The following morning Hermione had Defence Against the Dark Arts first thing. Oh just brilliant. She knew that Professor Umbridge already didn't like her as for some reason she didn't like Harry and whenever she had seen Hermione at breakfast or dinner time or even just passing through the castle, she would give her a very stern look that had 'I don't like you' written all over it. When she entered the room with the rest of her classmates, they all looked around in utter disgust. The room looked as if it had been through some sort of heavy trauma, it had been abused by the colour pink and pictures of kittens all over. Everyone had their own separate desk, Hermione didn't mind this but most students complained about it. She sat on the second row from the front with Harry and Ron either side of her. Draco and his friends went to the seats right at the back of the room. "No, no Mr Malfoy you shall not be sitting there" an familiar annoying voice screeched from the back of the room. Umbridge gestured to the seats behind Harry, Hermione and Ron and the three Slytherin boys did as they were told. Hermione looked at Ron who looked awkwardly back at her obviously feeling uncomfortable with them behind him, then looked over at Harry who was staring directly at Malfoy. Harry's temper had been terrible recently and Hermione knew that if Draco tried anything, or maybe even Umbridge for that matter, that he would really snap and lose control. She tried to catch Harry's eye and make some conversation with him about Cho, Harry was still crazy about her but hadn't brought himself to ask her out or anything. As much as it annoyed Hermione when Harry would go on about how amazing Cho was, she much preferred it to her friend getting himself into an unnecessary fight. He had clearly been through some stress this summer and Dumbledore was setting him off on to trips with him which he apparently had sworn to secrecy to not tell Ron or Hermione about.
"So, this lesson we're going to learn about how Muggle-borns are not to be considered equal to us purebloods". Hermione's fist clenched in anger but she just about managed to bottle it. Harry on the other hand had completely blown and had laughed mockingly at Umbridge. Oh Harry... "Something funny Mister Potter?" Umbridge asked sternly, staring down at him. Harry stared right back at her, "No Professor, I just find this particular subject pathetic and a complete waste of time when Voldemort is out there planning to kill us all" he said, his voice shaking in anger. "How dare you use that name! And I will not listen to your lies Potter" She barked at him. "We need to learn to defend ourselves" Harry replied, standing up to face her. Hermione pulled Harry's arm, pulling him to sit back down as Umbridge looked rather taken back by the sudden burst of rage. Finally calming herself a little, this was her first lesson with this class and she wasn't ready to full on blow her temper, she backed off and said calmly "Detention for you Mr Potter, today after your last lesson, you need to be taught to not tell lies about such serious matters". Hermione couldn't hold back speaking "Professor! Harry was just concerned for us all, there's no need for detention, and I don't think Harry would make all of this up would he?" she said, rather shocked at speaking to a teacher like that. It doesn't matter, she shouldn't be a teacher. Even Snape is better than this... shit I'm thinking about him again this needs to stop. "Well you can join 'Harry' in detention then, and we will speak more of this... this...nonsense, then". She had surprisingly remained calm and spoke no more of it as she vanished out of the room. Harry and Hermione exchanged glances and shrugged at one another before joining their classmates in writing what she had written on the blackboard in front of them.
Hermione had just come out of probably the most awkward potions lesson she'd had yet. She had been staring at Snape again, she wasn't sure why, she'd just found his movements amazing and she'd started to think of just how wrong everyone including herself had been about that man. She'd watched him for the entire lesson this time, well until he'd caught her eyes with his own and she'd given him a slight smile. His reaction was rather amusing thinking about it now, he obviously wasn't used to being smiled at. He had tilted his head that slightly that it was barely noticeable but their eyes had been fixed on each other for what seemed like a very long time but realisticly had probably only been a few seconds. It made her duck her head back down at her work in complete embarassment, her face would've probably been the brightest shade of red possible. But she was just glad that he hadn't questionned her or looked particularly angry, she was half expecting him to ask her stay behind, for a change Hermione had been the first one out. She waited outside the classroom for Harry so they could walk to their detention together and she could have a bit of a catch up with him alone. Unfortunately for Hermione, Snape had come out before Harry had, he brushed passed her without saying a word and stormed off heading towards the great hall for dinner. Finally Harry emerged he looked rather embarassed, "I've just had the weirdest conversation with Professor Snape" he said, still in shock and confused slightly as they made their way to Umbridge's office. "Oh?" Hermione replied, Please tell me it wasn't about me. "Yeah... he thinks I should start doing this Occlumency thing" Harry said, he obviously hadn't listened to Snape's