Chapter Nine: The Opening Feast

The Great Hall was filled with the thunder of chattering students who had gathered for the Sorting Ceremony. Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table between Neville and Ginny, pondering the bittersweet feeling that had settled in her gut.

She had always enjoyed being at Hogwarts. Always felt like the school was a safe harbor in an otherwise turbulent world. But tomorrow, classes were resuming for the first time after the war. And everything had changed. There was a great shadow hanging over Hogwarts. Made up of all the horrors that its halls had seen and everyone they'd lost.

It clung to the students and staff like a parasite. Hermione could see that no one was left untouched by the war. Even the first years.

Hermione watched as McGonagall got to her feet and cleared her throat. One by one, the students in the room fell silent. "I am very pleased to welcome you all to Hogwarts. I would just like to say a few words before the Sorting Ceremony." Her gaze swept across the room as she smiled sadly. "I know returning to Hogwarts will be difficult for many of you. So many terrible things have happened. But now we are at a point where we can begin to move on and heal. It won't be easy, but if any of you ever need somebody to talk to I hope that you'll reach out to someone. Whether it's a staff member or a close friend, speaking about the pain you're going through will help. Please, don't think you need to do it alone."

Hermione risked a glance toward the head table. Today had been so eventful that she hadn't had the chance to spend much time with Severus. She longed to approach him. To make any excuse to go speak to him. But Snape had warned her about keeping a low profile. And he would have been beyond infuriated if she had let their secret slip on the first day.

Besides, she felt no pain at the moment. She could wait until the feast was over. Then, they would finally be alone. Hermione felt like she was quickly losing her sanity. After all, developing a crush on her professor was just so ... cliché.

Snape suddenly turned towards her as though he could feel her eyes on him. Hermione couldn't look away. She was lost in his hypnotic gaze.

"Hermione? Did you hear me?"

Hermione startled guiltily, turning her attention back to her own table. Ginny was watching her, an expression of mild annoyance resting on her features. "I was asking where your new room is."

"In the dungeons. Why?" Hermione made an effort to keep her face as neutral as possible.

"So that I can come visit you. It must be nice to have a room all to yourself."

"Actually, I think that I would much rather be staying in the dormitory with you," she said. Hermione felt like this was one of the few honest things that she'd said in days.

Ginny opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by McGonagall beginning to speak. "Now that the Sorting Ceremony has finished, the feast can begin."

As the headmistress returned to her seat, plate upon plate of food began to fill the tables. Hermione's stomach rumbled loudly at the sight of it all. Ginny seemed distracted enough by the appearance of the food that she was now piling on her plate. But Hermione decided to take advantage of the situation to steer the conversation away from her current living conditions. "So, have you heard from Harry and Ron lately?"

"I don't actually see either one of them much unless they are at home studying. That's all they seem to have time for anymore. Training and studying," Ginny spoke, her lips flattening into a stern line. "I don't expect to hear from them much at all while we're at school either. You know how rubbish they both are at remembering to write." She emphasized this with a roll of her eyes. "But the last time I spoke to Harry, he mentioned that he was looking for a flat somewhere nearby. And that I could come stay with him after I finish school." By the time she'd reached the end of her rant, she was smiling again.

"Oh, that's great, Ginny. I'm so happy for you both." Hermione attempted to match her friend's glee, but she couldn't help but feel a stab of bitterness. Why couldn't she have that? Instead, she was going to be stuck with a man who would never see her as anything other than his student for the rest of her life. How unfair it all was.

The rest of the feast passed quickly with old and new friends catching up. Afterward, McGonagall made some closing remarks and then it was time for everyone to scurry off to their rooms. Hermione made sure to stay out of Ginny's sight as she headed towards the dungeon. She definitely did not need any more questions tonight.

Fortunately, Snape's personal quarters were out of the way enough that she most likely would not run into any other students. But still, Hermione kept a watchful eye on her surroundings just in case.

When she'd finally reached the room, she realized that Snape had beaten her there. He was crouched in front of one of the bookcases, searching for a book on the bottom shelf. He added the book to a towering stack on a nearby table. "Good evening, Miss Granger. I need to prepare for tomorrow's classes."

Hermione nodded as he came toward her and placed a hand on her shoulder for the briefest instance. Then he levitated his pile of books and retreated out the door without another word.

All of her breath left her in a great sigh. She had hoped for a little more interaction than that. But that was Snape. And she knew better, didn't she? It was insane to think that her silly, little crush would ever be reciprocated. She trudged into her room and began getting her things ready for tomorrow.