Digging for the Truth

With a swish of her wand, a young witch had access to one of the most comprehensive potions storerooms in Britain, if not the world. Her eyes went wide, trying to take it all in. She had been there before, but knowing she actually had time to browse was exciting.

"Hermione Granger, you do NOT have time to browse! People are counting on you." She let out a sigh in response to her own self admonishments.

She continued searching the dusty shelves and bottles for what she needed. The entire plan rested on precisely two dragon scales. If Professor Snape didn't have them, she had no recourse left, she would have to give up. Out of the corner of her eye, a jar which contained a fiery red substance caught her eye. She moved towards it, careful not to knock anything over in the cramped storeroom. She looked closely at the browning label.

"Of course. Never should have doubted he would have it!," she giggled."This is far too easy. I would at least have expected tougher wards after last time."

As she turned to leave the storeroom, she saw it. The door hadn't closed, but there was certainly a large black object housed in the doorframe, preventing her from leaving. Her eyes began to survey the object from the floor up, dreading what she would find as they moved higher. A cold voice saved her the trouble of the discovery.

"Far too easy indeed, Miss Granger."

Hers shs shot up to his face, trying to discern from his eyes how long she would have before he hexed her. She slowly moved her arms from her sides to behind her back, trying to cover up which jar she had taken. The young witch didn't remove her eyes from his while she did this, hoping to distract him from noticing.

Never breaking her gaze, he snarled. "If you do not remove those arms from behind your back, I will hex them into tentacles."
She made no move. He reached within his robes and had his wand out and pointed at her in a flash.

Her eyes went wide with fear. She had no doubt he would do it. She was caught. She moved the arms out in front of her resignedly.

"What do we have here?" he spoke silkily as his long fingers reached to take the jar from her small hands. He surveyed the label. When he had finished he deepend his snarl.

"And not the first time you have broken in either! And what, Miss Granger, do you plan to do with the ingredients you have been amassing from my storeroom?" he raised an eyebrow at the poor girl.
"But, sir, I'm not ..." she spoke meekly. She knew the situation was dissolving into something much worse.
"Miss Granger, what are the properties of dragon scales?" he spoke dangerously, letting her know it wouldn't be wise not to answer.
Addressing the floor, she said, "To heat the blood, sir."
"Very good Miss Granger, I'm almost tempted to award points to Gryffindor." he spat back in reply. "Knowing so much about them, you also must know that nearly all the potions they are used in are associated with the Dark Arts."
"No, sir!" she cried. She knew the conclusions he was jumping to and she had to stop him if she had any hope of not being sent to Azkaban tonight. She knew he would have no qualms about sending her there either, she just hoped she would get a chance to speak to someone reasonable before she was shipped off. Dumbledore or McGonagall would understand, she knew they would. Or, at least, they would take pity on her.

Both Severus Snape and Hermione Granger were startled from their reflective moment by thundering footsteps coming from the hall outside the classroom. In one graceful movement, the Potions Master stepped backwards, out of the frame of the door and into the classroom. With a flick of his wand, the door to the storeroom slammed shut and was silenced. The girl's last hope of being saved was dashed as darkness closed in around her.

Harry Potter rushed into the Potions Classroom to find his Professor standing next to his desk, depositing something into a drawer.

Without looking up, the man began harshly, "Your lesson, Mister Potter is not for another hour! Further, it is held in my office. I am at a loss as to why you would show up here, now." a small dark smirk was forming on the Potions Master's lips. Not enough to give away what he had captured in his storeroom, but enough to show Potter he cau caught.
"Uh, sir, I heard about what happened between you and Ron upstairs." said Harry dumbly.
"Of course, Potter, I should have known you would come down here to check on me personally. But, as you mention, I did have a run-in with that blithering friend of yours, Mister Weasley. I am developing a headache as a result. I fear I must cancel our lesson tonight." said the wizard silkily. He knew he had Potter when the boy's eyes went wide.
"Leave. NOW!" he bellowed, making sure the boy wouldn't be able to get iotheother word.

Harry Potter ran out of the classroom towards the Gryffindor common room. He could only hope Hermione was sitting there, defeated, because the alternative was grim.

Sus Sus Snape watched as the boy flew out the door with distain. He quickly warded the door to the classroom, casting another silencing charm. Nothing would interrupt his interrogation again. He twirled and made his way back to the storeroom, with a short stop at his desk to retrieve a jar.