If You Loved Me

~*~ By Mae Noelle ~*~

Disclaimer: See what's mine? Can ya? Huh? Well, neither can I. Except maybe a hundredth of the plot - but you never know. Everyone always ends up copying some one else some time or another.

Summery: Ok, this is another one of those cliché stories, where Snape become a little Snape again. I am sorry if this is too cliché for you, but I love these stories, and I can never get enough of them. Even if they are almost completely the same as the next cliché one, I love them all. Takes place in seventh year, and that is all I will tell ya for now. I think it will have humor in it, as well as angst, but I think this will be mostly romance. (I didn't know what to put down under the story thing, but I can change it later if you all tell me it should be one way or another)

P.S. - this story is made because of Ducky, my official muse. She writes tons of Sev/Herm ficcies herself, so go to: The Duck for more great mushy love stories. Now, on with the story.

~*~ Chapter 1 ~*~

Bright light cascaded down through the gaps of the ominous clouds, which were graying fast, and lit the streets where Hermione walked through down- town London. She had already gotten her supplies, and was making her way to the train station that was now a few blocks away.

Hermione sighed heavily, shifting the parcels she was carrying, so that she could drag behind her suitcase more easily.

A man that was passing her eyed her slightly, then asked her if she needed help with her things. She politely declined. Men everywhere eyed her now - along with the entire population of women. It felt funny, and she wished that she could just cover herself up to hide from all those perverted gazes.

And besides, the bags she carried where enchanted ones - light as air. The only reason why she gripped them so tightly was because the fear she had that they would float away.

A small car pulled up a block ahead of her, and a shorter-then-average man popped out, and pulled a few things out of the car. His sloppy hair fell across his face, and revealed an odd scar that split his forehead.

Hermione broke into a smile. At last, she thought. A familiar face! She tightened her grip on her boxes and quickened her pace, running up to Harry.

He turned around in time to keep himself from being knocked over as she barreled into him.

"Hermione! How was summer? Did you have fun in Spain?" Harry grinned as Hermione plopped her boxes on top of Harry's.

"Yes, Spain was beautiful - especially the second time, but it couldn't compare to Hogwarts! The trees in Spain were all starting to turn colors, beautiful reds and yellows. and there was almost no wind the whole time, and the weather was perfect, but, all I can think about is coming back - It's hard to believe that this is our last year." Hermione pulled him into a big hug, and then set off to find bag carriers.

"The apartment the Dursleys are paying for is too small - but, it is better then spending the entire time at their house. You wouldn't believe it - it was the best summer of my life. Sorry you couldn't come over to Ron's with us," Harry suddenly turned his gaze away. "Ron said he missed you,"

Hermione shivered. She had chosen not to go to Ron's, and stayed in Spain for an extra week or so so that she didn't have to feel so guilty about telling Ron's family that she couldn't go.

She couldn't stand the way Ron looked at her sometimes, after the fifth year. And during the fifth year. And she always felt like Ron's mother expected her and Ron would get together, and Harry and Ginny.

Hermione couldn't stand people that tried to change you, or rule your life.

Without noticing it, she had passed the platform she needed to get on.

"Hermione," Harry waved to her, causing a few people to stare at him. She smiled. He was always so nice.

Together they went through the wall, talking and pretending to lean on it, so they didn't attract too much attention when they disappeared through the barrier between the rest of the station and platform 9 ¾.

"Shall we take the last one?" Harry pointed to the caboose of the scarlet red train in front of them. "And wait for Ron there,"

Hermione nodded and moved toward the train, preparing to throw her stuff into the luggage compartment. She jumped up the train's stairs and sat down in her compartment.

Looking around carefully, she rummaged around in her purse and brought up a small package wrapped in tissues. She slowly unwrapped it, picked up the badge that was inside, and shined it clean of all the things stuck to it. She slipped her robe over her small t-shirt and jeans, and pinned her new head girl badge to it.

Harry came in, accompanied by Ron.

"Hello!" Ron said loudly, looking around the compartment for a second, while setting down his owls' cage. Out of the corner of his eye he examined Hermione, and his eyes caught on her breast area.

