When You Look at Me

Chapter Five

Over the next few months Hermione worked side by side with Minerva. Hermione loved her students. Overtime, she started to develop relationships with them, learning all their names, what they liked, who their friends were. As time went by and Hermione began to grow confidence, Minerva had begun to allow her to teach the lessons on her own. She enjoyed it very much.

Severus occasionally would stand in the back of the classroom, and watch her as she worked with Minerva. He did this to see how she would adjust to teaching, and to give Minerva an outside opinion on Hermione's progress. For a girl of nineteen, he was very impressed with the maturity she had. She received respect even from the seventh years, who were not much older than her. The students gravitated to her; he would over hear some of the students ask for her help with certain subjects in school. His confidence in Hermione's abilities as a teacher grew every time he saw her teach on her own. He enjoyed watching her, and he would come to the classroom just to watch her teach, not just because he wanted to see her progress, but because he wanted to see her. He found her beautiful with her brown eyes, her slender, petite frame, her voice. Her intelligence. She was no longer the young girl that was his student but now she was a beautiful, confident young woman.

One day, Minerva allowed Hermione to teach the sixth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Severus stood in the back of the classroom, watching her teach. As Hermione was teaching the class about Animagus forms, a Hufflepuff student, Timothy Vance, spoke out of line. Before she could even respond, Severus strode across the room and stared down Mr. Vance. "You are out of line, Mr. Vance. You do not use such language in a classroom to disrespect a teacher. Fifty points will be taken from Hufflepuff, and you have earned a month's detention." Said Severus, who was now glaring across the room at all the students. No one will ever dare to speak out of line in Hermione's class again, and he wanted all of the students to know that.

"Yes Professor, but she is not a teacher."

"Another thirty points for talking back to a teacher. And you will apologize for your behavior to Miss Granger."

"Yes Professor."

"Vance... Now." Growled Severus.

"Yes Professor. I'm sorry, Miss Granger. I should not have disrespected you."

"Vance, suspension will be considered for your punishment in the future if such behavior continues." Said Severus, who was still staring down the young Hufflepuff.

"Yes Professor, but."

"It seems that we are out of time. Class is dismissed." Said Severus as Hermione began to shuffle the papers on her desk, preparing for the next class.

Once the students left the classroom, Severus walked over to her.

"Miss Granger, you are aware that if you do not discipline these delinquents they will continue to misbehave." He said.

"Severus, you know I'm still learning!"

"Fine. I am only trying to assist you. With Minerva leaving I need a teacher who can stand up to incorrigible, obnoxious students."

"I will improve, Severus. I promise. But you did not give me a chance to respond."

"Because I will not tolerate you or any other professor to be belittled and disrespected by insufferable students."

"Not all students are insufferable, you called me such, and look how I turned out." She muttered. "By the way, I appreciate you looking out for me. That was very kind of you."

Severus was caught off guard by what she said. He shuddered as she looked at him. It was not every day that anyone appreciated him.

"I only wanted to aid you. Good day, Miss Granger."