explanation of what it was. Luckily for him; Hermione had come across it once and knew just about what it was, "Oh, for the nightmares you've been having?" she asked. "Yeah, he thinks that Vol-... you-know-who, can connect with my mind somehow" He replied, still slightly confused. "Well, that would explain the temper on you... Oh don't look at me like that Harry! You've been on edge for ages now even with Ron! All we have to do is tease you slightly and you don't laugh anymore, you just snap and go all miserable. Something's not right Harry and it can't be just stress-" Harry cut her off "Hermione, I'm not going to do it" he shook his head. "You are" he finished, avoiding to look at her. She stopped walking and he halted, looking at her this time, she couldn't think of anything to say. This is not happening... is this the punishment I get for smiling at him? Typical, bloody bastard. I take back regretting everything I've said about him. "Snape thinks that, well with you being really clever and everything that erm... well he could teach it to you and then you can help me..." I wonder if it was Snape that had regarded me as 'really clever'? Obviously he'd said something along them lines... Okay that kind of makes up for it... Hermione rolled her eyes "Oh go on then, it won't be that bad I suppose" she said smiling slightly. "Not that bad?" Harry said laughing. "Professor Snape... extra lessons... not that bad?!" he continued laughing even more. "Anyway, I thought it was a good idea because me and Snape aren't going to work.. but at least he's trying to help... I suppose" this was all obviously a shock to Harry. Hermione laughed "No, you two would kill each other within 20 minutes. But no, Snape isn't too bad Harry. I've started doing this healing thing you see, with Madam Pomfrey, I thought it would come in handy you know, for when the next war begins... well it's already begun but you get what I mean... I can heal you and Ron if we are ever in need of it and can't get to a hospital" she continued "And well... you're never going to believe this, but Snape's a spy for Dumbledore" she finished, watching his reaction then looking around, they were alone. Harry frowned for a minute then nodded slowly, "right" he said. They continued to walk as Hermione explained more to Harry, but not about him being bullied, that really wasn't for anyone else to know about and Hermione was still struggling to come to terms with it all herself.
They arrived outside Umbridges office, and Harry had been the one who plucked up just enough courage to knock at her door. The door opened, and they both entered the room, it was well... just pink and full of pictures of cats. No human portraits just paintings of kittens on different plates, and a lot of pink. Umbridge gestured to two separate desks, and they both sat down without saying a word. "Take the quills I have set out in front of you, and I want you, Potter, to write: 'I must not tell lies' and you Miss Granger to write: 'I am just a mudblood'. Hermione felt rage build up inside her again but she looked at Harry who had turned around in fury about to completely blow out at her, "Harry... it's alright... let's just get this over with" she said, and they both began to write. Hermione felt a strong burn on the back of her hand, once she'd wrote the sentence she looked at her hand which engraved in blood read 'I am just a mudblood' tears filled her eyes and she looked at Harry, the same had happened to him. "Well, you've both learned your lesson for today, off you go" she said sounding rather pleased with herself. Tears filled Hermione's eyes as she raced out of the office, she ran holding her fist making her way to the abandonned girls bathroom that held the opening to the Chamber Of Secrets. She just wanted to be alone and allow the anger inside her to pass over a little. She turned a corner and froze completely - You have got to be kidding me. There stood infront of her was her potions master. There's just no escaping you is there? "Miss Granger, you nearly sent me flying! Now what on earth were you running from? Potter turned into the Incredible Hulk?" he smirked then looked at the rather red hand she was holding with her other hand, he moved one of his towards it "Ah, may I?" he asked. She nodded, moving her free hand away allowing him to see. Tears streamed from her eyes down her face as he scanned her hand. His face was expressionless. He looked at her raising an eyebrow "No questionning who's done this" he muttered. Hermione was unable to speak, and wasn't sure whether she wanted to speak either. "Well running to the bathroom won't help this and how you put up with that annoying ghost in there I'll never know". Realising that his Snape-like humour wasn't cheering her up in any way at all, why he was even trying to do so in the first place he didn't quite understand, but she didn't pick up on the fact that he was trying to make her feel better anyway. Just as well, he thought. "I can give you something for this, Potter will be needing some too I presume?", she nodded "yes sir, thank you". She followed him to the dungeons both of them remaining silent all the way until they got there and Snape found her some cream. "Put some on now and then first thing in the morning, that's all you'll need" he said handing her the cream. "And here's another for Potter" he said giving her another tube of cream. She smiled slightly taking it from him "Thanks again, Professor". He gave her a half-smile and she left the room heading back to the Gryffindor common room.