Hermione reminded herself to find a better spot for her badge.

"Why, was that there before?" Harry said, pulling at her badge to get a closer look. "I always knew that you would be head girl, but, I just never thought about it happening,"

He looked up from Hermione's pin and smiled.

She squirmed in her seat, hoping no one would notice.

Suddenly, the compartment door slammed open and in walked Padma, Parvati, Lavender, and some other girl.

"Oh, see, I told you the last one would be taken," Parvati whined.

"Well, we just passed an empty one, so, that should work." The mystery girl looked around the compartment. "Hello," she said, to Hermione mostly.

Ron stared. He always had a problem around girls, especially pretty ones. Lavender flipped her hair and batted her eyelashes.

"Hello, Harry, Ron, and Hermione." Her eyes caught on the shiny pin that was attached to Hermione. "Well, made head girl, did ya? I bet no one will be surprised at that, huh?" She smiled a fake-y smile and turned on her heal from the room and walked out the door.

Parvati smiled. "Well, see you at school!" And waved, walking backwards out the door, her sister and friend followed her.

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Wow," Ron said, finally letting out his breath. "I would like to-" He looked towards Hermione and flushed slightly. "Never mind,"

"Well anyway, Hermione, I told Ron about it this summer, but, Sirius, he got a house out in the American west - or something like that - and Lisa, his wife, had her kid three months ago."

Hermione brightened. She loved kids - and to know that there was this cute kid, halfway across the earth, a little baby.

"Awwwwww," She couldn't help herself. She could feel her eyes shinning as she turned towards Harry. "Really? Oh, was it a boy, or a girl? What did they name her?"

"Well, they named him Joshua, but that's not the point. He says that his kid is already enrolled into the Magical school over there, and you won't believe how huge it is! Like, over five-thousand students! And there are like a hundred, at least, more in the province he is in!" Harry was stretching his hands across to indicate the bigness of what he was talking about.

"State," Hermione corrected, once again reading through one of her new school books. "The U.S.A. has states. What is the school called, do you know?"

Harry shook his head. "I have absolutely no clue as to where he is living. I don't know what I would do with that information, anyway,"

"Well, I could name all the school names if you knew the state he was living in, if you had heard it before, so that you could see if any of them sound familiar,"

Ron shook his head. "How do you know about all this stuff? I don't even remember studying about the U.S. at all before we came to Hogwarts, let alone the states or whatever and the town names and all the school names,"

"Well, I looked into it a bit more; I was really interested in that subject." Hermione looked up from her book to see Ron and Harry shaking their heads. "I didn't memorize it all; I just have it down in one of my books."

Harry took out his chess set and a board, and beckoned Ron to join him.

The journey was peaceful enough, and after a while Hermione actually became bored with reading and re-reading all her books.

Her mind journeyed to what awaited her. There was the school feast, of course, the sorting, and then the journey up to the dormitories, but wait - she wouldn't be staying there!

She brought out her letter from Hogwarts School, and looked over it for the hundredth time. She was to find Professor McGonagall, and she and the head boy were supposed to be taken to be shown their accommodations and then have a look over of the special rules that the Head boy and girl must uphold, and such like that.

Would she make it back to the feast, though? Hermione bit her tongue. She remembered seeing other head people at their tables, but she never really paid attention good enough. what if she did it all wrong? She might go to McGonagall and end up having to be escorted back to the feast, in the middle of everything, or vise versa. She re-read her letter.

Before long, it was time to get off the train, and get into the carriages and be taken back to the school. She jumped out of the compartment and made her way through the crowds of people. She almost fell over as a tug came at her arm. Trying to keep her purse from falling and breaking everything, she turned around, fighting against the massive crowds, and saw Professor McGonagall.

"Oh! Hello, Professor!" Hermione grabbed the professors arm to keep from loosing her and McGonagall began to lead her away.

"Miss Granger, I will be taking you to the castle personally, and we will begin the things we need to go over as soon as we get there." The professor struggled against the crowds that pushed towards the carriages.

"Um, professor, won't we need to go that way to get to the castle?" Hermione jerked her thumb over her back as the teacher still pushed on.

