Chapter 3

"Ow… get off of me…"

"You're on my hair..."

"Do not touch me Potter!"

"That's Ron you greasy git."

The tangled four were all on the ground of their new home. The Portkey left them all on top one another in a mess of limbs. Crawling on hands and knees, Hermione was the first to get out. She quickly brushed herself off and saw how the boys were still arguing. She rolled her eyes and decided to leave them to solve their own problems.

Looking at the living, she was impressed at how big it is. A couch was at the center facing a rather large television. She looked behind her and saw the front door then she noticed that the kitchen was straight ahead. A staircase started at the corner of the living near a window that led to a hallway upstairs where she guessed that was the location of the bedrooms. 'First things first,' she thought and headed to the kitchen.

After reading a few of the instructions Dumbledore left, Ron came in looking exited.

"Hey Hermione, did you see the rooms upstairs? They're gigantic! Better hurry up and pick your room before Snape picks the one near the library," said Ron.

"Library?" said Hermione getting up from the table completely forgetting the papers she was reading.

Ron laughed as he saw his friend's reaction at the word 'library'.

Harry looked around his new room, which he will be sharing with Ron since there was only three bedrooms and he was certain that he did not want to share one with Snape. He finished unpacking in time to hear Ron yell his name from downstairs. Harry sighed and made his way to see what Ron wanted.

"Harry this house is charmed or enchanted or something or other," said Ron as Harry came down the stairs.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Well, it's kinda hard to explain. I was in the kitchen looking for some food," started Ron as Harry nodded his head, "When this big white box thing was making a humming noise. I went to look at it, but don't worry I had my wand, and anyways I went closer. There was this latch or handle and I grabbed it. Nothing happened at first, but then I pulled it. Light magically appeared and food was inside. Get this Harry, it was all cold. It's like, it knew exactly what I wanted, but with a catch. See the connection, I wanted food, but the catch is the food turned cold. Weird, eh?"

Harry stared at his friend bewildered, but then again Ron had never been to a Muggle house before. He just hoped that Snape will know more about Muggles than his friend because right now, Harry senses that it will take Hermione and him quite some time to teach Ron about the Muggle world.

"Okay you guys, listen up," said Hermione to Ron, Harry and the infant Snape, who were all sitting on the couch except Snape that was standing behind. Hermione called down for a meeting so she can explain the situation she learned, "Professor Dumbledore left some instructions, first of all we are forbidden to do magic of any kind."

"What? Why?" asked Harry and Ron.

Instead of Hermione answering, Snape said, "It's obvious isn't it? The Headmaster does not want the Ministry to know that we are in hiding. Plus there are still a few Death Eaters active within, just a precaution."

"Er…yeah that's right, so you guys better not do any magic. And second we can't go out alone after dark, too dangerous. And lastly Professor Dumbledore had arranged that some visitors will be coming on Saturday nights to make sure everything is alright," explained Hermione.

"Who's coming Hermione?" asked Harry with wonder.

"I have no idea, he did not say," replied Hermione, "Oh well, we'll find out soon enough."

Suddenly all four of them saw a thick patch of smoke come out of the oven. "Oh no!" yelled Hermione, "THE ROAST!"

Everyone left the living room and followed Hermione into the kitchen, where she opened the oven and huge flames shot out. Luckily she did not get burned.

"Hold on, I'll be right back," said Harry as he ran out the back that was in the kitchen.

"Ron, get Snape out of here," said Hermione with authority.

"I'm not going anywhere with this imbecile!" yelled Snape to Hermione while pointing at Ron.

"Me either," said Ron defiantly.

Hermione turned her face away from the flames ever so slowly. Her right eye was beginning to twitch and a visible vein started to show on her temple. Ron and Snape both looked at the extremely angry Hermione, and started to back away, afraid that she will viciously attack them, and headed out of the kitchen.

