Happy New Year, people! Here's to Rowling's eventual completion of Harry Potter and Whatever Book Seven Will Be Called.

I have been busy and lazy, hence the hideously long delay. I am very sorry and will understand if all I receive for this chapter are flames. Thanks once again to my beta, Shiegurl. You're the best!

Disclaimer: Once again, J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.

Maybe Tomorrow

Five days! Five whole days of endless probing and prodding from Madam Pomfrey before the school healer reluctantly permitted a perfectly healthy Hermione to rejoin the civilization that was the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts castle.

Hermione ran down the deserted corridors as fast as her dignity would allow, and raced towards the Great Hall. It had been so long since she ate at the Gryffindor table with her friends and she looked forward to seeing them all again. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she slowed to a halt in front of the closed doors that lead to the Great Hall. The inviting smell of bacon and eggs wafted from behind the doors. Hermione could hear the loud buzzing of the school population's morning conversation as well as the furious clinking of forks and knives on plates as the students attempted to consume as much food as they could before their morning classes started. When she entered, everyone would stare at her and whisper. Hogwarts was a small and closely-knitted community. Everybody knew everything. Everyone would know what had happened to her and what she had done.

Suddenly, staying in the hospital wing for another day seemed very appealing.

Hermione tried to quash the irrational trepidation that had started to well up inside her. This was Hogwarts. This was her home. She had every right to eat her breakfast in the Great Hall. Her friends would welcome her and no one would stare. No one knew her story apart from some of the professors and Harry and Ron. Even then, her best friends were not privy to the whole truth. Taking a deep breath, Hermione opened one of the doors slightly and slipped inside.

Once behind the door, Hermione almost laughed at her sense of self-importance. Everyone was too intent on their breakfast and conversations to notice her when she came in. She doubted that most people realized that she was gone in the first place. Her confidence restored, she made her way towards the table that was the unspoken territory of Harry, Ron and herself. As she neared their table, a red-headed girl looked up and spotting Hermione, stared at her, shell-shocked. A second later, Ginny shot up from her seat and ran towards Hermione, screeching. Ginny enveloped Hermione in a bear hug and Hermione embraced the younger girl just as fiercely. Someone tapped her on the shoulder and Hermione disengaged from the embrace and turned around. A sea of grinning faces met her. Neville, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan. Parvati and Lavendar. Even Luna Lovegood. And Harry and Ron, her best friends in the world.

Hermione greeted all her friends in turn amidst exclamations of "We've missed you!" and "Where were you?" Luna hugged her tightly, relieve evident in her voice as she said, "I was so afraid that you had died from a serious case of the Foop-Foop, Hermione. Banshee's toes are so rare these days. But you're alright, so I suppose you found a good supply of those." Hermione barely registered the ridiculousness of the Ravenclaw's words as her eyes fixed on the dark-haired man sitting at the staff table.

Severus Snape was staring just a little too intently at the morning's Daily Prophet. Evidently Hermione was not as inconspicuous as she had hoped to be. In fact, she thought as she scanned over her friends' shoulders, everyone is starting to notice the unusual display of group affection. Gently detangling herself from Luna, Hermione suggested that they all should try to eat as much breakfast as they could in the time that was left. In the meantime, she would tell them why she had to return to the Muggle world for a few months and what she did while she was there.

As everyone settled down around her, Hermione sent both Ron and Harry a meaningful look. Later, she promised them, and proceeded to tell the rest of her friends the lie that she had fabricated during her stay in the hospital wing.

Maybe tomorrow.

Hermione Snape- no, Hermione Granger had returned to Hogwarts five days ago. It had been five days since the whole truth was unravelled like a ball of yarn in the paws of a kitten. What a big mess they have made out of everything. Severus was furious when he realised the extent of Hermione's, and consequently, Mel's deception. Hermione had known who he was and what he did to her, and yet had allowed him to attach himself to Mel.

'Mel' had not hated him on sight, had Hermione hated him? Severus wasn't sure. His ex-wife had attempted to salvage their marriage even though there was no good reason for her to do so. And after she had become Mel, she could forgive what he did to Hermione to allow him a chance at happiness with Mel. Could he forgive her?

Maybe tomorrow.

Severus turned the page of the Daily Prophet and absently brought the cup of coffee to his lips. He frowned when one of the students shrieked. If Albus asked him, he would put a bet on it being a rat in the girl's pumpkin juice.

Why did Hermione forgive him? Severus had pondered the question several times to no avail. And what, thought Severus angrily as he looked up, possessed the morons to disturb his thought by indulging in excessive cheer so early in the morning? He glared at the group of Gryffindors huddled together in the middle of the Great Hall, excitedly talking about something. The group shifted slightly and Hermione's face emerged, bushy hair and all, smiling brilliantly at her friends. His heart lurched and he quickly looked back at the Daily Prophet, staring fixedly at the zooming broomstick in the advertisement for Comet Two Nineties. Hermione was as beautiful as Mel had been. Severus shook his head. Hermione and Mel are one and the same. Of course they would be as alluring as each other.

Maybe they should discuss the things that had happened between them. The matter needed closure, one way or another. But he was still angry with her, and hurt over her deception. Severus was not sure if the meeting would turn into another argument. It was still too early, the wound to his feelings and pride were still fresh and bleeding. He should talk to her, but maybe tomorrow.

Just maybe.

The plates of bacon, eggs and toast vanished just as Ron reached out for another piece of toast, signaling the end of breakfast. Ron swore.

"Language, Ron!" hissed Hermione viciously.

"But I'm still hungry!" Ron protested. "I only had twelve pieces!"

Hermione threw her hands up in surrender and rolled her eyes. She grabbed her books from the table and the three friends stood up, trailing after the mob of students as everyone hurried to their first classes. Harry cast a quick glance around and bent down to murmur in Hermione's ear, "So, your second cousin on your father's side went on an extended holiday and you had to look after her dog. Good one, Hermione, very original."

Hermione grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "Everyone bought it, didn't they?"

"Dean looked skeptical; he knows Muggles don't do things like that, but I think he'll let it drop. You'll tell us everything later, right?"

"Of course."

They came to the corridor where Hermione parted with Harry and Ron for her class. "We'll see you later, Hermione," Ron said while shooting Harry a quick glance. To Hermione, it seemed as if Ron was silently prodding Harry into some kind of action. She cocked an eyebrow and waited. For a split second Harry hesitated, and then resignation settled in his eyes. "And there's something I have to tell you, too."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Okay," she replied. "After dinner then."

Ron cut into their conversation, shaking his head in mock regret. "Harry's got detention with Snape after dinner."

Harry shrugged. "It'll be better that way. The common room will be less crowded, less chances of being overheard."

Hermione nodded knowingly. "That bad, huh."

The trio then parted with one of them silently trying to guess the lunch menu for the day and the other two torn between anticipating and dreading the night's meeting.