AN: Hi! It's me again. Again, gotta apologize for all the mistakes. I literally marathoned this fic the last few days. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews, follows, and the impossible amount of views I've been receiving. I'm still looking for a beta reader for minor plotting help. The HP universe is so complex, it's so impossible to get every detail correct. I love you all. Oh also, fair warning, expect M rated stuff very soon.
AN2: So Chapter 1-3 have finally been revised! Thank my beta for going back with me and making this possible. She's amazeee.
It got darker faster than expected, leaving all the students wandering the path to Hogsmeade in almost pitch black, all relying on the dim light emanating from the tips of their wands.
The narrow stone pathway was covered in snow, only clear enough in some places just to know the general direction it was heading in. It made her uneasy, the pathway was so much different looking at night and there was no teach to accompany them in the case that anything were to happen to them. All of the students had gone down this path enough times to know where they were going, but Hermione still couldn't help the anxiety building in her gut.
Ron, who always seemed to have something on his mind, went on and on with Harry talking about the last Quidditch match she missed. They walked several steps ahead, easily maneuvering the thick snow Hermione found more difficult to maneuver. Their breath was visible in the air, the light mist contrasting with their dark surroundings. Ron abruptly stopped in his tracks, causing Hermione to roughly collide into his back. "You've been so quiet this whole time. It's so odd. Usually you're so eager to argue with me."
Hermione scowled and pushed his shoulder. "I'm sorry if I'm the only one slightly concerned for our well-being. What if something happens to us? What if we get caught? Doesn't that concern either of you?"
"There's the Hermione we know and love! Just calm down and try to have fun for once," Ron retorted. Harry stood off to the side laughing meekly behind his palm. Hermione growled, which came out more like a high-pitched whine, and turned away. She felt the wind pick up behind her, and adjusted her scarf around her neck.
It wasn't long before the village came into view and the old stone trail turned into a more modern cement path. Celebratory whoops of their peers filled the air. Hermione turned to Ron. "Where exactly are we supposed to meet Henry's cousin's brother, or whoever it was we came here for?" She sounded more annoyed than she intended but she figured he would say something irritating sooner or later, as he always did time and time again.
"Um, over this way! Follow those two. They seem like that know where they're going," Ron said, as if she should have known.
And there it was. She was annoyed. Hermione would never understand how they could just go places without knowing where to go or what to do. She pursed her lips to keep from saying something she might regret. The point of this trip was to get her mind off things and she was set on not letting Ron ruin it for her. Instead, she quickly jogged forward, scoping out the area ahead and following close behind the two leading.
The stopped at a small amphitheater someone on the outskirts of the village, furthest from Hogwarts. They found a spot near the trees and took a seat, waiting for the show to begin. Ron's arm shot out, pointing to a group of three setting up in the corner. Hermione made herself comfortable in the snow, using her cloak as a blanket to sit on. "There he is! That's Henry and his brothers. I hear he's a master of fireworks spells."
"This should be interesting..." Hermione said to herself, not knowing what to expect.
She tried to keep her mind off it but her thoughts kept turning back to Snape. Things had been so odd between them lately. She wanted to talk to someone about it but she knew the boys would be no help. They would probably make things worse and try to accuse him of something. Ah, she thought, her guts twisting up inside. That's right. He was in a very very bad position because of her. If anyone ever found about it…
Then she knew that no matter what she must never let anyone find out. It was her fault after all. If she hadn't been so careless in the first place, none of this would have happened. She didn't understand why the thought made her gut wrench so much.
BOOM!
Her head shot up, adrenaline pulsing through her body.
"It's starting!" Ron roared, pulling Harry to his feet. He pointed to the sky. "Isn't that just wicked?"
She had seen fireworks shows before in the Muggle world but those were absolutely nothing compared to the this. It amazed her. She'd never seen so many firework explosions in the sky at the same time before.
"Oh, we are definitely going to get caught." Harry said, laughing and covering his head with his palms.
The bright colors reflected off the snow, illuminating the area around them. Hermione looked around in awe, forgetting to taking a breath. The sight was unreal, like something straight out of a storybook. "It's beautiful."
She picked up a handful of snow in a childish display of innocence expecting it to be the same bright red color it was laying on the floor. She held it at a different angle till the snow caught the light. Satisfied, she smiled and threw the snow back to the ground. As she turned to catch the expressions on Ron and Harry's faces she caught sight of a dark figure out of the corner of her eye. Her stomach dropped. A short distance away, Professor Snape stood outside a shop, staring in her direction. Looking as if he just snapped out of a trance, his eyes met hers.
Hermione tugged on the corner of Ron's sweater. "Ron," she mumbled finding trouble getting the words out.
