I am very nervous about this chapter. I really hope I did it some justice. It is quite longer than my previous chapters.
All these wonderful characters belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling.
I do this for fun, not for profit.

She had been following the wizard for a time now in silence, trying to figure out why that he, out of everyone would be the second person to offer to lend an ear. Out of all her colleagues, McGonagall was the first person she had truly believed who would have come around a second time to talk to her. To see how she was holding up during her absence. But the tender-hearted witch had only came by once during this entire week. And even Hermione couldn't blame her for not coming around a second time after how horrid her first visit went. To say she was in a chipper or somber sort of mood, when the headmistress came, was severely understated. She didn't understand how one would think another would be willing to talk only two days after the disaster that had fallen down and caused her into a forced temporary leave of absence.

Hermione regretted for the way she acted towards the headmistress. It wasn't right for her to snap, and literally bite the older woman's head off for asking how she was holding up. It wasn't right, but that was what had happen.

She had taken all of her anger out on her, when she was only being a caring friend. The way she acted wasn't civil at all, it was horrendous. If her mother and father could see the way she reacted, they would not have been pleased. They would have expected her to show the sort of respect one has for their friends, for their mentor and for those who hold her wellbeing in highest regards. But did she do that? No. No, instead she had glared at the witch, took her rage out on her. The witch who had come to her childhood home with her letter of acceptance to Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That was the one who she looked up to the most all these years and the one who she blamed at the beginning.

Minerva had been her mentor from the start, the one who treated her like she was part of her very own family. Never once did she have an issue with Minerva. Though somehow she believed that the headmistress did not fight back with the board as hard as she could. When it was clear that she had. It was just that she couldn't make them realize their folly. With the way she acted towards her it was no wonder why the elderly witch never came back to check on her.

Hermione knew that Minerva probably thought it was best to keep her distance. To give her space, to allow her to breathe without someone constantly bothering her. It wasn't McGonagall's fault for this to happen and she knew that with all of her heart now. She also knew that this was out of her dear mentor's hands and knew that she wouldn't have agreed to anything without a valid reason. Even how valid one reason may be, there were plenty of times she had witness the woman in a mood that she was glad to not be on the other end of. When the headmistress lashed out at you, with that sharp tongue of hers, one knew they were in for it. And somehow, Hermione wished that her former head of house had done just that. Even if it was to snap her out of this depressing mood of hers and set her straight. Though to do so at that time wouldn't have been a very logical way as it was to leave her alone for the time being.

With all of her pent up hostile rage, it was best to have left her be until she could cool down as she was now. All of her anger had dissolved along with the crisp winter winds. Floating along the breeze over the clam dark waters of the lake.

And now here she was her temper cooled down so much that she willingly agreed to have a drink with the dour potions master. With the liberty to talk his ear off without any repercussions she musingly added.

It was still amazing to her that Hogwarts' very own potions master had offered at all. Snape was the last person who she had ever believed would do such a thing. For the longest time she believed that she annoyed the man with her constant babbling, her annoying jibber jabber that he would completely avoid in order not to have another word with her. This was what she had assumed to be true, but during the short time he's been back she was starting to speculate that he did enjoy having a conversation with her – even though she was the one who was talking most of the time.

Hermione walked closely behind him, burying herself more in the warmth of his thick cloak. The warm smell of herbs and sandalwood engulfed her sense of smell. It was a calming aroma that was hard to believe it was Snape's scent. Inhaling a deep breath of air, amber hues roamed slowly over him, watching closely for any signs that would tell her that he was regretting his offer already.

Just the slightest twitch of his fingers, a stall in his step, just something that would give him away. The signs she was looking for were not there, and surprisingly she was grateful of that. She was scared that he would send her to her rooms, telling her to stop acting like a simpering whiny chit, to move on with her life and stop all the woes is me like a Gryffindor who expected to be pitied on by others.

No, Severus Snape instead proceeded to glide down the darken halls of the castle like an elegant feline. His movements were so smooth, so graceful like a dancers, it was hard to believe that he had been injured by Nagini. The poison from that demon snake could cause paralysis if not treated right away. But here he was gliding through the castle with such graceful ease as if that night in the Shrieking Shack did not even happen.

They traveled down winding staircases, and a few more halls - all of which were familiar to her but at the same time quite different. They had taken the same path she taken all those days ago. Wandering through the castle in the dead of night, hidden in the shadows and away from prying eyes.

