SilverWolfX: Well, maybe a little out of character yes. As for Severus, it is like he is two people. You can read his doubt: "Should I go as Just Severus or as Professor Snape". The students know him as Professor Snape, the man we all know. Just Severus is like his other side, a nice guy who's hunted by a lot of deamons but still manages to get on alright.
DarkMage6: Seems like I got hold of your interest ;) Thanks!
Natsuyori: Thanks :)

A/N: Gosh, I'm currently working on four fanfic, three Harry Potters and one Star Wars AND I'm in the middle of moving to another town. Thank God I've graduated like six weeks ago and don't have to attend school anymore jeej! Well, generally thanks for the reviews, keep 'em coming though! I just love reviews and I just love Snape/Hermione :)
Oh, and I'm desperatly waiting to receive Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on July 16th

One word, that's all you said
Something in your voice called me, turned my head
Your smile, just captured me

Kenny Chesney – You Had Me From Hello ©

Severus did not quite remember how he made his way to the Great Hall. He kept thinking of Hermione and was still pretty shocked about the meeting with her. He did not quite understand why she busied him so much.
"What the hell is wrong with me? What is that insufferable girl-. No, woman! What is that insufferable WOMAN doing in my mind? Get out of there! Get out of there!"
Severus hit his head twice with his fist but it didn't work. The image or Hermione, holding Anthony kept flowing in his mind. With a deep sigh Severus sunk down in his chair, feeling quite miserable.
"Great Scott, what is this? I'm loosing it! Yeah, that's it! I'm loosing it! I should go and tell Albus he can go looking for a new Potions Master. I. Am. Loosing. It.!"
Severus hid his head in his hands and started rubbing in his eyes.

A few feet away from him, Dumbledore and McGonagall were watching the unusual behaviour of their Potions Master. Dumbledore had his usual twinkle in his eyes and a faint smiled rested on his face while McGonagall looked rather worried.

"Do you think he has gone mental?" McGonagall whispered.

Dumbledore chuckled softly. "I believe he met a certain person!" he whispered.

"Not Harry Potter?" McGonagall whispered shocked.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "Why do you think that every time I'm talking about a certain person, it's Harry? There are other people in this castle, my love!"

"Well, I cannot imagine anyone else who can get Severus in a shock like this!" McGonagall muttered quietly.

"Oh, there are people who can get Severus in shock. This is but only the first time you actually see it!"

McGonagall nodded and sighed. "Maybe we should pretend as if we only just entered!"

Dumbledore nodded and started to talk out loud. "Oh yes, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is very compatible, I believe.

"Who was it again?" McGonagall asked, trying not to laugh over Severus' shocked reaction when he heard them.

"Ephram Franklin, quite a talent from the New York University for Advanced Magical Affairs. He graduated only last year, cum laude I believe and is supposed to be a star in battle duels and curses. Did you by any chance hear of him, Severus?"

McGonagall and Dumbledore sat down next to Severus and Severus knew they had started talking so loudly because they had probably seen him in his moment of despair. It made him chuckle because through the years, Albus and Minerva had become so alike of each other. He also respected them, they wouldn't go and ask him what was wrong, something a motherly figure like Tina Sprout would do in an instant.

"Ephram Franklin?" he asked. "Yes, I do believe I know him by name and reputation. Quite a young bloke, I believe. How old was he again?"

"Twenty-two and four days, to be exact!" a young voice answered and when Severus turned he felt as if he could fall right of his stool in disbelieve.

There was a young boy, incredibly handsome, or at least handsome enough to get female attention from most likely a certain young mother who lived in the castle.
"Why am I thinking of that?" Severus thought with a scowl.
Ephram was tall, had brown hair, deep blue eyes and looked most muscular.

"Ephram! Good to see you again, my boy!" Dumbledore said.

