Never Piss Off A House-Elf

disclaimer: alas, I still do not own HP. I'd like to, but JKR wouldn't let me.

This chapter is dedicated to . . . mysticpammy!

Just as a note (I'm feeling a bit bitter about a review from 'I Think I Knew'; I'm not mad at y'all): why bother leaving a nasty, insulting review if you're not going to have the guts to sign it, other than 'Disappointed'????? And just saying that ya think something's crap without specifying what the issue was is not constructive. I think my reviewers from this story have been utterly helpful in that they specify what they like, don't like, and they offer both support and ideas on how to fix things.

Done ranting. Feel free to give me feedback on that, and please know that people who review like that make me even more grateful for your reviews. Thanks for sticking with me.

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Chapter 37: My Boyfriend's Back?

Hermione had felt much better once Severus applied his special form of r&r via the shower. She decided to leave the scheduling as he suggested, moving towards her private project instead.

"What to use as a base?" Hermione mused the afternoon the other head student and prefects were supposed to arrive. She was curled up on a sofa in Severus's den. She'd been pacing all day, trying to figure out a base when he had almost begged her to leave his labs and 'think' somewhere else. "It needs to be stable for transport, hold the ingredients, yet become a powder when used."

Hermione yanked on a lock of her hair, frustrated. She'd picked out a few ingredients that wouldn't combust on impact, but she couldn't really begin her trials until she had a base that would at least pass muster.

"Maybe I should look to more muggle products," Hermione said, stretching. Her book fell out of her lap, closing with a thud. She sighed and looked at her watch. "Bugger! The other students!"

Hermione grabbed her robes and wand, throwing the first over her t-shirt and shorts and the other in her pocket. She left a note for Severus and called for Satchel as she ran out of his rooms and headed for the doors of the Great Hall. She patted her hair as she rounded the last corner and Satchel and Dobby opened the doors.

"Welcome back to Hogwart's!"

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Needless to say, the greeting Hermione got back was a bit. . . lackluster. Luna Lovegood had made Ravenclaw prefect, but her cohorts were not exactly to Hermione's liking: Padma Patil and two boys Hermione didn't know very well. Malfoy and Parkinson were still prefects, and Hermione was saddened a bit more than she thought she would be when Ron arrived, Gabrielle on his arm.

The Hufflepuffs were nice, as usual, and Hermione was thankful for that. She waited until everyone had said hello and introduced themselves where needed. Draco Malfoy was watching her from hooded blue-grey eyes while Pansy Parkinson hung off his arm, slack-jawed and dim-witted as usual. Hermione could tell everyone was waiting for her to make some announcements, but for the first time in a while, she was having a hard time finding her voice. After about ten minutes, she was ready.

"Ahem, as I already said, welcome back to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I feel we are all lucky to be back here, and I think we should take a moment to honor the fallen," Hermione said, bowing her head. Everyone followed her lead, even Malfoy, Parkinson and the other Slytherins.

Clearing her throat, Hermione smiled a bit. "Thank you. Now, as you know, we have some adjustments. I am Head Girl, and I wish for the Head Boy to present himself," she said, waiting for Harry or Ron to step forward. A few tension-filled moments passed and Hermione found herself chewing her lip and closing her eyes when a voice broke the silence.

"Well, Granger, it would seem that fame and not talent or right are important to Dumbledore in yet another arena," Draco Malfoy's cold voice hit Hermione like a ton of bricks.

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AN: OMM, sorry this was so short, but I'm still hurt by that other nasty review. Plus, I think Draco needed some love, and the last line in a chapter is what he usually likes.

Um, because I've been naughty, only 3 reviews needed for the next chapter.