A voice shrieked from behind her, "Professor Snape!" In a flash the peaceful scene turned to chaos, with every student dashing in every direction trying to get away. A pair of arms, either Ron of Harry's, took hold of her and threw her behind a shrub. The boys knelt next to her, peeking out over the hedge. Hermione craned her neck, trying to get a good view of what was going on through the bush, but because of the awkward, cramped position she was cramped in she couldn't see much.
A pair of legs ran by, presumably another professor, because Hermione heard him cursing as he chased after a pair of students. Snape stood in the distance, his position remained unchanged. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew he could see them; he was looking directly at her where she crouched behind the bush. He pursed his lips into a thin line, making a sour expression before turning and walking away. Ron, who had been sure they were going to get caught, let out a sigh of relief before being shushed. Hermione was relieved they hadn't been caught, but she couldn't help but wonder. What was Snape doing in Hogsmeade in the first place? When the noise began to die down Harry gently tapped their shoulders and whispered for them to follow his lead.
They followed an alternate way back to the castle, it was a lot longer and through the dreaded Forbidden Forest, but they didn't have any other option. Hermione hated going through the forest, but she was sure Ron hated it more. The walk back was anything but silent, mostly filled with Ron and Harry laughing about their luck. "He was looking right at us! Can you believe that?!" Ron exclaimed, kicking a rock to the side.
"Yeah," Harry replied, his voice more concerned this time. "It's a bit odd though, isn't it? What reason did he have to let us go like that? He absolutely detests us."
"I have no idea but you never know. Did you see the look on his face? He was probably thinking about something else. Maybe he just really likes fireworks."
Hermione snorted loudly, quickly covering her mouth. Harry joined in. "Yes, because that makes complete sense. He hates everything but fireworks. They spark a flame in his void of a heart he's never felt before." They all had a good laugh over that.
Eventually the castle came in view, and no surprise, its exterior was covered with staff, waiting angrily for whoever was dumb enough to show up. Ron bit his nails, crouching behind a tree. "Any good ideas Hermione?"
She shook her head. It was starting to get really cold. She wrapped her arms around herself. The wind was picking up and the tree tops swayed along with it. "We can try finding a way in through the back entrance. I'm sure it's going to be just as guarded but we should at least try."
They silently agreed and began walking the other direction, following the forestline to the back. It wasn't long before they made it to Hagrid's hut. The lights inside the small shack were still on. "Should we?" Hermione whispered.
"I don't think we have much of an option." Harry nodded and they quietly walked over to the shaking, first checking if the coast was clear before entering the clearing. Hermione carefully opened the doorknob, only to be greeted by Professor Snape and Hagrid standing in wait. "I really had no idea they'd be here." Hagrid said defensively.
"I'll take them from here." Snape waved his hand, motioning the trio to follow him out. Hagrid looked confused, probably expecting Snape to cause him more trouble. He shrugged at the three of them, who were just as confused as he was. They stayed silent, all exchanging confused glances. Snape was clearly annoyed, but not angry like he would usually be. His tone was sharp but calm, as if they were nothing more than a slight inconvenience to him. Hermione grit her teeth, her insides more scrambled up then before. More than anything she felt guilty. She was terrified she had ruined the respect he had for her.
"I'm sorry." Hermione said impulsively.
The boys' heads shot back towards her with disgruntled expressions. What are you doing? Ron mouthed angrily.
Snape glanced back, his stress lines softened. He didn't reply, but she understood and felt comforted.
Snape led them to the front entrance. Hermione stayed silent, her heart thumping crazily in her chest. The other staff let them pass without asking any questions, much to their relief. Snape stopped a short ways from the Gryffindor common room..
"Potter, Weasley, back to your common room. Ms. Granger, a moment please. I think we have something to discuss." Hermione nodded and stayed behind. Her friends looked concerned, but did as they were told. Once their footsteps had faded away Snape cleared his throat and spoke.
"Granger... I have been holding my tongue for you... because of recent events. I am very unhappy to see you taking advantage of my... regrettable benevolence."
"I'm sorry, Professor, I wasn't thinking-"
"Obviously."
"Please believe me, I wasn't trying to take advantage of your kindness. I would never."
Snape parted his lips, but hesitated. He rolled his tongue in his cheek before speaking again. "Detention then, Miss Granger. Multiple you cannot be trusted to keep out of trouble, I suppose I shall have to keep an eye on you. You can work on your homework after class while you also grade your peer's work as well." Oddly enough, it didn't feel like much of a punishment.
She nodded, bobbing her head up and down like an over-agreeable toddler. With a sigh, he dismissed her and they left in opposite directions. It wasn't until she got back into the common room that she noticed how exhausted she was. She had been running on adrenaline this whole time, and now that the familiar warm scent of the common room filled her senses she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She crawled into bed, wrapping her arms around her pillow. Even with her eyes shut, and her mind drifting off, a certain dark pair of eyes remained in her thoughts.