In the Darkness

Ok, i'm not too sure about this chapter. I like it, but I don't know if it's right. It has taken a BIG leap of faith in myself and you guys for me to do this. It might be a bit dodgy, I ain't too sure. So I N E E D you to tell me what you think of it. Please, tell me if it isn't called for AT ALL. Cheers!

Chapter 12

Hermione's walk with Harry and Ron came to an end, and they walked her to the dungeons. Stopping outside the door, she turned to face them.

"Well guys, I'd better be going in."

"You want us to wait up for you?" Ron asked.

"Nah Ron, you never know what time she'll be coming back. You don't know what could happen…" Harry said, looking at Hermione and grinning. Luckily, Ron didn't pick up on the hints dropped.

"Yeah, he'll have you scrubbing the floor and the underside of the desks. Have you ever done that? Its gross, people wipe everything under them desks, snot, boggies…"

"Thanks Ron," Hermione said, butting in. "I'll remember to try to get out of that one. Well, thanks for walking with me. See you in the morning." The boys left her, and she took a deep breath before knocking on the door. She had been waiting all day for this detention, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man she met before. She heard him call her in. She entered, slipping quietly through the doorway, closing it behind her. She turned to look in his direction. He was just straightening after being bent over the cauldron, the beginnings of sweat forming on his forehead. His face held a blank expression that Hermione couldn't read. She desperately wanted to know what he was thinking. He took a deep breath, taking a step forward as she advanced further into the room.

"Miss Granger." He said.

"Professor." She replied. He turned back to the cauldron, and she began to follow. He turned back to her sharply.

"Did I ask you to follow me?" He asked her suddenly. Hermione was slightly taken aback by this.

"No Sir, I thought that…"

"Yes, well, you thought wrong…" He said, not even letting her finish her sentence. "… This is a highly dangerous potion, the slightest mistake can have devastating effects I will not have you messing it up, now please, stay away." Hermione walked back to where she was, feeling her annoyance growing inside her after being spoken to like an idiot. She turned back to face him.

"What do you want me to do?" She said in an annoyed tone. He didn't seem to pick up on her tone.

"Nothing. I want you to wait there." He turned from her and began with the potion again. He breathed heavily, obviously trying to concentrate. "Go stand by my desk." Hermione stood by the desk, looking around the room as he began to murmur a spell over the cauldron. She looked back to see what he was doing.

His hands sprinkling a fine dust into the potion, his closed eyes giving him no guidance as to where it was. It looked like instinct, like he knew exactly where everything was that he needed. His hands seemed to move in one fluid motion, no pauses, no hesitation, never doubting himself or his ability. It was almost like a dance, his lips providing silent music to which the hands moved in a hypnotic rhythm, sinuously flowing from one motion to the next. She could feel the entrancing atmosphere created by this almost exotic dance pull her deep into the very midst of it, unable to pull herself from it even if she wanted to. It was captivatingly sensual, the confidence and precision of his actions, knowing exactly what to do to get the desired result, understanding himself and his work so thoroughly, his hands gliding perfectly into places and positions that almost made her shiver…

How long she was caught by this spell she didn't know. She watched him turn around to face her, watched his face crease in an attempt to understand her expression. She felt the atmosphere shatter as he spoke to her suddenly, breaking the spell and sending her crashing down through the snide comments to reality.

"May I ask, Miss Granger, what it is that you find so amazing about me that calls for the need for you to stare?" He said nastily. She shook her head and tried to clear her mind.

"I'm sorry, I, huh…" She smiled awkwardly. "I, erm, I've never seen you so, er…" She didn't know what to say. He finished her sentence for her.

"Please Miss Granger, you are wasting my time. Either say what you want to say or cease mumbling." She looked back at him, trying to find the words that described him, her mind failing her. He looked back, almost daring her to say something, almost wanting her to.

"I've never seen anyone work with a potion with as much skill and precision as you just did. It as inspiring. Sir." The words didn't do him justice. She couldn't describe it.

