A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned.
Chapter Three
The next morning before breakfast the Heads of Houses assembled in Professor Dumbledore's office ready to discuss anything they had managed to discern from any of the first year students yesterday evening. Hermione was the last to arrive and quickly apologised to the Headmaster saying she'd slept longer than she had wanted to whilst frantically trying to pin her hair up and grabbing a seat between Severus and Penny. Severus smirked at the fact she had probably been worn out after their extra curricular activities last night and chose to comment.
"Tut, tut, Professor Granger. Not a very good start to the term is it? Let us hope that your students are better acquainted with telling the time, although being Gryffindors one cannot hold out too much hope." He intoned in his silkiest voice. She mock-glared at him, knowing he was only teasing her.
"Quite, and apologies accepted, Professor Granger." Albus interrupted. "Now, might I have your thoughts as to first impressions towards your first years, please everyone?"
"I couldn't glean much at all from the Sorting last night, Headmaster. My students all seem to be quite typical Ravenclaw's right now- eager to find the library and attend their classes. I have arranged appointments with each of the first years in order to speak to them personally and try to ascertain any potential dark magic aspirations that they may have." Penny told him.
"That's a good idea you had, Professor Clearwater. Perhaps all Heads of Houses should meet with their first years as well, at your earliest conveniences if possible." Albus said and they each nodded at his request.
"The Hufflepuff's all seem okay to me as well, Albus." Sara Sprout said. "I will of course be watching them closely though but I feel it is too soon to tell right now." Dumbledore nodded and turned to his head of Gryffindor House.
"The Gryffindor's are no different to what I would expect either, Professor but I do foresee a potential problem with the Weasley quads. They are unfortunately much more like their uncles Fred and George instead of their father Bill. I fear they will be the practical jokers of the school and they bear close monitoring I think." Hermione told them. "I'll set up some meetings for this coming Saturday with my first years."
"And Slytherin, Severus?" Albus said as he motioned for him to begin.
"My students are in a bit of shock after I told them the politics within the House would be changing. They know it will be three strikes and they're out and they are going to see some drastic changes in my attitude towards them." Severus paused as the other heads gaped at him as though he was an intruder under the influence of polyjuice potion. "I did however have some concerns about one student, Christopher Granger."
"These concerns would be?" Sara Sprout asked.
"Well, 'Granger' is a Muggle name and I do not know of any wizarding families who have this surname, as such he therefore would likely be a Muggle-born and if this is the case then how could he have been sorted into Slytherin? He also was staring at Hermione a number of occasions throughout the ceremony last night, and seemed to keep himself to himself all night. I've not seen him mix with any of the other first years thus far." Severus said glancing over at his fiancé.
"Like I said, Severus, I do not know him at all and my parents have not told me of any family member who could possibly have the gift of magic. I feel they may tell me that much despite the fact we are quite estranged from one another now, and have been since my fourth year here as a student." Hermione confessed.
"Fourth year? Hermione, that was nearly eleven years ago." Penny said astounded. Hermione just shrugged and nodded.
"Anyone else capture your concerns, Severus?" Albus asked moving on.
"Not really, not as yet anyway. I will be keeping an extra vigilant eye on them all of course, as a whole House." Severus replied.
"Have the other teachers mentioned anything, Headmaster?" Penny asked.
"No, none have mentioned anything and I did speak to them after the ceremony whilst you were all in your House common rooms." Albus told them.
"What about the Sorting Hat, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"I had a talk with it and he came up with nothing, perhaps he could tell us more about this Mr. Granger." Albus said as he stood up and retrieved the hat from its place on the high book shelf. "Sorting Hat, do you have any concerns about the new boy Christopher Granger?" He asked as he placed it on his desk.
"Christopher Granger is hiding a secret, which is eating away at his soul." The hat responded quickly in its rather dry voice.
"Is he a Muggle-born?" Severus asked.
"I am not at liberty to divulge anything more about the students whose heads I have sat upon, there is such a thing as student confidentiality after all." The hat responded pointedly.
"Why did you sort him into Slytherin?" Severus asked again.
"Christopher Granger has much potential and aspirations to prove himself. He is holding a secret close to his heart and therefore may be seen as being dishonest and untrustworthy. He is also loyal and ambitious. These are qualities you as Head of Slytherin should recognise as allowing a student into your House, Severus Snape."
"Can you tell us if you saw potential Dark Lord material in any of the new first years?" Albus asked.
"I saw many students who could aspire to such heights, at least two per House." The hat replied.
"Well, that doesn't help much at all." Penny said. "Unless the hat can give us those names?" Penny suggested.
"Sorting Hat. Could you give us the names of those students you deem have the potential to become the next Dark Lord?" Albus asked again.
"Yes. The students are as follow. In Slytherin House are Simon Azalia, Christopher Granger and Dionne Simverstatin. Ravenclaw have Helga Picardo and Theresa Urmintrude. Hufflepuff have Joshua Baines, Colin Batey and Millicent Wu. Gryffindor have Jemimah Weasley, Paulo Skeeter, David Flanders and John Kennedy." The hat said, reeling off a list of names.
"All I can suggest is that these particular students be watched very closely but do not single them out, you must be covert about your tactics. Now, as there is little else we can do right now I suggest caution and that we retreat downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast before we rouse any suspicions? The students must be given their timetables for the year after all, and we must all eat." Dumbledore said standing up and heading out of his office, his teachers followed him in his wake.
~~*~~
The teachers made their way to the Great Hall and up the House tables handing the bulk of the new timetables to the prefects and doling out the first year timetables personally.
"Miss. Weasley." Hermione said approaching the quads.
"Which, 'Miss.Weasley', Professor?" The two females Weasley's asked in unison.
"This one," Hermione said pointing to the one on the right of the table.
"Oh, that one!" Her sister said and they all chuckled.
"Yes, which one are you, Miss Weasley?" Hermione asked, her head beginning to spin.
"Why, I'm Jemimah, Professor." She responded with a huge smile on her face. Hermione tried to note how to tell her apart but could not discern any kind of a difference. It was this particular Weasley that needed to be watched more closely Hermione realised.
"Okay, Jemimah. I would like you to produce a list of all of the new first years for me in Gryffindor House. I would then like you to enlist the help of Joanne and schedule times on Saturday for each of the first years to see me individually for slots of 30 minutes." Hermione looked over to the two male Weasley siblings and told them what she wanted them to do. "Joshua and James, you will both ensure that all of the first year Gryffindors know when they will have their appointments and also find a way for me to be able to tell you four apart from each other." Hermione smiled at them all. "Consider this a punishment for your lack of attention last night. Now, here are you timetables." Hermione told them, handing out pieces of parchment with their class schedules on. She moved down the table speaking with her other first years and handing out their timetables before leaving the table and heading up to the head table to eat her own breakfast.
Severus was already sitting in his seat and he had been observing his fiancé as she dealt with the Troublesome Four. "Problem?" He asked as she sat down next to him.
"No, just handing out punishments for last night. They will be organising my Saturday appointments for me." Severus smirked.
"Who do you have first?" Severus asked as he cut up a piece of sausage and egg, spearing them with his fork and eating heartily.
