Chapter 2

It was odd being back, Hermione thought. Hogwarts looked as it always had, and none of its innate characteristics had changed. But there was something different, something intangible that she just couldn't pin down.

For starters, Hogwarts seemed so much smaller this time around.

Maybe it was because she knew Harry and Ron wouldn't be there pulling her away from the safety of the library to save the world. Or it could have been the lack of insults being hurled by the Slytherins. Whatever it was, her homecoming felt oddly empty.

"Hermione!" Minerva McGonagall called out, pulling Hermione from her rather dreary thoughts. "We've all been waiting for you! How was your trip? Did you find everything all right? How have you been?" the deputy headmistress asked as she guided the younger woman through the halls.

"One question at a time Professor!" Hermione laughed, never having seen her head of house act so excited.

"None of that professor nonsense now. You're one now too, you know. And, as for me being excited, well, it's been a rather slow week. You'll have to excuse me."

"All right Minerva," Hermione accented the last part. "My trip was fine, everything is the same as when I left it and I'm doing as well as one could expect under the circumstances."

"Ah yes, we all heard about that. What? Did you expect such news about the wizarding world's most watched couple to go unreported?" Minerva added defending herself from the shocked look Hermione gave her. "You mean most watched wizard. I was just extra scenery." The younger witch added bitterly.

"If you need to talk about it, my door is always open my dear." Minerva stopped in front of the gargoyle that blocked Dumbledore's office. "Here we are. I must warn you though, I was not the only one excited about your arrival."

With the elder professor leading the way, the two witches entered the headmaster's office. With a great bellowing " 'ermione!" Hagrid swept the newest member of the Hogwarts faculty into a bone-crushing hug. The rest of the faculty crowded around her, anxious to hear how their once star pupil had fared.

It was truly amazing how many people could fit into the headmaster's office. Hagrid was there, taking up a good portion of the room, as well as Professors Vector, Sprout, Flitwick and Hooch. The Madams Pince and Pomfrey were standing by the headmaster's desk. Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster took up the couch nearest the fire, while the newest Defence Against The Dark Arts professor shared the couch with Hermione.

"So how have you been Hermione?" the DADA professor asked. "I've been good Professor. Oh stop- I know I don't have to call you that but old habits are hard to break."

"Very well then. I was so glad when I heard you were coming to teach here. Of course from your reception, I'm sure you see I'm not the only one."

"I'm glad to be back Professor Lupin. And I must say that I'm glad you're back too. You were our best defence teacher anyway."

He smiled at the compliment. "It's getting late. I should be going soon- I have a full week ahead of me." "I think I must agree with Remus. It's well past my bedtime." Professor Vector added.

As the faculty slowly dispersed, the headmaster spoke up. "Hermione, a moment please?" Waiting until the last teacher left, the old wizard looked at her. "Let me walk with you to your new chambers." He escorted her out of his office. "I'm very glad that you finally decided to take me up on my offer. After all, it only took me five years to get you to agree."

"Normally takes more?" She asked.

"Apparently you never tried to get Severus to teach," he said.

"How is Professor Snape? I didn't see him here tonight."

The old wizard shook his head at that. "Nor would you expect too. He's become much more withdrawn in the past years. Almost a hermit."

"Shame. I was hoping to ask him about some potions research I did in university. I never finished it, but you know how those things are."

"I would still ask him if I were you." She looked at the wizard. "Are you sure he'll talk to me?"

"Hermione, I said he was a hermit, not dead. Besides, he needs to rejoin the rest of the world. And, although he'd never admit it, I think you were his favourite student."

"Me? His favourite student?" Hermione scoffed. "He would barely even look at me by the time we graduated. At the end of my seventh year, he all but ignored me. I would hardly say I was his favourite."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes twinkling with hidden knowledge. "All the more reason to make amends. I believe you'll remember the way to his office. Oh and here we are." He said stopping before a door. "Now, before you retire for the night, would you like a lemon drop?"

She graciously declined.

Hermione, while she hated lemon drops, loved her room. They were fabulous. That was the only way to describe them. Absolutely gorgeous. Adjacent to the Ravenclaw house, they were closer to the dungeons then Gryffindor towers. Dumbledore hadn't deemed it necessary to explain their placement and she decided not to ask. He probably would just answer in riddles then ask her about the rain in Spain or some other such nonsense.

She wondered about the twinkle in his eye when they were talking early. Hermione never thought about it before, but somehow she realized that eyes aren't supposed to do that and wondered if maybe he should get it checked out. Could be the start of a cataract or something could be stuck there.

Not being familiar with optometry, she turned her attention to exploring. Her suite was bigger then she expected.

A large sitting room with a small antechamber attached to it made up the first part. This lead into her bedroom, which was quite large. On one side of the bedroom, there was a veranda that was obviously hidden from student's eyes by magic. It had a lovely view, but that wasn't what held Hermione's interest at the moment.

The bathroom was opposite the veranda. It was large and spacious, filled with all sorts of wonderful soaps and scents. Deciding to break in the bathtub first, Hermione turned on the tap marked "vanilla" allowing the cream coloured bubbles to fill the tub.

Sinking into the wonderful frothy mixture, Hermione laid her head back and sighed. Now this part of Hogwarts is still the same.

As the day wore on, the odd feeling she had when she first arrived started to grow smaller. It was still there though, but now just a nagging feeling that she had left something undone.

Hogwarts was definitely home though. She had been so busy being Harry's fiancée that she didn't realize how much she missed it. It was like a safe harbour, or an old friend.

For the first time in a long while, she felt safe- like everything was going to work out.

Reviewing the events of the day she remembered that she still hadn't seen Professor Snape.

I'll find him tomorrow, she thought as she closed her eyes and started to relax.

After all, it's not like he'd actually want to see her.