Chapter 1

"Mione," she heard the voice's call through the crowd, she turned to see her best friends running towards her, she felt the happiness and safely fill into her chest almost overwhelming, she was so excited to see them, but the dread of the horrific effects that had past that summer were haunting her, still she woke up in a cold sweat scared to go back to sleep, never before was she so full of happiness but a sinking feel of sorrow filled her at the same time. She never knew this kind of horror before, these feelings of complete dread that could fill you and weighed you down making you feel like you are unable to move. Everything had been right under her making her feel safe and protected had been ripped out from under her in an instant and she was thrown into the dark, were lost love existed, were only the haunted lay everything was gone. But now as her friends approached her she pushed back the feelings she had and put a smile on her face more for their sake then hers. She would never allow people to see her true feelings it was a weakness she couldn't afford to have now. The last thing she wanted right now was people pitying her.

"Hey guys," she said hugging them all, Ron going beat red from the attention, she put on a smile to make sure that they wouldn't ask questions. She had known for a long time he had a crush on her but she would never be able to return it he was a brother to her and that's all she could ever feel for him.

"You look great," Ginny, said looking her up and down," but you need some new clothes." Yep things were back to normal; Ginny always pestered her about that. Taking a deep breathe she calmed herself she had been so worked up that they would sense something wrong with her and question her, thankfully they had not. She felt at ease now, maybe now going back to school she could put herself into work and friends and try and forget that summer as best as she could.

"I like my clothes thank you very much," she said forcing a chuckling, her and Ginny always got into fights over the way she dressed, and how she acted everything they fought over but wouldn't trade their friendship in over anything. They had always been there for each other, and it was a comforting feeling to know that you have someone there for you no matter what.

"So how was your summer?" the girl asked, Hermione felt gloom consume her. What she should say, she couldn't tell them about what happened or at least not yet. But her quick thinking brain was working as it always did.

"I'll tell you later I got to go to the heads compartment," she said smiling, as they all rolled their eyes and boarded the train. She looked at them as they started talking excitedly, smiling and laughing. She wished she could give it to them the laughter that had consumed their friendship but it was no longer there, the laughter that would once erupt all the time didn't exist. She watched them get on the train and she stood there thinking just thinking but snapping her head up she though she better actually head to the heads department.

Stepping up to get on she was tugged from the entrance and pushed hard against the train, pain shot through her arm, and she felt her back crack. Pain shot through her head as is racked the side of the train. Looking at the arm that held her she really didn't need this today of all days. It had been hard enough for her just to get out of bed let alone deal with some asshole. His grip was so strong it hurt so much.

"Ah if it isn't Ms. Granger," she heard the drawl, she looked up into the deathly dad silvery orbs, and the long blond hair that was his trademark, she felt fear creep into her, and her throat start to close in. The slim ball was no other than Lucius Malfoy the death eater bastard. She couldn't really call him a bastard since both her parents were married when he got conceived and when he was born an asshole suited him much better.

"You have definitely grown up haven't you," he said standing to close to her for her comfort, the deathly grip on her arm kept her from moving when she truly wished to kick him and run as fast as she could, he stroked her cheek and felt her stiffen. He dropped his hand to touch her stomach, her stomach felt like it was going to heave breakfast right at him. She was so utterly disgusted, she did not have any practice with boys but she knew when she was totally uncomfortable and right now she had never been more uncomfortable in her whole life.

"I must get on the train," she said but he gripped her arm even harder making her wince. Why would he try something so stupid as to grab her in public like this she just hoped and prayed that someone would come along and save her? But as if her prayer had been answered an angel had been delivered to her, well if you could call him an angel.

"You will get on when I tell you to get on," he said possessively, his eyes roamed over her making a shiver run up her spine. She had had a nice long shower this morning but already she was feeling dirty.