"I have fourth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin for double Arithmancy. You?" She asked sipping her tea.
"First year Defence with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
"Well, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Are you all set to deal with them?" Hermione asked taking another sip of her tea and munching on a piece of toast.
"I believe I am. I have to follow Remus' curriculum so there should be no problem." He replied sipping his cup of coffee.
"Hermione?" Ron called from his position several seats to her left.
"Morning, Ron." Hermione greeted looking up at him and smiling.
"I hope the quads aren't giving you a rough time?" He asked, having noticed the length of time she had spent talking to them this morning.
"I think I can handle them but it's the telling them apart that's going to be hard." She told him.
"Well, Josh and Jim are the boys and Jem and Jo are the girls." Ron told her, his sense of humour in full swing at this time in the morning.
"Yes, I gathered that much, thank you, Ron." Hermione responded sarcastically. Ron laughed.
"Getting more like Snape everyday, 'Mione!" He told her and cringed at the glare Severus sent him.
"Then I take that as a compliment, Ron." She grinned back.
"Hey, you busy tonight?" Ron asked.
"I don't know yet, why?" She asked him.
"Wanted to know if you'd like to visit Lavendar, Emily and me? It'd be nice to catch up properly."
"Yeah, it would be good; I'll try and come down after dinner, Ron." Hermione answered.
"I guess I'll see you at lunch then?" Severus asked her, pulling her back to a conversation with him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Severus. You didn't have any plans for us did you?" Hermione asked concerned she had ruined something.
"No, it would have been nice to see you though but I guess you haven't spent any time with Ron since he's been back so it's okay by me." He replied, he'd probably find himself supervising detentions anyway.
"I thought you'd understand, thanks Severus." Hermione smiled at him, he wasn't looking at her though, and his attention had been drawn to the Slytherin table where he was watching an incident of bullying going on.
Severus slowly stood up. "Excuse me for a moment, Professor Granger," he said louder than they had been speaking in their conversation. He stalked off round the table and up the aisle towards the fourth year who was threatening the second year with a fist in the face for some unknown reason. "What, pray tell is going on here, Mr. Frontera?" He asked in a slow and deadly voice, glaring down his nose from his most impressive height.
The fourth year pulled away slightly and sneered up at his Head of House. "Nothing, Professor. Just showing this second year his position in the House is not here amongst the fourth years."
"And why would it be important as to where Mr. Drummond sits, Mr. Frontera?" Snape asked sending the student a death glare.
"He's not one of us, Professor. This filthy Mudblood of a second year needs to get back to his own end of the table and stay away from ours." The student shot back, glaring at the second year and jabbing an index finger into his shoulder.
Severus moved closer to the fourth year and bent down slowly until he was gazing directly into his eyes. "You will not. refer to any member of Slytherin. or this school with such a derogatory. and prejudiced name in the future.. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Frontera?" Severus demanded in a voice that was very slow and succinctly worded.
"Yes, Sir." He responded, gulping in surprise at his Head of House.
"Mr. Drummond may sit where ever he likes at this table. as may any student and there will be no more hierarchy within Slytherin. Is this clear, Mr. Frontera?" Snape asked him again.
"Yes."
"Yes, what, Mr. Frontera?" Snape prompted with a growl.
"Professor Snape."
"That's right; do not forget your manners on top of everything else, Mr. Frontera." Snape said standing up straight again. Silence was in the hall as everyone was trying to catch any words being muttered between student and teacher. "Twenty points from Slytherin, Mr. Frontera for threatening behaviour towards another student and interrupting my breakfast. Also, this is strike one against you, if I find a repeat of this threatening behaviour it will be a further twenty points from Slytherin and a detention." Severus turned on his heel and stalked back to his seat at the head table. Glancing up to view the tallies for the House points he noted that Slytherin was now already bottom.
Albus Dumbledore watched Severus as he sat back down. "Everything okay, Severus?" He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes, Albus. Some derogatory remarks towards a student about his bloodline. My students should be letting it sink in by now that I will be clamping down on their behaviour." Severus told him matter-of-factly.
"Very well, Severus. Any problems just let me know." Albus replied getting back to his breakfast cereal.
"I will, Albus."
Hermione reached her hand under the table and squeezed Severus thigh, he smiled back lightly at her contact, praying her hand wouldn't move any further upwards or it could become embarrassing. Thankfully, soon after, the bell sounded signalling the end of breakfast and that the students should move off to their first lessons of the day.
~~*~~
"Professor Snape." Hermione greeted her fiancé formally for the sake of any students who may be within hearing range as she sat down beside him for lunch in the Great Hall. "Hello, my love." She whispered as she leaned slightly over to him and lightly squeezed his left thigh under the table as was becoming her habit.
"Hello, love." Severus almost whispered back to her. "How was your double Arithmancy class this morning?"
"Well, it was okay but Mr. Frontera decided that he would ignore me and sneer all lesson, and so I didn't get much work done out of him. I took ten points from Slytherin I'm afraid, Severus." Hermione told him glancing up at the points table in the hall and noticing that Slytherin was still bottom of the league.
"Perhaps." Severus began before he was interrupted by Ron Weasley who had just entered the hall from the back entrance looking quite angry.
"Professor Snape. My Slytherin, Hufflepuff second year charms class was utter bedlam this morning thanks to Drummond believing he could run my own classroom, something about being able to do whatever he likes thanks to your approval this morning at breakfast? He extended that courtesy to all his pals as well and I had great difficulty controlling them. They kept forcing the Hufflepuff's out of their seats saying Slytherin's were allowed to sit wherever they liked. I took five points off each of them." Ron paused, "So, are you going to clarify things with them or is it true that Slytherin second years should have the run of the classrooms?"
"Ron, that's not fair. The students have obviously just gotten the wrong end of the stick." Hermione said turning around to look at him, and defending her fiancé as other teachers already sitting at the table looked across at the three of them.
Severus was slowly seething. "Miss Flint!" He roared at the Slytherin Head Girl who was sitting near the back of the hall. She looked up from her lunch in shock at his tone of voice, she felt sure she hadn't done anything to warrant it but then, this was Snape after all and his temper could be mightily unpredictable. The hall went silent for a few moments until Severus motioned for her to come up to the head table while Ron moved over to his own seat by his wife.
"Yes, Professor Snape?" Sonia asked as she stood in front of Professors Snape and Granger with a questioning look upon her face. Sonia Flint was the daughter of Marcus Flint, a Slytherin who had been a few years above Hermione when she had attended Hogwarts as a student. Although, Sonia did not take much after her father, especially since she had been a good enough student to make the position of Head Girl and Marcus had just about scraped through his entire education.
"Call a meeting of the second year Slytherins for this evening after dinner, 7pm in the potions classroom. I want you there also and tell Mr. Frontera that he needs to see me right now." Severus commanded her with a stern expression on his face. Hermione turned to look at Severus, her jaw dropping slightly in shock before she could collect her thoughts and school her expression.
"Yes, Sir." Sonia said moving away and approaching the fourth year student. After mumbling a few words to him and gesturing towards the head table Frontera got up and approached his Head of House.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" He asked in his usual cocky manner.
