Disregarding Reality

Around six thirty, Harry and Ron came up to the Hospital Wing to visit Hermione, who had just finished eating and was now putting her textbooks in her bag. She wanted to be ready for Professor Snape when he came to retrieve her.

"So who's your tutor? I'll bet it is Dumbledore," said Ron as he and Harry sat down at the end of Hermione's bed.

"Well, apparently it was at first, but now it's Snape."

"Snape?" shouted Harry.

"Bloody hell!" swore Ron.

"Yeah, I know. I was just as shocked as you guys. Dumbledore said something about how Snape told him he had too much time on his hands."

"But still, Hermione," said Harry, "that greasy haired git must be off his rocker today."

"Just like everyday," mumbled Ron.

"It is strange. Did anything happen in Potions today?"

"We wouldn't know," said Ron.

"He kicked us out as soon as we got there, and he had a few cracks about you before doing so too," said Harry.

"What did he say?"

"The normal stuff really," said Ron, "He said we were only late because we're attention seeking--"

"Not about you Ronald! About me!" interrupted Hermione.

"Oh, well, of course you wouldn't care..." Ron mumbled to himself.

"Well he called you an insufferable know-it-all and said that you would have gladly taught us the lesson since you have nothing better to do. Then I told him he couldn't handle us, and he kicked us out," said Harry.

"Well, that's not surprising. He's always been full of himself," said Hermione. "Oh my, it's almost seven o'clock. You two should leave, Snape will be here any second and I'd prefer if you guys didn't make him angry again, that might mean hell for me."

"Okay, we'll come up tomorrow after breakfast," said Harry as he and Ron rose to their feet and walked out of the Hospital Wing. Hermione heard Ron say, "Harry, you've got to let me finish my breakfast tomorrow before we go anywhere," just as the doors closed behind them. This put a grin on Hermione's face for the first time that day. But the moment was forgotten as the Hospital doors opened with a thud and she was looking at the back of Severus Snape.

"And if you ever say that again I'll turn you both into slugs!" screamed Snape at what appeared to be Harry and Ron. He turned around and looked at Hermione for a minute before saying "Come on, we haven't got all night. Do you have all your books ready?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Good. Now, are you able to walk, or do you need assistance?"

"I think I'm fine on my own."

"Fine. I'll take your bag." Snape went over to the side of the bed and hoisted the bag over his shoulders. "Let's go," he said simply.

Hermione got up, walked a few steps, and fell on the bed next to the one she normally occupied.

"It seems you do need assistance," said Snape as he helped her up and his hands took their place on her shoulder and waist.

When they finally reached their destination, Snape helped Hermione into a chair in front of his desk and disappeared out of sight. When he returned, he said, "We will be going into my private quarters. It's much more comfortable."

"Oh, okay. Where is it?" said Hermione. She was really not in the mood to walk very far.

"Right through here," said Snape as he walked over to the bookcase in the corner. He drew his wand and tapped a few books before stepping back. To Hermione's amazement, the bookcase swung forward to reveal a dark and gloomy sitting room. Snape helped Hermione up, and they walked through the small passageway into the sitting room. Hermione looked around and saw that there were three doorways in the room. Their was a fireplace in front of her with two armchairs and a coffee table close to it. There were three bookcases with a couch next to it on one wall, and a counter and table opposite it. Everything in the room was black or dark green, which gave it a very cold and gloomy feeling.

Hermione realized she was shivering. Snape must have noticed this too, as he said, "I'll light the fire and make some tea. I am assuming you can walk that little ways to the chair, it should be about the same distance as your bed to the bed you fell on."

"I think so," said Hermione as she scolded Snape for the remark about how she fell.

Snape slowly loosened his grip on her. She swayed, but did not fall down. Snape walked off over to the counter with his back to her. Hermione made her way slowly but surely to the armchairs by the fire. Snape came over next to her, and laid two cups of tea on the coffee table. With a flick of his wand, a blazing fire sprung up in the fireplace. He sat down in the armchair next to Hermione and picked up his cup.

"Drink," he said, pointing to the other cup. "It will make you warm."

"Thanks," said Hermione shyly.

When they were both finished their tea, Snape spoke.

"Now, I will be tutoring you, as I'm sure you know, one hour every weekday night, and then a total of three hours on the weekends. When you get out of the Hospital Wing, which I don't see happening in the near future, we will cut these sessions back to just the weeknights. Any questions?"

"Yes. Are you going to be tutoring me every subject?"

"Yes and no. I will be tutoring you the practical subjects in these hour sessions, and I will give you notes and worksheets on the others. Potions, Defense against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Charms are the practical ones, everything else you will get written assignments."

"Okay."

"You will have until the next session to complete the written assignments. I will correct them and record your mark."

"Now," Snape went on, making complete eye contact with Hermione, "since it is already seven thirty, I see no point in starting a practical lesson. I will give you an assignment instead. You are to read pages fifty one to sixty one in your Muggle Studies text book, then answer the questions on page sixty two. Do you understand the instructions?"

"Obviously."

"I will not tolerate attitude either."

"Yes, Professor," said Hermione sarcastically.

"Now, I have other things I wish to discuss with you."

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that you have been in my presence three nights in a row now, and I can't help but notice how your condition seems to be getting poorer. You have lost a considerable amount of weight, and I don't think that you are meaning to."

"What makes you think that? All girls want to lose weight!" Hermione said.

"Miss Granger, you know yourself that you do not need to lose weight!"

"Well, so what? There's nothing wrong with it!"

"It is when you are doing it in a very unhealthy manner! Now, since our very first discussion the night you were admitted to the Hospital Wing, all you have told me is that 'it's' been going on for a while, but now 'it's' gotten worse. So, I'll ask you one more time to tell me what's going on."

As Snape asked this, Hermione broke down into tears. She looked up at him and said, "Why do you care?"

"I..."