In the darkness

Okay Doky, sorry fot the lack of updates, I have had a SERIOUS writer's cramp, nothing I write seems to be good enough. But, i thought i'd stick this one on, see how you all like it, might change it yet, dunno though. Hope you enjoy!

OHH! Go see Sin City! It's strange and violent in a sickly nice way, (i like those kind of movies) it's so cool! And Bruce Willis looks hot! Mind you so does Jessica Alba!

Chapter 8

Serverus waited anxiously for Hermione to arrive. He had waited somewhat impatiently for the past 15 minutes, expecting her to be early. She was only a few minutes late so far, but for some reason that he did not understand, he was already agitated by the fact that she wasn't there already. He felt as something, he wasn't sure what, it was strange, he couldn't really explain or justify it to himself, all he knew was that there was a niggling sensation that he didn't understand, and no matter how much he tried to push it away, it just wouldn't go. It was beginning to get annoying.

He found himself looking eagerly at the door, that was until a small rapping brought him back to reality. He cleared his throat and looked down to the papers that he was supposed to be marking.

"Enter." He called. She opened the door and slid through it, closing it quietly behind her. He looked up at her as she stood still in front of the door.

"Good evening Professor." She said calmly.

"Miss Granger." He acknowledged her with a curt nod and gestured for her to stand in front of the desk where he was sat. She walked up to the desk and stood in front of it. Snape put the quill that he was holding down slowly quill, taking as much time as he could, knowing that she would be getting anxious as to what his plans for the evening were. Waiting is always the worst part of anything. He set his quill down and looked at her, leaning forward on the desk, interlocking his fingers in front of him. She looked away from his gaze.

"Miss Granger, are you aware to the full extent why you are here?"

"I think so sir."

"Let me reaffirm it for you. You are seen to be a model student Miss Granger, although not everyone thinks like that, believe me Miss Granger…"

"Note to self," Hermione thought, "1 put down."

"… And as a model student you are expected to act like one. However, wandering around the school at night, after hours, is hardly the behaviour of such a student! Not only last night, but the night before! And, you ran from me when I clearly called you back to me. Merlin only knows how often you have been up there. And your singing could have easily woken another student…" Hermione looked up.

"It wasn't that loud…"

"You are in no position to reply to me unless I ask for you to, and I believe that you have no sense of judgement because yes, I heard you and you were loud!"

"Note to self," Hermione thought, "He would hear me, bats have an excellent sense of hearing."

""How many times have you been up there?" There was a pause. She obviously knew that this conversation was coming, but still hadn't prepared for it.

"I don't know sir."

"Why there?" His voice was beginning to sound genuinely inquisitive and gentle, rather than his usual voice trying to get them admit what they have done wrong and how he could rub it in that they had been caught. She paused.

"It's quiet. Not many people would go all the way up there that late at night. The window ledge is open to the night, and I can make as much noise as I want because no-one would hear me." Severus thought to himself.

"I heard you."

"You weren't supposing to though Sir."

"Why don't you want anyone to hear you?" She looked down, away from his gaze.

"I… I don't know."

"I think you do." She looked up at him.

"If you think that you know the answer yourself, I beg you to share it with me because I have given you my honest answer. If that isn't good enough for you then please, feel free to make your own suitable answer up." He was slightly taken aback by this unexpected statement. It was obvious that she would get very defensive very quickly about this subject. For a moment he didn't know what to say in reply to that

"That was uncalled for, Miss Granger." Once again she looked down.

"Sorry Sir." She said quietly. He looked over her, she wasn't her usual self whenever they began talking about this subject. He didn't know which angle to take this from, he nasty normal teacher self, or just ask questions, he couldn't tell which would get a normal reaction out of her. He took a deep breath as he thought about it, causing her to look up slightly at him, trying to read his expression as he looked back up at her, watching her. She looked back at him, looking into those almost black eyes that seemed to glisten in the candle light. She had never properly looked into his eyes, there seemed to be something there within them, it was like a shimmer that was ever so subtle, it was like pin points of light shining slightly, each fading delicately into the next, like fire flies in a cave. She followed the pin points down, each seemingly illuminating a different emotion on the walls of the caves of his eyes, like doorways to his soul that seemed to stir as she tired to open them.. She suddenly felt a longing to know what was behind them doors, what was in his soul, what had happened to him to make him the person he was, the man who was now looking intently at her, watching her, reading her. He blinked, putting up the boundaries before her as she realised that she had been staring at him for the past 10 seconds. She looked away, glancing awkwardly at the floor.

