"He touched you?!" Ron slammed the textbook closed on the table and stared Hermione down.
She sighed, closing her textbook with relaxed composure. "No Ron, he didn't touch me. He caught me when I was falling, I would have gotten hurt."
"With his dirty hands on your hips? He touched you…"
She leaned back, trying to calm him with her rationalization. "Ron, that isn't the point of what I am trying to talk about. Besides, it just happened to be where he was standing at the time. He made sure I didn't fall, plain and simple."
Ron's brows were furrowed with anger, "Probably enjoyed it, that perverted git. Hermione, you can't work with him anymore."
"Jesus Ron! I reached too high, and I fell. Nothing happened," Hermione reassured, although she didn't believe her own words as she said them. "Besides, the weird part was after. He seemed as awkward about it as you are being. I said I was leaving and he just became… rude."
The ginger haired boy stared at the table in front of him, picking at loose pieces in the wood. "I don't want you working with him Hermione. He isn't a good guy." He reached over and grabbed her hand, and stared in her eyes. "Just quit. You don't need extra potions work anyways, you're brilliant."
Hermione smiled and squeezed his land lightly. "Thank you my love. But I am not quitting my work because you're a bit uncomfortable after one incident. It was my fault really, I shouldn't have been trying to reach that book. I was only telling you because I was hoping you would offer some kind of advice on what I did to upset him. Should I apologize again tonight?"
"Of course not! You didn't do anything wrong. You got his stupid book for him anyways, right? How high was that ladder anyways, the ceilings aren't that high."
Hermione hadn't even thought about that. Would she have really been that hurt if she fell three steps? Did he have to hold her so tightly, like he was saving her from her imminent doom? "It was high enough Ron. I'm a small girl. Look, I have to go. He wants me there early to finish up with the books. I love you." She kissed him sweetly before getting up and collecting her things.
"I'll walk you to the dungeons. Quidditch practice isn't for another hour."
As they arrived at the classroom door, Ron leaned in to kiss her deeply. "Please be careful Hermione. Try not to get hurt… or…"
The heavy door swung open, the hinges creaking, and the potions master loomed over the pair. "Miss Granger, why must you insist on always being late."
"Technically she is early sir, as you asked her to be," Ron retorted, leaning in to kiss Hermione once more before letting go of her hand.
Snape raised an eyebrow, his face remaining otherwise expressionless. " , I feel Miss Granger has both the knowledge and physical capability to speak for herself."
Ron eyed him carefully before saying his goodbye to Hermione and exiting down the hall. She followed the agitated man into the dungeon. "You don't need to be so rude to him."
"I apologize Miss Granger, I didn't realize that Mr Weasley was an assistant who also demanded respect or else threw temper tantrums in my office," he sarcastically spat.
Hermione stopped in her tracks. "Apologize to me," she ordered.
"Pardon me?" The potions master turned and advanced on her tiny person.
"I said apologize."
Snape laughed loudly, mocking the girl who stood with defiance. Hermione wasn't about to back down, she wouldn't let anyone talk to her this way and she wasn't about to excuse her professor for his behaviour either. "You don't get to tell me what to do," he snarled, looming over her. "You are my assistant. You do what I say. If I feel the need to apologize, I will. If I tell you to apologize, you will."
He was standing so close Hermione could almost feel his breath, but she wasn't going to let him intimidate her. She wasn't going to waver her confidence. She straightened her back and looked him dead in the eyes, but he advanced even closer and she took a step back. "You silly girl," he took another step, and so did she. "Think you can challenge me?" Step. "Think your Gryffindor courage will scare me?" Step.
She felt the wooden door press into her back. She had nowhere to go. He grew closer, and she looked in his eyes. In the dim light he looked dangerous, and the low glow of the candles cast a shadow over his expression. He grew so close that his body pressed against hers and she could feel his strength as she tried to push him away. He grabbed her wrists and held them down, leaning close so that his mouth was beside her ear. "I can say… I can do… whatever I please. And there is nothing a witch like you can do about that."
Snape let go and backed away, walking towards his desk like nothing happened. Her heart was racing and her legs were shaky, threatening to give out and send her crashing to the floor. But she kept her composure, as something warned her that now wasn't a time to look weak. "Go finish the books in the storage room, I need them sorted by the end of the night. I don't want you to leave until they are done." She watched him at his desk and casually continue to write his notes. "Well?"
Hermione nodded, "yes sir," and walked to the room trying to comprehend what had just happened. As she closed the door behind her, he spoke the last words she heard from him all evening, "Good girl."