a/n: Writers Block is a bad thing.  *sighs*.  Anyway here's chapter 2.  I do not own any of these characters or settings except for Kalie Andrews.  Many thanks to my beta – Gethsemane. 

 Please r/r.  No flames.  Flames will be used to burn my algebra book cause we had finals today so I'll never have to sleep through 6th period math again.  Well... Until next year anyway.   Most importantly, enjoy!

*December 2, 2002 – 2:00 PM - Hogwarts – The Headmasters Office

            Hermione leaned her head back on the arm of her sofa.  Her dark brown hair fanned out behind her and was covered quickly by sunlight, turning it to gold.  Her eyes wandered across the room to where Severus sat, slumped behind her desk.  He rested one arm on his forehead as he diligently scribbled at a bit of parchment.  Writing to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews I presume.  Well we did promise them.  Are we really doing the right thing?  Would Dumbledore have done the same?  Why does it matter to me if Dumbledore would have done what we're doing?  Hermione sat up with a start and began to furiously pace the floor.  Severus glanced up, the sudden movement catching his eyes.  He sat back and watched her furious stride for a few minutes before saying,

            "Hermione, love, don't you think you should stop before you make a hole in the carpet?" 

            Hermione stopped her furious step and looked at him for a minute.  She sighed quietly and walked back over to her sofa and sat down.  "Sorry Sev.  Nervous minute.  I'll be alright."

            "Anything I can help with?" he asked, walking over to her and kissing her hair.

            "Not really," Hermione began, "It's just that I keep asking myself whether Dumbledore would be doing the same things we are doing.  And then I keep asking myself why I care.  And then I start this whole inner debate that gets really really confusing after awhile," she smiled winsomely, "Everything is just ducky though.  Don't worry."

            Severus looked at her for a few minutes.  Well she does know how to read minds, doesn't she?  Hermione's on the same exact mind frame I'm on.  Except she shows it more.  Severus stifled a laugh.  The mental picture of her pacing furiously as she had been a few minutes ago had returned.  She had looked so aggressive; yet it had taken only sixteen words to calm her down.  That was Hermione.  As much as I love the girl, I have to admit she has quite the mercurial temperament.  Smiling, he wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders, "I've thought the same thing a dozen times over.  Funny, isn't it?  You're reading my mind without even trying!"

            "If I wanted to try I could be a lot more accurate with my reading though."

            "Do you want to try?"

            "Do you think I'd tell you if I was going to try?"

            "Do you think I'd let you not tell me?"

            " Do you think I'd ask?" Hermione stopped talking for laughing to hard.  She flopped back against the arm of the sofa and let the tremors of giggles take her.  She hadn't been this merry since last Christmas when her mother had put a little too much rum in the eggnog.  Spiked eggnog was a traditional Granger family drink, but too much was never a good thing. (a/n that was for you, Emily Andrus Louise Borden, lol) Sitting up, she smiled at her fiancée (who had been glaring in pretended horror at her giggles), "Don't be so stiff Sev!  Anyway you got me out of that fit of seriousness."

            Severus grinned and kissed her forehead as he rose.  "I'll leave you with that, m'lady.  I have some work that I must get done."

            "Planning to stop working for dinner tonight, love?" Hermione asked gently.

            "Yes!" Severus said with a ridiculous grin, "In fact, let's go out to Hogsmeade tonight.  You and me!  What do you say to that!"

            Hermione grinned.  First date, huh?  Probably one of the few modern day couples who got engaged without going out on one single date.  She stifled a laugh and said, "Love to!  Never thought you'd loosen up enough to ask me."     

