A/N: Okay, I will answer reviewers' questions and clear up some stuff.

Brittany Malfoy-You know, a sequel was an idea I had too! Who wants a sequel??? In you next review, specify if you want one. It would probably be one in which they are married…VOTE IF YOU WANT A SEQUEL!

Aindel S. Druida-Yeah, I know it's a bit overdone, the suicide thing, but the boxer thing is not! So there! That was my brilliant hilarious idea…J

Wacko the Sane (and everyone else)-Hermione in this fic will NOT become pregnant, that will be in the sequel if you guys want one.

Unknown-Hitokiri-Yes, doggie treats WILL fall from the sky if I have anything to say about it…

Thank you one and all…I love you and your doggie treats! Sorry it took longer than usual, but I've been somewhat busy and this is quite a long chapter, and it took me a long time to figure out how to go about it. Very hard chapter to write…

Chapter 15: Changed For Good

Minerva McGonagall was not about to trust instincts, for they are an unsure way of finding out about things. However, being a proper and no-nonsense person, she was very observant, especially of her peers, the teachers. All were well, but there was one that was not his usual self: Professor Severus Snape. Their teacher rivalry, most of it having to do with their rival houses, always made it difficult for them to communicate without one of them challenging the other. Now, though, for some unexplainable reason that she was yet to learn, Snape was a changed man. Truly, a changed man. His idiosyncrasies of yester years almost obliterated. He still had the famous drawling speech when teaching, and he still found ways to deduct points, a cover-up to hide the change in him. Even so, he now would take points from his own house; he was much harsher and strict with his Slytherins, pushing them to perfectionism and success. He also became more sociable and showed up for more meals in the Great Hall. He definitely was a changed man, and Minerva was determined to find the cause.

The cause in question, Hermione Granger, leaped out of her hole of depression to blossom into the person she used to be, even better in fact. She became more patient, trusting, considerate and no longer picked out rows with Ron, who now had gotten over hearing the news of her relationship with Snape. So far only Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore (maybe) knew of their relationship, and Severus wanted to keep it that way. Hermione continued to sneak at night to his chamber to visit. They would spend hours together, mostly at night, reading books from Severus's shelves and talking over Potions homework or just potions in general. Severus found Hermione, as always, a brilliant person, more of a colleague than student that he could converse with that actually understood him. Hermione enjoyed discussing many different topics with Severus, he knew so much about the wizarding world and answered her questions in full detail. All in all they became a secret happy couple, reserving their emotions and intimacy when they were alone, it was too dangerous to be so open around the school.

"Severus? Are you listening to me?" McGonagall said sharply, tapping Professor Snape on the shoulder. They were eating breakfast in the Great Hall and Severus Snape had begun to stare off into space right in the middle of a conversation with the Transfiguration teacher.

"What? Oh, sorry Minerva," Snape said apologetically. Minerva blinked several times; he was really different.

"I wanted to remind you of the staff meeting today," Minerva continued.

"Oh, why, yes. It's at lunch hour in Dumbledore's office, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Minerva said, looking suspiciously at Snape. Severus shifted uncomfortably.

"I have to, um, prepare for my first class," and he walked quickly out of the Great Hall, Minerva's eyes trained on his retreating back.

Severus had just rounded the corner off to the right of the door when Hermione grabbed the front of his robes and yanked him towards her and pressed her lips against his. Severus pushed her against the wall and wrapped his arms around her. Then he caught himself.

"Hermione, not here!" he hissed. Hermione tried to reach up and kiss him again, but he stopped her lips with his forefinger.

"Severus…" Hermione mumbled, pouting, kissing his neck. Severus ran his fingers through her sleek wavy hair while his eyes darted around to make sure no one was passing by. "Can I see you at lunch?" she said hopefully, kissing him again.