"Yes, I did, Mr. Frontera. What happened today in Arithmancy?" Severus asked, acid clear in the tone of his voice.
"What has Professor Granger told you, Sir?" Frontera asked glancing to the Head of Gryffindor House with venom in his eyes. Hermione was trying to keep a straight face as she was becoming angrier by the second because of Severus' actions. How dare he do this to her?
"I was asking you! Do not reply with a question of your own it is highly bad mannered." Severus growled placing down his fork and clenching his fists.
"Yes, Professor Snape. I lost Slytherin ten points because I was not concentrating." He spat, casting a dirty look towards Professor Granger, which she just raised her eyebrows at.
"Why were you not concentrating when last night I specifically said that I would tolerate no more poor attitudes from students within Slytherin House?" Severus asked him, expecting a straight answer.
"I was simply thinking about what you had said and lost my concentration in Arithmancy, Professor." He replied smugly.
"For the whole two hours, Mr. Frontera?" Severus asked him with a look of utter disbelief on his face.
"Yes, Sir. I had a lot of thinking to do." Frontera replied.
"In that case you can spend the evening in detention with Professor Granger catching up on the work you missed." Severus said forgetting about Hermione's prior engagement that evening. Frontera's face dropped.
"Professor Snape, perhaps detention would best be served tomorrow evening instead?" Hermione interrupted with forced control of the anger in her voice. Severus turned to her and glared. Thinking fast, he remembered Hermione would be at the Weasley's this evening.
"Frontera, see Professor Granger for an appropriate evening on which to serve detention." Severus quickly countered through gritted teeth.
"Yes, Sir."
"Mr. Frontera, you are in detention for your attitude towards work, this is strike one against you for this misdemeanour." Severus informed him.
"Yes, Sir." Frontera growled.
"Dismissed." Severus told him and he stormed back off to his seat throwing himself into it totally annoyed at his Head of House's lack of support. Hermione cleared her throat beside him and spoke.
"Professor Snape, do you think we might speak in private? My office perhaps?" Hermione asked him trying to control her anger.
"Certainly, I've quite lost my appetite." He replied and they both got up from the table and made their way to Hermione's office.
~~*~~
"Take a seat, Professor Snape." Hermione said as she moved to her own chair behind her desk. Severus was immediately on the defensive when she called him by his title when in private, recognising that an argument was about to ensue. Hermione took a deep breath before beginning. "Professor, I had already punished Mr. Frontera in class. The misconduct had been done and challenged already and therefore, it was highly inappropriate for you to dole out extra punishments when it was something I happened to tell you in passing conversation anyway." She seethed.
"I am the Head of Slytherin, Professor Granger. The punishment of my students is my own affair, and I can and will give detentions as I see fit." He countered in his own defence, immediately returning the hostility towards her.
"Then kindly leave me out of it when you do, Professor!" Hermione shot back at him, clearly angry. "You undermined my own authority when you did that. If I had wanted you to deal with him I would have brought him to you in your office, not to the dinner table. What you did was not only embarrassing but completely humiliating to that student and I included." She paused for a moment. "Thanks to you I have to supervise a detention, which I do not believe is warranted at all."
"Hermione, I am trying to change my House for the better and the only way I can do this is with the support of the entire faculty as well as the co- operation of my own fiancé." Severus spat back, standing up from his seat and beginning to pace back and forth whilst running his fingers through his hair.
"Do not bring our relationship into this, Severus! Of course I support you but you countered the punishment I had already given in class thereby taking over my own authority in the classroom!" Hermione intoned as she watched him moved back and forth in front of her desk. "I cannot have that, Severus for I will lose the respect of my students, and anarchy in my classroom will not be far off if that happens."
"My Slytherins need to change their attitudes in order to prevent the next Dark Force from rearing its ugly head, Hermione. I am trying to beat them into submission for Merlin's sake. They need to have a good dose of humiliation in order to learn to respect the rules and other people!" Severus said, stomping up and down at a quicker pace.
"And do I need an equal dose of that humiliation, Severus?" Hermione demanded.
"Of course not, Hermione!" Severus said spinning to face her and glare at her in the eyes before resuming his pacing again.
Hermione was becoming dizzy and she could take no more of this. "Severus, stop pacing, please!" He stopped in mid-stride and turned to face her once again. She sighed before continuing. "We will probably not agree here. Just do not undermine me again and we'll leave it at that. We have classes to get to for now." She said more quietly bringing and end to their argument. She stood up from her desk as Severus moved closer to her to give her a kiss before she left.
"No, Severus. Don't." She said holding her hand up to stop him before he could come any closer. She was just too angry with him right now to accept any kind of affection from him.
"Fine." Severus said storming from the office and not saying anything further. Hermione sighed deeply and shook her head, counting to ten slowly. She would be calm for her next class, which would be Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff seventh years for Arithmancy. She expected her next lesson to go very smoothly for this was always a nice lot of students to teach.
Storming down into his dungeons Severus burst through the door of his potions classroom to find his seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherin class awaiting his instruction. They were used to his foul moods by now and so were not fazed at all by the dark scowl etched into his face and his combative demeanour as he stalked to the front of the class and withdrew his wand. Pointing his wand towards the blackboard he snapped an incantation and today's lesson appeared in his familiar florid writing.
"Begin, and I demand silence." Severus commanded and sat down at his desk to think as the students began copying down the instructions and gathering their ingredients quietly.
~~*~~
That evening, Hermione approached Ron and Lavender's house on the grounds of Hogwarts, which had once been the home of Rubeus Hagrid. It was slightly bigger in outwards appearance and now had a second floor attached, of course inside it would likely be very large, but this would be hidden by magic until you were actually through the door.
Night was just beginning to fall and a chilly breeze was starting to roll across the grounds from the lake, since it was September it was nothing unusual for this time of year. She pulled her heavy wool cloak a little tighter around herself as she approached the house. Seeing lights on inside the house she knocked on the door. A few moments later Hermione heard footsteps and Ron opened the door, his face appearing with a friendly grin and his red hair glowing from the light emitted by the fire that was blazing in the grate.
"Hermione! Thanks for coming down, come on in and get warm." Ron stood aside to allow her to enter and they hugged before she moved inside and greeted Lavendar who was sitting on the couch with Emily on her knee.
"Hi Lavendar, hello Emily, dear. Aren't you getting such a big girl?" Hermione said as she took her cloak off and Ron took it to hang up.
"Hi, Hermione, long time no see. We've so much to catch up on." Lavendar greeted with enthusiasm. "Please take a seat, Ron will get us all some tea." Lavendar smiled at her husband who was already heading off to the small kitchen area.
Hermione took the chance to have a look around the room, it was the living room she surmised and was certainly large enough for Ron's small family and perhaps another child should they choose to have one. A large fire was blazing with a guard surrounding it and the furniture was simple but comfortable nonetheless; comprising of a couch and two armchairs. Several windows were positioned to allow as much light into the room as possible but as it was dark outside now only the moon and stars could be seen along with the view of part of the castle itself. Still, the glow from the fire did give the room such a homely feel.
Hermione spied a large bookcase in the corner but it was filled with children's books, apparently Emily liked to read, which was something she certainly had not inherited from either of her parents. Lavendar put Emily down on the floor and she toddled towards Hermione. "Aunty Myknee!" She called holding her arms up for a hug.
