My exams start next week so, I decided instead of giving you a new chapter late. I would give you a new chapter early. So enjoy!

AN: I own nothing

Hermione paced around her room pondering her "conversation" with Snape upon her return from St. Mungo's. Her hair whirled around her as she turned to do another length of the room. She had been happy and had felt like everything was falling into place again following the "Ron Fiasco." Then, he strides in and it all changes again. He had left her completely and utterly confused.

The anger in his eyes had been quite disconcerting; she had never been at the receiving end of such a look from him before. She had always seen him take his anger out on Harry when he was like that. She could now understand why Harry was wary of him when they were students. She had only ever heard about his power and to see the magic pulsing through him as he berated her, was quite a sight to behold.

What she couldn't understand was this apparent danger she was supposed to be in and why wouldn't her tell her? She understood that he was secretive but if it concerns her safety then why wouldn't he disclose what the threat was?

Besides his strange behaviour, Hermione couldn't help but feel drawn to Snape. His protectiveness was quite astounding and she tried to not to focus too hard on the effect his behaviour on her. For a moment, she had felt like throwing herself at him. She shook her head to dispel those thoughts. He was the Headmaster, she couldn't ever consider doing that.

However, as she lay down to sleep, she lost the will to fight and dreams of dark, captivating eyes occupied her fitful sleep.

"Enter."

Hermione entered Snape's office with as much confidence as she could muster. She was quite apprehensive about their meeting today due to his behaviour yesterday and the extent he occupied her dreams during the night. Her cheeks began to grow red at that thought so she quickly took a seat and turned her attention to the reason for their meeting.

"Now, Miss Granger, read over of this contract detailing your duties."

Snape handed her a small stack of papers and Hermione immediately began to read through them happy for the distraction from her thoughts. He had been very thorough with details of her duties and after peppering him with a few questions she happily signed her name on the dotted line.

Professor Snape waved his wand at the papers and they flew into a file on a nearby shelf. He then turned his attention to her. His posture was stiff and he was clearly quite uncomfortable about what he was going to say.

"I feel that I must apologise for my behaviour yesterday."

"It's fine, really. I-"

"I must also request that you stay within Hogwarts' wards for your safety"

"As long as you disclose as to the danger I am faced with."

"I cannot do so."

"Then, I don't see why I must stay within the wards."

"You will stay within the wards, Professor Granger."

Hermione hesitated as he addressed her by her new title and so, Snape continued with his reasoning.

"Whilst you are at Hogwarts, you will be safe, and I will not have your safety compromised."

"Have by safety compromised by what?! If I do no know the threat, how am I to anticipate it on the occasions I do have to venture out of the wards."

"You will stay within in the wards."

She struggled to rein in her anger.

"I will go outside the wards when I want and there is nothing you can do to stop me unless you tell me what is threatening me."

Snape was silent for a moment and then rose from his seat and leaned over his desk. His eyes were the only indication of his anger at her.

"You will stay within these wards, Professor Granger, or you will find yourself no longer a member of staff, am. I. clear?"

"That's fine, I'll get a job somewhere el-"

"After all that has happened, who would hire you besides me?"

Clearly he hadn't meant to say that as he soon began to move around his desk to rectify the situation. It was too late though. The damage was done.

Hermione struggled to rein in the tears. She hadn't expected to be hurt by what he said. She had read it enough times in the press but, for some reason when it came from him, it felt like a hard punch to the gut.

She quickly rose from her seat holding her hand up to prevent him from saying any more.

"I will see you at the Welcoming Feast, Headmaster."

Hermione quickly left the room not seeing the look of despair covering Snape's face.

Her feet crunched on the path around the Black Lake. It was a perfect summers day, which felt surreal to Hermione as she battled with the inner turmoil inside her.

As she came to the far end of the lake she swerved off the path, not paying attention to where she was going. Soon, she felt the whisper of the school's wards pass through her. She stopped short and looked about her. She bit back a laugh, as she saw no movement in the trees.

Could he have been lying to her?

Of course, he would never trick her to keep her in Hogwarts that would be ridiculous. She shook her head in denial and turned to head back into the wards.

As she did, she heard a crack of a twig under someone's foot.

With lightning fast reflexes she turned round and threw up a Protego shield just in time to block a stunner that was heading her way. As she blocked that one, two other stunners came from two shadowy figures standing behind the first attacker. She quickly blocked those and began to counter attack as she moved backwards towards the wards. Her attackers seemed to sense this and began to break into a run towards her.

She cast tripping hexes in their direction, catching one of them who toppled quickly to the ground. As the other two attackers stopped to glance at their fallen comrade, Hermione bolted and didn't stop running until she made it inside her chambers.

It was a long time before her heart stopped racing and her wand was put back into her sleeve.

Let me know what you think!