Hermione's NEWT week is about as different from her OWL week as it can be. The tests are basic and straightforward. She is well versed in the material. Her practical exams go flawlessly, and she barely feels the depletion from her core even after all the demanding spellwork. The testers try hard to appear unimpressed, but they fail miserably. After every practical examination, a witch or wizard pulls her aside and asks her what her plans are for further education.
She gives them all the same answer: "I haven't decided yet." And then, to end the conversation, "Thank you for administering my test today."
In between tests and before dinner Hermione helps Ginny study. Ginny has done very well this year, and is in a great position to get the NEWTs she needs to join Harry as an auror. When Hermione tell her this she beams with pleasure, but then tells Hermione she has six quidditch tryouts scheduled for the upcoming summer.
"When you're an international quidditch star," Hermione says, "Will you still love me if I never come to your games?"
Ginny rolls her eyes. "I'm not even going to answer that." Then Ginny's face becomes quite serious. "Okay," she says, "I've given you all the space I can possibly give you, so can you please just tell me what the fuck is going on?"
Hermione is immediately on her guard. "With?"
"You! You plan everything out down to the last fucking inconsequential detail. Every. Fucking. Thing. I KNOW you have a plan for when we leave. What is it?"
"Honestly I don't, Ginny," Hermione says, relieved that Snape hasn't been brought up. "I'm going to Grimmauld place, I think for a while. But maybe not too long. I just need some time to not be in a war or at this school. I want some time to study what I want to study. I have the money from the Order of Merlin. So I'm not in a hurry to figure it out. But you know me. I'll probably be back in school in no time." Hermione smiles easily at Ginny, trying to reassure her.
"You've changed," Ginny says, but not critically.
"Yes," Hermione agrees. "I've been working hard at it. But not that much. You know what? I fucking miss Harry and Ron. I can't wait for it to be the four of us at Grimmauld Place. And whoever else shows up," Hermione ads.
"It feels like there's something else you're not telling me," Ginny says.
Hermione nods. "There is. I promise I will tell you when we get out of here. And I'm sorry I can't tell you everything now. But people's lives are at risk and it can't be helped."
"What?!" Ginny is understandably alarmed.
"I promise I will come clean to you. Just not here."
Ginny pauses. But Hermione's jaw is set and her eyes are hard. She reminds Ginny of Snape in that moment, and Ginny has the good sense to let it be. For now. She nods, hugs Hermione in a big bear hug.
"Oh, Her-mo-ninny," she says, mimicking the way Victor Krum used to say her name. The girls break into giggles and the tension is gone. Hermione feels light- lighter than air, and loved.
Hermione is still glowing when she lets herself into Snape's office. He is already pouring the tea. He looks up at her. Stops pouring. Raises an eyebrow.
"Something lit a light inside you," he says conversationally. He goes back to pouring to keep from staring at her.
"Ginny," says Hermione, "Is so fu- sorry professor- freaking funny."
It takes some effort, but he manages to put his scariest scowl on his face and glare at her. Hermione tries so hard to look contrite, then- failing that- tries not to laugh. Then she bursts into a fit of giggles.
"Detention, Miss Granger," Snape says.
"When?" Hermione manages to gasp out between fits of giggles. "With whom?"
"With me," he snaps. "Right now. Drink your tea… if you can." He snorts. She is ridiculously cute. "And fifty points to Gryffindor," he says, almost as an afterthought.
This stops the giggling. "What? Why?"
"Because you're my favorite student," he says, sipping his tea in his long black robes and looking every bit the distinguished professor.
"Careful, sir," Hermione says, grinning. "You don't have much time left to take them back."
Snape considers her comment for a moment. Then, "This time, Miss Granger. I'm going to let you keep them."
The Defense Against the Dark Arts practical exam is the last one, held friday afternoon. They are all called in one at a time, but in a gesture of solidarity, the members of the DA stick together after the test. When the last of them finishes the exam, they all leave the corridor together.
