A/N: Okay, here's the next part! A big thank-you to Kim, who has been invaluable to this fic!

*****Major Warning***** There is a character death in this part! A lot of you will not like it, but I hope you'll keep reading anyway. Remember things aren't always what they seem!

Chapter Four: Getting to Know You, and Saying Good-Bye

* I did it, Professor! I made it through the day! *

* Very good, Hermione, but don't lose focus.  You still have a lot to accomplish. *

* Is every day going to be like that?! *

I could feel the panic building at the thought.

* I don't believe so.  In fact, it might be several weeks before you're required to change anything again. *

I sighed in relief.

* Today is your first day of classes.  Do you remember what I told you about your school work? *

* Yes. You want me to play dumb. *

* No, not dumb!  Just not your normal know-it-all, show-off routine. *

* I know, I was just teasing. I'll be a good student, but not overly good.  I can't be the best in the class, but not the worst either. I'll do my homework, but not over-do it.  Did I miss anything? *

* So, you really do listen to me. *

I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, and started to brush my hair.

Today had finally arrived, and I was ready.  At first I was surprised at my lack of nervousness, but then realized that after living the same day over for almost a week, nothing could be worse than that.

I put the finishing touches on my hair, and donned the new black school robes bearing the Ravenclaw crest.  The clock chimed eight, and so I went to wake the twins.

My disposition was bright and cheery as the three of us left for breakfast twenty minutes later.

If only I had paid a little more attention to Professor Snape, I would have realized that something wasn't right.

********

My first class was Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs.  I met a very nice sixth year Ravenclaw named Sissy Wilmot.  We became fast friends, and I was so relieved to find someone else to talk to.  The only thing I didn't like about her was her obvious crush on Lucius Malfoy.

I decided to spend the lunch hour in the library with Professor Snape's diary.  I cautiously searched for him with my mind to figure out what he was doing.  He was sleeping again.  It seemed like he did that a lot lately. 

All thoughts of the future Snape vanished as I became engrossed in the diary.

It looked as if Severus had fallen for Megan during dinner, and not in the hallway collision.  I felt my face flush with annoyance as I read the passage.  He'd described Megan as being a beautiful Goddess, and longed to get to know her better.  He then commented that I was pretty, but obviously a ditzy airhead who paled in comparison with 'Princess' Megan. 

Okay, so those weren't his exact words, but pretty close.

I was not thinking clearly as I gathered up my belongings and headed for the dungeons.

My next class was Double Potions with the Slytherins, and I wanted to get there early.

I stormed into the familiar, yet strange, classroom to find Severus already there helping the Professor set up.

When I think about what happened next, it always gets fuzzy in my head.  I basically marched up to him and told him off for thinking me stupid.

He just stared at me in shock while I ranted and raved quoting text books, and everything I thought might impress him. 

When I was done, I was panting, and was shocked at how hard it was to keep back tears.

Severus Snape was looking at me like I was the newest Quidditch broom.  I could vaguely hear Professor Figg laughing at us in the background, as Severus reached out to shake my hand.

"My name is Severus Snape."

His black eyes were swallowing me whole.

"Mya Thyme." I said, trying to sound indifferent.

He smirked at me.

"Would you like to be my lab partner?" He asked me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Um, sure."

The lesson was quiet and actually a little fun.  Severus was clearly Professor Figg's favorite student, and she seemed to be very pleased with my own potions talent.  I felt a bit guilty at not holding back, but Severus kept pushing me until I finally just did what I always do.

Strange, going through a potions class and actually being encouraged by Snape the whole time.

As we were getting ready to leave, Severus casually told me that he spent most evenings in the potion's classroom, doing extra credit for Professor Figg.  If I ever found myself with nothing better to do, I could join him.

At first I was happy, and flushed with pleasure. 

Then, he ruined it.

"Oh, and you could always bring your twin friends too."

********

I sighed with relief as I crawled into bed that night.

What a day!

Nothing significant had happened so, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't have to worry about reliving it tomorrow.

But I was tired, and confused.  I was also worried that I was doing something wrong.  I felt that I needed to stop Severus from falling for Megan, but that didn't mean I had to make him fall for me.

I really wished that there was someone else I could talk to.  How would I go about explaining all of this to Professor Snape?

* Professor? Wait 'till you hear about the day I had! *

Silence.

* Professor? Are you there? *

* Hermione? *

The thought was weak, very weak.

* Professor, are you okay? *

* I'm afraid not…. *

A feeling of exhaustion swept over me, and I felt myself being pulled away….

********

I found myself back in the dungeons of the demolished Hogwarts.  The smell of death hovered in the room, and I gasped in surprise at Professor Snape in the bed.

He looked horrible, and it took almost everything I had left to fight the panic that threatened to consume me.

"Professor! Please wake up!" I begged as I sat down on the bed next to his unconscious form.

Tears splashed off my cheeks and onto his hand as I held it.

"Hermione? What are you doing? You have to get back…"

He started coughing up blood, and it was like watching Ron die all over again.

"No! Professor, please! I can't do this without you!"

"You…won't…"

He smiled the smile.  You know the one where a person has finally accepted that they are dying.  I hate that smile!

"Find me… I'm there… Help me… You and I can do it…."

He babbled on incoherently.

Then he stopped, and looked at me in what was his final moment of lucidity.

"I'm proud of you Hermione."

And then he was gone.

"No!" I cried, and tried to cling to his dead body as I felt the pull…..

********

I was back on my bed in the Ravenclaw dorm. It was very late and the beautiful moonlight beckoned me out onto our balcony.

I stood with my arms on the railing, tilting my face toward the cool breeze as the hot, salty tears continued to fall from my eyes.

I had never felt more alone than I did at that very minute.  The one voice that had kept me sane through all of this was gone forever.

I was startled out of feeling sorry for myself when I saw I figure in a black cloak walking toward the lake.

The hood was removed to reveal none other than Severus Snape himself, and I had to resist the urge to call out to him.

I watched as he sat down beside the lake and pulled out the diary.

I felt a new determination growing inside of me as I watched him pouring his heart out into the small book.  My eyes fell on my own copy of his diary, and I resisted the urge to pick it up.

The Professor Snape I knew was gone forever, but this Severus Snape had yet to know that same fate.  I vowed I would not let him die like that again.

Suddenly, he was staring right back at me.

I flushed at being caught, but calmed when he raised a hand in greeting.

I waved back, and turned to go to bed.

I felt, numb.  The next few days were going to be especially trying, and I'd have to think up some lie to explain my melancholy mood.

I crawled in to bed and stared up at the ceiling.

* Goodbye, Professor Snape.  I love you. *

I cried myself to sleep.

********