No-one had ever looked into his eyes like that before with such yearning before, she was trying to read him, almost to understand him… he knew straight away. She wasn't just staring at him, she was looking into his eyes. No-one would ever understand him. He glanced away before speaking.

"For you're detention you will clean the cauldrons. Without magic. There're in the far corner." And with that he picked up his quill and began writing again. She sighed, quickly looking at him, then turned and walked to the back of the class, picking up the old cloth on the way, folding it and beginning to scrub the cauldrons when she got to them.

Fifteen mintues had passed, and she was still scrubbing the same cauldron furiously. She spat on it and rubbed it in to make it shine before placing it down and looking at Snape, who looked disgusted that she had spat on to it. She let a small smile grace her features before turning back to get another cauldron, leaning over the table to reach the cleanest one. She knew that he was still looking at her as she did. Suddenly, Lavender's voice spoke softly to her in her mind…

'"It was last year, I had a detention. When I was cleaning his desk, I was bent over it… he came behind me… literally…"'

Hermione couldn't help but let out a stifled giggle as she thought of that scenario. Snape was still looking at her.

"Is something amusing, Miss Granger?" She tried not to look at him so that she wouldn't laugh more, imagining him stood behind Lavender as she turned around slowly…. Shit she had to answer.

"No sir."

"Are you sure?" She tried to reduce her laugh to a large grin but failed.

"Yes sir…" She said quietly. She picked up the cauldron quickly and began scrubbing it with a smile on her face, trying desperately not to laugh. Snape carried on looking at her, trying to figure out what she was laughing at. He sighed. Women.

After the seventh cauldron was sparkling clean, she stopped and wiped her dripping forehead with the back of her hand, arched her back to feel the sweat on her back soak into her shirt. She was too warm, the stagnant air she breathed was clammy with low oxygen levels. She rubbed her sore arm from scrubbing, massaging it gently, untying the knot in her tight muscles.

"Why have you stopped?" Hermione turned to see Snape looking at her questioningly.

"My arm hurts." She said simply.

"You have no idea of pain Miss Granger, carry on." How dare he! She had been scrubbing the last cauldron for the past 45 minute's at least non stop.

"And you have Sir?" She said smartly. He looked up slowly at her. Hermione saw something in his eyes, even from the back of the classroom that she had never seen before, she was intimidated by him just looking at her. Even she in her fit of anger did not want him to answer.

"Yes." He said simply, but there was nothing else that needed to be said. There was nothing up for discussion. She picked up the rag and began scrubbing under his stare, knowing that her arm was going to cramp or seize up any minute. Snape carried on marking his papers, when suddenly…

"Oh fuck!" Hermione cried out. His head snapped up to see her face screwed up, clutching her right arm, trying to move it. He frowned as he stood up and walked quickly towards her. She opened her eyes to see him, and instinctively took a small step back that would not have been noticed by anyone but Severus. He paused. Did she just flinch from him?

"Give me your arm."

"I can't it hurts…"

"Give it to me." He said firmly, her eyes looking to him questioningly; untrusting. He simply looked back at her, the emotionless mask coating his stare. She extended it as much as she could before his hands touched it gently, wrapping themselves around her forearms. Somewhere subconsciously she noted that his hands were rough, but not so rough that you couldn't hold them, and that they were warm and gentle…

He pulled it straight as she cried out again. He twisted it slightly and began firmly pressing the muscle with his expert fingers.