"Yes, well, we will need to find Mister Malfoy first,"

Hermione lost her footing, almost being slammed into a fifth year Hufflepuff. She cried sorry over her back, but he didn't notice.

"Why would we need Malfoy for this?" Hermione cried inside her mind, knowing the answer, having told herself the opposite the whole summer.

"Why, because he is Head Boy, of course!" The Professor suddenly leapt forward and grabbed some other poor persons arm. Hermione refused to look over to the person. Through the confusion, she probably wouldn't have been able to see the other person anyway.

McGonagall ran up to a Carriage and opened the door to it. "Hop inside, you two," She waved her arms about and Hermione grabbed at the door handle furiously, mad that all her important things had to be ruined by Malfoy. She said on the far side of the carriage. Malfoy got in and sat on the opposite side at the other end.

"Well, you two, there is much to do before the feast, and hopefully you won't be too late," She shut the door behind her and sat down next to Hermione. "Normally we prepare this moment a bit differently. I hope you don't mind."

Hermione shook her head.

The rest of the ride was in silence, with furtive glares shot across the inside of the carriage.

McGonagall seemed oblivious to this.

Finally the carriage came to a halt, throwing everything inside was jolted around a bit, so much that Hermione had to involuntarily touch Malfoy.

They traveled quickly up to the castle, pushing through the many students past first year, and got to the steps.

"Professor, don't you have to go and tend to the first years?" Hermione struggled to get up steps, having wasted most of her energy already.

The professor turned her head back to Hermione and smiled. "The job was given to some one else this year, my dear. I wanted to take care of this." And, with one last glazed look at Hermione, she turned and pulled open the great towering doors.

The three of them walked past the Great Hall, where all the other students were emptying into, and made their way up a tall case of stairs. And more stairs, and then more.

And once McGonagall finally stopped, they were in a corridor that Hermione never had really paid to much attention to.

She walked to a door that Hermione had never been inside of, and beckoned for Hermione and Malfoy to come with her.

"Now, this door leads to an adjoining study room, where you can be in silence away from the rest of your house. There will be two doors on the opposite walls, which lead to your separate rooms. From your rooms, there will be three doors, one for your bathroom, one for a closet, and another that leads to your common rooms." McGonagall took a deep breath. "You must have a password, and only the three of us will know it. If you say the password wrong, or just try and open the door, it will lead to a closet. So no one can get in but us, and I will only come in during an emergency."

Hermione ran her fingers over the wooden door; trying not to think of all the things Malfoy could do to her as the year goes by.

"Now, think up a password, quickly. We must get back in time for the feast." McGonagall folded her arms over her chest and prepared herself for a long wait.

"I don't care," Malfoy said, his voice slightly echoing in the corridor. He yawned, looking incredibly bored with the world.

"Well," Hermione clasped her hands behind her back. "It would need to be something out of the ordinary, so how about- " Hermione quickly tried to rack her mind for something that didn't sound too stupid. "Antipathy?"

It was the fist thing that entered her head. At least she was trying.

"Good enough." She took out her wand and tapped the door, murmuring something. "Antipathy!" She said. "Now, lets go and see the rooms, shall we?" The door creaked horribly as McGonagall opened them, revealing a staircase going up quite a ways.

Great, more stairs, Hermione thought madly. This is not my best day, is it? She felt incredibly bitter, having things going almost the opposite of how they were supposed to be going.

There was another door at the top of the stairs, and McGonagall opened it gingerly, swinging it forward into a great room.

The first thing Hermione noticed was the warmth that emanated from the room. She couldn't see a fireplace, so that was a bit odd.

There was a large couch lying in the middle of the room, a few feet from the end wall. And there was a great big window about ten feet above it, stretching to the ceiling.

And the cutest little chairs, one on the left of the couch, and another on the right. The left one had reddish colored print on it, and yellowy-gold woven into it, and the other was greenish with some silvery thread.

Obviously for Slytherin and Gryffindor, Hermione thought. Any idiot could see that.

Malfoy walked over and set some things he had been carrying on the Slytherin chair.

