A Rose In Bloom
A Rose In Bloom
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, I just mess around with them, they instead belong to the wonderfully talented J.K. Rowling.
The next morning at breakfast, Hermione sat boredly shoveling scrambled eggs into her mouth, when she suddenly remembered with a start, the announcement of the previous night.

Straining to see above the sea of pointed hats, she eagerly scanned the staff table for a new face. But upon seeing Proffessor Duzbyn's chair still empty, she scowled miserably and sunk deep into her chair. It looked like the day wouldn't get interesting until sometime late afternoon; defense against the dark arts was her last class of the day.

"Why the long face?" Harry asked cheerfully as he and Ron came in and took their usual seats on either side of Hermione.

"Nothing, just the new teacher has decided not to show himself, until we actually have class."

"So what?" Ron asked, heaping enormous mounds of porridge onto his plate, and dousing it all with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. "Why is everyone so worked up about this new professor anyway?" He demanded with his mouth full, spraying Hermione with toast crumbs. " I mean, it'll probably just be another dope, like Duzbyn. They are really running out of decent teahcers, y'know, and all the good ones never last."

Hermione glared at him darkly, he was dashing her only hopes for excitement, and she wasn't going to have him ruin her day. Scooping up her books, she muttered something about research at the library, and she stormed off.

But as she began walking up the grand staircase, her steps faltered. I don't want to go to the library, she thought dully. She glanced at her watch; she still had plenty of time to kill before her next class, sighing, she retreated up the stairs, deciding to wander aimlessly until her first class.

Hermione was sauntering lazily down one of the corridors, staring disinterestedly at the avidly waving portraits, when who should come tearing around a corner, but Professor Snape. He was fuming, his eyes cast downward and knitted into a horrible scowl, greasy locks swaying irritabily as he sped along rapidly.

Hermione glanced at him fearfully, she knew he was always in a foul mood, but this, this was something far beyond that, this looked deadly. In fact, she didn't think he even noticed she was there, and she had to dart hurriedly out of his way, for fear he might run her over.

Unfortunately, she swerved just a second too late and her elbow smashed forcefully into his ribs. In three swift steps he was upon her, his face merely inches from hers, lips twisted in fury, eyes pulsating with anger, a vain throbbing in his neck.

Hermione pressed herself as close as possible to the cold, stone wall; trying vainly to escape the icy glare. In a voice like a snake slithering through tall grass, he spoke, "What do you think you were doing?" Hermione couldn't help flinching with each syllable. "Next time, Miss Granger, I suggest you be more careful and watch where you're going!"

"But I-"

"DON'T INTERRUPT ME!" He snarled, eyes flashing dangerously. "Because of your...incolense, I will be forced to take twenty points from Gryffindor and award you with a detention." Hermione watched frightened, as his fingers curled into fists, twitching involintarily, as if they itched to smash something.

"F-fine," she stammered, silently willing him to go away. Just leave, she thought desparately.

"How dare you say 'fine' to me!? You miserable little-" He raised his arm into the air, ready to swing, Hermione shut her eyes quickly, paralyzed with fright.

"Freeze. Right there, Severus. I suggest you back away from the student, this instant." Hermione started, but didn't open her eyes. Why did that voice sound so familiar? Hermione heard the distinct click of boots coming closer, "Severus, I'm warning you-" But Snape broke him off with a howl of fury.

"You're warning me?!" He cried dubiously. "How dare you even speak to me that way you horrible, slimy, brown nosing," He broke off spluttering with anger, "you-you miserable excuse for a human being!"

"Snape, don't take your anger for me, out on other-" Snape shrieked, advancing on him with raised fist, then paused, shaking it vehemently in the air. "You! It's all your fault! I was this close to getting that job, but then you had to come along ! He's only doing this because he feels sorry for you! Because you couldn't even handle a real job like being an auror. Ha!" He gave a forced laugh, "I knew you were too weak! Charity, that's all it is, a miserable charity service for people like you," he spoke the word with the deepest disgust, as if it soiled his tongue to speak it. " How can he possibly consider, I-" He broke off, strangled by his own anger. Then grinding his teeth like a madman, trembling with fury, he turned and stormed away.

