Changes Made

Chapter Twelve

Harry and Hermione sipped foamy butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks. Around them, witches and wizards held quiet (or in several cases, rowdy) conversation. They sat enjoying the noise after the constant quiet of Hogwarts castle without students. Then Hermione broke the reverie with a question.

"Have you finished your school shopping?"

Harry stared at her. "Um...yeah, Hermione. I usually do it all before I'm at Hogwarts. Is this a new thing for you?"

"Sorry, Harry. I'm just trying to make conversation. Quidditch is pretty well talked out. I know you're not really one for music...Have you read anything interesting lately?"

"Quidditch Through the Ages for the millionth time." Harry grinned as Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Is that all you think about?"

"Not all," Harry said, eyeing a well-dressed witch who'd just entered the pub.

Hermione sighed. "Have you practised your Occlumency today?"

Harry nodded. "I did a bit of yoga and some meditation...which turned into a really restful nap." He grinned sheepishly at his friend. "I've actually been sleeping much better since I read that book..."

"And much more, I expect," Hermione joked.

"When are we going to practice doing this stuff without wands?" Harry wondered aloud. "It's not like I can use my wand when Moldy Voldy pokes through my brain from hundreds of miles away."

Hermione laughed at the nickname. "I hope he isn't listening right now. I don't know. Do you think Snape's planned for it?" she asked. Then before Harry could respond, she answered herself. "Actually, he probably has. He's really quite clever," she said thoughtfully.

Harry gaped. "You can't mean you admire him?"

"A bit," Hermione said, sipping her butterbeer. Harry looked troubled. "Oh come on, Harry. He's not all bad. You remember how pleasant he was being earlier this week. Besides, he had a tough childhood."

"Some excuse," Harry huffed.

Hermione smiled a little. "I know," she said. "But there's something strange about him..."

"Maybe the fact that he used to parade around in a black robe with a skull branded into his arm," Harry grumbled.

"I don't think that's it," Hermione said, deliberately ignoring Harry's meaning.

"Hermione, are you sure you're all right?" Harry looked concerned. "You seem sort of detached."

"No, I'm fine," she finished her drink. "What do you say we have a look round at the shops?"

"Sure," Harry swallowed the last of his butterbeer and stood. He held the door for Hermione as they left, delayed by the five or six people who filed out after her. Hermione laughed at him.

"How many of them said thanks?" she asked.

"Zero," said Harry. "I didn't mean to hold a parade. Where to?"

They began with the stationary shop. Hermione purchased a bundle of parchment and three new quills.

"Didn't you go shopping already?" Harry inquired.

"I decided I need some more," Hermione explained, walking to the counter. "Are you getting anything?"

Harry decided on a bottle of mood-sensing ink. The colour adjusted to your mood, he explained to Hermione as they left the shop.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Hermione asked. "Is there a colour for bored? When you do your homework, there'll be no avoiding it!"

Next came Zonko's. One entire corner was devoted to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, products designed by Fred and George.

"Wow," Hermione said, impressed. "They are doing well!" Harry picked up several dungbombs, but put them down when Hermione glared at him.

"A few fireworks?" he pleaded. Hermione shook her head. Harry bought a few while her back was turned.

They paused in the Owl Post Office to admire the birds, then the Apothecary to examine the piles of beetles' eyes and jars of powdered dragons' blood. Hermione oohed over the tiny bundles of unicorn's hair.

"That's really useful in potions, Harry. Do you think I should get some?" Without waiting for an answer, She bought a bundle (seven sickles) and had it wrapped in brown paper. Out in the street, someone set off a firework. A passing wizard blasted it with his wand, causing it to break into several tinier fireworks. Harry grinned.

"Remember when Umbridge tried that? Boy am I glad she's gone."

"Is that scar on your hand still there?" Hermione asked curiously. Harry held it out to her. Faintly she saw the words I will not tell lies etched in pearly scar tissue into his hand. "They have stuff that will take that off," she told him. "It's not caused by a direct curse or hex, so it's easily removed."

Harry shook his head. "No," he said, "I want to keep it." Hermione shrugged. By that time the fireworks had over the roofs of Hogsmeade. Harry and Hermione continued up the main cobbled street to the Shrieking Shack, still uninhabited. They leaned against the fence, staring up at the old house.

"I miss him," Harry said after a moment. "Both of them, actually. I haven't seen Lupin in months, and Sirius…" he trailed off.

"Me too," Hermione said. They were quiet again.

"I wonder who's taking care of Buckbeak," Hermione said speculatively.

"Probably Lupin," Harry guessed.

"Do you think Mrs. Weasley has let the twins join?"

"I don't see how she could stop them," Harry said with a snort. "They'd find out everything anyway, one way or another."

