Authors notes: the golden trio have returned and Snape and Remus are NOT dead. Sorry but couldn't have my two favourite teachers killed off
"He is infuriating!" a tired, angry Hermione said over the Gryffindor dining table. "It's not like we already have our exams to study for and the ridiculous amount of extra work he gives us, but now we have to do a 5000 word report for him!"
Ron and Harry tucked into their plates of potatoes and chicken. It had been the end of a long day with double potions finishing it off. Snape had set the class a 5000 word dissertation on the properties of poly juice potion.
"Surely you should manage it fine though 'Mione?" Ron said through mouthfuls of peas. "I mean you did make one in second year!"
Hermione snorted at this, "of course I will Ronald! And ill bloody well write more than 5000 words! But it's the ridiculousness of it all, who gives out an essay this close to our exams?"
"Professor Lupin did," Harry interjected through his own mouthful of food.
"Harry that hardly counts," Hermione argued. "He wants us to write a page long essay on a description of a werewolf, it's just a joke."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and continued eating. He had Quidditch practice in half an hour and needed as much warm food in him to brave the cold October weather as possible.
Although the boys were annoyed at the essay they weren't as stressed as Hermione. She was taking more subjects than most in seventh year, this time without the use of the time turner to get her by. Instead she was opting for extra revision classes and more homework to catch up on it all.
The golden trio had returned to Hogwarts after the war and resumed study in seventh year. The school had been practically restored to normal with only certain classrooms blocked off for safety. Many of the corridors now held pictures and memorial pieces to the many that lost their lives in the war. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been glad to see most of their friends return to the school for another final year and were also pleased at the teachers now in session. Professor McGonagall had taken position of Headmistress with Snape as potions master and deputy headmaster. Although Snape had turned out to be the good guy the three were still not overly fond of him as nothing in his personality in the aftermath of the war had changed, apart from a slight acceptance of harry now. The three were however ecstatic to see Professor Lupin reinstated as Defence Against the Dark Arts. Hermione was especially glad to have him back as with the loss of her parent's memories of her she looked to Remus as a fatherly figure.
Now sitting in the great hall the mood between the three was fairly tense. "We need to sleep at some point!" Hermione said still complaining.
"Maybe you shouldn't have taken so many subjects?" Ron suggested slightly worried on what his friend's reaction might be.
Hermione put down her fork and stared back at him. "I'm sorry for wanting to get the best out of my education!" she snapped. "If only that was possible with the evil potions teacher we have!"
Ron and harry nearly spat out their food as they saw the figure standing behind Hermione turn round to face them. Trying to signal to Hermione to shut up they found they were to late.
"He's so stupid giving us this much!" Hermione continued. "He's not realistic, selfish and above all he is cru-"
"Evil, Miss Granger?" Snape said coldly. "Well I am sure we can discuss in depth the very range of my evil tendencies during detention. Tonight. 8 o'clock." And with that he swept away leaving a mortified Hermione staring teary eyed at the two boys opposite her.
"You could have warned me!" Hermione said in angry whispers.
"W-we did try!" Ron said quickly.
The rest of their meals were eaten in silence before they got up and skulked off to the shared common room. Harry quickly got changed and left Ron and Hermione sitting by the warm fire. Hermione leaned happily against Ron's shoulder and soon drifted off into a light slumber.
The two had tried hard to make a go out of their blossoming romance but it wasn't long before seeing their differences separated them too much. They had been brought together during a time of pain and war; if anything they just needed comfort, not a partner. So at the start of the school term they both decided on an end to their short relationship and thankfully their friendship never faltered because of it.
After what only felt like a 10 minute sleep to Hermione, Ron was shaking her awake. "Hermione its almost 8, you had better be off. Wouldn't want to be late to the dungeon bats detention."
Hermione sleepily rubbed her eyes and sat up. During her hour long sleep she had managed to find herself sleeping over Ron's lap in a most comfortable way. "Oh great," she huffed. "Thanks Ron, see you later."
Standing up she made her way to the portrait and slipped out. The walk to the dungeons was long and quite chilly and Hermione soon found herself wrapping arms around herself in an attempt to stay warm.
Reaching the cold iron door she knocked sharply three times and was soon beckoned in. The room was colder than the corridor and had the faint smell of past potions and damp.
Snape was sitting at his desk pouring over a stack of papers and notes. "Miss Granger your detention for tonight will be to clean all the pots and tubes."
Hermione looked shocked and was glad her potions teacher couldn't see her pleased expression. "Is that all sir?" she questioned hopefully. It would be easy to do and surely only take about a half an hour with her wand.
Snape looked up for the first time since she had entered the Ron. Unfortunately he had a small smirk on his lips. "Oh yes miss granger, that's all." Hermione waited expectedly for worse. "You will not be using your wand though. No, no. Instead this," holding up an old toothbrush Snape broke out into a grin before throwing the toothbrush at Hermione and looking back down to his work.
Hermione caught the small muggle object and sighed. Of course she wouldn't be using her wand. It was Snape after all. Walking over to the pots and tubes cupboard she extracted some of the larger ones and sat on the floor and began her night's work of cleaning.
The room remained silent as Hermione scrubbed and scrubbed. Within an hour her arm was giving her enormous pain from the amount of force she had to put in to shift the dirt and grime. What made things worse was the vulgar smell that drifted off some of the older pans nearer the back of the cupboard. It was clear they hadn't been cleaned in quite some time.
The hours slipped by and Hermione sulked in the corner doing the cleaning. After looking up at the clock on the wall Hermione was shocked to see it going on past half 10. "Sir its half ten!" Hermione said surprise and annoyance etched in her voice. She had been cleaning for far longer than necessary. "May I go now?"
Snape nodded his head but didn't say a word. Hermione gathered up the stuff and placed it back into the cupboards then quickly made her way across the classroom and opened the door to leave. Just as she was about to step out the door Snape's voice made her stop, "do you really believe I am evil?"
Hermione, shocked at the question stuttered slightly and struggled to find an answer. However before she had a chance to tell her opinion he cut her off, "you may go miss granger."
Closing the door behind her Hermione half ran to the Gryffindor common room and up to her dormitory. The room was silent with the few seventh year girls in the room already asleep. Hermione got changed and lay down on her bed. Had he really asked her that? It seemed a bit to personal for him. Thinking it over Hermione was washed over with a sudden wave of guilt, she hadn't apologized for what he had overheard in the great hall earlier, but surely Snape wasn't the type to want one, was he? Turning over she shook her head. 'Nope he's just being odd. Still mean,' she thought then wearily closed her eyes and fell into a much needed sleep.
