Trials of an Unlikely Friendship

Chapter 1: Tell Me Again, Hermione.

As the last charmed bell rang, and the class was dismissed, a sleek and smooth voice rang out,

" Miss Granger, please stay behind."

Hermione concealed her satisfaction as well as she could, as the Gryffindor 7th years gave her sympathetic looks, Ron and Harry rolled their eyes in her direction and walked out the dungeon doors.

" Yes, Professor? You wished to see me?" Hermione asked sweetly.

Snape just rolled his eyes and rose out of his chair, and walked around to the front of his desk, leaning back on it and crossing his arms in front of him.

Hermione leaned back on the front row of desks and mimicked Snape's pose.

He gave a little smirk. How had this little minx made such a fast and furious impact on his life? It still came as quite a shock how she intruded and then made herself comfortable in his lonely life.

" Hermione, your paper wasn't exemplary as usual."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, such an imitation of Severus. It made him feel proud, and nervous at the same time.

"My paper wasn't exemplary? What does that mean?" She shook her head in disbelief.

" It means it was 5 feet instead of the 4 feet 8 inches I asked, you usually give me at least an extra foot" he replied, rather dryly.

Hermione gave a small tinkling laugh at his response. It was true, she had left out a couple of inches she would usually have included.

Severus Snape just frowned at her and asked,

"Why are you still here?"

Hermione stopped her laughing, and looking at him oddly, she asked

"Did you not just ask me to stay behind after class?"

Severus shook his head, and waved his hand.

" Not what I meant. How come you haven't run away from the cold bat of the dungeons yet?"

Hermione's eyes creased into relaxation and compassion. How could this brilliant and intelligent man be so insecure?

" Severus, I'm guessing I'm still allowed to call you that after this summer? Why haven't I left you? Because of this summer. Amazingly, you showed me a side of yourself no one really thought existed. Imagine your parents are put into a protective muggle home because of the friends you chose. Because of your intelligence. Because of what you...are."

Hermione frowned, thinking back on the summer, and even now. It was so hard to be a witch. The brightest witch of her time. The best friend of Harry Potter, in fact.

"Professor, I could of, and still could be, the reason for my parents demise. How do you live with the fact that you killed your parents? all because of what you are. Sir, Severus, if it wasn't for you...I don't think I'd be back at Hogwarts this year. You're the one who helped me...not the other way around. Remember that."

Hermione and Severus knew the classes for the day were finished. With a backward glance, he swept towards the doors leading to his personal chambers. Hermione smiled, and walked behind him. Entering the rooms, Hermione took a seat in his small living area. Snape walked over to the tray on the desk, and poured himself a glass of Brandy. Motioning to the tray, he asked a silent question.

Hermione nodded and asked politely for some tea.

Severus just nodded and charmed a pot of tea to start to warm. When he was done, he handed it over to Hermione and sat directly opposite of her, in his favorite chair. Settling in, he reflected for a moment, then said,

" Tell me how it began, how this odd friendship of ours suddenly awoke. I'd be interested to hear your version."

Without looking at him, she nodded. Looking down in her freshly poured cup, as if to find the meaning of life, she squinted. Ah, where to begin? This summer, obviously, but when this summer? Grimmauld Place, obviously. Hermione looked up and made eye contact with Severus Snape, not a feat many people could do lightly. Hermione knew though, she could. She could drown in his eyes full of regret, and sorrow. Something her eyes seemed to reflect these long days.

" Let us start at the beginning, shall we?"

And with that, Hermione tucked her legs underneath her, and nursed her tea. Severus sat back, content and happy. Something only Hermione could make him feel. Happy. Shaking his head, as if to get rid of the thoughts, he focused on Hermione as she started to speak in slow, careful tones.

I just redid this chapter, after 1 year and some odd! The next chapter in this series is..well..it's coming.