Hermione let out a shaky sigh, and slid weakly down the wall, eyes still shut tight. Someone walked towards her; a sigh. "It's all right, he's gone now. I'm so sorry." That voice...low and soft, why was it so familiar? It sounded just like-like, Hermione's eyes snapped open.

"Professor Lupin!" she breathed. And there he was, just as she remebered him, but no-no this was not as she remembered him at all. He still had the same tarnished, brown hair tumbling into those warm, dark eyes. But yet, he was very different. Although he smiled genuinely, his eyes gave him away, dark and troubled, and he was very thin; too thin, Hermione noted anxiously.

"In the flesh," he extended an arm, and she gripped it thankfully, pulling herself to her feet. "You know, I'd like to apologize for that. I'm not sure what he said, but I'm sure it wasn't you fault. He's just a little," he smiled sardonically, "Upset, that I've returned. Are you all right?" He looked at her, concerned. Hermione nodded ferverently, unable to take her eyes off her old professor. "How did you know my name, by the way?"

Hermione gaped at him. "Professor Lupin! It's me!" He shook his head,

"I'm sorry. I'm not very good with...people. I'm just...." he bit his lip and stared at her, puzzled. "Just give me a hint."

"Professor! It's me! Hermione Granger!" He had been slowly shaking his head, his brow rumpled in concentration, then his whole face lit up.

"Hermione!" He smacked himself on the forehead. "Oh good lord, I- Hermione!" He smiled brightly, and seizing her arm, he began to pump it enthusiastically. "How are you? I'm so sorry. How could I have forgotten? You just look, different I guess. Your hair, it must be your hair, it looks," he shook his head, smiling more brightly, "wonderful."

Hermione fingered it nervously, "Thank you." She had been so tired of all the fluff, and one day she just hadn't brushed it out when it was still wet, and it had curled into hundreds of little ringlets. Not quite as curly as some, but it was an enormous improvement.

"You've grown up so much. What year are you in now?"

"Sixth."

"Sixth year? Really?" He looked at her incredously. "So how have you been?"

But Hermione hadn't heard him, she was too busy staring at him. She was still marveling at how different, he looked. It wasn't just that he was thin; his cheeks more hollowed, his eyes more troubled. He had a long scar, running down his cheek, and his nose, that was it. His nose was crooked now, as if it had been broken, and never properly healed.

He looked quite good really, for being so thin. Even though his hair was a bit too long, dangling messily into his eyes, she liked it. And his skin looked very dark, and his hair more golden. Or was it just the light? They were standing by a window afterall. But his eyes, those really entranced her. Rich, and dark, and smooth. Like dark chocolate Hermione mused.

"Hermione?"

Hermione snapped to attention, "What? Sorry?"

He smiled warmly, "I said, how've you been?"

"Oh fine." Those eyes, those lovely, dark eyes...

"Hermione?"

"Sorry!" She forced her gaze to the ground, she couldn't concentrate when she looked him in the face. Instead she adressed the ground. "So what have you been up to the last few years?" A cloud settled over his face, and he set his jaw grimly. In a forced, cheery reply, he said,

"Oh nothing much, just-" But before he could finish, he cut himself off, glancing at his watch. "Oh, look at the time. Y'know, I've got a class in a couple of minutes-"

"So, you're really the new teacher?"

He nodded, "Yes, well. I'm afraid many people won't be too happy to see me back."

Hermione shook her head, "Oh no! Only stupid people like Malfoy and-"

He regarded her gravely, "He still around then?"

Hermione sighed. "Yes."

"Ah well, there will always be people like him in the world, nothing you can do but try your best to put up with him..." He looked up at Hermione once more, and clasped her hand in his, "Well, it was lovely to see you again Miss Granger, and I look forward to seeing you in class." And with a final wave, he turned and strode off down the hall.

Hermione let out a long sigh and fell back against the wall, her heart pounding fitfully in her chest. Goodness, he's changed, Hermione thought distantly, he has definitely changed. She couldn't forget those eyes of his, those lovely, dark eyes. "Mmmm," Hermione breathed, shutting her eyes, there they were, looking at her, rich dark and smooth, you could loose yourself in eyes like those. She sighed again, only to be brought sharply back to reality, as a bunch of giggling first years, chattered past. She moaned, pulling herself tiredly off the wall, and straightening her books, she hurried off to class.