Disclaimer: The stuff you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowing. I only use it and wish I were her. After this chapter it may be only once or twice a week that I will be able to update. Anyway please Enjoy.

The bad mood that started that morning when he woke up was only worse now. Getting back to his room he slammed the door behind him. Damn her damn her and her stupid crush. He knew that Sybill had liked him and often made sure to not be around her for too long. Today he had let his guard down and he had not only embarrassed himself but also the poor woman. Even though he is seen as a cold and snide man Severus Snape was actually a very kind and caring person. Often taking some of the worst thing to make sure others were okay. His mother raised him better than that. With that thought he felt a sharp shooting pain behind his eyes.

He dropped into his wingback chair and put his head into his hands and groaned softly. Suddenly he felt a cold nose on his hand and he glanced through his fingers and saw large deep brown eyes staring at him. A chuckle escape from his lips before he knew it was happening. Suddenly his arms were thrown off his knees as the black dog wiggled his way into Severus's lap.

"Oh you big lug you're going to get hair all over me." Severus said with another laugh as he pulled out a ball from the box beside the chair and tossed it up in the air for the dog to catch. Slowly as he played with Phantom Severus felt his anger melt away and even his headache a bit. But too soon he heard scrapping of chairs and the rustling of papers to tell him that his 7th year potion class had arrived. With a sigh he petted the dog that had settled onto the ground and was chewing to his heart's content on a small dragon bone. "Sometimes I wish I were you Phantom." He said with a chuckle as he swept through the door to his classroom.

The room grew quiet like normal as he felt his robe sweep around his ankles, giving off a soft breeze. Since the class was optional only the few people who really wanted to be here was here, which meant that he only had about fourteen students. But unfortunately Potter and his know-it-all friend Granger were two of those students.

"The potion for the day is up on the board. Gather your stuff and get started. I want the finished product on my desk once you are done." He drawled softly as he settled at his desk to begin the tedious task of grading the second year's essays on banned potions. After finishing the stack of papers Severus stood up slowly and started going up and down the aisles between the desks. Most of the students had looks of distraught on their faces as they stirred their potions furiously trying to achieve the deep purple that the potion called for in the mid stages of the brewing. The only student who didn't look worried was Granger her lips were drawn in a tight line, not from worry but from concentration, as she stirred carefully, but quickly, one way then the other. He glanced closer at her book to make sure she like potter hadn't come across his potion book. But instead of the spidery scrawl that crossed the board in the front he saw very neat and tidy print.

Severus caught himself start to smile and quickly turned his head towards Harry, who had picked that one moment to turn and ask the Ravenclaw student beside him a question. "5 points from Gryffindor for distracting another student, Potter." Severus said and then as the other Gryffindor students let out an exasperated noise he quickly mumbled 30 points to Gryffindor for being the only one able to make the potion. Hopefully no one would question the new extra points.

The class progressed slowly and uneventfully. Slowly he watched as the students started to pack up their ingredients as they waited for the potion to cool. He settled himself at his desk and with a swish of a wand was ready for the vials to be brought up. The students slowly brought up their vials the colors ranging from a light blue to a deep purple but only one vial was the light lilac color of the potion and Severus knew without looking at the tag just whose potion that was.

"Your dis-" He started to say when a very crisp knock at the door interrupted him. He started to curse the person when the door opened to reveal his sister a scroll grasped tightly in her hand her face a large grin as she strode quietly and quickly to the front of the room.

"Sorry Professor Snape, students I have an announcement before you all leave. Hogwarts is proud to announce that as a way to get spirits up that we will be having the first Musical since when I was in school. Auditions are open to all students and Facility. We hope to see you there." Morgan said the large smile hardly leaving her face as she unrolled the scroll showing a brightly colored picture.

Severus smirked at the look on the students faces. A few of the girls were excited and most of the guys had a look of horror as they cleared out. His sister was still standing off to the side her grin never leaving her face as she twirled around towards her brother.

"You're trying out right, Sev?" she asked her brother lightly

Severus shook his head and eyed the paper. "No one said I had to try out right? Then I am not going to." He said shortly ignoring the sad face that his sister was making at him.

She just shook her head and twisted on the heel of her black and purple boots and slid out of the room as Severus moved through the aisles. Upon passing the third row of desks he noticed a small bound book laying on the ground. Glancing at the door Severus bent down to pick it up and looked it over. The front binding was worn and tearing slightly so you could tell this book was a constant item in someone's daily life. But the only way he was going to know who owned it was by opening the front cover of the book.

With another glance at the door Severus placed the book on the desk next to him and with the tip of his wand he pushed open the front cover.

This is property of:

Hermione Jean Granger

Please return if found.

With another small grin, from a place that he had no idea where it came from, he started to rummage through the pages of the book before he realized what he was doing. Though most of the pages were filled with small crisp and well written letter that were mostly notes taken in class. 'Over achieving even in your note taking' He thought to himself with a smirk. But on a few pages there were smaller faster written notes about someone that from the looks of he had a few feelings glanced at it and felt something well inside him. He wanted to know more about the person who she was watching. He kept looking at the last thing she wrote

'He acts like he doesn't care what people think. I wish I could do the same. Oh no here he comes.'

Growling softly to himself he grabbed the book again and strolled to the front of the classroom where he stopped at his desk only long enough to grab a scroll and his long black quill his sister bought him for his birthday.

Miss. Granger,

You seemed to have left this book in my classroom. As it is not my duty to make sure you keep your books in order this will be a long time thing. If I find this or any other book of yours they will promptly be dropped into my fireplace. Also for leaving your workstation messy you have detention tomorrow night at 9.

-Professor Snape

He finished the letter with a flourish and a grin that looked more like a sneer. Writing this made him feel more like himself and less like the person who had gotten angry about her talking about someone else.

After a small stop off at the owlery Severus was on his way. As the advanced Potion class was his last class for the day he had quite a while of free time for himself. As he came to the large and open front hall of the school Severus stopped and looked around. Looking towards the stairs that lead down to not only his classroom but also his own quarters. But he didn't feel like going back to the cold and damp place just yet. So without a second thought Severus started out the door. Not even noticing the pair of large eyes following his every move as he wandered down the path towards the gate.

Author Note: A few questions. Who is Hermione in love with? In your opinion what should the musical be? Reviews are much appreciated. This story is also very much in need of a Beta so that position is open for anyone who would like to assume it. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, they will get longer I promise. More Hermione in the next few chapters.