There's No Place Like Home
Prologue
Autumn, 2008
The woman walked up the pathway to Hogwarts. It had been four years since she was last there, and she had decided to never return. So much for that. This was her home, and there was nothing that she could do to change it.
The years had shown many changes in her. The once bushy hair was calm, with a little wave to it. She had grown taller; curvier. Her soft chocolate eyes were the only thing the same, with their sparkle of intelligence brighter than ever.
She had come here for two purposes. Profess- no, Albus. He wanted her to call him Albus, now. Albus had asked her to fill the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, which had yet to have a teacher whom could last for more than one year. This was only the cover to the real reason was she was there. He also wanted her to watch over a man so cold that even summer seemed as the most frigid winter day. Possibly even change him.
Severus...
She reached the main doors, remembering. He had been the reason she wanted never to return.
He could hear the sound of a girl crying. He walked quickly over to where the sound was the loudest. A statue. Gazing behind it, he found the Head Girl curled up into a ball. Hermione Granger. His cold black eyes softened. His left hand reached out to touch her shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
He was startled, as was she, with the gentleness in his voice. Severus Snape was never known as gentle. She looked up to gaze into his eyes, tears streaming down her face. Seeing who it was, she buried her face into her legs, sobs increasing. He made one final decision, and swept his arms around her.
Tucking her head under his, he murmured, "It's okay. Shh...shh...It's going to be all right."
He kept whispering comforting words to her until she fell asleep, serene.
After that moment, she was too afraid to even look into his eyes. When she did, she felt pain, and suffering.
She had been lost in her memories for so long, that when the doors opened, she jumped. She calmed down when she saw the familiar long white beard and hair.
With a twinkle in his eye, Albus Dumbledore said, "Welcome to Hogwarts...Professor Granger."