Three:
Hermione looked up, the door. There was someone knocking on her door.
Kick, punch, block, duck.
"Coming!" she called.
Jab, uppercut, box, and duck.
"Sandy take five." Hermione said between blocking and returning her now wide-awake student's punches.
"Can I help you?" she panted. Severus was standing in her doorway.
"It is time for dinner, Miss Granger." he looked her up and down, eyeing her workout clothes, clearly with distaste.
"I can't make it, I'm afraid…"
Hermione ducked and lunged at Severus. She pushed him away as an arrow went flying by his head. Hermione then grinned at him innocently and went forward to pull it out of the wooden door.
"Sorry about that!" Sandy called, standing sheepishly at the other side of the room.
"We were in the middle of a practice." Hermione explained. She whipped around and threw the arrow at Sandy. The blonde caught the shaft between her hands, inches from her face. Hermione nodded appreciatively. This earned a brief smile from Sandy, who threw the arrow down and ran for her teacher.
"Shit, Severus can we continue this little reunion later?" she asked as she blocked a hit from Sandy.
"Erm, yes…. Of course."
"Cool beans." Sandy said and she smiled at Severus. In the process she stopped looking at Hermione, who got in one good swing and knocked the other girl off her feet.
"Never take your eyes of your opponent, no mater what good looking gent enters the room." Hermione said, winking at him and laughing softly to herself.
"Ladies." Severus bowed and quickly excused himself from the room.
"So…who's Mr. tall dark and depressed?" Sandy grinned.
"That would be Severus Snape, Potions Master and ex-Potions Professor. He's teaching DADA now."
"I wish my teachers all looked like that." Sandy said playfully.
"Are you saying Severus Snape is more attractive than I am?" Hermione said, feigning hurt.
"No, I'm saying all of the nuns at the school are. Speaking of which, Sister Mary Catherine will be doing the bed check soon and you know how they feel about you dragging me through fireplaces in the middle of the night." Sandy said, finally getting up from the floor.
"Yes, I suppose. Well, the Floo awaits."
"Later, Danger."
"Later, Carson."
Hermione watched the younger girl disappear in a burst of green flame before sitting down once more, and resting her hands on her knees. It had been a big night. Hermione cleared her mind, and welcomed the peace of nothingness.
~*~
"Miss Granger?"
Hermione snapped out of her daze. Albus was sitting across from her in a position much like her own, regarding her with amusement. She softened. She had been too harsh with him earlier. He only did the best for the students. But she didn't have to like it.
"Yes, Albus?"
"I believe you missed dinner, and are close to missing breakfast as well.," he said. "I assume Miss Carson kept you at bay?"
"Albus you always know." Hermione sighed.
"When were you going to tell us?" he twinkled.
"You? Today. Everyone else? When the time is right."
"You have grown into a very beautiful woman, Hermione. You always were wise beyond your years."
"Thank you, Albus. I apologize for my rudeness earlier. I do not take kindly to people making my decisions for me." Hermione muttered.
"It is understood, my dear. I will remember that in the future." he paused, "I have one more question, Miss Granger"
"Shoot."
"Pardon?" Albus gasped, taken aback.
"American slang, sir. It means ask." Hermione explained with a smile.
"I see."
"Go ahead, Albus."
"Danger Granger?" Albus asked, twinkling more than ever.
"Don't ask.."
Albus stood and she heard him leave the room.
Hermione stood up. With a wave of her hand the room was returned to normal. Only if someone were to look very closely would they see the small, magically shrunk mats neatly folded and occupying a corner of her topmost bureau drawer. Another wave, and her clothes were transfigured into black robes, and her hair pulled back into a tight French braid. She was ready for breakfast.
~*~
"Miss Granger." Severus nodded as she took her seat next to him.
"Severus." Hermione watched him scowl at her use of his first name.
Well, If you would return the favor… She thought.
He was wearing his black teaching robes again. Hermione had always marveled at the number of buttons that man had on his body at any given time. She assumed, or rather hoped, he had a spell to do them all up. Otherwise, it would have taken an hour just to button his frock coat!
"Did your…friend…leave already?" Severus asked darkly. Clearly he still remembered the arrow incident.
"She is my protégé, and she left last night soon after yourself."
"I see."
They continued their meal in silence.