Learning to Cope

Chapter 2

Hermione raced down the halls, leaping casually over the shifting staircases. After almost seven years at Hogwarts, she had become an expert on navigating its grounds. Though she did occasionally, still get lost. And at the most unfortunate times.

"Oh Merlin! Please, please tell me I didn't just discover a new wing of Hogwarts!" Hermione moaned as she suddenly fell into a new corridor. "Damn it, damn it!" She checked her watch. It was hopeless. She was already ten minutes late.

She glared at the ceiling, wondering how on earth she was supposed to climb back up. Evidently, she wasn't, because a staircase suddenly caught her eye. She ran towards it.

~~~

Severus Snape smiled grimly as his pocket watch ticked off the seconds. Hermione Granger was now late for his detention. He flicked the gold cover closed and put it back in his pocket. He was looking forward to doubling her detention.

Fifteen minutes passed before Hermione suddenly rushed in. "I'm sorry sir, I got lost-"

"Spare me your excuses," he told her coldly. "Next time I want you on time. And your detention is now doubled."

~~~

Hermione closed the door gently behind her as she resisted the urge to slam it and scream the walls down. How dare that man! She stomped back to the common room, primed for any provocation. She glared murderously at Ron and Harry, both of them engaged in an animated discussion with Lavender and Parvati. They didn't even notice her but continued to giggle among themselves. The thundercloud over her head darkened and she retreated to her room before she started to throw the lightning bolts.

She flopped onto her bed, burying her face in the thick covers. The velvety softness more than made up for the fact that they were, unfortunately, red. She rolled over, staring at the canopied roof. The same sickening shade of red met her eyes. It wasn't fair of her to take her anger out on those around her; she knew that. It was just very, very hard not to. Especially when it beat the only other option: going mad. Or, she tapped her chin thoughtfully, murder. Now there was a thought to savor.

She sat up with a smile. Which immediately turned into a frown as she surveyed her room. With a flick of her wand and a muttered transforming spell, the room's décor turned green and silver. "Finally," she sighed, "anything but red!"

It wasn't as though she had any roommates to consult (one of the perks of being Head Girl) and she was really sick of crimson, scarlet, and every other shade of red. The gold wasn't too bad...but even that wore on the nerves after a while. And, she grinned evilly, Professor Snape would have a fit if he saw (which he never would) her lounging around in his House colors.

~~~

"Did you see that look she gave us?" Ron whispered furtively as soon as Hermione was out of sight. "She looked like she was going to bite our heads off!"

"Oh," Harry said dryly. "So that was the ominous presence I was feeling. No wonder I have goosebumps."

"Poor Hermione," Lavender sighed dramatically. "I know I would die if Professor Snape ever gave me detention."

"Don't worry," Parvati giggled. "He's not likely to bother any of us."

"Speak for yourself," Harry said gloomily.

After a moment, "Why, she is right!" Ron exclaimed. "Think about it...when was the last time Snape yelled at you? Or made some snide comment? In fact, I don't think he's paid you any attention, other than the occasional side long look, for a few weeks!"

"Now that you mention it..." Harry said slowly.

Ron nodded vigorously. "Hermione's his new victim."

"Well, is there anything we can do to help her?"

"Yes. Stay out of her way."

~~~

The morning was bright and shining, full of promise for a beautiful day. It was a pity their first class was Potions. Double Potions. With Slytherin. Hermione sighed, her arms weighed down with books, her heart heavy with dread, and her feet like leaden bricks. She trudged slowly after Ron and Harry, her brow furrowed in a straight line. She could only be glad they were subduing their cheerfulness for her benefit. They glanced anxiously at her until she snapped, "Is there something wrong?"

"Well, the thing is, Hermione, we're worried about you," Harry said sincerely.

"You can stop then. I'm fine." She knew she sounded surly and ungrateful, but she couldn't stop herself. "It's only thirteen days more. I can make it."

"But Hermione-what if it doesn't end?"