As they turned into another empty corridor, she allowed her gaze take in their surroundings. Nothing was familiar about this particular corridor, the suits of armor standing guard were unlike the ones in the other halls. There were fewer portraits hanging along the stone walls and only a couple torches lit. It was strange that after all this time walking throughout the lower levels of the castle's halls she never realize that such a hall like this existed.

To ones who were not apt on stalking the halls, they would never think that there was anything different from this one as the rest of them. Even though how perceptive she was, it wasn't the way the passage looked, as it was to the way it felt to her that made it more different from the rest. It made one feel as if they were in isolation- a pathway to a prison of sorts. A very cold and dismal place that would make a lost student to turn around and leave the area.

Reaching the end of the hall, Severus murmured a word between a painting and the last suit of armor. Feeling a ripple of magic dissipate the suit of armor slide sideways without making a sound as a wooden door appeared just behind where it once stood. As a few more ripples cascaded around them, Snape opened the door and motioned for her to enter.

Tentatively taking a step through the threshold, Hermione's eyes instantly scanned over the living quarters of Severus Snape. A forbidden area, which she had never dared to enter before. Taking in everything, she mentally noted on every aspect. She internally commented on how his furniture had seen better days. They were thread-bare, shabby beaten up like state and nothing like the elegant ones of those in her own rooms. His walls were coated with books from floor to ceiling, covering the normal grey stones that aligned the entire castle.

Even how abysmal his sitting room looked, there was a warm homely feeling with a slight of chill. The cool damp air of the dungeons did not bother her one bit, especially when her attention was not worried about the temperature of Severus' sitting when her inquisitive mind was more interested on the vast amount of tomes which covered majority of this small room.

Steadily walking up to one shelf, she perused the leather spines of each one. Hungry eyes soaking up each title she passed by. There were so many she had heard of and others that she never knew of, especially the last one. Squinting, she tried to decipher the worn out title of the book. It was not until Snape coaxed a fire to life in the hearth was she able to read the name Artibus Magicis Sanguinem. Art of Blood Magic that sounds interesting. She mumbled to herself. Curiosity grasped, she slipped a hand out of the thick cloak around her person, and cautiously reached out towards the intended book.

"Don't touch any of them unless I say it is safe to do so, Miss Granger." Severus deep baritone voice called out. "There are some books that I own that hold very dark magic, and if one who does not own them should either touch or peruse them may end up in a very….critical condition."

Hand stilling midway her eyes grew wide. She felt like a fool to forget Snape fancied the dark arts. It was a common knowledge that she knew when she was younger. No wonder she did not recognize many of these book, when the likes of them wouldn't be in the school's library.

Pulling her hand away from the tome, she let it fall back underneath the heavy black cloak that still draped over her shoulders. Taking a step back, Hermione looked over at him and murmured a thank you. Strolling around the room one more time, eyes lingering over the shelves of books she wonder what kind of dark magic was kept in such tomes that had grasped his particular attention. A question that she would surely never ask him, and even if she did, she highly doubted that he would ever tell her.

Pacing back to the hearth, she stripped out of Snape's cloak, she laid it over one of the backs of the two wingback chairs in the room. Taking a seat, she stared down at the dancing flames. Musing to herself at her companion's dwelling, she silently commented how it was like him in a weird kind of way. It was worn down over the years, mysterious and alluring in a way that was just like him. With the sort of life he had lived until now had taken a toll on his person. She could see that throughout the years she was still a student here. And now since the war had ended he looked much better, though his hair was still lanky but longer. His eyes were still dark and a way hypnotizing. In general he was an intriguing person, which made this dark mysterious wizard so captivating to Hermione.

"Drink this, it'll take the chill away." He told her, holding out a crystal tumbler filled with amber liquid. Looking at the offered beverage, the young witch took it with of word of thanks as he took his own and sat down in the other chair across form her.

Taking a sip, her face scrunched up as the fluid flowed down her throat leaving a burning sensation in its wake. "Merlin, this is that Ogden's Old Firewhiskey that Minerva loves so much, is it not?" She inquired, staring down at the liquid swooshing around in the glass.

"It is." Snape said, smirking as he gulp the rest of his down. "It's an acquired taste. I assure you."

