Hello dear soon to be reader. Thank you for stumbling onto my humble little fiction. Before you proceed (and possibly complain) I should inform you that this is my first fiction, is a romance between Hermione Granger and Severus Snape, is Alternate Universe in the fact that Snape is a pureblood and that he is alive, having survived Nagini's bite, it is a marriage fic (hence the reason for changing Snape's lineage), and is probably not the most creative piece of work you will/have ever read.

I estimate Severus to be thirty eight. I'm not completely sure but here is my math -

At 17 Severus joins voldy. Not long after, I'm going to guess around 20, the Potters were killed

At this time, Harry is a baby.

So add 20 to Harry's current age (17) and you get thirty seven

Give or take a few months I make it 38.

With that said, I plan to post twice a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday. I am writing this fic as I go so there are no guarantees. Thanks for reading. (: Hope to see your reviews.

--x--

Severus Snape's eyes snapped awake and he quickly gauged the situation around him. He could smell down feathers, his cologne, and the scent of beef where the odor of his meal from the night before had permeated some of the fabric in his private rooms. Severus instantly came to the conclusion that he was in his room, safe and sound. He had gone through the same routine every morning for the past twenty years, but for the past three months it had been highly unnecessary.

Three months ago, Harry Potter had killed off the dark lord, much to the pleasure of Severus and the rest of the wizarding world. Nagini had bitten him during the final battle and had thankfully missed his vocal chords and jugular. His voice functioned fine and he was still alive but he did have a pretty unattractive scar on his neck. "Add it to the list" he thought ruefully. His entire body was covered in scars from his work as a spy. The scar on his neck, however, he was incredibly sensitive about.

Severus rose from the bed that had been his for what seemed like an eternity and began to brush his teeth methodically. It was nice to be able to do this every day, where as when Voldemort was around, he never knew what mornings he would be laying in a cave broken and bleeding somewhere and dental hygiene was the last concern. But since he had the opportunity daily, his teeth had turned white and shiny, much to the approval of those forced to interact with him on a daily basis. After he was done with his teeth, he brushed a comb through his lank raven hair and then used a shaving spell to get rid of yesterday's growth.

He then approached his walk in closet. It was unimpressive. One wall held a bunch of identical white button up long sleeve shirts, one his black pants, the other his cloaks. It was unimpressive and the only color that was present in the closet was the green of his dress robes and the robe he wore to quidditch games. The closet wasn't even half full. His nightshirts were folded neatly in a dresser in his room. He selected one thing from each of the shelves and grabbed his dragon hide boots to go get dressed in his bedroom.

His room was exactly what one would expect from the head of Slytherin, decorated in green and silver. All of his furniture was made out of dark, presumably mahogany, wood. His room was spacious and not many personal items lay strewn around. When you pondered it, it was actually quite depressing. He was dressed in not much time, in his traditional garb and walked into his living room which was decorated much like his bedroom. He then walked into his private office to grab the essays he graded last night, walked through the door to his class office then another into his classroom.

He surveyed the room for a moment, glad that it was immaculate like it should be due to the detention last night, set the essays on his desk, and departed, bound for the great hall. Despite his heavy footwear, Severus made no noises as he made his way through the cobblestone hallways alone. Alone. Severus was always and would always be alone. He didn't care. After his closest friend, if you could call him that, had been killed by his own hand, Severus didn't talk to anyone but Minerva about anything personal. The old hen was like his mother these days, always worrying about him. Effectively, she had taken Albus' place in Severus' life. She was just as meddlesome too.

Severus entered the great hall with his usual theatrics meant to scare the younger students (it worked) and sat to Minerva McGonagall's right uttering an unimpressive greeting. After Severus had stepped down from the post, Minerva had been elected by the board of governors to become Headmistress. Minerva had taken Severus as Deputy head, despite his complaints. It went without saying that most of the students were horrified of him after dealing with the Carrows and knowing that he was a deadly spy.

Of course, the golden trio did not fear him. Or duo would be more proper these days. After the war, the students who missed their seventh year had the option to return and make it up. The others could go ahead and take their NEWTS, testing out of it. Only five students had opted to come back to school. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Susan Bones, Draco Malfoy, and Terry Boot.

The returning students had, in the absence of room in their respective towers been forced to room with each other. Minerva had found an old suit in the tower next to the astronomy tower and made it suitable for the students, putting two four posters in one room and three in the other. Surprisingly, their common room was larger than the ones in the houses they had before.

There were many objections to this sharing of quarters but now, one week from the start of school this year, the issues had subsided for the most part. Terry and Susan had fallen in so called love, and in order for everyone not to have to hear them going at it, Hermione moved in with the guys, leaving Terry and Susan to be able to sleep with each other without disturbing the rest of the quarters. This also left Harry, Hermione, and Malfoy in a room together. Harry had never gotten over the conviction in his mind that Malfoy was evil, even after Draco's heart to heart with the duo where he told of his spying aside Snape. Hermione, however, had drawn up a truth with the blonde Slytherin and since then, they had gotten along, Hermione learning to appreciate his snide humor and intelligence.

