A/N!: Thank you, thank you to those ppl that reviewed. I send you hug and kisses. I started writing this the day after I posted the first chapter... well, the prologue anywayz. Just so you know. This isn't going to be HG/RL just yet. That's why in the summary it says there are "confusing love triangles" but I assure you it will turn out that way.

Chapter One: Until you're dead...

"Now, when you're trying to perform a Patronus you need to fully concentrate on a single happy memory. It has to be you're only train of thought," she looked around at the seventh year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. Most seemed intent on hearing what she had to say.

"I want everyone to close their eyes and think about the happiest moment you can come up with," The students all closed their eyes. After a few minutes some had smiles plastered on their faces.

"All right, everyone done?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. Several students nodded.

"So, would anyone like for me to demonstrate?" A few murmurs came from them.

"Okay. Now, you have to chant 'Expecto Patronum' over and over until it works. Keeping your wand steady. Once you get really good at it, you'll only have to say the words once,"

She turned to her right and looked at the coat wrack.

"Expecto Patronum!" silver light burst from her wand, forming a giant tiger that pounded its way across the room. It stopped and looked around, not finding a Dementor.

"This is a Patronus," she said, looking over at it. The students stared in awe. It growled and disappeared. One of the students raised her hands.

"Yes, Miss Thomas?" Dean's little sister looked at her.

"Isn't this really advanced magic? Why are we doing it?"

"Yes it is, and that's why I'm only teaching it to the seventh years. You see, nowadays you have to be prepared. I didn't master this defense until last year. And I promise you; I wish I had learned it sooner. People especially needed it during the Dark Times," as she said this a Ravenclaw's hand flew up.

"So, exactly how did you defeat You-Know-Who? I mean, Harry Potter's famous and all for banishing him... but you killed him,"

"Now Mr. Seta, I really don't want to get into that right now,"

Another student spoke up. This time a Gryffindor.

"Is it true that you have a scar because one of the Dark Lords henchman cursed you, and it still bleeds?"

Hermione's hand flew to her right arm. She didn't want to talk about all of this on her first day.

"I wouldn't call him a henchmen per se," she said slowly.

"Who was it...you know, that did it to you?"

Hermione was really getting annoyed now.

"Lucius Malfoy," she said, through clenched teeth.

The students whispered to each other in surprise. Hermione wanted to get back to teaching.

"Alright, we're not talking about this anymore. End of subject," she tried to continue the lesson.

"Now, when you first try a..." one of the students raised their hand again.

"Yes Mr. Johnson?" she asked, her hands on her hips again.

"Uh, it's time to go...class is over," he said. Hermione looked down at her watch. Class WAS over...

"All right, you guys are excused..." the students started stuffing their books back in their bags. She put her hand up.

"But first, I would like to explain your homework," she said, with a slight smile. The students groaned.

"Your assignment is to do an essay on exactly how a Patronus works and what a dementor is... in full detail. It has to be at least 2 feet in length..." more groaning, "And I don't want you writing gigantic just to take up space. Because I know people do that," she thought of Harry and Ron and the many times they had tried to pull that off. She smiled and added, "You'll hand it in next Monday,"

"But professor Granger, it's the first day of school! We CAN'T have homework!"

Hermione made it look like she was thinking for a moment. The seventh years seemed hopeful.

"Yes you can," she said smiling, their faces fell. "I'm the teacher, you're the students. I assign the homework; you do it...even on the first day... NOW, you may leave,"

The students started shuffling out the door.

"Have a nice day!" she called after them, "And remember... I want the essays on Monday!" She watched as the last student shut the door behind him.

"That wasn't bad," she said to herself. She walked over to her desk and sat down. She had a free period so she started working on the writing prompt she was going to assign the first years she had next. After a few moments there was a knock on the door. She wondered who it could be. Probably another student coming to complain about the essay.

"Come in!" her voice rang. She didn't look up from her papers as the door creaked open.

"I know you don't like having...oh, hey. I didn't know it was you," she had gazed up just then to see not a student but Severus.

"Good morning to you too. I heard you gave out homework today...I thought I was the only one that did that," he said smiling. He may have become considerably nicer, but Severus was still his strict old self when it came to teaching.

"Well, not anymore," she grinned. He sat down in a chair at the front of her desk and folded his hands in his lap.

