Chapter 1: As it Were

Disclaimer- I unfortunately do not own Severus Snape or any of the other Harry Potter characters, but I will borrow them for the amusement of myself and those of you who wish it to be so.

A/N: Hello. This is Lanie, also known as Sayrika. I know that some of you reading my story hated my lack of updating. It is true. I have not updated in… over two years. I am so very sorry. And Prue', I am so very grateful, thank you.

There have been adjustments to this story, mostly minor, but I deem them necessary to make the story more believable. More importantly they support the plot-line, and are based on input from readers. Actually, I have a question before it is on to the story. I want Draco to be gay, not a jerk, for my own reasons… So he needs a partner, I was wondering who it should be? Vote in reviews or message me please.

And as always:

"talking"

'thinking'

As It Were

The girl sat up groggily, in her bed, her eyes still sealed shut from crying herself to sleep the night before. Between that and her hair, which looked like a carnivorous beast prepared to eat some poor unsuspecting victim, she looked absolutely nothing like a darling Gryffindor princess.

The summer holidays had not been kind to Hermione Granger. Her parents had been in an accident, one that killed her father and hospitalized her now comatose mother. After that her father's sister Louise had come up to watch over her. Louise was being extra careful with Hermione, as if she were a steadily shattering porcelain doll.

"'Mione, sweetie, you need get up and ready so we can get you to Kings Cross Station. We only have an hour before we need to leave so that you can catch your school train ." Louise Granger called up the stairs.

Still groggy from the night before, Hermione begrudgingly pulled herself out of bed. Coming face to face with her mirror she winced at her reflection, barely recognizing herself. She mechanically went through her morning rituals, refusing to think as she showered, dressed, combed her hair, and applied make-up to hide the dark circles under her eyes. She found it funny that she was finally using the "beauty products" from Christmases past, and it was to make herself look 'normal', if you could call it that.

As Louise Granger came to the stairs thirty-five minutes later to call again, her voice was unnecessary. Hermione already stood before her on the stairs.

"Good morning Aunt Louise, I'm sorry that I kept you waiting. Shall we head out?" she asked smiling and startling her Aunt.

"Well o-of course dear." She stuttered, following her niece to the car. The breakfast she had earlier prepared for the two of them was left forgotten on the kitchen table as they walked out.

Thirty minutes later the car was parked and the two stood in front of platforms nine and ten. Nodding slowly at her niece, Louise wrung her hands nervously. Wanting to hug her, Louise reached out to Hermione but stopped halfway through deciding to pat her shoulder instead.

"Have a good time sweetie." She murmured breaking the uncomfortable silence. Looking around anxiously she continued, "Will you be coming home for the Christmas holidays 'Mione?"

"I'm not quite sure yet Aunt Louise, it's barely even September." Hermione chided, "But I'll make sure to let you know when I've decided." She assured.

Sighing, the fretful woman nodded at her niece. "Do have fun with the other girls at school dear." she paused. "Well hurry along then, we don't want you to miss your' train Hun." She concluded before she turned, walking away as her niece made her promise to do. There were some things that she would never understand about her niece.

As soon as she saw her Aunt turn around Hermione took her cart holding Crookshank's basket and her trunk before taking a deep breath as she crossed through the portal to the platform.

Stepping onto platform nine and three-quarters she looked around at all of the children excited to return to Hogwarts, and she missed being one of them. Of course she was relieved to be free of the house full of memories with her parents, but she just couldn't get excited for school. It shocked even her that she, "Brains of the Golden Trio" and "Bookworm of Hogwarts," wasn't excited to return to school. Dismayed at the realization she resigned herself to at least be happy that she was able to flee the place that was swarming her with dreaded memories.

Defeated, she surrendered herself to the fact that she must return, and with that she climbed on to the train and proceeded to find an empty compartment. After struggling to place her trunk on the rack Hermione flopped backwards onto the seat with a large book in hand. After all, what else would you expect? She was still Hermione Granger. Flipping open the old tome she reconciled herself to reading until the boys arrived; for she knew, undoubtedly, that they would. And she was right.

"Hey, Hermione." Ron greeted upon entering the compartment. "Do you know how bloody hard it was to find you in here? Why'd you leave the Burrow early anyway?" the red-head questioned putting his and Harry's trunks up on the rack. He leaned towards her and whispered, "And before Harry's trial, that's bloody bad form."

Looking up from her book she answered, "Aunt Louise came up to visit and I hadn't seen her in a while." without a hitch, before returning to gazing at her book. Instead of reading she was plagued with memories of her mom, dad, and Aunt Louise together laughing and talking nonchalantly with no idea what lay waiting for them. And watching it, how she wished she could warn them.

Slapping her book shut she stood and went to her trunk muttering about going to change she grabbed her robes and left the compartment. A few feet down the hall she paused, looked at the floor ahead of her, and then moved on. Making her way through the hall she dodged students going in and out of their respective compartments. Slipping past the trolley Hermione slid silently into the girls' restroom; maybe too silently.

Entering the room she found a crying Pansy Parkinson at the sink. Her curiosity was peaked, so instead of avoiding the girl she addressed her. As kindly as the Gryffindor could she asked the girl across from her, "Excuse me, but what's wrong?"

