Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Snape watched her leave the classroom like it was on fire. He sighed resignedly, he wasn't sure what to do. She was fifteen, there was no way anyone would look on him fondly for liking her, if indeed that is what he was feeling. He surprised himself by telling Black about it. Perhaps he was more confused about the girl than he thought.

He wished he could go after her, but that wouldn't be prudent, and he had another class in a few minutes. He was never really good with women and emotions and such. It wouldn't matter anyway, he had to get Draco to tell him his plans and once he did, he would be the one to kill Dumbledore. The very thought made his stomach turn, once he did that she would never forgive him. With such depressing thoughts on his mind, he started his next class, seeing as the students had all arrived.

Ginny was hiding in Myrtle's bathroom, not sure whether she wanted to cry or tear the place apart. Luckily Luna's arrival saved her from making a choice.

"You're very upset with Snape." She said simply, Ginny looked at her in surprise, wondering exactly how much she understood about that statement.

"He's so insulting!" She confirmed, hoping Luna didn't read intowhy she was so upset with him.

Luna smiled kindly, "he can't act different with you, people would notice." Ginny sighed, knowing she was right. Luna had strange way of seeing the world, but it wasn't a bad one. Sometimes, Ginny felt Luna saw more of the world with more clarity than most people did.

"Yeah, okay. Let's go, we have classes to get to." Ginny said resignedly, Luna smiled as they walked out.

"Plus the snorkaks got to him, that's why he's in such a bad mood." Ginny burst out laughing,

"You know Luna, I like the way you think." She said between hysterical giggles.

They both went their separate ways to their classes, but Ginny felt better than she had since last night. She looked at her schedule and groaned, she had Potions next. She loved Potions normally, but this Slughorn guy was as annoying as he was corpulent. Nevertheless, she rushed to the dungeons to avoid being late.

Bursting through the door, just as class was starting. She paused for a second while Slughorn's back was turned, then dashed into the nearest available seat. She hastily pulled out her book, just as he turned to face the class. She tried to look like she'd already been there, but it was hard when she was red-faced and breathing hard. He smiled broadly when he spotted her, oh Merlin. She thought, expecting the worst.

"Miss Weasley! There you are! Please come to the front of the class, I've heard of your amazing talents with potions." He said loudly, and Ginny froze.

Seeing the whole class's eyes on her, she reluctantly pulled her book with her as she walked to the front of the class and sat down. She really disliked being in front. She plastered a tight smile on her face and flicked her wand, summoning her cauldron. She proceeded to fill it with water and set about to brew her potion as discreetly as possible.

Hermione was listening to Harry complain about Snape. She huffed quietly, not sure what to say to them anymore. Her thoughts turned once more to the Marchand fellow, he sounded just like Sirius. So much so, it made her heart ache. She missed him terribly, reminiscing on the times in Grimmauld Place when he would find her reading in the library.

She smiled, remembering the patient look on his face as she rambled on about homework or something. She used to wonder sometimes if he was actually listening, only to be pleasantly surprised when he would answer back intelligently. She even asked him about how he became an Animagi, enjoying the conversation and staring at his handsome face. And then there was the time she accidentally fell asleep in the library, Sirius had evidently found her.

She had woken up in his arms as he carried her to her room. She had blushed scarlet, but he only smiled kindly at her. She was sure Sirius had survived the veil. And that explained why Marchand sounded like him, had his smile, and Sirius Black's eyes. She sighed wistfully, thinking of Sirius's eyes. They were the most amazing shade of stormy grey, with that sparkle of life and happiness that just stole her heart away before she could think. She clutched her book tighter, wishing she could have had more time with him. She decided she was going to get to the bottom of this mystery! It had to be him! It had to!

Sirius was stirring the softly bubbling potion, feeling a little stressed about getting it just right. This had to work, this time they were going to set all things right in this world. He was sick to death of hiding while other people were out there, needing his help. Or just out there fighting, in peril.