"So, how was it?" he asked.

"You mean my first class? It was okay. I was just getting in to the Patronus Charm," she said.

"Already,"

"It's never too early to be prepared..."

Severus sat back and crossed his arms. "So, how 'bout going and getting a Butterbeer later today to celebrate your first year teaching? My treat," he offered. Hermione thought for a moment. Since she had finished all her lesson plans through January, she didn't have much else to do.

"Alright, that would be nice,"

"Oh, and I have the gillyweed you wanted," he said, reaching into his front pocket and pulling out a small package. "Might I ask what you're using it for?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I have something planned for the fifth years next week and we're going to need it. You can come and watch if you'd like,"

"I'll think about it,"

There was a small tapping at the window. Hedwig was sitting on the ledge waiting to be let in.

"Oh! A letter from Harry!" she said, jumping up to open the window. Severus looked over at it and stood up.

"Well, I'll leave you to your reading," he said.

"Okay, I'll see you later," Hedwig was now perched on a desk, clicking her beak affectionately.

"You too," and with that he left. Hermione grabbed the letter the snowy owl had dropped and opened it.

Hey Mione! (Harry was never formal)

How's you're first day been? (Hermione sighed, "Again?") Though, I'm not sure if it still is your first day and everything. I'm sorry if I got you during a lesson or meeting or something... anyways, we all miss you a lot and hope you're going to come visit during the holidays. Ron still isn't talking much. I've tried to cheer him up but he still refuses to. Ginny and (it looked like he had scratched out 'Malfoy') Draco seem fairly happy. And no, he hasn't done anything to her yet, I know what you're thinking. I think he might have really changed, oddly enough. Well, I'm supposed to be de-gnoming the garden. I'm over at the Borrow helping out since...well, you know... and Ron doesn't want to do anything. Though, I think it would help him take his mind off of things and such. So, I send all my love (Hermione knew Ginny had forced him to say that because it looked like his quill had been struggling) and you know Ron does too, although he doesn't say it.

Write back as soon as possible...

-HJP

Hermione smiled and after a moment of thinking, grabbed a piece or parchment and began writing.

Dear "HJP",

My "first day" was pretty uneventful so far, but still enjoyable. Except for the fact that I kept getting asked questions about Voldemort by the seventh years. I jumped right into defense by starting them out with the Patronus Charm. I haven't finished teaching them yet so they didn't get a try at it. And I made sure that I gave them homework, an essay that'll be due Monday. Was I too harsh? Well, I hope you're taking care of yourself and Ron too. He really needs you right now. And I know you don't want me to worry but keep an extra eye out for Ginny, she doesn't have her parents to watch her anymore, I know she's all grown up but I still care about her. I love hearing from you and tell everyone I said hi and for them to write also. Maybe Ron'll at least say something on paper. Well, I have a writing prompt I need to finish so I think I'll be going. I'll keep you posted on anything new going on at Hogwarts in later letters. But for now I have to be saying good-bye.

Love, Hermione

She thought for a moment before adding:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Defense Against the Dark Arts

It seemed to add the finishing touch. She folded it up and gave it back to Hedwig who hooted and soared back through the open window. She smiled and returned to her work.

She was almost done when something else dropped onto the desk. Hermione looked up just in time to see another owl take off through the window, obviously not expecting a reply.

"Another one? I wonder who this could be from," she said curiously. She picked up the parchment and opened it.

WE WON'T STOP UNTIL YOU'RE DEAD...

Hermione stared down at it. Its small statement had her lost for words. She felt that she needed to tell someone about all the things that had been happening lately. Professor Dumbledore would be good. She quickly got up and excited her office. Just as she was shutting the door Remus walked by, a stack of paper in his arms.

"Well, Hello professor. How's your first day been going?" he asked, smiling.

Why does everyone have to ask me that? She thought. First Severus and Harry. Now Remus...

"What about your first day Remus?" she asked instead of answering him.

He held up a finger. "Ah, but technically, this isn't my first day. I did teach here 8 years ago..." he paused.

"Ooh, that does make me sound old doesn't it?" he said, grinning. Hermione laughed.

"I don't think it does," she said. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"You never answered me...how was it?"

Her face fell.

"It...it was great. Couldn't be better," he nodded and turned to leave. There didn't seem to be any reason to lie to him so she kept going.

