Chapter 1 - Save Me

"Harry James Potter! Are you telling me that you're seriously considering skipping potions?" Hermione Granger's voice was sounding as shrill and piercing as it always had around this time of year. Harry looked shiftily at his feet and murmured "Just a thought." Hermione gave him one of her characteristic stern looks (comparable to that of Minerva McGonagall) and stormed off in the opposite direction and towards the dungeons. Ronald Weasley simply thumped Harry on the back and said, "Well, it was worth a try mate. You still want to skip?" Harry thought for a moment. "Nah, she's right. Besides we have exams coming up in a few weeks and Snape would no doubt find out about it." Ron sighed dramatically. "I just hope the git has washed his hair since last lesson."

"40 points from Gryffindor for your tardiness Potter and Weasley. Next time it will be a week's worth of detentions." Harry gave his least favourite professor an obnoxious glare before sitting down on Hermione's right hand side. Hermione smiled superiorly to herself. She knew that her positive influence would eventually rub off on her occasionally wayward friends.

Drawing her attention back to what Snape was saying about the upcoming lesson the young woman noticed something vaguely different about the potions master. He looked the same as he always had. Greasy hair, hooked nose and fully clad in garments of jet black. But there was something about the way he was moving. He seemed somewhat relaxed. There was a slight ease to his usual tense movements. Just as she began to think more deeply about this, an unexpected sound brought her out of her daydream. "Miss Granger!" Hermione started. "I do believe that I just asked you a question." Hermione, already feeling her cheeks turning a similar shade of scarlet to the Hogwarts Express, was forced to answer, "I'm sorry Professor. Could you please repeat the question?" Snape merely smirked as stifled laughter began to escape from the Slytherin tables. "It seems that our resident know-it-all doesn't really know it all." The Slytherin tables then erupted with laughter.

"5 points from Gryffindor for your non-attentiveness Miss Granger." He said briskly, with a hint of something undetectable lying behind his voice and eyes. Hermione was relatively confused. Why had he taken an entire 40 points from Harry and Ron for something as trivial as being late by fifteen seconds and a mere 5 from her for not paying attention in one of his precious classes?

Severus Snape was not the kind of man to give any lenience to any person who was unfortunate enough to get on his bad side. So why had he acted so damn forgiving to Granger during the past lesson? She, along with her undesirable sixth year comrades, were most certainly on his bad side. Since her first lesson with the formidable potions master (during which she had literally stood up from her seat with the eagerness of doing what she does best - being an insufferable know-it-all) Severus had thoroughly disliked the girl. But there had been something in her eyes during their most recent lesson that had made him feel the most miniscule twinge of guilt for humiliating her.

Maybe it had been the positive revelations that Albus had informed him of early that morning that had lightened his mood. Or perhaps it had been something else. But he chose to push these thoughts from his mind as he heard a quiet rapping on his door. "Enter." Albus Dumbledore gently pushed open the stone door and entered Snape's private quarters. "Good evening Severus!" He said brightly with the usual twinkle lighting his eyes. Snape nodded curtly towards the headmaster. "Albus." Without being invited, Dumbledore sat on the chair opposite Snape's black oak desk. With a telling smile on his face Dumbledore said teasingly "Why so solemn Severus? Shouldn't you be celebrating our most recent accomplishment?" Snape managed to lighten his expression minutely, in the hope that it would satisfy the elderly man. "I must admit the suicide of Bellatrix Lestrange has been a very positive advancement in the struggle against the Dark Lord."

Albus seemed to consider his words for a moment. He gave the young professor an enquiring and searching look. "You seem troubled Severus. Is anything worrying you?" Snape sighed heavily. Curse that meddling old fool. "Not particularly. Something… odd occurred in class today." There was a definite finality in his tone of voice that told the headmaster that the topic was not to be discussed any further. Albus nodded understandably and said "Goodnight Severus. Pleasant dreams." Severus furrowed his brow at this sickeningly warm sentiment. "Night Albus."

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So this is the first chapter of my first fanfiction. I must apologise for it's lack of length and depth but I am hoping to make this story a lot longer. I currently have the proceeding nine chapters written and will upload them soon.

I hope that whoever reads my story will enjoy it. I certainly am having a lot of fun writing it.

Please leave a review if you feel so inclined.