Let Me In

Chapter Nine

Hermione was getting dressed in her chambers the next morning feeling rather optimistic about the day ahead. She had seen a slight change in Professor Snape's attitude last night that she couldn't help but be thrilled about. She all but skipped out of her dorm and down to the Great Hall. She was surprised to see Harry there already, helping himself to some scrambled eggs, but she sat down next to him, pouring herself a glass of orange juice

"morning 'Mione" he said, before taking a sip of his tea

"hey Harry, no Ron?"

"No. He's off somewhere with Lavender, honestly, it's like they're glued together" Hermione giggled at the look of disgust on his face

"you're just jealous because you wish you had that with Ginny. Don't try to deny it, I've seen the way you've been watching her and Dean" Harry blushed but didn't try to argue. After a few more mouthfuls of eggs, Harry said

"the three of us really don't spend enough time together anymore" Hermione sighed

"I know, Harry, I really do miss spending time with you both, but, working in the Hospital wing, I have absolutely no free time"

"yeah, I know what you mean, ever since I've started these lessons with Dumbledore and trying to get this memory from Slughorn, I feel like I haven't had time to sit down"

"wait, what?"

"oh, I forgot you didn't know! I've been going to Dumbledore's office of an evening and he's been showing me old memories of Voldemort when he was younger and of his parents. Then he showed me a memory of Slughorn when he was Voldemort's teacher. He was in Slughorn's office and he asked him about something called a Horcrux, the memory kind of went hazy then and Slughorn started shouting about how he didn't know what it was but Dumbledore thinks that Slughorn tampered with that memory because he's ashamed of the original one" Hermione couldn't believe she had been so busy lately that she didn't even know about something this important

"how have you been trying to get this memory from him?"

"I've been trying to get closer to him these last few weeks. Talking to him after class and joining his Slug Club. It doesn't seem to be working though, I guess I just don't have that much luck" Hermione thought about this for a second before an idea struck her

"Harry, that's it, luck! Didn't you win a phial of Felix Felicis from Slughorn at the beginning of the year?"

"Hermione you're brilliant!" He grinned at her and they stood from the table heading to their first lesson: Defence.

Walking into her defence classroom, Hermione's wave of optimism returned at the thought of seeing her Professor. She had decided this morning that she would continue with Project Panther, only this time she was going to change her course of action. She was going to follow her headmaster's orders and try to befriend Professor Snape.

Snape swept into the classroom then, silencing everyone. He took his usual stance at the front of the room, emitting his signature glare, causing everyone to squirm in their seats

"take out your textbooks. You will read pages 37-45, making notes as you go along. Once you have you finished this you will review the notes you have made and summarise everything you have learned into paragraphs. There is no need for you to speak. Begin" Snape walked around his desk and sat down, wincing as he did. Hermione flinched slightly in response. She knew his pain was due to the bruising on his ribs. Snape must have noticed her flinching because he raised his eyebrow at her, daring her to comment. She quickly averted her eyes, reading her textbook – even though she knew it word for word. She didn't look at him again for the remainder of the lesson.