A/N: I don't own anything you recognize.

This is for the Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenges forum

Are you crazy enough to do it Challenge

471. (song title) Wasting All These Tears on You – Cassadee Pope

If You Dare Challenge

998. A Patient Man

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Insane Prompt Challenge

471: Setting: The DADA classroom

word count: 483

Hermione sniffled, wiping her eyes quickly on her sleeve. Professor Snape pretended not to notice. He stood in the front of the classroom, his classroom now. Potter and Weasley were ignoring the know it all girl. He wondered, not for the first time, why she was even friends with them. Neither seemed to have much in common.

"Now, who can explain to me why anti-jinxes are inappropriately named?" he asked watching the class. A few hands went up, amazing Miss Granger's hand was not among them. She, however, seemed to be watching him, an unusual expression on her face. He frowned. Since when had the girl not known the answer to a question, any question? The class continued this way, everyone but Granger knowing the answer his questions.

"Dimissed, Miss Granger, please stay here for a moment. Potter, Weasley, you may both go," he added before either boy tried to stay behind. Neither even seemed to notice Granger shove a wadded up tissue in her pocket or her red rimmed eyes. Professor Snape waited until the classroom was empty.

"Explain yourself, Miss Granger."

"I'm sorry, sir?"

"Your lack of participation in today's lesson."

"Oh." He looked at her, at her eyes, the tear tracks still decorating her cheeks.

"Normally I do not bother myself with the drama of my students, but care to explain why you feel the need to cry through my class, Miss Granger?"

"Ron and I had a fight, sir. I'm tired of wasting time on him, tired of him putting me down. We broke up, sir." He watched her wondering what to do with this bit of information.

"You'd do well to not waste tears on him, Miss Granger. He is an insult to you intelligence." She nodded slowly looking up at him. Not for the first time, he couldn't help but notice the gold sparks in her caramel eyes.

"Is there someone you know that would be complementary to my intelligence, sir?" she asked slowly. He could see her seriously considering the idea of being with someone who would understand her when she spoke of things other than Quiddich. She was so brilliant, he could only think of one name off the top of his head.

"Mr. Malfoy is an intelligent wizard." She seemed to consider this information for a moment.

"And yourself?" she asked meeting his eyes. He blinked a few times.

"I am your professor, Miss Granger. You are also underage."

"Actually, sir, because of the time turner during my third year, and being born in September...I'm of age, barely," she whispered. He stared at her for a moment before nodding.

"I believe we do have much to discuss, Miss Granger. Meet me tonight, my office?"

"Yes sir," she agreed. Professor Snape watched her leave wondering just how to handle this, he was not a patient man and she...he had a feeling she wasn't either.