AN. I own nothing, just borrowing them for some fun. My story is set 5 years after the end of the war. Everything in the books happened like in the books except Snape isn't dead. I'll explain how that happens eventually.
Hermione Granger walked down the halls of the castle at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft as Wizardry as she had so many times for exactly half of her life. Her heeled boots clicking in time with her steps and a slight swish of her apprentice robe uniform trailing across the stone behind her. She chose a deep indigo as her colour, the red of Gryfindor house just never really complimented her complexion. She might have originally chosen a lighter colour, but dark colours are required for potion brewing as they absorb light, and she had come to adore the colour. These robes were practical, high neck and long sleeves charmed to protect her sink from potions. But, they were also just slightly more flattering to her figure than school robes had been, buttoned down front to her navel and snug around her waist. She had mastered hair charms years ago and her bushy locks were twisted into tamed braids and pinned up behind her head. Mature and appropriate for her status as a Fifth year Potions Apprentice.
She wore black over robes as well, standard teacher issue, to keep off the winter chill. This winter had been unusually cold and full of snow, meaning the hallways of the castle were even colder. Her mind was drifting as usual to thoughts of her studies, or lack thereof. She was supposed to be assisting and learning from Professor Slughorn but each year his enthusiasm for teaching had diminished leaving her with teaching most of his classes and without the much needed private lessons.
In a little over a year Hermione would be expected to sit her MEWS, Mastery Exams for Wizarding Subjects. She was behind, very far behind in her studies, and she knew it. She had read through all of her Potion Apprentice level books for required study in her first year, naturally. But reading and practical application are two very different things, plus she had an appropriate level of fear for attempting some of the techniques and potions on her own without Slughorn to watch over her progress. Least she blow up herself and hundreds of innocent children at Hogwarts.
She reached the final set of stairs down one more level to the dungeons and where her own private rooms were, nearer to the labs. Taking them quickly in anticipation of the warm fire waiting for her in her sitting room, no doubt diligently tended to by the house elves, she rounded the final stun and stumbled into something hard.
An "umph" sound coming from the black clad form she had bumped into.
Hermione looked up into a pair of black eyes and a face without expression.
"Sorry, Professor Snape" she said as she stepped off to this side and out of his way.
"Miss Granger, I believe I have already asked you to not skip about in the Dungeons" his voice dripping with the venom it had back when she was a student.
"It won't happen again, Sir '' she responded, taking another step away from him.
He stepped past her with a curt "See that it doesn't", and was gone up the stairway his black robes billowing out behind him as always.
Over the last few years Snape seemed to have decided she wants such a horrible know it all little girl, and had actually started speaking to her like a normal person. At least as normal as possible for that man.
Hermione shook her head at the encounter and found herself staring at the familiar portrait leading into her rooms.
"Good Evening, Magnus. Pepper Up" she said to an ancient looking barefoot man sitting outside his cottage with three otters by his feet.
"Evenin' Apprentice Granger" he replied as an otter slid down the little hill to splash into the lake, and the portrait swung open.
Hermione stepped through into her sitting room. It was a decent size, not as large as the house common rooms, of course, but appropriate for her needs. She had two large sitting chairs, a couch, and a large desk and chair, the walls were full of shelves for her ever growing book collection. The room was bright with a few windows, her chosen indigo drapes, and a good amount of potted potion plants to add some green.
"Trixie" she called, and immediately heard the pop of a house elf apparating
"What can Trixie do for Apprentice Granger?" The small young female elf responded.
"Tea please, if you don't mind and a sandwich. I missed dinner again today" she responded.
"Right away"
Hermione removed her outer robe and unbuttoned the top few buttons of her uniform. She sat down at her desk to review where she had left off on her study of Middle Eastern Spices for potion uses.
Another POP and Trixie was back setting a tea tray and sandwich on her desk.
"Thank you Trixie" Hermione said.
"Anything else for Miss?" the elf responded.
"No, thank you. This is perfect. Have a nice evening."
"Miss should really stop missing meals" Trixie said and with one more POP was gone.