"A taste that I will not be acquiring any time soon, nor in the near future it seems. You would think having a glass every time visiting her would eventually do it. Alas, it does not. Or at least not for me." She said, taking another sip. Even how much she detest it, the hard liquor was warming her body up, chasing away the chills she obtained from the frigid Scotland winter winds. Staring down at the amber liquid, firelight dancing off of the crystal tumbler, Hermione let out a heavy sigh. "Professor?"

"Yes."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what, Miss Granger?"

"This," she said, waving her hand in the air. "Being kind to me. Offering to lend an ear to listen to my woes and such. I've always annoyed you with my insufferable babbling you so like to call it. So why now?"

Severus stared at her, his obsidian gaze felt as if he was peering into her soul as he stayed silent for what seemed like forever. Vanishing his glass, he leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees, letting out a puff of air. "I know what has happened. I know about your temporary leave due to what the board of governors had deemed fit. I know what lies the media is spewing about you and I can see it plain as day that it is affecting you even if you try to deny it. I do not need to use legilimens to see that you are upset, when it's radiating off of you in waves."

She looked up at him, her eyes dull, almost lifeless gaze made contact with his own.

"Miss Granger. I have told you I would lend you an ear and listen to you. I swore to you that I would not down grade you, or criticize you in any way. I'm here for you to speak too. Everyone is worried about you. Minerva the most." He saw her wince, when he spoken the headmistress' name. "I'm just surprised that you have not gone to talk to her, or she to you. It's unlike her, when she loves to be meddlesome."

Hermione sighed, dropping her gaze once again, her middle finger of her right hand slowly moved around the rim of the glass. "She did try to talk to me and I…I snapped at her. I yelled at her like a spoilt child would. I wouldn't listen to what she had to say. I…I blamed her for Circe's sake. I blamed the one person in my life who has been there for me. Who cared so much about my wellbeing after I lost my parents and every horrible thing that has happen so far. I thought Harry and Ron would. I really believed that they cared for me, but really, they don't give a damn if I'm alright or not. They haven't even owled me after these events unfolded, and I likely doubt it. I bet Ron is saying that I deserve it and I wouldn't doubt him not to add his saying so to that god awful paper."

She let out a heavy breath and continued with an even softer voice. "Ron despises me. Did you know that? He and Harry both do. Or I assume Harry does since he won't correspond with me after he and Ronald got into a heated argument about me when Harry invited me for a drink one weekend. I figured Harry is not talking to me because he's best mates with him and he's engaged to Ginny and so he doesn't want to have issues with the Weasleys.

"I really don't know what the rest of the Weasley clan think of me. Nor will I ever. I won't even try to send them a letter in fear that I would receive one back full of hate and disgust, or better yet a howler from Mrs. Weasley, asking why I broke her little boy's heart. I know it's very insipid of me." She said with a huff, which sounded like a sad laugh.

"I really thought that I was their friend. I thought that after all we went through, we were always going to stay close to one another, no matter what. But I was wrong. It seems I've made a mess with my life so far. Little Miss Know-It-All who couldn't help her parents regain the lost memories she took away from them. Miss Hermione Granger, who broke up with Ronald Weasley, because she realized she only loved him like a brother and nothing more. Who knew, that it breaking up with one would come with the cost of losing her other best friend. And now, I'm Professor Hermione Granger, who somehow became Hogwarts number one harlot of the century without her even knowing." She paused looking up at him with glistening eyes. "Why did all of this had to happen to me? I never asked for any of this and still it all happened."

Wiping her face with the back of her hand she inhaled a shaky breath of air. "Still I wonder why, why was it hard for Ronald to understand that I could never love him in that sort of way? That I did not wish to have the life he dreamed of? I know that I annoyed him, because of my intellect. He had always made it a purpose to change a subject to quidditch, knowing that I do not pay very much to none at all attention to the sport. I really don't care for it. But…being a sweet and loving girlfriend, I let him talk, really gush over the subject. I tried to make him happy, only to be stake my happiness for him. He told me what he wanted in life as well. One, I disagree with. He wanted me to be a stay-at-home mother, raising seven redheaded children. Can you imagine that? Because I can't."

Letting out a heavy sigh, she ran her hand through her hair. Her delicate fingers catching on a knot or two. Biting down on her lower lip, she gently nibbled as she looked away from the potions master as another lone tear trickled down the side of her face. Swiping it away, she took several deep breaths of air, calming herself down before her grief took full control.