Hermione walked towards the door to the left of the entrance door, that had a gold lion painted onto the door, with a red shield painted behind it. She pushed the door open, and gasped.

It was the most beautiful room she had ever seen.

There was a four-post bed with the head lying against the wall, more towards the middle of the wall and the room. There was a fat, comfy-looking comforter lying on the bed, so long and wide that it fell to the floor, covering the large space that was underneath the bed. And there were two doors on her right wall, and one on the wall behind her, almost opposite of her bed.

She decided that she wanted to save the exploring for later, and went back to the common room where McGonagall stood waiting.

"Lovely, isn't it?" McGonagall said, looking around the room with fondness.

"Yes, I just love it," Hermione looked back to the window, where the moon was just rising into view.

"You know, to put a password on a door, you just repeat the incantation 'Aromohola arbusportal' and then repeat the password," McGonagall turned toward Hermione, reading her feelings correctly.

Hermione suddenly felt better. "What would I need a password for?" She said, feeling the need to cover up her scared feelings.

"Normally there are more things that happen between the two Heads, but this year." McGonagall broke off, eyeing the Slytherin door.

At that second Malfoy popped out, shutting his door behind him, and stood right next to it, narrowing his eyes at Hermione. Hermione noticed a white something sticking out of a pocket of his robe.

"Now," McGonagall clapped her hands together. "We will need to discuss all the things that you two must understand and go through with over this year," McGonagall pushed up the brim of her hat and looked at both Hermione and Malfoy intently.

Hermione held back a yawn. She already knew most of this, whether it was from a supposed-to-be-short pep talk with Percy (Who was eager to explain all the things he had to go through with in his seventh year) or from an old book somewhere, or from McGonagall herself in earlier years.

"Now, you realize that you were put in this high position because of your outstanding efforts in you classrooms, and, er, your obedience," McGonagall faltered slightly, staring at the door behind the two of them, and Hermione wondered whether this was because of Malfoys Malfoy-ness, or because of Hermione's constant rule breaking she did with Harry and Ron under the teachers noses.

McGonagall continued on. "And you can be taken down from this position at anytime so long as I feel that you aren't presenting a positive image for the rest of the school to look up to,"

The speech continued for quite a long time, and Hermione felt her mind wandering.

She thought suddenly of Hagrid, his beaming smile hiding in his black bushy beard, and his glistening black eyes. His classes had gotten progressively better, and Hermione really wanted to get back out there with Harry and Ron and learn more about all the interesting creatures the magical world had to offer.

She knew them all already, but every now and then Hagrid would stumble across a never known fact. That wasn't Hagrid's fault; almost all her classes were like reviews.

Her mind wandered all over her classes, and how much she couldn't wait to get back to them. Learning was so much fun.

The smile that was growing on her face, without her knowledge, suddenly diminished.

There was one class she didn't want to get back to. Potions were so fun to make, and required so much logical thinking, and not just magic by itself. But Snape could ruin everything.

She thought bitterly about going to class, and seeing Snapes face smirk at her, taunting the Gryffindors and taking points off for everything.

Whenever she was bored, she could just occupy her time by thinking of all the ways Snape would make fun of her in the next potions class. Thinking up what he might take points off for the next day. 'You're too loud, Granger. Ten points off.' 'You're too quiet, Granger, you must be up to something. Ten points off.'

Without thinking about it, her face had been formed into a scowl. She quickly straightened her emotions, and automatically put her fingers through her incredibly wavy/curly brown hair.

" . And so, that is why you can not make that kind of mistake in the first place. Now, that is about it, so lets get going down to the feast."

McGonagall turned and opened the door to the stairs, and began walking down them. Malfoy quickly followed her.

Hermione turned to take a last look at the room she was in, to stare at the moon in the window.

A white piece of parchment lay on the ground by the couch. Instinctively, Hermione went and picked it up. The bottom part of the parchment was torn, hastily.

Writing was scrawled very neatly all over the parchment. Hermione began to read it, wondering what it would be about, forgetting about going down for the feast.