"No, it hasn't been good..." she blurted out. He looked back at her.

"What do you mean?" he asked. He raised an eyebrow and came to a stop.

"Somebody's after me. I...I think the want me dead," she started telling him about what the Death Eaters had said and all the nightmares she'd been having. "And just now...I got this," she thrust the letter out to him. He took it and looked down at the words.

"Hermione, is this the only one you've received?" he asked, pealing his eyes away from the writing.

"Yes, I've only gotten one," she heard something flutter above her and another note dropped into her hands. She opened it reluctantly.

SOONER OR LATER WE'LL FIND YOU...

She glanced up at Remus. "Make that two," she gulped. He frowned and put a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll get to the bottom of this. I'll see about setting up a meeting with the Headmaster. How's that?"

She nodded. "Thank you, Remus," he looked down at his watch.

"Oh, I have a class to be going to. So I'll see you at lunch. And if you have any questions or need anything you can always come to me," he paused. "Well, goodbye then,"

"Goodbye Remus," she said as he headed down the hall to the Transfiguration classroom.

******

Lunch quickly approached and Hermione made her way down to the great hall. Of course, she was early, so not many people were there yet. She took her spot at the Head Table, which, ironically enough, was right between Severus and Remus. She was rather fond of the seating arrangements.

She sat down and Remus flashed her a smile.

"Have you got anymore?" he asked quietly. Hermione looked over at him and then turned her gaze to the plate in front of her.

"Yes," she muttered. Remus looked worried. He bit his lip.

"How many?"

She sighed. "Seven," his eyes grew wider.

"Seven?" he asked with emphasis. She nodded.

"So that would make a total of..."

She finished his sentence. "Nine," he whistled. "And they've all been the same..short and to the point..."

"Wow...well, I didn't have time to talk to Dumbledore yet. And now that I think of it, it would probably be best if you came with me. You know, to explain things,"

She nodded and wasn't surprised when her plate suddenly became full of food and her goblet filled with pumpkin juice. She turned to Severus who was seated to her left.

"So, when were we going to be leaving?" she asked him. He looked down at her.

"Well, I have some lesson plans to go over so how about seven?" She looked down at here plated and moved her fork to a piece of boiled chicken.

"That fine but I have one tiny question," she said, her eyes meeting his.

"Uh...what would that be?"

"Well, I wanted to know if someone else could come," Severus looked either shocked or put out, Hermione wasn't sure.

"Who?" he said slowly. She toyed around with some pasta.

"I was thinking about Remus coming with us," something met Severus' eyes. He obviously still wasn't on good terms Remus. "He's been really helpful lately and I think he deserves to get out and relax," Severus seemed to be thinking for a moment.

"All right," he agreed gradually. She smiled before turning back to Remus.

"Hey, Remus?"

"Wha?" he asked, mouth full of chicken. Hermione laughed.

"I was wondering if you would like to go to the Three Broomsticks with me and Severus tonight. Because...oh no!" someone had bumped into her arm causing her to knock over her goblet. Its contents spilled all over the table.

"Darn it!" she said, thinking it wouldn't be good to swear. She pulled out her wand and cleaned up the table.

"I so sorry Miss Granger," it was Dumbledore. He had been walking by and hit her arm. "Here, let me take care of that," he set the tip of his wand in her empty goblet and soon it was filled with liquid again.

"Oh, thank you professor,"

"Always a pleasure," he said, something odd glittered in his eyes. Hermione didn't pay attention to it.

"So, what time would that be?" Remus asked. She looked over at him and almost lost her train of thought.

"Oh, right. Um...seven o'clock," he sat back in his chair.

"All right, I'll be there,"

"Good, then it's a date!" she said, before downing the whole of her drink.

******

Hermione looked at the first year Slytherins wondering if any of them would be as bad as the ones she had known. She knew she wasn't supposed to take sides or anything. But what was she going to do to stop herself from taking numerous points from them like Severus used to do to Gryffindors?