"Mr. Weasley is and will be a bloody idiot. He did not see you for you. Instead he was forcing his dreams on an intelligent witch that did not want that kind of life. As for Mr. Potter," he said with much disdain. "-needs to grow a damn back bone, and not fall to the whims of that of his redheaded counterpart. If they cannot see you for who you are, and they toss your friendship to the side, then they are not even worth shedding tears over, Miss Granger." Severus told her, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a crisp white handkerchief and handing it out towards her.

"Thank you." Grabbing the square cloth she dabbed her eyes.

"I apologize for your lost as well. I did not know about your parents."

"No, one really does. I try to keep it to myself. Only a few know about it." She said, her hands fidgeting with the piece of linin. "It's really my fault for the way they are. They are alive and well," she started, feeling him raise a dark brow at her, without her looking at him she shook her head. "Even though they are alive I still lost them. You see, they have no inkling of who I am. After the war I went after them. I was so sure that I could restore their memories of me, but alas I could not. I tried every charm that was known. I even made up some new ones and nor did those work. What I casted upon them was a very strong oblivate. I erased every trace of me from their lives in order to protect them from Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Monica and Wendell Wilkins will never know that they were once Jean and John Granger. They will never know that they had a daughter named Hermione Granger. And they will live the rest of their lives happily in Sydney, Australia without a clue as to who they once were before they became who they are now."

"Surely there is a way for them to regain those lost memories, Miss Granger. You shouldn't give up on hope."

"Hope?" She scoffed sadly. "I slowly lost my hope. After one month went by, then two, soon half a year and then a year and still nothing that I did, did any good. I stood in the shadows, watching them live their lives. Minerva knew about my issues, I wrote to her constantly, and she me. I was wallowing away in a foreign land and she….she came and offered me a position once Hogwarts was rebuilt. I thought I would have to be an apprentice or at least have my N.E.W.T.'s to have this position she was offering me. Until it came to my knowledge that those in their final year at Hogwarts during the war seems was exempted, which made me exempted from needing such things to obtain this particular job. Knowing this, I really didn't feel right about taking this positon without become a Transfiguration Mistress first."

"And do you still want to become one? A transfiguration mistress?" He asked, leaning back in his seat.

"Oh, I actually am one now. I told Minerva my concerns and she agreed to train me on the side when I didn't have my classes. This past summer I was able to take my test and I passed. That day was one of the few days in my life after the war that made me quite pleased."

"I bet with flying colors too." He banter, giving a ghost of a smile.

The corner of Hermione's lips curled upwards, showing a genuine smile as her eyes twinkled at him. "Of course professor. Though I swore that I was going to fail."

"Hell would freeze over first before that happens."

Looking at him with a surprised look on her face, it quickly melted away to a warm light hearted laughter. Covering her mouth with her hand, muffling her giggles, she looked at Severus who was looking at her with a curious expression.

"I believe you have gone mad on me. Should I go retrieve Poppy for you?"

"I'm sorry sir. It's just…it's just that I wasn't expecting a muggle saying to come out of your mouth. You just caught me off guard."

"Well, I am a half-blood. My father was a muggle, my mother witch which makes me a half-blood wizard. I grew up in the muggle world before coming to this one. So hearing such sayings such as that one were ones I've heard while growing up…" along with other unsavory ones. He added in silence.

"Oh, well then. I shall be more prepared next time, when another muggle saying comes from your maw." She smirked.

"We shall see."

{-}

They spent another couple hours sitting by the fire talking about her problems. Severus had called for a house elf when he noticed she wasn't drinking the firewhiskey she held in hand. Asking for a pot of tea and some chocolate biscuits – remembering the look on the witch's face when she gazed down at the delectable treats several days ago in his office. The way her eyes lit upon seeing them was a look he actually enjoyed seeing shimmering in those honey colored irises. Being able to see it once again tonight really made him smile even if that smile was kept inside.

To see that spark of light in her eyes, was uplifting to him - but he would never say that to her. The only thing he voiced to her was not to give up on hope and to stay strong. A rare kind sentiment, in which earned him a wan smile from Hermione. Even how small it was, it did not hide the spark in her cinnamon hues. That strong will girl- no woman was slowly rising back out from underneath the ashes she was buried in, and it was due to their conversation.

