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The next two weeks passed in a blur. Hermione found herself spending all of her time reading or preparing herself by reading through her NEWT textbooks in the library. She couldn't remember exactly how the habit had developed, but for one reason or another, the young witch found herself knocking on the Potions Master's door every evening before her curfew to ask for a Dreamless Draught. It was a blessing, to Snape as well as her, to not have nightmares.

Hermione rarely saw Snape, except at meals. She suspected he was busy preparing for class and being a Death Eater. She still shuddered whenever she thought of the Dark Mark that was most certainly branded onto his forearm, but for some reason she could never compare her professor to a Death Eater. It was a well known fact that Severus Snape had one of the foulest dispositions in all of England, but very few people believed he was truly evil. He didn't grind student's bones to make his bread.

Most of the staff had already arrived to make sure that everything was in order for the start of term. They sent Hermione sympathetic smiles at meals and tried to start academic conversations with her, but she just couldn't seem to become interested in the subject.

The day before her peers would be arriving, Hermione was, as usual, in the library reading.

She was so absorbed in the text that she was reading, she didn't notice a familiar figure enter the library and approach her until his shadow blocked her light.

"Miss Granger," the familiar drawl didn't startle Hermione as it used to; she had grown accompanied to having Professor Snape coming to the library to tell her that she should be heading back to her private dorm due to her approaching curfew time.

"Sir?" Hermione looked up, slightly perplexed. Surely it wasn't ten o'clock yet?

"The Headmaster would like to see you," Severus continued in his usual bored tone. The Gryffindor merely nodded and hurriedly placed all the books she had taken off the shelves back and met the Potions Master by the library doors. They quickly and quietly made their way to Dumbledore's office; neither spoke, but the silence was far from strained. Hermione was beginning to realize just how grateful she was to Dumbledore for putting her in Snape's care: he didn't pester her about what had transpired in the past months.

A small smile found it's way onto her lips as she thought how insane she must sound to anyone who knew her. That smile was quickly wiped away with the thought that her best friends would have thrown a fit. Her deceased and missing best friends.

"Chocolate Frogs," the password to the Headmaster's office brought Hermione back to reality and away from the oppressing guilt and pain she had become so accustomed to feeling when she wasn't in the library. Snape knocked once on Dumbledore's door and entered without waiting for an acknowledgement from the office.

"Ah, Severus, Miss Granger," the Headmaster greeted the two with his usual twinkling eyes.

"Albus," Snape nodded his greeting. Hermione merely smiled weakly and took the seat that Dumbledore gestured towards.

"Miss Granger," he began slowly, "I'm sure that you are well aware that the students will be arriving tomorrow."

Hermione nodded.

"I wanted to speak with you because I was wondering if you would like to move back to the Gryffindor dormitories."

"No!" Hermione said quickly and a little too loud, but she didn't notice. Her thoughts were racing. Would Dumbledore force her to move back into her old dorms and be with the other girls? She knew that their gazes would be filled with contempt and accusations. Someone would have told them. Hermione was certain the news had somehow spread that she was Ron's murderer, the reason he was dead.

She hadn't realized that she was crying until the Headmaster handed her a handkerchief.

"Th-thank you, sir," she managed to choke out.

"I'm not going to force you to. You have my permission to stay in your current quarters," Albus said comfortingly.

After a moment he said, "That is all I meant to speak with you about. Severus, if you would escort Miss Granger back to her rooms."

That evening Hermione knocked gently on Snape's door, like any other night.

"Come in," the drawl, which Hermione had come to consider soothing, reached her even through wooden door. She stared at the door. He had never invited her in before. He had always come to the door, Dreamless Draught in hand, given her the potion, and then disappeared into his rooms again.

Deciding to take the invitation before he withdrew it, Hermione quickly opened the door and stepped inside.

The site that greeted her nearly made her break into a grin, but she controlled herself. Amidst the normal looking room, which was decorated in less green and silver than she had previously imagined, and sitting in a comfortable chair by the fireplace was her Potions Professor.

"Good evening, sir," Hermione managed to speak without stumbling over any words, "I was just wondering if I could have a vial of Dreamless Draught…"

Snape stood up and nodded at her. "I will return with the potion in a moment," was all he muttered as he strode out of the door and down the corridor to his storage room.

Hermione stood by the door, shuffling her feet. What was she supposed to do? Deciding to test her luck, she slowly made her way over to the fireplace and took a seat in the armchair opposite the one Snape had been sitting in just moment before. Hermione gazed into the fire.

What was her last school year going to be like? Would her peers avoid her or pretend like nothing had happened? She hadn't really ever had any friends except Harry and Ron, and Ginny would surely not wish to speak with her. She flinched slightly when she thought about what the youngest Weasley's reaction would be when she saw her. Ginny would probably sneer at her and give her the cold shoulder. What was she going to do after she graduated? She had originally planned to take on an apprenticeship, but she doubted anyone would want her anymore.

Hermione jumped up out of the chair when the door opened and the Professor strode in holding the potion she had asked for.

Hurrying over to where he stood without saying a word, she lowered her eyes to her shoes and took the vial when he offered it to her a second later.

