Thanks for the reviews and I thank my beta-readers as well :). I guess Hermione will join MFA but that will take a while. Yes, of course, Harry is the one with new powers! After all, the series is Harry Potter! Anyway, enjoy this chapter. And I'll let you in on a little secret: The fun will start soon. And I mean real soon ;).

When Hermione returned to the girls' dormitory from the teachers' living quarters, she found Parvati and Lavender sitting on her bed, talking. Apparently, Parvati had got a new boyfriend – one Ernest Aiho, who was a seventh year Ravenclaw.

Hermione knew Ernest. He was the Chaser of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. They'd beaten Gryffindor last term, though that didn't matter now.

The news of Parvati's getting a new boyfriend brought back old memories for Hermione. She tried not to think about Viktor, but in vain.

Not wishing to hear about how passionately Ernest and Parvati had made out the previous evening, Hermione slipped out of the girls' dormitory before the two girls noticed her.

She knew that Ron and Harry were off paying a visit to Hagrid and she hadn't accompanied them as she hadn't felt like it. She thought of more important things (other than Viktor).

The idea that Harry might have some extraordinary powers was absolutely fascinating. Hermione knew he was special when they first met.

She'd had the chance of meeting the infamous vampire Lestat. He was not a bad person, although he was scary in his own supernatural, vampiric way. However, she would always be grateful to him for helping Harry.

She wished that she could have had the chance to know Willow better, though. She'd been undoubtedly impressed by the 'wandless' magic she'd seen in Sunnydale and the scholar in her longed to learn more about this type of witchcraft.

Instead of listening to Lavender and Parvati, she changed her mind and decided to join Ron and Harry. Perhaps there was something to discover at their side; she was not looking as she walked on – the weather in September was pleasant and her birthday was next week and it took her mind off certain 'unpleasant' things. She wondered if there would be any surprise birthday party for her this year. Maybe Hagrid could give them some useful information.

The lovely September air, as well as thoughts of her birthday, hypnotized her senses as she walked onward toward Hagrid's Hut; making her oblivious to her surroundings. However, these helped her keep her mind off 'unpleasant' things. She was so deep in peaceful thoughts, that she suddenly bumped into someone.

"Sorry," she looked up with an apologetic smile. Her smile faded when she saw that she had bumped into Snape.

Snape, very predictably, was not impressed by her apology. "Five points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger," said he, drawing himself to his full height, making her realize how tall he was. She'd expected him to just walk past her after that; to her surprise, he remained before her, looking down at her with a scowl on his swallow, gaunt face.

"I'd expected you to be at the library or with your friends, Miss Granger," he looked at her disapprovingly, "instead of walking around in the hallways, bumping into professors."

Hermione was embarrassed. "Please, sir," she said, blushing, "it was unintentional."

Snape glared at her and nodded. Was she imagining things or did it seem like he wanted to tell her something?

Without another word, he was gone. And it made her think, Is it just me or has Snape been acting really weird lately?

* * *

The Magical Fine Arts class had ended ten minutes ago. Snape, relieved, had come up for some fresh air – not that he didn't like staying down at the dungeons, of course. But God only knew why his classes always had to take place there.

It wasn't that he didn't enjoy teaching. It was just that he didn't like teaching on weekends. He was busy all week and he generally looked forward to Saturday and Sunday for some rest and recreation. He hoped that the routine would change soon.

He honestly hadn't expected to run into Hermione in the hallway, but he admitted to himself that coming upon her had been a pleasant surprise. Of course, he wouldn't let her know that!

He hadn't expected her to be indoors on a Saturday morning, especially when the weather was so lovely. When he paused to look out of the window, he saw Hermione walking towards Hagrid's cabin.

Her bushy brown hair flew in the wind and his heart leapt as she tucked a strand behind her ear. He couldn't suppress a sigh – the man was sincerely, deeply in love.

What would be like to run his fingers through her hair, to kiss her lips, to hold her in his arms? He felt an acute pain in his heart, wishing desperately that things were different. He watched until she disappeared into Hagrid's cabin and he felt his heart sink.

But why was he even thinking like this? She is student, for God's sakes, Severus! Don't even think about it.

"Blast," he murmured. He was losing his mind.