"HOGWARTS?" Exclaimed Lavender and Cho.

"Yes... Didn't... Didn't I tell you I had applied?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Well of course! But it is the middle of the year..."

"Apparently an position became available and needs to be filled ASAP and Mcgonagall picked me." She smiled as she lied through her teeth.

"That's incredible!"

"So you are leaving for Hogwarts tonight? What about... you know?" Lavender asked curiously.

The elephant in the room that no one really wanted to address. Severus Snape. Their relationship. The possibility of seeing one another before they needed to. Merlin. Her mind had been dealing with those very thoughts since she had heard about this situation. However she refused to let it get in her way of her dream position.

Hermione frowned. "It won't be a problem... I will be mature and focus on my duties. Its not like he would be bothered by my presence." She pointed out as she got her trunk. "Plus this is my dream job. I have always wanted to be a teacher..."

"I suppose that is true..." Cho said softly. "We will miss you!" With that Cho wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione from behind.

Hermione smiled. "I will write as much as I can. And don't worry! I will still cover my part of the rent!" She said squeezing her friend before letting go.

Both girls gave a delightful sigh. Cho had been worrying about that but Lavender. Lavender was sort of relieved that Hermione was going to Hogwarts. She was excited for her friend, and happy that she was going to get her chance. But she had a secret other motive to being so happy she was leaving.

If she was at Hogwarts with Severus Snape...

That meant she could be here with Ronald Weasley.

• • • • •

"Welcome Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy." Said an old and familiar voice. McGonagall. "I presume you would like to see to your class Miss. Granger. And Professor Snape should be here shortly to fetch you, Mr. Malfoy."

"Indeed!" Hermione nodded feeling her heart race at the idea of being in the same room as Severus. She didn't want to see him until she absolutely had to. Could two teacher avoid one another in this school? "Is the class held in the same location?"

"No. It is in the hall next to the library now-"

With that the door opened and the scent that haunted Hermione's dreams can and overtook her senses. He was here. Already. She turned on her heel and immediately left without saying another word and without even looking at him as she barreled through the door way. Just keep your head down. Head down. Head down-

"Miss. Granger, we like to keep a sense of respect as colleagues. Please remember that the next time you push past me."

Hermione whipped her head around as Severus spoke to her, and could feel her anger rising. How dare he! Respect! That miserable man! How dare he speak to her about respect-

"I will see you later, 'Mione- Miss. Granger."

Did... Did Draco just address me by name?

"Ye-yes..." Hermione nodded feeling a blush warm her face wondering if she looked as red as a tomato as she felt.

Quickly she turned on her heel and headed down the hallway but without looking back at Draco who was still looking at her. He gave her a gentle had nod and smirk that made her brows furrow.

That cheeky bastard.

Draco was going to enjoy flustering Hermione. She made it so easy. What he didn't know was that Severus had watched the encounter closely and now he had an abound of questions that needed to be answered. Like when did the two of them become so friendly...

Hermione made her way down the hall and to her new class room her thoughts leaving from Severus and Draco when she saw a student walk past her. She was going to be in charge of these young minds... She needed to focus and do what she could to make sure these students had what they needed to succeed. That started with learning where Miss Glockenspiel had left off in her lesson and if she had left a lesson plan behind. Hermione had brought her own material from when she was learning in school just in case. However she wanted to make sure she did as much as possible to keep a smooth transition from Miss Glockenspiel to Miss Granger for the classes.

"I suppose you will need time to prepare yourself for my next class?" Severus said as he and Draco walked down the halls to the dungeon.

"A little. I kept up on my brewing and crafting. And I did extremely well in your class as well so I am sure I will be able to keep up... However do I have to be as cold as you are to your students? Or may I be my own self?" Draco asked sensing a bit if reluctance from Severus Snape. He thought the man would be happy to see him again but there was something about him that was off.

"Do as you please."

"I will then." Draco smirked as Severus billowed ahead. However a voice made him stop in the middle of the hall as students exited their classes to go to the next. It was Granger.

She stood in her classroom greeting students as they filed in one after another. She looked so in place to be a teacher. For some reason he had always thought she would have become a teacher after a few years. Did she ask for her position because she wanted it? Not just because of his comfort? That cheeky woman. He thought as a smile came to his face.

"Mr. Malfoy." Severus called impatiently and Draco turned to look at him then back to Hermione who had been alerted that he was watching her. He gave her a wink and then began to walk towards the angry bat of the dungeons.

Something was going on between the two of them, but he didn't know what Severus decided. He wasn't sure how it made him feel but something told him he was a little jealous by the mere fact that there was something there. How could she have moved on so quickly?

Why did he care?

Why did it bother him that there was something going on? He should be happy that ignorant child had moved on to someone her own age. But... Somehow it didn't make him feel any better.