Disclaimer: I don't own anything, though I wish I did. The Characters, Location, and everything belong to JK Rowling.
Author's Note: This is not compliant with HBP. I love the book, but it makes Hermione/Snape romances too hard to write, and I don't like challenges that great.
A Lesson on Life and Love
Chapter One
September 1st, 10:45, Hermione Granger enters Kings Cross Railway Station and crosses the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. She was aware of the many eyes watching her. She had changed quiet a bit over the summer.
Hermione now had straight brown hair that came just past her shoulder. Brown eyes peered out of a face that looked as though a professional make up artist had captured her. And lastly was Hermione's change of clothing style. Gone were the childish skirts and shirts. Hermione currently sported tight, faded hip-hugger jeans and a red halter top that clearly stated 'I'm sexy and I know it.'
The war was over and so Hermione was able to relax a little bit. At the end of the sixth year, Harry had defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the wizarding world had been made safe.
Hermione flounced into the compartment where Ron and Harry were sitting and flashed her most innocent smile. "Hello boys. My bags were too heavy and I need one of you to carry it for me."
Ron got up and walked off the train, towards Hermione's parents, to get it for her. 'God' Ron thought 'what spell was she hit with? If I wasn't dating Lavender I would so go for her! Wait, where did that come from?' Ron collected her bags and carried it back to the compartment. Lavender and Ginny were now in there also.
The whole ride to Hogwarts, the friends talked non stop. They talked about what classes they were taking this year, but most importantly, what they wanted to do after they got out of Hogwarts.
The train ride came to a stop all too quickly for the five friends, until they realized that they hadn't even stopped talking to eat their lunches.
They quickly found an empty carriage and crowded in. They had all seen somebody die so they all saw the thestrels. The war had ended, but it had had surprisingly little effect on Harry's attitude. He seemed just as friendly as always. Harry was just glad that Ginny hadn't dumped him, as of yet.
The Gryffindor students took their seats at their house table and impatiently waited for the feast to begin.
The new first year students walked in and stood in front of the Head Table. Everybody was astonished at the dwindling number of new students, but the war had its effects on everything. Professor Dumbledore stood up to start the sorting. "Before we begin the sorting, I have an announcement to make. Directly following the sorting ceremony there will be a surprise for the seventh years. I will leave you with that much information to dwell on until after the sorting. So without further ado, let the sorting begin."
Dumbledore sat down seeming unaware of the hush whisper that passed thru the hall. To the seventh year students, the sorting seemed to take an eternity, each wondering what the Headmaster had in store.
At the end of the sorting, Dumbledore stood and said, "Seventh years, I am sure you all are wondering what lies in store for you this next year. Well this year will be unlike any that you have ever experienced, or any other seventh year before you has, for that matter. We have on staff a new professor this year. Her name is Professor Selene Julian and I am pleased to inform you that she will be in charge of this new project. The project is that each of you will be paired off with someone of the opposite gender. You will live with this person all year long. You will attend events together, you will share a bed together, you will cook together, and you will clean together, not to mention you will study together. Because of this project, the N.E.W.T.s have been cancelled and your future employers will be looking at your grades for this year instead. A kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room will be provided to each couple, as well as a fake baby. This baby will have all the functions and appearances of a normal baby, except that it will record down all that you do to it. 1/3 of your grade will be determined by the baby and 2/3 by how you and your spouse live together. Now, I will call up the first student to come up and be paired off. The hat will sort that person and then emit two rings. Each person will put a ring on their spouse's finger. Let the sorting begin!"
Draco was sorted with Pansy; Ron was sorted with Lavender; Harry was sorted with Ginny (who had skipped fifth year); and then it was Hermione's turn.
Hermione got out of her set and smiled at Ron and Harry while walking to the hat. She sat down and put the sorting hat on her head. After a few minutes of silence the hat shouted out a name, a name that would changed the entire project; SEVERUS SNAPE.
The name 'Snape' echoed through Hermione's head as she had sudden flashbacks of all the horrible things that Snape had ever called her. Suddenly, Hermione's mind went blank as she fainted to the floor.
At the same time, Professor Severus Snape glared bullets into Hermione's falling body. 'Well, I will be damned before I consider living with Granger,' Snape thought.
Dumbledore looked at Severus and simply said, "Take Miss Granger to my office and wait for me there."