Chapter 2

Pushing back the current of tears and emotion that had broken through, she calmed herself, she couldn't let herself get emotional when you got emotional people got hurt, and well people hurt you. She had never really been known to cry a lot only when something really bad happened, usually she had gotten over it fast. Pushing her hair back she took in some needed breathes. Closing her eyes she sighed, it felt good to cry then, she felt better.

No one was supposed to know only Dumbledore and she could barely suffer that. What would people think if they found out that perfect Granger couldn't save her parents, that she hadn't reacted fast enough to save those that she loved from the people she feared. She wasn't as strong as she let people believe. In school she had done her best doing the best at everything but in the end she failed at something at that something had changed her life forever, and there was no rectifying it. Her parents were gone and they weren't coming back ever.

Pushing thoughts out of her mind, she changed into her uniform, it seemed that the skirt got shorter and shorter every time she put it on, but with her parents dieing she found out her parents weren't as wealthy as they were suppose to be. With a small settlement in her new gringotts account, she was passing by, but just it wouldn't be long and she would be on the streets with no roof on her head. But at least she was at school money wasn't a big thing now. But after she graduated she would be in a pickle. However, she needed a job, maybe she would ask Dumbledore about things that needed to be done around the school, but for now she could rest.

The landscape sped by as she leaned her forehead against the glass when had everything gotten so complicated. Had she done something terrible in a past life to deserve this? Oh she didn't it was just because of who her parents were and what she was now.

How was she going to survive a year of torment from Lucius that bastard that would love to get his hands on her? She hated it whenever he even looked at her.

Severus walked the corridor yelling at kids when he had to, he couldn't believe it that he had done that. He had breeched a students head without permission and she had smacked him. Hard he could still feel were she had hit him. At least it was no longer red; he couldn't deal with that humiliation. Never before had he been hit by a woman a student at that. This left him in an even grumpier mood than he had already been in.

But her parents how did this happen and why did she almost turn to tears when ever Lucius was around did he have anything to do with it, was he the one that inflicted that pain and loss on her. Why had the dark lord not told him about the plans that had gone into action and about her? Maybe he was getting suspicious of him he would need to talk to Dumbledore as soon as possible.

When he spotted the Golden Group he sneered, their insolence was wearing thin on him. Maybe he had to have a chat with Dumbledore about this maybe she shouldn't be taking on the burdens of being head of the school now. However, that could be dealt with later. Now he had to deal with the fact that Hermione Granger was hiding secrets from the order, and her friends. What plan of action was he going to take for this?

Sighing she leaned against the window, she was tired and wasn't in the mood for this crap anymore. The man, who she respected, had a crush on since god knows when just pushes into her mind and sees the most emotional night of her life, then just walks away. Well after, she smacked him, she couldn't' believe she had smacked him and hard. It felt sort of good to get her anger out but she had done it to him. What he must think of her now?

As the train came to a stop she glanced out the window, she had sat there for hours. But looking up at the amazing castle that stood there she thanked god that she had arrived she was home well the only home she had left. Hermione got off and headed to a carriage, she got the heads carriage all to herself or so she thought before the door opened. Sitting down he just looked at her for a second before looking away. She wanted to turn and flee but the door was closed and she would look like more of an idiot if she fled.

Why did he always pop up, couldn't he just leave her alone, and maybe jump off a cliff. He would be doing everyone a favor right now. No matter how utterly gorgeous he looked now he was still a pompous ass. Total silence filled the carriage as they made the rocky way to the school. When they stopped, she got out even before he had time to move, and walked towards the school, well it was more of a jog she just wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

"God this year was going to be really complicated, since she is the head, and did extra work from all her teachers and was now my assistant," he thought to himself, but maybe having her as an assistant wouldn't be so bad, she could help him with all the stuff he didn't 'feel like doing all summer.

He watched as she took a seat with her friends barely smiling. Imagine holding in everything that he had saw from your friends why wouldn't she tell them, wouldn't she want people to help her.

Sitting in his usual spot he looked around at the ministry officials posted in the room, how could it get any worse.

Then the door opened and it did.

Deloris Umbridge, walked threw proud and tall.

"What she doing here?" Harry asked remembering the scar that had just faded and now unnoticeable on the back of his hand. The torment that he had been put through had been unbearable.

"We will welcome many ministry officials this year to our school and welcome again Debra Umbridge or old DADA professors twin sister to join us," Dumbledore said everyone could hear the hatred in his voice because it was so rarely evident. Groans and sounds of utter disappointment were heard throughout the whole hall.

The woman took her seat and sat, glaring at everyone. Wow she really was the twin of that old hag.

Hermione couldn't believe it this year was going to be terrible bad things were going to happen, really bad and somehow she thought that things couldn't' get any worse.

"Now let the sorting begin," he announced and the doors opened again to welcome in soaked first years scared out of their minds.

Hermione didn't pay attention as the sorting started. She stared at her plate wondering about things. She could hear her friends talking excitedly about something it was unknown to her. Placing her head on her fist she stared off wondering just wondering. Why did everything feel like some sort of weird story that the author was twisting for his or hers own twisted amusement.

