Thank you for the reviews! And a special thank you to those who wished me a speedy recovery, which I thankfully had. Now, without further ado...
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, etc.
"Do not worry about Professor Snape, Ms. Granger. But now, perhaps we should follow the example of his haste. I have no doubt there are many students eagerly awaiting my arrival so that they may tuck in to the feast," Dumbledore said with a warm smile. And with that they headed down to the Great Hall. Hermione could only imagine what kind of reaction Ron and Harry would have to this new development.
Hermione left Dumbledore to enter the Great Hall through the student door and managed to take a seat between Ron and Harry without drawing too much attention. Before they could interrogate her the Sorting began. There were many fewer first-years than Hermione ever remembered. After Voldemort's confirmed return and the way the Ministry/Umbridge had tried to take over the school two years ago, many parents resorted to home-schooling. As Hermione glanced around, there were a few faces missing. She only hoped their absence was due to being home-schooled.
In the break between the Sorting and Dumbledore's beginning-of-term speech, Ron and Harry pounced on her with questions, but Dumbledore was quick to begin, aware of the students' hungry looks at their plates. Hermione gave them a well-practiced 'shush' before turning her gaze to the teacher's table, which was an experience in itself.
Her eyes met Remus and they exchanged quick smiles. Then she felt her neck prickle in a most peculiar way and her eyes shot to the opposite end of the teacher's table to meet Severus' gaze. Hermione practically jumped to find him looking at her and then blushed horribly when a few people around her stared. She was very thankful that Dumbledore did not pause at the small distraction. When Hermione composed herself, she risked a glance back to Severus, but he was glaring at his plate in such a way she felt sorry for it. She finally turned her attention to Dumbledore's now familiar speech, though he did add some new things concerning Voldemort and safety.
"And to conclude the normal announcements, the Forbidden Forest is as forbidden and as forest-y as ever. Now, I am happy to announce our new Head Boy and Head Girl for this school year. A round of applause for Ms. Padma Patil and Mr. Draco Malfoy." They both stood and looked very happy. It was the first they knew of it as well.
There was a mixture of clapping and hisses from all the tables. Hermione felt her stomach churn partly because she knew she could have been Head Girl and partly because she was unsure if Lucius Malfoy had told his son about everything. Did Draco know Snape had 'seduced' her and that she was 'working for' Voldemort? Did he know she had tortured his father? Hermione's stomach was twisting so much the feast became much less appetizing.
"Very good. Thank you, I'm sure you will both serve this school well," Dumbledore beamed once the applause and hissing subsided, though he ignored the latter. "And lastly, the appointments of Teacher's Assistants. We have accepted more students this year than any other; quite a talented lot! For Charms: Hannah Abbott. For Herbology: Neville Longbottom. For Defense Against the Dark Arts: Harry Potter. For Astronomy: Terry Boot. And lastly, for Potions: Hermione Granger."
The applause was broken up by sudden chatter at the last appointment. Hermione took in a long breath as she felt many eyes turn on her, most emphatically from the boys on either side of her and from the Slytherin table. Hermione stared resolutely at her own plate, as kindly as she could in consideration of Severus' plate.
"Now, without further ado, let's eat ourselves silly!" and with the last word from Dumbledore's mouth, food appeared before everyone. The wonderful feast was enough of a distraction for most people to stop staring at Hermione and Snape, but this was not the case for Harry, Ron, and a nearby Ginny.
"What is that all about, 'Mione? He'll eat you alive! The greasy git knows those dungeons so well he could kill you and hide the body and no one would ever find you…"
"Is this something to do with what happened over the summer?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Hermione took a deep breath and answered them in order.
"First of all, Ron, Professor Snape will not be killing me anytime soon unless he wants me to haunt those dungeons for the rest of his days, spouting out all the information from all the potions textbooks I've ever read." This earned an appreciative grin from all three interrogators who were imagining what she said.
"Secondly, Harry," Hermione said much more seriously, looking around and casting a Muffliato charm so no one would overhear them, "Yes, this is something to do with what happened over the summer, but mostly it's to help the Order. I'll be helping to brew potions and do research for the Order. And lastly Ginny, I didn't tell any of you because I just found out myself. McGonagall took me to talk to Dumbledore just now. He encouraged this," Hermione finished tiredly.
