It took me three days to realize

That what he said was true

I clutched the rail,

Huddled in the shower

Like something inside had been ripped out

As water streamed down my face

It took me three days to fully understand that he was gone

Never be with him

Never talk to him

Never see him again

gone

It took me three days to feel crippled

My foundation pulled out from under me

It took me three days

It took him three seconds

To stand up and leave me

With just his charcoal image

A young woman of seventeen years of age walked into the book shop that was down the street from her house. The door opened silently and she was greeted with a smile and hellos from staff and customers alike. Her hair was a dark ashy blond and she had eyes that were full of colors, green, blue, gray, brown and even yellow. Her name was Hermione Granger, soon to be Hermione Weasley.

Her fiancé, Ron, had proposed to her at the end of their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was barely seventeen at the time but she knew that she loved him and that he loved her and that was all that mattered to her. Her parents weren't happy at first but when they saw how happy their daughter was they decided that it was a good thing. They knew Ron and they gave the young couple their blessing.

The old man that owned the store approached her.

"Hermione, what are you doing here? You should be getting packed, you're leaving for school tomorrow, remember?" he said.

Hermione smiled, "I'm all ready and packed for school Mr. Broderick. I'm just here to pick up my last paycheck, besides it looks like you could use some help with the last day of summer crowd."

Mr. Broderick looked at the busy store.

"Yes I suppose we could use some help, but this means that I'll have to rewrite your check," he said.

"Oh no, Mr. Broderick, you don't have to pay me for today, I love working here and I would have worked here all summer even if you didn't pay me," Hermione said.

"Well why didn't you tell me that at the beginning of the summer?" Mr. Broderick teased.

Hermione laughed and pulled on the light brown suede vest that all of the employees wear.

"I'll take my check now, that way we can both be sure that you don't pay me for my volunteering today," she said.

Mr. Broderick laughed and pulled her check out of the folder he had in his hand.

"You just go do what ever you thing would be helpful," he said as Hermione took the check.

Then he walked off to help a customer. Hermione went over to a shelf that contained the school books. The poor books were all over and some had fallen onto the floor. She began to stand all the books back up, then she put them in category by school year and then in alphabetical order. She was putting away the last book on the very top shelf when she lost her footing and fell off of the ladder. She closed her eyes waiting for the impact, but it never came. She opened her eyes to see a man staring back at her. The man had black hair down to his shoulders, pale pale skin and the blackest eyes you can imagine. It took Hermione a moment to recognize the man.

After he had set her back on her feet he asked, "Are you alright miss?"

He doesn't recognize me! she thought to herself. Professor Snape doesn't recognize me! Hermione smiled mischievously.

"Yes, thank you sir. I'm quite alright thanks to your help." Snape just nodded. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she asked him.

He looked at her for a moment.

"I'm looking for a book called Ethay Askedmay Ookbay ofay Askedmay Otionspay, by Arletontay Eilnay."

"Oh yes, Tarleton Neil, wrote all of his books in Pig Latin. He was a genius really, but a lot of people can't understand a thing he wrote since it's a made up muggle language," Hermione said as she began to walk down the aisle.

"You speak it?" he asked. Hermione smiled back at him, "Iay eakspay itay uentlyflay," she said. (I speak it fluently)

"Avehay ouyay eadray ethay ookbay?" he asked. (have you read the book)

Hermione nodded standing on her tip toes and pulling the heavy book off the shelf. Her knees nearly buckling under the weight of the large tome. She put it into Snape's outstretched arms.

"Anything else you were looking for?" she asked.

"No, this is all," he said. Hermione smiled at him again, she could tell that it was starting to disturb him which only made her smile more.

"Then why don't I check you out," she said.

He looked at her oddly, then she realized what she had said. She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth.

"I didn't-that's not what I meant. I meant to...uh...let you buy your book," she said horrified at what she had said to her professor and thankful that he had no idea who she was.

Snape, to her surprise, laughed, "It's quite alright miss, it's an easy mistake to make."

Hermione smile at him and led him to the cash register.

"You look a little young to be married," he said to her, noticing her ring as she scanned the book.

