Be Careful in the Dark

The next morning she woke up with a dead rat in her mouth and another one trying to claw its way out of her skull. She shifted slightly and the rats began to breed, tiny baby rats jumping on her eye lids and down her spine.

She moaned, a tiny, pathetic, little squeak that echoed around and around in her head. Against all her better judgment she opened her eyes and two icicles rammed themselves into her eyes. The rats chirped smugly. Giving up, she went back to sleep.

Several hours later she attempted consciousness again. It went slightly better. The rats were now mice and they seemed to be keeping their mating urges under control. Her body ached but that was normal after using an enhancement potion. She opened her eyes only had the sensations of pins jabbing her. Huzzah for minor improvement.

She stumbled to the bathroom and flinched at her reflection. Dark circles under eyes and sunken cheeks were not a good look for her. The memories of last night flitted back in pieces. She felt her stomach drop to her feet.

What the hell happened? I nearly killed Pansy. I was enjoying myself! I need answers.

It was Thursday. Thursday she did not have classes and she usually spent it finishing her work. It was as good day to go to the library.

It was mostly deserted; a few second years were studying at a corner. A sharp look from the haggard Hermione silenced their whispering and giggles.

She started researching enhancement potions, jotting down a few notes and titles. She’d been over most of this stuff already. The library had one of the ones that might have the answer for her. She got the call number and jogged to the back of the library. The shelf she was looking for was fairly close to the restricted section and high up as well. She started to climb the ladder, placing her hands and feet cautiously. That potion has packed a bigger wallop than she had expected and her muscles still felt a lot like jelly.

With shaking fingers, she reached out for the book. She overextended, her foot slipped, and with an unladylike shriek and wildly swinging arms, tumbled backwards.

She landed on unexpectedly warm and lumpy surface which proceeded to yell at her. Hermione blinked and rolled to one side. Severus Snape rose to his feet in one smooth motion. Oh my god. I fell on Professor Snape. I fell! ON! Professor SNAPE!

“You idiot girl! Can you not do anything correctly!? Thirty points from Gryffyndor for you clumsiness.” Snape glared down at her, a smug expression on his face.

“Sorry, Professor. Are you injured?” Hermione felt the muscle under her cheek twitch as she tried to restrain the gales of laughter that threatened to escape her. She’d fall on the Great Black Bat himself!

“Why you…” He managed to draw himself in further, glare a little harder, clearly insulted by her question. Then he stopped, and stepped closer. Lean fingers tilted her face towards the light and Hermione did not resist. His eyes narrowed. “You look terrible. What book were you after?”

Hermione sighed. “Built to Last: Potions for the UnderEndowed” She replied. Severus’ face tightened.

“Come with me you stupid girl!”

“Professor…” Hermione began.

Severus just glared at her and stalked away. Hermione trotted after him, dread settling in her belly.

The door to Snape’s classroom banged shut behind her and Hermione jumped before she could stop herself. She managed to contain the nervous squeak though. Now was not the best time to be dealing with an irritated Severus Snape…she was way off her game.

“What have you been doing?” Severus growled at her, his arms folded over his chest.

“I don’t know what you mean sir.” She replied, keeping her eyes just over his shoulder.

“Don’t you lie to me! You’ve been messing around with enhancement potions. Doing a shoddy job of it too by the looks of it.” He sneered, looking over her greasy hair, dark circles, and trembling fingers.

Hermione pressed her lips together and glared at him. Shoddy job indeed! Of course, she had almost burnt out her body and killed Pansy last night soo…maybe...just maybe he had a point.

She looked up, startled. Severus was standing over her, still glaring…she hadn’t heard him move. He grabbed her roughly by the elbow and dragged her across the room. She momentarily debated fighting him off but decided grudging cooperation was her best strategy.

“Look in the mirror.”

“I know what I look like.” Hermione glared at him as she muttered her response. She really did look like hell.

“You could have gotten yourself killed. You could have gotten somebody else killed. You could have melted your brain into a little gooey puddle. You could have put yourself into a coma.” Severus shook her while he spoke.

“I know.”

Severus stopped and looked at her, nostrils flaring in surprise.

“Then…” He trailed off and then tried again. “A witch of your intelligence doesn’t need…” He stopped again, rubbing one hand over his face in frustration. It was not something Hermione had ever seen him do before. It was almost a human expression. “Stop it.” Snape finally said.

“No. I…there are real reasons why I’m doing…whatever it is I’m doing. I would like to avoid melting my brain to a puddle…but it’s a risk I am willing to take.” Hermione took a deep breath and look Snape right in the eye. He stared back, lips pressed together in annoyance.

“I could give you detention. I could take away house points.”

“I know. Though first…you have to catch me.” She flickered a little smile at him.

Snape jerked back, almost as if she had slapped him. He dropped her arm and told her to “stay.” Hermione considered barking her response to him but thought he might actually enjoy it.

Hermione wondered what Snape was going to do. I could go to McGonagall. Plead innocent. That might get me a little breathing room.

Snape reappeared and handed her a small, battered, green book. It had no title. Hermione stared at it blankly.

“If there is so much as a scratch, a hint something was spilled, on this book when you return it, I will take it out of your hide. Don’t get yourself killed.”

Hermione stared at the book. Then she stared at Snape. Then she stared back at the book.

“Are you deaf as well as clumsy?” He barked at her. “Get out!”

Hermione fled, the book pressed to her chest.


A/N I swear there is smut coming. There\'s just a lot of plot rattling around in my brain that I want to get out...