"But how are you going to work with him? He is such a-"
"Don't worry about me Ginny. I will be able to deal with him just fine," Hermione said with much more confidence than she felt. How was she going to work with this man remembering everything that had happened? How was she going to work with him when just a look from him mad her panicky?
Ron and Harry didn't seem happy but offered 'to take care of the great bat' if he tried anything or was too cruel.
"I really just don't see how it would be comfortable being alone with the man," was the last thing Ginny (or any of them) said about it that night. They had no idea.
But after that Hermione was able to change the subject.
"Anyways, more importantly congratulations Harry! You get to assist Remus!" Hermione said turning to her friend. Harry grinned a big lopsided smile.
"Yeah congrats, mate," Ron managed to choke out around a mouthful of potatoes. Satisfied that everyone had the answers they wanted, Hermione began to pick at some food.
"But what about our favorite Malfoy being Head Boy? He's going to be horrible," Harry said, the smile dropping from his face, though it quickly returned as he said, "And Padma as Head Girl, Ron? You taking her to the Yule Ball was a disaster."
"Uhhhg don't remind me. Hopefully she's as happy as me to forget about that forever. And hell, I don't remember you going with Parvati going particularly well either," Ron said jokingly, slapping him on the back.
"Oh shut up Ronald," Ginny said while she moved to comfort Harry. Hermione chuckled and drank some pumpkin juice. She wondered how Harry bwas so clueless about Ginny's interest.
The rest of the night, she didn't look up at the teacher's table again even when her neck prickled.
The first day of class was usually something Hermione loved. This year she dreaded it. Her first class was N.E.W.T. level Potions bright and early with Snape. Slughorn had retired after he had been targeted by Death Eaters over the summer and Snape had grudgingly taken his post back. Hermione felt sorry for Severus in a way. The only thing he had wanted over the years was to teach D.A.D.A.
Hermione met Ron and Harry in the Great Hall for breakfast. Since they were both serious about becoming Aurors, they both had to take advanced Potions as well. It was the only consolation Hermione had, that they would be there with her. Since N.E.W.T. Potions was the earliest class of the day, they had a good idea of who would be in there with them as they looked around the Great Hall at the ungodly hour of 6:00 am. Only a few seventh years from each house were there, including the new Head Boy. Hermione groaned.
They ate and left for the dungeons for the lesson which lasted from 6:30 to 8:30 am. The classroom was unlocked so they went in. They were the first there and Snape was nowhere in sight. The Trio all sat at the same table though they all fully expected to be separated.
Under strict supervision and coercion of Hermione, all three of them reviewed the material they were to cover that lesson as the others slowly began to come in. When Draco entered, along with the Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini, the only other Slytherins who made into advanced Potions, his eyes shot to Hermione. She met his gaze but his expression was so blank it worried her. Most uncharacteristically, Malfoy ignored them and sat with his fellow Slytherins at the table that was the farthest from them. Harry and Ron gave Hermione worried looks because they too wondered whether Malfoy knew anything, though Harry and Ron knew almost nothing of the truth. Hermione shushed them before they could talk and made them continue reviewing.
At exactly 6:30 am Snape strode into the classroom, dark robes billowing dramatically.
"This is very advanced material. If you are not willing to devote a great deal of your time to learn this, I advise you to leave now." He paused as if hoping some of them would get up and walk out. He looked around the room, looking everyone in the eye. Except Hermione, which she noted.
"You are expected to know this material thoroughly, beyond the minimum. My expectations are higher than ever, though I expect your performance and proficiency to be more lacking than ever. Now can anyone tell me the effect of ingesting Alihotsy leaves and what the antidote is? Mr. Weasley?"
Ron chewed his lip and shook his head.
"Pity. Mr. Zabini?"
Blaise looked like he had been punched in the face. Snape never called out his own students. He dumbly shook his head.
"As I said, I will have higher expectations for all of you. Anyone?"
Hermione slowly raised her hand.
