Disclaimer:
Anything in the Harry potter universe is not mine. I'm Sure you all know that by now.
Authors note:
I really hope that my fiction is "Flowing" like my mum said it should.
Goodness! I have to give credit to all the other Fan fiction writers of HP. Making a good story that is appropriate and interesting for audiences is so much harder than it looks.
Chapter. 3
" The Door opened and Albus stood, smiling happily. " Have a good night down here?"
They didn't answer, but merely stared as if it was a joke. So the headmaster continued, unfazed. " Funny how I come down, fully prepared to find a deceased Gryffindor, but to me you look alive and ... rather livid." A slight twinkle in his eyes made Hermione feel better. " I'm Fine, just another encounter with the shrew." she commented. Snape snorted, looking at the wall which he became fascinated with suddenly. Dumbledore smiled. " Anyway, Miss Granger, i'm glad that I found you. It seems that your talent in transfiguration and charms has caught the eye of Madame Maxine. She would like you to spend the rest of your 6th year in France with her, I need an answer immediately." He said cutting in on her confused thoughts. She looked at Snape, who quickly looked away. as if ashamed and embarrassed.. she then glanced at her fingers which were swelling to a considerable size, wrapped in the hem of the potion master teachers robes. The very same robe she was still wearing.
It wasn't a hard decision to make.
" Yes, I accept." Hermione said confidently. Snape felt like a massive weight had been put apon his shoulders. Ignoring it, he cleared his throat. " I need to catch up on grading papers, so if you don't mind taking this little celebration outside, I'd like to get back to a certain botched potion." he muttered smoothly casting a look at hermione who turned pink. " I'm so sorry Severus. Come Hermione, we'll get you packed." Albus made way for the door and stopped when he realized the Gryffindor wasn't following. She had turned, thrusting out her hand. " Good bye Professor Snape, It was a pleasure working with you." The potions master was surprised to say the least. So naturally he took her hand and shook it." And to you Miss Granger, Your presence will be missed in my classroom." They exchanged the smallest of smiles and Hermione left feeling better than she had been in days.
Walking up the stairs, Dumbledore stopped and turned. " What happened between you two down there?" she shrugged. " Nothing really, we just talked. why?" he broke out in a confused smile. " In all of the 15 years I have known Severus, Not once has he ever willing touched another human being. Not a hug, pat on the back, or a handshake." the older wizard looked mystified, causing hermione to turn a rather Weasley like shade of red. Thinking back to when Snape had held her, trying to keep her warm early this morning. " So harry and Ron went and got you?" she asked changing the subject. Not a good choice for suddenly, he looked disappointed in something... or rather someone. " Not exactly, I over heard them and two young ladies arguing. eventually they went back out side." Hermione felt utterly alone just then. The two walked in silence until they were at the portrait leading to the Gryffindor tower. " Well this is where I must leave you." he said. " When your done packing, touch the muggle calculus book and you'll portkey to Burbaxtons. I hope you have a great experience there. I look forward to seeing you next year." She felt a deep love for this man, who had been her alternate father during the past 6 yrs. Hermione threw her arms around his neck. " I'll miss you sir. It's been a wonderful year." she said, not quite telling the truth about the wonderful part. They parted their ways. Hermione found no one was in the common room, so she packed alone. It was ok though. she preferred to be alone anyway. It took her, about an hour. Her stuff was packed. And all that she left behind was a framed picture of Ron, Harry, and herself taken at a quidditch match years before. The figures waved happily, as she disappeared.
It had been the longest 10 months Severus Snape had ever endured. Despite the whole death eater thing in his life, not having Miss granger around in his class was pure and utter torture. He hated to admit it, but her presence was a calming influence on the class, but now every day he had to put up with Longbottom blowing things up, and then breaking down in tears because hermione wasn't there to make it better. He sat grading his papers, while keeping a close watch on the class. They seemed to be struggling with a simple truth serum. He smirked maliciously while grading potter and weasley's papers, the crimson slashes almost covered the page. Ever since they left hermione to supposbly 'die under his hand', Severus been much harder on them. Taking away points for 'looking happy' or 'breathing too much.' And then there was Miss Weasley. She had begged the headmaster to let her quit his class. Albus simply said no. Good riddens to the little brat. " Don't you think your being a little hard on them" the head master had once asked him. " Not a chance sir." Dumbledore nodded and left the younger man's teaching methods alone after that.
The door opened to his class, he didn't bother looking up, he never did. The figure crossed the room and stood right in front of him. becoming annoyed, he looked up. " What do you wa-" Severus stopped in mid rant to set eyes on a most shocking site.
" Hello professor Snape." His jaw dropped, and all he managed out was " Hermione?" her smile got bigger.
" uh i mean, Miss Granger. You're back" he stared, taking it all in. She wore a simple black skirt that rested just above her knees, a button up, crisp white collared shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. over her clothes, a black Robe, no tag or hogwarts distinction any where . Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and she wore silver framed reading glasses. It made him feel unintelligent just sitting next to her.
" Is there any particular reason your staring at me." she muttered, trying to keep the class from noticing her. He shook his head no. What the hell had happened to his know-it-all Gryffindor, the one he could pick on about her over sized teeth and bushy hair. It was all gone. All that remained was a confident, intelligent woman. Their eye's locked in a most curious manner. Severus felt like a dirty old man for giving her the look over. And as if fate had some sort of evil plan, the bell rang, causing all of the second year hufflepuffs to dash out of the room . Albus stuck his head in. " Ah Miss Granger, I thought I would find you here. Come Severus, Lunch awaits us and our head girl." he blanched. that's right. Hermione was the new head girl. The head boy had done all of the duty's alone, for the extra month since 7th year had started. " Does anyone know your back?" he asked. " Not yet sir." " Good." a smirk spread across his face. She looked confused, Albus filled her in. " Severus has wanted to see the looks on Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley of when you came back. He felt it would be particularly interesting." The potions master turned to glare
" Don't you ever get tired of reading people's minds?", " Not really. No" Hermione giggled at the exchange. He pushed the doors open, to reveal the familiar great hall. Hermione sniffed. " its so beautiful." " i heard Burbaxtons had a lovely great hall, with ice sculptures and other unnecessary things " he waved his hand as if he didn't care. " Yes it was lovely. But I shall always find hogwarts a more beautiful place." Dumbledore swelled with pride. " Thank you miss Granger, we try to keep this old castle running each and every year." They walked to the head table unnoticed. Well that was until she sat down next to the head boy. Draco Malfoy. " Granger. What are you doing here." He said showing no surprise on his face. but it was clearly evident in his eyes. " I'm the head girl, Mr. Malfoy. I have every right to sit her, as you do." She said in a tone that demanded respect and authority. It worked, because the slytherin gave her one final glance before turning back to his lunch.
" Well that wasn't much fun. I wanted to play a bit ." she whispered to Severus. who nodded thoughtfully.
Authors note: Thanks again for all the sweet reviews. I'll try not to disappoint. - Lady