Disclaimer:  Hasn't changed.  I still don't own anything you recognize, JKR still owns it.  Atilla is still mine.  The chapter titles are from I'm a Believer sung by Smash Mouth in Shrek.   If you see something that should be given recognition, please let me know.  Thank you.

a/n: Please Review it is so important to me.  The more reviews I get the better the story is going to be.  Flames are accepted as my pet dragon is getting a little low.  If you don't like the idea of a Hermione and Snape pairing, please go read something else. 

I know this is a short chapter, but it is needed to build the plot, I am currently working on chapter 4 and it will be posted soon. 

Now, on with the story, because my Muse is really pushing me to add more.

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Hermione woke up to a tapping on her window.  There was a barn owl trying to get in.  She got up and quickly opened the window, letting it in.  The owl dropped a letter at her feet and took off out the window again. 

Hermione looked at the letter curiously, the owl had not been familiar to her and so she was a little concerned.  Picking it up she saw that here name was on the front, and the seal at the back was a heart with a wizard's hat on top.  Around the heart were the words The Wizards of Love.  'I wonder what they want,' Hermione thought with a grimace, remembering her written conversation of the night before.  She slit the envelope open and pulled out the letter. 

Dear Ms. Granger,

We are sorry for causing you any problems with your journal.  One of our new employees accidentally mixed up the stacks and put the worst possible match for you into the wrong pile.  This has been corrected, and your journal is now set to your actual match.  We hope that you will enjoy using our services, and should any issues arise, please feel free to contact us at anytime. 

May Love Find You Thru Words.

Sincerely,

Melody Baker

President

The Wizards of Love

"Huh, well that's interesting."  Hermione thought aloud.  "I wonder who they have me set up with now.  It will have to wait though, I need to get ready for my meeting at the Ministry."  "Atilla, where are you, come help me pick out what to wear, I need to make a good impression, then I'll give you your breakfast." 

*Meanwhile, deep in the dungeons of Hogwarts.*

Stretching as he woke up Severus' hand collided with paper.  "Wha' what's that, oh just the Ars Alchemica, I really need to stop falling asleep while reading."  Getting up he yawned, stretched and went into the bathroom. When he came out, showered and clothed, he saw his breakfast on the little table in his study; toast, eggs, crispy bacon, and orange juice (which he much preferred to pumpkin juice).  As he sat down he noticed a letter sitting next to his plate.  On the front it read Severus Snape and at the back was the seal of that gods cursed business The Wizards of Love.  Deciding that it was better to take care of problems before eating, so as to prevent loss of a meal, Severus slit the envelope open and removed the letter. 

Dear Professor Snape,

We would like to apologize for the unfortunate experience with your journal.  Apparently someone was not paying attention when they matched you up.  We have made sure that they have been suitably reprimanded, and we have realigned your journal so that you will be able to converse with your correct counterpart.  If there are any further problems please let us know.

Also please note that we have regarded the letter you sent as a threat, and that any further threats will result in your being removed from our lists.  Furthermore, hexes will not work on us and will just reflect back at you, so unless you wish to be turned into a fluffy pink bunny, please refrain from attempting to hex us. 

Sincerely,

Melody Baker

President

The Wizards of Love

Snape set the letter down and laughed.  That was a thought, he could threaten them one more time and then he wouldn't have to keep up this silly charade.  Unfortunately Dumbledore would know, and probably come up with something worse, like a blind date, if he did get out of the stupid journal things early

Oh well.  He was almost curious to see what new freak they had set him up with.  Dumbledore had conveniently left out the fact that this was a match making organization; he would need to do something to the old man to get back at him.  Now was not the time though, he needed to get to the Ministry.

The Ministry, he was not looking forward to that.  Maybe if he was lucky he would be able to go over the other man's work without any interaction with him, or at least minimal interaction.  Looking at the hourglass on one of his many bookcases Severus realized it was time to go, maybe if he got there early he would be able to get things over with in time to stop off at his favourite book shop before heading home.

Severus walked out of the school, and towards Hogsmeade.  Once he was outside of the school grounds he apparated, arriving at the front of the Ministry building in Diagon Alley.  'Well here goes nothing, and I do mean nothing,' he thought as he opened the door. 

"Ah Mr. Snape," exclaimed a short hyper wizard.

"Professor."

"Right, sorry, Professor Snape, welcome to the Ministry of Magic, we are honoured that you are here."

"I'm sure," Snape muttered.  "Look I would really like to just get on with the inspection, if you could lead me to the potion rooms.  We can get this done and I can be out of your hair."  Snape snarled and tossed in a glare to enhance his words.

"Umm, right, okay, just let me, umm, lead you down to the basement."  The wizard stuttered.  Snape sneered, it was nice to have this affect on people; things went so much quicker.

"Follow me."  The wizard set off at a brisk pace, down a number of flights of stairs and two long hallways to a set of well lit rooms.  "Feel free to wonder around, and look at things.  The potions master asked only that you not play with any of the potions in the cauldrons as some of them are very sensitive." 

Snape swept past him into the first room.  At first glance he was impressed.  Whoever the potion master was he certainly took care of his equipment.  Ingredients lined the shelves neatly, on closer inspection Severus realized they were actually lined up alphabetically.  He thought he was the only person who did that.  Severus was also very interested to see that there were a number of muggle chemistry items in the room; obviously who ever worked here understood the importance of studying potions from many different angles.   Or maybe they didn't, maybe they didn't use these items and that was why they were so neat, clean and organized. 

"I'm impressed," he told the wizard, sneering.  "Obviously someone knows the importance of a clean and organized workroom; either that or they don't use these items at all.  The latter is what I am more inclined to believe.  They do not train students to use muggle items in the universities these days.  Are you sure your potions master knows what he is doing?" 

"Actually it is potions mistress, and yes, I do know what I am doing and how to use every single item in this room."  A clear voice called from the doorway, a voice that Snape found oddly familiar.

"Oh really," Snape asked, "Care to explain them to me then?"  He turned around to face the woman in the doorway and his jaw dropped, standing across the room from him was one of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. 

"P-Professor Snape?"  He heard her ask, with a startled look on her face, and then it clicked, he did know that voice, he just wasn't used to seeing her without her bodyguards.

"Miss Granger?" 

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a/n: Thank you everyone who has sent me reviews!!  I am so excited that you all like my story, though I also have to admit to being a bit scared that it isn't going to live up to your standards.  I promise that it will be Snape/Hermione, and that they will be talking to each other with the journal, soon probably chapter 4.  I just need to build in a little plot and background.  This is not going to be a short story, but I am not quite sure where it will be going, it is pretty much writing itself.  Hermione and Severus are very picky about how they want this to turn out; they don't want to be OOC any more than they have to. 

A few quick notes, I will post as often as possible, but I have classes and work and this is my final year at college and I want to do well, so bear with me. 

Thank you May, Nicolette, ChelleyBean, KT*Cup, Jeanne, Gengi, Angelgirl89uk, iejasu, Amanda, and god of fire, I am glad you all liked it.

Tablynvan, I too am glad that your glass was empty, otherwise how would you write reviews.  ;-)

Makauta, I promise to try as hard as possible to make sure the characters do not become pathetic, simpering, idiots.