'Malfoy- I got the powder made. Just out it on anything, and whoever touches it will turn the age you specified. And, remember the bet. If it doesn't happen, one thousand galleons on my table my next Friday, or you will be in some deep, deep shit. It will work, I have already tried it. So don't brink back any crap about it not working, got it? The powder should be attached to this parchment, in a separate little envelope. Respond to this by Wednesday.'

Hermione scrunched up her nose, wondering what in the hell the letter was talking about. Malfoy made a bet with someone, and it involved powder that was attached to this paper?

She suddenly remembered the white thing sticking out of Malfoys pocket. This must have fallen out, or something. Malfoy wouldn't leave this lying around.

So, whatever it was, he was going to do it tonight! She re-read the letter. The powder turned someone to a certain age, then?

She went over to the stack of things on the green and silver chair that Malfoy had left, lifted a couple of things, then put the letter back.

And then ran out the door, and flew down the steps.

Whatever Malfoy was involved in, it couldn't be good.

Down the corridors she went, looking for a sign of Malfoy and McGonagall. Hopefully they hadn't gotten there with out her.

Wait! He probably won't do it the second he gets in there, though! Hermione slowed down. But then she remembered that she still didn't want to get there late.

She continued running down the halls, until she turned a corner and saw the hair of McGonagall contrasting with the rest of the black castle, and her black robes and hat.

Hermione slowed down. "Oh, Professor," She said as casually as she could, trying to think up a conversation.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" McGonagall turned her head slightly over her shoulder to look at Hermione.

"I was wondering, about the prefects bathroom, what is the password this year?" Hermione smiled to herself. She already knew it, but she couldn't think up anything else to say. Then something dawned on her, and she looked around in all the directions she could. "Where's Malfoy?"

"Oh, he said he was taking a shortcut or something, I don't know. He was a bit behind me, and I figured you would have seen him go."

"Oh, yah, I did," Hermione said quickly. "I just didn't know where. I am afraid I haven't been paying too much attention to anything or anyone since I arrived here," Well, at least that part is true, she thought.

They turned a corner and the Great Hall's doorway came into view, the great doors open and holding tightly to the walls.

From inside there was a wave of clapping. Hermione quickened her pace.

"Hoverry, Jacob!" Someone called. There was a second of silence, then, "Slytherin!" There was another wave of clapping. And a few boo's.

Hermione rushed forward. She would hate herself that year for missing the sorting.

"Well, go sit at your table for now," McGonagall said quietly, making her way towards the staff table, where almost all the staff had been accumulated. Dumbledore stood a few feet away from the stool way out in front of the tables, now with a tattered black hat on it.

Dumbledore called out, "Jacobson, Alisha!"

A little girl ran up to the stool. Almost immediately after placing the hat on his head, it yelled, "Gryffindor!"

Hermione clapped as she made her way to the Gryffindor table, were Ron and Harry were sitting, saving her a spot.

"Hello, Hermione!" Ginny said, her eyes bright and shining. "I knew that you would be head girl, well, everyone knew that, but, I mean - "

"Shut up, Ginny," Ron made a face at his sister and looked over the many people in front of him as Dumbledore called out more names.

"You shut up," She retorted, though no one was listening.

Hermione tried to look over to the Slytherin table, but she was sitting on the wrong side for doing that, so she had to keep turning her whole body around. She didn't want Malfoy to get out of her sight, but it was too late for that.

Harry noticed the worried look on her face, along with her frequent turns in her seat.

"Is everything ok?" He asked as quiet as he could, while a little girl sat on the stool in front of the tables.

Hermione smiled and nodded.

Dumbledore rolled up the piece of parchment he held in front of him, and waved his hand to indicate that McGonagall come over and help him.

Just then, Malfoy came into the Great Hall. No one noticed, basically, except for Hermione, as she was watching the doorway like a hawk.

He walked slowly, watching McGonagall come over and take the stool, hat, and list from Dumbledore, and walk out of the Great Hall. Malfoy took the back way to get to his table, passing the staff table.

Hermione strained her eyes to see what he was doing better. She watched, as Malfoy did nothing special.

Hagrid and most of the other nice teachers were watching Malfoy suspiciously, too. Hermione was glad at that, so that he couldn't do anything stupid.

