Post Battle. Harry, Ron and Hermione have returned to Hogwarts to complete their final year. After all that happened with the Dark Lord, they were happy to have some normalcy in their lives for once. Hermione could finally focus on what she really wanted…
CHAPTER 1:
Hermione was looking forward to her final year at Hogwarts. She had to meet with all her teachers today to discuss extra course work she bravely took on. After lunch, the last stop, Professor Snape. Hermione made her way slowly to the dungeons. Snape was her least favorite teacher. He was cold, mean and unsympathetic. She walked towards the entrance of his dark classroom.
She knocked on the door.
Snape: Enter.
His deep voice sent a shiver up her spine.
Hermione: Good afternoon Sir. Ive come to collect paperwork for the year.
Snape: It's on the desk, take it and get out.
Hermione quickly hurried over to snatch up a large stack of papers held together by a small paperclip. It was heavier then she expected. She studied the contents inside. Apparently for too long.
Snape: Leave!
She snapped out of her trance.
Hermione: Sorry Sir, have a nice day.
Hurriedly leaving, almost running out of the classroom. She couldn't escape fast enough. Shaking off the depressing feeling of the dungeons, Hermione hurried to the Gryffindor common room where she was joined by Harry and Ron.
Harry: Professor Slughorn is going to kill me. He piled on the work. Its endless.
Ron: Well he does fancy you
Ron said sarcastically with a smirk on his face
Harry: Shove off Ron.
Ron: What about you Hermione? Meet with all your Professors?
Hermione: Yes. Professor Snape's work is impressive. There must be two years crammed into one folder.
Ron: Really? He only gave me a final potions test to study for. Thats what he gave Seamus and Ginny as well.
Harry: Right. Me too.
Hermione: Curious.
Ron: What have you done? Come on. Spit it out.
Hermione: I dunno. I was nice to him after everything he did for Harry last year. Surly that doesn't warrant extra work.
Ron: Don't feed the fire Hermione, you will get burned.
Ron stood and walked up the stairs, took a sharp left into his dorm and closed the door.
Hermione: What's with him?
Harry: Never mind. Let me see the folder.
Hermione reluctantly handed Harry the massive folder.
Harry: Bloody hell Hermione. How do you suppose you will finish this by the holidays?
Hermione rolled her eyes and snatched folder back, annoyed Harry doubted her abilities.
Harry: Snape is a brave man, a good man. He saved me countless times. He helped defeat Voldemort. He deserves to be treated nicely. But he is still Snape. Cold, dark, foul. He hasn't changed.
Hermione: I was just hoping he would be different now that he is no longer pretending to be a death eater.
Harry: Me too, but I guess we will be disappointed. Goodnight Hermione.
Hermione: Goodnight Harry.
Harry left.
Hermione wondered why the Professor had singled her out, giving her so much work to do. He clearly didn't want her having any free time to wonder about. Tomorrow after breakfast she would go see the potion master in search of an explanation.