The Tigress Lily

Hermione was leaning against her favorite tree right outside the greenhouses. She was early for der detention; neither Draco nor Professor Snape had shown up yet. With Professor Snape, on time was late and early was on time, so she had made an effort to be there early. She wondered now if perhaps it had been in vain. Her watch showed five till the hour and she was still standing here alone. She finally saw a figure moving across the lawn in her direction. The man moved gracefully, with a kind of grace she had only seen from one other, Professor Snape. As he came closer she realized that it was the professor, only she hadn’t recognized bec because he was not wearing his teaching robes.

As Severus approached he noticed the girl watching him. He found that her attention made him uneasy. She had never looked at him like that before. He found himself jealous of the obvious ease with which she rested against the tree. There was no falseness in Hermione; she didn’t feel a need to hide within herself. As he moved closer he saw recognition dawn on her face. She immediately straightened up and her chin climbed a notch. So, he had been wrong, Hermione did feel a need to defend herself against those she felt threatened by. Her posture was not really defiant, just defensive. ‘She’s defending herself against you. She defends against your insults and your indifference.’ Severus realized that the voice in his head spoke the truth, as usual.

“Miss Granger.” He kept his voice smooth and even. It was neither threatening nor welcoming.

“Good Evening, Professor Snape.” Her eyes did not meet his, but looked somewhere over his shoulder. Her tone was the perfectly practiced ‘student’ voice.

“Draco has not chosen to join I see.” To this Hermione shook her head and so he continued, “ No matter, I will see to him later. Shall we begin?”

“Begin? What is it that we are doing tonight Professor?”

“Come and you shall see.” Hermione had to hold back a sigh of relief. She knew better than to question Professor Snape. Questions usually ended with the professor berating her. Tonight, however, he seemed in a more open mood. Not that he was by any means cheerful, but he had not bitten her head off when she had so stupidly questioned him.
She snuck a glance at the professor’s face. He seemed to understand her relief. Then Severus did something that shocked Hermione beyond all reckoning. His eyebrow arched and his face seemed to transform as he gave her a hint of a smile. It was not anything one would have even noticed had they not spent the last seven years watching that face move between a k exk expression and a sneer. To Hermione, however, it was extraordinary.

The moment was over before it even truly began and with a final quirk of the brow, Professor Snape made a sweeping motion with his arm, indicating Green House Six, and with that he started across the lawn, Hermione struggling to keep up with his long strides.