He pulled away from her as if she had said something deadly offensive, blinking before walking around the desk. She watched him as he did. He stopped and turned his head so that he could see her. She was still watching him, trying to read his thoughts, staring into his eyes, looking for even a glimmer of the man that she saw last night. But all she saw was a void space, nothing but something intense staring back at her. She tried desperately not to look away, desperately seeking some proof that he as human, that what she had seen was not an illusion… But he simply threw daggers at her with his eyes, breaking her down so that she couldn't even look at them. As she looked away he blinked, then carried on walking around the desk. He stopped suddenly. He was looking at her, she could feel it. She could feel the intense heat of his eyes burning through her. It took all of her self control to stop herself from squirming. It seemed like an eternity that he was looking at her. His stare seemed to get more; she couldn't bear it for much longer…

"Miss Granger…" She looked up, once again daring to looking at him in his eyes.

"Yes Sir?" She answered. Blinking from the heat that he was throwing at her. She flittered from eye to eye, searching for something more…

Wait.

There.

A shimmer.

That same light that she had seen before. It was there, leading her down those caverns of eyes, lighting up the emotion. It was there, she blinked and looked again, making sure she wasn't seeing things.

"Miss Granger…" It was getting worse, more intense. It was there, there he was, the man with emotions and feelings, the feeling of despair, desire and something else…

"… Finish the cauldrons that you started yesterday. When you finish those, and I have inspected them, I will give you something else."

Then they were gone. Just like that. Like someone had thrown a cup of water over the fire in his eyes. There was nothing. She searched his face for any sign as he walked again, sitting at his chair, looking up at her again. It was cold. There was nothing there, but a cold, unforgiving, emotionless stare. She opened her mouth slightly, and then closed it, nodding her head. Her feet seemed to move themselves to the cauldrons. Her hands controlled the speed of which she scrubbed them with. She looked back at him again. There was nothing.

It was driving her crazy. She had seen it, she knew it. He wasn't cold. He wasn't emotionless, and only she seemed to know it. He wouldn't let her see him as a person. He was so close to giving her those thoughts, but he stopped himself. Why? What did he think that she would do? He was so unhappy, so desperate to cover up his solitude, why wouldn't he show it? Did he think that she hadn't realised? He suffered the same pain as she did, she could see it in his eyes, he truly had no-one. She couldn't bear to see someone like that. It wasn't a life. Why wouldn't he let her in? Why did he feel he had to shut her out? Sure, she wasn't the favoured pupil, but it was different now, she had seen something that no-one else had. That had to mean something, it wasn't coincidence…

She slammed her cloth down in frustration, her own thoughts controlling her actions as she leant on the table, her mind tearing her apart.

"Is there something wrong, Miss Granger?" He said in his deathly dangerous voice."

"No Sir." She responded automatically.

"Then why have you stopped?" She couldn't bear it anymore. Her voice in her head told her not too, to carry on scrubbing and apologise… the human part of her couldn't let it lie.

"There is something wrong." She said suddenly.

"Which is?" She took a deep breath. She hadn't though this through. What was she going to say? "I can see emotion in your eyes, tell me what's wrong?" She laughed a fake laugh at herself.

"Sir, I…"

"Is there something desperately wrong?" She didn't answer. What could she say? "Well then, get back on with cleaning and stop wasting my time." That was it. She rose quickly and turned to face his direction. He looked back up at her and put his quill down, seemingly sensing that there was going to be something… different said.

"I've had it with your façade." He just looked at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Your façade. Your mask."

"Miss Granger…"

"You wear that cold hearted mask of indifference every day. You feel nothing. In your eyes there is no place for emotion; it is a weakness. A weakness with a price that you cannot pay. There is only you in your life, and you believe that you like it that way. But you don't. You've worn that mask for so long that you believe it is the real you. But is isn't. You feel, just like everyone else. I've seen it. You see those people with love and happiness and you envy them, secretly wishing to be them. You want someone to take you away from your solitude. Deep down you have an intense passion that you have grown to hate, tried desperately to cover up. But you can't. And it shows. I can see it, I swear I can. I don't know why, put I can see your unhappiness."

