Snake Charmers

by Hermisia Draco

The trio’s final year. The Dark Lord is vanquished and it seems as though life can go on as usual. Professor Snape is cleared of all charges and is back as the Potions professor. Hermione and Ginny find themselves in situations, which neither could hav

6. Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I own nothing or I wouldn't be teaching at a day care making hardly any money.

A/N: Sorry for the wait for this chapter. The characters were really getting on my nerves and I had a hard time. Also, I apologize now if the characters are OOC but this is my story and I'll do what I want. Just kidding… but I do apologize. It's just the way the characters are speaking to me. I do what the voices in my head tell me to do.

Chapter Five

Why Are Things So Complicated?

"Professor Snape? Hello?" Professor Lily O'Neill carefully pushed open the classroom door and peered into the darkness. She lit her wand tip and walked in, surveying the empty room. She knew his office was here somewhere… if only she could find the door. As she reached what looked like the professor's table, she saw what she had been searching for. She knocked and waited but there was no answer. "I know he's here," she said to herself. "The Headmaster said he would be." She went to knock again when the door suddenly squeaked open. Tentatively, she pushed it open further so she could enter and found him passed out at his desk. She quietly extinguished her wand and silently walked over to him. "Professor?" she whispered. Snape didn't stir. She tapped his shoulder and he sat up… his eyes wide in surprise.

"What in the name of Merlin…," he stammered.

"I'm sorry to wake you but Albus told me you'd be here," she replied shrinking a little at his cold glare.

Snape looked at his clock on the wall. "It's three in the morning, Professor," he stated matter-of-factly. "What do you want?"

Despite the bitterness in his voice, she answered him. "I can't sleep."

"That's obvious or you wouldn't be here waking those of us who can."

O'Neill pushed her hair behind her ears, flustered at his rudeness. She hadn't yet dealt with the wonderful personality of the infamous potions master. "Albus told me that you might have something to help me. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since I've arrived."

"There are potions in the hospital wing," he retorted, angry at being roused from his dreams of a certain brown-haired girl. "Why not go there?"

"I've been there already. Pomfrey said that you were brewing more for her."

Snape sighed, got up, and walked over to a cabinet. He took out a small clear vial and held it out to her. He noticed her hesitancy to take the bottle from him and he sighed as he lowered his arm. "I assure you that I have not poisoned the potion."

Lily looked down at the floor and shifted uncomfortably on her feet. "I know, it's just…"

"What?" he snapped. "That I was a death eater? That my potions were used by the Dark Lord to torture… even kill? That people still view me as an evil person or even a murderer… never to be trusted?" Snape closed the space between them and stared into Lily's amber eyes. He didn't recognize, at first, the look of sheer panic that surfaced… the same look Hermione had, only hours ago, given to him. He also didn't realize how close in color the two eyes were.

Lily blinked… the panic dissolving into anger. "If you gave the wizarding world even half a chance you'd see that you have been forgiven of your past!" Her cheeks flushed red as she clenched and unclenched the fists at her sides.

"The wizarding world," he mocked, "has seen fit to label me untrustworthy. No amount of pardon will change their minds."

"Then why are you here?" she asked, clearing not backing down.

"This is the only place that would have me. Now, you can either take the bottle or not. But it's late and you need to leave."

Lily grabbed the vial from his hand. She turned to him and said, "And clearly losing yourself in a bottle will take away all your problems of the world." With a flick of her hair, Lily stormed out of the room. Snape strode after her to find the hallway deserted. He was about to turn back to his rooms when a flash of black entered his peripheral vision. He turned to see Draco silently slipping from one of the unused potions rooms and head towards Slytherin. He knew he would have to confront the boy about him being out so late but decided to wait for daylight. Turning back into his rooms, he walked briskly over to his office, shut the door, and uttered a spell… warding his office from any more late night visitors. He then finally sank into his chair again. He had had enough of insufferable know-it-alls and so called problem solvers to last him a lifetime. First, Hermione makes him think things no self-respecting older man should and then Professor Lily O'Neill's attempts to change his opinions about the world. He knew he shouldn't care… that he's better off in his lonely state of mind… but their similar eyes kept haunting him. Even as he finally drifted off to sleep again, the student and the professor seemed to melt into one… taunting his last conscious thoughts. It was most definitely going to be a long year.

