Hermione waited for Sevy to finish his teacher's huddle with Albus and collect her from her seat. He didn't like her to show up to the class early and have the time to mess up his organized ingredient vials. He'd learned that from the last time he'd let her go ahead. So Hermione just waited until almost all the students had left for classes before looking for her godfather. He'd been deemed as such after having the misfortune of being the second teacher Albus had encountered the night she'd come to Hogwarts. Though he'd fought it then, he was content with his role now.

Snape finished his teacher's huddle with Albus and walked over to the Slytherin table. He stopped next to Hermione and waited until as she slid off the bench, but didn't move to leave. Instead, he knelt down in front of her, so they were at each other's eye level. "Hermione, the teachers and I have been talking. We all agree that you should go with Dumbledore for the Triwizard Tournament."

Hermione felt a flash of joy at knowing she was going to go, but it was short lived when she saw the look on Sevy's face. "Why are you upset?" she asked. "You'll be going too, right?"

Snape shook his head. "I was not asked to go. Dumbledore wants you with him, though. So that you may meet people besides those at Hogwarts."

Hermione frowned. "I don't want to go if you're not going, Sevy," she said, crossing her arms stubbornly. "And who will help you with your classes?"

Snape chuckled, a rare occurrence for anyone not close to him. "I have managed in the years before you came, and I will do so for another year, if need be; though, truthfully, I will miss your help. Now, shall we go and scare the first years?"

Hermione's frown lessened a bit. She always enjoyed watching Sevy work his 'mean teacher' angle on new students. Something about it just made it amusing. "Okay," she said, taking his hand, as she was still too small to keep up with his long strides. "But I'm not going unless you are," she said firmly.

Snape nodded and they left the room, heading toward the dungeons. Hermione was silent as they continued down a couple of corridors. She was sulking about the news and she knew it. She really wanted Sevy to go with her. This would be Hermione's first time away from Hogwarts and she was closer to Sevy than any of the other tearchers. He would make her less nervous of going to Durmstrang.

Snape stopped outside the door to the dungeons and looked down at her. "Ready?" his eyes said to her. She nodded and slowly let go of his hand. Snape pushed the door hard enough to make it bounce against the wall as he glided into the room. Hermione was one step behind him, her back straight and perfectly still.

Snape snapped his robes as he turned sharply so the sound echoed in the room. Hermione took her place on the stool near his desk, resting her hands in her lap. She gave the appearance of hope and comfort. Many students had said, after they had figured out who she was and why she was in the classroom at all, that they had really appreciated her being there or they may have run screaming from the room.

"I do not want any silly wand waving or incantations in my class," Snape said cooly, his cold eyes running across the students in the room. Some shuddered and others cringed. He continued his speech, specially designed to have the newbies wetting their pants by the end of the class. The entire class was a basic run down of what was to be learned that year. Snape spent much of his time walking between the aisles, looking over student's shoulders in a way that had them shivering. Finally, the bell rang. "I expect you all to read pages 5 to 18. I want a full essay on what those pages entail on my desk tomorrow," Snape said as they students hurried out of the room.

Hermione smiled at Sevy as he came over to the desk and sat down. "I think you may have out done yourself this time, Sevy," she said. "I saw three Hufflepuff just ready to cry."

Snape smirked. "It gets better every year."

Hermione suddenly couldn't take it any more. She turned to him and said, "Are you not going to Durmstrang because you can't, or you won't?"

He stared at her. "What?" he said, stunned. "I'm not going because only Dumbledore is suppose to go."

"But I'm going," she said. "Dumbledore won't want to watch me, a little girl. He'll be too busy with the tournament. I'll be left alone." She put on her best puppy dog pout. "Please come? Please, Sevy?"

Snape looked at her and said, "I am needed here."

"They can get a substitute," Hermione said.

"But the first years-"

"Can be intimidated next year, even more nervous that they have to face you again and when they have no idea what you'll do." Hermione shot down that one pretty well.