"Hermione, I have a staff meeting." Hermione put on the best puppy face she could muster, Severus could not help but smile. "I can't Hermione, maybe later." Severus pulled her into another kiss, his tongue eagerly passing her lips. Breathing deeply, Hermione sighed.

"Why later? I can't wait that long, Sev-" Severus had sprang away like she was on fire, and Hermione began to pretend to rummage through her book bag as Draco Malfoy walked by. He looked from one to the other, clearly confused. Had he seen what he thought he'd seen? He had not seen much, only for a split second they were up against the wall and the next they sprang away and then acted as if nothing was wrong. Draco was not daft, he knew something funny was going on between the know-it-all Mudblood Granger and his Potions Professor. In other words, he wasn't blind or deaf.

But at the moment he was a little too preoccupied to really take heed of them. He had been thinking about his detention with Trelawney, which had been haunting him for a week. He shuddered. He wasn't sure what happened, but after a while the incense candles made him pass out and he woke up naked with nothing but a blanket around him and Professor Trelawney excusing him from his detention at one in the morning, a large smile on her face. His mind had been replaying what he could remember over and over again in his mind, and the only conclusion he could come to was that Trelawney had taken advantage of him. Draco recoiled involuntarily in horror and disgust and began to walk to Potions, with Hermione not far behind him. He slowed so as to let her come up beside him before speaking to her.

"Granger, what are you doing with Professor Snape?" Hermione continued to walk forward with a static expression on her face, her lips tight.

"Nothing, Draco Malfoy. Why should you be concerned about what I'm doing?" she replied finally, her voice tainted with contempt.

"Something funny is going on between you two, I'm not that stupid."

"Well you must be just stupid enough to think there is anything going on!" Hermione snapped and took her usual seat in front of Harry and Ron, leaving Draco no choice but to sit down with much more on his mind than before.

%%%

Severus Snape begrudgingly strolled up to Dumbledore's office for the staff meeting, not wanting to have anything to do with the kind. He hated the staff meetings with a burning fiery passion. (Heehee) When he reached the gargoyles, he cursed inwardly.

"Cockroach Clusters! Chocolate Frogs? Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans! Fizzing Whizbees?" At the last candy the gargoyles sprang away to reveal the spiral staircase. One day Voldemort will discover the nature of Dumbledore's passwords, break into his office and kill him, he thought, shaking his head. It was too easy to guess, but once the staircase came to a stop in Dumbledore's office, the thought fell from his mind like dropping a heavy book.

All the other teachers were all seated in a semi-circle, staring pointedly at him, with Dumbledore in the middle, eyes sparkling.

"Ah, Severus, glad you could join us!" he greeted Severus brightly. Severus only grunted, a little worried about the stares he was getting.

"Now, we must discuss a situation that has just recently come up that this school has not faced, well, ever. Minerva, would you be so kind as to explain the situation to the teachers so we may discuss what to do about it," Dumbledore announced, and turned to McGonagall.

"Thank you, Albus. Now, I, just recently, was informed by a student, who shall remain anonymous, that they suspected a student-teacher relationship in this school." Several teachers gasped. Severus Snape suddenly became tight-lipped and sat bolt upright. Trelawney, who had unwillingly come down from the Divination Tower, took a sharp intake of breath and her eyes grew even wider (if that was possible) behind her magnifying spectacles. Minerva continued on. "Now, this school has always had to deal with misconduct and relationships between students, but never has a teacher been involved with a student ever since the day this school opened, back to the original founders. Never recorded in any books on Hogwarts, and has been the pride of the school to say that no personnel has fraternized with any students."

"Thank you, Minerva. Now, I'd like to open this situation for a friendly discussion," Dumbledore said, and sat back, his eyes searching.

"Well, I think it is preposterous!" Professor Sprout said angrily. "It is an insult to this school. Which teacher is it?" she demanded.

"That information is foreclosed to protect the well-being of the teacher, should they be present," Dumbledore said, looking directly at Severus. Severus gulped, and his knuckles were turning white from gripping his chair arms. Trelawney's eyes darted around in fear.

