Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter, Hermione, Snape, Ron, or any related
characters or ideas. They belong to Ms. J. K. Rowling, and her associated
publishers and producers.
~*~*~*~
Chapter One - Arrival
There was more to him than met the eye, Hermione knew. For all he acted like a prejudiced git, she had seen something else there. Hermione had seen a very insecure person, who used his attitude to hide his true feelings. She had seen someone who had made mistakes before, and was afraid to admit it. Hermione had seen a compassionate heart, a caring heart. And she fell in love with it.
He wasn't attractive. No, not by far. His skin was sallow, his eyes too dark, his lips turned down in an ugly sneer. But though all the other Hogwarts seventh year girls had crushes and loves on looks alone, Hermione was past that. She looked at the heart, the soul, the mind. And she found someone worth knowing, loving.
And maybe her mature attitude to this was caused by the fact that she wasn't a beauty herself. True, her hair was no longer frizzy, but curly and her eyes were a lovely shade of sort doe-brown. Her front teeth were the right size for the rest of her mouth, thanks to Madam Pomfry. But her breasts were small, her face was the wrong shape, and her body still hadn't developed the curves every other girl in her year so proudly flaunted.
So maybe these things can explain why Hermione Granger had fallen in love with the tall, greasy-haired man named Severus Snape.
Hermione had discovered her crush the year before. It had been just before the Last Battle. Hermione had forgotten her textbook in the Potions room, and was going back to get it, when she heard him - Severus - crying at his desk. Shocked, she slipped away, and Hermione bought another textbook in Hogsmeade. The next day Severus was fine again, but she had seen through the mask. It was all just an act.
She had started noticing things. A small sigh while he was marking essays. A sad look out a window. A hand over his dark mark when he sat at the head table. Hermione started to wonder if maybe he was just misunderstood. One day, just before exams, she realized she had a crush. And at the leaving feast, which doubled as a celebration for Voldemort's defeat, Hermione had decided that she was in love.
It had taken all summer. But after numerous trips to Diagon Alley, many magical and muggle libraries and a whole lot of begging money of her parents, Hermione had come up with a plan, and the means to accomplish it.
She would make him see she was more than a student.
Hermione, brilliant Hermione, had decided that her only good trait was her mind. Untrue, maybe, but after much research she had decided that she would make a set of books, much like Ginny's diary was. Except these would be able to be used by two people, like a muggle chatroom. She had succeeded, and soon, Severus would be hers.
~
As Hermione stepped into a carriage, Harry and Ron followed her.
"It's the last year!" Harry was talking happily. "Just a few more months and we're free!"
"And this year there won't be any scuffle with dear old Voldie this year, either." Ron added. The fear of Voldemort had diminished completely when he had been defeated last year.
"Ron!" Hermione laughed. Everyone thought she loved Harry, or Ron. But they were like brothers to her. Besides, Harry was steady with Ginny and Ron thought he found something with Padma, from Ravenclaw.
Harry sighed and leaned back. "Well, it's good to be back. The Dursley's might not be as cruel, since Moody threatened them..." Ron snickered. "...but they're still pretty awful. Would you like to be ignored for weeks on end?"
"No." Hermione admitted. "But it is safer there."
"So?" Ron asked. "I'd rather be in danger than live with Dubley. Besides, who does Harry need protecting from, know that Voldemort is gone for good?"
"Some vengeful Death Eaters might think it'd bring him back, if they kill Harry. And it's Dudley, Ron." Hermione told him.
"There you go again! Always correcting me!"
Hermione sighed. There was no reasoning with Ron. But Harry was right. It was good to be back.
~
As the threesome walked into the Great Hall, Hermione's heart nearly stopped. Severus Snape was sitting at the head table, arguing with Professor Spout. "Probably about which plant works better in some obscure potion." She mused, as she followed Harry and Ron to their table and sat down together. The sorting went quickly, as there was nobody she knew among the future first years.
Food appeared, and Hermione watched Snape's heated argument with interest. He seemed to feel her gaze and looked out at the students, to find the culprit. His eye met hers, and Hermione suddenly became very interested in Ron and Harry's Quidditch conversation, her cheeks turning a dull red.
