A.N.1) Thanks so much for the reviews, and I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter.
Now on to…
Chapter eighteen
"HERMIONE!" came the yelled and shocked voices of Harry and Ron, making Hermione jump.
"Oh my God, where were you? You weren't on the train! How are you here early? Are you okay? Why haven't you written?" came the identical set of questions, spoken at the same time by both of the boys, making Hermione smile.
"I'm fine, just a… change of plan really, I had to come early, I'll tell you later" was her nervous response.
Ron, for his part bought the answer, but Harry could only nod and look into Hermione's eyes searchingly.
For the first in a long time Hermione could not meet Harry's piercing green gaze, the concern and curiosity were evident clearly.
"Come on you two, I'm bloody starving!" came Ron's voice breaking the tension between the two friends.
"Ron, your always hungry…" Said Harry amusedly,
"Oh HA HA Harry, just come on!" said Ron, still muttering as he walked away into the Great Hall and to the Gryffindor table.
"So, what really happened Hermione?" asked Harry gently.
"Nothing, really, I'm fine…"
"Fine? I don't think so! You were stuttering all over the place, did something happen at home?" asked Harry curiosity getting the better of him.
"What! No… no no-nothing happened at…at h-home," Hermione answered quietly, horror written all over her face.
"I don't bel…" began Harry only to be interrupted be a silky and intimidating voice.
From the shadows of the dungeon doorway, Severus Snape had watched quietly the conversation between the two friends, and knew that Potter hadn't believed Hermione's answer to his question.
"Stupid boy, if you can see that she is afraid of the truth, just shut the hell up and move on, for Hermione's sake!" was his vicious inner monologue.
"Just like your bloody farther, always nosing in on peoples personal affairs, however much damage it causes the victim, but your own best friend? You bastard Potter, I'll show you, noone gets away with hurting Hermione!"
With a few purposeful strides, Severus Snape met his target.
"Mr Potter, 5 points for upsetting a fellow student, or couldn't you tell that, annoying as she is, Miss Granger is nearly in tears?" was Snape's sneered comment.
At the sound of his voice, both jumped, one tried to smother relief and love while the other tried to mask the hatred.
"Professor I…" with a quick glance at Hermione to see that what Severus had spoken was the truth,
"No, I-I'm sorry"
"Sorry? Don't apologise to me boy, I'm not the one in tears" and with that cutting comment and half a glance at Hermione he was on his way but…
"Oh and Potter, another 5 points for the insolent stare not being controlled nearly as well as it should have been! Now I believe that the feast is about to begin so get out of my sight!"
"I don't believe him, what a prick!" was Harry's vicious remark.
"Oh Harry don't, Professor Snape isn't all that bad" Harry jumped at Hermione's voice and looked at her curiously at her reply but said nothing except…
"Look, Hermione, I'm sorry if I upset you it's just that we-I worry about you, your like, I don't know, a sister or something, you know?" came his gentle plea.
"I know Harry, but you have to trust me okay, and try not to be so mean to professor Snape either, please, for me?"
"What! Have you gone nuts? It's Snape, the 'greasy git'…"
"Well I kinda got to know him while I was here, and he's not so greasy – I mean, mean as I thought" came this shocking confession much to the surprise of Harry.
"Please Harry trust me, and don't ask me any questions, not yet anyway okay?" interrupted Hermione quickly.
Harry could only nod in agreement as the girl he considered to be family gave him a pleading look, so innocent he didn't have the heart to disagree, for he didn't want to hurt her any more than he had done tonight and he new, deep down that he could trust her.
"Come on lets go and find Ron, see if he saved us a seat shall we?" asked Harry, telling her, without words, that he would stand by and trust her.
"Good idea boy wonder, best you've had tonight I'd say," said Hermione jokingly, silently thanking him.
"Hey watch it 'mione'…" using the nickname which she detested.
"Don't call me that Mr Potter…" interrupted Hermione in playful anger.
"Oh, you have been spending a lot of time with Snape haven't you?" asked Harry in humour.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" said Hermione quietly as they approached Ron, not taking the bait.
"Where in hell have you to been? I've had to fight for these seats!" shouted Ron in mock seriousness.
"Oh HA HA Ron" said Harry and Hermione in unison.
"Come on Dumbledore's gonna make his speech soon, and the sooner he does that the sooner we get to eat!" replied Ron in all earnestness and a look of absolute hunger on his face.
As soon as this was said, Albus Dumbledore began to rise to announce the normal beginning of term notices, which preceded the sorting ceremony, and in doing so ended all conversation instantly until the feast.
With notices and sortings out of the way the trio were able to eat, much to the delight of Ron.
"So did you guys have a good summer holidays?" asked Hermione.
"Oh yeah, it was really good!" came the identical response from both boys, each with a mouthful of something unidentifiable.
"Oh God, please close your mouths" cried Hermione in disgust.
"Sorry" came the same, sheepish response.
The night soon ended, as Dumbledore stopped all conversations with friends and packed them off to bed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat, late into the night, talking about anything and everything, but not Hermione's holidays much to her relief, all were just glad to be back together in each others company for one last night before school and other problems stated to make their mark.
A.N.2) Hope you liked this chapter; I know nothing much happened but hey, that's to come! Please review because, again, I like to read what you think. Until tomorrow…
Luv Holly.