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Hermione woke the next morning to a terrible burning itch on her palms. She groaned in pain as she kicked off her bed covers and staggered to the bathroom. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she carefully turned on the cold water. A sigh of relief escaped her throat as the water soothed the burning flesh. After a few moments she extracted her hands, shook off the excess water, and wandered back to her beside table to retrieve her wand. She lit some candles in the bathroom and surveyed her hands. She noted that only the top layer of skin had been touched and cursed herself for being stupid enough to touch a scalding hot cauldron. She applied the ointment again, carefully, so as not to cause the pain to flare up again. She remembered the feel of Snape's calloused fingers as he gently applied the ointment the first time. He application was so gentle that it surprised her. As the image of the professor floated to the front of her mind, she felt herself tremble slightly. She found it hard to swallow past the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Have I lost my mind? She thought. He's a slimy git who seems to have it out for anyone who is not in Slytherin… AND he's a professor!

She shut off the water, dropped her head, and sighed loudly. "I can't think like this," she told herself. "These thoughts are not my own. I need to get my head out of the clouds." She looked up and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were blood-shot from wincing in pain and her normally messy hair was even worse from tossing and turning all night. She still had an hour before breakfast, so she started the shower. She peeled out of her shorts and shirt and stepped into the steamy hot water. She let the water flow down her body as she soaped up her hair. She started washing away all her memories of the previous night as she cleansed her body. To Hermione, showering was more than just a means to get clean. No… to her it was almost a cleansing of the soul. Alright… so to cleanse the soul, one must really use salt water but she was so not going to use that on her intimate parts. Hermione finished her shower and got ready for her day.

After dressing and taming her wild hair, somewhat, she descended the stairs to the common room and was about to turn the corner when Ron's voice drifted up to her. "I was up, practically the whole night, waiting to talk to her."

"Ron," came Harry's voice. "You fell asleep. I had to literally shake you to wake you up."

"Well, why didn't she wake me up instead?"

Harry sighed. "Hermione was probably exhausted and didn't notice you on the couch. She did have detention with Snape."

"I know," Ron replied, frustration in his voice. "All I wanna do is talk."

"Give her time. Or at least wait until her detention is over."

"That's not until this weekend! How can I wait that bloody long?"

Hermione had heard enough. She turned around and headed straight back to her room. She didn't feel like having it out with Ron at the moment so she decided to skip breakfast and just wait until her classes started. At least Ron wasn't in any of her morning ones which included Arithmancy and Ancient Runes.

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The rest of the week went by, as some would say, rather routinely. Hermione went to classes (avoiding Ron at all costs) and served her detentions (where Snape only left her written instructions instead of being there in person). That Friday morning, she decided she had enough of hiding in her room and made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She chose a seat far away from everyone and close to the door in case she needed a quick exit. She was halfway through eating when she noticed that McGonagall had stood up and cleared her throat. Announcements this early in the day? Hermione thought to herself.

"Students, may I have your attention please?" the Headmistress asked. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to her since there were hardly any announcements during breakfast. "Since the dark times have ended, the Ministry thought to give something to those students who will be graduating this year. There will be a dance for all seventh years… a masquerade ball, if you will." Many excited whispers came from the older students as the younger ones pouted. "More information will be posted in each house by dinner time tonight. Thank you for your attention and enjoy your day."