"Ms. Granger," they heard the deep voice as she turned to look at the man she didn't recognize at all. He was utterly gorgeous a mouthwatering knee buckling gorgeous. She Hermione Granger was dumb struck as she looked at him standing there his black robes all around him, making him look dashing and dangerous and yet as she looked closer familiar in a way as if she had seen those eyes many times before. No boy ever made her swoon like this ever not even a little and with one look she couldn't think one coherent thought.

"Ah Severus," Lucius said letting go of her arm; she instinctively made her hand go up to massage the throbbing pain, there would be a definite bruise there and probably on her back as well. She looked up at the man yet again and she saw it she knew who it was and shock filled her. She recognized him what features she could distinguish.

He stood tall at around 6"4, he was wearing his usual teaching robes, and the same sneer that she always saw plastered to his face, but some how it didn't look as threatening as it use to, it was some how more gentle and forgiving a boyish grin. His hair was long still but looked nicer delicate around his face. In addition, she knew that beneath those robes would be a rock hard body. Oh god it was Snape that old greasy potions professor, and he was doing something weird to her insides that was unsettling, and unnerving. It felt like she couldn't get a descent breathe and she forgot about the fact that Malfoy was standing a foot away, her head was fuzzy. Shaking her head a little she shook of the fuzziness and mentally slapped herself as she remembered that she was not a bimbo and she thought clearly at all times.

"Lucius can you excuse or head girl she has important matters to discuss with me," he said to the man, his voice becoming rough, it was still the same old voice but it was more powerful, more seductive. Lucius bowed and turned and disappeared with a whisper of his cloak, but not before turning one last time to glance at her. She released the breath she had been holding and then looked at him, she felt her breathe hitch again at the sight of him.

"Ms. Granger, I believe you should get aboard before you faint," he said smirking; she obliged him as she tried stepping on the train and slipped. He grabbed her firmly at the hips and picked her up then setting her down. She turned to look at him shocked god she was making a fool of herself. He had been so quick to grab her it was quite amazing, and breathtaking.

"How you … look………younger," she stammered not able to understand. She was stammering she never stammered and now he the mean professor that for years had made her life hell in class and out was the cause of it.

"Yes a present from our headmaster for my loyalty and may I ask why you were not at any of the meetings this summer," he said glaring down at her as she stood there. Guiltily she looked away and down at her feet, she couldn't lie she was bad at it; whenever she did she went bright red. What do I tell him she repeated in her head then came up with something easy?

"Sorry sir I was detained," she said solemnly, she could feel her cheeks heat a little because it was a half truth. Dumbledore had understood when she had told him she didn't want anyone to know she just wanted it to be her business. One thing she could not take was being pitied, she fought through being alone at their funeral and the lonely nights hugging their picture to her trying to remember, and praying and hating herself for being so weak.

"Well you can explain it all when we have a meeting tonight after the feast," he said, turned, and left her standing there breathless. Seeing him walk away was beautiful, she wondered what exactly he looked like without his black robes. Shaking her head she was thinking badly.

This was most definitely going to be an interesting year, forgetting about her pain in her arm she headed to the heads compartment, but the picture of the new and improved Potions master kept her attention. Pressing a hand to her stomach where it felt like it was tying in knots she tried to sooth it. Oh god was it going to be a weird year.

She opened the door but no one was there the vacant space of were the head boy should have been, she sat down. May be he was just late she thought to herself, yeah that was it. That's just what she needed this year an irresponsible person that she would have to live with and work with. She hated irresponsible people she couldn't stand them but her she was answered when the door swung open and she came face to face with him yet again. Standing quickly to look at him she bowed her head, as she always did.

"Sir," she said bowing her head. She had always thought highly of him he was a person that was not above all irresponsible, he was intelligent and handsome in a way back then but now handsome didn't even describe him.

"Ms. Granger it seems that Dumbledore has chosen not to have a head boy this year he could not decide so I hope you are up to the task," he said scowling, he himself hated this idea. There was too much work for one little girl to deal with. In fact she wasn't really a little girl anymore not like in her first year.

