Changes Can Be Made
Disclaimer: I do not own the awesome and amazing HARRY POTTER!
A/N: I am extremely sorry! I am so so sorry! I've been really busy lately unpacking and arranging stuff (coz hey,I moved to a different country and our house isn't entirely finished…) I am so incredibly sorry… Also, I am trying to update asap all the time, but with so much stuff going on (aka new country) please bear with me… anyway… CHAPTER 11~
Chapter 11: Concocting a Friendship
"May I sit with you?"
Silence washed over the class as those words left Hermione's lips. Severus looked up utterly shocked. He didn't know what to say, he only nodded in response. Many Slytherins and Gryffindors began to gossip about the two and Severus blushed when she moved away to collect her stuff.
"What are you doing?!" Lily quietly squealed in anger.
"I'm just trying to be nice…" Hermione said looking genuinely confused, "It's not like he's going to curse me or something…"
"He might, you never know…"
"Why would you think that Lily?"
"I told you before remember," Lily said pointedly.
"Remember?" Hermione questioned. She honestly couldn't remember. 'What on earth is she talking about?'
"He doesn't like muggle-borns like us…" Lily whispered.
Hermione recalled the scene from this morning…
"That was Severus Snape… He doesn't like muggle-borns…" Lily said with a mixture of anger and hurt gracing her features.
"Well, I see your point but that doesn't mean I can't be nice to him. Look he's sitting all by himself," Hermione gestured to his table, "and it doesn't look like anyone's going to go sit with him, so I decided to be a good fellow classmate and not let him be a loner."
"I get where you're coming from Hermione but… He doesn't deserve your kindness," said a concerned Remus, "He's a Slytherin."
"But that doesn't make him a bad person. It's just his house! Come on guys, just let me do this and respect my decision… Please?"
Lily sighed and nodded, "Just be careful Hermione."
"I will!" Hermione turned to Remus.
"Fine… But if he says anything mean to you tell me and the Marauders will jinx him like there's no tomorrow."
Hermione giggled at the statement and gathered all her things, which were her book and bag.
Severus was very bothered when she left. He watched as Lily and Remus warned Hermione and watched as she explained herself, though he couldn't make out what she was saying, but those things weren't what was bothering him.
'Why would SHE want to sit with ME?' was the bothersome question that echoed in his head.
Though this situation was suspicious he couldn't help but feel rather satisfied that she chose to sit with him over that marauder mongrel.
Hermione collected her book and bag and he quickly averted his eyes, she was coming to his table now.
Hermione reached Severus' table in seconds and quietly seated herself to his right.
"Thanks," she said with a smile.
"No need for that Miss Grace, it was you who asked to sit here."
"And it was you who said yes… oh and by the way, you can just call me Hermione."
"I simply nodded, I did not actually say 'yes' Hermione," he said with a cheeky smile.
"It implies the same things Severus…" Hermione huffed out. He knew how to annoy her.
"Is it really that easy to annoy you Hermione?" he asked mischievously.
"When it's you… yes," she said finally.
Hermione and Severus were suddenly interrupted by a loud throat clearing, "Alright class! Welcome to Advanced Potions. For those who don't know me I'm Professor Slughorn!" said the cheery professor, "Now today's lesson will be a history like lesson on some potions just to brush up. Now…"
Hermione listened as Professor Slughorn rambled on about some funny potions like the Hicoughing Solution and then abruptly change to Everlasting Elixirs. Hermione along with the others, who have heard this before, were starting to doze off…
"If you're going to sleep, please do not drool on the table Hermione," sighed the boy beside her.
Hermione smiled, "and why would you think I would sleep in class Sev?" she asked making use of his shortened name. This obviously caught him by surprise.
"W-what did you just call me?"
"Sev… Why? Oh! If you don't like it I'll just call you Severus… or Snape… Or Mr Slytherin… Or… anything you want."
"No no, it's fine… It just reminds me of an old friend that's all…" he said sadly.
"oh ok…"
An awkward silence stayed between them for another 20 minutes of class, until…
"Hey, Hermione?"
"Yeah Sev."
"Why did you sit with me?"
Hermione turned her attention away from the table she was leaning on and looked to Severus who was watching her intently.
"Because you looked lonely sitting here by yourself," she said. 'And because I need you to stay good and for you to improve your relationships with others for the good of the future,' she added in her head.
"Oh, okay… Well, since you and I have heard about this stuff, why don't you tell me about yourself."
"Um… well, there's one thing I want to clear up first…"
"Sure, what is it?" he asked curiously.
"Well, how do you feel about muggle-borns? I mean, you personally and not as an egotistical Slytherin."
"Well, I honestly don't mind them… I mean I was once best friends with one before…" he said solemnly.
"Oh… was that by any chance Lily?"
"Y-yes, how did you know?"
"Well, it seems like Lily knows you a lot better than she was letting on…."
"Oh, well, yeah we were best friends… before…"
"What happened?"
"I-I was so angry when the marauders pranked me once and when Lily defended me… I get even more angry… you know, because I was humiliated and what-not… well, I accidentally called her a… a… mudblood…"
Hermione gasped, " Oh my merlin!"