Hermione sighed. Usually she would have enjoyed a night of dancing with her friends, forgetting all about the horrible past events, but this year all she wanted to do was concentrate on her studies and graduate. Parties, balls, and even dances seemed trivial to her and besides… she would have no one to go with. She was currently trying to avoid Ron, her ex-boyfriend, and she was certainly not interested in any other boy her age. Shaking her head, she got up, grabbed her bag, and headed off to Potions before Ron could get up from his seat and stop her. Double N.E.W.T potions was usually not her favorite class so early on a Friday but she couldn't wait to get there. After spending that first night of detentions with Snape, helping him brew potions, she couldn't seem to get him off her mind. She only wished that the other detentions would have brought her closer to him… er, well… his brain, at least. You keep telling yourself that, Hermione, she told herself. Then it won't seem so creepy to think about a professor like that. She arrived fifteen minutes early and decided to get some Ancient Runes reading done before class.

As the door to the potions classroom opened, Hermione was rudely pushed aside by Draco Malfoy. She noticed how odd it was that he looked at the floor as he passed by (a habit he had gotten into only this year) and that his long hair was currently hanging… probably to shield his eyes from the rest of the class. Normally, she would have had a witty comment for him but she decided to let it be for now… she didn't feel like dealing with the ferret at this moment. She walked into the room and noticed that the only seat left in the room was the one right next to Malfoy. Sighing heavily and rolling her eyes, she walked over to where the Slytherin sat. "Um… Malfoy… there seems to be no other seats… do you mind…," Hermione stuttered. Why am I stuttering? Its just Malfoy, for Merlin's sake.

Draco looked up and Hermione could see that his eyes were bloodshot. "Whatever," he responded and then looked back down, his hair sliding perfectly back in place to cover his eyes. Hermione sat down, careful not to even brush him by accident. He seemed to be a little more standoffish then usual but she thought it might have to do with his past. She was just about to take out her book when Snape entered the room in a billow of black robes.

He waved his wand and instructions for the day's potion appeared on the blackboard. "Can anyone tell me what the name of this potion is and what it does?" he asked, scanning the room. "Anyone?" he asked as he realized the only hand raised belonged to the Granger girl. She always had her hand raised and he was used to it… only now, he really wanted someone else to answer, as he didn't have the energy to call on her. She was constantly on his mind and he had made it clear to himself, by being absent at her detentions, that he did not want to be near her. Sighing, he called upon her. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

Hermione straightened up in her chair. "Siccus Sursum is Latin for 'sober up.' As the name implies… it is used by those who have consumed too much alcohol."

"Correct. We will be brewing this potion to test your knowledge on difficult brewing. It will take you the whole class time so I suggest you get started."

Hermione turned to Draco and, determined, spoke to him. "I guess we're partners." Draco's only response was a nod so she decided to collect all the ingredients herself. After rummaging through the students' measly stock, she brought them all back to the table. "So, Malfoy, do you want to slice the beetle wings or grind the lily root?" Draco, without talking, grabbed the mortal and pestle and started to grind the root. Sighing, Hermione took up the knife and gently sliced through the beetle wings. After adding the lily root, beetle wings, toadstool slime, and a few other nasty ingredients, Hermione watched as the cauldron contents turned a pale shade of green. It only took the potion an hour to turn that color and she was pleased with the results. Her thoughts of Snape were on the back burner, so to speak, and she had some time to just sit and think of absolutely nothing. Another ten minutes passed and she read the next and final step in the potion. "After stirring counter-clockwise ten strokes, add the cruorem-draco." Hermione looked over at her partner. He hadn't said a word the entire time and she had to break the silence that was killing her. "Um… Malfoy?"

"Hmm," he responded, not looking up from the desk.

Hermione rolled her eyes but found a way to get him to utter more than a noise of a Neanderthal. "We need cruorem-draco… mind giving me a few drops?"

Draco finally looked up and she saw a look of utter confusion in his steel-gray eyes. "Didn't you get all the ingredients before you started the potion, Granger?"

