I have been watching 'King and I' recently and I got the idea for this fic, I hope you enjoy it.

I own neither 'King and I' plot or the characters in the story. Hopefully you will forgive me and read it anyway.

On with the show, and thanks you Lord Snape's Lady for reading this and giving it the go ahead. (and I promise I will write more Red Satin and Christmas Pudding)

The Headmaster and I

It was a sad sad day in the wizarding world when Albus Dumbledore died. He had fought for his beliefs he had served his purpose as a protector and now there was no need for him and he had known that. He passed away. There was a feeling among most that he had done it out of pity. Pity for all those around him. He felt he had caused them enough trouble and had held out against a mortal fate until his job was complete. He had helped defeat Voldemort and now he was not needed. There was never to be such a large threat against the wizarding world again.

The long procession of mourners walked solemnly up to the castle of Hogwarts. Minerva although completely miserable tried to keep a happy face on firm in the idea that Albus would want people to celebrate his life and not mourn his death.

With a heavy heart Hogwarts took on a new headmaster and hung the portrait of Albus Dumbledore with the other many faces of headmasters before.

"I don't know why you are all so glum." The portrait had said. "I'm still here just not in the physical world."

This had offered much comfort to the staff of Hogwarts and also to the new headmaster. As was Albus' wish Professor Snape became headmaster, against his wish. He had of course wanted to be headmaster just not be Albus successor.

"You will do a splendid job Severus and now you have taken my post of course you need a new potions teacher, I of course took care of that before I passed away." Albus said smiling with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"As always Albus you cover everything, how can I even come close to your standard." Severus asked the portrait while sat at his new desk, his chin resting on his clasped hands.

"You can't dear boy; you will come up to your own standard." And with that the portrait disappeared with a final smile.

Severus was left alone in his yet impersonalised circular office. It was a lot more comfortable than the drafts of the dungeons but already he was beginning to miss them. He had little time to think on this as there was a knock on the door and he was called back to the reality of the fact he was headmaster by the knock and also a roll of thunder.

With little of a pause the door swung open and a figure was silhouetted as a flash of lightening appeared like some kind of horror film.

"Albus told me you would be the new headmaster." The figure said walking into the room.

"Ah miss Granger, always a pleasure never a joy." Severus said dryly.

"yes well quite, I am here as you know about the post Albus offered me, potions teacher." Hermione said placing her shoulder bag on the back of the chair in front of the desk.

"I knew he would. Very well you know were my rooms are, you of course took many extra weekend classes there. I'm sure you will find them highly uncomfortable and not at all cosy."

"No professor I was promised that I would have a house of my own outside of Hogwarts, something in the village." Hermione said giving Severus a stern glance.

"I was not told of this and as headmaster it is my wish you are treated the same as all the staff and remain in the castle. Also the contract you hold is of little concern of mine the issuer is no longer in the position to vouch for such things, so you will stay in the castle."

"I will not! I was promised and it says so in my contract! A rent free residence outside of the grounds, with a floo connected to the staff room. It was also promised I was to be paid 25,000 galleons a year and weekends free to continue my doctorate." Hermione stood there the storm outside was a mere drizzle to the one that was clouding the air of the headmasters office.

For almost 5 minutes their eyes were locked in glares worse than any curse. Finally this battle of anger was interrupted by another knock on the door.

"Severus I ….. Oh Hermione dear how are you. I take it you're…" Minerva stopped speaking as she saw the glares from both of the room's occupants. "Am I interrupting?"

"Not at all Minerva Hermione was just going to her rooms." Severus said turning and giving Hermione a very unflattering sarcastic smile.

"Oh well I'll walk you down dear, my matter with Severus can wait keep until morning."

Hermione picked up her bag, not taking removing her eyes from Severus and almost breathing fire turned and left with Minerva close behind her.

Severus sighed angrily and turned to Albus portrait again expecting it to be empty but Albus was in fact back smiling triumphantly.

"I suppose this is your idea of a joke!" Severus asked.

"Isn't she marvellous? I couldn't let a gem like that go could i. a fantastic teacher and only months away from completing her potions doctorate, mere months before she is a professor of potions." Albus smiled.

"That woman, no that girl infuriates me!"

"Be that as it may my dearest boy, she is the brightest we can get and to be a professor of potions at 21 is quite an achievement don't you think? You yourself were 23 before you got yours were you not?"

Severus scowled and got up.

"Good night Albus." He said and climbed the spiral stairs behind his desk to his rooms.

Hermione sat on the bed in the middle of her 'rooms.' They could hardly be called rooms as there was none, room that is. It was tiny, bare and freezing. There were drafts issuing from every crack or gap and something decidedly slimy and green on the window ledge, which Hermione wouldn't go near in case it tried to attack her.

There was no way she was going to live in these rooms. They may have been fine for the inhuman bat that currently resided in the luxury of the headmasters suite but she was fragile, she was sensitive, she was not going to put up with it.

However she knew that for tonight that this would have to do. She opened one of the suitcases she had left in the entrance hall, house elves had kindly delivered them to her rooms, and pulled on a think woollen robe before climbing into the bed with its itchy covers, rock hard mattress and too thin pillow.

"The man's a bloody masochist!" she muttered as she tried in vain to warm herself.

The next morning Hermione sat in the great hall stiff and tense. Her neck and shoulders sore form the way she had been forced to sleep and dark bags under her eyes from lack of sleep due to the temperature.

"Good morning headmaster." She spat as he sat down. "Sleep well?"

"As a matter of fact I didn't, those rooms are to hot and that bed is terribly soft and the pillows its like trying to rest your head on a cloud. Worst sleep I have had in ages. I trust you feel well rested."

Hermione didn't say a word she merely gave him a glare that would have scared a hippogriff.

Quickly he looked at her properly, the overly crazy mop of hair from tossing and the black bags under her eyes. Maybe she wasn't in the best mood to discuss how overtly luxurious his new rooms were right now.

"Do I look bloody well rested!" she screamed, a statement rather than a question.

"Well you have just finished a stressful time in your life and taken your first job, interrupted sleep patterns are a common symptom of stress." Severus said dryly trying to keep his authorative air while she still had the death glare upon him.

"The thing that causes me stress is you and your bloody freezing rooms! I was promised a house I want a house; I have a daughter you know! I can't have her living here."

"Then you shouldn't have taken the job." Severus snapped.

"Well you shouldn't be an uncompromising git."

"Well you shouldn't be a bossy know-it-all."

"Well you shouldn't have become headmaster!"

"Well you ……." Severus had no more to say.

She had won, he hated to admit it but she was right and she had won. He simply sat there floundering for words.

"Well you're still not getting the house." He said finally.

"Ahhhhhh!" Hermione screamed in rage causing all the students to turn and watch the staff table as an irate Miss Granger got up and left the hall.