Author's Note: Chapter 5 is already written; it just has to be edited. And Chapter 6 is simmering in my mind. Thanks to my friend for being my muse this weekend!

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Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series; it is the property of J.K. Rowling.

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Hermione woke early the next morning, confused over where she was. But then the events of the past two days came rushing back to her and tears began to prick at her eyes. She blinked them away quickly, remembering her plan to go to the library. She quickly made her bed and changed unto jeans and a sweater. She slipped quietly out of Snape's quarters—he was nowhere to be seen—and walked to the library.

As she inhaled the familiar scent of musty paper, she felt her heart lighten a bit. Books had been her friends for almost as long as she could remember. And she knew that if there was a way to prevent Snape from becoming her permanent guardian, the answer would be here. Hermione headed over to the Muggle Studies section. She set her bag down on one of the tables and started looking for any muggle law books she could find. She selected a few and sat down at the table to take notes. Hours later, the growling in her stomach distracted her. She looked at her watch; it was already twelve-fifteen. She shoved her spiral notebook into her bag and started back toward the dungeons.

Snape woke shortly after Hermione. After showering and dressing, he went into the kitchen to make breakfast. He saw the girl's bedroom door was shut; she was probably still sleeping.

After eating breakfast, Snape went into his private lab to begin brewing some Pain Relief potions for the Infirmary. After a moment, he also started some Draught of Peace and Dreamless Sleep potions. He didn't think the girl had woken during the night, but she undoubtedly would soon. And if he had something to give her, his sleep would be infinitely better when her sleepless nights started. At twelve o'clock, Snape turned his burners off and allowed his potions to cool. He wandered into the living room and noticed that Hermione's bedroom door was still shut and her light was still out. Snape rolled his eyes. The girl must still be sleeping, he thought, annoyed.

Snape strode over to the door and rapped on it sharply. "Miss Granger," he called. There was no answer. "Miss Granger, it's time to get up!" Still no answer. Snape huffed for a moment before rapping again. "Miss Granger!" he called again, his tone sterner, "It is time to wake up!" Still no sound came from the bedroom.

Snape could feel his anger creeping up him. Do I have to shake her awake, he thought, irritated. He banged on the door again. "Miss Granger! You need to wake up!" When no answer came, he yelled, "Miss Granger, I'm coming in!"

Snape opened the door to a perfectly made bed, but Hermione was nowhere to be seen. Snape felt a ripple of fear run through him, which quickly turned into waves of anger. How dare she leave without telling me where she was going, he thought angrily. She'd best have left a note! He went into the kitchen to double check; there was no note. His anger grew as he realized that he needed to go look for her. As if I didn't have other things to do with my time, he thought, storming out of his quarters.

Snape decided he would check the library first; it seemed the most likely place that she would go. As he neared the stairs, he saw the girl walking nonchalantly down them, her bookbag swinging from her shoulder. How dare she be so calm when I hadn't known where she was, he thought, a slight feeling of relief briefly passing through him before his anger returned. He folded his arms across his chest and drew himself up to his full height, trying to make himself seem as foreboding as possible.

Hermione saw Snape standing at the bottom of the stairs as she walked down; anger radiated off him. She swallowed hard.

"Professor?" she squeaked nervously.

"Miss Granger," he practically snarled. "Would you care to explain where you've been?"

"At the library," she replied, trying to keep her voice even. "I thought I was allowed to be there."

"Is there anything you might've forgotten?"

Hermione started rifling through her bag; her notebook and pen were both there. "I don't think so, sir."

"I do not mean in your bag, Miss Granger!" he snapped.

Hermione looked at him quizzically. "I'm not sure what you mean, sir."

"Did it not occur to you to leave a note?" His tone grew more and more dangerous as he asked the question.

Hermione's eyes widened. "No, sir. I was staying inside the castle."

"Miss Granger, this is a large and magical castle. I need to know where you are at all times, whether inside or outside."

"But I've read Hogwarts, A History. More than once. I know my way around!"

"There are places in this castle that haven't been explored or discovered yet. Those aren't in the book!"

"Then what's the difference? If I left a note and still got stuck in one of those places, how would you know where I was?"

Snape felt his anger bubble over. "It doesn't matter. If you go somewhere, you are to leave a note. Am I understood?"

"Yes," she spat.

Snape leaned over so he was looking Hermione squarely in the eye. His voice dropped an octave and became terrifyingly soft. "Yes what?"

"Yes, sir. I will leave a note before I leave next time," she parroted obediently.

"Very well. You are confined to my quarters for the next two days." Snape turned around, considering the matter finished, and started to walk toward his quarters.

Hermione felt her anger begin to simmer. Pink spots appeared on her cheeks. "But that's not fair! I didn't know that you wanted me to leave you a note!"

Snape turned around quickly. "Miss Granger, you are almost thirteen years old," he said icily. "I find it difficult to believe that no one ever told you to leave a note before you leave to go somewhere."

Hermione remained silent for a moment, hating that he was right. Her anger boiled over. "What do you care?" she shouted furiously, balling her hands into fists at her sides as her cheeks went from pink to red.

Snape spun around again, and looked her directly in the eye. "Because you are my responsibility. And you will not raise your voice to me." He paused for a moment. "You are confined to my quarters for the next three days..."

"Three! You said two!"

"That was before you shouted at me. Would you like to go for four?"

Hermione shook her head. Snape raised an eyebrow. "No, sir," she mumbled, realizing she had lost.

"As I was saying, you are confined to my quarters for the next three days. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Snape turned around again. "Come. It's time for lunch."

Hermione stood there for a moment, wondering if she should run. But where would I go, she thought glumly, following Snape back to his quarters to begin her sentence.