When she yawned, she bade forgiveness as she rose out of the thread bare chair. Stretching her arms high above her head, back arching slightly, pushing her chest out. The already snug robes she wore tighten around her body, accentuating her breasts that Severus failed not to stare at. Keeping his normal mask of indifference on, he allowed his eyes to roam stealthy over her body as he too rose out of his own seat.

"Wow, it's really late," she said casting a tempus. "-but at the same time it's really morning. It would be strange to say good morning when one is heading off to sleep." Chuckling, she gave him a bright warm-hearted smile that took him by surprise. It was a smile that she only graced Neville bloody Longbottom and no one else, except now. She had given this same smile to him and making his breathing hitch for a second. "Thank you for listening to me. I feel much better now, since I was able to talk to someone."

"I'm glad I was able to be of service to you, Miss Granger."

"Please call me Hermione. We're colleagues now, and I would like to think that we are sort of friends?"

"Very well." He said, inclining his head slightly. "You can floo back to your rooms to avoid any early risers meandering about."

"Thank you. I'm really am thankful that you did this for me. Goodnight Severus." She grabbed a handful of floo dust, tossing it on the fire as she called out her room. As the green flames alight, she looked over her shoulder at him. "Oh, Severus, the goatee looks nice but…it doesn't suit you. I think you looked better without it." She said.

Stepping through the green flames, she didn't hear the stunned wizard whisper, "goodnight, Hermione."

Severus whisked his hand over the remains of their tea and biscuit crumbs, vanishing them then putting a ward around his hearth to keep others from randomly flooing in. When he made sure everything was completely cleaned and warded he picked up his cloak and head off to his bedroom.

Severus couldn't get her out of his mind. The way she looked tonight was heart breaking. To see such a strong witch brought down, torn from the life she once had bothered him deep down. He never wished to see anyone in the state she was in, one that reminded of him of his very own life.

It had to be during their conversation, for him to learn so much about this witch. The information he learned about her, he would have never even fathomed about. Her life was truly topsy-turvy. One bad luck after the next for her and he hoped that she would not give up and push forward. He wanted to voice it out to her, telling her to keep moving forward and not regress in her pain like he did. But he didn't. Severus did not want to admit it out loud that was exactly what he had done.

He knew at hand what happens when allowing this dark hole to suck you up and consume every bright light of hope one held dear in their heart. Making one to wander through the darkness, leaving them with all the pain in the world and never trying to look for that bright lay-line in the far off distance. It was a dark place for one and she did not belong in that place like that, unlike him. She was sweet and innocent, a creature of the light while he was a creature of the darkness. A soul damned for eternal damnation no matter what he did for redemption. There was nothing for him to change what had happened to him already. There was no sweet witch in his life to uplift him - nor would there ever be.

With his looks and the knowledge of being an ex-death eater, he would never have a witch who would want to be with him. He would never be accepted back into this world. He would always be hated by the mass and once his help was no longer needed here at Hogwarts, Severus planned to make his final disappearance from Britain's wizarding world once and for all.

Stripping out of his clothes, Snape slipped between the cool sheets as his wandering thoughts went to Hermione. He was glad that their talk helped some, bringing her not much, but a little out of that dark abysmal abyss she had dug for herself. It was nice to see the change, even how subtle it shimmered in her eyes. To see the old know-it-all - even how minuscule it only was, it was still refreshing to see. Over time Severus knew that she would once again be back to her old self and he wouldn't be here to witness it.

Sighing he closed his eyes to get some amount of sleep before the day actually started. Though sleep was far from his mind as an image of Hermione's stretching body appeared behind his eyelids. Her burgundy robes stretching tautly over her supple breasts, showing the uncovered top creamy curves of them. He couldn't deny it she had grown into a woman, and no longer that coltish girl. She was a beauty, in a natural sort of way, with her wild curls, amber hues and a smile that warms ones very soul. And her smell, was quite enthralling.

Severus could still smell the witch even now as he laid there in bed. His cloak laying on the back of the wooden chair beside his night stand reeked of her. Her light airy vanilla-lavender fragrance perforated his entire sleeping quarters, ensnaring his senses, heighten his imagination. He thought of the witch, thought of how her supple breasts would taste like as he kissed them, sucking and nibbling on pink nipples, making them pucker with his mouth. He imagine what kind of sounds would emit from her as he licked and teased every inch of her body before he took her, claiming her with his own. And having her sweet and alluring scent encompass them both.