She glanced at the large gaudy ring, Ron had gone all out, Hermione appreciated the gesture but the ring wasn't really to her taste.

"It's an engagement ring," she said.

"Still, how old are you sixteen?" he asked.

"I'm almost eighteen," she said. "Besides, who are you to berate me? You don't even know me."

Snape opened his mouth to reply but then he sighed, "You're right, I'm sorry."

Hermione pulled a magically reinforced brown paper bag over the book. She never thought that she would hear him say that to her and she was stunned into silence. She recomposed herself as she handed him his change and receipt. She waited for him to put the money away before she handed him the bag with a smile.

"Have a nice day, Professor Snape," she called as he walked away.

She quickly ducked behind the counter before he could turn around. She watched him from around the corner as he turned and looked around curiously. He shrugged and walked out of the store, his mind wandering back behind him to the odd, yet strangely familiar, girl in the bookstore.

Hermione growled and slammed her fist against the wall next to her bed. She pulled her pillow taut over her face and screamed in frustration. There was more than one reason for her to do this. First off, ever since her run-in with Professor Snape she couldn't stop thinking about him. How nice he looked when he smiled, how his laugh rolled out from deep in his chest, and how did a former death eater learn to speak Pig Latin? Second, it was three o' clock in the morning. And third, there was an owl tapping annoyingly on her window. Crookshanks hissed irritatedly from the window seat, scratching at the glass, trying to get to the tiny bird. Hermione growled again and flung the blankets off of her. She stomped over to the window and wrenched it open. Pig flew in and landed on the top of one of Hermione's large bookshelves. The small annoyance hooted dolefully at Crookshanks and wiggled his leg at Hermione. The annoyed young woman quickly untied the note from Pig's leg and gave the bird an owl treat from the box on her desk. She read the note from Ron quickly, deciding how painful she wanted his death to be.

Hermione,

Bet you're glad that summer's over, huh? I am, except that we have to go to potions class with

the greasy git. And all the homework. Ugh. Me and Harry ("Harry and I" Hermione corrected unconsciously) are looking forward to seeing you today at eleven, don't be late! Ha ha, you'll

probably be the one waiting for us, eh? See you soon.

Love,

Ron

Hermione grabbed a pen on her desk and quickly wrote back.

Ron,

I love you darling, but if you ever wake me up at three in the morning again I'll murder you and then bring you back to clean up the mess!

Love,

Hermione

She quickly sent Pig off with the message. Then she crawled back into bed and tried rid her mind of thoughts of a certain professor.

Hermione fell asleep halfway through the train ride and did not awake until they arrived in Hogsmeade Station. Ron shook her awake roughly.

"Hermione we're here."

"What made you so tired anyways?" Harry asked.

Hermione glared at Ron as they climbed into a carriage.

"That's partly my fault," Ron said.

"Partly!? Ha!" Hermione said.

"Ok it was all my fault," Ron said.

"What did you do this time?" Harry asked.

"He decided to send me an owl at three o clock this morning," Hermione said, not mentioning that she was already awake due to some bizarre dreams.

Harry shook his head at his friend.

"You did send an owl back," Ron said.

"With a death threat," Hermione said as they climbed the steps up to the castle.

"A death threat?" Harry asked.

Ron nodded silently.

"What did you say?"

Hermione smiled wickedly.

"Nothing much, just that if he ever woke me up at three again I would kill him and bring him back to clean up the mess."

Harry stared, "Really?"

Ron nodded, "Yeah, I was kinda surprised too. You wouldn't really, would you Hermione?"

Ron looked at her. Hermione grinned and cackled evilly as they entered the Great Hall. Ron looked at Harry worriedly while Harry just smiled at his friend's antics. Hermione sat next to Ron and Harry sat across from them between Neville and Ginny. After everyone was seated the hall quieted as the first years entered. Hermione turned sideways on the bench and leaned back against Ron who wrapped his arm around her waist. As the sorting began Hermione felt as if someone was watching her. She glanced a Ron but he was watching the sorting. Hermione looked around and she finally noticed Snape was watching her from the staff table. He didn't notice that she was looking back at him. Hermione was surprised to find that he wasn't glaring at her, he looked like he was thinking very hard. When he did notice her watching his face turned back to its usual scowl and he glared at her. Hermione just grinned at him and winked before turning back to the sorting. Hermione felt him looking at her constantly throughout the entire feast. The food disappeared from the golden plates and the hall quieted as the Headmaster stood.

