Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame

Disclaimer 2: I own the plot and Saerry Snape.  Nothing more, nothing less

Chapter 8

**Good Morning**

Harry rolled over onto his side and opened his eyes.  He blinked as he saw he was in his bed in Gryffindor Tower and wondered how he had gotten there.  Then he remembered.  Remus Lupin had carried him all the way up from the Great Hall.

Sighing, he sat up and looked over at Ron, who was still asleep.  Beyond him Neville, Seamus, and Dean were also asleep, the curtains pulled closed around the latter two's beds.  Tossing off the covers Harry rolled out of the bed.  Finding himself still in his robes from last night he changed into another pair from his trunk then crept out of the boy's dorm and went down into the common room.

A fire crackled merrily in the fireplace and he walked over to its warmth, hugging his robes to him.  Sitting down on the floor in front of the fire he sighed and stared into the flames.

After a while he fell asleep again.

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Hermione woke early in the morning, finding herself unable to sleep.  She finally decided to go down to the common room.

Grabbing her own copy of Hogwarts, A History and wrapping up in a thick cloak she headed downstairs.  Only to stop when she saw someone lying in front of the fireplace.

She blinked then headed down the stairs.  Sitting her book down on one of the couches, she crept over to the person.

As she did she saw it was Harry and sighed.  Moving back over to the couch she sat down, bundled her cloak about her, and opened her book.  Hermione glanced up at her friend every once in a while, vaguely wondering what was going on with him.

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Harry awoke the next morning to find himself lying in front of the fire.  He sat up and looked around, spotting Hermione asleep on the couch, Hogwarts, A History lying open on her lap.  Shaking his head he got up and walked over to her, reaching out and gently shaking her.

"Herm.  Herm, wake up."

She grumbled something unintelligible and tried to roll away from him but Harry kept trying.  He finally hissed, "Herm, the O.W.L.S are today."

Hermione shot awake instantly and looked around saying, "What?  I haven't studied!"  She then saw Harry standing in front of her, a grin on his face and held in mirth dancing in his eyes.

"Oh you!"

Hermione slapped his arm and Harry only grinned more.  He chuckled and said, "C'mon.  Everyone else will be up soon and they'll think something's up from the both of us being down here in the common room."

Hermione nodded and rose, her book under one arm and the cloak pulled closer around her.  Harry grinned at her and said, "Its not that cold Herm."

"Yes it is!"

"No its not."

"Yes.  It.  Is."  She quickly added, "And if you don't agree I'll curse you."

Harry threw up his hands.  "You win."

Hermione grinned and said, "Of course I do."

Harry gave her an amused look and laughed.  Shaking his head he went up the stairs into the boy's dorm.  Hermione watched him as he went then went on her own way.

A few seconds later Harry was back down, only this time with a cloak pinned around his neck.  He pulled a chair in front of the fire and sat down in it.  Staring into the flames he wondered what was going on.  Not only had his hair been growing (and regrowing in the same style whenever Aunt Petunia cut it) but he had been developing a sharp temper as well.  That was the main reason he had confronted Draco on the train.

Sighing he leaned back into the comfortable chair.  He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it one bit.

Suddenly Ron came thundering down the stairs, followed by a bleary-eyed Dean and a half-asleep Neville.

"Harry!"

Harry turned to smile at his friend and the other two fifth year boys.

"Morning Ron, Neville, Dean."

Neville smiled at him while Dean only managed a wave as he fell into a chair.

Ron walked over to him with a grin on his face then frowned.

"Um, Harry?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"Did you get contacts or something?"

Harry blinked, not know Ron knew anything about contacts, as they were Muggle.  "No.  Why?"

"'Cause you don't have your glasses on."

Harry blinked again and put a hand up to his face.  Sure enough his glasses weren't there.  And he could see perfectly.

"Um . ."

Ron peered down at his friend and asked, "What's going on?"

Harry sighed and leaned back into his chair.

