The problem with boredom it seems is that it produces a form of anxiety. The boredom Hermione was facing was the consequence of her having to watch her Professor peruse over a document she knew nothing about, the anxiety she experienced was only exacerbated by the fact that she was terrified to move. Anxiety as you may well know, and as Hermione certainly does, being the cleverest witch of her age, produces certain chemicals in the body likened to that which are produced when one is aroused. Hermione was determinedly not aroused by her current situation, yet she increasingly felt as if she was. This chemical reaction inside her made her studies of the professor take on a new light as she shifted in her chair and tried to think of other, more amiable things such as flowers or her approaching grand-mothers birthday.
It had, in fact, been an hour since Professor Snapes outburst. An hour since he had returned to his seat and an hour since Hermione had the courage to breathe comfortably. Snape was a frightening man, an interesting, frightening man. Having him in close proximity was most intimidating, but with a determined grimace lining her face and her anxiety in check, Hermione decided she was not going to be intimidated any more.
She started small, shifting in her chair, moving closer to the desk, coughing slightly under her breath and making clicking noises with her tongue. Snape did not flinch. With a frown Hermione began tapping her toes and humming a Muggle tune she had replayed in her head for the past half hour. Snape did not flinch. Hermione sighed heavily and rested her chin on her hands watching Snapes face which seemed forcibly determined not to look up, his eyes darting across the long scroll, his black hair pulled behind his ears.
Hermione noted how interesting Snapes face was. It was certainly peculiar, being pale with large features, particularly his nose and his large black eyes. She tossed her head into different angles, ascertaining that at some he almost looked handsome. She began to wonder about things like what his hobbies were, whether he liked cats and whether he had ever been laid in his life. The latter thought startled her and she pushed it out of her mind.
Hermione pulled her bushy hair back and released it three or four times before she let out a very loud groan and sunk back into her chair.
"I wonder" Snape interjected, "what is it that has kept you in my office for so long Miss Granger?" Snapes eyes still remained on the parchment.
"I…didn't know I could leave, Professor?" The thought had sincerely never occurred to her, and suddenly she felt very stupid and very annoyed.
"Why did you think that? Are you not a free entity? Do you not have the ability to move of your own free will? Are you under the Imperius Curse perhaps?" Snape mused as he looked up.
"No I am not under any curse thank you very much." Hermione felt her blood begin to boil.
"Then maybe I frighten you?" Snape stood up in one swift move, bearing over her.
"No." Hermione lied defiantly, sitting up in her chair with a very serious expression falling on her face. She was not one to let others know her fears; she was a Gryffindor after all.
Snape darted around the table almost playfully with a smirk on his face as if he were about to start a game of cat and mouse. Hermione was of course the mouse.
"I am not afraid of you Professor." Hermione stood up confidently coming face to face with Snape, or more face to chest as she realised he was at least a foot taller than her. She gripped her wand again, Snape snickered.
"Come now, do you really believe you could ever out do me in a duel?" Snape stepped back swiftly and pulled out his wand in record time. Silently Hermione felt her wand leave her hand of its own accord and watched it dance playfully into Snapes open hand. "Now are you afraid?" Snapes lips curled to reveal a malicious smile.
"No!' Hermione bellowed and she took a large step towards Snape, meeting the tip of his wand. She felt him press it into her chest, as her heart beat raced and she stared deep into his eyes. Her mind was for once cleared of thought and all she knew was that she truly was no longer scared.
Snape lowered his wand and stood back, still maintaining eye contact. His grin was gone and he took on a very serious tone. "Well done Miss Granger." He stated, placing the wand back inside Hermione's pocket and resuming his seat at his desk. "You may leave." He gestured towards the door as it swung open.
Hermione gathered her composure, adjusting to what just happened as she turned on her heel. Fists clenched and teeth gritted she stormed towards the door and slammed it shut behind her. Not a thought entered her mind as she raced up the stares to Gryffindor Tower, ignoring passing queries as to whether she was ok. She didn't feel a thing until she entered her Head Girl private room. Slamming the door behind her she dropped to the floor, sobbing with sheer frustration and rage, slamming her fist on the hard wood below.
It had been over a week until Hermione spoke to Snape again. Stubbourn and unwilling to let go of her anger, she spent the week completely blind-sighting him. In her resolve she chose not to even raise her hand in potions class, instead doing the task set and walking out as soon as she was dismissed. Snape didn't seem to notice, or care, which made her willpower hold even though it was killing her not letting the world know she knew all the answers.
Harry and Ron had only noticed her behaviour after the high of the quidditch win had wore off. They approached her quite a few times only to be met by a very angry waft of brown hair. Hermione couldn't tell them what was wrong, she had sworn that she wouldn't and she was afraid if she spoke to them she might let it fly out of her mouth before she could control it. She felt very much alone in the world, and chose to spend her days and nights when not in class curled up under her quilt, studying.
It wasn't till Monday night that she felt a sudden urge to be away from her room, to be outside. She snatched her cloak from the end of the bed and with being past curfew in mind, she snuck out silently, ducking behind things and peaking around corners until she had reached the front door where she waited patiently for a Professor to come in or go out.
She didn't have to wait long as she watched a tall dark figure whisper enchantments and open the door. Swiftly she sprung to her feet and slid through the remaining crack before the door shut. She felt the cold air sting her warm skin, and breathed it in heavily. She pressed herself against the wall as she watched the figure move towards the front gate. Curiosity getting the better of her, she followed him, cloaked by the darkness and silencing her footsteps with a Silencio spell she had perfected quite a while ago.
