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Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I'd be filthy stinking rich… and I'm not.

Chapter Two: Home

Hermione looked up at Hogwarts, feeling as though this we're he first time here. Her bags floated behind her as she headed up the steep lawn that led to the front doors. She had apparated to the gates as soon as she had packed. Knowing that she still had wet and puffy eyes and that she was wearing something that she would never have considered even bringing into the castle before. She headed straight for her room, hoping to eat unhealthy food and drown her sorrows in a book. Unfortunately this was apparently supposed to be the day where everything went wrong so as she walked down her hallway to her room she saw that Ron was emerging from his.

"Mione! Didn't expect yo… Oh god Hermione what happened?"

An hour later Hermione was sitting on her couch wearing sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt, and cradling a cup of tea. She had explained everything to Ron in a monotonous tone. He had just listened as she spoke, every so often squeezing her hand or patting her knee. When she was done he refilled her cup, and they sat in silence for awhile. After awhile Ron spoke.

"He was my best friend."

"Oh Ron," Hermione's heart broke a little more. "I didn't even think how I'd be coming between you two. Don't let this change anything, I would hate to be responsible for that."

"No Mione." Ron shook his head. "You have been my best friend as well as Harry; if you hadn't told me I would have found out another way and never have felt as close to either of you ever again. I'm glad that you felt like you could tell me, it seems as if we've been through so much together… Harry's adventures, your N.E.W.T.S. stress, my um sexual orientation… but I can't be close friends with somebody who would do that to someone least of all someone who would do that to my best friend."

"Oh Ron," Hermione threw her arms around the red-head and broke into a fresh wave of tears. After a few minutes of being completely consumed by sobs Hermione sniffled and gave Ron a watery smile. "So how are things between you and Josh?"

Severus Snape had been locked in his rooms all week. He didn't really feel like socializing, and there was nobody to take points from. He had finished all the potions to restock the infirmary and had replaced all his personal ingredients. He had re-read all of his advanced potions books and had begun a research project.

The problem was though, that Severus was bored. He had been in so much danger all his life that now that Voldemort had been defeated he really felt empty. The final battle had been two years after Potter had graduated. The golden trio had been there and Harry Potter had once again managed to escape unscathed. Not everybody else made it out.

Minerva had gone down at the very end, Voldemort's last revenge on Dumbledore. Madame Pomfrey had been stuck in a cross fire while trying to get somebody to safety. Flitwick had gone through horrible torture before death, if his mutilated remains were any indication.

The loses had been felt in the empty air of the castle. Dumbledore had hired Ron Weasley as the new DADA teacher, as nobody had wanted the job (besides himself of course), Hermione Granger had been hired to take the Transfiguration roll, Draco Malfoy (who had been a extremely well kept secret on Dumbledore's part, not even Severus knew about his spy status before the final battle) had take the job as Flitwicks's successor, and Madame Pomfrey had been replaced by a young woman who seemed to be scared of everything.

Severus had never been particularly close to anybody, but seeing his former students replace colleagues he didn't completely despise was at the least disheartening. The most annoying part of the whole ordeal was that he couldn't make himself hate the new teachers. Ronald Weasley still made him cringe with his obvious lack of anything resembling common sense, and the new nurse winced at his mere name, which wasn't something new to him but still it's a little extreme. The Granger girl though… she had managed to get to the point where Severus actually wanted to talk to her. It was maddening the way that he despised the know-it-all for her entire school career and then she turns into the one person Severus could carry a real conversation on with.

She knew what she was talking about. She could even present the information with a little more control than in her school days. And that was where the problem was… Severus liked intelligent conversation, the rarity that it was. And now that he had found someone to have said conversations with for the past year, he found himself wishing for the school year so that he could talk to Professor Granger.

Severus sighed. He could easily stay in his room for the remaining month before classes and not be missed, but even he needed a little human contact and fresh air. Deciding that the latter would definitely be easier to obtain he set off for the Hogwarts grounds.

Hermione had cried herself dry, letting herself take comfort from Ron. When she had finally calmed down she realized that she had been in her room for hours. Apologizing to Ron, who denied any inconvenience, she decided to go for a walk. It was almost six so she decided to go on the grounds and get some evening air.

When she reached the lake she saw that somebody was already down there. The tall lean figure was easy to recognize. Not knowing, or particularly caring, why she felt a sudden elation at the sight of Severus, Hermione made her way over to him.

Severus heard somebody approach him from behind and braced himself for the worst. When a feminine had placed it's self on his arm and fell into pace with him he was startled. Looking over at the girl Severus felt a sudden lightness of spirit.

"Hermione." Severus nodded.

"Severus," Hermione returned. "I hope you don't mind that I interrupted your… musings."

"Not at all." He realized that her hand was still on his arm. Without thinking he linked elbows with her, in the old fashioned escorting stance.

Hermione giggled and at Severus's raised eyebrow said, "You're just so formal. I wish that all men were as wonderful as you."

Slightly surprised Severus didn't answer right away. "Then Potter isn't quite the gentleman we all thought?" He said sarcastically.

Surprising herself Hermione snorted, "Hardly."

Choosing not to press the subject Severus instead steered the conversation to the coming school year.

By the time they got back inside it was nearly ten. Severus walked Hermione to her door and after a quick 'good night' gave her a short bow, turning to leave. Hermione laughed at this and when he stopped to glare for the laughter she got on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Good night Severus. I'll have to come see this new project of yours soon. Maybe tomorrow I'll stop by for a peak?"

Completely taken aback at the entire situation Severus just nodded and dazedly walked back to his rooms.