Hermione sighed and picked up her sandwich. She had given up on SPEW a long time ago but always tried to treat the house elves with respect and be friendly. Maybe a bit too friendly with Trixie, since now she felt the need to look after Hermione extra carefully and wasn't afraid to speak up.
Hours later as she was almost falling asleep at her desk she decided to head to bed. Thankfully tomorrow was a Saturday and she could sleep in, and only had some first and second year essays to mark before lunch with Harry and Ginny.
"Hermione" she heard a familiar voice call from across the room at The Hog's Head.
She looked over and saw a familiar head of messy brown hair and a set of glasses. Sitting next to Harry was an equally familiar pretty red headed witch. He had filled out into his features and was no longer the skinny awkward kid of his youth. Ginny had matured into a beautiful woman and all of the Quidditch training had gained her the front cover of Witches Fitness Monthly more than a few times over the last number of years.
"Hiya Harry, Ginny. Nice to see you both." Hermione said taking a chair at their table.
"Nice to see you too Hermione, How are things at the castle?" asked Ginny, she was sitting next to Harry on a bench seat with his arm slung around her shoulder as always.
"Oh great. The usual I suppose." Hermione sighed.
"Does that old goof still have you teaching too much and not studying?" Ginny asked.
Harry slid the extra Butter Beer over to Hermionie. "Seriously, why doesn't he just retire?"
"I don't think there's anyone willing to take the position" Hermione responded "It's not like there are hundreds of trained Potion Masters in England sitting around with nothing to do".
"Can't you write to the Ministry and ask for a new placement then?" asked Ginny, "I mean if Slughorn really is getting that bad…"
"I could, but I would feel bad leaving all the students to Horaces' neglect" Hermione said. "He's not a bad teacher, or a bad person, just getting tired and a bit bored I think. I feel bad for him."
"Yeah but you still need a proper teacher Mione" said Harry
"I know", she looked down at her Butter Beer. "I'll talk to Minerva and see if she can help".
"I hope you get all that sorted out soon." Ginny said. "Oh and by the way we have news"
"Oh yeah" Harry reached down and took Ginny's hand bringing it up to the table in his own, revealing a beautiful and dainty diamond ring.
"Oh my gosh! Congratulations to both of you!" Hermione reached out to take her hand from Harry and inspect the ring herself. "It's really lovely Ginny."
"Thanks" She responded "Harry surprised me when we were in France last week, I know we said we wanted to wait, but it's been 7 years and well it doesn't mean we have to start a family or anything crazy. We just want to show our commitment and love"
"I am so happy for both of you" Hermione said, letting go of her hand.
"Time for some ghost shots to celebrate I think" Harry said and headed off to the bar.
"Any plans yet for the wedding?" Hermione asked.
"Something small, at the burrow with just family and very close friends" She responded. "We don't want to give the Prophet anything crazy to report on.
"I'm sure it will be lovely," Hermione said.
Harry came back to the table with three skinny glasses with what looked like a dense fog in them not dissimilar to the form of an actual ghost.
"Ugg, I hate these things." Hermione made a face at her glass.
"They're great, what are you talking about?" Harry exclaimed and raised his glass to them "To Ginny and Me… finally"
Hermione raised her glass to meet theirs.
"Harry and Ginny"
The cold eerily silky feeling slid down Hermione's throat as she downed her ghost shot.
"So how are you both? How is it at the Ministry? And training camp?" Hermione asked, and then rinsed the shot down with a swig of butter beer.
"Not much going on with us in the Aurors office" Harry said, "mostly the usual, stolen objects, unregistered magic, boring stuff"
"I've been pretty busy with training, the season is starting soon." Ginny added.
"Yeah, she's not letting me eat any junk at all" whined Harry, and received a slap on the shoulder from the 'she'.
"Being healthy is never a bad thing Harry James Potter" Ginny scolded.
Hermione smiled at her old friends, once again thankful that they had made it through the war and were enjoying the life part of things.
AN: I write for fun, I write this story for practice. The basis for this story is mapped out. Let me know if you'd like me to continue. One of the things that bothers me about the films is that Alan R. (whom i love, don't get me wrong) was like 65 years old playing a 38 year old Snape at the end of the films. My Snap is definitely the 30s looking Alan who was an absolute bomb.