When most people were done eating, Dumbledore stood for the start of term speech. "Well, as you know this is a happy year indeed. Voldemort is finally gone for good." The place erupted in cheers, though it was quieter at the Slytherin table. "Yes, yes very good news. I think we are all happy about this. Now, as its name suggests, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Also Mr. Filch would like me to inform you that Skiving Snackboxes have been made illegal within Hogwarts." Someone at the Hufflepuff table swore. "Quidditch tryouts will be held on the 15th of September. And would the Head Boy and Girl see me afterwards. That will be all."
The other students stood up and left. "We'll see you in the Common room, 'mione!" Harry called as he was jostled away.
Hermione walked towards Dumbledore, as, of course, she was Head Girl. She glanced around, to see who the Head Boy was. Ah. Draco Malfoy. 'Wonderful.' she thought sarcastically.
"Mudblood. What are you doing here? This is a meeting for Head Boy and Girl only."
"*I am* Head girl, Malfoy." Hermione said angrily.
"You must've paid Dumbledore, or something. How else would a Mudblood like you get that title?"
Hermione gave a little cough that sounded strangely like "ferret."
Malfoy glared at her.
Dumbledore's eye's twinkled as they walked up to him. Hermione listened carefully as he outlined their duties. Hallway patrol on weekends, enforcing rules, supervising Hogsmeade trips. The usual.
Dumbledore dismissed him, and Malfoy gave her one last sneer. Hermione rushed up to the Gryffindor entrance. As she turned the last corner she walked right into a dark figure - Snape! Blushing furiously, she apologized.
"Miss Granger, I would thank you kindly to watch where you're going." Snape said, glaring.
"Yes, professor." Hermione hurried off to her Common room.
She said goodnight to her friends, and climbed the stairs to her room, where her stuff already was. Changing into her nightclothes, Hermione crawled into bed, thinking she should go to sleep early, as classes started tomorrow.
But even so, classes were pushed from her mind when she thought of her last encounter with Severus. She sighed. He was just as mean as always. Hermione, though, decided that by the end of the year, she would find out whether it was possible for him to feel the same as she did.
~*~*~*~
R/R please!
-Samilia
~*~*~*~
Chapter One - Arrival
There was more to him than met the eye, Hermione knew. For all he acted like a prejudiced git, she had seen something else there. Hermione had seen a very insecure person, who used his attitude to hide his true feelings. She had seen someone who had made mistakes before, and was afraid to admit it. Hermione had seen a compassionate heart, a caring heart. And she fell in love with it.
He wasn't attractive. No, not by far. His skin was sallow, his eyes too dark, his lips turned down in an ugly sneer. But though all the other Hogwarts seventh year girls had crushes and loves on looks alone, Hermione was past that. She looked at the heart, the soul, the mind. And she found someone worth knowing, loving.
And maybe her mature attitude to this was caused by the fact that she wasn't a beauty herself. True, her hair was no longer frizzy, but curly and her eyes were a lovely shade of sort doe-brown. Her front teeth were the right size for the rest of her mouth, thanks to Madam Pomfry. But her breasts were small, her face was the wrong shape, and her body still hadn't developed the curves every other girl in her year so proudly flaunted.
So maybe these things can explain why Hermione Granger had fallen in love with the tall, greasy-haired man named Severus Snape.
Hermione had discovered her crush the year before. It had been just before the Last Battle. Hermione had forgotten her textbook in the Potions room, and was going back to get it, when she heard him - Severus - crying at his desk. Shocked, she slipped away, and Hermione bought another textbook in Hogsmeade. The next day Severus was fine again, but she had seen through the mask. It was all just an act.
She had started noticing things. A small sigh while he was marking essays. A sad look out a window. A hand over his dark mark when he sat at the head table. Hermione started to wonder if maybe he was just misunderstood. One day, just before exams, she realized she had a crush. And at the leaving feast, which doubled as a celebration for Voldemort's defeat, Hermione had decided that she was in love.
It had taken all summer. But after numerous trips to Diagon Alley, many magical and muggle libraries and a whole lot of begging money of her parents, Hermione had come up with a plan, and the means to accomplish it.
She would make him see she was more than a student.
