A/N: I will go back and forth between Severus' and Hermione's POV.
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Severus POV
Severus sat at the staff table for the end-of-year feast. It had been a long and trying year. Between trolls, three-headed dogs and Professor Quirrell trying to kill the Potter boy, he was exhausted. Not to mention, all the strange occurrences he seemed to have with Miss Granger. Just little things here and there. A strange pulling in his chest when they made eye contact or a feeling of warmth surging through him if his hand brushed hers as she handed in her potions at the end of class. Then there was the troll. Quirrell had burst into the Great Hall shrieking about a troll in the dungeon. Just moments before, Severus had experienced a feeling of dread, as if sensing danger. Only to find out Miss Granger was trapped in the girls lavatory. Severus didn't really think anything of it and just chalked it up to his keen senses that are acquired after years of being a spy.
Throughout the year, Severus had taken note of Hermione Granger's brilliance. She was incredibly intelligent. He, of course, could never tell her that. How would it look to his Slytherin students if their Head of House and a known Death Eater showed favor to a muggleborn? How he wished he could give her the praise she deserved. Instead, so as not to blow his cover, he would sneer every time her hand shot up to answer his questions in class. He had even called her an insufferable little know-it-all when she grew tired of her blatant hand waving being ignored and answered without being called on. It had bothered him for some reason, when he saw the hurt in her eyes. He scolded her and her friends for every little thing, while looking the other way while Draco and his idiot friends did worse. Even pretending he didn't hear when the arrogant prick had called her a Mudblood. Even though he was throttling his scrawny little neck in his mind.
Severus also seemed to notice Albus looking at him with a knowing smile and a twinkle in his eye. He wanted to wipe the smirk of the old man's face. It was almost as if the Headmaster was having fun at his expense and Severus Snape did not take too kindly to being the butt of a joke. One time, he got so fed up that he had snapped at the man to tell him what he was smiling at. To which the headmaster cryptically replied, "I'll tell you when you're ready", then turned around and walked away, whistling as he went up the stairs to his office. What the hell did that even mean? he thought.
Severus rolled his eyes at the peculiarity of his employer. Turning back to his food, Severus heard a familiar laugh coming from Gryffindor table. Severus dipped his head and peered at the girl through his curtain of black hair. She was talking with her friends. Chatting excitedly about their adventures throughout the year. He didn't understand his own interest in this girl. She was just another student, but she intrigued him for some reason. Maybe it was because she was so studious and disciplined, which was something they had in common. Or maybe she reminded him of Lily: Muggleborn, brilliant, brave and of course, there was her friendship with a Potter. Whatever it was, Severus didn't know, but didn't really think it prudent to think on it too much and went back to eating his dinner.
Hermione POV
Hermione sat in the Great Hall at the end-of-year feast. She was talking with her friends about the past year and all they'd been through in their first year at Hogwarts. They were also quite excited that Gryffindor had won the House Cup.
As Hermione turned back to her plate, her mind wandered to Professor Snape. She had noticed the odd feelings she had whenever she was around him. She didn't think it was anything important and just decided it was because of her respect for him. He did rub her the wrong way sometimes, what with his somewhat unfair treatment of her and her friends and clear favoritism for students of his own house. Nevertheless, his lack of acknowledgement and praise towards her intelligence, which was so freely given by all her other professors, only drove her to try harder. It's funny, she thought. I receive praise from all my other professors constantly, yet it's his favor I want most.
Shaking herself from her musings, Hermione finished her dinner and left the Great Hall with her friends. It was time to go home for the summer. She would miss being in the castle every day, but she did miss her parents. Besides, it was only for a few months and they'd be back. Harry and Ron both promised to owl her constantly and keep her appraised of their summer adventures. Although, Harry didn't look all that eager to go home. He had told her and Ron about his Aunt and Uncle, who didn't seem very nice at all. Not to mention his cousin Dudley, who Hermione thought sounded ghastly. She felt sorry for her best friend and hoped his summer was somewhat enjoyable.
As the trio boarded the Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade Station, Hermione looked up and smiled fondly at the castle standing tall in the distance. Yes, she was glad she would be seeing her parents again. But there was no doubt in her mind, Hogwarts was definitely home.