a/n: Not mine. Before we continue, I'd like to say that I'm on a vacation and using my mom's laptop that really isn't all that good for typing, so please excuse any random mistakes ("H" instead of "He" or something, although I did proofread). ALSO: i found something that hopefully works better than "(time passes)", so hopefully it'll work out. Thanks for all the great response, it's really impressive
Chapter 3: Friends and Breakfast Company
Hermione bit her lip and turned to Harry. "Maybe you should answer that one..." she said softly. "You know the most about it."
Harry glared at her- he didn't want to start thinking about all the pain and destruction caused by Voldemort. And he certainly didn't want to explain it in detail to a pint sized Snape.
He turned away from his bushy haired friend to face the apprehensive Severus. Severus fixed Harry with a rather threatening stare, as if to show that he wasn't looking forward to discussing this topic any more than he was.
"Well?" Severus asked after a few more seconds.
Harry cleared his throat, stalling for the last few seconds, praying for a divine intervention; perhaps Aragog would emerge from the forest, giving a suitable excuse to avoid this subject. When Aragog didn't show up, Harry cleared his throat again, and then slowly said, "...Yes. But, you came over to... er, our side."
Severus looked as though he'd been slapped. Hermione reached out to pat his shoulder, but he winced and moved away from her outstretched hand. Blushing slightly, Hermione withdrew her hand.
"What... made me join? What made me come over?" Severus choked out.
"I don't know that." Harry replied, then winced under another glare from Hermione. "To be honest, I really don't know that much about you... just that you were a death eater, but came back to the 'good' side, and are currently a double-spy. Seriously."
This didn't seem to give Severus any comfort. He paled upon hearing Harry's words, and pulled his legs up to his chest, and sat in a small ball, shaking slightly. For the first time since Snape had transformed back into Severus, he truly looked like the teenager he was. Hermione, her expression one of intense pity, reached out for the boy again, and, this time, he didn't shy away. Emboldened by the contact on his shoulder, Hermione carefully pulled him into a loose hug.
After sitting in the hug for a moment, Severus seemed to realize that someone was indeed hugging him. He looked over at Hermione, his eyebrows furrowed. One of his arms snaked out, and he carefully patted her on the back before pushing her away gently. "Thanks, but... no." He said, and stood up, looking immensly relieved to be away from the physical contact.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked, staring at Hermione as if a threstral had just flown out of her nose.
"To the castle. I've had a trying day, I think I'll go to sleep." Severus snapped, then straightened his robes and headed up to the castle at a fast walk.
"Wait!" Hermione called after him.
Severus froze, and turned around, an eyebrow raised. "Yes?" he inquired softly.
"There-there's a bunch of old Daily Prophets in a special section of the Library. It's a little hidden, but a lot of them are from when You-Know-Who was in power, about 16 years ago. They tell a lot, actually." Hermione faltered. "I-I saw an article on your trial. The one where Dumbledore spoke for you... and there's another article that announces your coming to teach at the school." she finished, blushing again.
"The Library will no doubt be closed by now. But thank you." Severus said.
"I can show you where the Prophets are, if you'd like." Hermione offered. "Of course, Harry and Ron will come too. I daresay they need to do some studying."
"Of course. I shall see you three in the morrow." Severus turned away from them, then turned back. "Thank you for telling me about... the truth." he added softly, as though saying it too loudly would cause him physical damage.
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"Of course!" Hermione said quickly, and Severus promptly sat down with a mutter of thanks.
They sat in silence for a bit, eating their own breakfasts. Finally, Harry, having finished his oatmeal, leaned over to Severus. "Er, not that I mind, but why are you sitting here?"
"Yeah, the Slytherin table can't be full." Ron added, pushing his half finished toast away.
Severus winced, then looked up at them. His eyes briefly narrowed when he looked at Harry, but quickly cleared up as he remembered that it was not James who was addressing him. He bit his lip, then chose his words carefully. "The new Slytherins have decided against welcoming me to their table."
Hermione turned away from The Standard Book Of Spells, Grade 6 to face Severus. "What? They decided not to... Did they say something? Or... or do something?" she asked, looking worried.
The greasy haired boy winced. "Something like that."
Harry nodded. "They are a bunch of gits this year."
"Especially Malfoy." Ron added.
Nodding, Severus examine his fingers, which he had laced in front of him.
"I would think that they'd show you some respect though, Severus. I mean, you are the head of their house." Hermione fretted.
"Apparently that doesn't matter." he replied simply, grimacing again. "They seem to think that I 'deserve' to be with the Gryffindors. I'm to soft on the Gryffindors as a teacher, I suppose." he added bitterly.
"What?!" Harry exclaimed before he could help himself. Seeing Severus's interested look, Harry boldly continued. "No offense, er, Severus... but you always favor the Slytherins. You dock points from us every chance you get; you even take points from Hermione for knowing the correct answer when no one else does."
Severus looked slightly incredulous. "Why would I do that? I always hated it when Professor Alpo favored the Gryffindors." Seeing their blank looks, he explained, "Professor Alpo was the Potions Teacher when I went to school here... turned a blind eye to anything negative a Gryffindor did, even if they did it right in front of him."
"Sounds like ole Snape." Ron said. His eyes widened. "I'm sorry! I just... forgot you are him... I mean... younger... but... I mean..."
Before Severus could say anything more in retaliation, Professor McGonagall swept over to them. "Ah, Severus- good to see you bonding with children of my house for a change. Now, if you please, Madame Pomfrey wishes to see you as soon as possible- she has a few tests to run on you. There's a good lad." she said as Severus stood up.
After giving Ron, Harry, and Hermione a curt nod, Severus left.
Ron turned to Hermione. "Did we just get along with him?"
"I think so, Ron. He's really not that bad. I think he's just a bit lonely, if you ask me." Hermione replied, turning back to her book. "What?" she asked, catching a glimpse of Harry's face.
Harry blushed, then said, "Well, is that why you were hugging him yesterday?"
Hermione looked shocked. "Harry! He had just found out a lot about himself! A lot of which wasn't the best to learn about yourself as a sixteen year old! He needed a friend... friends! Us! I mean, honestly, d'you really get the feeling he was popular when he was this age last time?"
Thinking back to the Severus Harry had seen in Snape's pensieve, Harry shook his head. He had avoided the subject of The Hug that Hermione had given, of all people, Snape- young though he may be. "I just want to make sure you aren't getting all smarmy on him to make sure that your potions grade will improve from a 95 to a 100."
Eyes narrowed dangerously, Hermione snapped, "Really Harry, that's ridiculous." and refused to talk to him for several hours.
Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered, "Struck a nerve there, mate. But that doesn't sound like Hermione. Then again... who ever expected us to get along with Snape?"
(concludes chapter 3)
a/n: I realized that I'm not showing much Ron in this story... I just never could really catch his character that well. Suggestions are always welcome. I do realize the chapters are a little short, but this does keep me from burning out (if you check my info you'll find a ton of unfinished stories). I have also started sending out emails to let people know when i've updated, and gives the link- if i can find your email, i'll put you on it- let me know if you don't want me emailing you... PLEASE REVIEW!