He realized he was gripping the handle a little too tight and relaxed his grip. Focusing his attention back on the potion, he finally got it to a nice silvery grey color. Removing the wooden spoon he was using to stir very, very carefully and setting it aside. He waited a minute to make sure the potion was going to simmer fine on it's own. Then he stretched his cramped back muscles, missing his height and good looks. But he missed his long luscious black locks more than anything.

Hermione used to tell him that he was vain, but he never really believed her until now. He smiled, thinking of her that night. She'd grown so much in such a short time, she was prettier than she was before. His chest swelled with pride at the thought that she and Ginny had become Animagi, and she was a dog! He was especially fond of that. A dog! He grinned broadly at the idea of her as one.

He had to admit, it was slightly attractive to have a witch as a female dog. He stroked his bald chin appreciatively, thinking of all the fun they could have together. And once he was back to normal, had his hair back and Voldemort was killed, he could actually have a life. He set out to make a list of all the people who had died in years past.

After lunch, Hermione, Ron and Harry went to Potions. They ran into Ernie Macmillan, who was pompously talking to Harry.

"How are you, Ron - Hermione?" They said "fine" and Slughorn walked in at that moment. Hermione was slightly relieved, she was not fond of Ernie. The entered the dungeon, which was already full of smells and vapors. Hermione sniffed interestedly, as they walked passed some large, bubbling cauldrons.

Hermione recognized which potions where what. They sat down at a table with Ernie, next to the Amortentia. She could smell freshly mown grass, new parchment and a scent that was so distinctly Sirius, it brought a vivid memory to her mind of his face, and chest... She blinked away the memory, somehow slightly breathless. She dug a nail into her leg under the table to get her mind to focus again. Ernie looked at her funny, noticing her behavior, but she acted like nothing had happened.

Hermione got out her book and scales as Slughorn instructed. Harry raised his hand and told Slughorn he didn't have the necessary items for class. Hermione was trying to focus, but the smell kept wafting over to her, making her lose her focus a little. Her mind kept drifting to Sirius, his face, his voice, that laugh, his- Hermione cut off that train of thought right there. She bit her lip hard, trying desperately to pay attention.

Damn Ginny! Why did she have to bloody point out Hermione's feelings for Sirius! She huffed, then forced herself to take a deep, slow, calming breath. Finally, she could focus. Slughorn was talking,

"...You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made them yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?" He asked pointing to the Veritaserum. Hermione's hand shot up before anyone else's, Slughorn pointed to her.

"It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth." Hermione said, satisfied that her previous distraction had not effected her negatively.

"Very good, very good!" Said Slughorn looking happy, Hermione smiled proudly. He moved to the Polyjuice Potion, "Now," he continued, pointing to the potion. "this one is pretty well known... Featured in a few Ministry leaflets lately too.. Who can-?"

Hermione shot her hand up again. "It's a Polyjuice Potion, sir," She said.

"Excellent, excellent! Now, this one here... Yes, my dear?" He said as Hermione's hand shot up once again.

"It's Amortentia!" He smiled, "It is indeed. It seems almost foolish to ask," He said, looking quite impressed.

"But I assume you know what it does?" He asked.

"It's the most powerful love potion in the world!" Hermione said.

"Quite right! You recognized it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?" He asked.

"And the steam rising in characteristic spirals," Hermione said enthusiastically, "and it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and-" She blushed and did not complete her sentence.

She took a deep breath to dispel the thoughts that came unbidden to her mind. "May I ask your name, my dear?" Ignoring her embarrassment.

"Hermione Granger, sir." His eyebrows raised.

"Granger? Granger? Can you possibly be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?" He asked, curiously.

"No, I don't think so, sir. I'm a Muggle-born, you see." She answered quietly.

Slughorn beamed at her, looking between her and Harry who was sitting next to her.

"Oho! 'One of my best friends is Muggle-born, and she's the best in our year!' I'm assuming this is the very friend of whom you spoke, Harry?" He said, sounding both impressed and excited.

