimed, "but I don't think I was out of place at all."

"Of course you don't you stupid little child" he scolded, "You have no idea of the threat we face"

Fuming Hermione spoke in a tone so low that it even made Severus raise an eyebrow, "oh but I know exactly what threat we face sir, you call me stupid but you're the one willing to go and die for the bloody cause, if I ever did her such a most ridiculous thing".

Severus looked at her shocked, "how dare you, you know nothing-"

"I know everything, I heard the whole conversation" she said through clenched teeth.

"You little spy" he accused.

"I hardly think you can call me that sir" she said raising a brow.

Angrier than she had ever saw him before he walked right up to her. She took a deep breath and it hitched in her throat.

His hand up by her head he clenched his fist and released it again before exhaling sharply and storming out.

Only when she was sure he was gone did Hermione release the breath she was holding.

What the hell had just happened? As if she didn't have enough to think about already, now she had Snape's mysterious and uncharacteristic behaviour to plague her thoughts.

Taking a deep breath she made her way towards her sanctuary, the library.

IIIII

Remus Lupin watched her come in, she looked troubled, not the sort of troubled that Harry or Ron gets before a Quidditch match, she looked the kind of troubled a person looks when they discover something unpleasant, like death.

Remus was pretty sure Hermione was no where near dieing, and wondering what could be causing the girl such trouble he made his way over.

"You okay Hermione?" he asked

"I wish people would stop asking me that" she frowned.

Lupin raised his hands in a mock defeat style, "sorry is something wrong?"

Hermione looked up at him, "I suppose you could say that" she said looking down at her hands as she fumbled with some parchment she had found.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently.

"Not particularly" she said not looking up.

"Ok" Remus said and turned to leave her alone with her thoughts.

"Wait!" she called after him.

Remus smiled to himself and sat down next to her.

"Well first off Ron asked me out" she confessed.

"Really" he raised his eyebrows.

"I was kind of mean in letting him down though" she said gloomy.

"Oh?"

"I don't think he will be talking to me for a while" she sighed

"I wouldn't worry about Ron, Hermione, he'll come round, and you've had arguments before".

Hermione looked at him with her big eyes, "I suppose" she told herself.

"Was that it?" he asked surprised that she could be so upset over something so little.

Hermione looked at him and contemplated whether or not she should tell him about Snape, finally she said, "No, there is another thing".

"I'm listening Hermione" Remus said as he patted her hand.

"I overheard a conversation with Professors Snape and McGonagall yesterday and the headmaster" she told him.

Remus frowned slightly, "go on" he said not liking where this was going.

"I think the whole thing is completely insane" she suddenly burst out.

Remus raised his eyebrows.

"I mean, how stupid is he, he cant just go and get himself killed, it's, its unethical and wrong and well, just plane stupid" she said angrily.

"Hermione" Remus asked, "who are you talking about, who's going to get themselves killed?"

"Professor Snape that's who" she fumed, "and he doesn't even care, no he just wanders round jumping out of bushes and shouting at Malfoy"

Remus looked utterly shocked.

"And then he has the nerve to tell me that I'm being stupid and getting myself into trouble. Since when has he cared?" she yelled

"Hermione, you cannot tell anyone what you heard ok?" he suddenly said warningly.

"What?" she looked at him confused.

"What you heard cannot be repeated understood?"

"Remus I haven't told anyone" she said honestly.

"Not even Harry?" he asked urgently.

"No" she told him.

"What you heard" he began to explain, "is highly confidential, you can't tell anyone Hermione, it would only cause panic and chaos, and as for professor Snape" he said at the desperate look on her face, "whatever decision is made will be his decision, his choice Hermione."

"Yes I know but-"

"But nothing" he cut her off, "there's no wonder he was so mad". He exclaimed.

Hermione looked, if possible more confused.

"Just don't mention it to him again ok? Promise me" he pleaded

"Sure" she said, "I don't understand any of this secrecy though" she frowned.

"I think its Dumbledore way of keeping everything calm and normal, we could never prepare ourselves for an attack this size, not with all the students here, and as we wont know when its coming, it makes it near impossible to plan anything" he admitted. "And if Severus isn't here to warn us". He sighed, not wanting to finish.

Hermione looked sorrowful, it really was no wonder Snape got in such a mood, if he dies then Hogwarts has no chance, and if he lives, he will have to sacrifice a student. The inner turmoil Hermione realised he must be in hit her heavy.

"I'm sorry" she said quietly, "I wont mention it again" she promised.

Remus nodded his head in thanks before excusing himself, saying that he had errands to run. This left Hermione alone in the library, and although she initially sought solitude, now she felt like she was drowning in it.

A/N; Please Review, it makes me smile, and as far as I know the little blue button has stopped biting people. I on the other hand, have not ;)