AN: I'm sorry if this chapter is bad. I've been working on it while at work so it might be...weird.

After their talk, Hermione and Lily returned to the compartment. The conversation between the boys abruptly stopped as they walked in. Hermione noticed a blush creep onto Remus' face and she smiled. She would definitely have to ask what they had been talking about. Sirius and Peter quickly went back to their game and Lily sat next to James. They spoke quietly to each other, occasionally looking up and smiling at Hermione and Remus.

Hermione sat across from Remus once again. He returned to his book and she returned to her journal. Though they would occasionally catch each other's eye and smile or blush or both, neither said a word to each other. Finally, the train came to a stop and the chatter of children entered the halls. The six friends gathered up their things and exited.

There was no light inside the carriages they rode to the castle on, except for the moon that wormed it's way through the crevices. Hermione found herself drifting off to sleep. Flashes of Harry, Ron, Luna, and Ginny ran through her head. Everyone looked so happy. Then, there was a flash of green and she heard Ginny scream. Hermione saw her four best friends lying motionless on the ground. She began to shake.

"Hermione! Hermione, wake up."

Hermione sat straight up and was looking into the face of Remus. She felt like she was hyperventilating.

"It's okay sweetheart. It was just a dream."

Before she could stop him, Remus pulled her into his arms. He held her tight and the warmth of his body brought calmness over her. She melted into him, her breath finally slowing to normal. All too soon, he pulled away. Remus lifted his hand and wiped away a tear.

"C'mon. We're here."

Hermione stepped out of the carriage and took a look around her. Hogwarts seemed to be even more beautiful at night. Every light had been lit, giving the grounds an ethereal quality.

"It's beautiful."

Lily came up beside her and took her arm, "You think this is nice? Wait till you see the inside."

Arm in arm, with the boys trailing closely behind them, Lily and Hermione walked up the steps into Hogwarts. Hermione was awestruck.

It seemed that, unlike in the future, the Dining Room wasn't the only thing that was decorated for the first day of school. Flowers and balloons were placed everywhere. Welcome back banners flew around and the happiest sounding music Hermione ever heard echoed through the halls.

"Professor Dumbledore really likes to make people feel welcomed doesn't he?"

Before Lily could answer, the sound of someone calling Hermione's name got their attention.

"Hermione Granger?"

Hermione turned to see Professor McGonnagall standing at the top of the stairs looking straight at her. She smiled and then looked back at Lily.

"I'll be back."

Lily nodded, "You've got to get sorted. I forgot about that."

Before Hermione could reply, the Professor called her again. She rolled her eyes, making Lily laugh, and walked away.

The Professor looked a bit stern as Hermione approached making Hermione hope she hadn't upset her too much.

"Hello ma'am."

McGonnagall nodded slightly.

"Since you are new hear you must get sorted. We will let the second through seventh years in to be seated first. You will go in with the first years and get sorted before they do. Understand?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes ma'am."

She anxiously watched the other years walk into the dining hall. She caught Remus' eye and smiled at him. He winked back, making her blush. As the last person shut the door behind him, Professor McGonnagall waited a few moments and then turned back to the first years and Hermione.

"Okay Ms. Granger, follow me. Everyone else, follow Ms Granger."

Hermione walked into the room and was instantly reminded of her very first day at Hogwarts. She had been such a know-it-all but she was also scared out of her wits. The sound of Dumbledore's voice jolted her back from her thoughts.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. For some of you, this is your last year. For others, this is your first."

He looked down at Hermione and smiled.

"We have someone being sorted today that is a seventh year. Hermione Granger is coming from Beauxbatons. Ms. Granger, will you please step up to the stool and sit so that the sorting hat can be placed on your head."

Hermione took in a deep breath. Would it be possible to be sorted into a different house after all these years? She did as she was requested and stepped forward. As she sat down, Professor McGonagall held the hat over her head. The Professor barely set it down when it gave the school its answer.

"Gryffindor!"

The cheers that came from the Gryffindor table was almost deafening. Hermione practically leaped from the stool and rushed forward. Lily and Remus were both standing and they greeted her to the table with hugs. Hermione watched as the first years began to go up one by one. Each of them looked just as scared as she had felt. As the last kid (a brand new Ravenclaw) ran to her table, Dumbledore waved his hand and food appeared in front of everyone. Hermione hadn't realized how hungry she was until the smell of the first day feast mingled around her, assaulting her nose with a heavenly aroma of chicken, potatoes, rice, and so many other things, she'd be here all night if she wanted to try everything (and gain an additional twenty pounds).

As Hermione took her last bite of chicken, the feast was cleared from the table. Dumbledore stood up again.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to go to your respective rooms. Your Prefects will lead the way. Also, for those of you who don't know, your Head Boy and Head Girl are Mr. Benjamin Cardinal from Ravenclaw and Ms. Nichole Parsons from Slytherin. That is all."

Hermione stood up with the rest of her classmates and started towards the door. From the corner of her eye, she saw Severus talking with Lucius. She turned towards Lily.

"I'll be right back. Will you wait for me and show me where the dorm is?"

Lily nodded and grabbed James by the arm before he walked away. Hermione smiled and than quickly walked over to her cousin. Lucius sneered at her and she smiled sweetly back at him as she tapped Severus on the shoulder. He spun around and she broke into an honest grin. Severus was slightly taken aback but returned her smile.

"I was hoping to see you here Severus! Did you ever finish that book you were reading at Diagon Alley? Was it good?"

If Hermione hadn't known better, she could swear she hear the wheels turning in his head, trying to comprehend her quick words. She hadn't meant to talk so fast but Lucius' constant glare was making her slightly nervous.

"Why were you hoping to see me? Yes. I've finished it and yes, it was good." He looked over her shoulder, "I think your friends want you."

Hermione turned around and saw Lily and Remus holding Sirius back. The boy looked positively furious. She sighed and turned back and shrugged.

"They can wait. Anyway, I was hoping to see you so that I could say hello. Maybe some weekend we can hang out or something. I better go back before Sirius has a brain aneurism. That boy is going to drive me up the wall. I may just have to lock him I a closet sometime just to keep him out of my hair. I'll see you later Sev. I'll send you an owl in a few days. Stop glaring at me Lucius, I'm leaving."

Hermione spun on her heel and walked back over to her friends. Severus watched her exchanged some words with Black, who in turn seemed to say some pretty angry words to Hermione. Then it happened, Hermione smacked him. Lily, like Potter, Lupin and Pettigrew, seemed to have to turn away to keep from laughing. To Severus' surprise, Black smiled at her and she shook her head then turned and walked away. Lily quickly followed behind, waving quickly to Severus before catching up to Hermione and talking with her. Severus raised his hand and waved, even though she had already turned away. He was trying to figure out when Gryffindor girls became so nice when someone grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. Lucius glared at him.

"What the hell was that about Snape? When did you become such good friends with the Gryffindor losers?"

Not in the mood to argue, Severus stared blankly at him and then walked away. Despite Lucius' anger, he would do nothing but seethe and take it out on a first or second year. Both of them knew whom the more powerful wizard was and what would happen if Lucius tried to take on the other young man.

Thoughts of Hermione Granger bothered young Severus to no end. It wasn't that he was attracted to her, though she was a lovely girl. It was the fact that she reminded him of someone. Someone who didn't really exist according to his father and mother. There was a dark story that Severus wasn't supposed to know about. Like most people, Severus didn't remember his infancy or anything before his third birthday really. But there was one thing he did remember...those eyes. Those large brown eyes. Hermione's eyes.