"Malfoy, do you even know what cruorem-draco is?" Malfoy shook his head no. Hermione sighed. "It's Latin for blood of dragon." When he didn't respond to her awful attempt at a joke she continued. "Are you alright? You look like the Hogwarts' Express just ran over you… at least twice."

"Not that it's any of your concern, Granger, but I had a rough night. Now… shouldn't you be adding the last ingredient so we don't have to suffer each other's company any longer?"

"Geez, Malfoy… you don't have to bite my head off. I don't like the situation we're in right now anymore than you do." She added the last ingredient and the potion turned the perfect shade of red, emitting off a strong puff of green smoke. She turned her attention back to Malfoy. "If you could pick your eyes up off the table for the next 10 minutes that it takes for the potion to settle into something workable, I'll clean up. Do you think you can manage that?" Draco merely waved her off and she started cleaning up. When she was finished, she realized that there was 5 minutes left to wait. She turned down the flame and stared at the front of the classroom. She noticed that Snape had started to make his way around the room, uttering things to most of the students… clearly not at all pleased with their results so far. The five minutes passed rather slowly and she started to shift uncomfortably in her chair.

"What is wrong with you, Granger?" Malfoy managed to utter.

"Not that's it's any of your concern," she mocked, "but the company is less than exhilarating."

"The feeling is mutual."

"Then bottle the damn potion and I'll gladly leave your presence, Malfoy," she countered with as much disdain as she could muster.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for your choice of words, Miss Granger," Snape's voice silkily flowed down her spine and she stiffened. "As Head Girl, I had expected better reserve."

Hermione watched as Snape strode into view and walk up to the professor's desk. She shivered inwardly as she saw Malfoy bottle some of the potion out of the corner of her eye. She also noticed how he pocketed a second vial. "Um, Malfoy… what are you doing?" she hissed.

"None of your business you nosy Gryffindor. Now, take this vial up to the professor… I can't stand to be here anymore." Malfoy handed the vial over to Hermione and started packing up his books.

Hermione took the vial and headed up to Professor Snape. She handed him the bottle and he took it… not once glancing up from the papers strewn about his desk. As she was about to turn and head back to her desk, Snape spoke up. "Do not forget about your final detention tonight, Miss Granger."

Hermione froze. It took all her willpower to answer him without having her voice quiver. "Yes, Sir." She quickly returned to her seat, vanished the remainder of the potion, and collected her things. She noticed that Malfoy was not in the room anymore but couldn't remember ever hearing him leave. She swung her bag over her shoulder and left the room. She wasn't watching where she was going when something (or someone) had grabbed her arm and pulled her into one of the many alcoves in the dungeon. "What the…," she began but someone placed a hand over her mouth.

"Shh…," Malfoy's voice cut through the darkness.

Hermione adjusted her eyes and saw Malfoy looking rather disheveled. He removed his hand from her mouth. "Malfoy… what are you doing?" she asked, a little frightened at the crazed look in the Slytherin's eyes.

"Is the potion satisfactory?" he asked.

"Yes. It turned the proper shade and it emitted the smoke it was supposed to… why do you ask?"

Malfoy looked around, obviously checking to see that they were alone. "I'm the reason that Professor Snape made us brew that potion. I needed to know if it was good enough to take right now."

Hermione wanted to admonish him for his idiocy, but the look in his eyes made her feel… what? What did she feel for this boy that taunted her from day one? Did she feel pity? Did she feel sorry for him? Whatever it was, she knew she couldn't be angry at him. She gently touched his hand but quickly dropped hers when she noticed the startled look from him. "Yes, Malfoy, it's safe to take."

"Thanks, Hermione," he said and quickly walked down the corridor towards what she could only guess was Slytherin house.

She shook her head but realized, too late of course, that he had called her by her first name. Malfoy has never done that before, she mused. Either he has changed, or my mind is playing tricks on me. She waited a few seconds before emerging from the alcove. As she made her way to the stairs that would lead her to the rest of the school, another voice sounded from her right.