"Emily!" Hermione said bending forward to pick her up and sit her on her knee. "I've not seen you since you were two years old."
"I'm big now, Aunty Myknee." Emily responded and Hermione chuckled. She could tell Emily was a Weasley without being told as she also had firey red hair just like every single other Weasley she had ever met.
"Yes you are, Emily. You'll be a student at Hogwarts before you know it." She said playfully.
"They certainly do grow fast." Lavendar said. Ron came back carrying a tray of tea and biscuits and he placed it down onto a small coffee table.
"How've you been, 'Mione?" Ron asked her pouring each of them a cup.
"Not too bad at all, Ron. Just planning lessons and sorting out Gryffindor. This last week has been utter bedlam to tell the truth, what with all the new classes in other subjects to plan for." She told them as she settled back in the seat and Emily got comfortable on Hermione's knee. "How are you two coping? You weren't planning on teaching after all, other than flying lessons of course."
"I love my classes and it's not so bad since Emily is no trouble and there's usually either myself or Ron able to watch her when the other is teaching. At least we have our evenings together now as well. Before Ron would be off refereeing Quidditch matches all over the country or coaching the under 11's." Lavendar said, taking a sip of tea and munching on a biscuit.
"Yeah, we have more time as a family now, even with having to teach. So, we're both happy. This house is great too." Ron told her.
"It's certainly different to the way Hagrid had it, much bigger too." Hermione commented. Mentioning Hagrid always brought a bit of silence and they sat drinking tea as they each took a few minutes to think of the close friend they had lost.
"Heard from Harry, 'Mione?" Ron asked, changing the subject.
"Not an owl at all, Ron. He's off having a break from everything; he took the war really hard after all."
"Yes, he certainly did, and I don't begrudge him some happiness." Ron responded.
"Are you still in touch with Parvati, Lavendar?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, she is working for Ron's father now at the Ministry. We stay in touch quite regularly." Lavendar told her. "So, how's it feel being engaged to the Potions Master?" She asked raising her eyebrows.
Hermione smiled because right now he was being as infuriating as ever. "It's great but we're arguing right now about the discipline of a certain Slytherin student." She told them.
"Ah, pre-marital bliss. wait until you're married, giving each other space to calm down is nowhere near as easy." Ron told her with a grin. "So, what's it like being Head of our old House?"
"Better than I expected it to be actually." Hermione told them. "Of course, those Weasley quads are proving to be a great handful. I've already had to punish them once."
"Yes, they do seem to be a bit rambunctious." Lavendar commented chuckling.
They all chatted for a couple of hours before they noticed that Emily had fallen fast asleep in Hermione's arms. Quietly handing her back to her mother Hermione stood up and said she would have to return to the school and make her rounds before bed. Ron grabbed her cloak and she said her goodbyes to Lavendar while he escorted her back to the main entrance of the castle.
"Good night, Ron. We should definitely catch up again."
"Good night, 'Mione. Sleep well." Ron said hugging her and heading back home.
Hermione entered the castle and closed the main doors behind her re-warding them so that errant students breaking curfew couldn't go for a midnight stroll, for it was strong magic that was holding the doors and had been since the war. Stepping out of the doorway and into the shadows she made her way back up towards Gryffindor.
~~*~~
Severus had had plenty of time to think and take his frustrations out on his second year Slytherins. After the detention he had given to them all he was fairly certain he would not have to discipline them again anytime soon or indeed have his classroom scrubbed either. They had all been given one strike against them as well.
Severus made his way up from the dungeon around 10pm just as he heard the main doors clatter shut. He immediately saw Hermione, who was just loosening her heavy robes as she started to approach the main stairwell. He headed towards her and placed his hand lightly on her shoulder when he was close enough. Hermione spun round with a startled cry to gaze into the face of her beloved.
"Severus, you scared me!" She breathed heavily. "What do you want anyway?" She asked him bluntly, clearly still mad at him.
"To speak with you in private." He replied honestly. She glanced around and motioned to an empty classroom. They entered and it was too dark so with a flick of his wrist torches were lit and a warm light flooded the room.
"Okay, we're alone. What can I do for you, Severus?" She asked crossing her arms in front of her and looking at him square on in preparation for a continuation of their previous argument.
"Hermione, I've been thinking and I want to apologise to you." He said. Hermione's jaw dropped as this would have been the last thing she thought she would have heard coming from his mouth. "I'm very disturbed by the fact that there may be a student in my House who could become the next Voldemort. I always still think that had Dumbledore acted upon his initial thoughts about Tom Riddle it would have spared us all so much suffering."
"You can't just go about accusing students though, Severus, even if you don't directly point the finger and say it out loud. Also, the student in question may very well be in any of the other three Houses, mine included." Hermione pointed out, letting her arms unfold and gesture as she spoke. Severus began to pace but caught himself quickly and stepped closer to Hermione.
"We both know that the likelihood of him or her being in Slytherin far outweighs that of the other Houses." He sighed, "I'm at a loss as to what to do to tell the truth, love." He admitted. "I see deceit, maliciousness and plotting at play every single day with my students and it's just not right. Slytherins need to change if they are ever to be trusted in the magical community again, and the trust that others have in me is still not fully present. I can see it in their eyes, always waiting for me to do something wrong and then that's it, forever tainted you see once you've had the mark imprinted upon your arm and soul."
Hermione stepped closer to him and put her arms round his waist, bringing him into a warm hug and placing her head on his shoulder. "I trust you implicitly, Severus. I will always support you, especially when it comes to changing Slytherin House so that it produces better students but I just think that perhaps you are going about it the wrong way?" Severus sighed heavily, bringing his own arms up to encompass her. "I only suggest that you discipline your students when you are in private and not in front of the whole school for something as small as losing concentration on the first day back at school." She said exasperated.
"Right." He sighed, stepping back slightly to look her in the eyes.
"How can I help you, Severus?" She asked.
"Oh, I really do not know. I feel quite indecisive right now." He sighed again. "Just watch them closely for me in your classes. I fear they may start to plot their revenge and you may be in the firing line once word of our engagement gets around the school. After all, you can't hide this ring forever." He said taking her hand in one of his gently and stroking her hair with the other. "Students are bound to notice it sooner rather than later."
Hermione smiled at him. "Thank you, Severus." She said sincerely.
"For what, love?"
"Apologising, asking me to marry you, loving me, being here tonight." He stepped closer to her again and captured her lips with his. Kissing her deeply in the middle of the empty classroom and pressing his body up against hers. He broke away from her slightly and smiled.
"I'll always be here for you, Hermione. I love you and will always love you." Severus told her in barely more than a whisper, which seemed to melt her heart.
"I love you too, Severus." She replied and kissed him again. "Now, do you think you can do something for me?" She asked him.
"Name it, love." He replied running his fingers through her hair in a leisurely manner.
"Walk me back to my chambers, please? If I stay awake any longer I'll be so cranky in class tomorrow. It's been such a long day and I'm still tired after last night." She added with a sheepish grin. He clasped her hand in his and escorted her back to her chambers.