"Yes I believe I can do it sir," she said silently, she couldn't believe it this was the first time in the history of Hogwarts that there weren't a head boy and head girl. What was Dumbledore thinking doing this, how would she be able to stay on her studies patrol, organize events and deal with everything that's happened. God everything was slowly getting worse and worse, this had to be a terribly bad dream that she was in.

"Since McGonagall couldn't be here I was pushed into the position, and by the way your request to become my assistant has been accepted," he said and her head shot up and a smile light her face making his heart skip a beat.

"Thank you so much sir I won't fail you," she said still smiling, maybe everything was looking up after all. He then marched farther in and took a seat. She taking the hint took the seat across from him that she before has occupied. For so long she had wanted to be his assistant but was forced to wait till her last year to apply for the position and now she was so happy the sorry of the summer had been forgotten.

"Is there something else I should know Professor?" she asked he looked at her shocked she was to damn smart for her own good. She was a studier that was evident she read people well and could see through covers. Working for Voldermort and Dumbeldore he had learned to cover everything up but she could tell, she had always been able to tell, and it was annoying that a girl more than half his age could tell well she wasn't half his age now that was for sure. A gift that Dumbeldore talked about fondly, he was always going on and on about how proud he was about her powers and how much stronger she was.

"Yes the ministry is placing officials around Hogwarts with them is Lucius Malfoy I don't have to warn you how much of a dangerous man he is do I?" he said and he watched the lights die out of her eyes and tears threaten to over flow, but before he knew it they were gone and a cold face was lifted up to shield everything. She was different; he could tell something had scared her hard. He never meet a person that had had an encounter with the man and be so close to tears so soon the man was scary but not that scary was he?

"No sir I will watch out," she said remembering her summer, her parents….

He watched her avoid his eyes, she knew he was gifted in ligaments and would use it if he had to, but he could only do it if he had eye contact. He needed to know what had happened what was ailing her. When the train started moving she just sat there, silent, he desperately wanted to know what was going on inside that little head of hers, but he doubted that she would let him in.

"Ms.Granger," he said out of no were and her head shot up, and he found his chance and tried to break threw. She brought up a thick wall but for him it was easy to break threw and everything flashed before him, in a current of emotion.

Memory

She was asleep in her bed when she heard a scream, grabbing her wand she raced out of her room and down the stairs. He watched her, her simple clothing of a shirt barely covered what it should. Her rat nest hair fanned around her.

She walked into the living room to see her parents dead lying on the ground and death eaters above them and the dark lord there. They all turned to look at her and he watched her eyes go fiery with anger.

"Ah if it isn't their blossoming little daughter, boys I much need a wife do you think she'll do," the man said coming towards her but he sensed the aura even in her memories as her strength boiled.

"You will pay for what you've done," she said, the grin fell as he studied her, something changed; her magic level was rising higher and higher.

"Get out know," he said but everyone was standing there watching, as she was consumed with a white light.

There were cracks of apparition and they were gone, the white light died and she slide down against the door frame her whole body changed. The bushy hair she had come down with had changed into curly waves of deep brown and her chocolate eyes were a slight caramel color.

She looked at her parents and cried, large racking sobs that shook her whole body.

"That's enough get out," she said but he persisted, and then saw the episode at the train. One that she wasn't about ready to relive anytime soon.

Memory

"Mione," came the voice of Potter and the two Weasleys as they ran through the crowd towards her.

"Hey guys," she said smiling at them hugging Ronald him going bright red, he chuckled everyone in the whole school knew how much he loved her.

"You look great," Ginny, said looking her up and down," but you need some new clothes."

He saw the fake smile she had pasted on her face and snorted. Anyone could see through that, just to look at her eyes proved her hurt, but her friends were oblivious. He remembered that smile it was tight at the side of her lips he could tell when she was faking a smile. On a rare occasion he remembered being seated in the great hall and a laugh a merry one would fill the room. Glancing at her she would be so happy as if nothing affected her, but now in a matter of minutes her moods changed and fluctuated like crazy.