"Hermione, we really need to talk."

She turned to see Ron standing next to her. He didn't look at her but looked past her, obviously not trusting himself in her presence. She sighed and shifted her weight to one leg. "Ron, I'm tired. I've just been through double potions and I have Ancient Runes in fifteen minutes. Couldn't we wait to have this 'talk' until after my detention tonight?"

"That's what you said a few days ago!" he practically shouted, the dungeon walls echoing his voice.

"I am so not in the mood for this. I really need to get going." Hermione turned to leave but felt his hand grab a hold of her arm. She turned to tell him to bugger off but the words failed to leave her mouth.

"This can't wait, Hermione. We need to talk and I won't accept any excuse."

"Ron, we are no longer dating. You have no right to order me to talk when I am not ready to. You will simply have to wait and that's final. Now, kindly let go of my arm or so help me…"

"What? What are you going to do? Hex me?" Ron's face had started to turn a shade of red to match his hair.

Exasperated, Hermione freed her arm and turned to leave. She felt the warmth of Ron's hand come into contact with her arm again and she turned around quickly, her wand pointed at his throat. "Leave me alone, Ronald Weasley."

Ron backed up, hands in the air in the expression of surrender. She huffed, turned away, and stormed up the stairs. Why did things have to always come down to raising her wand? All she wanted to do was get this day over with, get the detention over with, and finally get back to her normal routine. But what was routine for her? Drowning her nose in a book? Helping her friends with their class work? Gods, if only she could just get her priorities straight. And the last thing she needed was to have an ex-boyfriend demanding things from her. She made her way to Ancient Runes… finally, something to take her mind off of the present situation. At least in here, there were no Malfoys, Weasleys, or Snapes to interrupt her thoughts. She could finally relax and enjoy some peace.

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At exactly eight o'clock, Hermione found herself knocking on the Potions classroom door. No one answered but the door opened. She peeked in and found the room empty except for a parchment sort of floating in the air above the professor's desk. She cautiously walked over to the desk and saw that her name was written in spiky letters on the floating paper. She reached up, grabbed it, and read…

Miss Granger,

You are to reorganize the potion ingredients by their properties

and uses. I should return to the room in about an hour. That should

give you plenty of time to complete this task.

Professor Snape

Hermione put the letter back onto the desk and, with her hands on her hips, looked around the room. Previous classes had literally destroyed this room, leaving bottles and ingredients strewn about on the tables and the shelves. "He gave me an hour to get this done?" she thought aloud to herself. "There is no possible way."

She thought all was at a loss when she felt her wand in her pocket. "You really shouldn't use magic around potion ingredients, but that's only when working with them. Surely, a little magic wouldn't hurt if I were to just get them set up on one table." With a wave of her wand, the bottles slowly flew to one of the long student tables and arranged themselves by color. After that, she put her wand away and started sorting through everything and placing them on the shelves. An hour went by, and she had just stocked the last bottle when the door opened. She looked up and saw the professor standing there, his arms crossed over his chest. Why does he make my stomach flip? She thought to herself. But this time… it's not from fear. These feelings are new to me but they feel good.

She didn't realize that she had been staring until she heard Snape's voice. "Miss Granger, are you going to stand there all night and just stare? I'm shocked that you are speechless but I suppose that will end soon… it usually does."

Hermione mentally shook her head to clear her thoughts and walked over to the professor's desk. "Sorry, Sir. I was just finishing up when you walked in. I hope it is to your standards."

Snape took a quick look around the room. "I suppose it will do for now." He then sat down at his desk and starting looking over some essays.

Tentatively, Hermione sat down opposite him and just watched for a while. She glanced down at a paper and noticed the sixth years essay on love potions. She remembered Ginny complaining about this particular essay and she wanted desperately to ask Snape his thoughts about the potion. "Sir? Why did you give this particular essay to the sixth years?"

