A/N: I lost my beta a while back and was not planning on finishing this since I didn't want to go through the trouble of finding a new one. But, I like the story and decided to go ahead and post it anyway. So please excuse the spelling/punctuation/grammar errors you are sure to come across. Thanks!

Chapter 3- Favors

Hermione left for her parents' house the next day and the next several weeks passed by as quickly and happily as the time at Harry and Ginny's had. Her parents always enjoyed having her and doted on her while she was there. She spent most of her days sitting quietly and reading or watching Muggle television, something she never was able to do and always enjoyed. She helped her parents out around the house as they always enjoyed seeing her use her household spells. Her mother often commented that she wished she could have been a witch as well if it meant she would never have to wash dishes again. Only when her mother made comments hinting how much she would like to have a son-in-law and a few grandchildren did Hermione start to wish for the solitude of Hogwarts.

As July came to a close, Hermione decided that it was time to head back to Hogwarts to prepare for the coming year. It would be nearly empty now as many of the professors had summer accommodations away from the school and she thought the peace and quiet would allow her to get more work done. After having the relaxing break she felt more at peace with her life than she had in years and had only had to resort to the Sleeping Potion a few times since arriving at her parents. Although her mother had commented a couple times that she had heard her talking in her sleep she always woke feeling rested and rarely did she have the feeling of panic that used to accompany her wherever she went.

Hermione arrived back at Hogwarts early in the morning. It was Harry's birthday so she had owled a present to him before she apparated back to just outside Hogwarts grounds. It turned out that sometimes Horace Slughorn's connections did come in handy.

She had managed to get an autographed picture of the Chudley Cannons.

She spent several hours emptying her trunk after she had let Crookshanks out of his cage to explore the grounds. By late morning she felt satisfactorily organized as she looked around her quarters. Nothing seemed to be out of place and, in fact, it looked as though she had not left at all. She left her rooms and headed down to the Great Hall as it was nearly lunch time. Her stomach growled and she realized that she had skipped breakfast that morning.

When she reached the Great Hall, it was, indeed, almost entirely empty. The only other person sitting there was Professor McGonagall who appeared to have also just arrived and was taking her place at the High Table. She looked up as Hermione entered the hall and walked over to the table.

"Hermione! I didn't know you were going to be back so soon," she said as she dished up some steak and kidney pie. Hermione sat next to her and also began helping herself to the food.

"Well, I spent a week with Harry and Ginny and several weeks with my parents, but it just seemed to be time to come back. I'm planning to review my entire N.E.W.T. curriculum. I just don't feel that it prepares the students well enough for their careers."

The two women sat chatting companionably for a few moments enjoying the food and the opportunity to talk uninterrupted. Hermione enjoyed holidays at Hogwarts. The castle seemed like a different place entirely when students weren't there.

"Have you had any luck finding a new Potions professor?" she asked as they finished their meal.

The older professor shook her head. "No I haven't. I fear that we are quickly running out of time. Unfortunately the old Educational Decree Number Twenty two was never repealed by the Ministry. If we cannot find a replacement for Professor Slughorn soon, the Ministry will have to appoint one. And I don't think I need to remind you how well that turned out the last time."

Hermione shuddered with the thought. Poor Harry still had the scars engraved into his hand.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I suppose the only option I have left is to go grovel on Professor Snape's door and beg him to come back," Professor McGonagall said visibly shuddering. "I actually just owled him yesterday and requested a meeting with him. Hopefully he will respond soon before it's too late."

"Do you think he will guess what you're wanting?" asked Hermione as they rose from the table and made their way to the doors.

"Oh I don't doubt it. Severus is an angry and bitter man but he's not stupid. Even when we taught together we were never friendly with each other. He knows this is not a social call."

"Well, I wish you luck! I spoke to Harry about him and he seems set on living out the rest of his life in solitude."

As they reached to Entrance Hall, they went their separate ways. Hermione thought back to the last time she had seen Professor Snape. It was only a day after the Final Battle, which had taken place at Riddle Manor. She was at St. Mungo's sitting at Harry's bedside with Ginny, Molly and Arthur. Harry was still unconscious and she was in shock from the loss of Ron. Looking back on it, she realized that her memories of that time were hazy. Snape had been admitted himself the day before after sustaining numerous injuries. The Death Eaters had gone after him with only slightly less enthusiasm than Harry himself.