Hermione agreed. She glanced down at her watch. "Harry, we'd better go. It's half past five and Professor McGonagall told us to be back by six." Reluctantly, they made their way back to Hogwarts Castle.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

At dinner, Severus Snape was once again seated next to Hermione Granger. Just a student, he reminded himself again. It was the third time since the meal began he'd had to do that. He tried to relax. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall shared stories about Transfiguration Class.

"I think the most amusing thing anyone ever did in my class," Dumbledore said, "was when one of the Ravenclaw students misspoke a spell and only half-transfigured their badger. It had the ears of an elephant and the head of a badger, with the body and tail of what appeared to be a lobster. Very interesting species cross. It took an hour before I managed to return it to its original shape. The Hufflepuffs were quite displeased, but it was the most spectacular example of what not to do I've never forgotten it."

Professor McGonagall smiled. Snape studied her, pretending to be focused on his spinach salad. It was amazing how severe she could be one moment and the next appear so cheerful. Her students really looked up to her with respect and trust… All he could hope for was the respect that came with fear, and of course the sucking-up at which Slytherin students were so practised. Especially Malfoy. He took after his father that way, except Draco was less 'diplomatic'.

It was a pity, Snape thought, that he couldn't give the boy detention without his father getting involved. McGonagall could, Dumbledore could, but Snape couldn't without making Lucius angry. Little bastard.

His thoughts were interrupted by a disturbance at his other side. Next to him, Hermione gasped and rocked to the side. Harry's wand had jarred strangely in his pocket and was sending steaming blue liquid all over the floor and the side of Hermione's robes. Harry hastened to fix his wand.

"Finite Incantatum!" he cried. The flow of liquid was staunched. Hermione pulled out her own wand.

"Scourgify!" The liquid vanished from her robes and the floor. "Do be careful, Harry," she said, sounding slightly annoyed. Snape hadn't quite recovered from the feeling of her form against his. Slightly stunned, drank deeply from his goblet, heart racing.

For Merlin's sake, he thought, You're acting like a lovesick teenager. Hermione straightened next to him. You had to hand it to her, he mused. She acted quickly without a load of squawking like most girls her age were apt to do. And her spells didn't foul up halfway through. Hermione was a very good witch.

…………

In his quarters, Snape relaxed on his couch, music playing softly in the background. He reflected on the Occlumency lessons. So far, they'd gone well. Aside from the surprise Hermione had given him that morning, things were going much better than expected. Harry had shown great improvement since the last time they'd practised. It was obvious that Dumbledore had been correct about Hermione's projected influence. Hermione was doing excellently; Snape didn't know why he hadn't expected her to be doing so well. Soon, it would be time to practice Occlumency without use of wands, a much more difficult task.

Snape was considering shifting position on the couch where he lay, but froze as he heard the doorknob rattle. Someone was entering his room. He watched as the door inched open and someone with long, brown hair put their head in and looked around. He knew that hair. He'd stared at it only hours before. Hermione Granger took a step forward. She hadn't seen him yet, and he decided to keep it that way for a while. He watched as she crept forward to the table where his music-emitting globe rested and extended her slender hand to pick up a book Snape had found in his quarter's after the day's lesson. He waited until her hand was firmly around it before saying he spoke.

"Is breaking and entering a habit of yours, Miss Granger?"

Hermione jumped about a foot into the air, knocking the book to the floor. She flushed furiously as she realised who was lying on the couch.

"N-no, sir," she stammered, "I just left my book here this morning and wanted to get it back..." she trailed away looking apprehensive. Her surprise was evident when his lips curved into an involuntary smile. She looked so bewildered, Snape thought. What did she think he was going to do?

"Didn't your mother ever teach you to knock first?" he asked.

"I didn't think there was anyone in here," Hermione tried to explain.

"And why shouldn't I be in my own quarters?" Snape asked, eyebrows raised. He watched amusedly as Hermione's eyes widened.

"These are your… I though this was just a classroom! Oh no, Professor! I apologise. I'm really sorry! I-"

Snape cut her off. He'd never seen her so flustered...it was quite unlike Hermione. "Think nothing of it," he said, "But please remove the book from the floor." Hermione hastened to do as he asked. "Is there anything else you forgot?" he inquired pleasantly.

"No, sir," Hermione answered, straightening. She seemed to be recovering.

"Then you may go," Snape directed, thoroughly enjoying her stunned surprise. It seemed as though Hermione was fighting to keep her mouth shut. Without another word she left the room.

Poor Hermione, Snape thought, and rolled over to face the fire.

............

A/N: Last chapter before I depart for Myrtle Beach! We're leaving at 9. Good thing I'm already packed! Thanks to my betas, Aindel S. Druida and Kerichi for their patience and all. Unfortunately, as my sister isn't very well versed in the ways of fanfic, the next chapters won't be beta-d till I get back. I promise to reload! Have a fab week, I should say! Laters!