Harry returned a few minutes later, dragging a long, green garden hose behind him. Getting soaked in the process, he pointed the hose at the fire and left it there until it extinguished. Both looked at each other and sighed with relief. They turned and surveyed the damage, which apparently wasn't that extensive. All that needed to be done was to clean the oven to get rid of the burn spots.

"Looks like we're having take-out tonight," said Hermione to Harry. Harry didn't show it but he was glad that he turned the oven to broil and poured grease all over the roast…

As the week went on, Harry and Ron were helping Hermione do some major cleaning in the house while Snape was in his room doing who knows what.

"I don't understand how that git is getting off of not cleaning," complained Ron.

"Well Ron, obviously he can't lift the vacuum cleaner," said Hermione as she reached on top of a shelf with a dirty rag.

"He can very well do other things, right Harry," said Ron turning to Harry that was sweeping a large pile of dirt.

"Er…" started Harry but Ron didn't let him finish.

"And another thing I'm sick and tired of you sticking up for Snape," said Ron pointing his finger at Hermione.

"Well Ron, obviously I'm mature enough to not start arguments and hex people for revenge," explained Hermione even though she knew that it was a pathetic excuse.

"I see what's going on, you're just sucking to the teacher to get good grades!" exclaimed Ron.

Hermione threw her rag on the ground, glared at Ron and ran upstairs.

Ron was looking like he wanted to take the words right back into his mouth as he stared at Harry.

"Don't worry, let her calm down a bit and then go apologize," said Harry with a hand on Ron's shoulder.

"Yeah, you're right," said Ron with a sigh and went gloomily back to work.

Meanwhile in the library Hermione was curled up on the couch with a book on her lap. However she wasn't reading since she could not read the page due to the tears were blocking her vision.

Just then Snape walked in and rolled his eyes at Hermione. He continued to the bookshelf and started to browse. Seeing a particular book was out of reach, he considered whether to get a chair to stand on, but not in front of Granger. Hearing a sniff he figured she wouldn't leave anytime soon, so he asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Hermione lifted her tear face to Snape, snapped a 'none of your business' and returned to stare at her page.

Snape frowned but decided to let that go since the girl was emotional distressed. Being bored out of his mind, he needed that book so he said, "I heard that buffoon talking, rather loudly might I add, how he insulted you."

Hermione was looking at Snape with an interest now as he continued, "That idiot probably didn't even know what he was talking about. Course I don't find, how did he say 'sucking up to the teacher.' That block-head is just jealous of that you can brew the Potion of Paralyses in your sleep."

Hermione smiled at Snape and said, "I think you just gave me a compliment."

Snape realizing that was exactly what he had done recovered and quickly added, "That was certainly not a compliment. It was a statement that you are a know-it-all."

Still smiling Hermione said, "Nice try, but I don't believe you."

Face red with anger and fist clenched, he glared at Hermione. Ignoring this, Hermione got up and went to where Snape was standing. Looking down at him she said, "Which book did you want?"

Suddenly the anger vanished as he looked up Hermione's eyes and replied hastily, looking at his feet, "Understanding Technology for Dummies".

Hermione stood on her toes, got the book and handed it to Snape. She could see his embarrassment and quickly added, "I need help figuring out revenge for Ron, even though he didn't mean it, he still deserves it, don't you think?"

"I actually have a plan all prepared after he and Potter dropped me in that bog," said Snape with a smirk.

"Oh you can do whatever to Harry, I have nothing against him, but I'll be glad to assist you with the revenge for Ron," said Hermione with a gleam in her eyes.

"After Potter and Weasley leave for the orientation of their new job, I will explain the plan," said Snape.

Hermione and Snape both left to go their own separate ways.

Author's Note: Sorry it took a while to update, but with my job, hanging out with friends and reading HBP, it's hard to find time to write. So I hope the next chapter will come out much faster. Hope you enjoyed it and you are welcome to leave me a note to tell me what you think ; )

Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter or the characters.