The war is over. Severus Snape had survived and after weeks of recovery had resumed his post as Potion's Master. Hermione Granger has completed her 7th year and after earning multiple degrees, had begun a teaching position at Hogwarts. When she arrives at the start of term, she discovers that most of the castle is still under repairs. With her original room still under construction, she is told that she must board with a fellow colleague. When that colleague turns out to be Professor Snape, Hermione finds herself questioning her past assumptions about the same mysterious man.
As she clamored off the platform, Hermione Granger sighed with relief. The now familiar walls stood before her as she exited the Hogwarts Express and heaved her heavy trunk towards the castle. As she was now a teacher, Hermione arrived several weeks ahead of term in preparation for the school year.
As she crossed the threshold of the Great Hall, she had to duck as a piece of stone fell from the ceiling. Clearly more work on reconstruction was needed. After trying to lug her book-laden trunk up the staircase and failing miserably, she slyly glanced around to see if anyone was around and then cast a quick levitating charm and set about on her way. As her belongings drifted lazily behind her, Hermione ascended the staircase in an effort to find the staffroom. She was anxious to find out what the sleeping arrangements were, so she could hurry along with her pre-term preparations.
After finally reached the staffroom portrait, she uttered the password breathlessly and it swung open to reveal the teacher's common room. It was quite a large, circular room. The windows, which covered almost all the walls, were framed with heavy drapes that were tied up to let the afternoon sun filter into the room. Several very comfortable looking armchairs were littered around a gigantic fireplace, which at this time was empty. A single flight of stairs to the right of the fireplace curved upwards and disappeared out of view. A long, mahogany table was placed in the center of the room with several piles of teaching handbooks off at one end.
Hermione stepped through the portrait and found no sign of Professor McGonagall or any teacher for that matter. Frowning a little, she was just about to step back through the entrance when she heard someone coming down the flight of stairs. Minerva appeared at the top of the stairs with a large pile of books in her arms. Hermione hurried towards her and helped her set them on the end of the table beside the other stack. "There, that should be the last of them" McGonagall sighed. Hermione looked worriedly at her former teacher, seeing her properly for the first time in noticed how frail she had gotten. She had not seen her in a few years and hadn't realized the toll the war must have taken on her.
As the elderly witch wiped her brow, she glanced up and realized her helper's identity. "Ooh, Miss Granger, it's about time you arrived. Come with me and we shall discuss your boarding arrangements." she said briskly, clearly in a hurry. Hermione smiled to herself, "It's almost as if nothing has changed." she mused. Following Minerva through the portrait once more, she left her trunk at the entrance and continued after the professor's billowing robes. After winding through the castle's vast expanses of corridors and staircases, they finally arrived at the familiar Headmaster's office. It dawned to Hermione that since school had resumed, McGonagall had been given the title of Headmistress. Minerva hurried her into the room and quickly had her seated.
Hermione scanned the room and realized that it hadn't been redecorated since Dumbledore died and was still filled with a vast oddity of objects. Even Fawkes' stand was still in the same place as it had always been. She moved her wandering eyes to the Headmistress and watched her rummage through drawers and cabinets. Once she seemingly found the appropriate documents, she seated herself across from Hermione and began to explain what each form was. The usual documents such as her contract, pay schedule, insurance etc. It was only when McGonagall reached the topic of living arrangements did she seem to grow a little uncomfortable. Sensing her concern, Hermione began to tell the professor, "Oh, I'm sure the room I'm located in is-" she stopped when Minerva waved a hand at her. "You see Miss Granger, there are only a few living quarters that were undamaged by the war." she began delicately. "As you seem to be the last teacher to arrive before the start of term, I'm afraid that you'll be sharing living quarters with a colleague."
Hermione swallowed. "Please god, don't let me have to room with Slughorn." She grimaced. "That's fine, Professor, I'm sure I'll be able to manage." she lied weakly. McGonagall looked unconvinced but turned over the papers for her to sign anyways. Once all signatures were in place, she tapped the pile with her wand and it disappeared with a 'Pop'. She rose to usher the new teacher out of her door, and gave instructions as to where her room would be. Hermione was almost out the door when she realized where her room was. She looked at the Headmistress incredulously, "But.. Professor, that means my room is in the dungeons." she started, "...and who I'm sharing with is.." "Severus" McGonagall finished and shut the door to her office.