Okay, the lack of reviews for the last chapter was depressing, yet I decided to post this anyway. I had planned to write the rest of the story in the form of letters and diary entries (ultimately the story would become a book written by Hermione and Severus chronicling their journey to happiness), but it seems to me that people don't like that. This chapter will be in third person and I'll see how that goes.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this chapter, nor do I own St. Mungo or the Wolfsbane Potion.
1st September 1997
Hermione slid into the train compartment with an unusually somber expression. She had had a particularly bad night and had not had time to produce her usual happy façade. Luckily she knew that most people would not notice or chalk it up to a small fight with Harry and Ron. She managed to produce a smile when she saw all the people in the compartment. Harry had agreed to a posting and was standing in a corner watching everyone and nodding occasionally at what Ernie Macmillan was saying to him. Draco had been invited and was confronting Neville. Blaise Zabini was talking to Pansy Parkinson kept glancing to where Terry Boot and Susan Bones were talking in another corner. Finally Hannah Abbot, Lisa Turpin and Lavender were talking and giggling near the center of the compartment, all in all it was an interesting combination of students to represent the apparent best and brightest of Hogwarts. Hermione made her way to Harry's corner and waited for him to acknowledge her.
"Hi." Short, almost curt and with no warmth what so-ever.
"I had hoped that you would wait for me so we could come here together."
"The note said to come straight here. Can you believe that Draco was invited here!"
"He is pretty good at potions, brilliant actually."
"Because Snape favors him." Harry was clearly annoyed.
"Draco knows his work, he always finishes within five minutes of me and his potions are always as good as mine, sometimes they are better. In fact, I've seen him deliver potions, in his own potion bottles, to the infirmary no doubt Madam Pomfrey uses them instead of ordering her supplies from St. Mungo's or the apothecary."
"She actually uses potions that the ferret made on students!" His voice easily carried across the compartment.. Many of the conversations stilled for a moment but Malfoy said nothing so they resumed.
"Harry really, you need to set a better example, we are practically teachers now." Hermione hissed.
"He's the son of a Death Eater Hermione. He shouldn't be allowed back at the school let alone allowed to teach in it."
"Since when has the sins of the father become enough to convict the son? Draco is guilty of being an arrogant prick and nothing else. He is brilliant at Potions and perfectly capable of teaching it to remedial students."
"He hexed and jinxed us and tried to get us expelled! He should not be allowed back."
"Harry, really, you did the same. You have tried to hex Draco numerous times, you broke into the Slytherin common room to spy on him and any time you may have been expelled you were in the situation of your own accord."
"His father is a Death Eater!" They were attracting attention again.
"His father may be but he isn't!" Hermione yelled back. If he wanted the attention she was going to make sure that the others learned his lesson as well.
"He is probably going to end up a murderer, just like his father."
"He deserves the chance to make his own decision about that rather then having it thrust upon by no fault of his own, and denying him a chance he clearly deserves is thrusting the 'dark side' upon him. Furthermore, you forget that one of your closest friends whose death your mourned for months was almost a murderer. Who almost killed a fellow students in his sixth year and tried to kill one of his friends only three years later. You never even questioned his morality or whether he deserved your love."
"Sirius never tried to kill Snape and even if he had died it would have been good riddance, just like if he had killed Pettigrew!" Everyone was listening intensely now though neither Harry nor Snape noticed both too involved in their argument. Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall were standing just outside the door but were remaining silent, waiting to see if Hermione could get through to Harry.
"Good Riddance! Proffessor Snape saved your life on several occasions and went into a situation he was probably terrified off attempting to save your life as well. Could you atleast attempt to understand that fact."
"Sirius would never try to kill me and Snape just wanted to give Sirius to the dementors. He didn't care about us."
"Professor Snape knew that Remus had not had his Wolfbanes Potion and could turn into a werewolf. Last time he went to the Shrieking Shack in a similar situation he could have died. He would have been terrified. He also though he would be facing a murderer obsessed with killing you, if he wanted you dead as you seem to believe then he would of waited for reinforcements from the ministry and let Sirius kill you first. And you seem to be forgetting your first year when Quirall tried to kill you with the jinxed broom. You suspected him of jinxing the broom instead."
"You thought he was as well and he might have been the one who jinxed it anyway, we don't know for sure!"
"Then why would he referee the next match? He never refereed a match before and he hasn't again since! He did it because he wanted to ensure that no one tried the same trick again and to be there if you needed help because some one did jinx you!"
"Or he wanted to make us lose the game." Harry had gotten a bit quieter but more savage.
"If he wanted to make us lose, he would have refereed more games. In favor of his saving you, there is also the fact that he taught you occulmency."
"And made it bloody difficult for me. I dreamed more after I started studying with him then I did before I started."
"You wanted to dream Harry. You never cleared your mind like you were meant to and you kept trying to open that blasted door. If you had done what you were meant to Sirius would still be alive!"
Even Hermione knew she had gone too far. The room went deathly quite, even those who were completely lost and confused about what the couple were arguing about recognized that Hermione had just accused Harry of inadvertently killing someone. It was like the situation with Cedric all over again. Eventually Harry started to speak again.
"If Snape had listened to me, Sirius would have survived. I may have made mistakes but he made worse ones."
Professor Dumbledore chose that time to enter the compartment.
"Good morning children. I'm sure you are all excited about this marvelous new opportunity and rest assured each of you have well deserved this. I am sure you have all taken the time to read the rules and guidelines sent out last night and are now anxious to find out what subject you will be tutoring so let me just get out my list and tell you."
Professor McGonagall handed the Headmaster a list.
"Ahh yes, here we are. Miss Abbot you will be covering Muggle Studies, Miss Bones, you have Charms, Mr. Boot you will have Care of Magical Creatures. Miss Brown, you will be tutoring Divination. Now, since we have a fair number of people experiencing trouble with History of Magic, Miss Granger and Miss Turpin will be sharing that responsibility. Mr. Longbottom, you will be tutoring Herbology, Mr. Macmillan will be assisting in Transfiguration, Mr. Malfoy you are assisting in Potions and I wish to speak with you after we are done here. Miss Parkinson, you will be helping students with Astronomy, Mr. Potter, you are helping students in Defence Against the Dark Arts and Mr. Zabini you are helping students with Ancient Runes.
"Now, it is important that you learn to prepare yourself so I expect you to take this time to perfect your ideas for your teaching strategies. We will meet again after the opening feast and you can present your strategies and talk to the professor of your subject. I'll see you then. And Miss Granger, could you please speak to Professor McGonagall in the next compartment."