Hermione's eyes widened momentarily and then she had the cheek to huff, folding her arms.
"Let's try this again shall we?" Snape suggested. "What is troubling Potter?"
A pause.
"I don't know, sir," she said softly.
For a moment, Snape said nothing, glancing at the girl – outside of the potions classroom and despite her being one of Harry's best friends, he did not profess to know her well, but all the same, her behaviour seemed out of character.
His eyes went to the desk, where he noted that all of her books were academic in nature – not surprising in itself, but the dark rings under the girl's eyes told him she had likely been studying too hard since the History of Magic mishap.
He exhaled, stealing himself.
"Then again, it might be prudent for us to start by discussing what is troubling you?" he suggested, wondering just when he had started his career as a school guidance counsellor.
Hermione said nothing.
Severus Snape resisted the urge to curse the heavens, wondering how he had come to be dealing with not one, but two children who seemed incapable of talking about how they were feeling.
Time to try a different tack.
"I was not aware that you had remained at Hogwarts for the festive season," he stated. "I believe you did not do so during your first year?"
"No sir."
"Your parents are muggles, are they not? They did not see it fit to return you home for the holidays?" he probed.
"They're… visiting my aunt in the South of France," the girl said, without looking at him. "They won't be back until after the new term starts."
"I see."
Was the girl homesick? Overworked? A combination of the two? Snape wasn't sure, but it was clear he was not going to shed any light on it, or his Potter problem.
He hesitated.
Part of him wanted to throw down the quill, stalk out of the library and leave the precocious little brat to it. He certainly didn't want to become the shoulder to cry on for an overly-emotional pre-teen girl who should be at home with her parents.