Professor

{13}

{13~Hope}

Hermione was pacing her office, behind her desk as her heels dug into the carpet below her. Her dress robes followed behind her as she swung around to walk the few steps the opposing way like she'd done previously. It was maddening, her arms crossed over her chest, one moving out of the position to hold her chin. The witch was trying to think, but damned be the thoughts as a dark and mysterious wizard sat in the chair that was opposite her.

"Bruises? The boy was covering bruises with a Glamour?"

Severus nodded.

"Why hasn't he come to anyone?! He might need help!"

"He could have been roughing around with a friend, Hermione, but I am as concerned as you are, if not more. They were faded and scars traced them. I sent him a private letter."

"What did it say?" Hermione demanded with her voice quivering slightly. She hated seeing a student hurt, especially ones that she had... which was all of them.

"It said that if he feels he needs to see me or Madame Pomfrey of anything, our offices were always open. I also mentioned help would always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

Hermione smiled, a regretful type where her heart hurt and felt warm at the same time.

"That was kind."

"I don't want to make him uncomfortable, but I also do not wish to let him continue to get hurt."

Nodding, the brunette witch understood what her wizard was saying. The boy would be hostile and in much denial if they approached him directly and took over the situation. It could make things worse.

"He's almost of legal wizarding age now, so I decided against contacting his parents. He's only got a single year left here."

Hermione stopped in her tracks suddenly, rendering back to what an Ellie Grinnendale had told her on the first day she'd had the sixth-years. Felix Haar's parents were both muggles, so he was a muggle-born child. Magic didn't run in his family, he had a nasty demeanor and tried his very hardest not to be recognized as brilliant. He was a Slytherin, a name that was easily seen as despicable by muggles when they heard it. It wasn't prejudice by wizards or witches, no, this was a prejudice from his own family.

"That was extremely intelligent of you, Severus," Hermione commented hollowly. She could feel her face fall with grief, the concerned look on her suitor's face enough to prove the paleness that came to her own. "His parents are the ones abusing him."

"That's preposterous," the Headmaster demanded, looking at Hermione as though she were insane, "He never speaks of home."

"Think, you brilliant prat!" Hermione exclaimed frustratedly, "He never gets in enough trouble to get letters sent home, he's bright, but refuses to acknowledge it, he teases others. The poor thing is a victim,... although his attitude still needs to be straightened out," she added.

The man had his eyes closed, a heavy breath emitting from the line lines that had become his lips. He looked crushed, frustrated that there was nothing he could do to help the boy but what he'd done. It wasn't his place, not yet anyways.

"I'll send him another letter, telling him that if he needs either one of us, he can owl us. He may be hostile in your class for the next while, Hermione."

"I understand... this isn't the easiest situation... although, it's quite easier than what I have been through before." The witch scoffed. "I was almost killed by a giant snake that also happened to be a horcrux, and this is what stresses me out more," she exclaimed frustratedly.