"Well, what should be done about it?" Professor Trelawney asked, her voice shaking as she looked desperately at her colleagues faces.

"They should be caught and punished!" Professor McGonagall shouted, rising from her chair. "These students are children! Children, for Merlin's sake!" Trelawney quailed, but it went unnoticed. Snape coughed, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

"Really, Minerva, do you think we need to shame the student and humiliate the teacher in such a harsh way?" Professor Flitwick squeaked. "I believe that there is no rules or offenses for a student-teacher relationship ever mentioned in our rule books."

"That's because it has never happened before!" Minerva shouted, her cheeked flushed.

"Minerva, please sit back down until you can clam down," Dumbledore suggested gently. Minerva sat back down huffily.

"Do they know what year the student is in? Because if they are over 16 then it not as large of an offense," Madame Hooch pressed.

"I tell yer, it doesn't matter 'ow old they are! It's ridiculous!" Hagrid interjected, speaking for the first time in the meeting.

"Really, Hagrid? I have a friend of mine who is 53 and has a wife that is 31! Age difference really has nothing to do with it," Professor Vector said, his voice raised slightly.

"But were they together during their school years?!" Professor Flitwick chipped in, his high-pitched voice screeching.

"I say we use a bit of Veritaserum on each teacher and ask each teacher this pressing question," Professor Lupin said, and everyone turned for the first time to look at Remus, clad in his usual shaggy and faded gray robes. Snape went white with fright; Trelawney began to sway.

"Excellent idea, Remus! That's the best point I've heard so far!" McGonagall said evenly, finally controlling her temper.

"Well, Severus? Do you have any in your stores?" Professor Sprout said, looking hard at Snape. All eyes looked upon the Potions Master. Fighting for control, Severus stood up.

"Yes. I…have a full bottle," he managed to choke out. He turned to go, knowing the end was near.

"Oh, don't worry Severus. I have one in my drawer, no need to make you do an extra trip," Dumbledore said, reaching into a drawer of his desk and withdrawing a bottle of the unmistakable truth serum. "Do you think one drop shall be enough?" Thud! Everyone spun around, Professor Trelawney had fainted, falling backwards and capsizing her chair. Several teachers rushed to help her, while Dumbledore ordered a line and handed the bottle to Severus, a grave look on his face.

"They want to know, Severus." Snape only nodded his head. First he put a drop on Professor McGonagall's tongue.

"Are you involved with a student?" he said, trying to keep his voice even.

"No," answered Minerva, her voice monotone and static, side effects from the Veritaserum. Severus went to the next teacher, and the next, all saying in the same voice: No. This doesn't even need to be done. I should just start packing now… When he got to Professor Trelawney, she broke out into racking sobs and fell to her knees in a nervous breakdown and slumped to the ground again.

"Poor thing, obviously this is too upsetting for her. We can always try again when she has collected herself. Bring her to the Infirmary," Dumbledore said, and Professor Flitwick stepped forward and squeaked 'Mobilicorpus!' and Trelawney's unconscious body rose and he directed her with his wand in the direction of the hospital wing. Severus made as if to leave, but McGonagall took hold of his arm.

"Severus, we all had to, and so should you." Severus searched Dumbledore's face in a desperate attempt to ask for mercy.

"Ah, come on, Snape. Everyone 'ad to!" Hagrid boomed. Minerva motioned for Snape to open his mouth. He finally opened his mouth and a drop of Veritaserum passed his lips. Severus closed his eyes, his vision failing him. After several moments, Minerva then finally asked him the question, the truth serum now working.

"Are you involved with a student?" Severus looked over at Dumbledore, who was looking sadly at him in pity. He could not lie. There was no turning back. They would be discovered. He would be fired; Hermione would be disgraced. He drew a deep breath before he finally spoke.

"Yes."