Chapter Three
The next morning before breakfast the Heads of Houses assembled in Professor Dumbledore's office ready to discuss anything they had managed to discern from any of the first year students yesterday evening. Hermione was the last to arrive and quickly apologised to the Headmaster saying she'd slept longer than she had wanted to whilst frantically trying to pin her hair up and grabbing a seat between Severus and Penny. Severus smirked at the fact she had probably been worn out after their extra curricular activities last night and chose to comment.
"Tut, tut, Professor Granger. Not a very good start to the term is it? Let us hope that your students are better acquainted with telling the time, although being Gryffindors one cannot hold out too much hope." He intoned in his silkiest voice. She mock-glared at him, knowing he was only teasing her.
"Quite, and apologies accepted, Professor Granger." Albus interrupted. "Now, might I have your thoughts as to first impressions towards your first years, please everyone?"
"I couldn't glean much at all from the Sorting last night, Headmaster. My students all seem to be quite typical Ravenclaw's right now- eager to find the library and attend their classes. I have arranged appointments with each of the first years in order to speak to them personally and try to ascertain any potential dark magic aspirations that they may have." Penny told him.
"That's a good idea you had, Professor Clearwater. Perhaps all Heads of Houses should meet with their first years as well, at your earliest conveniences if possible." Albus said and they each nodded at his request.
"The Hufflepuff's all seem okay to me as well, Albus." Sara Sprout said. "I will of course be watching them closely though but I feel it is too soon to tell right now." Dumbledore nodded and turned to his head of Gryffindor House.
"The Gryffindor's are no different to what I would expect either, Professor but I do foresee a potential problem with the Weasley quads. They are unfortunately much more like their uncles Fred and George instead of their father Bill. I fear they will be the practical jokers of the school and they bear close monitoring I think." Hermione told them. "I'll set up some meetings for this coming Saturday with my first years."
"And Slytherin, Severus?" Albus said as he motioned for him to begin.
"My students are in a bit of shock after I told them the politics within the House would be changing. They know it will be three strikes and they're out and they are going to see some drastic changes in my attitude towards them." Severus paused as the other heads gaped at him as though he was an intruder under the influence of polyjuice potion. "I did however have some concerns about one student, Christopher Granger."
"These concerns would be?" Sara Sprout asked.
"Well, 'Granger' is a Muggle name and I do not know of any wizarding families who have this surname, as such he therefore would likely be a Muggle-born and if this is the case then how could he have been sorted into Slytherin? He also was staring at Hermione a number of occasions throughout the ceremony last night, and seemed to keep himself to himself all night. I've not seen him mix with any of the other first years thus far." Severus said glancing over at his fiancé.
"Like I said, Severus, I do not know him at all and my parents have not told me of any family member who could possibly have the gift of magic. I feel they may tell me that much despite the fact we are quite estranged from one another now, and have been since my fourth year here as a student." Hermione confessed.
"Fourth year? Hermione, that was nearly eleven years ago." Penny said astounded. Hermione just shrugged and nodded.
"Anyone else capture your concerns, Severus?" Albus asked moving on.
"Not really, not as yet anyway. I will be keeping an extra vigilant eye on them all of course, as a whole House." Severus replied.
"Have the other teachers mentioned anything, Headmaster?" Penny asked.
"No, none have mentioned anything and I did speak to them after the ceremony whilst you were all in your House common rooms." Albus told them.
"What about the Sorting Hat, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"I had a talk with it and he came up with nothing, perhaps he could tell us more about this Mr. Granger." Albus said as he stood up and retrieved the hat from its place on the high book shelf. "Sorting Hat, do you have any concerns about the new boy Christopher Granger?" He asked as he placed it on his desk.
"Christopher Granger is hiding a secret, which is eating away at his soul." The hat responded quickly in its rather dry voice.
"Is he a Muggle-born?" Severus asked.
"I am not at liberty to divulge anything more about the students whose heads I have sat upon, there is such a thing as student confidentiality after all." The hat responded pointedly.
"Why did you sort him into Slytherin?" Severus asked again.
"Christopher Granger has much potential and aspirations to prove himself. He is holding a secret close to his heart and therefore may be seen as being dishonest and untrustworthy. He is also loyal and ambitious. These are qualities you as Head of Slytherin should recognise as allowing a student into your House, Severus Snape."
"Can you tell us if you saw potential Dark Lord material in any of the new first years?" Albus asked.
"I saw many students who could aspire to such heights, at least two per House." The hat replied.
"Well, that doesn't help much at all." Penny said. "Unless the hat can give us those names?" Penny suggested.
"Sorting Hat. Could you give us the names of those students you deem have the potential to become the next Dark Lord?" Albus asked again.
"Yes. The students are as follow. In Slytherin House are Simon Azalia, Christopher Granger and Dionne Simverstatin. Ravenclaw have Helga Picardo and Theresa Urmintrude. Hufflepuff have Joshua Baines, Colin Batey and Millicent Wu. Gryffindor have Jemimah Weasley, Paulo Skeeter, David Flanders and John Kennedy." The hat said, reeling off a list of names.
"All I can suggest is that these particular students be watched very closely but do not single them out, you must be covert about your tactics. Now, as there is little else we can do right now I suggest caution and that we retreat downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast before we rouse any suspicions? The students must be given their timetables for the year after all, and we must all eat." Dumbledore said standing up and heading out of his office, his teachers followed him in his wake.
~~*~~
The teachers made their way to the Great Hall and up the House tables handing the bulk of the new timetables to the prefects and doling out the first year timetables personally.
"Miss. Weasley." Hermione said approaching the quads.
"Which, 'Miss.Weasley', Professor?" The two females Weasley's asked in unison.
"This one," Hermione said pointing to the one on the right of the table.
"Oh, that one!" Her sister said and they all chuckled.
"Yes, which one are you, Miss Weasley?" Hermione asked, her head beginning to spin.
"Why, I'm Jemimah, Professor." She responded with a huge smile on her face. Hermione tried to note how to tell her apart but could not discern any kind of a difference. It was this particular Weasley that needed to be watched more closely Hermione realised.
"Okay, Jemimah. I would like you to produce a list of all of the new first years for me in Gryffindor House. I would then like you to enlist the help of Joanne and schedule times on Saturday for each of the first years to see me individually for slots of 30 minutes." Hermione looked over to the two male Weasley siblings and told them what she wanted them to do. "Joshua and James, you will both ensure that all of the first year Gryffindors know when they will have their appointments and also find a way for me to be able to tell you four apart from each other." Hermione smiled at them all. "Consider this a punishment for your lack of attention last night. Now, here are you timetables." Hermione told them, handing out pieces of parchment with their class schedules on. She moved down the table speaking with her other first years and handing out their timetables before leaving the table and heading up to the head table to eat her own breakfast.
Severus was already sitting in his seat and he had been observing his fiancé as she dealt with the Troublesome Four. "Problem?" He asked as she sat down next to him.
"No, just handing out punishments for last night. They will be organising my Saturday appointments for me." Severus smirked.
"Who do you have first?" Severus asked as he cut up a piece of sausage and egg, spearing them with his fork and eating heartily.