It was this odd pair, Slytherin and Gryffindor, that rounded the turn that lead to the large doors to the great hall right behind their professor. Draco and Hermione chuckled at his dramatic entrance and followed quietly behind. The pair had taken to eating at a small side table along with the other sort of seventh years that sat to left of the teachers table. Hermione still had a hard time eating, always feeling like the student's eyes were on her all the time.

Draco held out her seat for her, the epitome of pureblood manners, minus the fact that they were being put to use on a muggle born. Severus eyed them curiously from his perch at the teacher's table. Lucius would be disgusted with the fact that Draco was behaving so. But Lucius was in Azkaban so he would never know. Severus returned his attention to the meal before him, while Hermione focused on Draco.

"Thanks Draco" she said appreciatively.

"No problem" he said gruffly. He was still new to this friendship and the whole concept of friendship in general. Hermione filled up her plate enthusiastically as he stomach growled. Malfoy sent her a look of humor mingled with disgust then thought better of it. "You could do to put on some weight" he said at her look of confusion at his change of expression. She rolled her eyes then dug in.

Harry joined the pair looking all ruffled up.

"How'd you sleep Harry?" Hermione asked conversationally, Hermione hadn't been woken by any nightmare screams which was always a good sign. Of course, it could mean that he had suck out during the night to see Ginny, whom was currently in Seventh year and consequently in Harry and Hermione's every class.

"Great. No dreams" He said then proceeded to stuff himself in a most Ron-like fashion. Many had wondered why Ron had not taken the chance to be with his friends for another year and his reason was that after Fred had passed away, George had a hard time running Weasley's Wizard Wheezes on his own and asked his brother for help. Ron agreed, feeling guilty about taking Fred's place but knowing that George relied on him heavily to keep the shop running.

At her thoughts of Ron, Hermione's attention quickly shifted to the noise that announced the mail. A bunch of owls entered the window that was kept open for the post in the great hall. Pigwidgeon arrived between Harry and Hermione and proffered his leg. Harry quickly removed the letter the small bird offered and gave him some of Harry's bacon. A large tawny owl arrived near Draco. Both boys opened their letters, Hermione read Ron's over Harry's shoulder, knowing it was to both of them.

Hey Mates!,

Running the store has not been easy seeing as every bloody thing I look at is covered in memories of Fred but I have been coping, and it has been nice to have money for once.

I've been dating Luna for a while and believe it or not, I think it's getting serious. I'm not talking marriage or anything but maybe down the road. Oh! George needs me. I'll write longer later.

Bye!

-Ron

Hermione laughed at his ever present promise to write longer letters. Harry let out a deep chuckle. They both looked at Draco. Hermione didn't want to pry but Draco could see her curiosity anyway.

"Just my finance manager." Draco said in a bored tone. Hermione cocked her eyebrow. "I just sold one of father's less reputable businesses." he said, satisfying his nosy friend. They all took a moment of silence, unhappily remembering the war then discussed the weather at Hermione's prompting. It was sunny outside and they could tell due to the enchanted roof of the great hall. This made the trio giddy and eager to get outside. Unfortunately they had lessons today as it was a Wednesday.

They finished their meals then groaned when they realized they had potions next. Well Harry groaned. Draco was close to his godfather and Hermione just enjoyed potions, not caring about Professor Snape's scathing comments about her supposed inability to think without the aid of a book. They all went down to the classroom. It was their first potions lesson this year. All students dreaded this day because they would be paired with partners for the year whom they would sit with and work with.

They scurried to the door, closely following Professor Snape who unwarded the door and allowed them and the rest of the rowdy students in. Harry and Ginny walked in together, leaving Hermione and Draco alone. As the students filed in the room, Hermione noticed that there were many more Gryffindors than Slytherins. That very fact sent a pang of guilt and sadness through their professor, though he didn't show it. Every empty seat of a student who died in the war felt like a failure. He couldn't dwell on the fact though, he had brats that needed seats assigned.

"I'd say good morning but your presence deems that an inappropriate sentiment." he said, cutting them down as the first act of the school year for the Slytherin/Gryffindor potions class. By this time, they were used the routine of him pointing to two seats and barking out names.

Harry got Seated with some sixth year girl and Ginny instantly looked jealous. Much to Hermione's pleasure she got seated with Draco. This would certainly be an easy year without Neville to babysit. The last she had heard from Neville, he had taken up a job in Herbology so he was well off. That pleased Hermione. A loud clearing of the throat interrupted Hermione's thoughts about her friend and she looked up to see Professor Snape looking at her. Hermione realized she had not moved to sit by Draco and muddled a quick apology, and moved to find her seat.

