Our Paths Cross Again

Author’s Note: Hermione is going to be a bit dark. This doesn’t follow with OTP or HBP. Sirius Black is alive and in my story Severus is a pure blood. Just so you know.

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything you recognize. So please don’t sue.

Summery: It’s been six years since Hermione left Hogwarts. She’s been doing a secret mission for the Order. Suddenly she and Severus are thrown together. Will they be able to work together or will they end up killing each other? R/R

Our Paths Cross Again

Chapter 5

For two weeks Hermione worked on the potion. Severus tried to avoid her as much as possible. The revelation that Hermione wasn’t the sheltered little girl he had always thought left him with feelings he didn’t want or need.

Severus had just returned to his chambers after his rounds when he heard a loud curse coming from the labs. He walked in and found Hermione holding her right hand. On the floor was a broken vial and a little bit of her blood.

“You should have Poppy look at that.” Severus said.

“No, it’s not bad. I’ll take care of it.” Hermione replied.

She walked over to the sink and began washing the wound. Severus walked over beside her and took her hand in his. He grabbed a clean cloth and wrapped it around her hand.

“Thanks.” she said.

“What were you trying to do?" he asked.

“I reached up to grab that vial and I lost my grip on it and it fell to the floor. I was trying to clean it up when a piece of the glass cut me. It’s nothing to worry about.” she answered.

Hermione pulled out her wand and vanished the broke glass into the trash can and walked back to the cabinet. She grabbed a new vial and walked back to the cauldron she had brewing.

“Have you finished the potion already?” Severus questioned.

“No. The potion has to simmer for 48 hours. I’m brewing a dreamless draught.” Hermione answered.

“Why didn’t you come to me?” Severus asked.

“I like brewing my ow potions.” Hermione replied as she filled the vial.

Hermione sat the vial down and using her wand cleaned up the lab. She grabbed the vial and started to leave the lab, but Severus blocked her way. She stared up into his dark eyes.

“Having problems sleeping?” he asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.” she answered.

“Trying to forget what Lucius, Avery and LeStrange did to you a few years ago?” he questioned.

Hermione glared up at him.

“How did you know about that?’ she hissed.

“Lucius was bragging about it to me. Why didn’t you tell anyone Miss Granger? Are you really that stupid?” he demanded.

In a flash her fist connected with his jaw. Severus staggered to the side and stared at the young witch. He then stormed over to her, grabbed her shoulders and slammed her into the wall. Hermione let out a grunt of pain as her left shoulder hit the wall, but never took her eyes off the wizard in front of her.

“That is the second time you hit me you little bitch. Normally I don’t hit women, but since you seems so bound and determined to hit like a man, I just might make an exception.” he hissed.

“You don’t fucking scare me Snape. Nothing you do to me can be worse than what I’ve already gone through at the hands of your so called Brothers. If you were to kill me I would embrace it. I don’t fear anything or anyone. Least of all you.” she spit out.

Severus and Hermione stood there glaring at one another. Neither giving an inch. Severus slammed her into the wall one last time before storming out of the lab. Hermione gingerly massaged her left shoulder before leaving and returning to her own rooms. She stripped off her clothes and entered her bathroom. She quickly filled the tub and slid in, hissing as the hot water touched the scar across her back.

‘That fucking bastard. He thinks I scare easy, well he’s wrong.’ she thought angrily.

She laid in the tub. For over and hour she let the steaming water sooth away the aching of her body. She climbed out of the now cool water, wrapped a large towel around her slender body and stepped out into her bedroom. She quickly donned a pair of black flannel pajamas and sat in her chair in front of the fire.

‘I wish I could get rid of these nightmares. If those six hadn’t shown up, I probably wouldn’t be having them again. I swear when I see Lucius Malfoy again, I’ll have his head.’ she thought.

Ten minutes later found her placing the now empty vial on her nightstand and drifting off to sleep. Next door Severus was pacing his own bed chambers. He couldn’t understand what had happened tonight.

‘Why the fuck did I bring up Lucius? What is wrong with me?’ he thought.

*You’re an idiot. You still keep seeing her as the little school girl she once was.* his mind replied.

Severus let out a heavy sigh as he sat on his bed and ran his hands over his face. With the wave of his hand he extinguished the lights and climbed into bed. His final thoughts were of the brave witch who now slept in the chambers next to his.

It was two days later when shit hit the fan and the two had found a common ground. Hermione was in the Room of Requirement practicing her martial arts. It was after curfew and the students were all in their dorms sleeping. Once more she found herself unable to sleep. She figured a good workout would help.

“What are you doing?” Severus demanded as he walked into the room.

“What does it look like?” Hermione retorted as she continued her assault on the punching bag.

“You should be asleep.” Severus said.

“Who are you my mother?” Hermione asked.

In a flash Severus was in front of her. His eyes held a dangerous gleam to them. Hermione didn’t back down. If he insisted on fighting her, then so be it. She was itching for a fight and who better to take her aggressions out on than the man who had made her life a living hell for seven years.

“If you’re looking for a fight little girl, I’ll accommodate you.” he snarled.

“Bring it one mother fucker.” she hissed.

The fight was on. Hermione was aggressive. She never gave Severus an inch. Severus was immediately on the defensive. He blocked as many of her punches and kicks as he could, but she was just so damned fast. Finally he found an opening. With a swift twist of his hip, he caught her arms and flipped her onto her back.

Hermione let out a cry as she landed on the scar from Lucius. She immediately got back to her feet. This time Severus was the aggressor. Hermione blocked his assaults as best she could while looking for an opening. His fist caught her in the face and split her lip.

“Is that the best you got Granger?” he taunted.

“I’m just getting started.” she said.

Severus soon found himself being tackled by Hermione. She forced him to the mats and began pounding away. Her fist caught his jaw and split his lip as well. He rolled them over and began pounding at her. Finally Hermione raised her knee and caught him in the groin. Severus groaned. A well placed punch threw him off her.

“Ready for round two?” she asked.

Severus slowly got to his feet. They stood staring at one another for a moment. Both had split lips, bloody noses and the forming of black eyes. He rushed her and slammed her hard into the wall. Hermione let out a scream of pain. Severus pinned her to the wall with his body. It wasn’t until he looked into her eyes, that he saw how hurt she was.

Tears glittered in her brown eyes and she had her teeth clenched. Severus stepped back. The second he did, Hermione crumpled to her knees, clutching the area of the scar and gasping slightly.

“Miss Granger? You all right?” he asked.

Hermione finally rested her forehead on the mat. Severus knelt beside her. He never meant to hurt her bad. Just take her down a peg or two.

“Hermione, are you all right?” he asked gently.

It was then he realized she was sobbing. He gently gathered the woman into his arms and carried her to his chambers. Something was wrong and he was determined to find out what it was. One thing was for sure, Lucius Malfoy was a dead man.

T.B.C