Chapter Six: The Package

Within minutes of leaving Dumbledore's office, Snape and Hermione had entered the dungeons. Snape stopped in front of a painting of knight. 'My own knight in shining armor,' Hermione thought.

"Your chambers, Ms. Granger. Mine are three paintings down. And if you want to speak to me, I would appreciate it if you went to my portrait - not through that bloody connecting door," said Snape.

"Of course. I know how you like your privacy," Hermione replied.

She watched him as he walked to his painting and murmured his password and disappeared from the hallway. A voice called back her attention.

"Good afternoon, my lady. I am Sir Henry Rhode. What would you like your password to be?" Her portrait was speaking to her.

"Oh! Good afternoon, Sir Henry. I'm Hermione Granger. My password will be..." She thought a moment. 'Something no one would ever say...unusual to wizards...I know...'

"My password will be 'Smokey Joe's Cafe'"

"Very well, my lady." He bowed and let her in.

Hermione gasped. Her quarters was more like a mini apartment. It was beautiful. It put her Prefect and Head Girl rooms to shame. The living room was light blue with white trim. There was a large bookshelf, a fireplace, and a couch. Her bedroom were the Gryffindor colors, scarlet walls with gold trim. Her bathroom was light green with white trim. All in all, her chambers were cozy.

She noticed that there was an owl waiting for her on her desk. She recognized it immediately.

"Hedwig! Come here. How have you been?"

Hedwig hooted happily. Hermione untied the envelope from her.

Mione -

I heard you're protecting Snape now. You have my deepest sympathies. This should be useful in keeping track of that greasy git. If he does anything to you, you let me know and I'll beat the living day lights out of him.

- Harry

She looked in the envelope. Harry had sent her the Marauder's Map. She smiled and look out a piece of parchment from the drawer.

Dear Harry -

Thank you so much! Snape won't do anything to me. Dumbledore would kill him before I have a chance to.

- Hermione

She tied the letter to Hedwig and it left. She unpacked her belongings at a record pace. Exhausted, she headed for the bedroom and took a quick nap. When she awoke, she noticed that it was almost time for dinner. She still had on the same clothes from earlier. She brushed her hair and went to the Great Hall.

Hermione entered the Hall and saw all of her former teachers. She was welcomed first by Professor McGonagall. After all of the greetings, everyone sat down at the High Table to eat. Hermione was seated in between McGonagall and Snape. Snape was still scowling. Dumbledore, who was sitting next to McGonagall, stood up.

"Before we eat, I would like to welcome back Hermione Granger. She will be taking over Filius' position while he is away. I hope you have a successfully year."

Hermione smiled at him, knowing that his comment about a "successful year" had two meanings. Taking her cue when he sat back down, she stood up.

"Thank you. As Albus has said, I will be the new Charms professor and Ravenclaw's Head of House. I promise to fulfill and surpass all requirements these positions entail. However, there is another reason why I am back at Hogwarts."

This perked up everyone's attention.

"You all know I work for the Aurory. I was sent here to protect a member of this staff. The person in question is the man to my right, Mr. Severus Snape. There is a plot to kill him and it my job to make sure it does not happen. It is important that you all be aware of your surroundings and be vigilant. If you notice anything strange, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, I would appreciate it if you informed me immediately."

"Who is plotting against Severus?"

"Two escaped Death Eaters from Azkaban, Antonin Dolohov and Augustus Rookwood."

As she sat down, there was a murmur among the professors. Everyone then began to eat.

"Hermione, dear, how do you like your job as an Auror?" Madam Hooch asked.

"It's dangerous, exciting, challenging. I love it," Hermione said between bites.

"What are Ron and Harry up to?" Professor Sprout asked.

"Ron's currently Keeper for the Chudley Cannons and Harry is working on becoming a Secret Auror."

"That's wonderful," she replied.

"Why are you wearing all black? I thought only Severus does that," McGonagall said.