Malfoy had his hands in his pocket. Hermione couldn't see the white paper pouch thing anymore, she guessed he had hidden it or something.

He scrunched up his nose suddenly, took his hands out of his pocket, and then sneezed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She was being paranoid.

The rest of the teachers looked away at this point. Hermione was just thinking about which teachers were missing, but realized it was just Snape and McGonagall. An empty seat next to Dumbledore, and an empty seat next to Hagrid.

Malfoy sneezed again. This time Hermione looked, and was surprised to see a kind of greenish stuff coming out of his hand.

Hermione stopped breathing. The dust was falling right onto McGonagalls plate.

Malfoy then began walking at a bit more normal pace, faster, if not. Hermione followed him with her eyes, watching him go to the stupid Slytherin table, where Crabbe and Goyle were waiting for him. Hermione scoffed and turned back towards the staff table, where McGonagall was now heading.

Hermione held her breath as McGonagall sat at her seat, where the ominous powder waited, and Hermione wondered what age the powder made you. Would Malfoy have complete control over the persons age, or would the person turn the same age with that powder?

She watched as McGonagall fingered her fork, wondering if she had to touch the powder any special way.

Dumbledore suddenly saw McGonagall sitting down, and beckoned her to the empty chair next to him. Hermione sighed with relief.

McGonagall let go of her fork and got up, smiling and talking about something with Dumbledore.

Hermione swiveled around in her seat, expecting to see Malfoy watching McGonagall like a hawk, but saw him avidly talking with his friends, and some other stupid Slytherins. No doubt about his retarded plan.

She looked back towards the staff table, only to see Snape walking into the Great Hall, making his way towards the only empty seat, the one contaminated with Malfoys green powder, and then sit down.

"You can't possibly not be hungry, Hermione," Harry said, his mouth half full of pork and mashed potatoes.

Hermione looked down at her empty plate, and then at the plates of food in front of her.

She looked back up, and saw Snape take his fork, stab it into some food, and then put it in his mouth.

In the next second, many things happened.

Without realizing what she was doing, Hermione stood up, a little too suddenly. Her chair was knocked over, and the clatter rang through the Great Hall.

Most everyone in the hall became silent, staring at her, most slightly annoyed. And for a brief moment, Hermione caught Snape's eye, and she tried to tell him.

Malfoy finally looked up and saw how wrong things were going, and stood too, ready to spring into action, or into hiding.

Then there was a light green mist, getting darker, coming from the direction of the staff table.

And a blinding light suddenly filled the room, the silent wave coming with it forcing everyone down, flattened on the floor.

After the light disappeared, everything in the hall was quiet for a minute or two.

Hermione groaned, pulling her legs over the seat of her chair that lay on the ground beneath her.

She grabbed onto the now vertical part of wood that was her chair to try and pull herself up.

With a feverish glance around the Great Hall, Hermione realized with a twisted thought that only she and Malfoy were standing.

Malfoy was leaning on the Slytherin table, or what was left of it, eyeing the staff table.

Hermione caught his eye, and she scowled at him. He mouthed the word 'oops'.

She snapped her head back towards the staff table when she heard a great rumbling roar. As a great black poofy thing appeared above the table's edge, her thoughts that this was Hagrid were confirmed.

Hagrid looked over at Hermione, a bewildered look in his eye, then at Malfoy, and turned his head to his side quickly.

By now more and more people were getting up, especially after Hagrid's monster-sounding groans.

Hagrid suddenly yelped out loud, causing even more people to hastily pull themselves up to see.

"Snape!" Hagrid suddenly leapt at the ground, pulling up a lump of black stuff. "Are ya okay?"

Hagrid tried to stand this black lump up, this Snape, but it kept falling. Hagrid tried to push a mess of the long black hair from Snape's face, revealing his white-ish skin.

And, along with everyone else in the Great Hall at that moment that could see, Hermione gasped.

~*~

Ok, more soon! There will be lots of Snapie/Herm romance, but in my own twisted ways. I love putting them together under special circumstances. Review soon, ok? So that I know if you want more or not.