Author notes: A bit of a bridge to be honest. But will get something accomplished next chapter. Must read this first or you'll be like "When did that happen?" LOL! Thank you for your wonderful reviews! Enjoy!

With her satchel firmly in place on her shoulder, Hermione sauntered into the classroom.

"Good to see you back."

Hermione regarded Ron with a small smile and sat down. She took out her seventh year books with apprehension. Harry noticed her reservations and scooted closer to her.

He leaned over slightly and whispered, "It's alright. This has all been thrust onto you. Do you need to take some more time? You have a lot to get caught up on."

Hermione looked around the class. Even Professor Binns was giving her a look of pity.

"No, I have to do this. I have to get it all back. Three years, Harry!" she exclaimed with exasperation.

"Miss Granger, are you alright?" the portly ghost asked.

She looked up. "Yes, professor. I'm sorry for my outburst. Please continue."

As the apparition continued his lecture, Hermione tried her best to take notes. Today's syllabus included things about the war that she couldn't remember. Topics of interest were discussed about how Harry finally defeated Voldemort by coaxing him out of hiding with the last Horcrux. All the details were spelled out to Hermione, but she couldn't find that memory in her head. She had to have been there.

She heard something from the front of the class that startled her. It was her name.

"Miss Granger was the first to find Professor Snape lying at the gates of Hogwarts grounds. She single-handedly kept three Death Eaters at bay while she levitated his unconscious form into the castle. It was upon casting several diagnostics that Miss Granger found a key hidden under the skin of the professor's chest. The key lead to the eventual discovery of the contract the late Albus Dumbledore had forged with Professor Snape. The details in which were enough to exonerate him of all charges in the former Headmaster's death.

"And so concludes this chapter, 'Professor Severus Snape: Guilty? Or Innocent?' I expect for your essays detailing the past few months of Professor Snape's freedom on my desk in two weeks. That will give you all ample time to set an appointment to speak with him personally. Please take the remainder of class time to outline the questions you wish for him to answer."

Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment and her quill. She honestly had no clue what to ask him. She didn't need to be told the last six months, she needed to know the last few years. Professor McGonagall had told her the details of her memory loss a week ago. She gave Hermione a week to prepare for classes the best way she could. Professor Snape prepared a jobber knoll feather concoction similar to Hermione's advanced Veritaserum to help her retain as much of the information as possible. She would often find herself at 3am with a massive headache, or asleep with at least two books opened in her lap. It was NEWT year! There was learning to be done! Unfortunately, there was a great deal more to do than usual.

Overwhelmed, Hermione turned to put the blank parchment away. She collected her things and proceeded to the front of the class.

"Professor Binns, could I have a word with you?"

"Certainly, Miss Granger. Step into my office." The ghost floated to the door behind the blackboard and glided straight through. Hermione sighed as she turned the knob and entered.

"What can I help you with?" Professor Binns asked as he hovered, not quite sitting, over his chair.

"You are a master at History, Professor. I was hoping you would be able to work with me. Perhaps you could find the time to tutor me on the last three years of Hogwarts History and that of the wizarding world in general."

The specter rose and pretty much floated over this desk and placed a chilly hand on her shoulder. She quivered at the freezing jolt that cooled her blood.

"I would be honored to help you in your time of need, Miss Granger. I will have an outline of the most important events made up by this evening and have them sent to you. Then come to my office tomorrow afternoon and we will go over what you read. I don't expect much, young lady. You have to learn a lot and I know that this is just one of many classes."

She smiled at his appreciation for what she was going through. "Thank you, Professor. I'll be here after classes are finished."

Hermione exited the office about the time the bell rang for last class of the day. Potions.

It was five minutes until the end of Potions class. Professor Snape stood over Hermione with his arms crossed demanding an answer.

"I don't know why, professor."

He scowled at her harder than he had ever scowled before. "What do you mean you 'don't know'? Is it possible the Gryffindor know-it-all has suddenly become a dunderhead like the rest of them?"

Hermione looked down into her cauldron again; wondering why her potion disintegrated in a puff of blue smoke. She looked up at Professor Snape with an almost sheepish look on her face. "I suppose so," was all she said as she lowered herself back into her chair and placed her face in her hands. She didn't run away. She just sat there…defeated. Her spirit seemed to have disappeared as quickly as the vapor that surrounded her workstation. Severus was worried.

"Stay after class, Miss Granger."

He strolled back to the front of the class and dismissed them as the bell rang soon after. Hermione stood slowly and began what seemed to be a long treacherous trek to his desk.

She sat down in front of him; her eyes never lifting the level of the mahogany wood where his quill rested in its inkbottle.

"I am afraid, Miss Granger, that I have done something I am not proud of."