Disclaimer: all recognizable people, places and things belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter six

Charming Professor Snape

"I don't care!" Hermione screamed, "I won't wear it!"

"You have to!" Hailey screamed back. Diana, the raven-haired orange-eyed beauty, picked up the uncomfortable and ugly black robes and weird headgear from where Hermione threw them.

"You might get hurt," Diana's cool unreal voice soothed, "If you don't cover every inch of skin." She held out the robes.

Her orange eyes met Hermione's cinnamon ones.

"Come on," Victoria was already covered form head to toe in the nun/Arabian type robes and headgear. "There not that bad."

"It's not much of a fashion statement," Elizabeth put on her headgear, becoming yet another faceless, shapeless form, "But it is necessary."

Growling, Hermione jerked up the robes. "Fine! But I'm going to talk to Professor Dumbledore about these STUPID robes. There is no way I can function in class wearing this damn headgear!"

"Oh, again with that Dumbledore man!" Hailey threw her headgear on. "You think that man was her best friend!"

"Humph!" Hermione stomped out the door. "And where are our school supplies! Huh? How are we supposed to learn without parchment and ink! Can anyone tell me?"

"Geeze! Hermione," Victoria laid a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. It's only the first day of classes."

"Besides," Elizabeth wrapped a heavily cloaked arm around Hermione and Hailey's shoulders. "They give us what we need in the class. Now, lets all be friends and go eat some Blue Goo!" Letting to of them to get in line behind Victoria.

"Okay!" Hailey grinned impishly at Hermione, all the morning's irritations washed away.

"Okay!" Hermione grinned back. She looked around. "Why are we forming a single file line?"

"It confuses the men," Victoria said from up front.

"Oh, for crying out loud!"

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"March, 2, 3, 4," Hermione muttered under her breath as they passed groups of boys, who would stop in their tracks an stare at the line of girls in a confused sort of way.

"Stop it, already!" Elizabeth squealed. "You've been doing that for fifteen minutes."

"It's not my fault we're going so slow," Hermione stopped walking.  "We might as well be going in reverse."

Hailey and Victoria laughed at that as the line slowly moved forward.

"Sooo, guys," Hermione sped up and threw an arm around Hailey, walking beside her. "Where are we going?"

"Get back in line, silly," Hailey squeaked. Hermione snuffed and fell back in line.

"Sooo…." Hermione reached under her headgear to scratch her nose. "Where are we going?"

"To the kitchens," Elizabeth said over her shoulder, "for breakfast."

"Whoa!" Hermione slid to a halt, causing the whole line of girls to turn back and look at her.

"I'm not eating in the kitchens." Hermione promptly turned around and headed to the Great Hall.

"Hermione!" Hailey ran to catch up. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Elizabeth and Victoria looked at Hermione and Hailey's retreating backs, at the line of girls heading to the kitchens, then at each other and quickly ran to catch up with Hailey and Hermione.

"Guys!" Elizabeth huffed when she caught up with them. "Where are we going?"

"Yeah!" Victoria huffed beside Elizabeth. "The kitchens are that away!" She points over her shoulder.

"I'm eating in the Great Hall!" Hermione stated firmly, turning a corner.

"What?" Hailey hopped to one side to avoid a couple of boys that stopped to talk beside the stairway.

Hermione pushed open the doors and strode inside the Great Hall, her three friends cowering behind her.

She marched right up to where Dumbledore sat at the head table.

"Sir?" Hermione's voice was clear and strong. "May I have a word?"

It took Dumbledore a minute to place the voice, seeing how he couldn't see her face through the heavy headgear.

"Well, if it isn't last night's mysterious lady in red, Miss Snape," Dumbledore nodded at her. "What may I do for you?" He gestured with his hand.

"It's Miss Granger, Professor," Hermione corrected, missing the look that crossed a few of the professor's faces, in her hurry to inform the Professor about her problem.

"I have a problem with these horrible robes," Hermione gestured with one hand. "They are not very conducive to the learning process." She flung out her arms and her entire outfit undulated.

"Well," Dumbledore seemed confused. "You young ladies can wear whatever you want. Consider Hogwarts your home."

"Great!" Hermione ripped off the headgear. "If I never see this ugly thing again!" She tossed it on the floor as she struggled out of the heavy robes.

"But Hermione!" Hailey protested. "What's to keep those animals from attacking us."

"Me." Turning around, Hermione's eyes meet those of Professor Snape.

"The boys will behave themselves," Dumbledore took a bit of toast. Crunching, he continued, "Or they will answer to Professor Snape."

"Eeep!" Hailey squeaked. Backing away from Snape.

"Good morning, Professor Snape!" Hermione smile at the man she had had a crush on since her fifth year.

 "Good morning, Hermione," Snape came over to where the robes and headgear laid thrown on the floor.

"Let me help you with that." Snape produced a wand in one elegant yet lethal hand. "If I may?"

"Of course," Hermione kicked the nasty clothes on the floor and stepped away. "Do with them as you will."

Hailey, Elizabeth, and Victoria stared in amazement as Snape configured the robes and headgear with a flick of his wrist into a charming gold snake charm with emeralds for eyes suspended from a silk cord with gold beads on the end to keep the charm from slipping off.

"This seems more appropriate for such a lovely young lady." Professor Snape smiled causing Hermione's heart to do a somersault. He held it out to her.

"Oh, thank you," She smiled at him. Turning around so he could place the charm around her neck. "Could you put it on me?"

Professor Snape paused, along with the entire Great Hall, in amazement.

"It would be my pleasure." Mumbled the shocked Snape.

Tenderly, he tied the gold silk cords together as Hermione held her hair out of the way.

"Thank you, Professor." 

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TBC

A/n: So sorry this took so long. I can't believe how many people like this one. Thanks to all you guys for reading and reviewing! I hope you read the next chapter, when Hermione goes to classes and then later learns why it's not too smart to mess with the Potion's Master.