"I have fourth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin for double Arithmancy. You?" She asked sipping her tea.
"First year Defence with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
"Well, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Are you all set to deal with them?" Hermione asked taking another sip of her tea and munching on a piece of toast.
"I believe I am. I have to follow Remus' curriculum so there should be no problem." He replied sipping his cup of coffee.
"Hermione?" Ron called from his position several seats to her left.
"Morning, Ron." Hermione greeted looking up at him and smiling.
"I hope the quads aren't giving you a rough time?" He asked, having noticed the length of time she had spent talking to them this morning.
"I think I can handle them but it's the telling them apart that's going to be hard." She told him.
"Well, Josh and Jim are the boys and Jem and Jo are the girls." Ron told her, his sense of humour in full swing at this time in the morning.
"Yes, I gathered that much, thank you, Ron." Hermione responded sarcastically. Ron laughed.
"Getting more like Snape everyday, 'Mione!" He told her and cringed at the glare Severus sent him.
"Then I take that as a compliment, Ron." She grinned back.
"Hey, you busy tonight?" Ron asked.
"I don't know yet, why?" She asked him.
"Wanted to know if you'd like to visit Lavendar, Emily and me? It'd be nice to catch up properly."
"Yeah, it would be good; I'll try and come down after dinner, Ron." Hermione answered.
"I guess I'll see you at lunch then?" Severus asked her, pulling her back to a conversation with him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Severus. You didn't have any plans for us did you?" Hermione asked concerned she had ruined something.
"No, it would have been nice to see you though but I guess you haven't spent any time with Ron since he's been back so it's okay by me." He replied, he'd probably find himself supervising detentions anyway.
"I thought you'd understand, thanks Severus." Hermione smiled at him, he wasn't looking at her though, and his attention had been drawn to the Slytherin table where he was watching an incident of bullying going on.
Severus slowly stood up. "Excuse me for a moment, Professor Granger," he said louder than they had been speaking in their conversation. He stalked off round the table and up the aisle towards the fourth year who was threatening the second year with a fist in the face for some unknown reason. "What, pray tell is going on here, Mr. Frontera?" He asked in a slow and deadly voice, glaring down his nose from his most impressive height.
The fourth year pulled away slightly and sneered up at his Head of House. "Nothing, Professor. Just showing this second year his position in the House is not here amongst the fourth years."
"And why would it be important as to where Mr. Drummond sits, Mr. Frontera?" Snape asked sending the student a death glare.
"He's not one of us, Professor. This filthy Mudblood of a second year needs to get back to his own end of the table and stay away from ours." The student shot back, glaring at the second year and jabbing an index finger into his shoulder.
Severus moved closer to the fourth year and bent down slowly until he was gazing directly into his eyes. "You will not. refer to any member of Slytherin. or this school with such a derogatory. and prejudiced name in the future.. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Frontera?" Severus demanded in a voice that was very slow and succinctly worded.
"Yes, Sir." He responded, gulping in surprise at his Head of House.
"Mr. Drummond may sit where ever he likes at this table. as may any student and there will be no more hierarchy within Slytherin. Is this clear, Mr. Frontera?" Snape asked him again.
"Yes."
"Yes, what, Mr. Frontera?" Snape prompted with a growl.
"Professor Snape."
"That's right; do not forget your manners on top of everything else, Mr. Frontera." Snape said standing up straight again. Silence was in the hall as everyone was trying to catch any words being muttered between student and teacher. "Twenty points from Slytherin, Mr. Frontera for threatening behaviour towards another student and interrupting my breakfast. Also, this is strike one against you, if I find a repeat of this threatening behaviour it will be a further twenty points from Slytherin and a detention." Severus turned on his heel and stalked back to his seat at the head table. Glancing up to view the tallies for the House points he noted that Slytherin was now already bottom.
Albus Dumbledore watched Severus as he sat back down. "Everything okay, Severus?" He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes, Albus. Some derogatory remarks towards a student about his bloodline. My students should be letting it sink in by now that I will be clamping down on their behaviour." Severus told him matter-of-factly.
"Very well, Severus. Any problems just let me know." Albus replied getting back to his breakfast cereal.
"I will, Albus."
Hermione reached her hand under the table and squeezed Severus thigh, he smiled back lightly at her contact, praying her hand wouldn't move any further upwards or it could become embarrassing. Thankfully, soon after, the bell sounded signalling the end of breakfast and that the students should move off to their first lessons of the day.
~~*~~
"Professor Snape." Hermione greeted her fiancé formally for the sake of any students who may be within hearing range as she sat down beside him for lunch in the Great Hall. "Hello, my love." She whispered as she leaned slightly over to him and lightly squeezed his left thigh under the table as was becoming her habit.
"Hello, love." Severus almost whispered back to her. "How was your double Arithmancy class this morning?"
"Well, it was okay but Mr. Frontera decided that he would ignore me and sneer all lesson, and so I didn't get much work done out of him. I took ten points from Slytherin I'm afraid, Severus." Hermione told him glancing up at the points table in the hall and noticing that Slytherin was still bottom of the league.
"Perhaps." Severus began before he was interrupted by Ron Weasley who had just entered the hall from the back entrance looking quite angry.
"Professor Snape. My Slytherin, Hufflepuff second year charms class was utter bedlam this morning thanks to Drummond believing he could run my own classroom, something about being able to do whatever he likes thanks to your approval this morning at breakfast? He extended that courtesy to all his pals as well and I had great difficulty controlling them. They kept forcing the Hufflepuff's out of their seats saying Slytherin's were allowed to sit wherever they liked. I took five points off each of them." Ron paused, "So, are you going to clarify things with them or is it true that Slytherin second years should have the run of the classrooms?"
"Ron, that's not fair. The students have obviously just gotten the wrong end of the stick." Hermione said turning around to look at him, and defending her fiancé as other teachers already sitting at the table looked across at the three of them.
Severus was slowly seething. "Miss Flint!" He roared at the Slytherin Head Girl who was sitting near the back of the hall. She looked up from her lunch in shock at his tone of voice, she felt sure she hadn't done anything to warrant it but then, this was Snape after all and his temper could be mightily unpredictable. The hall went silent for a few moments until Severus motioned for her to come up to the head table while Ron moved over to his own seat by his wife.
"Yes, Professor Snape?" Sonia asked as she stood in front of Professors Snape and Granger with a questioning look upon her face. Sonia Flint was the daughter of Marcus Flint, a Slytherin who had been a few years above Hermione when she had attended Hogwarts as a student. Although, Sonia did not take much after her father, especially since she had been a good enough student to make the position of Head Girl and Marcus had just about scraped through his entire education.
"Call a meeting of the second year Slytherins for this evening after dinner, 7pm in the potions classroom. I want you there also and tell Mr. Frontera that he needs to see me right now." Severus commanded her with a stern expression on his face. Hermione turned to look at Severus, her jaw dropping slightly in shock before she could collect her thoughts and school her expression.
"Yes, Sir." Sonia said moving away and approaching the fourth year student. After mumbling a few words to him and gesturing towards the head table Frontera got up and approached his Head of House.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" He asked in his usual cocky manner.
