Chapter Five: Introductions

Hermione walked to the front door of Hogwarts. A gust of wind welcomed her as she opened the door. Her cloak billowed. At the end of the hall she saw a tall bearded man walking towards her.

"Ms. Granger, I presume. Welcome back!"

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."

"You're welcome to call me 'Albus' instead of 'Professor' if you like. That goes for the rest of the staff. We'll be working together as equals."

"Thank you, Prof --- Albus. I'm honored. You can call me by my first name too. Did you receive my belongings?"

"Yes I did. I sent them to your chambers. Let's sit at my office and chat." They started walking to the gargoyle statue. "Every Flavored Beans."

The gargoyle moved aside. The room hadn't changed much since her 7th year.

"Every Flavored Bean?" Dumbledore offered.

"Thank you," Hermione said as she sat down. 'Phew! Vanilla.'

"How was your trip, Hermione?" Dumbledore asked as he sat down behind his desk.

"Nostaglic. I bumped into Snape at the Three Broomsticks earlier. It was so funny. He didn't recognize me at all. But that might be because I was wearing my sunglasses."

Dumbledore chuckled. His blue eyes were twinkling. "Why are you still wearing them in here?"

She laughed. "I'm planning to shock Snape when I reveal my identity. The expression on his face is gonna be priceless." She smiled widely as Dumbledore laughed.

The door to Dumbledore's office opened. "Speak of the devil," Dumbledore said quietly to her. They both grinned.

"I'm here, Dumbledore. What is it that you want?" Snape said irritably as he walked into the room.

"Ahh, Severus Snape. We meet again," Hermione said slowly in a low voice from her seat.

Snape looked to see where that voice was coming from.

"The Enigma." He smirked. His tone softened a bit. "What are you doing here?"

"Meeting an old friend."

"My apologies for interrupting," Snape said to her.

"You're not interrupting, Severus. This meeting is for the three of us. From what I hear, you two have yet to be formally re-introduced," Dumbledore said.

Snape looked confused and raised an eyebrow slightly. "'Re-introduced', you say?"

Hermione smirked. She got up from her seat and pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. She walked up to him until she was facing him. He was about a forehead taller than her.

"Secret Auror Hermione Granger. We meet again." she said as she extended her hand.

Snape was taken aback. His eyes widened and his face was a mix of surprise and bewilderment. 'This woman is Granger!?' Meanwhile, Hermione was trying her best not to laugh. 'Priceless,' she thought. After a moment, Snape recovered.

"Ms. Granger. We do meet again. A Secret Auror. I have to admit, I am impressed." He shook her hand for the second time that day. "You look different. It is no wonder I did not recognize you."

She looked at herself. "I look different? I suppose I'm a bit taller and more muscular. My hair's auburn and straight -- no longer bushy. My voice is different too. I suppose you're right."

"Well done, Ms. Granger," he said sarcastically.

"I see you still have my newspaper," Hermione said.

"Thank you for stating the obvious," Snape said.

"Why don't you two sit down." They both did. "Hermione, why don't you tell us what you've been up to since you graduated," Dumbledore said. They both looked at her.

"Alright. My O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. grades helped me become an Auror at the age of 19. Director of Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt tested my skills with difficult assignments. I'm sure you two are familiar with him." Shacklebolt was part of the Order of the Phoenix with Snape and Dumbledore.

"I completed all my assignments successfully, quickly, and thoroughly. I was then promoted to Secret Auror at age 20. I love my job. It tests my skills of Transfigurations, Charms, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts everyday. Anyway, six months after I was promoted there was a Death Eater breakout at Azkaban."

"Yes. The same Death Eaters that escaped during your 5th year were the same who escaped two years ago," Dumbledore said.

She nodded at him. "You got it. Director Shacklebolt must have trusted me a lot because he assigned me a very difficult and time-consuming case -- to capture the Death Eaters that escaped. I did that," Hermione said as she pointed to the newspaper in Snape's hand. Both men were in awe and raised their eyebrows in surprise.

"Anyway, the case brought me to New York City where I was assigned a partner. Eugene Quirrell, also a newly appointed Secret Auror. He's distantly related to Professor Quirrell. We made 8 captures in New York...actually, I made the captures. On the last one, when Lestrange was caught, you won't believe what he did. He ---"

RING-RING!! Hermione's cell phone cut her off. She looked at who was calling. It was Quirrell. She sighed and felt anger rise up in her.

"You mind if I take this call?"

"Go right ahead, Hermione," Dumbledore said to her.

"You guys can listen in on this conversation. Should be interesting." She took out her wand and pointed it at her cell phone, "Sonorus." She answered.

"State your business, Quirrell." Hints of anger were in her business-like tone.

"Mione, I am so sorry I left you like that." Both Snape and Dumbledore were amazed that a voice was coming out of that small object.

