Bright and early that next morning Hermione rose practically before the dawn and was the first one to the Great Hall for breakfast. She knew she had some time to wait until Ron and the other Gryffindor's finally came down.
Which was how she liked it.
She had been checking through the past school lists with a little magical aid and had a fairly good idea that their new potions professor would be a former Slytherin.
"And what, Miss Granger" the silky voice drawled coldly from directly behind her, "is the meaning of this?"
Hermione looked up at Snape to see he was pointing at the school lists spread on the table in front of her, his expression severe, even for Snape.
"I'm doing a longitudinal study on former Hogwarts students sir, it's uh, an extra credit project" she finished lamely, unconsciously biting her lower lip.
Severus' left eyebrow quirked upward at that though his fierce expression did not change.
"That sounds quite fascinating Miss Granger. I will most definatley want to see this" he paused, a rather disbelieving look on his face, "extra credit project of yours."
Hermione blushed, her heart pounding as she attempted to remain calm in the face of his sneering disbelief.
"Of course, Professor Snape."
"Miss Granger" he leaned down closer to her, anger snapping in his dark eyes, his lips a thin white line, the disgust radiating from him as a force Hermione could feel pressing against her.
"Unless this has suddenly become a library" he sneered at her, "this is not an acceptable place to do your report Miss Granger, five points from Gryffindor."
Hearing the sound of footsteps in the doorway he suddenly straightened to his full six feet and looked towards the sound, his expression forbidding.
"Ah, here come your friends Miss Granger."
Hermione, whose heart had threatened to leap into her throat at his pronouncement, looked up to see several Gryffindor's walking into the Great Hall, Lavender and Ron amongst them.
She watched as he stalked away, students scrambling from his path as he crossed the Great Hall towards the Head Table, his cloak billowing behind him.
"Hey, Hermione."
It was Ron and he looked downright annoyed.
"What was Snape doing at our table?"
He scowled at the retreating figure before plopping down on the bench across from her.
"Oh, he was reprimanding me for working on my report here rather than the library Ron, he just took five points from Gryffindor."
Hermione looked sadly at the red-headed boy across from her as she hurriedly gathered the lists and her parchment and quill stuffing them quickly into her book bag at her feet.
"Your not doing another project?"
Lavender sounded incredulous.
A slight frown creased Hermione's forehead at her tone.
"It's.." she started to say but was interrupted as Dumbledore stood and the Great Hall became silent.
"As promised," Dumbledore smiled warmly out at the students, "your new potions Professor arrived this morning and I would like you all to welcome her back to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore looked over to a pretty young woman, whose straight white-blonde waist length hair looked remarkably similar to another blonde, sitting at the Slytherin table.
He motioned her over to him and she walked up to the Head Table a shy smile on her face. Dumbledore lightly rested a hand on her shoulder and turned her gently to face the students.
"Everyone, I would like for you to meet a former Hogwarts student and a former Slytherin, Miss Diamona Malfoy."
At the sound of the Malfoy name, all heads turned to the Slytherin table and a suddenly very white Draco Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy" Dumbledore said pleasantly to Draco.
"Perhaps after breakfast you could assist Miss Malfoy in getting settled and I'm sure you both will have family news to catch up on."
Diamona had looked down to the Slytherin table as well and was smiling warmly at Draco.
Dumbledore looked down at Draco, still pale, as the younger Malfoy stared, his mouth gaping, at the new potions Professor.
"Mr. Malfoy, I'm excusing you from your morning classes."
Looking again at Diamona, Dumbledore smiled warmly then motioned towards the end of the table.
"You can go and sit between Professor Snape and Professor Sprout my dear, your classes start this afternoon."
Dumbledore sat down again as their new potions Professor walked to the end of the Head Table and quickly sat down in the chair Professor Snape had pulled out for her.
Snape looked down at her, his smile reserved.
He nodded politely to her as she thanked him, then started, suddenly uncomfortable, as her rosy pink lips curved into a glowing smile, the twinkle in her ice-blue eyes seeming to speak of other delights.
There was definatley more in her smile than simple gratitude, though Severus wasn't the only one to notice it and feel unnerved.
At the Gryffindor table Hermione's hand trembled slightly as she lifted her glass of pumpkin juice and her heart beat uncomfortably hard as she watched the exchange at the Head Table.
From her first day at Hogwarts Hermione had held a secret fascination for her potions Professor, but now, now she inexplicably felt a horrid, empty feeling inside.
"Maybe those two will fall in love and get married" Ron sneered, and several Gryffindor boys sniggered as they looked up at the new Malfoy amongst them.
Hermione blanched visibly as a vision that Madam Trelawny would be proud of crossed her minds inner screen.
Severus Snape and the future Mrs. Snape, her waist length white-blonde hair flowing behind her, her arms wrapped snugly around his waist, riding into the sunset.
"Hey, Hermione!"
A hand jogged her elbow, breaking her from her reverie.
"Come on, your going to be late for class if you keep daydreaming like that."
Ron's voice reached past the inner vision and Hermione clicked into gear grabbing her book bag as she made to follow him.
"Miss Granger."
Hermione stopped suddenly and turned to face the softly drawling Professor as a flicker of fear crossed her face.
'Did he notice me staring at them? she wondered.
"Yes sir?"
A slight quaver in her voice betrayed her nervousness as her eyes searched out their new potions Professor. She saw that she was heading out the door accompanied by a slightly less pale Draco Malfoy.
"Miss Granger, your attention!"
Hermione turned back to look up at Professor Snape, her heart again pounding painfully.
"As your Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Miss Granger, I would like to ask if you would assist me after school on several projects I have lined up for the rest of this year. These will, of course, count as extra credit projects."
Hermione couldn't help hearing the sarcasm in his tone, but said nothing, fearing he might take further points from Gryffindor for her presumed cheekiness.
Snape looked thoughtfully at her for several seconds then continued.
"I believe Mr. Potter may pay a great deal more attention in class if he knows that he will be helping you by doing so."
Relieved that she wasn't in any trouble, Hermione was more than happy to accept.
'At least it's unlikely Miss Malfoy will be there as well'Hermione thought to herself.
"Very good. I will see you in class this afternoon and if you can remain after class we can get started right away."
"Yes sir, that will not be a problem at all."
With a polite nod Professor Snape turned and walked firmly out of the Great Hall.
Grabbing her book bag Hermione hurried to her first class of the afternoon, Herbology.
