the_debt_of_time

considered ineptitude to be frustrating—and frustration turned to anger and the loss of
House points when it came to him—Hermione had tried to save them all from the man's
wrath. It had worked only in that his attention had hyper-focused on her, even as he
ignored her waving hand.
"Anyone? Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic
distinction between... ?"
A strange unsettling anger began building inside of her when Professor
Snape dared to mock Professor Lupin's teaching methods. Hermione had developed an
instantaneous respect for the shabby-looking professor, who had saved them all on the
Hogwarts Express from a dementor like some noble hero out of one of Lavender's stupid
romance novels. Professor Lupin was brave and heroic and brilliant and handsome and
how dare Professor Snape mock—Wait... handsome? Where on earth had that come from?
She blushed at her thoughts, unaware that her hand was still in the air. Thankfully,
Professor Snape was now glaring at Parvati who had apparently dared to interrupt him
whilst Hermione was daydreaming.
"We told you. We haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on―"
"Silence!" Professor Snape hissed. "Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third
year class who wouldn't even recognise a werewolf if they saw one. I shall make a point of
informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are.. ."
And there it was again. He insulted Professor Lupin.
For some reason, she could not allow that to continue. "Sir, the werewolf differs
from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf, for instance―"
The professor glared down at her, black eyes narrowed. "That is the second time
you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Five more points from Gryffindor for being
an insufferable know-it-all."
She slowly lowered her hand as shame rolled over her body; her vision blurred as
tears began stinging at the corners of her eyes. She had been called that before, a know-it-
all; it was audibly more pleasant than what Malfoy generally called her, and yet this one
word hurt more. She could not help being a "Mudblood" as Malfoy had labelled her, but
apparently, she should be able to stop the need to prove herself to everyone. Prove that she
was smart. Prove that she had read all the books and practised all the spells. Prove that she