Hermione, brilliant Hermione, had decided that her only good trait was her mind. Untrue, maybe, but after much research she had decided that she would make a set of books, much like Ginny's diary was. Except these would be able to be used by two people, like a muggle chatroom. She had succeeded, and soon, Severus would be hers.
~
As Hermione stepped into a carriage, Harry and Ron followed her.
"It's the last year!" Harry was talking happily. "Just a few more months and we're free!"
"And this year there won't be any scuffle with dear old Voldie this year, either." Ron added. The fear of Voldemort had diminished completely when he had been defeated last year.
"Ron!" Hermione laughed. Everyone thought she loved Harry, or Ron. But they were like brothers to her. Besides, Harry was steady with Ginny and Ron thought he found something with Padma, from Ravenclaw.
Harry sighed and leaned back. "Well, it's good to be back. The Dursley's might not be as cruel, since Moody threatened them..." Ron snickered. "...but they're still pretty awful. Would you like to be ignored for weeks on end?"
"No." Hermione admitted. "But it is safer there."
"So?" Ron asked. "I'd rather be in danger than live with Dubley. Besides, who does Harry need protecting from, know that Voldemort is gone for good?"
"Some vengeful Death Eaters might think it'd bring him back, if they kill Harry. And it's Dudley, Ron." Hermione told him.
"There you go again! Always correcting me!"
Hermione sighed. There was no reasoning with Ron. But Harry was right. It was good to be back.
~
As the threesome walked into the Great Hall, Hermione's heart nearly stopped. Severus Snape was sitting at the head table, arguing with Professor Spout. "Probably about which plant works better in some obscure potion." She mused, as she followed Harry and Ron to their table and sat down together. The sorting went quickly, as there was nobody she knew among the future first years.
Food appeared, and Hermione watched Snape's heated argument with interest. He seemed to feel her gaze and looked out at the students, to find the culprit. His eye met hers, and Hermione suddenly became very interested in Ron and Harry's Quidditch conversation, her cheeks turning a dull red.
When most people were done eating, Dumbledore stood for the start of term speech. "Well, as you know this is a happy year indeed. Voldemort is finally gone for good." The place erupted in cheers, though it was quieter at the Slytherin table. "Yes, yes very good news. I think we are all happy about this. Now, as its name suggests, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Also Mr. Filch would like me to inform you that Skiving Snackboxes have been made illegal within Hogwarts." Someone at the Hufflepuff table swore. "Quidditch tryouts will be held on the 15th of September. And would the Head Boy and Girl see me afterwards. That will be all."
The other students stood up and left. "We'll see you in the Common room, 'mione!" Harry called as he was jostled away.
Hermione walked towards Dumbledore, as, of course, she was Head Girl. She glanced around, to see who the Head Boy was. Ah. Draco Malfoy. 'Wonderful.' she thought sarcastically.
"Mudblood. What are you doing here? This is a meeting for Head Boy and Girl only."
"*I am* Head girl, Malfoy." Hermione said angrily.
"You must've paid Dumbledore, or something. How else would a Mudblood like you get that title?"
Hermione gave a little cough that sounded strangely like "ferret."
Malfoy glared at her.
Dumbledore's eye's twinkled as they walked up to him. Hermione listened carefully as he outlined their duties. Hallway patrol on weekends, enforcing rules, supervising Hogsmeade trips. The usual.
Dumbledore dismissed him, and Malfoy gave her one last sneer. Hermione rushed up to the Gryffindor entrance. As she turned the last corner she walked right into a dark figure - Snape! Blushing furiously, she apologized.
"Miss Granger, I would thank you kindly to watch where you're going." Snape said, glaring.
"Yes, professor." Hermione hurried off to her Common room.
She said goodnight to her friends, and climbed the stairs to her room, where her stuff already was. Changing into her nightclothes, Hermione crawled into bed, thinking she should go to sleep early, as classes started tomorrow.
But even so, classes were pushed from her mind when she thought of her last encounter with Severus. She sighed. He was just as mean as always. Hermione, though, decided that by the end of the year, she would find out whether it was possible for him to feel the same as she did.
~*~*~*~
R/R please!
-Samilia