Snape glared at McGonagall. She smiled back at him. Hermione noticed this and laughed.

"All of the clothes I own are black so it's not like I had much choice. Secret Aurors are required to wear black on assignment. It's our uniform."

"Hermione, did you know that Divination is no longer part of the Hogwarts curriculum. Sybill Trelawney has left us," McGonagall said, horribly trying to suppress a grin. It was no secret that McGonagall, Hermione, and the majority of the staff could not stand Sybill Trelawney.

"YEA!" Hermione shrieked while wearing a huge smile. "I-I mean...awwww...ohhhhh..." She immediately changed her cheerful face into a sorrowful one. "What a tragedy...I guess we'll just have to party without her." Hermione smiled and waggled one of her eyebrows. Everyone sitting at the High Table laughed. She turned to her right and saw that Snape was laughing too. 'He looks 10 years younger when he smiles. Did I just think that!?'

After that, dinner was calm. Everyone seemed to be engaged in their own side conversations. Hermione and McGonagall were still on the topic of Sybill Trelawney. They were cracking jokes about her "inner eye" and laughing like hyenas. Snape didn't even realize that he was staring at them when Professor Sprout spoke.

"Different, isn't she? She seems happier." Sprout asked.

"Who?" he asked as he was pulled out of his daze.

"Hermione. You were staring at her."

"I was not staring."

"Did I hear my name? My ears are burning," Hermione asked as she turned to them and caught them by surprise. Sprout blushed while Snape looked as if nothing happened.

"Oh, I was just about to tell Severus you seem happier than when we last saw you. And that it's not a characteristic I would have had associated with an Auror."

"Just because I have a serious job doesn't mean that I can't have fun. And after all my experiences in this line of work, I've learned that it's easier to deal with things if you just loosen up. It gets rid of the tension and anxiety. And just in case I didn't learn that on my own, my fellow Aurors instilled that in me. Merlin knows someone could have taught me this earlier. All I ever thought about were grades and exams while I was a student here."

Snape smirked. "You were a bit obsessive."

Sprout and Hermione chuckled. "No kidding," Hermione replied.

Just then, two owls hooted loudly as they entered the Great Hall. It caught everybody's attention. The two owls were carrying a large square box together. It landed on Hermione's lap. Everyone, including Snape, looked at her. It was uncommon to receive mail during dinner time.

"Ooo, who is it from?" Sprout asked.

"From Director Shacklebolt." She read the letter aloud.

Auror Granger -

Welcome back! I'm very proud of your work at the MIB. Put this into good use. Director Judge said that you would like it. It's the latest model.

- Shacklebolt

Hermione was puzzled. 'What on earth would he send me?' She took out her pocket knife and cut open the tape on the box. She gasped and broadly grinned. 'Oh that sweet man! I'll have to write him a Thank You note.'

"What is it Hermione? You look as if Christmas came early," McGonagall said.

She quickly turned to McGonagall. "That's because it has! I have a new toy. I'm so happy!" She looked out the window. It was nearly dark outside. 'Perfect!' Hermione put the box on the floor. She wolfed down the rest of her dinner and chugged down the rest of her drink.

"Where are your manners, Ms. Granger?" Snape asked.

"Not here." After wiping her mouth, she quickly asked Dumbledore, "May I be excused?"

He smiled with amusement and chuckled. "Of course dear. Where are you going?"

Hermione was already half way out the door with her package when she yelled, "Quidditch pitch! And Snape -- " She stopped in her tracks and turned around, "You are not to leave the grounds unescorted. However, you are free to walk the corridors alone." She ran out the door to the field.

Snape groaned and sulked in his seat. 'Damn know-it-all bodyguard. What happened to 'loosen up'?'

Everyone chuckled and went back to their dinner. Moments later they were all finishing up their dinner.

BOOM!!!

All of the professors were alarmed and immediately looked at the direction of the sound.

It came from the Quidditch pitch.

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