𝙻𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 II SS/HG ✔️

Juncture

Hermione went through Saturday on edge, twitching when some laughed too loud, drawing her wand at an innocent Exploding Snap game in the Tower. By dinner, her friends had noticed her tense shoulders and flexing fingers.

"Geeze, Mione, what is wrong with you today?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, you've been acting like a bunch of Death Eaters are gonna burst in here or something," Ron said, pouring gravy over his mash.

"I'm fine," Hermione said. She put her fidgety hands underneath her thighs.

"Is something wrong?" Harry asked.

Hermione shook her head.

Neville and Ron traded concerned looks.

"Hermione, don't hide things from us," Harry murmured.

The girl looked away, to the head table. She saw Professor Snape lean forward, speaking across Professor McGonagall so that Professor Dumbledore would hear him. Dumbledore nodded. Professor McGonagall looked right at Hermione.

Professor Snape looked in her direction before averting his eyes. Professor Dumbledore frowned at her.

Hermione swallowed. Professor McGonagall began a whispered tirade with Professor Snape. Dumbledore stood up and began to walk towards the Gryffindor table. Professor Snape left through the staff exit; McGonagall followed at his heels.

Hermione's heart slammed against her ribs. Ba-bump. BA-Bump. BABUMP. Professor Dumbledore was getting closer. She couldn't stop staring at him.

The headmaster stopped behind Neville, so he could look at Hermione. With his blackened hands behind his back, he said, "Good evening. Could you four please come up to my office once you are done eating?"

Hermione's throat was too dry to make a sound.

Harry said, "Of course, sir. Is something wrong?"

When Dumbledore answered, he looked at Hermione. "No, Harry."

It seemed Hermione's friends noticed the lack of cheer in his voice, since they immediately sobered. The headmaster nodded to Neville and left the Great Hall.

"What do you think he wants?" Ron asked before he wolfed down a buttered roll.

"Maybe he's found another clue for me," Harry said with a shrug, narrowly avoiding mentioning the Horcruxes in front of Ginny and Neville. He munched on some green beans.

Ginny took a sip of her pumpkin juice. "He said nothing was wrong. But he didn't look, I don't know, like his usual self. What do you think, Mione?"

Hermione stared at the salad bowl.

"Aren't you going to eat anything more?" Ron asked, eyeing the chocolate biscuit on her plate.

She shook her head. Ron snatched her dessert.

Hermione looked at each of her friends, wondering how they would react when they found out she would be Hermione Snape by the end of the night.

Harry watched her.

Harry hated Professor Snape. He thought Snape was indirectly responsible for Sirius' death.

Ron asked Neville about last night's Herbology work. Ron thought Snape was the biggest berk in all of England. And Neville—Hermione had consoled a tearful Neville through many a night's Potions homework.

Ginny shoved her plate to the center of the table, done with dinner. She thought Professor Snape should be sacked for the way he treated certain kids during class. The constant beratement of anyone not Slytherin—and showing the Slytherins preference even when it was undeserved.