"Yes, sir," Harry answered. "Well, well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger." Slughorn said genially.

Hermione noticed the dumbfounded look on Malfoy's face, but ignored him. She turned to Harry with a radiant expression, and whispered, "Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year? Oh, Harry!"

Ron decided to say something also. "Well, what's so impressive about that?" He said, looking annoyed.

"Youare the best in the year- I'd've told him so if he'd asked me!" Hermione smiled at him but shushed him all the same. The rest of the lesson went well until Hermione's Draught of Living Death didn't turn out as good as Harry's, who was not following the instructions in the book. At first when Ron asked, he only said he'd "got lucky" but at the lunch table, he revealed how he had cheated using the scribbled notes from the previous owner.

Hermione was more than a little upset, "I s'pose you think I cheated?" Harry asked her, looking aggravated.

"Well, it wasn't exactly your own work, was it?" She replied, feeling a little bit cheated herself. Ron of course was defending Harry, not like he'd ever take a side against Harry.

"Hang on," Ginny suddenly appeared, looking slightly ruffled. "Did I hear right? You've been taking orders from something someone wrote in a book, Harry?" Ginny asked, looking alarmed and angry. Harry seemed to pick up what was on her mind.

"It's nothing," he said, trying to reassure her. Hermione could tell it didn't work.

"It's not like, you know, Riddle's diary. It's just an old textbook someone's scribbled on." Ginny wasn't convinced.

"But you're doing what it says?" She said, sounding like she thought he was a little bit slow.

"I just tried a few of the tips written in the margins, honestly, Ginny, there's nothing funny-" Hermione cut in,

"Ginny's got a point," She said, perking up instantly.

"We ought to check that there's nothing odd about it. I mean, all these funny instructions, who knows?" She grabbed Harry's book from his bag, making him say, "Hey!"

Then said, "Specialis Revelio!" Rapping her wand smartly on the front cover. She was disappointed when nothing happened whatsoever. It simply lay there, looking dirty, old and dog eared.

"Finished?" Harry said irritably.

"Or d'you want to wait and see if it does a few backflips?" He continued, Hermione felt a little let down and suspicious.

"It seems alright," Hermione said, her suspicion showing on her face.

"I mean, it really does seem to be... just a textbook." Harry was still irritated, "Good. Then I'll have it back," he said, snatching the book away from her. Ginny made a disapproving noise, and the book slipped from Harry's grasp.

Hermione ignored him, feeling anxious still about the book. She knew there was something off about that book. She looked up at Ginny for support, but saw her glaring up at Snape. Hermione noticed him staring back at her, his expression a little bit soft. Maybe even a little apologetic, this surprised Hermione at first. She looked between the two of them for a moment, then it dawned on her. They had always seemed to be nicer to each other than; at least in Snape's case, anyone else who was a non-Slytherin. He likes her, and she likes him. Hermione just stared, wide-eyed for a moment, as the two carried on a silent conversation from across the Great Hall. After a moment, Ginny's hard expression softened up considerably.

From the looks of it, Snape had almost gotten Ginny out of whatever she was upset about when his eyes snapped to Hermione's. He noticed her wide-eyed expression, then suddenly looked away, starting up a conversation with Trelawney who looked ecstatic that Snape was speaking to her. Trelawney even turned a little bit red and batted her eyelashes at him. Hermione watched in amusement as Snape took notice of this behavior and quickly turned to talk to someone else. Not before he glanced back at Ginny for a moment, then was deep in a conversation with Dumbledore. Hermione glanced back at Ginny, who looked a little disappointed. Ginny turned to Hermione and suddenly noticed her staring at her already. Ginny stared at her knowing expression blankly, then finally her eyes narrowed.

"What?" She asked quietly, Hermione glanced between Snape and Ginny significantly. Ginny's eyes bulged and she blushed, her face turning the same color as her hair. Hermione snickered, but drew her thumb and forefinger across her lips, to say 'my lips are sealed.' Ginny smiled, and glanced back at Snape doubtfully. He looked at her for a moment, then turned away quickly.

