It was her first year as a teacher at Hogwarts. She was twenty four years old and glowing with happiness. She would be the youngest person to have ever taught at the school. Hermione was sitting in the teachers compartment on the Hogwarts Express. There was only one other teacher present on the train and he was slumped in the corner by the window, snoring lightly. He looked different than the last time she had seen him. He was no longer the greasy potions master. She looked at him for a moment. Something was different. His hair, it was a little longer reaching just down to his shoulder blades. It had a glossy just washed look to it. She had the sudden impulse to touch it.

She leaned forward with her arm outstretched unconsciously. Then his eyes opened. Her hand was an inch from his hair. She gave a startled yelp and flew backwards into her seat. Snape arched an eyebrow "What where you doing just now?"
"N-n-nothing" she stuttered feeling like a cornered first year.

Snape looked amused "I see," he paused "and nothing would involve your hand next to my face."

Hermione blushed. "Your hair" she said quickly "it's changed"

"I am aware of that Miss Granger seeing as it is on top of my head."

Hermione felt humiliated and her mind began to race.

"Now please tell me what your hand was doing near my face."

Hermione smirked at him and said simply "No."

"Excuse me." replied Snape annoyed.

"I refuse." she said calmly.

Snape glared at her. Hermione glared back at Snape. Not expecting this, a momentary look of confusion crossed his face. Hermione grinned.

"What do you find so amusing may I ask?" Snape snarled.

Her grin intensified. "You."

Snape's mouth hung open. She was mocking him.

"You might want to shut your mouth or you will be catching fly's soon." she commented with a grin.

Snape couldn't take much more of this. No one had ever dared treat him this way, and he was confused as to how he should respond. He got up and walked out the door. He took one last look over his shoulder just in time to see her stick out her tongue at him before he slammed the compartment door shut.When he reached the hallway he stood with his back against the door breathing heavily, a panicked look written across his face. Just then the witch with the lunch trolley came by and gave him an odd look.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked an amused tone in her voice.

"What's wrong with me?" He asked incredulously. "Don't you mean what's wrong with her?" his voice getting louder and louder. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is insane!" he nearly yelled.

The witch looked past him into the teachers' compartment. She could see a pretty young woman with golden brown curls reading a book. The witch looked from the panicked potions master to the young woman and smiled knowingly. Severus saw the look on the witches face and knew he would get no sympathy from her. He growled in frustration and stalked toward the end of the train terrifying a group of first years on his way. He chose the very end compartment which was fortunately almost always empty and slammed the door shut. Curious to see what was going on, a group of third years gathered outside the door. When they heard a muffled scream of frustration come from inside, they scattered.