"Five points from Gryffindor for poor listening skills." Snape snapped. Somehow, he no longer felt the small bit of pleasure he used to when he berated one of Potter's groupies. Hermione took this deduction without even looking irritated. She knew that this year would be hard on her professor, especially since Harry had seen his memories. Hermione was afraid, rightfully, that Harry would be punished for his knowledge.

Her lack of reaction aggravated Snape a little but he let it go. "You dunderheads" he said, his silky voice making the insult stab "are privileged to be gracing this classroom for NEWT level studies. I expect you to work harder than you have in the past years. Any slackers will be removed from this class without a second thought. Are we clear?" after an answering chorus of 'yes professors' he proceeded to tell them that the recipe for the potion they would be brewing today was on the board.

Draco, the gentleman that he was went to get the ingredients for the pair's potion and Hermione was left to peaceful woolgathering. Hermione began to think of her parents. Missing them dearly. They had moved to Australia and loved it there, seeing no reason to return to Britan seeing as they had severed all of their ties. Their distance made it hard on Hermione, making it so she had to apparate to Italy, Turkey, Iran, India, and Indonesia before she finally made it to Australia because she did not have the experience needed to apparate such a distance in one go, but Hermione would deal with it because she had to if she wanted to see her parents.

Draco arrived noisily, barely supporting all of their supplies. Hermione tisked in disapproval. "I would have helped Draco. I offered." She said, berating him for thinking he had to get everything on his own.

"Too late" he said, dismissing her 'I told you so' attitude and deciding to start their project. Draco and Hermione worked in perfect harmony, Draco would chop something then Hermione would add it and stir. Their timing was perfectly on page with each other and they got through the potion flawlessly. Hermione smiled in satisfaction as the potion they were brewing turned the desired lavender color.

They weren't done yet but this was definitely a good sign. Hermione had nothing to do but mindlessly stir for a while and Draco had taken care of all of the ingredient chopping he could for now so they quietly talked. Hermione found it incredibly difficult to think of a discussion that did not relate to the war, seeing as pretty much their entire lives (well, hers since age 11) had been about the war.

"Why did you decide to come back to Hogwarts?" she asked curiously, remembering that she had wanted to ask him previously but had not had the opportunity. "You could have easily passed the NEWTS." she said honestly.

"I should ask you the same thing." he said, dodging the question. Hermione looked at him sternly and he amended. "I wasn't ready to go and run the estate yet. With mother dead and father…you know." he said having a hard time wrapping his mind around the fact that Lucius was locked up "I would have to take care of it all."

"Who is doing it for you?" Hermione asked, her know-it-all streak showing full form.

"Isn't it your turn to ask a question?" Malfoy asked sardonically. He didn't like the prying into his personal life.

"Yes. There's your answer." Malfoy looked dumbfounded "You just asked me if it were my turn to answer a question. Your turn again!" Malfoy rolled his eyes, deciding he wouldn't get his answer until she got all of hers.

"My godfather." He answered with an expression that seemed to say 'not that big of a deal was it?'. Hermione's curious face came out again.

"Who's that?" She asked. Malfoy sighed. Her need to know everything could get quite tiring. Malfoy shook his head and Hermione understood.

"I wasn't ready to go face my parents. They are still mad at me for obliviating them to send them to safety." she answered honestly. Malfoy was curious now.

"Where'd you send them? I head he was looking for them to get at you. That was a smart move." He said, complimenting her on her war strategy.

"I sent them to Australia and gave them fake identities." She whispered so as not to disturb the others or get a bunch of listeners to their conversation. "It wouldn't have held up against a skilled legillimans but they were well hidden and there wasn't much more I could do." she thought for a moment, most likely reflecting on old memories. "So, who is your godfather anyway?" She said, reverting back to her question.

Draco opened his mouth so he could reply but just before the name escaped his throat another Slytherin entered their conversation "Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy, could you tell me what is so important that you feel the need to interrupt the class with your incessant chatter?" he said. The way he asked the question meant that any answer would be wrong so they both remained silent, hoping he would move on to his next victim.

"I asked a question and I would like an answer," his smooth voice growled.

"We were talking about you, godfather." Draco answered boldly. Hermione blushed, not wanting him to think poorly of her.

Snape's eyes flared "Five points from Slytherin for disrespectful addressing of a teacher and detentions to you both for distracting the class." he growled. Hermione figured that he had overheard their conversation and nodded. They both said a 'yes professor' and stared at the potion that they didn't have to tend to for eight more minutes.

At that moment a loud screetching at the door interrupted the class far more than Hermione and Draco's conversation had. Eyes aflame, Severus whipped open the dungeon door to see three owls.

---x---

Cliffie.

Hope you enjoyed!

Please review! See you on Monday!