"I don't know Ron.  I just don't know."

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Saerry rolled over and opened her eyes, wondering where she was for a half-second before she remembered.  Sighing, she got up and left her brother's bedroom.  She stopped in the doorway when she saw him still asleep on the couch, his face shifting between fear and sadness.

"Sev?"

Walking over to him Saerry began to shake him.  After a moment his eyes opened.

"What?  What?"

Saerry smiled and kneeled down at her brother's side.  "Morning."

Severus smiled in returned and mumbled, "Morning."

"Don't you have classes dear brother?"

"Not a first one."

"Well then don't you want some breakfast?"

"No," was the sullen reply.

Saerry sighed and nodded.  "Alright.  But I'm going down to get some."

Severus nodded before closing his eyes again.  Saerry shook her head at her brother then left his rooms.  As she walked down the hall and exited through the portrait, her keen hearing picked up two people's voices in the hall on the other side of the portrait.

"Look, something's up with Harry Herm.  He doesn't need his glasses to see and he hasn't got contacts."

"And how is it that you know about contacts Ron?"

"My mum."

"I didn't know she couldn't see."

"Oh she didn't use them for that."

"Then what does she use them for?"

"Uh . . you don't want to know."

"Ron . ."

"Trust me Herm.  You do not want to know."

Saerry smiled, knowing that the two she was hearing were Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.  And they were going in the direction of the Great Hall, probably for their breakfast, same as she was.

Smiling she went around the corner and saw the two of them talking to each other as they walked.  Now she had a chance to really look at them.

Ron was tall and gangly with a long nose, flame red hair, and freckles while his friend Hermione has bushy brown hair and brown eyes.  She was also shorter than Ron but most girls were shorter than boys.

"Good morning."

Ron and Hermione looked up to see Saerry Snape standing in the hall in front of them.  And they swore she just said good morning.

Hermione smiled and said, "Good morning Ms. Snape."  Ron echoed her a moment later but Hermione could sense something in his voice and elbowed him.  He thought Saerry was going to be exactly like her brother, Professor Snape.

Saerry smiled and said, "Hello Hermione, Ron."

"You know our names?"

"Yes I do.  Remus Lupin told me last night.  Is your friend Harry alright?"

Ron nodded and Saerry asked, "Does he not want breakfast?"

As Hermione shook her head Saerry gave a little chuckle.  She smiled at the two and said, "Sounds like my brother.  Didn't want to get up either."  As the two students looked at her in shock she asked, "Do you mind if I walk with you?  You seem to be heading for the Great Hall and that's where I'm going."

Ron started to nod but Hermione elbowed him again and said, "We don't mind Ms. Snape."

Saerry laughed inwardly at the two of them then smiled.

"Please, call me Saerry."

"Oh we couldn't . ."

"You can.  Just think of me as another student."

Ron snorted, earning him a glare from Hermione.  Saerry laughed and asked, "Am I that funny Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes Saerry."

Saerry grinned then said, "Alright, enough talk.  While we are standing here the breakfast is getting eaten."

Ron and Hermione smiled and the three of them walked to the Great Hall together, practically talking non-stop.  Hermione kept asking her questions while Ron basically listened, only saying a few things himself.  Saerry did her best to answer Hermione's question without giving away something in her or Severus' past that shouldn't be heard.

Just as Hermione asked about where she had been staying for the last few years they entered the Great Hall.  Saerry said goodbye to the two of them and walked up to the head table.  Dumbledore smiled at her and said, "Good morning Saerry."

"Morning He – Albus."

"How are you and Severus getting along?"

Saerry smiled and replied, "Admirably.  Though I really want to know why most of the students moaned when they heard my name."

Dumbledore chuckled and patted the arm of the empty seat on his left.

"Have a seat my dear."

Saerry nodded and went around the table.  As soon as she had settled in the chair Dumbledore began to explain exactly why most of the students disliked Severus Snape.