Snape sighed, ran a hand down his tired-looking face, and pinched the bridge of his crooked nose. Hermione found herself wanting to run her finger along that nose to feel every sexy curve and bump. She, again, shook her head. "Your detention is over, Miss Granger. You are dismissed."

"But, Sir, I have never heard you speak of love potions in all my years here. Why now?" Hermione winced and mentally smacked herself in the head. Did she just question a professor? What was she thinking?

Snape put down his quill, folded his hands together, and rested his chin on his fingertips. "I suppose I will not be rid of you until you have an answer," he merely stated. It was definitely not a question. Hermione just sat there, her folded hands quietly lying in her lap. "Well, the sixth years were quite determined to question me at every turn about love potions. Actually, they were nauseatingly insistent. So I gave them an essay to write on how love potions can harm one's mind."

"Exactly how are love potion's bad for the mind? Every book I've read says that they can be used to obtain the one you love or to keep the one you already have but none say that they are harmful."

"That's the point, Miss Granger. People use love potions for their own personal gain… never thinking about the feelings of the other person involved. The potion can muddle the mind. They can imprison an unwilling participant, there-by forcing them into a relationship they might not otherwise have entered. This is why I do not teach or condone the use of love potions."

"I see… they are too dangerous."

"My point exactly."

"If this is the case, Sir," Hermione began. "Then why aren't these potions considered illegal? Surely, if in the wrong hands, the potion could be deadly. I mean you also have to factor in jealousy."

"Many potions masters have tried to get the Ministry to listen… to have these potions banned or their use punished to the fullest extent of the law but all pleas have fallen on deaf ears. They say that love potions are harmless and wear off eventually."

"Not the 'Forget-Me-Not' potion. That one lasts until the recipient of that potion or the one supplying it dies."

Snape's eyes widened a little at her. "How do you know of that potion, Miss Granger?" He asked merely out of curiosity and not out of anger.

Hermione fidgeted a little in her seat. "I've read about it, Sir. It was in Procaccini's Practical Potions and Their Uses."

Again, Snape was surprised at her knowledge. "You've read that particular book? And you can understand it?" Hermione just shook her head yes to his question. "That book is for an advanced potions class at the university, Miss Granger. One your age should not have been able to even get through the introduction."

"I may be young, Sir, but I'm no ordinary child. I guess that's why I feel like an outcast at times." Hermione looked down, she couldn't understand why she even told the professor that.

Snape looked up at the clock. They had been discussing potions for the last three hours. "Miss Granger, I'm afraid we must end this night. It is midnight and I'm sure you would like to get back to your room."

"I'm alright," she nearly yelled. In fact, she didn't want this night to end… she was finally talking to someone that she could relate to.

"As stimulating as this conversation is, you have Head Girl duties to attend to tomorrow morning."

Hermione knew he was right. She stood up and stretched. She realized she had been sitting for far too long and her whole body seemed to be tense. Snape looked at her stretch out of the corner of her eye and he gripped the edge of the desk… his knuckles turning white with the effort to not reach out and grab her. Hermione walked to the door and turned to face Snape. "Sir, thank you for a wonderful night." Snape merely waved at her with his hand as she noticed that he had gone back to reading the essays. Hermione rolled her eyes and left the classroom. She was about to head back to Gryffindor when she ran right into Ron. "Ron," she hissed. "What are you doing?"

"We are going to have that talk that you keep running away from." She could see the anger in his eyes even in the darkness.

"Ron, could we please take this back to our common room?" Hermione said, too tired to deal with the situation but knew it was inevitable.

"Why? So you can keep delaying?"

Hermione placed her hands on her hips. "No, Ronald, it's because we are in Slytherin territory."

"Out after curfew, Weasel?" Draco strolled into view, obviously feeling better than he had during potions class.