Hermione got stern, "You should be careful with him. He's a teacher, and you don't know anything about his past." Hermione said, Ginny rolled her eyes and groaned slightly.

"I know that he's a teacher, Hermione-"

"And that it's prohibited for a teacher to have any romantic involvement with a student? And that not only could you cost him his job, but make it hard for him to get a job anywhere else and possibly, if your parents go to the Ministry about it, get him put in Azkaban?" Hermione said, almost in one breath. Ginny opened and closed her mouth a few times.

She then looked down at her plate in despair, "It's that bad, huh?" Her voice sounding a little bit raw. Hermione almost felt guilty for bringing it up, but it was the truth.

"Just for right now, while you're his student. Once you finish Hogwarts, you can do what ever you want. You just have to wait until then." She said, trying to console her friend.

Ginny nodded, "What if he doesn't want to wait for me to be old enough?" She asked very quietly, "Well, then, you can hex him." Hermione said simply, Ginny laughed out loud.

"I already tried that! It didn't work!" Hermione's mouth fell open, "What? You tried to hex ateacher?! Merlin's beard Ginny, I knew you were bold but honestly!" She said incredulously, Ginny only laughed harder, rocking back and forth.

"It was for the class!" She gasped between giggles. "Oh," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Ginny kept giggling for a few more minutes, making Hermione smile.

Snape saw Miss Granger looking at him, and back to Miss Weasley. He turned away and tried to hide the fact that he'd once again been looking at Miss Weasley. He tried talking to Sybil, but she tried to flirt with him. He was horrified and quite disturbed when she actually batted her eyelashes at him. To make things even worse, his Legilimancy gave him a glimpse of what she was thinking. It took physical effort not to cringe at her very, very dirty thoughts.

He engrossed himself in a conversation with Dumbledore, edging away, slightly from Sybil. After a few moments of half-hearted chatting with Dumbledore, he glanced down at Miss Weasley again. He saw her talking to Miss Granger, he assumed it had something to do with him when Miss Weasley blushed and Miss Granger drew her fingers across her lips. Miss Weasley smiled and Snape felt his heart go a little soft. She looked up at him and he held her gaze for a minute, then looked away.

He looked back a moment later to see Miss Weasley looking sad. She asked Miss Granger something, and Miss Granger looked a little guilty. What the fuck is she saying to her? Why is Miss Weasley sad? He thought, very frustrated. She was saying something more and Miss Weasley nodded. Snape was annoyed at not being able to hear their words. At that moment, Sybil put a hand on his arm and put her lips to his ear in a sorry attempt to be seductive.

"Sev-" Was all she got out, he jerked away from her as he felt her hand move to his leg.

He looked at her in utter revulsion, "Sybil, please refrain from touching me. I don't like it. Or you, and I do not appreciate your horrible and pathetic attempts at seduction." He said rudely, she leaned back looking hurt and extremely offended.Good! He thought, turning away from her as if dismissing her completely. He heard her whimper, and he felt even more disgusted than before.

He heard Miss Weasley's laugh and his head snapped in her direction. He watched her as she rocked back and forth in laughter. His lips twitched, and he suppressed the urge to smile. Staring at her with out realizing it, he jumped when a large letter clattered onto his plate. He picked it up and looked at the address, it was from Marchand. He got up and left quickly, letter in hand. He glanced at Miss Weasley, but looked away when he noticed her looking back at him.

After Snape had left the Hall, a letter plopped into Hermione's lap very discreetly. She looked around, trying to figure out how it got there, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Not even an owl. Ginny was still staring after the long gone Snape, Harry and Ron were busy talking about Quidditch. She bent low over the letter, and opened it.

Hermione, I need to speak to you.

Please meet me in Gryffindor Tower fireplace, midnight tonight. Come alone.