"Great, now he's calling him 'his boy' already!" Severus thought jealously. "Why am I jealous?" he realised in an instant. "I don't GET jealous for crying out loud because I don't do jealousy!"

Ephram smiled and sat down next to Severus. "Hi, I'm Ephram Franklin!"

"Severus Snape." Severus muttered and Ephram looked slightly impressed.

"Master Snape? THE Master Snape, the inventor of Wolfsbane potion? I've read so much about you! Actually, I used some of your books in my essays when I graduated from University!" Ephram shot out in awe.

Severus merely nodded. He did not like compliments; therefore he did not give compliments to others, such as his students.

"So nice to finally meet you!" Ephram said. "My old mentor told me I could meet some interesting people if I went to Hogwarts! And look, here's you! Tell me, I've heard Harry Potter is somewhere in this castle as well!"

"That boy!" Severus all of sudden realised. "He's still here as well! My chances with Hermione are totally blown away then! STOP! STOP! THINKING! ABOUT! THAT! YOU OLD FOOL!"

"Harry does reside within this castle, Ephram. But I sincerely ask you not to go looking for him. When the time is right, he will find you. And well, you'll meet him in the Final Battle anyway." Dumbledore explained and Ephram nodded.

"You know, I am but only grateful I'll have the chance to fight alongside with him and all of you. One of my friends came from London and kept us well informed about the situation here." Ephram admitted.

Severus did not quite make up his mind about whether or not he would like this Ephram boy.

"But, what I don't understand." Ephram continued. "Why haven't you killed that Voldiemort person yet?"

"Voldemort." Severus scowled.

"Yeah, that's what I said: Voldiemort! He's been back for almost five years now. Why is he still here?"

"Well Ephram, it seems that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is laying low. He is preparing something, but we have not been able to figure out what just yet." McGonagall started to explain quietly.

Ephram raised his eyebrows. "Not? That's weird! I believe you are in his inner circle, right?" he emphasized towards Severus.

Severus made up his mind. He did not like Ephram! "There are things not even I am aware of!"

"Severus has not been called for a long time now." Dumbledore said. "Now, if you would like to drop the subject, my boy. We will discuss this some other time, when the walls have less ears." He nodded towards the entrance of the Great Hall and Severus saw how the other teachers entered.

There was Filius Flitwick, talking, well more or less squeaking to Tina Sprout, closely followed by Madame Hooch who seemed to have a livid conversation with Professor Vector. Professor Trelawny came floating in behind them followed by… Severus felt that his heart skipped a beat. There she was, talking with Hagrid. And she looked stunning!

Hermione ran into Hagrid on her way to the Great Hall and after a lot of hugs and welcoming words, the two of them headed of to the Great Hall. When they entered, Hermione saw Severus and felt a little weird, almost happy that she saw him again. "Why would I be happy to see him again?" she thought but her thoughts were disturbed when she recognized the boy next to Severus. She let out a gasp. "Ephram?"

"Mione?" Ephram got up from the table and ran towards Hermione. "It IS you! WOW!" He lifted Hermione in the air and twirled her around in hug. (Severus felt his mood drop below zero).

"What-. What are you doing here?" Hermione gasped as she and Ephram started heading back to the table.

"Classified Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Ephram explained and he gave her a broad smile.

"I see the two of you met before!" Dumbledore noticed and his eyes twinkled. Severus however, was considering if he could still run away from the table. Maybe he could just get up and mumble something about a potion and be gone or something.

"Yeah. When I was studying for my Transfigurations Master, the summer after graduation, before-." Hermione sighed. She didn't want to think about Ron right now.

"Hermione invaded our library when she was on holiday with her parents, in New York!" Ephram finished her sentence. "And we spent a lot of time together afterwards. She was the one who actually kept me informed about the events around here!"

Hermione smiled and sunk down in front of Ephram as Ephram returned to his place next to Severus. She'd noticed Severus' scowl and wondered if it was something about her that was bothering him.