Snapping his eyes open, Severus let out a stream of curses. He couldn't be thinking of her in that way. He was twice her age. He was old, even if he was considered young in wizarding standards. Still he couldn't be thinking like this. She was once his student, and just the thought of being with one who was under his tutelage disgusted him even more. His wild imagination just proved to him how long it has been since he laid with a woman. To be imagining how it would be to lay with her, with her hair spread about around her as she laid underneath him. Severus could feel their legs tangled with one another in the sheets, his hips moving as he thrust into her repetitively, making her body quiver as he brought her to a sweet blissfulness. The air will fill with the tangy sweet scent of sex, while they laid in one another's arms, their bodies covered in a sheen of sweat as they lay there catching their breaths. Feeling his arousal grew, with mere thought of them lying naked in bed.

Quickly thinking of something else he chanted in his head, Minerva naked, Gilderoy and Albus naked, Pince and Filch naked. Just imagining all of these people in a state he would never wish to see helped enough to kill his libido.

Letting out an aggravated groan, Severus tossed and turned for an hour finding it was without a doubt impossible to sleep. It was futile to even try, once he was stopped his chant, the witch somehow found her way back in. Letting out an exasperated grunt, he knew he would not get an ounce of sleep if he did not take this unfortunate matter in hand. Slipping his hand under the waistband of his trunks, grasping his cock in hand he began stroking himself ardently. As his sac squeeze and tighten, the rush of his release pulsed out in streams as he let out a breathy moan of the witch's name tumbling off of his tongue.

{-}

Hermione had awoken feeling better then she had ever felt this entire week, actually since she arrived at Hogwarts. It amazed her how having a talk with Severus helped her more than talking to McGonagall, Neville or anyone else in fact. Being able to talk to him felt different. She didn't feel like he was coddling her as he listened. He listened to what she had to say with open ears, gave his opinions when he deemed at the right moment and on certain aspects. And he was true to his word, he didn't chastise her for acting the way she was. He let her speak what was on her mind, what bothered her and told her to keep hope and stay strong, that when there was a will, there was always a way. It was heart-warming to hear him say that to her, instead of just patting her on the hand and looking at her with a sadden look or even giving her his trade mark sneer.

Readying herself for the day, Hermione decided to actually break her fast in the Great Hall. When she waltz into the noisy room, all talk came to a halt as students eyes grew wide upon seeing their transfigurations professor. Smiling at them, she nodded her head as she proceeded to the staff table. Greeting every professor with a pleasant word, receiving them back except from Professor Hackly, whom she still was trying to figure out why he hated her so.

Taking her regular seat in between Severus and Neville and picked up a slice of toast, buttering it then taking a bite.

"Welcome back Hermione." Neville said, giving her a wary but friendly smile. "Are you alright?"

"I am Neville, there was nothing to worry about. I just thought laying low was the wisest idea to do until today had arrived." Hermione lied without a hint that she did, as she picked up her glass of pumpkin juice and taking a sip from it before continuing to eat.

"Well I for one am glad that you're back my dear." Minerva's said leaning forward to look down the table at her. "We've missed you."

"And I missed you all."

"Well someone is in a chipper mood this morning." Severus said in his velvet like voice. "It seems all is well with you now, Miss Granger. I was beginning to wonder when you would…grace us with your presence once again."

"Well sir, I had a very good friend tell me that I need to keep hope and to stay strong. He told me this for every short comings I have to keep my chin up, even if he didn't word it that way." She told him, giving him another of her charming smiles that brighten up the room. "I really appreciate him for telling me this, and for him to lend an ear when he didn't have too."

"He sounds like a good friend."

"He is." She said, turning her attention towards him and tilted her head to the side noticing that his once apparent facial hair was indeed missing. "I see that you had gotten rid of you new addition."

"I did. I had someone tell me that I looked better this way, than with it on and I have to agree with them."

"Well, I have to agree with them as well. You do look so much better this way. You look more like you and I like that." With an approving nod she returned to her meal at hand. Inwardly musing as she caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye how the small subtle smirk of his graced his lips before hiding it behind the scowl he always wore.

Once she was done with her meal, Hermione left the Great Hall along with Minerva and headed up to the Headmistress' office, where she was to meet the board governors shortly for her impending outcome. What seemed were only mere minutes, felt to her like hours, unpleasing ones that set her nerves on edge. Taking a deep breath, the Gryffindor kept her chin up and thought of the positive outlook to this all as she sat in silence repeating to herself that everything was going to be alright.