"Yes, I did, Mr. Frontera. What happened today in Arithmancy?" Severus asked, acid clear in the tone of his voice.
"What has Professor Granger told you, Sir?" Frontera asked glancing to the Head of Gryffindor House with venom in his eyes. Hermione was trying to keep a straight face as she was becoming angrier by the second because of Severus' actions. How dare he do this to her?
"I was asking you! Do not reply with a question of your own it is highly bad mannered." Severus growled placing down his fork and clenching his fists.
"Yes, Professor Snape. I lost Slytherin ten points because I was not concentrating." He spat, casting a dirty look towards Professor Granger, which she just raised her eyebrows at.
"Why were you not concentrating when last night I specifically said that I would tolerate no more poor attitudes from students within Slytherin House?" Severus asked him, expecting a straight answer.
"I was simply thinking about what you had said and lost my concentration in Arithmancy, Professor." He replied smugly.
"For the whole two hours, Mr. Frontera?" Severus asked him with a look of utter disbelief on his face.
"Yes, Sir. I had a lot of thinking to do." Frontera replied.
"In that case you can spend the evening in detention with Professor Granger catching up on the work you missed." Severus said forgetting about Hermione's prior engagement that evening. Frontera's face dropped.
"Professor Snape, perhaps detention would best be served tomorrow evening instead?" Hermione interrupted with forced control of the anger in her voice. Severus turned to her and glared. Thinking fast, he remembered Hermione would be at the Weasley's this evening.
"Frontera, see Professor Granger for an appropriate evening on which to serve detention." Severus quickly countered through gritted teeth.
"Yes, Sir."
"Mr. Frontera, you are in detention for your attitude towards work, this is strike one against you for this misdemeanour." Severus informed him.
"Yes, Sir." Frontera growled.
"Dismissed." Severus told him and he stormed back off to his seat throwing himself into it totally annoyed at his Head of House's lack of support. Hermione cleared her throat beside him and spoke.
"Professor Snape, do you think we might speak in private? My office perhaps?" Hermione asked him trying to control her anger.
"Certainly, I've quite lost my appetite." He replied and they both got up from the table and made their way to Hermione's office.
~~*~~
"Take a seat, Professor Snape." Hermione said as she moved to her own chair behind her desk. Severus was immediately on the defensive when she called him by his title when in private, recognising that an argument was about to ensue. Hermione took a deep breath before beginning. "Professor, I had already punished Mr. Frontera in class. The misconduct had been done and challenged already and therefore, it was highly inappropriate for you to dole out extra punishments when it was something I happened to tell you in passing conversation anyway." She seethed.
"I am the Head of Slytherin, Professor Granger. The punishment of my students is my own affair, and I can and will give detentions as I see fit." He countered in his own defence, immediately returning the hostility towards her.
"Then kindly leave me out of it when you do, Professor!" Hermione shot back at him, clearly angry. "You undermined my own authority when you did that. If I had wanted you to deal with him I would have brought him to you in your office, not to the dinner table. What you did was not only embarrassing but completely humiliating to that student and I included." She paused for a moment. "Thanks to you I have to supervise a detention, which I do not believe is warranted at all."
"Hermione, I am trying to change my House for the better and the only way I can do this is with the support of the entire faculty as well as the co- operation of my own fiancé." Severus spat back, standing up from his seat and beginning to pace back and forth whilst running his fingers through his hair.
"Do not bring our relationship into this, Severus! Of course I support you but you countered the punishment I had already given in class thereby taking over my own authority in the classroom!" Hermione intoned as she watched him moved back and forth in front of her desk. "I cannot have that, Severus for I will lose the respect of my students, and anarchy in my classroom will not be far off if that happens."
"My Slytherins need to change their attitudes in order to prevent the next Dark Force from rearing its ugly head, Hermione. I am trying to beat them into submission for Merlin's sake. They need to have a good dose of humiliation in order to learn to respect the rules and other people!" Severus said, stomping up and down at a quicker pace.
"And do I need an equal dose of that humiliation, Severus?" Hermione demanded.
"Of course not, Hermione!" Severus said spinning to face her and glare at her in the eyes before resuming his pacing again.
Hermione was becoming dizzy and she could take no more of this. "Severus, stop pacing, please!" He stopped in mid-stride and turned to face her once again. She sighed before continuing. "We will probably not agree here. Just do not undermine me again and we'll leave it at that. We have classes to get to for now." She said more quietly bringing and end to their argument. She stood up from her desk as Severus moved closer to her to give her a kiss before she left.
"No, Severus. Don't." She said holding her hand up to stop him before he could come any closer. She was just too angry with him right now to accept any kind of affection from him.
"Fine." Severus said storming from the office and not saying anything further. Hermione sighed deeply and shook her head, counting to ten slowly. She would be calm for her next class, which would be Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff seventh years for Arithmancy. She expected her next lesson to go very smoothly for this was always a nice lot of students to teach.
Storming down into his dungeons Severus burst through the door of his potions classroom to find his seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherin class awaiting his instruction. They were used to his foul moods by now and so were not fazed at all by the dark scowl etched into his face and his combative demeanour as he stalked to the front of the class and withdrew his wand. Pointing his wand towards the blackboard he snapped an incantation and today's lesson appeared in his familiar florid writing.
"Begin, and I demand silence." Severus commanded and sat down at his desk to think as the students began copying down the instructions and gathering their ingredients quietly.
~~*~~
That evening, Hermione approached Ron and Lavender's house on the grounds of Hogwarts, which had once been the home of Rubeus Hagrid. It was slightly bigger in outwards appearance and now had a second floor attached, of course inside it would likely be very large, but this would be hidden by magic until you were actually through the door.
Night was just beginning to fall and a chilly breeze was starting to roll across the grounds from the lake, since it was September it was nothing unusual for this time of year. She pulled her heavy wool cloak a little tighter around herself as she approached the house. Seeing lights on inside the house she knocked on the door. A few moments later Hermione heard footsteps and Ron opened the door, his face appearing with a friendly grin and his red hair glowing from the light emitted by the fire that was blazing in the grate.
"Hermione! Thanks for coming down, come on in and get warm." Ron stood aside to allow her to enter and they hugged before she moved inside and greeted Lavendar who was sitting on the couch with Emily on her knee.
"Hi Lavendar, hello Emily, dear. Aren't you getting such a big girl?" Hermione said as she took her cloak off and Ron took it to hang up.
"Hi, Hermione, long time no see. We've so much to catch up on." Lavendar greeted with enthusiasm. "Please take a seat, Ron will get us all some tea." Lavendar smiled at her husband who was already heading off to the small kitchen area.
Hermione took the chance to have a look around the room, it was the living room she surmised and was certainly large enough for Ron's small family and perhaps another child should they choose to have one. A large fire was blazing with a guard surrounding it and the furniture was simple but comfortable nonetheless; comprising of a couch and two armchairs. Several windows were positioned to allow as much light into the room as possible but as it was dark outside now only the moon and stars could be seen along with the view of part of the castle itself. Still, the glow from the fire did give the room such a homely feel.
Hermione spied a large bookcase in the corner but it was filled with children's books, apparently Emily liked to read, which was something she certainly had not inherited from either of her parents. Lavendar put Emily down on the floor and she toddled towards Hermione. "Aunty Myknee!" She called holding her arms up for a hug.