"Dumbledore-"

"Albus will do it if I ask him." Hermione sighed. "Please? I don't want to go with just Albus and not know anyone. There is no way I will know if one of the students' families is there. And the students themselves will be with the students from the other schools." She leaned forward. "I promise to never go into your ingredient cabinet for an entire year without your permission."

"You do that anyway," Snape said, his eyes showing his interest.

This was Hermione's first time bartering with the Potions Master. Sure, she'd bartered with Hagrid to ride the Thestrals, and with Trelawny to use her crystal ball from time to time. She'd even gotten Mini to take her to Olivanders to get her own wand; but this was her first time up against a Slytherin pro.

She thought for a moment before answering. She suddenly got an idea. "If you don't go with me to the Triwizard tournament at Durmstrang, I am going to announce my nickname for you to everyone," she said, smiling softly.

Snape's eyebrows rose. "I don't think you'd be able to, Hermione," he said. "You're too nice a girl to do that to your loving godfather."

Hermione raised her own eyebrow, trying to look sneaky. "You think so?" she asked.

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I know you too well, Hermione. I raised you. I know you're not going to tell anyone because that would cause distress towards me. And you don't like doing that."

Hermione almost flinched, but held it in. He was right. She didn't like causing him distress, but she didn't want to go without him. She was being extremely selfish, she knew, but she was a scared 6 year old who didn't want to go against the Headmaster's decision (for she knew it was his decision) to take her to a very dangerous tournament, without her security blanket, a.k.a Sevy.

She leaned forward and said, "I am very capable of fulfilling my promise." The door opened and the first arrivals showed up for the second class. Lynn was one of them. Hermione smiled at her friend and said, "Hey, Lynn, guess what."

"What?" Lynn said, coming closer to the young girl.

"There's something interesting about Professor Snape that you might like to know," Hermione said, looking at Sevy with a look that clearly said, 'you can stop me any time.' He held her gaze for a while. She continued. "Snape-" He tilted his head to the side, a sign of compliance to her. Hermione smiled. "Snape is going to Durmstrang with me," she said.

Lynn smiled. "That's great. Then you'll have someone looking after you. I know Gabrielle will be too busy flirting with all the guys to make sure you don't destroy anything," she said, laughing. Her laughter faded as she realized that she had just been so informal to an aide while in the presence of a teacher. She cleared her throat and said, "Sorry, Professor."

"I'll over look it this time, Ms. Blanchard," he said stiffly. "Return to your seat." Lynn paled slightly, clearly seeing his mood turning sour, and hurried back to her seat and behind her cauldron. Others were coming in, but Snape leaned close to Hermione and said, "We will discuss this tonight." Then, he continued to address the present class with his usual third year speech.

Hermione only half listened, though. She was happy that she'd gotten him to see it her way. But she knew it was because she was herself. Anyone else pulling that stunt, would have been shut down and given detention for a month.

Hermione sat in her personal Common Room, everything set up for her traditional birthday movie night with Sevy. She didn't remember how it started, but, every night on her birthday, Sevy and her sat down with muggle popcorn, candy, and soda, and watched ridiculous movies. Her favorite was 'The Pirate Movie', with Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol. It was stupid, funny, and romantic, all in one. Sevy always said it was the most idiotic thing he'd ever seen, but he watched it with her because it made her happy.

She had just finished popping the popcorn, when a soft bell rang above the cupboards. It meant someone was trying to get in. Hermione walked over to the portrait opening and said, "Yes?"

"It's me, Hermione," Sevy's voice said.

She smiled and drummed her fingers on the surface before her. The portrait swung open and Hermione grinned at Sevy. It was replaced with a guarded look, however, when she saw that he wasn't alone. A tall woman with blond hair stood next to him, a young blonde boy, about the same age as Hermione, standing next to her; probably the woman's son. They both wore dark cloaks, though the woman's was a dark silver and green while his was just plain black. Their robes spoke of money and connections.