Pansy turned to face the other girl too fast and slipped on water that she had splashed on the floor. Softly, the girl squealed as she fell towards the ground.

Seeing the Slytherin's tear streaked face reminded her of how she felt over the summer hols and how she still did. So Hermione reached out, catching the falling girl before she had the chance to hit the ground. Helping her to her feet she began to apologize, "I'm sorry for startling you, but you should be more careful. You could have gotten hurt."

Pansy proceeded to look at Hermione as if she had sprouted a second head that included more bushy and man-eating hair than the first one. Looking the Gryffindor up and down she incredulously asked, "What was that for?"

Assuming that Parkinson thought, and was therefore implying, that she had startled the girl on purpose Hermione began one of her long-winded explanations, "I honestly didn't mean to surprise you. Really I didn't! But I came in to change and you were here, and I shouldn't have bothered you but you had been crying and were obviously really upset. Well… really, you were crying… Still, I mean that I, well naturally wanted to help. But then you…"

Surely she would have continued but Pansy interrupted, "Granger. Stop. I meant, Gryffindor pride aside… Why did you help me?" It came out soft and was really a slight whisper, but the other girl heard it anyway.

Twiddling her fingers Hermione thought for a moment before resigning herself to a brief answer of, "I honestly don't know completely, but I couldn't just let you fall…" then softer, "And you reminded me of myself. I would have wanted to be caught." She just looked down to the floor in front of her. 'I still dream of being caught.'

"Oh…" was the only reaction she received. Even though she admitted that she didn't know something, or at least that she wasn't sure of it. Not to mention the reference of Her being anything like the Gryffindor princess, it both shocked and pleased Parkinson. Though, part of the Slytherin in her was uncomfortable with the notion.

"Would you like to tell me what happened?" Hermione asked, still ever curious as to why the Slytherin had been crying, all alone, in the bathroom. 'Don't Slytherins travel in packs?'

Glaring at her Pansy hissed "What's the point? No, let me guess... You would just love to hold it over my head and laugh about it right? You'd love how it could never happen to you in your perfect little life Granger."

'In a perfect life dad would still be alive, mom would be conscious and out of the hospital, and Aunt Louise wouldn't be afraid to touch me, hug me, or be so worried that she's going break me.' her mind whispered. She couldn't believe that Parkinson was able to think that. "My life is not perfect and I just thought you might feel better if you talked to someone, but maybe I was wrong." She growled defensively, and with that Hermione turned on her heel and stepped into a stall to change.

As she was slipping on her uniform the Gryffindor heard, "D-draco Malfoy dumped me because…um…he… Well, Draco, he's a...a poof..." She said it in such a hushed and crest-fallen voice, with no malice detectable, she sounded miserable.

"Oh, I'm s-sorry. Do you want to talk about it?" she asked not knowing what else to do. Honestly she didn't even know what to do if the other girl accepted her offer. 'I've never even had a boyfriend, so how can I help a girl who believes she turned hers into a poof?' she chided to herself after seeing Parkinson nod, her last thought on the matter was 'This sure will be interesting.'

Twenty minutes later found the two girls walking back towards the compartments, both having dawned their school robes. They had agreed that Pansy would be more relaxed if she didn't have to see Draco so close, so soon after his confession. Reaching the compartment shared by the members of the Golden Trio, both girls entered and seated themselves next to each other across from the boys.

When the door had opened Ronald grumbled something akin to "Well it Bloody well took her long enough." to Harry through his mouth full of food. Then looking up from his box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans Ron greeted Hermione and proceeded to return to eating. That was when he did a double-take at the sight of the Slytherin in their compartment. "Bloody hell 'Mione! What is that?" Ron blubbered, aghast.

Glancing up from his Chocolate Frogs, Harry paused with whatever it is that he was about to say at the sight of the two girls.

Closing her book Hermione looked at them in a questioning way without losing her seriousness. Without even opening her mouth she seemed to be asking, 'Whatever do you mean?'

"What's Malfoy's lapdog doing here? I mean really, that's His evil concubine!" the Weasley boy demanded, food still in his mouth.

Sternly looking at the boy the Gryffindor girl chided "This is Pansy Parkinson, and she is not Malfoy's lapdog as you so crudely put it. She never was, she was never his concubine either. What she had been was his girlfriend, but now she's not that either." At this she patted the other girl's hand in reassurance. "Now she is my friend; and if you don't like that, so be it."

Mumbling down towards the food in his lap Ronald Weasley missed Hermione motioning to Pansy and the two leaving the compartment. They only walked a short way because a bit farther down the train the girls found a nearly empty compartment and sat down for a conversation on Transfiguration and Charms before they were noticed by their other companion. Said Ravenclaw female smiled at them, tilted her head, and dreamily asked "Quibler?"

A/N: The first chapter Re-re-typed and with all it's changes, the second is on the way. And I apologize to any of you who didn't like the, it will get better, I promise.

Now then I would like to ask all of you to please review or message me what Hogwarts boy you want Draco to end up with. Your input is appreciated!

Thanks for reading, and see you next time! (This time it will be soon.)