Hermione was sitting in her room sipping tea going over the most confusing muggle studies homework she had ever seen. All the students knew she was muggle and thought she would be hands down the one to go running to for all Muggle Studies related answers. They were dead wrong because it was plain wrong. Hermione was sure she would have had to work hard to get an O in the class just trying to figure out what the cryptic questions meant.

She had asked the Muggle Studies professor Shamus Ligery for the coursework after getting so many confusing questions. Shamus was from Ireland he was of a known pureblood family, but very accepting of muggles much like the Weasley family. After looking over all of it, she had decided that her new project would be updating class materials. She never would want to teach muggle studies. She hated that she thought this way, but felt it would be a waste of her talent. She wished she wasn't good at charms or potions maybe then she would feel like a good choice for a Muggle studies professor. She thought of all the other Muggles her age; perhaps they could help create a good Muggle Studies curriculum.

For weeks she asked Severus numerous questions as she read real test questions, they both laughed and tried to guess before looking up the answer in the back of the teacher's books. She started with some of the first year questions.

"Which of the following is the muggle way of transporting themselves very far distances?

A. Driving

B Scuba Diving

C Walking

D With a broom.

Hermione thought the obvious answer was A as did Severus, but after already reading several, the obvious answer was never the right one. So Hermione guessed B while Severus guessed C. When the correct answer was D. Hermione couldn't imagine how they thought muggles used brooms to get around. The answers key also had a page number where the solution was to be found, so she turned to page 27. It read:

"The broom in a Muggles home is used to sweep they sweep the whole home which leads to long distances being traveled considering the whole home needs to be swept without magic. It is believed that a Muggle walks many miles a year just sweeping their home."

Hermione was done laughing as she looked at more and more questions she became sad and upset. She was just now learning how misunderstood Muggles were to the pureblood wizarding world. She knew that all these books would have to be rewritten. She was already starting to go over everything that was to be covered by 1st years. It included muggle history and tying in "mythology" what muggles thought were stories but were actually rare events of muggles coming into contact with magical beings. It included basic muggle concepts such as schooling for muggles, essential household items in everyday muggle homes and Muggle careers.

She began just going over the book attempting to rewrite more relevant topics. She knew there was no way to do this on her own. She enlisted the help of Harry, Dennis Crevey, Dean Thomas, Lesslie Surgo, and Freda Lapor all muggle or half-bloods that lived in a muggle home. She had asked for them to go through just one chapter and do as much as they could to improve it.

Though she thought she might not get any response back, everyone except Dennis sent back a chapter and was willing to do more in their spare time. She smiled back at all the letters she had received and hoped by next term the books would all the most up to date they could be.

Severus and Hermione enjoyed the evenings they had together. The could be caught talking about students, potions, and charms. Crookshanks had been more courageous swatting Severus for pets when he wasn't getting enough attention. Often the cat was on either Hermione or Severus to the point it was amusing. Whenever Hermione or Severus was reading Crookshanks would be in one of their laps ensuring he wasn't left out. Sometimes he would stay with Severus in a rare time Hermione didn't stay in the room, and of course, he had plenty of food in both rooms. It seemed he liked the arrangement.

It had only been two weeks since the start of the term and Hermione was already counting down the days. The students were restless it was freezing out, and all the robes and warming charms in the world still couldn't let you stay outside for more than an hour without turning into an ice cube. The kids were getting annoyed, staff was getting annoyed, and in general, it seemed like morale was low.

Neville was even depressed. It was great to work with him with his studies, he was usually busy, he was helping in the gardens, and he was generally with Luna. He was not taking NEWT level potions, but Hermione knew it wasn't because of his fear of Severus not anymore. Neville and Hermione would often talk about their friends, about next years plans. Neville always seemed to have a smile on his face, but with the lack of visits to the greenhouse, he too was gloomy.