"I'm here with Hermione, Malfoy," came Ron's response. "I'm in the company of the Head Girl."

"She's got an excuse. You, on the other hand, do not. Twenty points from Gryffindor."

Before Ron could say anything to get more points taken away, Hermione held him back by placing her hand on his arm. "We were just leaving, Malfoy."

"You really need to control your Gryffindors better, Granger." Malfoy turned on his heel and headed back down the hall. Hermione waited until he was gone before turning back to Ron.

"Let's go," she said and started back towards Gryffindor, not even waiting to see if Ron would follow.

Ron ran to catch up with her. "Hermione, wait," he panted, trying to catch his breath.

Hermione turned around. She tried her best to keep her anger in check. She was having a wonderful evening with Snape and didn't want it ruined. "What?" That word came out a little harsher then she had intended. They were quiet as they walked towards the tower, neither wanting to start the conversation that was to eventually happen. After a few minutes, they found themselves outside the portrait to their common room. Hermione took a deep breath and faced her ex-boyfriend. "Maybe we should talk right here."

Ron fidgeted in his spot, looking at the ground like it held all the answers he needed. "What happened to us?" he asked after a few silent seconds.

Hermione sighed. "Ron, it just wasn't meant to be. We are just too different."

"But… I can change. Just tell me what you want." Hermione felt a little bad. How could she tell him how she felt? Why couldn't he just accept the fact that things were not going to change no matter what either of them tried? "Look," he started again, startling her a little. "Go with me to this ball."

"What?" Hermione couldn't believe her ears.

"I'm asking you to the ball. I know you don't have a date and neither do I. Just go with me and maybe we could work some things out."

"Ron… I…," Hermione closed her eyes and willed herself not to freak out. "I… I just can't." She turned away, said the password, and entered. She ran up to her room, not even stopping when she heard Harry call out her name. She didn't stop until she reached her door and snapped it shut, warding it from everyone. She flopped down on her bed and screamed. She screamed knowing no one would hear her since she had placed thick silencing charms all over her room. She screamed until tears fell down her cheeks and her voice grew hoarse. Only then did she stop and bury her face into her pillow.

As she closed her eyes, she was rewarded with a vision of her potions professor. His raven hair fell gracefully into his face and his ebony eyes stared out at her through the strands. She swore she could feel his hands on her face as he leaned in to kiss her. A smile played on her lips as she let her hands slide slowly down her body. She imagined her hands were his as she played with her breasts through the school blouse she wore. Her fingers tweaked her nipples, causing her hips to rise off the bed. She needed more so she moved her one hand down lower. She crept under the school skirt and found that just thinking about Snape made her wet. She rubbed her clit through her knickers and softly moaned. She moved her knickers to the side and found her core. She inserted a finger but it just wasn't enough. Her small fingers were just that… small. She inserted two more and started moving them in and out of her wet pussy. She moaned louder while she moved her hand, her other hand clamped firmly on her breast. As she drew nearer to her climax, she withdrew her fingers and rubbed her clit hard. She fell over the edge into sexual bliss and Hermione screamed out "Severus!" She lay on her bed, trying to catch her breath, when she heard a knock on her door. Eyes wide in shock, she timidly got up off the bed, straightened her clothes, and walked over to her door.

Hermione undid all the wards and opened the door. She was surprised to find Ginny standing on the other side, apparently not able to sleep since it was so late. "Um, are you alright, Ginny?" she asked.

"Hermione, can I talk to you?"

"Of course," the Head Girl replied, moving aside to let her friend enter the room.

A/N: Well, sorry for the cliffhanger. My friend is writing the next part and I needed to end somewhere so she could pick it up. I hope you are enjoying this story, as it's been a pleasure to write with her so far. LOL

A/N: Oh, and if you don't recognize certain parts of this chapter, it's because I've made it up. Like the potion names and stuff. Again, read and review. Thanks.