AN: Sorry for the wait and the shortness of this chapter:S
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it!
Chapter 4: Apologies
Hermione refused to dress up for Snape that night, and as it was after dinner and after classes, she decided to go in her pajamas.
Her slippers made a shhhhing sound on the tile, and she didn't bother lifting her feet very high when she walked. Hermione's very large blue flannel pajama bottoms, borrowed from either Harry or Ron, she couldn't remember, almost completely covered her slippers, and a plain, white tank top kept her arms cool in the inert air.
Hermione passed the house hourglasses as she went, and saw that Gryffindor was in last place, with –75 points. She grimaced, and continued, knocking on his door at exactly seven. Snape opened the door silently.
He took a seat behind his desk and motioned that she sit down in the large chair in front of him. Hermione sat down, bringing her feet up so that one knee rested on the arm of the chair, the other was upright, and Hermione rested her chin on it.
She could have sworn Snape opened his eyes widely for a second, but she blinked and he was his dull self once again.
They sat silently for a while, Hermione trying to keep her mind blank and show no emotion. A fly was buzzing monotonously in the corner. Stupid fly.
Hermione turned her attention to Snape, who was writing on a piece of parchment. She could care less what it said.
The fly droned on, taunting her.
Hermione let out her breath in a huff and silenced the fly with a minute wave with her wand. Tucking it back into her pocket, Snape seemed to come to life… or as much life as he usually has.
"I called you here with a purpose. I'd like to apologize." He said this calmly, as if it was a normal thing for him to do.
Hermione didn't bother to stifle her shock. She even over exaggerated a little. Her jaw dropped, and then she covered her now open mouth with a hand, as if to hide a smile. Hermione let her upright knee fall, so that she was sitting cross-legged, and hung her head, her shoulders shaking as tried to keep herself from laughing. When she could contain herself, she brought her knees to her chest and looked up, but she was not quite looking at him.
"Sorry… I just never…" She started.
"Never what? Expected me to understand that I was wrong? I am no monster, Miss Granger, and I know when I have done wrong."
"Oh but do you know what you did wrong?" Hermione asked, and Snape looked almost surprised for a moment, but in a flash it was gone.
"Yes. You stood up for me and I insulted you in return when I should have thanked you."
Hermione nodded gravely and slowly, still not looking directly at Snape.
"I'd like to repay you. A thank you, for standing up for me." This incredible comment was greeted with silence, so he continued. "I have decided not to punish you."
Hermione looked at him at that. "Punish me?"
"For being late, cussing, participating in classroom disorder, and ditching the second half of class."
Hermione frowned for a moment, and then shook her head. "I will take the punishment."
Snape shook his head also, "No, you don't understand. This is two months worth of detentions."
"Yes, actually, I do understand. I broke school rules and I will take the consequence for it." She said quite calmly. Hermione could see that he really was sorry, and added, "But I do accept your apology."
"Very well then. Detention starts tomorrow at this time. I haven't decided on what you will be doing, so meet me here and I'll tell you then." Hermione nodded her understanding, and got up to leave. Snape watched her rise silently, observing her through obsidian black eyes. Suddenly he blinked, as if waking from a trance, and said hastily, "Good Night"
"'Night" she said, and walked out the door, her slippers now a little quieter on the rough stone floors of the dungeons. Right before the door shut she could have sworn she saw Snape shake his head quickly, as if to shake a thought right out of his head.
Harry and Ron were waiting for her in the common room when she crawled through the portrait hole. She sighed exhaustedly and sat next to Ron on the couch, facing Harry.
"So… How'd it go?" Harry asked.
Hermione opened her mouth to tell the truth, but found that it stuck in her throat. She shook her head.
"I've got detention for the next two months." She said resignedly.
"What! Every day? But you didn't do anything wrong!" Ron shouted, infuriated. Harry sat frowning deeply, but didn't say anything.
"No, not every day. Every Saturday I'm sure. That's only 8 detentions, for being late, cussing, participating in classroom disorder, and ditching the second half of class." She recited, quoting Snape.
Again Ron cried out as if he were the one being punished. "But that's bull shit! He should be apologizing to you, not punishing you!"
Hermione laughed, oddly loud. "Does Snape seem like the apologizing type?"
Ron and Harry laughed, too, and Hermione let out a huge, fake yawn. "Well, time for me to hit the sack! Good Night, Harry, Ron!" She cried as she dashed over to the staircase to her dormitory.
Ron frowned. "'Night 'Mione".
Hermione shut the door behind her, thankful that the other girls were still out and about.
She drew the curtains around her bed, throwing the small space into darkness. Hermione smiled, and thought about everything and anything until she fell asleep.