He had been in the same ward as Harry, just two beds down. But he was leaving while Harry was still lying in bed hovering near death. He had stopped by Harry's bed for a moment. Hermione remembered registering his presence and had briefly looked up. It had appeared he was going to say something for a moment but she had looked back down and buried her face into Harry's sheets unable to meet his gaze. Whether he ever said anything she never knew. When she looked up again, several minutes later, he had left. She had not been able to bring herself to go to the trials and so she had never had a reason to come across him again.

That night Hermione woke up with the feeling of panic overtaking her again. She had taken the last of the Sleeping Potion the week before and she knew she would have trouble getting more from Madam Pomfrey. The last time she had gone to her she had been forced to endure a lecture that had lasted at least half an hour. It was only when she had promised the healer that she had not been using it for the last decade (which was, of course, a lie) that she was able to get it. She lay in bed cursing herself for allowing herself to remember those nightmarish days. It was a long several hours before the sky began to lighten and by the time the sun was completely up Hermione felt as though she had not slept at all. It was with some surprise that shortly after getting dressed she received a knock on her door. It was with even greater surprise that she saw Professor McGonagall on the other side looking rather out of sorts.

"Minerva?" she said opening the door wide enough for the other witch to enter. "What on earth is wrong?"

"I have just received an owl from Professor Snape," she said holding up a piece of parchment. "He wants me to come to his house today."

"Well, that's good news isn't it?" asked Hermione beginning to feel confused.

"Well it would have been but I have a meeting already scheduled with Minister Shaklebolt to discuss Hogwart's declining enrollment. I can't very well keep the Minister of Magic waiting."

"Oh dear," said Hermione now understanding Minerva's reason for panic. "That does put you on the spot doesn't it?"

"Hermione, I hate to ask you this. Especially considering your….history with Professor Snape, but none of the other professors are even here for me to ask. It would be doing me a great favor if you would go in my place."

Hermione looked at her in shock. Surely she could not be serious. "Minerva, surely there is someone, anyone, who would be better to ask. Professor Snape did not merely dislike me; he loathed Harry, Ron and I to the point of attempting to get us expelled. I cannot imagine anyone less likely to convince him to return to Hogwarts."

"I would not ask if I had any other choice. Hermione, there is no one." Minerva was as close to panic as Hermione had ever seen her. "Please, Hermione. I am having a hard enough time keeping this school open. We need a Potions professor. I am desperate."

Hermione sighed and nodded her head. "Okay. I will go. What time is he expecting you?"

"Eleven o'clock," said Minerva visibly calming down. "He said in his owl that he has added himself back onto the floo network specifically for this occasion. He seemed to think that would be better than apparition. I also have here the salary we are prepared to offer him. It is quite a substantial raise from when he was last here. I am hoping that if nothing else, his lack of funds will persuade him to return." She then handed the parchment containing the necessary information over to Hermione before wishing her a quick good luck and rushing out the door with an air of being relieved.

Hermione looked down at the parchment and read the short letter enclosed.

Professor McGonagall,

I have received your owl and agree to meet you regarding your desire for me to return to Hogwarts, as foolish and self-serving as it may be. I have added myself to the floo network and request that you do not apparate as I cannot guarantee your safety in this neighborhood outside of these walls. I also request that you come alone. I have no desire to be stared at or treated like a carnival attraction. Please floo to Number twenty three Spinner's End at 11:00 a.m. sharp.

Severus Snape

Hermione groaned aloud as she finished reading it. He couldn't even be polite in writing. Clearly Minerva had been right when she said that he would see through her attempt to visit.

"No wonder she was in such a hurry to get out the door," mumbled Hermione to herself. She then looked at the rest of the information Minerva had given her and gasped when she saw the figures for his salary. It was nearly twice what she herself was making. Granted, he had many years experience over her, but she was willing to guess that it was more than any other professor. As she mulled this over in her thoughts, she went back to her wardrobe. She couldn't very well appear in Snape's fireplace looking less than professional. After much agonizing, she finally setting on a set of dark green robes and tried in vain to pull her hair back into a tight bun. In the end she had to settle for her frizzy hair in a jumbled mess at the nape of her neck.

As eleven o'clock neared, Hermione could feel her stomach turning over until she began to feel sick. She was so busy trying to calm herself down that before she realized it the clock over her mantle was chiming. Nearly tripping in her sudden haste, she threw a handful of floo powder into the fire and nearly shouted "Number twenty three Spinner's End" before the green flames and spinning carried her away.