AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story will be very similar to the plot line created by J.K. Rowling in her two books: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Everyone will stay in character for the most part, except for when the plot calls them to act otherwise. Rated M for future chapters.

DISCLAIMER: The only thing I own is the general plot of this story. J.K. Rowling owns the plotline of the Harry Potter series (which this story will follow) and all of the characters mentioned in this story. This applies to this chapter and all of the following chapters.

"On three," Harry said as he looked at his two friends. "One…two…three."

The three of them immediately tore open their envelopes. They were standing in the kitchen at the Burrow, eager to see their OWL scores. They each held their papers in their hands, their eyes darting across the page. Hermione gave a small, inaudible sigh of relief as she relaxed her shoulders and looked up to see Ron with a content grin on his face.

"Good scores, then?" she asked.

He shrugged. "They're alright with me. How'd you do, Harry?"

"Pretty well, I would say. I didn't get a high enough score in Potions, though…" he added sadly.

"I didn't do too well in Potions either, mate. But at least we don't have to have class with that git anymore," Ron said. Harry nodded, trying to get over his disappointment and find happiness in never having to have a class with Snape again. Ron turned to Hermione. "And how'd you do? No less than perfect, I'm guessing."

"It wasn't perfect," she said as she handed them her paper. She watched as their eyes widened at her scores.

"Blimey, Hermione, you did excellent," Harry said.

"You nearly got all Outstandings…" Ron added.

"Except for Defense Against the Dark Arts," she said with a slight frown.

"Well, we can't all be Harry now, can we?" Ron said. "Only people deemed the 'Chosen One' can actually get an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts, didn't you know? I'm sure Slughorn will be even more impressed when he hears you got an 'Outstanding' in his subject, Harry."

"Oh, shut it," Harry said with an eye roll.

Hermione looked down at the second paper she held in her hands, and realized it was a letter from the school:

Dear Student,

Congratulations on passing your OWLs! The staff here at Hogwarts are very proud of your achievements. To prepare you for your sixth year and your advanced classes, we have decided to hold weekly study sessions. These study sessions will be led by a professor that you will be assigned to and are designated to help guide you in all areas of your study. These sessions are optional, but you are strongly encouraged to attend them. Your assigned professor is:

In a neat, cursive script were the words Professor Snape. Damn it, Hermione thought as she reread his name.

You will be meeting Friday evenings. Enjoy the rest of break, and see you when the school year starts.

"Did you guys read this letter?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Harry said, as he looked up. "Who's your professor?"

"Snape."

Ron and Harry both looked at her, their eyes full of pity.

"I am not jealous of you at all," Ron said finally. Hermione glared at him and he quickly added, "Sorry, I got Slughorn…don't know if that's a good thing or not." as he shrugged.

"I got Slughorn, too." Harry said, though he couldn't help but wonder if Dumbledore had any part in that arrangement.

Ron grinned at this. "Well, that's good then. If he likes Harry, maybe it'll be smooth sailing for me too."

"I'm happy for you…really," Hermione said. "While you two are eating goodies, I'll have to be stuck in dungeons with…the bat."

Harry and Ron briefly looked at each other before laughing. Hermione put her hands at her hips.

"Ha ha ha, let's just all laugh at Hermione's misfortune," she muttered before she stormed out of the kitchen, leaving the two of them to clutch at their sides.

The Great Hall was bustling with activity the night the students returned to Hogwarts. The first years were already sorted into their respective houses and the first meal of the school year was underway. Harry had just come to the table, with dried blood on his face.

"Harry? What happened?" Hermione said as soon as he sat down between her and Ron.

"Not now, Hermione. I'll tell you both later…" he said in a strained whisper, keeping his eyes on the table and not at the Gryffindors he was sure were gawking at him.

Hermione said a quick spell to get the blood off of him, but even after he was clean, she still looked concerned. Harry reached for a treacle tart as the desserts appeared in front of him as Ron grabbed a nearby chocolate gateau.

"You know what I'm thankful for this year?" Ron asked as he put a spoonful of gateau into his mouth. "No Umbridge."

Harry looked down and balled his hand into a fist so the phrase "I must not tell lies" became easier to read on his skin.

"Yes, but her little minions are still running around," Harry said as he glanced over at the Slytherin table, staring particularly at Malfoy. Hermione looked at him as well, noting that Draco didn't seem to be his arrogant, lively self; he looked distant, as if he didn't belong there.

"At least things are somewhat back to normal," Ron said, trying to be optimistic.

"Things will never be back to normal, not with Voldemort running about," Harry said.

"Hey, what did I tell you about saying his name aloud?"

Harry rolled his eyes as Dumbledore stood at the podium. An immediate hush fell upon the crowd as all heads turned to his direction.

"Good evening, students and welcome to the start of another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said, his voice booming to every corner of the hall. Hermione gasped as she saw Dumbledore and nudged Harry in the side.

"His hand…what happened to it?" she whispered. Harry looked around to see other students were huddled together and talking in low voices, most likely wondering the same thing Hermione was. But Harry did not know how Dumbledore's hand became black and withered, and could only shrug at Hermione's question.

"It's nothing to fret over," Dumbledore said as he waved his dead-like, right hand in the air, "And I would like to introduce to you a new member of the Hogwarts staff. Horace Slughorn is an old friend of mine who will take up his old position as Potions master."

Slughorn stood and waved a portly hand at the assembly.

"...Potions?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"Potions? But then…?" Ron asked as he looked back at Harry.

The students seemed to repeat this word to each other as Dumbledore spoke once more.

"Which means that Professor Snape will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."

The Slytherin table burst into cheer, as the other three tables grew silent from the shock. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances…Snape was their new Defense Against the Arts professor? Hermione looked up at him as he stared straight ahead. His expression was unreadable; Hermione couldn't even see the smallest smirk on his face or any inclination he was at all happy about receiving the position he sought after all these years.

Ron looked at his friend. "Harry, I thought you said Slughorn was going to be…"

"I thought so too!" Harry snapped. "I could have sworn that's what Dumbledore told me…"

Hermione bit her lip as she looked from Harry to Ron. As Dumbledore quieted the crowd and continued his speech, she couldn't help but worry that this change was going to bring more harm than good to Hogwarts.

"I can't believe Dumbledore assigned him to be our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," Harry muttered as the three of them sat by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. "Well, good thing the position is cursed. He won't stay for more than a year, no one ever does…hopefully, he'll end up dead just like Quirrell."

"Harry! You mustn't say things like that," Hermione said, "Dumbledore obviously had his reasoning. Besides, Dumbledore trusts him, so I don't see why we shouldn't. He is a part of the Order, Harry."

Harry grunted and stared into the flames. Hermione continued to look at Harry as the conversation was drowned out by the crackling of the fire.