"I know!" he admitted guiltily, "It was a slip of the tongue! You know, I am in the Slytherin house, so I was kind of influenced a little, but I never meant to say it to her! In fact I never meant it at all… I kept trying to apologise but…. But she wouldn't forgive me…"
Hermione lightly touched his shoulder, "I understand, but hey! I can try and help you and Lily become friends again!"
"How?" he grumbled.
"Well, you and me can become study buddies and I'll invite her and Remus along too! Then the more time you two spend together you can show her that you didn't mean what you said and TADA! Friends again!"
"It sounds good in theory but…"
"But what? Have faith in my amazing plan Sev!" Hermione said cheerfully.
Severus chuckled, "well aren't you my ray of sunshine Hermione."
Hermione blushed and turned away so he wouldn't notice. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't quick enough.
"You blush so easily Hermione," he murmured in her ear.
"A-anyway! You wanted to know about me correct?"
"Yes, but we only have about 10 minutes of class left and neither one of us have paid attention."
Who cares about that now! Look, I'll tell you a bit about me... only! If you promise to do the study group with me, Lily and Remus… I want to know for sure you're going to do it…"
"Fine, I, Severus Snape, promise to do the study group with you, Hermione Grace, as well as with Lily Evans and Remus Lupin," he recited with his hand over his heart in a 'make-an-oath-on-your-life' manner.
Hermione giggled and Severus flashed her a charming smile, "Now go on Hermione, become less of a mystery to me," he said with a wink.
Hermione sighed, "Alright, my name is Hermione Grace. I am 17 years old and I am a muggle-born witch," she paused to see his reaction.
He gasped, "y-you're a muggle-born?"
"Yes," she answered. "Now, continuing on… I was privately tutored in the muggle world until both my parents died…" she trailed off.
"If you don't mind me asking… How did they die?"
Hermione smiled weakly at him before continuing, "Death eaters… they came after me… my parents bought me time to escape… but…"
"I am so sorry..." he said pulling her into a hug.
She returned the hug tightly before whispering, "It's alright…"
When they parted she asked him, "What do you think about death eaters?"
"From all that I've heard, I don't like them… they cause so much pain for others."
"That's good…" she whispered, "Anyway, it looks like class is just about finished."
He smiled warmly towards her, "and what do you have next, Hermione?"
"um, let's see…" she pulled out her schedule, "Arithmancy."
"Oh, I can walk you to class so you won't get lost if you want…"
Hermione sighed happily, "I would love you to but Lily and Remus are in the same class so I'm just going to walk with them."
"Oh okay…" he grumbled clearly irritated.
"Sorry…"
"No, It's fine… You can just sit with me in class from now on…"
She giggled and said, "Definitely."
Hermione and Severus packed up their things, like all the other students and bid wach other farewell.
While Hermione and Severus talked, Remus kept his eye on them. He watched enviously as Severus made her smile and giggle. She had such a cute giggle, Remus was just jealous that it was Severus that was making that beautiful sound emit from Hermione.
Jealousy boiled within Remus when Hermione touched Severus' shoulder…
'How come HE gets all her attention… MERLIN! It's so annoying! She shouldn't even be sitting with that snake…' he growled.
He turned his attention away for a moment as Professor Slughorn was tell them what their next lesson will be about.
"… and so, next lesson we'll be brewing 'Draught of the living Dead' for a recap and after that maybe the Elixir to induce Euphoria. Speaking of which, has anyone heard of this elixir? Anyone?" Professor Slughorn went on, oblivious to the fact that most of his class had already zoned out.
Remus feeling the effects of boredom, turned to look again at Hermione and Severus. This time anger fumed in him. Hermione looked so sad, the same kind of expression she showed when he asked about her parents at dinner the night before.
'How dare he make her show that sad face! How dare he make her sad!' he yelled in his head. He glared at Severus who was currently oblivious to anyone else's existence but Hermione's.
Suddenly Hermione was pulled into a hug by Severus. Rage rose within Remus, especially when she returned the hug. He couldn't take it any longer and so, he turned to face Slughorn for the rest of the lesson.
The lesson ended pretty quickly and Remus packed his things angrily.
"Whoa there! Don't destroy the table while you're at it," Lily said.
"Sorry…" he grumbled.
"Oh, looks like Hermione's coming over here," Lily pointed out winking at Remus' shocked face.
Remus quickly fixed up his bag and uniform. He plastered a smile on his face as he turned to greet the one and only Hermione Grace.
"Hey guys!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, so… how was it? Was her rude?" Lily asked concerned as they linked arms like the best friends they were slowly turning into.
"No! In fact he was totally nice!"
"Really?!" Remus and Lily exclaimed at the same time.
"Yep!" Hermione responded with a bright smile.
'Damn you Snivellus!' Remus raged inside.
"He even offered to walk me to class! But I told him I'd walk with you two because you're both in my class," Hermione explained.
"That's good! I'd hate you if you ditched me," Lily teased.
"I'd never ditch you Lily," Hermione winked.
'Well, at least she chose me over you Severus…' Remus thought to himself.
"You ready to go Remus?" Hermione asked him innocently.
"Absolutely!" Remus said as he walked up beside her.
'At least I have Arithmancy together with her… without Sirius or Severus…'
A/N: Again sorry this was soooo late! It's longer than the others though! Again… I'm so sorry!