*December 2, 2002 – 3:00 PM – Hogwarts – 1st year Hufflepuff dorms

            Kalie Andrews sat alone on her four-poster in the Hufflepuff first year dormitory.  She had been sorted privately (her headmasters not wishing for her to go through the nervous break down the average first year has during the Sorting) and was not surprised to be in Hufflepuff.  She was a smart enough kid, but no genius.  She wasn't really a coward, just not the lion type.  And she snuck around occasionally, but who doesn't?  That landed her with Hufflepuff.  Sweet little Hufflepuff: where no one was ever famous, brilliant, or amazingly cunning.  She didn't mind, however.  Why, I'm practically already resigned to the idea.  Hufflepuff is supposed to be the least violent, loud, competitive house of them all.  And Hufflepuffs love everybody.  Makes it easier for me to fit in.  And besides, I bet there hasn't been an extremely preppy, entirely popular member of Hufflepuff since Cedric Diggory. 

*December 2, 2002 – 7:30 PM – Hogwarts and Hogsmeade

            Hermione swirled around her room, the folds of her lavender dress robes fanning out.  Looking in the mirror contemplatively, she carefully applied charms to her hair and face.  At last satisfied with the result of her labors, she took a deep breath and left her chamber.  She walked slowly down the marble staircase into the entrance hall.  Her long robes made it looked like she was floating, rather than walking, over the scuffed floor.  Severus, walking up from the dungeons halted immediately when he saw her.  The 23 year old showed a kind of noble grace beyond her years.  Noticing that she didn't spot him, Severus snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms gently around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're beautiful Hermione.  Absolutely beautiful."

            Hermione turned and smiled into his raven eyes.  She surveyed his sooty black robes and smirked, "You always wear black, don't you?  You look terrific." 

            Severus smiled indulgently and took her arm to lead her out onto the moonlit lawn of Hogwarts.  Hermione relaxed against Severus' arm and nodded gently to discreetly snickering students who walked past them.  Once outside of the grounds, they apparated to a small Italian restaurant in the middle of Hogsmeade.  They were led to a small corner booth in the back of the intimately lit room and handed menus.  They ordered quickly, and their plates were brought a few moments later by a house-elf dressed in an immaculate toga.  They had eaten for a few moments in silence when Severus said quietly, "Now isn't this better than the great hall?"

            Hermione grinned, "Definitely.  No screaming 11 year olds.  No food fights.  Not a single over emotional teenager. Heaven!" 

            "I thought you'd like it," Severus smiled, not able to hide his pleasure.

            "You know Sev," Hermione teased, "You must be a pretty influential guy.  I mean, here we are on our first date and I'm wearing the engagement ring you gave me.  Gosh, you move fast don't you?"

            Severus smirked and pressed her hand gently, "Guess so.  But how could I have resisted moving fast?"

(a/n: Okay, this is going in a really weird direction... let's move along shall we?)

*December 3, 2002 – 2:00 AM – Hogwarts – Hermione's room

            Hermione found that she couldn't sleep.  She had lain awake ever since she had returned to Hogwarts with Severus a little after midnight.  Her heart was beating so fast and so hard it practically took her breath away.  Her eyes roamed restlessly over the room – looking for some object or thing to focus on other that her beating heart.  An old volume that lay on her coffee table caught her attention.  Recognizing it as the book Harry had given her months ago after Dumbledore's death, she developed an idea.  It's not a particularly good idea, Hermione thought, and he would kill me if he knew I did it.  But something is telling me that I really should try.  Hermione took a deep breath and crawled out of her covers.  Leaning carefully over the edge, she whispered "Accio book!" and the book came flying toward her.  Cautiously, she tapped it with her wand and said, "Severus Snape." The book fell open to the page reading...

Severus Arnold Snape

Severus Arnold Snape was born on February 19, 1957 in Wales.  His father, Frederic Snape, was a reputed death eater and died in 1988 in the service of the Dark Lord.   His mother, Andrea Louisa Snape had been under the Imperious spell (controlled by Frederic Snape) since many years before her husband's death.  When he died, the curse was broken.  Since Mrs. Snape had lived off of the spell for multiple years, it was discovered that she would need a life support system.  She is currently in the midst of a coma. 