"Then there's still only a year left," she said stubbornly. "Once I graduate, you can be sure I won't ever speak a word, voluntarily, to that bat." The insult rolled easily off her tongue, and she spat it like venom.

"Indeed, Miss Granger, you can be sure I'll return the favor." The sudden interruption had them all jumping. "Meanwhile, I believe we still have class?"

They nodded and scurried to their seats while Professor Snape combed through the crowd with a glint in his eye. "You!" he called, pointing at Neville. "And you, Miss Granger," he said turning to her, "are going to be our test subjects today. For love potions." He gave her nasty smile as the Slytherins exchanged amused looks and the Gryffindors pitying ones. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

While the class mixed their own love potions, he supervised Hermione and Neville's brew. "Not so fine," he said to Hermione. "We wouldn't want to have the potency reduced too fast, would we?"

She ground her teeth. "No, of course not."

Neville gave her a sympathetic look. For once, he was not the object of Snape's scrutiny and had been assigned the role of bystander. He stood watching as Hermione mixed the last of the ingredients and then waited for Snape's approval. He took his time, as he sniffed it and examined the color, transparent so that it could be slipped into food and drink. At last, he gave a nod. "It will do."

"Breathe," Hermione told herself. "Breathe." Her hands clenched at her sides. She felt an overwhelming urge to hit something, no, someone. The violent reaction shocked her. She'd never been one to strike out with fists, most of the time she enjoyed crushing them beneath her superior brain and irrefutable logic. In this case, she admitted to herself, she had little chance of winning with either brains or brawn. But that didn't mean she intended to give up.

She forced herself to smile reassuringly at Neville, and watched his concern melt away. She took half the mixture and gave the other half to Neville. "Cheers," she said, and downed the glass.

It had no taste, but she still had the unpleasant sensation of something vile slithering down her throat. From the corner of her eye, she saw that most of the class had stopped their work to watch their reaction. She felt nothing at first, except for a slight queasiness. Then she felt a warm wave of blood wash through her body, all the way from the tips of her toes to her ears. A blush, she was sure, had appeared on her face, along with a goofy smile. She stared dreamily at Neville, noting that he too was having the same reaction. She could sense nothing in the world but him. His thin, pale body suddenly became most attractive to her. And his face. She had never seen one more handsome, so adorable, or so attractive to her. There was one lock of hair that curled over his forehead, she felt compelled to brush it away. She sighed, unaware that they were drifting closer to each other. She wanted to kiss him so badly. They were an inch apart. Their lips almost touched.

"That's enough of a demonstration, Miss Granger, Mr. Longbottom." The sharp voice broke into both of their consciousnesses and they broke apart, both blushing furiously.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean to..." His voice trailed off and he looked at the ground miserably.

"It's all right," she said awkwardly. "It was the potion."

Professor Snape took the opportunity to interrupt. For the first time, Hermione was grateful for it. "Well, as we can see, the potion did work." He smirked. "A little too well."

The Slytherins laughed loudly and to her anger, some of the Gryffindors as well. "Now, clean up. The potions you have made will be stored in the cabinet to the right. Fortunately, the rest of you don't have to test yours."

The bell rung and Hermione hurried to catch up with Harry and Ron. They made appropriate responses with the right amount of anger and indignation and soothed Hermione's bruised pride. "It was so unfair!" she fumed. "No one else had to try theirs! He picked us deliberately! And the worst part; he made out do it in front of the whole class! The Slytherins are going to have a ball game with this; the whole school will know!"

"And he said 'it will do', as if it was anything less than perfect!" Ron agreed.

"And then the things he said..." Harry shook his head. "I would say typical, except they were such low hits. It's not like you could help any of it."

"But he could! He did it on purpose!" Fire burned in her eyes. "Well, let's see how he likes a taste of his own medicine."

"Hermione?" Harry did not like the sound of this. Wasn't Hermione supposed to be the one talking them out of trouble, not in it?

"Come on, guys, we have a job to do!"

~~~