Silence.

He didn't move. His mouth opened slightly. She was waiting for a reaction, waiting for something, anything… but there was nothing. Just that unreadable face, the only thing that told her he was not expecting that speech was his opened mouth.

It was as if her senses had returned to her. She realised what she had just said. Not only to her Potion's Master but what she had actually said. She had confirmed for him the thoughts that he didn't want to be true. That would have hurt him so badly. She had no idea how he would react. Anything would be acceptable; there was no need for her to say that. No-one deserves that.

"Sir, I am so sorry…"

Still nothing.

"Sir please, I am sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that, I mean, I didn't mean to say it at all…"

Still nothing.

"… I just wanted to help you… please…"

Silence.

"… Say something? Anything? Please? Say something!"

His face gave nothing away. She had no idea what to expect. His breaths were short and shallow; he never broke eye contact with her. It wasn't a stare, but not a gaze. He was just looking at her. He opened his mouth wider slightly, the anticipation of a reaction almost killing Hermione, and then, he spoke…

I told ya, BIG leap of faith. Ok, please tell me what you think. I KNOW I AM NASTY for leaving you on a cliffie.

I am also VERY unsure as to how Snape's reactions should be. Suggestions are more than welcome. In fact, I will hail my inbox if you send me ideas! Just leave them in a review, tell me what you think of this chapter then how Snape should react. CHEERS ME DEARS! (What is it with me and Caps Lock today?)

Replies!

queenanneus- I don't think it was ENTERTAINING, but it certainly was something. Not too sure though... slightly more exciting this time? I know Snapes very wasn't, hope this is slightly better. I don't know when they will get together. It kinda writes itself. I didn't really want it to turn out like this but it has, and no matter how much I try to change it, it doesn't seem right. Strange.

RainynDawn- I LOVE GERARD BUTLER! WHAT WAS CHRISTINE THINKING WHEN SHE LEFT ERIK FOR RAOUL... ahem Story jumping. I find it hard to contain myself when I speak of Gerard B... better shut up before I get going... As for Harry teasing, I prefere to think of it as "Harmless banter." LoL! Nce long review! Thank you! (oh yeah, OTT Over the top)

wiccan-witch88- The action will be good when they get together, I feel a build up of a lustful tale to be told... yummy! You will shamefully enjoy it!

Yummi Sushi- Thank you! Glad you like the darker style! Hope you like this too!

Varcolaci- It was so dodgy typing your name Varcolaci. What is that? The name, I mean. Anyhoo, I would apperciate it if you didn't man handle the characters. I now have to deal with a traumatised Snape as a result of your foot going to close to his arse.

stargazer starluver- It was suppose to be a totally Snape POV fic, I think, however, it just takes me where it wants to go. I don't really have a say in the matter. More Snape though, I swear!

89- Reaches for a tissue Captivating? THANK YOU! Hugs

LupinLovesTonks- Scatterbrained, thats me, I coudln't remember what day my own story was set on. I had to re-read it all to find out! Thank you xx

Lene- Oh how I love your reviews! "Loverboy" I think it's funny, it's something that a teenage lad says though to wind you up. And it's so patheic and immature that it works. Thank you, go to bed and read this when your feeling refreshed so you can tell me about my mistakes and what you think of it? It took a BIG leap of faith in myself and you guys to write this chapter. Ok, this is going to sound REALLY stupid, but I am blond, but if you speak Dutch, where do you live? What place speaks Dutch? SAY SOMETHING IN DUTCH TO ME! lol, I am so immature! I am learning Japanese so that I can understand the ways of Iaido more!

Princess Kalye- As long as it takes to finish my chapter.

ssslytherin- Not even going to mention the hottest guy in the world's name because just saying it turns me on... probalby too much info, but hey, that's what the man who played the Phantom does to ya! Keanu reeves? Gay? No, I don't think so..lol