Disclaimer: I don't own HP

This story will have five chapters, encompassing Harry and Snape's adventures in Hogsmead while Snape learns a few things about Harry.

Eyeopening

Chapter 1 of 6

"Who Needs Partners?": Prologue

"Harry, Com'on Mate! McGonagall just put the list up!" Ron yelled from the doorway leading to the Gryffindor dorm rooms.

Harry, who had just been studying for a test in DADA, jumped up at the noise, his wand out. Recognizing the voice, he slipped it back into his back pocket and ran out the door, homework forgotten, and sped down the stairs to reach his best friend.

Harry really didn't see the sense in assigning partners for tomorrow's Hogsmead trip, everyone already had their own small group of friends that they regularly went with, but Dumbledore had insisted. He had claimed it was for safety reasons since someone was more likely to notice a missing person when there was only one other student with them. Harry had scoffed at this, it wouldn't take a genius to notice a missing friend weather it was in a group of four students compared to two. Harry was sure that any Death Eater would happily attack a group of two kids than a group of four anyhow.

The only thing to look forward to is that all partnerships were with in the same houses. Though Harry would have laughed if Malfoy got partnered with Neville, it would have been pure evil to let Neville go off with Draco; something was bound to blow up.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Ron grabbed his arm, "There you are!"

Together, they wrestled their way through the growing crowd of Gryffindors, who were just as eager to find who their partner was.

Reaching the the list, they encountered Hermione; who was, naturally, the first one to reach it. She wasted no time in gleefully shouting out, "Ron, there you are! We're partners!"

Shocked, Ron replied, "What? Oh Brilliant... but, who's got Harry then?"

Hermione turned back to the list, talking while she looked, "I'm sorry Harry, I was busy trying to find my name I forgot about you, but I'm sure you won't have anyone too bad, maybe Nevill- Oh. I can't believe it! I thought Dumbledore said there wouldn't be any out-of-house partners!"

"Why? Who did I get?" Asked Harry as he pushed past Ron to find where Hermione had her finger rested on the parchment next to his name and read:

Harry Potter...Professor Snape

"No! No way!" Harry whined, he couldn't believe it! Of all the students to get paired with, he got a teacher! Dumbledore was off his rocker if he thought Harry would go with the greasy git! At least if Harry got a student partner they could have gone in a group of four with Hermione and Ron, but no, he got the dungeon bat!

"That's real rough mate," Ron said, sympathetic, "There's no way I'd be able to put up with the git. Do you think Dumbledore would let you swap?"

Always the one to point out rules, Hermione cut in, "No Ronald, he wouldn't," Pointing at the top of the list, she continued, "It clearly states, 'No students are allowed to switch or join with other partnerships. All partnerships are final.'"

"I can't Believe this!" Harry shouted, dismayed. He had hoped the headmaster would have a better sense that to pair him with the man that would no doubt only take house points and give him detentions all day.

"What are you going to do?" Asked Ron as they shifted their was back out of the mob of students.

"What I'm going to do is talk to Dumbledore, there must have been a mistake." Harry turned toward the portrait hole, but Hermione stopped him,

"Harry, you read the parchment... or I read it to you, but nonetheless, It said that the pairs were final. I don't think Dumbledore would make this big of a mistake."

"The lady's right." Said a familiar voice. The trio of students looked to the entryway behind them for the voice.

"Headless Nick! What are you doing he-" Started Ron, only to be cut off by Nearly Headless Nick.

"That's Nearly Headless Nick to you son! And to answer you unfinished question; Headmaster Dumbledore sent me to tell Harry here, that there was no mistake and that Professor Snape would explain everything before the set out for Hogsmead tomorrow. G'day children." With that, the ghost swiveled in midair and sunk through the floorboards.

Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione, who was smirking. Harry humphed and walked by them, intent on spending the rest of the night mopping as his best friends planned their day off.

Author's Note: I know: short, but hey – It's a prologue, it's ment to be short and to lead to something grander. Next chapter will be much longer.

Stay tuned for the next thrilling chapter of Eyeopening, "The Nice Book Lady" - who just happens to know Snape and is good friends with Harry...curious, what information could she hold, I wonder?

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