Chapter 2.

Cheers rang throughout the hall as the Sorting Hat called out the different Houses the first years were being put into. As usual Gryffindor was the loudest with whoops and hollers and Hermione had to hold back a smile at the enthusiasm of her House. Severus however just scoffed at the display.

"You would think your House could at least show the appearance of dignity." He muttered to her.

"Yes, you're quite right Severus it would be much better if they were solemn and made the first years feel as if they were entering the gates of Hades." Hermione said drily.

Severus harrumphed and just crossed his arms glaring at any student that was unfortunate enough to make eye contact with him. Hermione just chuckled quietly and turned to discuss the upcoming week of school with Professor Sprout. Her attention was pulled away as Minerva stood up to give her end of the banquet speech and dismiss the students to their dorms.

As the Prefects herded all their students to the dorms Hermione made her way out of the Hall but stopped as a small body collided with hers. Looking down, Hermione saw the face of a terrified girl.

"Hello, what is your name?" Hermione leaned over smiling at the girl.

"Alice Wright, Professor." She stammered.

"Well, Miss Wright, would you like some help to your dormitory?"

At the girl's nod and confirmation that she was indeed a Slytherin Hermione led the way down to the dungeon. Hermione spent the short journey down asking her if she was excited for her first year and to be sure and let her or Professor Snape if she required anything.

"Well, here we are Miss Wright enjoy your evening with your new housemates." Hermione smiled and leaving Alice in her Prefect's capable hands left to go back to her own rooms.

Hermione walked into her rooms and made her way into the small kitchenette that each professor's chambers was equipped with making herself some tea she sat back at her desk to finally read the owl that Harry had sent her.

Mione,

I know school starts tomorrow so I'm sure you are busy triple checking your plans for class. Ginny is running around driving herself crazy planning the wedding, it's six months away still but you would think it was tomorrow by how anxious she is…. Please tell her to calm down! She won't listen to me and is getting worked up. Anyways, write when you can, we miss you!

Love you,

Harry

Hermione chuckled as she read about Ginny not at all surprised by it. She knew from previous conversations with the red head that Molly was pushing for a large wedding for her youngest and only girl. With Harry being the Boy-Who-Lived she could only imagine the pressure Ginny must be under to make the wedding perfect. With this in mind Hermione pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and penned a brief note to Ginny to make plans for the following Sunday.

"Hyperion." She called and smiled as her snowy white owl flew over from his perch and took the letter from her hands.

"Take this to Ginny please and there's no need to wait for a reply."

Hyperion hooted and flew out the window of her chambers off into the night air. With one more glance at her notes for the following day, Hermione made herself get up and go to her room so she could get some sleep.

The next morning found Hermione ignoring the rest of the professors during breakfast as she repeatedly went over her lessons for the day. She had taught classes before during her apprenticeship with Minerva but she was for the most part on her own this year and did not want to let her mentor down.

"Are you attempting to will your food into your mouth Miss Granger?" Severus inquired seriously.

Hermione looked up from her plate over at Severus "Yes, Severus that is what I'm doing and now you have broken my concentration." She responded in mock anger but her attempt at anger was ruined as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"You are the epitome of adulthood Hermione, I only hope to one day reach your equal."

"It is difficult I assure you Severus. Very few people have achieved this level of sophistication it takes years of practice." Hermione grinned.

Their exchange was noticed by several at the table and Minerva hummed thoughtfully to herself as she watched. It still came as a shock to many of them how Hermione joked with the guarded Potions Master and no less of a shock how he joked back with her.

Hermione strode into her classroom to find all her first years busy chatting or playing with more gadgets from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She knew that these first classes were important to establish her authority or else the students would not respect her. Reaching the front of the classroom Hermione's eyebrow raised as none of the students had yet noticed her. Pulling her wand out she pointed it at the high ceiling of the classroom.

"PyrotechnĂ­mata." She whispered.

Immediately multi-colored fireworks shot from her wand into the air all over the ceiling. Gasps filled the room as all the students stopped what they were doing to watch the fireworks. Forty heads turned to look at her in awe.

"Now that I have your attention, open your books to page 3 please." Hermione directed as she pushed her wand back into the sleeve of her robes.

The rest of the class went smoothly as did much of the rest of her classes for the day. However, she found that her class of fifth years that afternoon took the most effort out of her to keep in line having to deduct points from a few Hufflepuffs that continued talking during her lesson. By the end of the day she was exhausted and ready to return eat supper in her own rooms.

The tired witch had just collapsed on her sofa when there came a knock at her door.

"Come in." She called tiredly.

Severus opened the door and saw her on the sofa, legs half off it.

"You have realized the joys of teaching I presume by your poor posture and the absence of a book in your hand." Severus smirked knowingly.

Hermione just groaned in answer her eyes closed, no energy for now to spar with him. Severus moved to the kitchen and moments later Hermione heard him moving about glassware clinking together. A few minutes later he returned with cups of tea and some small sandwiches on a plate. Hermione sat up to take hers from his hands as he sat on the chair next to the sofa.

"Thank you, Severus." She murmured as she sipped at the tea, the warmth bringing a little more energy to her.

"I was wondering if you would come by tonight. Did you bring the book?" She asked.

"Of course, I brought the book. You have only been pestering me about it for the past two weeks." Severus responded even as he pulled it from his robes and handed it to her.

It had not been intentional when Hermione and Severus started spending several nights a week together in one of their chambers either reading together quietly or arguing over various topics. It had started out as Hermione asking Severus to aid her with incorporating spells into difficult potions and had just evolved from there. Neither of them would admit it but since the war neither of them slept much and when they did their dreams were often filled with nightmares. The companionship Hermione had found, helped to pass the evening hours when she could not sleep and she looked forward to their time together.

Hermione had found in Severus someone with whom she could have deep intellectual conversations and who's cutting wit gave her no end of enjoyment. The war and years of prejudice towards them for differing reasons gave them another connection and she appreciated his friendship immensely. Severus was a very guarded man and she only hoped that he would continue as time went on to feel more at ease with her and feel that he could continue to share with her. However, Hermione was content with their relationship as it stood and had come to think of him as her friend with whom she could share much.

Hey! I wasn't planning on uploading anything else so soon but I felt bad about the shortness of my first chapter so here is a little bit more for you all! I hope you continue to enjoy and please review! I am not intending on things moving very quickly for Hermione and Severus, right now I am just trying to figure out and set up their world. Enjoy!