AN: Hullo Hullo everybody. Thanks for reading so far. Thanks for the review(s) as well. I want to take this time and clear some things up. Hermione and the gang are in their 6th year at Hogwarts. This puts her, harry, and Ron at 17. In this story Hermione was allowed to keep the Time Turner after her 3rd Year. This comes to play later in the story as well as making Hermione 18, from her use of said Time Turner. Also it was noted that the Bolding of the actual speech is headache inducing. I apologize we will see if this is any better. I appreciate feed folks and please hang in there with me as I am trying to build up the story. It will speed up a little once the gang reaches Hogwarts i promise. So please enjoy and let me know about any problems( I dont have a beta. Just a Husband who glances over it).
Chapter 2
Hermione barely had time to register her name being yelled before she was in a crushing hug from the youngest Weasley.
"Gin! I missed …"gasp, "you…"gasp "too. Now please lemme GO" Hermione managed to say while her ribs were most likely being broken.
"I'm sorry 'Mia", said Ginny apologetically, "but if you would have visited over the summer I wouldn't have lost control" stated Ginny with a playful shove.
Hermione hip-checked Ginny before she felt herself being tugged backwards into another warm engulfing hug.
"Hullo there Granger." said George with a smirk. " We missed you this summer" followed Fred.
Hermione pushed away from both of them to look them in the eyes. Tilting her head sideways just a bit and lifting an eyebrow she studied the twins quietly. After a few seconds she punched them both in the arms, laughing, and said
"You just missed having someone helping with your Wizard Weezes."
Turning away from the twins she caught herself looking at the door and wondering if she was right about Snape being the voice from her dreams but before she could get lost in her thoughts Ginny grabbed her hand.
"Are you ready to go shopping, 'Mia?" Hermione smiled at the use of Ginny's special nickname for her. Gin had wanted something different to call her stating,"Ron and Harry are always hollering for you. I want a different name to call you. So you don't get tired of hearing your name being hollered across the Common Room."
She pulled Ginny back out into Diagon Alley, "Yeah Ginny, I need to stop by Madame Maulkins and I want to stop by Flourish and Botts if you don't mind."
The pair wandered the street looking at shops and occasionally going into some. After picking up a few new shirts the girls headed to Flourish and Botts.
"So how was your summer Mia?" Ginny asked as they left Madame Maulkins. "It was uneventful really. I had a talk with my parents before I left. Your mum had talked with them about what has been going on in the Wizarding world. They said that they support my choices even if they don't really want me put myself in danger. They know it's important to me", as she said this Ginny nodded her head.
"I can understand that. How have you been sleeping? You look a little tired… have your dreams come back?" Hermione nodded her head. Gin was the only person she had told about what she remember of the dreams.
"Do you want to talk about them 'Mia?" Hermione looked over to Ginny as they were walking up to the entrance of Flourish and Botts and shook her head no.
'Yes, I do but I don't want anyone to know who I think is the voice' she thought. "Here we are 'Mia. I'm going to run into the Quiddich store and see if I find anything interesting before all the boys crowd up the place. I'll be back shortly."
Hermione smiled as she replied, "It's ok Gin. Take your time. You know how I get in places full of books."Ginny giggled and waved as she walked away,
"She ya in a few 'Mia".
Hermione walked into her favorite store and took a second to stop. She looked around and took in the shelves of books and people browsing. Smiling, Hermione walked toward the back of the store. Upon reaching the correct shelf she took a moment to inhale the smell of the books as she reached for the latest edition of "Hogwarts A History". When she turned around to find a quiet corner to read her book, Hermione bumped into someone,
"Oh I am so sorry. I wasn't paying any mind to my surro…" Hermione rushed out but stopped as she met the coal black eyes from earlier.
"Professor…" she whispered out shakily.
"I am …" she started to apologize again, but was stopped from continuing when Snape lifted his hand, motioning her to stop.
"Funny, Miss Granger, how just earlier you were so rudely stating that I was meandering around like a bull in a china shop. I see it takes one to know one", Snape quipped at her.
Hermione stared at him for a moment not finding words to reply with. Instead her head was filled with thoughts about his voice,
'It has to be him. But if it is, what is he going through? What is happening to him and why? Does anyone know?'
Whilst Hermione was lost in thought, Snape glared at her face trying to decide if she needed medical attention. When he caught her eyes he thought he saw pity for a moment but she shook her head and spoke. "You're right professor. I am sorry for my comment earlier today. I am just tired and I was embarrassed, so I took it out on you. I apologize again."
Snape had to keep his jaw from hitting the floor.
'The know-it-all actually apologized and meant it. What's gotten into her.'
Snape cleared his head of these thoughts and replied to Hermione the only way he was use to, with snark.
"Well, Well Miss Granger. It seems that the Golden Trio has hope, yet, to learn some manners."
Hermione had to bit her lip to stop herself from automatically retorting to his comment. 'Just breathe Hermione. Be the better person. You know you are sorry and that obviously this man has something going on in his life. Now just how to find out what…' ,she thought.
Instead she looked the professor in his eyes, smiled, and said, "Well someone has to teach those boys something and it might as well be the know-it-all".
She didn't give him time to reply to her smart quip as she quickly turned and walked to the register at the front of Flourish and Botts. As she was paying for her book Hermione felt a shiver go down her spine and chanced a look behind her; seeing Snape leave the store with his robes billowing around him. When finished with her transaction she made her way back into Diagon Alley, giving a cursory glance around the shop, she looked for Ginny.
Ginny was still in the quiddich store until she heard a couple of Second years talking about Snape leaving Flourish and Botts in a fowler mood than normal. She rushed out of the store and upon seeing Hermione, standing outside the bookstore, she ran over to her.
"Everything okay 'Mia? I heard a couple of second years complaining that Snape about ran them over trying to leave Flourish and Botts. Supposedly the he was in a bad mood." Just as Ginny finished her sentence and before Hermione could reply they heard, "When is the greasy bat not in a fowl mood?" Ron butted in. He started to say more but was silenced by Hermione's glare. "Ronald! You don't need to talk about teachers like that. He may not be the nicest person but he is still a person. Plus we have this year and next year left. Don't you want to graduate? You cant do that if you get yourself expelled."
"Alright guys no more arguing. Lets go get some ice cream before we have to head back to the burrow." Ginny pleaded.
"Yeah. Gin is right let's just enjoy our last day of freedom." added Harry.
With that the group of friends all linked arms and started walking towards the ice cream parlor. Hermione couldn't help but smile as she glanced at the faces of her friends, 'I am so lucky to have met them.' But her smile quickly turned into a scowl as she thought of the dour professor whom she had bumped into twice that day. 'Is that his problem? Does he have any friends.. He doesn't seem the type to socialize with the other professors… hmm … maybe ill just have to find out.' With a smirk on her face she turned to Harry,
"Harry."
"Yeah, 'Mione? "he replied as they enter the shop.
"Can I borrow the cloak once we get settle back at Hogwarts?" she questioned.
"Let me guess, you need it for the Library, don't you?" Harry smiled.
Hermione laughed at her best friend, for once glad that she used it for late night studying. "You know me so well Mr. Potter."
As they entered into the parlor Hermione's mind wandered as she began to try and form a plan.
'Now that i'll have the cloak what am i going to do... Snape is very suspicious. So his room will be heavily warded, no doubt. Hmmm. I may have to follow him around in the cloak on a night he has rounds. Yeah that might work.'. Smiling that her plans were forming Hermione stood in line with her friends. All excited for the start of the new year.