"'Sorry'? I've been hearing that a lot from you. You make it a habit to flee in fear halfway through each capture leaving me to pick up the slack."

"I promise it won't happen again. I'm sorry I left. I just got scared and -- "

"YOU LEFT ME IN THAT PARK SURROUNDED BY 20 FUCKIN' DEMENTORS!!! THAT IS NOT HOW A SECRET AUROR ACTS!!! I WAS SCARED TOO YOU MORON!!!"

There was silence.

"I-I'm s-sorry. Let me make it up to you. I'll buy you dinner or ---, "

"No dice. I'm on assignment. And even if I wasn't, I would refuse. You really screwed up."

Silence. "You're on assignment...by yourself?"

"Yeah. Judge is allowing me to work alone -- without an incompetent partner tagging along."

"But I thought we were a team..."

"Leaving me alone to defend myself against a group of dementors is not team work. It's nowhere near it." She said dangerously slow and low.

"Give me another chance, please..."

"No. Fuggheddaboudit. You can beg to Director Judge. I'm done talking to you and don't you dare call me again or I'll kill you." Hermione ended the call and pointed her wand at it. "Quietus."

Hermione looked at Snape and Dumbledore. There was a eerie silence between them. Hermione calmed down during this break.

"You were surrounded by 20 dementors?" Snape asked quietly in disbelief.

"Yeah. No thanks to that asshole. I was almost Kissed by one too." She said bitterly. Both men looked at her in shock.

Hermione smiled at them. "I'm still here. Don't worry about me. We should be worrying about you, Snape."

"What do I have to do with this?"

"You're the reason I'm here. You see, after Lestrange was in custody, I found out that the last two Death Eaters to be captured, Dolohov and Rookwood, had fled back to England. They're out for blood. Your blood. They want to kill you...maybe torture you a bit too. I believe that they somehow found out that you're on our side, that you're a traitor. Anyway, Judge informed Dumbledore."

"I requested a bodyguard for you, Severus. What is one more line of protection?" Dumbledore said.

"I can take care of myself from those two," Snape said dismissively.

"Under the circumstances, it's now my job to take care of you. I'm your bodyguard."

"I do not need to be babysat," he sneered.

"I have no intention of becoming your second shadow. But I'll be around. They plan to infiltrate Hogwarts to kill you." Snape looked as if he was ready to argue. "Just live with it! You can't argue with Albus against this. He's like the Godfather."

Snape looked at Dumbledore. No matter how much he hated to admit it, he knew she was right. 'Damn that old man.'

After a while Snape finally said in a low voice, "Fine. How will you accomplish this without anyone knowing you are here?"

"Everyone will know that Hermione is here," Dumbledore said.

"Professor Flitwick is on sabbatical. I'm going to be teaching Charms for one year. I'm more than qualified to do it."

"Hermione's chambers will be near yours in the dungeons, Severus. There is a door in each of your chambers that connects the two rooms together."

"Why?"

"Hey, I don't like the idea either, hon. But if I'm to be a good bodyguard, I have to be in close proximity to the person I'm guarding."

"Isn't your life in danger too, Ms. Granger?" Snape said.

"My life's always in danger," she said dismissively. "But I'm fairly safe at the moment. Dolohov and Rookwood only know that someone is watching them. They don't know it's me. Right now, it's more important that we make sure you're safe from them. And speaking of which, here's what I want you to do, Snape. You are not to open any packages you receive. I'll check it out and make sure it's safe. You are to inform me of your whereabouts at all times -- whether you're going inside or outside of the castle."

"Any other requests, Ms. Granger?" Snape was angry, to say the least.

"Yes, in fact. But it's of you Albus."

"What can I do for you?" Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled.

"When the Quidditch pitch is not in use, I would like to use it as a training area for myself."

"Of course, Hermione."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Do you have any idea as to how they will attack?" Dumbledore asked Hermione.

"I have a few working theories, but I'm not totally sure. I guess we'll have to be pleasantly surprised. Anyway, the whole staff will be informed of your situation during tonight's dinner, Snape. They will be my extra eyes and ears around here. Any questions?"

Snape groaned. 'This is going to be a terrible year.'

"No, Ms. Granger. I think you covered it all during all of your yapping," Snape said.

"Good. Well, I'm going to my chambers to unpack. And where will you be, hon?"

"Do not call me 'hon', Ms. Granger. You can find me in my chambers."

"Oh good. We'll go to the dungeons together, then. Good bye, Albus. I'll see you at dinner."

"Good bye, Hermione. Good bye, Severus."

Snape rose out of his seat quickly and headed for the door. Hermione followed him to the dungeons.

A/N: Please review. All reviews and suggestions are welcomed. Flames are discouraged.