Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

"Hermione, Mione wait up?" cried Ron.

"So help me god, if you call me that one more time, I'll hex you into next week!" I screamed.

They knew I hated that nickname. It sounds like hiney. Gurhh!

"What?" I spat.

"Did you do that to Snape?" asked Harry. We were standing in the entrance way to the Great Hall. This wasn't the place to have this discussion, so I grabbed them and led them to a nearby empty classroom.

After warding the door with an imperturbable charm, I turned to the boys.

"Look you three," I said "you where the very ones who said I needed to lighten up. To answer your question Harry, yes I did. But I swear if you ever start questioning me in public again, I'll kill you. I would like to see graduation but if Snape had of heard, I'd be dead." "Ok Hermione. We're sorry. We didn't think." said Draco.

"We better get going if we don't want to be late for class." I said, as I took down the wards that I had placed around the room.

The day passed slowly, but it passed none the less. By the time dinner rolled around, I was so tired. At lunch I had received a letter from father stating that I was to come for the Christmas holidays or he would come and get me himself. I was worried. I didn't want to have to face all the hostility if I went home.

I followed the boys into the Great Hall. From the moment I sat down I could fell someone's eyes on me. I looked around a few times but wasn't quick enough to catch whoever it was.

For most of the meal I pushed the food around my plate. I kept thinking about what Severus had said. Maybe I should talk to him tonight in detention. And then maybe not.

Colin had distributed the pictures of Snape in his pink and yellow robes. Apparently he had avoided capture by hiding in the Room of Requirement which had turned into a passage way to Gryffindor Tower.

I gave up on trying to eat and headed to my rooms to get changed. I had a quick shower and pulled out my favorite pair of black jeans that hugged my curves in all the right places and a white t shirt that had 'Between two evils, I always pick the one I've never tried' written on it in blood red.

That done I slipped on my trainers and headed to detention. I passed Draco on the way out. He had his head buried in the latest Playwitch magazine.

Boys!

I still hadn't decided if I was going to say anything to Severus yet. I really don't like people knowing what happened. I just don't want to see the pitying looks that people shoot at you when something like this happens.

I knocked and entered. Severus was standing at cauldron adding some lacewings, while stirring. "Hand me the chopped belladonna, Hermione." He said.

I did so. Four more stirs and the potion was finished. I helped him distribute the potion into vials and label them. I turn towards him, just realizing that he didn't have his robes or waistcoat on. His shirt sleeves where rolled up and his hair was tied back. From where I stood I could see the faint silver outline of the dark mark on his left forearm. My stomach was doing flips as I watched his toned body move around the room.

'Is it just me or is it hot in here', I thought to myself. "Well Hermione. Poppy needs some burn salve!" he said. I turned and began the potion.

Severus eyes where scorching my body. I looked up and watched as his eyes read the writing on my shirt. His gaze met mine and his lips twitched up into a half smile.

I nodded and turned my concentration back onto the potion I was supposed to be brewing. At a quarter to 9 I was finished. Severus helped me clear up.

The silence was unbearable, so I said the first thing that popped into my head. "Sir, why were you following me in diagon Alley?" The minute I said it I wished I could take it back.

His sharp gaze held me, as he walked forward. "Why did you lie to me?" he said. I gasped, turned and began heading for the door when a strong arm grabbed me from behind and held me in place.

"Let go of me." I cried. But he ignored me. His hands now on waist turned me forcefully towards him. "Look at me!" he said. I just struggled more. By now he had me pushed against the wall. He grasped my chin and tilted my head to meet his gaze.

"Legilimens" he whispered. The memories came flooding to the forefront of my mind before I could erect my shields.

It was so fast yet so clear. Dad saying I was useless. Dad hitting me. Mum lying dead in her coffin. Dad saying it was my fault. Him locking me in my room for a week with no food or water. Receiving Ron's letter by owl and dad going mental saying that I'm whoring around. Dad hitting me again. Cleaning mum's bloody and battered body. Me looking in the mirror holding a blade to my wrist...At this I wrenched him out of my mind and slammed up the mental walls.

He made to grab me, but I repelled him with wandless magic and ran for the door and all the way to my room.

I warded myself in and collapse on the bed sobbing. He'd opened the floodgates for all the painful memories. One after another they came. Causing my heart to be ripped and shredded into thousands of tiny pieces.

I could hear Snape and Draco trying to get in but it was no use. I lay there I wished for the darkness to engulf me and my sorrow.

I knew I shouldn't have let him get so close. It was a mistake. I'll get him back for this, if it's the last thing I do. As I slipped into an uneasy sleep, I didn't hear my wards fail and Snape enter my room. I was already dreaming of the painful nights of my mother's death and my father's betrayal.

I didn't feel his arms around me or the continued pleas to forgive him. I still didn't notice as he gathered me up and brought me to his chambers and held me all night. I was to far gone to hear his sorrow filled words and actions. All I knew was the blackness of sleep and the pain of remembering the past.

Please review. And thanks again to Vswimming 12. xxx