The moon lifted from the clouds as she peered through the gate. She recognised the face to be none other then Remus Lupin, who seemed, even under the pale moonlight, to have achieved colour in his skin and a strength she hadn't ever seen in him before. He greeted the tall dark man with a stern look and began to whisper immediately and quite vigorously. Hermione couldn't understand a word he was saying, and although the night no longer cloaked her very well, she crouched down and moved steadily towards a nearby tree to obtain a closer listen. As she strained her ears she wished dearly that she had kept a pair of Fred and George Weasley's Extendable Ears.
"She is not to find out until we are certain she can handle herself. It is a great fear of mine and of Dumbledore's that she will lose her mind if we tell her." Lupin's whispers were forceful and alarming. "I know you enjoy your little games, but if we find out you've hurt her in any way…"
He was cut off by the tall dark man.
"I have not" Snapes voice was recognised immediately by Hermione, "nor will ever hurt her, you have my word."
"Good…good." Remus seemed relieved, "I worry that your tests will be too harsh; she is only a young girl."
"She is a great deal more then that." Snape scoffed, he almost seemed taken aback by Remus' attitude.
"Yes, yes, you are right." Remus conceded, he seemed bothered and his furrowed brow concurred. "Send me an owl the moment after your next meeting with her, I will return to headquarters and inform the rest of your progress so far."
"Indeed." Snape nodded his head as he watched Remus disappear into the night.
Hermione watched her Professor stand for a moment in silent contemplation. He seemed worn and almost sullen. She had already assumed that the 'young girl' referred to was indeed herself, it seemed the right conclusion to draw with the mention of The Order headquarters and the 'tests' Snape had put the young girl through.
Hermione herself stood in silent contemplation too. She wondered what she was to be told if she passed these 'tests'. She wondered why it seemed as though Snape was almost defending her, and why Remus was worried about him hurting her. She took a step closer to Snape but losing concentration she tripped over a fallen stick and landed on the pathway behind him.
Hermione scrambled to her feet only to be met again my Snapes chest.
"What on earth are you doing here you STUPID girl!?" Snapes eyes met hers with such fury that all Hermione could do was back away slowly. "Well!?" Snape added, keeping close to Hermione, maintaining eye contact.
Hermione lost her words, tears welled in her eyes and she wished for nothing else but to fade into nothingness.
"No answer then, hmm? I assume you wanted to go for a quiet midnight stroll and just happened upon a little conversation. Curiosity got the better of you then?"
Hermione, although knowing it was sarcasm she was faced with, couldn't help but want to giggle at the accuracy Snape had unthinkingly attained.
"200 points from Gryffindor and detention for you, and your sniveling little friends over there!" Snape pointed over her shoulder.
Hermione spun around to see Harry and Ron standing stock still, only half cloaked by Harry's invisibility cloak. Oh no, stupid, stupid boys she thought out of complete concern. Moving swiftly towards them, she pulled the invisibility cloak off, stuffing it under her cloak. Grabbing their arms she ran towards the castle, repeatedly spitting the words 'foolish' and 'idiotic' at them. She hoped beyond all hope that in the darkness Snape had only supposed that Ron and Harry had been distorted by the moonlight and not by an invisibility cloak. They reached the door and Harry shrugged Hermione off him.
"What on earth was that about!?" he exclaimed with a fierce concern.
Hermione, out of breath, twisted her neck to look behind her, watching Snape waft towards them up the path. "I can't explain, just do what Professor Snape says, and don't mention the cloak!" She said hurriedly.
Ron's expression was one of shock and she pushed them closer to the door and stood in front. They heard the door unlock and Harry and Ron fell back as it swung open behind them.
"To your rooms!" Snape barked and they swiftly clambered up and headed inside. "Not you!" Snape noted, grabbing Hermione's arm as she made her way through the door.
Harry spun around determined to help Hermione. Hermione looked up to find Harry raising his wand and yelled 'No!" She caught her breath and whispered loudly, "I will be ok, now go!"
Harry glared at Snape but noting the sincerity in Hermiones voice, decided to leave it and return upstairs. Ron too was still there at the base of the stair well, but followed Harry up the stairs, obviously perplexed by the situation.
Hermione found herself sitting at her Professors desk once again, this time with a very sore arm. Snape had dragged her the entire way to the Dungeon without a word, allowing her to stew on all the things she had heard Remus and Snape say and become increasingly angrier the nearer to Snapes office they got.
Snape flopped in his chair, propped his elbows on his desk, pushed his hands through his hair and gave a heavy sigh. He stared down at nothing and seemed tired and worn.
"What exactly did you hear?" Snapes anger had left him; his voice was silky and smooth yet almost a little forlorn.
Shocked by her Professors worn nature, Hermione lost her anger and lied. "I didn't hear anything." She bowed her head.
Snape leaned forward, burrowing his eyes into her and breathed in heavily. "You haven't been answering questions in class." He paused, waiting for a response.
Hermione looked up at him. Was he concerned? She couldn't tell. "I'm sorry." She said, almost as a question.
Snape heaved himself out of his chair and walked slowly towards hers. He leaned against the desk in front of her, looking away to the side of the office blankly.
Hermiones arm felt very sore, and as her anger subsided the pain grew. She started to rub it.
"I hope I didn't hurt you." Snape said as he resumed looking at her.
Hermione didn't say anything as she stopped rubbing her arm.
"You ought to get back to your room and go to sleep. I'll instruct you and your two musketeers about detention in class tomorrow." Snape swished around, facing the back of the room.
"Why…were you talking to Remus, sir?" Hermione enquired with specific emphasis on the 'sir'.
"Leave!" Snape echoed as the door swung open behind her.
Hermione stepped cautiously away as her mind swam with thoughts. As she felt the door shut behind her she stood for what seemed hours trying to analyse what had just happened until finally she resolved that her confusion would not be lifted until she got some sleep.