Hermione smiled up at the castle. Home, she thought. Home at last. Hermione had been traveling almost constantly since that day, eight years ago, when she had fought in the Final Stand against Voldemort. Many had been lost in that battle. Draco Malfoy had fallen at his father's hand. Ron went down defending Ginny. Minerva McGonagall had lost her life in Lord Voldemort's final attack. It had been designed to kill everyone on the field, but she had forced it to focus on her. It killed her, and blew a twenty foot crater where she had been standing. But Harry had triumphed in the end, killing Voldemort a second after he cast the attack. Neville Longbottom had avenged his parents, and Hermione was given Order of Merlin, first class. But she had lost the only men she had ever really loved. Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasely. She knew that she could only have one of them, but it was a hard choice. Draco had made her feel alive, beautiful, and exciting. She was never bored with him, and the sarcastic humor they both shared kept things interesting. But Ron never kept her waiting. She never had to worry about where he was, why he hadn't returned yet, or any of the other things she worried about with Draco. Ron was comfortable, and comforting. She could have lived happily with him, but there wasn't the spark that she had with Draco. But she had lost them both, in one tragic twist of fate. She hadn't yet recovered from her pain, eight years later, so she had kept moving, never staying in one place long enough to get close to anyone. Sure, it was lonely. But it was safe. She visited Harry frequently; they were still close friends. Harry had married Ginny. They had twins, a girl and a boy, who were three. The girl had a darker red hair than was usual for Weasely's and she had her father's eyes. Her name was Lily. The boy was black haired and brown eyed. He already had a cheeky and mischevious grin. Sirius was his name. Ginny had just given birth to the third (and Ginny insisted last) of the Potter children, a beautiful boy, with flame red hair and startling green eyes. Ron. Hermione had often wondered at their insistence on naming their children after lost loved ones. She could not look at little Ron without her eyes blurring with tears. With a sigh, and a wipe of her eyes, she levitated her bags and headed into the castle.
Fond memories were everywhere in the castle. She had spent the seven best years of her life in this place. There was where she had walked in on Harry and Ginny kissing. Over there, Harry had walked in on her first kiss with Ron. In the next corridor over, was the one eyed witch that she knew guarded their favorite secret passage to Hogsmeade. There was the place that Draco had first kissed her, halfway through seventh year. She gave a tiny sniffle.
"HERMIONE!" An annoyed sounding voice rang out behind her. She spun around guiltily, wondering what she had done. Not five minutes here and already in trouble. Remus Lupin was storming up the hallway.
"Remus!" She said in a very startled way. "What are you doing here?"
"I teach here!" He said, sounding very, very P.O.ed. "Eight years, 'Mione! I haven't heard from you in eight years! You better have an explanation!" He barked. Hermione was relieved. She hadn't done anything wrong. Well, she had, but not in the manner she had been thinking.
"I've been traveling." She said, knowing it was inadequate. He glared down at her. Thanks to Wolfsbane potion and the lack of work for the Order, Lupin was looking sufficiently less shabby and tired. He even looked younger, if possible. His sandy brown hair was cut in a shaggy style that suited his face. His eyes were a nice blue, without the customary bags she had seen when he was a teacher and when he was immersed in grief over the losses. He looked, in all, fit, healthy, and handsome.
"You know very well it doesn't take long to just pop over to my place, or owl me!" He said. They had become rather good friends in her last years at Hogwarts, and she felt a little guilty about not visiting him. But she hadn't wanted to see him. She hadn't wanted to see anyone. Quite suddenly, she was in Remus's arms. He was tall, 6'3, and her 5'5" frame only came up to his chin. She hadn't been held like this since Ron and Draco died.
"I know. Don't cry, sweetie, I know." Remus's low voice murmured in her ear. To her utter horror, she realized that she WAS crying. She pulled back. She met his eyes. They were such a deep blue, with silver flecks. Pain and something she couldn't identify shone from them. She was lost in their depth.
"Really Lupin, her first day isn't even beginning and you already are molesting the new transfiguration teacher." A sarcastic voice rang out. Remus dropped his hands, which were on her shoulders, and they both turned to face the speaker. None other then Severus Snape stood at the foot of the stairs. He was looking rather different then Hermione remembered him. His previously lank and greasy hair was clean and cut in a manner that was reminiscent of Sirius. He was still deathly pale, but he looked younger, much as Remus did. His dark eyes bored into Hermione, and, to her horror, captivated her. His muscular arms were folded over his chest, and he was leaning casually against the wall. He was dressed differently also. He wore a tightish black shirt and loose, black pants. But he was still sallow-skined and hook nosed. She saluted him cheekily.
"Granger, I'm surprised at you. I always thought you were intelligent enough to stay away from werewolves. But no, I remember now, you were always fond of consorting with dark creatures," He said. Hermione chuckled, to Remus's confusion
"Don't you have some bat cave to return to?" Hermione asked. He glared, then swept off, indeed like an oversized bat.
"You have to hand it to the slimy git, he knows when to run." She said, hazel eyes twinkling. "Is it just me, or was he less greasy then usual?" Lupin shrugged, looking rather confused at her lightheartedness. "Dumbledore probably ordered him to wash because it was so much work for Filch to clean up his slime trail." She said cheerfully. Remus laughed, and led her to her room. She was lighthearted and casual. Remus always had that effect on her. He left her there, after informing her that dinner was at six. It was currently two. Her confusion surfaced now that Remus was gone. She found herself thinking about his eyes, his strong hands on her shoulders, the feeling of his chest against hers. She shook herself.
"I need to take a nap." She told herself. For the first time she looked at her room. It was the walls were a rich red with burnished gold borders. The carpet was the color of rose petals and thick. She kicked off her clogs and buried her toes in the soft shag, enjoying the feeling of the carpet engulfing her feet. The bed was four poster, dark blue with silver trim covers and what seemed like hundreds of chenille pillows in matching blue and silver. It had beautiful mahogany posts and silver cloth looping over the blue curtains, which were pulled back. It was king sized. The comforter was feather, as she discovered when she sat on the edge. She changed into her favorite nightgown, a silky little slip that started low on her chest and ended high on her legs. It was green and silver. She always felt sexy and beautiful in it. With a deep sigh, she slid into the magnificent bed. It was the perfect firmness, and she had to think that she had never been more comfortable in her life. She closed her eyes, and promptly was asleep.
She dreamed of eyes. They were black as night, and she was drawn to them. They reminded her of tunnels, and she longed to know what was on the other end. Pain, loneliness and sorrow poured out of them, touching her soul. She fell into the depth of those eyes. So expressive, and so cold. She would do anything to see those eyes light up. To see them happy. So beautiful...
She woke with a start.
"No... I did NOT just dream about Severus Snape's eyes." She said to herself in horror.
*Author's note: WAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, that was fun! I was close to drooling over that bed. *looks like a petulant child* I want one! *sniffle* ah well, I'm lucky to have a bed, right? *pats hard-springed twin sized bed with a junk pillow and ratty cotton blanket.* oh goody:)