"Ms. Granger?" he said without looking at her. Hermione almost fell out of her seat. He hadn't called on her voluntarily in years.
"Don't tell me you raised your hand if you didn't intend to answer."
"Yes, sorry sir. Um, Alihotsy leaves cause hysteria when ingested. The best known antidote is the fluid secreted by the Glumbumble, but it has to be administered in carefully proportioned doses because Glumbumble fluid also causes melancholy and too much can cause irreversible depression," she finished.
"Correct." Hermione almost fell out of her chair again. He always corrected something or added something else to what she said, no matter how thorough her answer. The Slytherins looked as bewildered as Hermione.
"Today we will be brewing Befuddlement Draught. What are the main ingredients…Mr. Potter?"
Harry had a rush of gratitude toward Hermione for making them review the lesson material.
"Ah, the main ingredients are scurvy-grass, lovage, and sneezewort. Other ingredients can be added depending on how you wish the potion to affect a person specifically," Harry said, relishing how odd it felt to know the answer. Snape's eyes flashed in annoyance for a second, but he nodded.
"Yes. Would you happen to know what ingredients to add if you wish your target to become too confused to do any upper-level magic? Or to be able to recall names and dates?" Harry's weak smile vanished.
"No, sir."
"Does anyone?" Snape drawled.
Again Hermione's hand shot up automatically. Snape sighed.
"Ms. Granger?" Again, he did not look at her.
"Dried Billywig stings and steamed Mandrake root, respectively."
"Yes. But today we will be making the standard base. You will be graded on quality. You will be working individually, the instructions-" he waved his wand "are on the board. You have until 8:00am to finish brewing and place your attempts on my desk. When you finish, you may begin on your essay describing the potion's main ingredients and their properties, as well as 5 other ingredients and how they would alter the potion's effect. Three scrolls." Everyone internalized a groan as they set out to work.
Hermione was the first to finish at only half-past 7. Her potion was perfect. She bottled it, labeled it, and brought it to his desk. He was reading something very intently. As she was about to return to her seat, he spoke.
"Ms. Granger, please remain after class so that we may discuss our schedule," he said without looking up from whatever he was reading.
Hermione nodded and returned to her desk and began writing her essay. She thought class would be much worse, but staying busy seemed to keep her mind off of things.
She had been having nightmares lately. One of them was watching Severus get stabbed and thrown across the room. But most of them were concerning something else, and would only start out as absolute nightmares. They would start with Lucius beating her and throwing her on the bed, who then turned into Voldemort who kissed her. At that point in her dreams, she would either wake up or Voldemort would then turn into Severus who would then continue to have sex with her. She would always wake up before they finished.
When she would awake from such dreams, she couldn't say she was aroused. Sometimes she was, but she was more confused and angry that she kept having the dreams. If it wasn't for the dreams, Hermione had almost been able to convince herself it never happened. That's what he seemed to want to do. She wondered what had happened. In the Burrow, Severus had seemed concerned and almost friendly.
She finished more than half of the essay before the end of class. When everyone else left, including an eerily out-of-character Malfoy, Harry and Ron hung around but she told them to go ahead. They didn't seem happy about it but decided to stay on Hermione's good side in hopes she would help them with their essay.
When everyone had left, Hermione realized this was the first time they had been alone since she had healed him in Voldemort's compound. She awkwardly approached Severus' desk. He didn't acknowledge her presence for a few moments, but then he sighed and spoke without looking up.
"Dumbledore advised me to ask about your school schedule so we can decide good times to work," he said in a tone that clearly said he resented Dumbledore's interference.
"I'm done with lessons every day by 3. On Tuesday and Thursday I don't begin lessons until 10:00 am," Hermione said as she thought about her schedule. She felt distinctly uncomfortable being alone with him. Was his plan to act as if everything was normal?
"Dumbledore has set us up with quite a bit of work, though the normal work for Madame Pomfrey needs to be done first. Would you be able to handle working every weeknight from after dinner, say from 8 o'clock? I can't say when we would finish each night, but if it runs after 11:00 you will be exempt from the curfew."
"Um, sure. And weekends?" she asked unsurely.
"As needed," Severus said shortly. Hermione was about to ask something when he waved his hand, dismissing her.