"Emily!" Hermione said bending forward to pick her up and sit her on her knee. "I've not seen you since you were two years old."
"I'm big now, Aunty Myknee." Emily responded and Hermione chuckled. She could tell Emily was a Weasley without being told as she also had firey red hair just like every single other Weasley she had ever met.
"Yes you are, Emily. You'll be a student at Hogwarts before you know it." She said playfully.
"They certainly do grow fast." Lavendar said. Ron came back carrying a tray of tea and biscuits and he placed it down onto a small coffee table.
"How've you been, 'Mione?" Ron asked her pouring each of them a cup.
"Not too bad at all, Ron. Just planning lessons and sorting out Gryffindor. This last week has been utter bedlam to tell the truth, what with all the new classes in other subjects to plan for." She told them as she settled back in the seat and Emily got comfortable on Hermione's knee. "How are you two coping? You weren't planning on teaching after all, other than flying lessons of course."
"I love my classes and it's not so bad since Emily is no trouble and there's usually either myself or Ron able to watch her when the other is teaching. At least we have our evenings together now as well. Before Ron would be off refereeing Quidditch matches all over the country or coaching the under 11's." Lavendar said, taking a sip of tea and munching on a biscuit.
"Yeah, we have more time as a family now, even with having to teach. So, we're both happy. This house is great too." Ron told her.
"It's certainly different to the way Hagrid had it, much bigger too." Hermione commented. Mentioning Hagrid always brought a bit of silence and they sat drinking tea as they each took a few minutes to think of the close friend they had lost.
"Heard from Harry, 'Mione?" Ron asked, changing the subject.
"Not an owl at all, Ron. He's off having a break from everything; he took the war really hard after all."
"Yes, he certainly did, and I don't begrudge him some happiness." Ron responded.
"Are you still in touch with Parvati, Lavendar?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, she is working for Ron's father now at the Ministry. We stay in touch quite regularly." Lavendar told her. "So, how's it feel being engaged to the Potions Master?" She asked raising her eyebrows.
Hermione smiled because right now he was being as infuriating as ever. "It's great but we're arguing right now about the discipline of a certain Slytherin student." She told them.
"Ah, pre-marital bliss. wait until you're married, giving each other space to calm down is nowhere near as easy." Ron told her with a grin. "So, what's it like being Head of our old House?"
"Better than I expected it to be actually." Hermione told them. "Of course, those Weasley quads are proving to be a great handful. I've already had to punish them once."
"Yes, they do seem to be a bit rambunctious." Lavendar commented chuckling.
They all chatted for a couple of hours before they noticed that Emily had fallen fast asleep in Hermione's arms. Quietly handing her back to her mother Hermione stood up and said she would have to return to the school and make her rounds before bed. Ron grabbed her cloak and she said her goodbyes to Lavendar while he escorted her back to the main entrance of the castle.
"Good night, Ron. We should definitely catch up again."
"Good night, 'Mione. Sleep well." Ron said hugging her and heading back home.
Hermione entered the castle and closed the main doors behind her re-warding them so that errant students breaking curfew couldn't go for a midnight stroll, for it was strong magic that was holding the doors and had been since the war. Stepping out of the doorway and into the shadows she made her way back up towards Gryffindor.
~~*~~
Severus had had plenty of time to think and take his frustrations out on his second year Slytherins. After the detention he had given to them all he was fairly certain he would not have to discipline them again anytime soon or indeed have his classroom scrubbed either. They had all been given one strike against them as well.
Severus made his way up from the dungeon around 10pm just as he heard the main doors clatter shut. He immediately saw Hermione, who was just loosening her heavy robes as she started to approach the main stairwell. He headed towards her and placed his hand lightly on her shoulder when he was close enough. Hermione spun round with a startled cry to gaze into the face of her beloved.
"Severus, you scared me!" She breathed heavily. "What do you want anyway?" She asked him bluntly, clearly still mad at him.
"To speak with you in private." He replied honestly. She glanced around and motioned to an empty classroom. They entered and it was too dark so with a flick of his wrist torches were lit and a warm light flooded the room.
"Okay, we're alone. What can I do for you, Severus?" She asked crossing her arms in front of her and looking at him square on in preparation for a continuation of their previous argument.
"Hermione, I've been thinking and I want to apologise to you." He said. Hermione's jaw dropped as this would have been the last thing she thought she would have heard coming from his mouth. "I'm very disturbed by the fact that there may be a student in my House who could become the next Voldemort. I always still think that had Dumbledore acted upon his initial thoughts about Tom Riddle it would have spared us all so much suffering."
"You can't just go about accusing students though, Severus, even if you don't directly point the finger and say it out loud. Also, the student in question may very well be in any of the other three Houses, mine included." Hermione pointed out, letting her arms unfold and gesture as she spoke. Severus began to pace but caught himself quickly and stepped closer to Hermione.
"We both know that the likelihood of him or her being in Slytherin far outweighs that of the other Houses." He sighed, "I'm at a loss as to what to do to tell the truth, love." He admitted. "I see deceit, maliciousness and plotting at play every single day with my students and it's just not right. Slytherins need to change if they are ever to be trusted in the magical community again, and the trust that others have in me is still not fully present. I can see it in their eyes, always waiting for me to do something wrong and then that's it, forever tainted you see once you've had the mark imprinted upon your arm and soul."
Hermione stepped closer to him and put her arms round his waist, bringing him into a warm hug and placing her head on his shoulder. "I trust you implicitly, Severus. I will always support you, especially when it comes to changing Slytherin House so that it produces better students but I just think that perhaps you are going about it the wrong way?" Severus sighed heavily, bringing his own arms up to encompass her. "I only suggest that you discipline your students when you are in private and not in front of the whole school for something as small as losing concentration on the first day back at school." She said exasperated.
"Right." He sighed, stepping back slightly to look her in the eyes.
"How can I help you, Severus?" She asked.
"Oh, I really do not know. I feel quite indecisive right now." He sighed again. "Just watch them closely for me in your classes. I fear they may start to plot their revenge and you may be in the firing line once word of our engagement gets around the school. After all, you can't hide this ring forever." He said taking her hand in one of his gently and stroking her hair with the other. "Students are bound to notice it sooner rather than later."
Hermione smiled at him. "Thank you, Severus." She said sincerely.
"For what, love?"
"Apologising, asking me to marry you, loving me, being here tonight." He stepped closer to her again and captured her lips with his. Kissing her deeply in the middle of the empty classroom and pressing his body up against hers. He broke away from her slightly and smiled.
"I'll always be here for you, Hermione. I love you and will always love you." Severus told her in barely more than a whisper, which seemed to melt her heart.
"I love you too, Severus." She replied and kissed him again. "Now, do you think you can do something for me?" She asked him.
"Name it, love." He replied running his fingers through her hair in a leisurely manner.
"Walk me back to my chambers, please? If I stay awake any longer I'll be so cranky in class tomorrow. It's been such a long day and I'm still tired after last night." She added with a sheepish grin. He clasped her hand in his and escorted her back to her chambers.