"We're done, you guys," says Ginny, managing to sound stunned and excited at the same time. Everyone gives a big cheer as they head down to the great hall together. Then, someone shoots off a patronus. The rest of the DA quickly follows suit, and pretty soon there is a laughing, cheering, chanting group of seventh years marching down the corridors lead by a pack of leaping, bounding, and flying patronuses.
They burst into the Great Hall, which is beginning to fill up for supper. The other members of the DA get up quickly and join them, and more patronuses join the first. The younger children, watch, mouths open, spellbound.
Then Ginny, laughing, casts her Bat Bogey hex at everyone she can point her wand at. Soon, the great hall is full of laughter as the members of the DA are frantically beating the arms around their heads. Hermione manages to banish hers first and promptly conjures her signature yellow canaries and sets them on Ginny. She hasn't conjured them in a while, and is astounded at the number of them that come pouring out of her wand.
The Great Hall has descended into utter chaos, the younger children clapping, cheering, stomping, and jeering. The DA is in a full fledged charms war at this point. Hermione gets hit with a tap dancing charm and her legs leap her up on the Gryffindor table and tap dance her up and down it until it wears off and she falls over laughing. In the midst of it, more than thirty patronuses race around the hall, blinding in their brightness, as blindingly bright as Hermione as ever seen them.
Just as she is hit with another bat bogey hex, and sees what she swears is the Headmistress in her cat form catching canaries, she realizes with palpable relief that the children have survived the war with their souls intact. And that, perhaps, there might be hope for hers as well.
Friday night finds her back in Snape's office.
"That was quite a scene in the Great Hall tonight," Snape says as he pours thier tea.
"Did you see the Headmistress catching canaries?" Hermione says, eyes dancing. "I almost didn't believe it."
"I saw," he says, his face in a disapproving sneer. But Hermione can see his jaw twitching. She isn't fooled. She wonders how she ever was.
"I have a question for you, Professor." Hermione says.
He sits down and passes her tea, motioning for her to continue.
"I know you and the Headmistress have asked me to stay on school grounds, but my friends are going to be at Hogsmede pretty much the entire weekend. I don't think I can avoid it without raising questions. And frankly, Ginny has had about enough of me keeping things from her."
"I am officially placing your safety and well being back in your own very capable hands, Miss Granger," Snape says, careful to keep the regret out of his voice. "You are a powerful, competent witch. You are aware of the possible dangers and threats against you. I don't think there will ever be a time when you will not be a target. Be smart, be vigilant, and cast the protections I have taught you every time you leave your protected space. Never get so pissed that you can't properly defend yourself unless you are in a safe place.
"But above all, Miss Granger, enjoy your time with your friends for this last week of school. I will, of course, be administering finals for the rest of my students."
Hermione hears the implied meaning in his last comment. This is their last private meeting at Hogwarts.
"And after?" she says. She tries to keep her voice strong, but it comes out barely more than a whisper. Her heart is pounding in her chest.
"Is it your wish to see me again, Hermione?"
"Yes," she breathes, the word a plea on her lips.
"When you are safely ensconced at Grimmauld place, when the school year is officially over and you are no longer my student, find some privacy and open the letter I sent you at Christmas. If you don't change your mind between that moment and the end of July, I will bring you the results of your NEWTs."
Hermione draws in a little breath. "That long?" she asks him, her heart breaking a little.
He gives her his most indulgent smile, and reaches across the desk to her. She sets down her tea and takes his hand. He runs the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. She closes her eyes in pleasure.
"I have some business to take care of," he says, still holding her hand across the desk. "And we both need a little time and space between this phase and the next."
Hermione nods at this. He is right, of course. She lets go of his hand and looks up at him. "I don't know how I can ever thank you enough for what you've done for me this year, Professor Snape," she says.
"Your success is all the thanks I need, Miss Granger. Please continue to take care of yourself the way I have taught you."
"I promise, sir," Hermione says, standing up from her chair. "May I go now before I try to leap across your desk?"
His smile is as genuine as she has ever seen it. "You are dismissed, Miss Granger."