When thirty minutes had passed, was when the flames in the hearth turned a bright green as seven wizards came through the hearth brushing soot off of their robes. They all looked at her with solemn faces as they took their seats behind the elongated table in front of her. Hermione sat there, nodding her head at each one in greeting to have one returned right back to her. Minerva stood right behind her, keeping a gentle hand upon her shoulder. The young witch couldn't see the older witch's expression, but knowing McGonagall, the stern professor look was placed firmly on her mentor's face, her sharp eyes looking at each one of the wizards before them as she kept her tongue still for the time being.

"Miss Hermione Granger." Said the thin bald wizard who sat in the middle. "It's a pleasure to meet you, though I wish it was under different circumstances. Unfortunately it is not. I'm sure you know the reasons to why were are here today?"

Hermione nodded her head in confirmation.

"Good. Well as you know about what was printed in The Daily Prophet has brought quite a turmoil upon the school. It is not wise to have the school's name slandered because of one individual. Of course, I know that you are not the only one that was involved in this matter. We are here today to listen to your side of the story and we will decide if you shall keep your position or not. Will you please tell us exactly what happen?"

"Of course sir. What has happened was a reporter casting her revenge on another for something that happened many years ago. Rita Skeeter and I do not see eye to eye. I did not care for the constant lies she was plaguing throughout the paper. I had found out that she was an unregister animagus and I as being a child back then used it as black mail to keep her from spreading more lies about my friend, Harry Potter. It was a way to keep her from causing more damage in our lives.

"But recently she had appeared once more due to certain reasons, which I am assured that all of you know about. Well, she had made sure to let me know that I couldn't keep her and her lackeys away from here since she is now register. I had no way to keep the school protected from her slander now. She had overheard two gossiping teenage girls, who eavesdropped on a conversation that Professor Longbottom and I were having and threw it all out of proportion. Neville and I have been childhood friends since we both came to this school, and we still are, but there is nothing going on between us. He's like a brother to me and his fiancée a sister. I've knew about their secret engagement for months, they were waiting for the perfect moment to announce it to the public."

"Even if you are friends, how are we to know that you and he were not in a more…intimate relationship? We know he's engaged, but it doesn't mean there was nothing going on between you both. Even you're students say that you seem happier when you are around him than when you're not."

"I assure you, that there was no nor will there be such a liaison between us. I have been depressed lately and he's the only friend, other than the Headmistress that I feel comfortable around to talk to. I lost my parents to a spell gone wrong during the war and there is no way for me to help them. I live everyday knowing that I will not hear them say that they love me, that they are so proud of me for what I have decided to do with my life."

"My friends have been there for me ever since I could remember. They helped me whenever I got sad just thinking about my parents. Professor Longbottom knows how it feels to have two parents who are close by, but still far away. He's been helping me cope with my lost. So I reassure all of you, nothing and I mean nothing is going on between us. What had been spewed from Skeeter, was all lies. She's a vengeful witch who would do anything in her power to destroy another, even if it means to bring down a prestigious name as Hogwarts." She paused, looking at each wizard separately.

"Sirs, if you decide to get rid of me, what makes you believe that no harm will come to the school? Do you actually believe that a woman like Skeeter will leave the school be once I'm gone? She is a reporter, a very spiteful one at that, and she doesn't care if she's going to smear one's good name through the dirt as long as she gets the publicity she is looking for. She wants to be known for her articles, she wants to be known for discovering something that wasn't really true as long as she gets what she wants. She will stop at nothing if you get rid of me. She'll just move on and make up another story that would top the one she wrote about. So I implore you, please don't fire me based on the words from her. But do so if you think it's the right thing to do. If you do chose to do so, I will humbly leave without making a fuss."

Hermione gazed at each one once again as she fell silent. They all looked at her with expressionless faces before turning towards the middle of the table. The balding wizard, who she believed to be the superior authority figure in the group cast a mullfiato around them.

Not being able to hear what they were saying clearly, the young witch began to bite her lip. Worrying her the supple flesh, she felt Minerva's hand tighten on her shoulder. Looking up at into the gentle, caring face of her mentor, she reached up covering the older witch's hand with her own. Smiling at her, Hermione brought her attention back to the wizards who held her life in their very hands, and waited.

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