Severus, the only child, was expected to follow his father's footsteps and become a death eater.  He, too, was placed under the Imperious curse and forced to join the Dark Lord.  When his father died, he too was released from the curse.  Instead of affecting him in the way it affected his mother, the curses removal did not physically damage Prof. Snape.  However, close friends say that it permanently damaged his sense of self-worth.  

            There were several more paragraphs, describing Severus' education and childhood.  Hermione skimmed these until she came to the ending notes...

Professor Snape is currently employed by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  He is engaged to Miss Hermione Granger, a muggle born.  The date of their wedding has not yet been set. 

            Hermione leaned back against her mountain of pillows.  Her fiancé's childhood was more disturbed than he had ever let on.  Whenever Hermione would ask about his past or ask when she would be able to meet his family, he would shrug her off coldly.  She had never been sure why.  My God.  How could his father have done that to him and his mother?  What could ever cause a human being to do such a thing?  Hermione sat up suddenly, glaring coldly around the room, Voldemort.  Voldemort caused all the suffering that not only Harry but also Severus had to live with.  And to think I grew up innocent of all this!  I was just a sweet little muggle.  I didn't know anything about magic until I got my letter, and I was eleven by then.  What a world we all live in!  A beautiful, but dangerous world.

*December 3, 2002 – 3:00 PM – Hogwarts – The staff room

            Harry sat in the staff room, looking gloomily at his hands.  Black circles ringed his green eyes and his forehead had deep worry lines cut into it.  Every few minutes, he would shake himself, look at his pocket watch, and then settle again on the couch for a few more brooding minutes.  A loud creak disturbed his pattern.  Remus Lupin walked in, smirking quietly.  "That door has creaked since I came back as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in your sixth year.  Maybe Severus and Hermione will have it fixed one of these days," 

            Harry smiled back weakly, "Hello Remus.  Yeah, someone should tell Filch about that creak one of these days.  But... Remus?  Have you seen the new kid yet?"

            "No," He replied, "She's coming in here for the meeting tonight to meet all of the professors.  Why do you ask Harry?"

            "It's... a long story Remus."

            "I've got time."

            "It's Ron."

            "Again?  The minister is causing more trouble than he's worth.  Thank Heavens he only has four more years left of this term.  I'm praying he won't be elected again.  I certainly won't vote for him!" Remus exclaimed.

            "You know that he forced Kalie (that's her name) to come here even though she didn't want to and she's too young?  Yes?  Well, I got an owl from him today.  He wants to do all these fancy experiments on her mind.  Kind of like those fancy 'educational' tests wealthy muggles give their children.  Worst of all, he wants me to tell Severus and Hermione.  I honestly think he's afraid of Mione," Harry said, speaking in a rush of breath.

            "We won't stand for it!  Hermione and Severus have told us a thousand times that they won't allow the students here to be used as guinea pigs for new educational methods. It goes against everything this school has ever stood for.  Everything!  Dumbledore would hate it!  Mione and Severus will hate it!  The teachers will hate it!  The Head Boy and Girl will hate it!  Her fellow students will hate it!" Remus paused to catch his breath. 

            "I know Remus!" Harry said, jumping in during the lull in Remus' rage, "Why do you think I'm so upset?  I hate it just as much as the rest of you.  I don't know what Ron thinks he's doing," Harry sighed and looked down at his hands again, "I just wish he'd get a clue."

            "Look, Harry," Remus said, lowering his voice, "I'll help you tell the headmasters, alright?  Don't worry about that part of it.  And there's nothing you, or anyone else can do once Ron makes up his mind about something.  It was the same when you were still students.  Just take it easy Harry," Remus looked down at his best friends son, "Let's go down to the kitchens.  Their was a lovely éclair with dinner last night; maybe some will be left over."

            Temporarily forgetting the problem at hand, the two men walked out of the room, talking furiously about England's improved chances for the World Cup.

a/n That's all folks!  Hope you liked it.  BTW – You will not see another update until July 21 at the EARLIEST.  I will be out of town without computer access.  Please continue to r/r, and remember: all flames will burn my math book.  Curse finals!

lol. ~Polei