They were just catching up on old times when Dumbledore got up from his chair and clapped his hands.

"Dear staff-members. I welcome you to this Dinner, in order to start a new, exciting year with our students. We have two new members with us, as you already may have seen. Hermione Granger, who knows her not, (Flitwick grinned approvingly) will be filling the position of Transfigurations Professor since my beloved Minerva has found other things that occupy her mind. Unfortunately, I am not a part of it."
Everyone on the table started to laugh and Dumbledore chuckled on the sight of Minerva who's stern eyes gave him a mean look.
"I would also like to welcome Ephram Franklin, a recent graduate from the New York University for Advanced Magical Affairs, who will be filling the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore looked at Ephram. "I wish you luck, young Ephram, and sincerely hope you will linger for several years. And now, I assume we are all very hungry, so, let's eat!"

And, as usual, their plates were filled and the teachers started to eat. Hermione was enjoying a nice conversation with Ephram, who used to be her pen-pal for several years. He seemed really excited about meeting Anthony ("I've always been looking forward to meet that little dunderhead!") and he told her about a hundredth times that he had missed her. Hermione remembered a time when she wished for Ephram's love and told Ephram how she had fallen deeply in love with him when they first met, which made them laugh out loud.

When Severus heard Hermione had once actually fallen in love with that Ephram boy, he knew he would never have a chance with Hermione. He caught himself staring at her, and desired deeply to be a part of her conversation but did not know where all those thoughts emerged from all of sudden. So he focussed on a conversation with Minerva about the Wolfsbane potion.

After a few hours, they all felt really full. Dumbledore was relaxing on his chair, looking extremely drowsy, as Flitwick had already fallen asleep and would've fallen right into his plate if it weren't for Minerva who quickly transfigured the plate into a cushion. Ephram was talking to Sprout about the uses of Gillyweed, Hooch and Trelawny were in a heated discussion about the use of a crystal ball instead of a snitch (the both drank enough wine to reach that subject) and Severus was watching Hermione. She kept playing with her food, a smile on her lips but not in her eyes.

Hermione had enjoyed the Dinner. She did not think of Ron once but now, when Ephram was paying his attention on Sprout, the memories returned. Would they ever leave her alone?
She didn't want to be on the table anymore, she was tired and wanted to go down to the lake, and just sit there for a while. So she excused herself and left the Great Hall, wondering if she really saw a disappointed flash on Severus' face. They hadn't talked much during Dinner and Hermione felt sorry for that. She liked talking to Severus, there was something about him that comforted her, even though it had only been a few hours since she got to know him as just Severus instead of the mean professor Snape from her childhood.

Severus watched Hermione leave the table. She just gave him a weak smile before heading towards the doors and Severus felt a little disappointed. "Why is she leaving? She's not feeling well! Should I go after her? I don't do things like that! I won't go after her!" his mind kept twirling around and Severus did not know what to do.

"Go after her, Severus!" Ephram said.

Severus gave him a surprised look. "What do you mean?"

Ephram started to laugh. "Oh come on Severus. The two of you have been staring to each other all night! Go after her! I'm sure she's heading to the lake!"

Severus was confused. "I don't think that is wise. Besides, I'm sure she'll feel more comfortable with you, since you're old friends."

"We are old friends, yes. But then again, I'll never be the one who'll make her forget Ron. I cannot give her that love." Ephram admitted. "It is not in my nature to give that kind of love to a woman."

"Excuse me?" Severus felt even more confused. Maybe he shouldn't have drunk that last Fire Whiskey anyway.

"Just go, alright!" Ephram now ordered.

Severus decided he should at least go and check if she was alright so he got up and stumbled towards the doors.

Minerva winked at Ephram. "I see you're well aware of the situation at Hogwarts!"

Ephram shrugged. "Mione always told me a lot about Severus Snape. She has always adored him, although she never realised that it could have been love instead of just affection for intelligence."