Christmas Blues
Hermione’s life was uneventful up to and throughout Christmas. Apart from Christmas dinner, where she was surrounded by teachers and students alike, she had not seen her dad once. Worse yet, Draco Malfoy had stayed at school for Christmas too. Despite having almost no one to tell, he still managed to spread rumours to everyone present, including the ghosts, of what he had seen. Ron was furious that Malfoy would stoop to such a despicable lie. Harry, on the other hand, seemed a little more worried.
Late on the night after Christmas dinner, Hermione was sitting in the common room, flipping through the potions book her dad had got her for Christmas. It was full of all sorts of interesting old potions they weren’t taught in class, like a potion which would stop the drinker from getting tongue tied during long speeches. Severus had sent it to her via owl, just to be safe, and it had arrived early that morning, so as to not rouse suspicion as an unaddressed present.
“What are you doing?” Harry asked.
Hermione hadn’t even seen him come in. “Just reading.”
“Potions homework?” Harry sat down next to her, looking at the page.
“Er, no, I found this book in the library it’s pretty interesting. It has common potions fifty years ago which are no longer used much.”
“History and potions, right up your alley.” Harry paused, turning a little red. “I wanted to talk to you, or mention rather...” He scratched his head.
“What is it?”
“I know Ron and I aren’t always the best at listening, and I suppose you’d probably want to talk to Ginny or something, not us, and maybe not Ron, I guess. He can be a little hot headed,”
“Spit it out.” Hermione was frowning, guessing at the subject.
“If there’s anything you need to deal with, or you want me to deal with him or something... if someone’s been doing things, you can always tell me and I’ll take care of it. Okay?”
“There’s one thing you can take care of. That bloody prat Malfoy spreading filthy lies about me and making people like you believe him.”
“I don’t believe him! I’d never believe that you would start something like that with a teacher, but if Snape has been harassing you, or...”
Hermione cut him off with a glare. “I assure you, the only one harassing me is Draco Malfoy. I’d be glad if you dealt with him, but I don’t know where you’re getting all of this other stuff. Professor Snape is exactly that – a professor. I don’t think he takes interest in women his own age, never mind students, and to suggest such a thing with no proof...”
Harry threw his hand up in objection, then pulled it back quickly.
“If you are quite done,” Hermione said, “I’ll be going to bed.” She took her book before Harry could answer and left for the girl’s dormitory.
Harry went up to bed as well. He knew what he had seen on Halloween night, Snape had leaned down and kissed Hermione, now Draco’s story that he had done it again. Yet it was possible Hermione really didn’t know. She was already asleep at Halloween. Besides, Hermione could be downright stubborn when she didn’t want to acknowledge something. Between Hermione refusing to admit to herself that a grown man could be interested in her, and Malfoy more than likely over-exaggerating what he had seen, Hermione could really be oblivious to Snape’s motives. He would just have to be extra watchful over her when the man was around.
Thankfully, when the student body came back to school, they all sided with Harry that Draco was either exaggerating, or outright lying. The shame and fear for Hermione only lasted a week or two until everyone gave up. Professor Snape was still as mean to Hermione, if not more, and there was no new suspicion that the two had met alone again.