"Stop!" She said desperately, "You're hurting me!" Upon hearing this Severus instinctively loosened his grip slightly, before telling himself that this was the cure for intense cramps. He carried on pressing the twitching muscle until it stopped and Hermione's face relaxed slightly.

"Does it still hurt?"

"No…" He loosened his grip slowly, his fingertips just trailing a short distance as he let go, causing the hairs to stand on end. Hermione looked up at him as she brought her arm back close to her and rubbed it gently, feeling the shiver that his touch sent down her arm.

"A cramp as you would call it is the muscle contracting suddenly. The relief comes when you stretch it so that eventually it doesn't contract. The massaging loosens the fibres in the muscle, helping it to relax." Severus said, trying to ignore the shiver that he too had felt, and pretending that his hairs weren't stood on end just from a simple touch. He turned and began to make back to the desk. "And that language is not what I would expect from you of all people Miss Granger." He said as he sat back down, not looking at her. "It's late. You may go. I would like to see you at the same time tomorrow night." He turned and pretended indifference at what he had just done.

Hermione was amazed and confused. Had Snape's touch just caused her to shiver? His firm massage sending unknown sensations through her body, like little jolts of electricity. Had he actually touched her, helped her through pain? She was disgusted at herself for thinking that Snape of all people could make her react like that, but her harsh judgement of him softened when she thought of his eyes, those doors that were pleading to be opened. His warm and gentle touch was unexpected, but somewhat soothing and comforting. She suddenly saw him for the first time in a different way, the man who had had a lot of pain and anguish in his life without love or being loved, no outlet for good or happy emotions, pent up emotions with no way of realising them, but so longed for something, someway to help him. She had never considered this side of him, and was confused as to why she had any reason to think this.

"Miss Granger. You can go now." He said, bringing her back from her thoughts. She nodded in a silent acknowledgment and walked slowly towards the door. She stopped and turned as she was about to open it.

"Professor?" She called. He looked up at her. "Thank you." She said. He said nothing as a gentle smile played on her features and with that she left the room, leaving Severus contemplating the nature of that smile, the sensations that he felt which he was desperately trying to deign, and if it was just him who felt them or if it was mutual.

See what am doing here? I hate those stories where all of a sudden Hermione falls in love with Snape or visa versa, so am trying to ssslllloooowwwlllyy introduce it. REPLIES!

fujutsu- Thank you! Hope you enjoy!

Jia Ren Qu-I never knew that OEMGEE was that. I personnaly prefere OMG or WTF.

Fairy of Fire and Fury- I am so sorry that I ahve kept you up for so long by not updating! It's been a hell of a long time! Believe me my darling, all good things come to those who wait, bide your time and your enjoyment will come, I promise.

Lene- Pmhf! Not time for a long review! I'd better bloody have one next time! Anyhoo, yeah, that is a typical convo with me and my mates. Dumb aint we?

Anarane Anwamane- Thank you!

sexy she-devil- Thank you again!

JTBJAB- Bless you Lav was just messing. Don't fall off your seat now, I will not be liable for your injuries. lol

Professor Elvira- I have seen a little bit of Time Machine, why do you ask? Have you seen the new Sin City though, that is the question! Our Sevvikins is a sexy behatch!

eknibbe- I love detentions, esp. in the dungeons. Dark and sensual... yes please! i've started dribbling now so id better quit about D.Ts with the man. I love singing too. What do you sing? I do first soprano, there's nothing like singinga soloin front of 500 people. A right buzz! Tell me about your voice, I love music!

I Love Nerds 919- I kinda didn't update tomorrow... erm, kinda a while after... sorry...

Draco is my bitch- (cool name) So true.

SilverandSilent- Those poor guys if there are only 2 of them. Hehe. Oh, i love you! You are so nice!

izzy-updated my dear!

Alainne- Glad you enjoy it my sweet! I love getting review like yours!

Annette- CALM DOWN DEAR! IT'S ONLY A FANFICTION! (T.v. ad from th Uk, Brits will get it. At this point I would like to make a point that I work for the Halifax Bank, which owns Esure, the maker of those adverts. I get that damn ad on my intranet every day!)