"Now before we all go off to our nice warm beds I would like to announce the new Head Boy and Girl. When I call your name you will come up to the front and Professor Snape will pin your badge onto your robes and then he will escort you to your new rooms. The Head Girl is Miss Hermione Grang-"

The rest of her name was drowned out by the explosion from the Gryffindor table, as well as Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Of course no one was surprised that she was Head Girl they were all proud of her just the same. Hermione smiled and walked to the front where Snape was waiting for her.

"Congratulations Miss Granger," he said quietly as he pinned the badge with a large H on it to the front of her robes.

"Thank you Professor," Hermione said as she turned to face the hall and waited for the Head Boy to be announced.

Once the students had quieted down Dumbledore spoke again.

"And the Head Boy is Mr. Draco Malfoy."

The hall was much quieter this time, with only the Slytherins cheering for their prince. Hermione bit back a groan and noticed Snape smirking at her. Hermione glared at him before turning away to watch Malfoy walk up the aisle between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.

"Congratulations Draco," Hermione heard Snape say in the same tone that he said it to her. Malfoy nodded and turned and smirked at Hermione.

She just rolled her eyes.

"Congratulations Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy. Now, I know that you are all looking forward to getting to sleep for a nice early start tomorrow, so off to bed with you," Dumbledore said.

There was a scramble as the mass of students headed for the door. Ron and Harry fought against the crowd until they reached the place were the new Heads and the Potions Master was standing. Hermione smiled as they ran up to her and pulled her into a group hug.

"Congratulations Hermione," Harry said.

"Yeah, everyone knew you were a shoe-in," Ron said.

Hermione laughed, "Gee thanks Ronald."

Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Miss Granger, if you are finished..." Snape said.

Hermione nodded and smiled at Harry and gave Ron's hand a squeeze.

"I'll see you guys later," she said.

They nodded, "See you Hermione."

Hermione watched them run to catch up with Neville, Dean and Seamus.

"Follow me," Snape said sharply and he walked off, not looking to see if they were following.

Hermione took off immediately after Snape and Malfoy brought up the rear. As they were climbing up the grand staircase in the Entrance Hall Hermione began to sing softly to herself.

"We're following the leader, the leader, the leader. We're following the leader, wherever he may go..."

They were on the third floor when Snape turned sharply and glared at her.

"What are you doing, Miss Granger?"

Hermione looked at him innocently.

"I'm singing Professor, surely you know what that is sir," she said sweetly.

Hermione heard Malfoy snicker behind her, much to her surprise.

"Of course I know what singing is Miss Granger, and I'll only ask you once to stop it," he said.

"Yes sir," Hermione said.

Snape turned back and began to walk again.

"We're following the leader, the leader, the leader. We-"

"MISS GRANGER!"

"Yes Professor?" Hermione asked.

She felt Malfoy standing next to her, instead of behind her.

"Did I not just tell you to stop that!?" Snape growled.

"No sir," Hermione said.

"What did you just say!?"

"I said "N-"

"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID!"

"Then why did you just ask what I said?"

"Because I-Miss Granger, I told you not one minute ago to stop singing," Snape said, seething.

"No you didn't sir," Hermione said.

"Then, pray tell, what did I say Miss Granger?"

"Simple, you said that you were only going to ask me once to stop singing," she said.

"Yes, that is what I said. So why did you not stop?"

"Because you didn't ask me to," Hermione said simply.

Snape growled and pressed his temples in frustration.

"Granger does have a point sir," Malfoy said.

Both Hermione and Snape looked at Malfoy, surprised. He shrugged.

"What? It's true."

Hermione smiled.

"Thank you Malfoy."

He grinned. Snape growled.

"Alright you two, not a sound until we reach the Heads' rooms."

Hermione shrugged and began to follow the snarky professor.