Hermione was making progress with the muggle studies books. She was also helping Severus with potions, for anyone and everyone. It was mainly necessary potions for Poppy. Severus also brewed potions for his own storage for minor accidents in his classroom. He had bruise salve for DADA but also supplied various random potions for other staff, including potions for animals in the forbidden forest. Usually once every two weeks in the evening they would spend the evening brewing. Hermione found the easy brews relaxing and the harder ones challenging. She would bounce ideas off of Severus usually to see if they could get better tastes or effectiveness. Hermione very much enjoyed all the time they could spend together.

Hermione hadn't seen the boys since Christmas and February was quickly approaching. The weather was not cooperating for anyone. There had already been one blizzard during Hogsmeade weekend, another massive snowstorm appeared. Several feet of snow pouring from the cloud, so much, so charms had to be put on the doors to repel the snow from blocking the exits. No one could go outside; they could barely see in front of them. It made cabin fever a genuine topic of discussion in the staff room.

Hermione, as well as the rest of the staff, roamed the halls, catching the children in all kinds of trouble. Pairs were creeping off into the alcoves. Kids were playing tricks on each other. Groups going to "explore" warded off sections of Hogwarts. Hermione wished she had Harry's map. It would do a lot of good right now. She thought about the room of requirement, maybe a way to escape.

Hermione was unsure how the room of Requirement would work now with the contents being burned not too long ago. She went to its doors closed her eyes as she paced, asking for a place that would be fun for the kids. When the door appeared she opened it up, it seemed to a Muggle carnival. Some of the things in the room looked burnt and singed. But everything looked fun. She wasn't sure how to go about it the whole school couldn't know about the room, and she was unsure of who all actually knew.

She went to Severus with the idea and told him the room had been working. She thought it would do well for the students to have an escape from the castle, even if they were still technically in it. Severus agreed consulted with staff, and soon enough kids were going into the room, there were games and lights and music and of course carnival rides. Several of the elves were walking around with candy, and treats, pumpkin juice and butterbeer. Muggle kids were explaining the different rides and screams, and laughing could be heard throughout. Hermione smiled as she pulled Severus into the line of the Farris Wheel. Hermione still had no clue how the castle knew how to make it work, but without any operators, the cart would load 1 or 2 at a time. As soon as someone was seated, the door would close the bar would come down, and the next car would come down. As soon as it was full, the wheel would slowly go around 3-4 times and then stop allowing people to get off one at time magically releasing the bar and opening the door at the same time.

As Hermione and Severus sat in the seat and it slowly shakingly lifted them up. Hermione could see more and more of the land the room created. She was in awe of the funhouse that looked bigger than she had ever seen kids being pushed around in the roller at the end. She could see kids in a jump house, and a row of games, once again with no attendants but when a kid would when a prize a stuffed animal would appear. When they got to the tip top Hermione looked down causing the cart to flip forward, making her stomach drop, she quickly grabbed Severus for stability and giggled. She loved the Ferris Wheel but hated how easily the carts moved. She looked up at him and kissed him, as one should when on top of a Ferris Wheel, soon enough the wheel began spinning, and they went around a few times.

Minerva found her and gave her compliments on her accomplishment. She was glad staff and students alike were having fun. The room was warm like a summers day, and everyone was enjoying the lack of chill in the air. Hermione walked around her mind's creation, in awe. She could place it now as she walked back towards the back of the room. This was almost the same as her first ever carnival. It was in the same park the fireworks had been in over New Years. There were large shade trees around the whole open area. Her parents had taken her when she was about five years old. Her dad got on the Ferris Wheel with her, her mom got on a ride she couldn't remember the name of but had airplanes going up and down. There was also a loop roller coaster like ride. There was a haunted house and a fun house. There were even a few little kids rides that some of the less daring younger children rode. The children who didn't grow up muggle were surprised, and Hermione knew Ron and his father would be asking 1000 things if they were there right now. She had missed Ron and Harry more than ever. They were in intense training. The cold and blizzard were putting owls to a halt she hadn't heard from them in over a week. A tear slid down for the lost time, but she quickly wiped it away and enjoyed the rest of the day.