Chapter Eight

                                    

                                          


                          
Hermione couldn't understand what Professor Snape had seen in her memories to make him so angry. She wracked her brain constantly but came up with nothing every time – it began to frustrate her.  Professor Snape had returned to insulting her during lessons every chance he got
                          
"Miss Granger" he'd called on her one lesson when she was trying to help Neville find the right page in his textbook "could you please enlighten us all as to what answer you will find in Longbottom's book that is not in your own? Or is it that showing off simply doesn't cut it anymore? Seems as though being an insufferable know-it-all no longer satisfies you." Hermione desperately tried not to let his words get to her; to no avail. At the end of that lesson, she exited the classroom, furiously wiping tears away from her face. 
                          
     She wanted to confront her professor, demand to know what he'd seen but, every time she came close enough to him to see his dark, black eyes, her courage failed her. She decided she would wait for the next time he came to the infirmary; let him come to her. Every day after that, whenever she was working a shift in the infirmary, she found herself looking up at every person that walked the door, hoping it was him, it never was.
                          
Severus was sat in his chambers, grading first year assignments, when the mark on his arm started to burn. Now? He was being summoned now, on a school night? He found this incredibly unusual, but wasted no time in fetching his robes and mask and leaving the school grounds. He apparated to Malfoy Manor and was escorted by a house elf to the main dining room where everybody was sat around a long table, with Voldemort sat at the head of it, as soon as Snape took a seat, Voldemort addressed the group
                          
"I'm glad you could all make it here this evening. I have been informed that Bellatrix here has some news she would like to share" he motioned for Bellatrix to continue
                          
"thank you, My Lord. Last week, I visited Knockturn Alley and I paid a visit to Borgin and Burkes; I believe I found something quite interesting there: a Vanishing Cabinet. This cabinet has a twin, one that currently resides inside the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts. I propose that, if Draco could fix that cabinet, we could use the one in Borgin and Burkes as a passageway into the castle" Bellatrix bowed her head to her master as she finished speaking; Voldemort looked absolutely delighted
                          
"excellent work, Bella, truly excellent" she almost purred at her masters praise "the plan will be set in motion" he turned to face Snape "now, Severus, what do you have to report. This was it, the moment Snape had been dreading
                          
"My Lord, I regret to inform you that there has been no order meeting since I was last here. No plans have been made, as of yet" Voldemort clicked his tongue in disapproval 
                          
"I am disappointed in you, Severus, it seems as though you need another lesson in what it means to disappoint me" Voldemort smiled, turning his wand on Snape and yelled "Crucio!". He didn't lift the curse for half an hour, even whilst allowing his followers to physically beat Snape black and blue, before sending him back to Hogwarts.
                          
       He dragged his limp body up to the castle and, despite his ego, decided he had no choice but to go to the hospital wing. As soon as he stepped through the door to the infirmary, he collapsed onto the first bed he saw and Hermione went running over immediately
                          
"Professor!" she exclaimed, reaching his side "where does it hurt, sir?" She asked worried
                          
"my ribs mostly, and I think my leg may be broken" he gasped, struggling for breath. Hermione began to unbutton his shirt but stopped and flinched every time he winced in pain
                          
"erm, sir, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to vanish your clothes" she blushed furiously at the thought "it's hurting you too much for me to remove them by hand" Snape sighed as though he expected this to come