A/N : hey there guys! just a few things i'd like to say.
first off i have read many fanfics about snape and Hermione and many are written very well. the only thing that still gets me is the age difference. im not against age difference but 2o years seems excessive so that is why i've written in de-aging potions :D
secondly the rating is only a precaution, for know its innocent and if anything more inappropriate for the younger reader happens there will be a warning beforehand :)
discliamer: i do not own harry potter or the characters, only the plot. if it was mine snape would have lived and so would have tonks lupin and fred, may they rest in peace in character heaven :)
CHAPTER 1: goodbyes and hello's
Apart from the dismay of discovering that her protector would be none other than Severus Snape, Hermione was excited. She'd have the whole run of the newly repaired Hogwarts! She was sure that in a castle that big it would be easy to go around it without ever having to meet Snape.
Since the final battle just a few months ago much had happened. Hogwarts had been rebuilt, people returned to the good side whilst many Death Eaters were trialled and sent to Azkaban. Unfortunately there was still a small band of Death Eaters running amok, killing muggles, destroying buildings and hunting down those who had fought against their dark lord. During the post war time of high emotions and defiant Death Eaters there had still been many attempts on Harry, Ron and Hermione's lives. So for their safety protectors and specific hideout locations were appointed to them. They were to stay alone with their protectors in these hideouts until told otherwise.
Hormone sorted through these thoughts as she sat curled in a saggy armchair in number 12 Grimmauld place. To say she wasn't pleased in being given the protection of Snape was an understatement. No matter whether he was a war hero or not he was still a sarcastic and sour man who apparently refused to call her anything but 'that sarcastic know-it-all' and this dampened her spirits considerably. She sighed and went back to reading her book.
Little did she notice the door open and a tall black figure stalk across the room towards her until it stood leaning over her with a look of discontent on its face. "As ignorant as ever." It snarled and Hermione's head snapped up to see Snape sneering at her. "Is it time to leave?" she asked politely, ignoring his comment. "Yes," he replied coldly "and im not looking forward to this." he muttered before stalking out the room again, not even checking if Hermione was following.
Hermione closed her book with a snap and stood up. Picking u her she left the room after Snape and headed for the big fireplace. Her suitcase was already packed and was waiting for her. Snape had already gone and the last flickers of green flame disappeared leaving ordinary orange and yellow flames to lick at the brick walls. Harry, Ron and Ginny stood waiting for her beside the fireplace, waiting to say goodbye. Harry and Ginny was arm in arm and it was clear how much they loved each other. She went to Ginny first and gave her a fierce hug, "you will take care of my boys won't you?" she joked and Ginny nodded, "of course, at least until we are separated anyway." She moaned then laughed "see you 'mione."
Hermione pulled away, smiling at the nickname. She turned to Harry and engulfed him I a hug too. "You better ask Ginny the question soon." She whispered in his ear so Ginny wouldn't hear, "I don't know what you mean." He replied innocently, making her laugh. She released him and kissed him on the cheek.
Eventually she turned to Ron, she had decided that although they may love each other, it was more like the love for a brother and sister and so had stopped dating, it just hadn't felt right. She hugged and kissed him too, ruffling his hair and giggling when he shot her a glare before he too smiled.
Hermione stepped into the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder from the pot. "Good luck!" Harry called and she grimaced "thanks! Im gonna need it with HIM!" the other three smiled sympathetically and she grinned "see you soon I hoped." She said and dropped the floo powder shouting "professor McGonagall's office." And watched as Grimmauld place disappeared in green flames.
Eventually she landed with a bump and slid out of a rather small fireplace. Her trunk came rattling after her and she had to duck to avoid being wacked on the head by it.
Gingerly she pulled herself to her feet and looked around. She was in the headmaster's office at Hogwarts and a smile lit her face as she took in the sleeping portraits of previous headmaster's and headmistresses. Her eyes eventually came to rest on Snape and Professor McGonagall. "Nice of you to join us Miss Granger." he drawled. "sorry." She muttered simply and walked over to join her two professors.
"As I was saying," McGonagall started "Professor Snape you will be staying in a Staff bedroom rather than the dungeons and so will you Miss Granger, as you must sleep with in a reasonable reach of each other for safety reasons and I would rather not expose Miss Granger to one of those dark and cold dungeon chambers I will have you both sleeping in Staff chambers which are accessed via the staff common room." She explained. With a crack a small house elf with extraordinarily large ears, appeared before the three of them. "Cherry, will you please escort Professor Snape and Miss Granger to their living quarters, thank you." The little elf bowed and beckoned for Hermione and Snape to follow "I hope you are well protected here. If you need me Severus, you know where I am. Im not staying here but the password for this office is 'Dumbledore' this is the only fireplace that allows flooing out of the grounds; the others will only floo to other locations within the castle. Goodbye." With that the elf practically shoved them out the door and they heard McGonagall shout something to the fire behind them.
Hermione and Snape followed the elf silently, their trunks floating behind them. Eventually after many twists and turns of which Hermione tried hard to remember, they arrived at a small oak door. Above it hung a painting of a lion. The lion stood up and growled at them "password?" he snarled menacingly and cherry looked nervously up at it "amortentia." She squeaked and the door swung open revealing a cosy looking room full of soft comfy chairs and cushions, al adorned in materials of the house colours. A roaring fire crackled in the grate at the far end and a small kitchen purely for the use of making tea and coffee sat in a corner of the room. Cherry lead them in and gestured to a door on one side of the room "that is masters Snape's room," then she pointed at another door the other side of the room "and that is mistress Grangers room." She squeaked before bowing and disappearing with another loud crack.
Hermione trudged over to her room, tired from the long day. She turned the handle and stepped in. before she shut the door she murmured to Snape "goodnight Professor Snape." Snape having gone to his door turned slightly at her voice replied "Goodnight Miss Granger." Before disappearing behind his door, too tired to care that he had been nice to the know-it-all. Hermione flopped down on her bed and promptly fell asleep, she didn't even look around.