"Hermione," Snape said. "I'd like to introduce some people to you. May we come in?"

She stood for a moment and then nodded, stepping back for them to enter. The woman glanced around the rooms as if wary to touch anything. Sevy stood next to her as the woman finished her inspection. Hermione noticed the boy looking at the candy.

The woman turned to Hermione and gave a practiced polite smile. "Hello, Hermione. I am Narcissa Malfoy. This is my son, Draco." She motioned to the boy, who was looking at Hermione with a bored expression.

Hermione gave a small curtsy, as she was still wearing her school uniform, and said, "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am. Young sir." She addressed the last to the boy. She knew her manners towards pureblood wizards and witches. She'd been taught by Mini.

Sevy rested a hand on Hermione's shoulder and said, "I was serious in saying that I could not attend Durmstrang, Hermione. But you did raise a valid point in that Dumbledore may be too busy with other things. I have asked Narcissa to watch over you during the tournament. She will be attending for business reasons."

"And Draco could always use more friends," Narcissa said. She looked at her son expectedly. "Draco," she said pointedly.

The boy walked up to Hermione and took her hand, kissing the back in the way of greeting Hermione had been taught about. "Pleased to meet you, Miss...I don't know you last name," he said.

"I don't have one," she said.

He looked at her strangely. "Everyone has a last name," he said, crossing his arms.

Hermione mimicked him. "Well, I don't," she said. "I was brought here and I've lived here all my life."

He smirked. "What? Are you an orphan?" he taunted.

"Behave, Draco," his mother warned.

Hermione smiled slightly. "Don't know. Don't care. If they wanted me, they would have kept me." She leaned forward and said, "Because I'm worth keeping."

The boy's smirk turned into a smile. "I'm starting to like you, Hermione," he said. "You've got a Slytherin streak in you."

"Comes from having the Head of Slytherin be my godfather," she said.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Like that's impressive," he said. "He's my godfather, as well."

Hermione tilted her chin up a bit. "Interesting," she said. She smiled and said, "Want something to eat? Was about to have a muggle movie night when you joined us."

Draco paused, unable to come up with an answer. Hermione saw the disapproving way his mother was looking. So she quickly filled in a story. "Professor Burbage has asked me to test an assignment for her Muggle Studies class. I am to watch movies on a muggle television while eating some popular muggle food and drink. I am to tell if an essay can be written on a person's experiences. I asked Professor Snape to help me, but if you'd care to, Draco..." She smiled. "It might be fun."

Draco looked at his mother, who's look of disapproval had vanished once the situation was explained. "I suppose you may help," she said. "Just be sure to have a House elf bring you home before dawn."

Draco nodded. "Yes, Mother," he said. Narcissa air kissed his cheek and left through the portrait with Snape following.

Hermione was a little bummed that Snape wouldn't be joining her tonight, but she turned to Draco and said, "Well, take off your cloak and get comfy. We're starting with 'The Pirate Movie'."

Draco looked at her strangely, but did as she said. He sat on the couch, his cloak handing on the back, and Hermione put the movie in. She quickly picked up two sodas and the bowl of popcorn from the table, and took her seat next to him. He took one of the sodas and copied Hermione's motions to open it.

The movie started and they were silent as they watched the movie. Hermione silently laughed at parts she remembered, but Draco was quiet through out the entire thing. When the credits started to play, Hermione took the movie out and turned to face him. He was still on the couch, his drink barely touched.

"Well?" she said. "What do you think?"

He shook himself from his thoughts and said, with a humorous smile. "I think we need to test this assignment out a bit more. To see if it is good enough for a class."

Hermione got his message and smiled. She popped in another movie and sank down next to him. "You know, Draco," she said, leaning against shoulder. "I think we're going to be good friends."

He smiled at her and they turned their attention to the new movie.

AN: 'The Pirate Movie' is a real movie. It's a parady of the Pirates of Penznace and it's hilarious. You should definitely watch it. Please try not to slap yourselves in the head, though. Lol.