"I like my clothes thank you very much," she said chuckling, he chuckled, women and their clothes they never stopped. Her clothes could be worked on that was evident since they seemed to big for her.

"So how was your summer," the girl asked. He saw the sadness fill her eyes but was covered up yet again.

"I'll tell you later I got to go to the heads compartment," she said smiling that fake smile he knew all to well. He watched as her friends boarded the train and she was standing there thinking as others boarded as she stepped on. He watched Lucius come up and grab her pushing her against the side of the train. He heard the crack that was her back and watched the pain that shot through her face.

Was he that brave to grab the girl in broad daylight, when there were aurors everywhere?

"Ah if it isn't Ms. Granger," came the drawl, he watched her frighteningly look up at him as if a deer caught in the middle of the street. She looked so helpless as she stood there.

"You have definitely grown up haven't you," he said, he was standing to close for his comfort. He watched the girl flinch from the steel grip that he had on her. He saw the girl's features change from scared to straight pissed off.

"I must get on the train," she said but he gripped her arm even harder making her wince.

"You will get on when I tell you to get on," he said possessively, as he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, but was interrupted. He was glad he chose this time to interrupt for he was scared what he would have told her now.

"Ms. Granger," came his voice he turned to look at himself and was indeed surprised he looked good. But looking at Hermione she looked confused and she didn't look at all like she was breathing.

"Ah Severus," Lucius said letting go of her arm; she instinctively made her hand go up to massage the throbbing pain. He watched her look at him again and her eyes go wide in shock she finally recognized him.

"Lucius can you excuse our head girl she has important matters to discuss with me," he said to the man, his voice becoming ruff. Lucius bowed and turned and disappeared with a whisper of his cloak.

"Ms. Granger, I believe you should get aboard before you faint," he said smirking; she stepped up and slipped. His reaction had been immediate and he had her in his arms his hands around her waist. If you could call it a waist his hands if only a little bigger might of touched as he lifted her up scared she would trip again. She looked ghostly pale and setting her down. She turned around and looked at him abashed as if in deep thought.

"How you … look………younger," she stammered not able to understand, he looked at her features then his. What would she see in him? Everyone would always think of him as the hook-nosed professor well the hook nose was gone because he had gotten it broken when he was 27.

End of Memory

He broke from her and looked at her shocked she stared daggers at him. She got up and walked over to him standing over him. He never knew she could look so powerful there as she stood over him.

She brought her hand back and smacked him hard, the force of the hit knocked his head back, and he turned back towards her the red imprint of her hand showing on his face. He never knew the girl had it in her, to hit someone; she always looked so peaceful well except for the incident with the Malfoy boy when he actually laughed when he found out. It took her long enough. Moreover, he guessed he had it coming he invaded her privacy.

"Don't you ever do that again my business is my business, now get out," she yelled at him he did what he was told, not even glancing back as she slammed the door, locking it. She sat back down scared her feet wouldn't hold her any longer and tried to keep her breathing normal.

Pressing her face down against the seat she started crying. She wanted to forget the memory of that night locking it away never to come up again. But now he had brought I all back out in one instant. What was with him bringing all her emotions to the surface in the past couple minutes she had felt everything from happiness to surprise to damnable sadness.

Severus walked down the hall rubbing his face where she had hit him so hard, she had a good arm that was for sure he was lucky she didn't punch him. Wow, this was going to be an interesting year indeed. But for now he had to go talk to Dumbledore there was never any reports on the murder of the Granger's from the reports that they were given they were alive and kicking and going on their second honeymoon soon. What was going on?

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This is about the third time i have thoroughly gone through this chapter i hope you like it and feel free to review and tell me if you don't like any part of it.

StephanieBlack