"Okay guys. I'm going to keep this short and I've said this to every class so far so don't think I only mean it for you. This is directed at everyone,"

The children looked at her, she continued. "Every other month I will have meetings with students to check up on your grades and talk about you improving and such. If you would like your meeting to go well then you will follow my class rules. They are simple enough to remember, you just have to make sure you don't break any of them. My first rule is that when I'm talking I don't want to hear anything but possibly a hand going up in the air. There will be no passing notes. If I find that you do, I will confiscate it, bring you up to the front of the class and read it out loud," some of the kids had looks of horror on their faces. She smiled, " Once a week I will assign an essay. It will be given at the beginning of the week and won't be due until the next Monday. I want all homework turned in on time and to your fullest effort," she thought for a moment. "Well, that seems to be it. Any questions?"

Nobody answered. "All right, on with the lesson. What I'm going to have you do for the rest of the class time is..." Hermione frowned. She couldn't seem to remember what she was going to say. She shook her head.

"What I was going to say is..." her vision seemed to blur. Colors were blending in and out of each other. Suddenly, she felt extremely dizzy. She frowned and tried to gain her balance by grabbing the desk next to her. She clenched the wood. The student in it backed away from her in fear. She could barely stand now. Some of the students were looking on in concern and seemed to be talking. She couldn't quite understand them, couldn't hear what they were saying. Suddenly, the ground seemed to fly towards her and it was the last thing she saw before blacking out.

******

Hermione opened her eyes. Her lids seemed extremely heavy. She couldn't make out where she was. What had happened? There were voices all around her. They sounded familiar. She looked around slowly and saw four figures. But who were they?

"It is very unfortunate that she was to fall ill, especially in the middle of a class. On her first day too," was that Dumbledore? Someone else spoke.

"She didn't just fall ill, sir," he spoke coldly. That was definitely was Severus. Hermione started to see a little clearer. She was in the hospital room. The four people appeared to be Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey, Severus, and Remus.

Dumbledore and Severus were talking. Remus was sitting in a chair by the side of her bed looking at them. And Madame Pomfrey was busying herself around the room. She went over to Hermione, who pretended to be asleep, and dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth.

"Something in the food must've been bad..." she said.

"House elves DO NOT make bad food, Poppy. It was something else," came Severus' voice. Hermione lifted her eyes a little so she could see. Madame Pomfrey had her hands on her hips and a sour look on her face.

"Are you trying to say that the poor girl was POISONED?" she asked sarcastically. Serverus gave her a look of annoyance.

"That is EXACTLY what I'm saying,"

Dumbledore spoke up. "Severus, don't jump to conclusions. Why would she be poisoned? It's must just be the flu or something,"

Hermione frowned, that didn't seem like something Dumbledore would say...

"Look, Posna is a very simple potion that poisons its drinker. Although, the ingredients are hard to find... I'd know it when I saw it... and I'm seeing it now,"

Remus stood up now but he still had his hand on the edge of the bed. "I agree with Severus, Headmaster. Hermione came to me with some...interesting news today," Severus looked over at him and Hermione couldn't tell which emotion his eyes held. Thankfulness, curiosity, and maybe...was that..jealousy? Remus continued, "She informed me that she thought there might be someone after her. And, after the events of earlier...I wouldn't doubt it. I think that some Death Eaters are planning on taking revenge and our Miss Granger. She been getting threat letters and now she's fallen ill and I think it's highly possible that she was indeed poisoned. I was meaning to set up a meeting with you, Albus, but didn't get a chance to talk to you until now," and with that he sat back in his chair.

"Remus, I don't think that anyone's after Hermione. We should just drop this whole thing," Dumbledore said. Remus gave him and odd look as if something was wrong.

"Albus, I really think we should look into this. Hermione's life may be at strike. It couldn't hurt just to watch her for a bit," he said.

"I don't want carrying this out. There's no reason to be concerned,"

Remus looked worried and glanced back at Hermione. Noticing she was awake he hurried to her side.

"Hermione, you're...how are you feeling?" he said. She started to speak.

"I..." but it was too hard. Her throat hurt so bad it was as if a knife had been jammed down there. Remus grabbed her hand.

"It's okay," he said before whispering so that only Hermione could hear, "We'll find who's after you...even if we have to go behind the Headmaster's back..."



A/N!: Ok, that probably seemed like a pointless chapter. But stuff that's going to come up in the future depends on stuff that was here so I hope ya'll were paying attention. Especially when she was getting the letters, the lunch scene, and when she was in the hospital wing. This story's just getting started....