"Thank you, Professor," she mumbled, stepping towards the door. "Good night, sir."

"Miss Granger," he nodded as she exited his chambers.

He had been slightly surprised to find the young Gryffindor sitting in front of the fire when he returned, but wasn't perturbed. She hadn't been touching anything after all. He was overly thankful that she hadn't had any nightmares lately and that she seemed to respect his space and ignore him as much as he ignored her.

Walking back to the chair he had previously occupied, he conjured a cup of tea with a quick wave of his wand. He sat down and sipped his tea, scowling as he remembered that the students would be arriving in the morning.

The following morning was incredibly hectic for the teachers. Hermione was sure she met just about every one of the staff members on her way to the library, even though most of them had been absent at breakfast.

Her day progressed just as every other one had for her so far, until after lunchtime when a sudden realization hit her, making her freeze up and hold her breath.

Hermione had never run through the castle so fast. Catching her breath to choke out the password to Dumbledore's office, she was relieved to find the Headmaster in his office and now running an errand like every other staff member was at the moment.

"Professor!" Hermione gasped as she stumbled into the office.

"Miss Granger!" Albus looked up from some papers, rather alarmed. "Take a seat and calm down, please."

Hermione managed a nod. It took her several moments to calm down enough to explain her sudden intrusion.

"Do I have to eat with the other students?" she spoke before her mind could tell her how stupid she probably sounded.

"Ah, I was wondering if you wanted to-"

"No!" Hermione interrupted quickly, "Sir, I'm sorry for interrupting like this, I really am."

"It's quite alright," his eyes had resumed their trademark twinkling. "You can eat at the Staff Table if that makes you more comfortable?"

"Yes, thank you, Professor!" Hermione shot up out of the chair she had taken a seat in, graciously thanking the Headmaster. Without another word she turned and swiftly walked out of the office; her cheeks began to burn when she realized how she must have looked and how impolite she had been.

Hermione hurried back to the library and cleaned up the books she had removed from the shelves before heading back to her private chambers. On her way she met Professor McGonagall who told her to change into her school robes as the other students would be arriving in an hour's time.

Half an hour later, Hermione heard a knock on the door to her quarters, and hurried to open it.

"Professor," she greeted the tall, dark man standing outside.

"The Headmaster has told me that you are going to be eating at the Staff Table. I have come to collect you and take you to the Great Hall," Snape drawled. Hermione had come to the revelation that Snape wasn't as unpleasant as he made himself out to be during the Gryffindor Potions lessons. He rarely sneered; come to think of it, he hadn't sneered at her at all lately.

"Yes, sir," she hurriedly stepped out of her quarters and shut the door behind her. Hermione followed the Potions Master down the corridors, out of the dungeons, and eventually into the Great Hall via a secret entrance for the staff.

Walking up to the huge Staff Table, Snape took the seat next to the end seat, motioning towards the empty end seat for her. Hermione swiftly took her seat and fiddled her thumbs nervously under the table.

What would it look like to the others? Hermione Granger sitting with the staff. At least she wouldn't have to listen to the gossip and accusations…

Several minutes later, the first Seventh Years began to filter in and taking their seats at their respective House's table. The pleasant sound of people chattering merrily filled the hall and helped Hermione relax a little. Twenty minutes later, all of the Seventh through Second years were seated and waiting for the Sorting Ceremony to begin. Not soon after, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and McGonagall strode in, tailed by about fifty nervous First Years, who gazed in awe at the ceiling. Hermione remembered when she walked through those doors the first time…

Her mind wandered to what the year would hold for her. She barely paid attention to the sorting, clapping when the others clapped, but not hearing the names of the First Years of which Houses they had been sorted into.

After the Sorting, Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome back for another wonderful year at Hogwarts!" he greeted the school, eyes as bright as always, "I have a few reminders to make before we begin the Feast. Firstly, the Forbidden Forest is still out of bounds for everyone. Secondly, curfew has been set at nine o'clock. Also, I'm sure that you are all aware of the danger lurking beyond the gates. I advise you to follow every safety precaution set by the Heads of Houses and myself. Voldemort is on the loose and just as dangerous as he was twenty years ago."

The hall was silent.

"And on a much happier note," Dumbledore changed the mood with a simple smile and some much awaited words, "Let the feast begin!"

The feast went by quickly, and soon Hermione found herself waiting for all of the students to leave the Great Hall before tailing behind her Potions Professor and making her way back to her private quarters. Thankfully no one had the courage to speak to her with the menacing professor so close to her, so she was able to make her way to the dungeons safely.

All of the Slytherins seemed to already be in the Common Room, so the dungeons were deserted.

"I trust you can find your quarters by yourself? I must speak with my Slytherins," Snape stopped before the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room and raised a questioning eyebrow at Hermione.

"Of course, sir," she nodded and turned to make her way further into the dungeons to her rooms. She made it to the dungeons and soon found herself ready for bed and surprisingly exhausted. As she lay in bed, Hermione suddenly remembered she hadn't gotten a vial for Dreamless Draught from Snape yet, and felt panic course through her before she saw a tiny vial sitting on her bedside table. She smiled as she drank the potion and drifted swiftly off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.