I felt crap. It was gonna be one of those days, I just knew it!
Taking a few deep breaths, I walked into the great hall. It was always the Great Hall that I had difficulty with. I don't know why it was so hard, but it was always hard to do.
As per usual, I gingerly took my seat opposite Harry and beside Ron. Harry and Ron were chatting about Quiddich. Harry seemed in a good mood today, he was chattier than usual.
As usual, I half filled my plate up. Being in a crap mood does affect one's appetite.
"Alright there Hermione?" Ginny asked. I smiled tightly and nodded.
"Sure?" Harry asked. I did the same.
I pushed the food around my plate, sometimes eating, but mostly avoiding it.
"Oh no" Ron groaned.
"What?" I asked.
"Snape's heading this way"
I looked up and he was walking down, and looking straight at me.
"Ms Granger, might I have a word?" He asked.
"She's eating" Ron interrupted.
"It's fine Ron."
I stood up and followed Snape out of the hall.
"You look like you could do with some tea"
"How'd you know?" I joked.
"After dinner? You can tell the dunderheads that I want to go over some of the points on your essay." He told me, giving me my excuse.
"But we didn't have an essay"
"Extra credit" He decided after a while. I nodded and headed back into the hall.
I was given the questioning looks as I sat back down.
"What?" I asked.
"Snape?" Ron quizzed.
"He wants to talk to me about an essay I handed up. He wants to know where I got my information" I lied.
"What essay?" Ginny panicked.
"It was extra credit"
"Why? Why do you do that?" Ron snapped. I jumped and angled myself away from him subconsciously.
"Do what?" I squeaked.
"Make us all look bad by doing more work than you have to!" He shouted. His raised voice was scaring me.
"Ron, you're scaring me" I whispered, gripping the chair.
"Oh? Am I? It's gotta be all about you now, doesn't it?" He boomed. I was jumping at every word he said.
"Ron, calm down!" Ginny chided.
"Why? To protect the little princess here?" He shouted.
He was really scaring me now. I was trying to push the chair back a little to get out and run.
"Ron! You're scaring her! You're scaring all of us!" Harry shouted.
"Oh! Scaring you am I? Can't scare the golden boy and the Princess now! Can we?" He cackled.
I had the chair out enough that when he was swinging his arms around, I could make a dash, and make a dash I did.
"Oh no you don't" He shouted and ran after me.
I kept running, scared he was going to get me. There was one place I knew he couldn't get me if I ran fast enough. I turned down the dark corridor and was pulled into an alcove, and a hand pushed itself firmly against my mouth.