Sincerely,

Marchand D' Oeuf

She folded the letter again very carefully, and slipped it in her bag. She looked up and saw Ginny looking at her curiously, she smiled and said, "Fixing my books, so they're in order, you know?" Ginny rolled her eyes and looked away.

Hermione was a little excited, she had a secret just for herself and no one else knew. She wondered what was so important that he had to speak to her alone. It reminded her of when Sirius would talk to them through the fireplace only a few short years ago. Her heart skipped a beat, maybe she could get a full answer out of him. Not just a little confirming nod. She had already come to the conclusion that Snape saved him after all, even when he refused to do it.

She got up with Harry and Ron, bidding Ginny goodbye. Still deep in her thoughts she followed them to their next class. She couldn't decide whether she was mad at Snape for keeping it from her, or happy that he fooled even her into thinking Sirius was dead, hence keeping him safe from harm. That night, when Snape confronted her and Ginny as animals, she wassomad. He had given her detention for trying to save Sirius's life! And then he went and did it himself! After he refused to! She huffed, so frustrated! On one side, she could logically follow along Snape's train of thought behind his behavior.

But on the other side, she wasnotthinking logically and she was incensed that he treated her as he did. Shetoldhim Sirius was alive! She had a right to know what happened, or even that he was okay! But instead she got nothing, cast aside like stupid little school girl! She realized she was digging her nails into her book. When she released her grip on it, she saw that there were deep indentations where her nails had been.

Feeling guilty for hurting the book, she muttered "Repairo." Feeling like she should not continue that train of thought, she instead focused on what Harry and Ron were talking about.

Feeling better than before lunch, Ginny was walking to class when she bumped into a couple of third year girls. One had violet hair that stuck out in all directions, green almond shaped eyes and round glasses, and a pasty complexion. The other had silky black hair, big grey eyes that almost looked purple, snow colored skin and naturally red lips. They struck her as an odd pair, especially since one was Gryffindor, and the other a Slytherin. She stared at them for a minute, feeling like she should know them but couldn't place how. They both stared back, an odd expression on their faces.

"You're Ginny Weasley, right?" The black haired girl said.

Ginny nodded, "Yes, do I know you? Or you?" She asked, still not sure what about them made her think she knows them.

The black haired girl smiled knowingly, but it was the other one who replied.

"No, but we know you." Her cryptic answer only served to confuse Ginny more, she blinked a few times.

"What?" she asked, they smiled sagely and went about business without another word. Ginny stared after them, perplexed. She finally shrugged, and chalked it up to them studying Divination. People always got a little loony when they started buying into Professor Trelawney's crap and tea leaves. She ran off to her next class.

That night, Hermione was waiting in the Gryffindor common room. She secured her seat by the fire, doing her homework on Defense Against the Dark Arts. The time seemed to crawl by. Finally, by ones and twos, everybody vacated the common room. Alone at last, Hermione checked her watch. It was 11:30pm, she made a disgusted noise, she still hadhalf an hour.

She finished her homework for Snape, and started on her Ancient Runes essay. She put her full attention on it, taking her time, translating then checking and double checking her answers to make sure they were correct. She finished it finally, and put it aside. She checked her watch again, 11:45pm. She wiggled it a few times, hoping it would tell her it was actually later. No such luck, she looked around for more homework only to find that she'd done it all.

She threw her hands up in frustration. There was a quiet laugh from behind her, she turned to see Marchand smiling at her. There was something different about his look, it was like she was looking at him but at the same time, not. Noticing her puzzled look he tugged on what looked like a collar around his neck. She squinted at it, noticing how it seemed to be shifting colors.

"It's a glamour collar, it makes me look pretty." He explained simply, Hermione was sure that he was just messing with her. Glamour collars, or objects more like, were made to conceal one's identity. Different from a Polyjuice potion in that it didn't make you look like someone in particular, it just made you look different from yourself. Possibly even making people forget what you look like.