"Tonight at 8:00 then, Ms. Granger," he said without ever looking up. Hermione paused and nodded quickly before grabbing her things and leaving.
The rest of the day flew by. Every moment that Hermione wasn't working in class she spent working on homework. She had a good few long breaks between classes which she would usually be grateful for, but now she wished she had more classes to fill in the free time. By the time she met with Harry and Ron for dinner at 7, she was done with all her homework for the next week even though it was only the first day. Luckily, Ron and Harry assumed she was outdoing herself for the upcoming N.E.W.T.'s at the end of the year.
When she left for the dungeons at quarter of 8, her heart began to sink. She entered the classroom at exactly 8:00. Severus looked up as she entered but quickly looked back down as he pointed her to the cauldron across from his desk which had ingredients set up next to it.
"I have some other work to do. Madame Pomfrey needs an entire batch of Blood-Replenishing potion. And Ms. Granger, do try to remember this is not Potions class. You need not impress anyone with your intelligence, only remember this will be used to treat people." With that, he continued reading and making notes on something. Hermione was angered to say the least. He was obviously determined to act like nothing had ever happened, despite the brief change of character she had seen. It was back to Ms. Granger. And he wouldn't look her in the eye.
Hermione swallowed her anger and set out to work. He had left out the ingredient list and instructions (which she didn't need). She quickly did the math to adjust the amount of each ingredient to make the instructed volume and set out to work. She was working in the corner in front of and to the side of his desk, facing diagonally toward the center of the room. From that position she was able to steal quick glances at him which she hoped were unnoticed. She hoped that like in class, keeping busy would keep her mind focused. But she found it was quite different when they were alone.
As she was about to add the crushed snake fangs, she took another quick look at him. He was still reading some article and making notes. He seemed to find something of interest and he licked his lip in concentration. That was all it took.
Hermione stared determinedly into the bubbling cauldron as she felt herself blush. The dream was playing in her mind. First Lucius and Voldemort then Severus; kissing her neck, his teeth grazing her ear, making her stomach clinch in pleasure at the sensation. He had set her skin on fire. He was a real man before her, and he had made her feel like … that…
Hermione was broken from her reverie when the cauldron bubbled over. Some of it splashed onto her arm, burning it.
"MS. GRANGER!" Hermione jumped when Severus yelled and leapt from his desk, vanishing the mess and the charred contents of the cauldron. "What the hell are you doing?"
Though it was far from the best time to say anything, Hermione muttered, "Back to formalities and last names, are we?"
He glared but ignored her. "What, may I ask, distracted you so much that you managed to ruin a potion taught to 1st years?"
"A nightmare I've been having," Hermione said defiantly, though she did begin to feel a bit stupid. And a bit like she was lying. Only a little bit was actually a nightmare. The rest of the dream was confusing and frustrating.
"What nightmare would distract you that much," he said absentmindedly as he looked at the burned cauldron base.
"I think you know what," Hermione said coldly. At that Snape looked like he had been slapped in the face. Hermione was confused but then saw that he had misunderstood her.
"No, not about…us. Though I'm glad to see I'm not crazy and you do remember," she said a bit quieter, "It was about Lucius Malfoy and You-Know-Who." He seemed to forget about the nightmare.
"You think I would simply…forget," he said dumbly, though she could see his anger rising to volatile levels. "Not only do I remember it, but it haunts me. I thought you would best be left alone. So you wouldn't have to relive any nightmares," he said the last word so icily that Hermione almost flinched. "For that very reason I argued with Dumbledore to not make me take you on as my Assistant. It is already very clear to me I was right."
"No, I would say there is not much you are right about here," Hermione said taking a step closer to him. Severus looked somewhat surprised. Not many people dared to argue back when he was angry. "You think I wanted to be left alone? No, being left alone is something you do with Hungarian Horntails or Blast-Ended Skrewts, not with something or someone you simply can't bring yourself to look at!" Hermione practically yelled.
At this, he was simply left wordless. Hermione waited, but he didn't say anything. Hermione made a noise that was something between a growl and a cry of exasperation and walked out of the dungeons.