She quirked an eyebrow, "right, of course it does. So, what was so urgent that you had to speak to me tonight?" She asked curiously, he smiled wider and came to sit next to her.

"I need your researching skills. I was wondering if you could help me pinpoint when and where my- ahh... Where Regulus Black went missing." He said with a tight smile.

She gave him a look that said she was not fooled. He looked down and picked at the cuff of one sleeve, stalling telling her more. She crossed her legs with such sass, his lips twitched in a suppressed laugh.

"You're not 'Marchand D' Oeuf' are you." She stated, he said nothing.

"And the only way you would know of my amazing researching skills is if you already know me." She continued, he pursed his lips but still said nothing.

"And for some reason you feel the need to conceal your identity from everyone, and of course there must be a reason for it. So, that sums up to only one person, that I know who would need to conceal his identity, be sneaky enough to be able to follow Ginny and I through the forest undetected and would know to come to me for help with research. You're Sirius Black." She said with certainty.

He smiled at her softly, "Nothing get's past you, does it?" She blushed, "I don't suppose I need to impress on you the importance of not telling anyone?" He said seriously.

Hermione looked annoyed, "I told Snape that you were alive. And I told him he should not tell anyone that you're alive." She said angrily. His eyes widened, apparently Snape had omitted telling him this. There was a beat of silence, then he gave a short bark of laughter.

"Why am I not surprised, I owe you my life again." He said gently, Hermione smiled and went slightly pink. She bit her lip, feeling shy all of a sudden. He seemed to notice, giving her a questioning look.

"Can I see you, the real you, for a moment." She requested, he sobered for a moment.

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea." He responded in a sad and pained voice. Hermione felt bad for asking something so selfish.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Forget it." She back-pedaled quickly, he stared at her for a few seconds, thinking about something. Then he looked around the room, even leaning over to check if anyone was coming down the stairs.

Once he safely established that they were not going to be disturbed, he reached up and unbuckled the collar around his neck. Pulling the strap out through the buckle. The effect was immediate, Marchand D' Oeuf was replaced by Sirius Black with very, very short hair. Hermione's eyes lit up, and before she could stop herself she jumped on him.

"Oofh!" was all he said as she practically tackled him to the ground. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck and she buried her face in his shoulder. She hugged him so tightly, he grunted a little in discomfort, but he hugged her back with equal force. Hermione wasn't sure when, but at some point, she started crying.

She suddenly realized she was sobbing on his shoulder. Happiness and relief welling up inside her, so she thought it might consume her. He only hugged her tighter, feeling the ache of loneliness finally ease up. They stayed there for a long time, both relishing the other's company and neither wanting it to end. After a while, Hermione nodded off to sleep in his lap.

Sirius looked at her for a minute, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. She smiled in her sleep and mumbled his name. He couldn't describe it, but it gave him a funny feeling inside to know that she was thinking of him, even in her sleep. He just sat there for a moment, realizing how much he missed being a normal person.

If he was a normal person, he could meet her in broad daylight, in public without severe repercussions. He could meet up with Harry, and be there for him as his godfather. He could have friends who weren't snarky and reclusive. He looked at Hermione's sleeping form, she had saved his life twice now, she was so bloody brilliant and had gotten quite beautiful.

He wasn't sure if that was the reason, or just the utter lack of female contact for so long, that made his thoughts head towards things not godfather related.

He gave a resigned sigh, not yet. After the war. And with that, he gently picked her up and quietly climbed the stair to the second landing. Shifting her sleeping form carefully, he put her on his back and turned into Snuffles. With great care and balance, he climbed up the second staircase.

He arrived at the door to her dormitory and found that someone had left the door ajar. Nosing through the door, he followed the smell of Hermione to her bed. Turning back into human form, he pulled Hermione from his back and gently set her down in her bed.

He removed her shoes and pulled the covers over her. He squeezed her hand one last time and then left as Snuffles. He shifted back into Sirius, put his collar back on and flooed away, using some powder he had stashed in his pocket.