Severus glanced up and saw her sitting there just sitting staring off. This girl was so unique and different did she know that every man she even looked at was pleasured by it. Nevertheless, she looked so worried so scared of something.

He looked at Dumbledore and nodded, he had to talk to him. He couldn't keep it in the information he knew he deserved to know. Dumbledore nodded back, they did this whenever they had something urgent to say. Dragging his eyes back to the girl as the first years all sat down, she just sat there her head on top of her fist. Her hair covering most of her face. For the first time ever he wanted to help a student because they looked sad. Shaking himself there must have been something else in that potion that he had drank that started to turn him soft.

"As you all may have noticed Professor Snape, is much younger and I am afraid to say to some of you that he's going to be around for longer, but no fear, there will be Hogsmeade trips every weekend for everyone, including first and second years," Dumbledore announced getting cheers from everyone. Food appeared and everyone dug in. The food was amazing, every year it got better and better people said. The Great hall was decorated even more since last year. Seventh years though had to sit in the front of the table, by the first years; this meant Severus had a clear view of her as she sat there.

Hermione looked at the food it didn't look the same or taste the same as it uses to. Looking at all her friends talking she couldn't do this. She wanted her parents back so much, their love was needed. She felt tears come to her eyes. God this couldn't come now, she was doing so good right now.

"Guys I'm going to go to my room I don't feel all that hungry," she said her friends gave an absent nod and she got up, she was getting back into her old ways yet again but she didn't care she couldn't be here right now were everyone was so happy. NO one noticed her as she looked at Dumbledore and bowed then turned and left. The tears were coming and she had to get out now. He stared after her as she practically jogged from the great hall.

Severus looked at the old man nod back, what was going on that he didn't know.

She hadn't eaten anything, and even though he wasn't that old, anymore he knew he saw tears in her eyes. What was happening to their brown haired golden child?

Pushing it out of his mind, he dug into his own food, letting the amazing tastes linger on his tongue. He looked upon his students; he couldn't believe it he had been teaching there for 20 some odd years and he would be there for longer, much longer. Nevertheless, he was doing what he loved best, and nothing was going to get in the way. Or at least he hoped, but anything was inevitable. The future was always uncertain but he always liked to just face everything head on and deal with it later.

However, for some reason she kept getting in his head, he didn't know what it was with the girl. It was as if she was haunting him for being an ass was that what he had been? Yes he told himself he had been that was true eventually he would have to apologize and already he was regretting it deeply.

But the helpless look she had on her face when she encountered Lucius stilled came to him remembering how scared she had been, he knew scared when he saw it and her eyes were filled with it. Loosing ones parents were familiar to him as he had lost his right before his seventh year. He remembered when he had been old the news how sad he had been, the way Sirius and James bugged him for being an orphan. The way he had secluded himself from everyone. He didn't want that for her as well she had so much potential he knew it and accepted it not like he would ever let her know that was for sure.

As the dinner came to an end students got up and left the hall escorted by their house prefects, yawning and chattering they would all sleep well tonight that was for sure. Glancing at Dumbledore he nodded, that meant he was to follow him to his office. Officials eyed them suspiciously, but Snape didn't care, he had gotten use to those glares long ago. He had given up along time ago caring what other people thought of him because the results would always vary.

Once inside the office Dumbledore made sure all his wards were up before turning to the man sitting across from him. He stared at the new man, he was proud that was for sure. His trusted friend that might he just note sometimes hated his guts. Rightfully so he pushed people and even through his school years he had pushed Severus to be better than what he was. Always wanting to see more from him, though others didn't make it easy for him he had reached beyond his expectations.

"What is it you need to talk to me about there Severus?" Dumbledore asked, he wasn't dumb he knew what the man wanted as soon as he looked at her. All he had to do was watch him look at the girl and everything became clear. Chuckling a little he kept his face straight as he let the man continue.

"Its Granger, Albus I broke into her mind today and was shocked at what I saw," he said watching emotions flicker into the old mans face.

"Yes I know about her parents," Dumbledore confessed, it was true he had kept it secret for the girls benefit not his. She had asked for no one to be told so he stayed silent waiting for this night for someone to catch on yes it was sooner than he expected but Severus was always aware of the others around him. When something was wrong something was wrong and he had a way of tuning in on it and getting it out of the person.

"Why weren't we informed," Severus asked, he was a trusted ally to Dumbeldore and he might dare to say a maybe friend he was a little shocked that he would not be informed of these events.

"She asked that no one knew, Severus did you see the house it was disgusting when I arrived with Minerva, she was just laying there," Dumbledore said, his voice was uneven, his eyes full of tears," she wouldn't move, when Minerva touched her to wake her she was forced back by something sending her into the wall."

"But I don't' understand the sudden spike in magic levels," Severus asked sitting down he leaned forward not wanting to miss a single word from the man.

"When you feel the need to protect or avenge abilities change, hers have been dormant," Dumbledore added now in charge of his emotions. He didn't mean to fall apart but he knew the Granger's well he remembered coming to their house when Hermione had been just six, he had seen such potential when he saw her. She had just stared up at him in awe as she sat there reading.

"Were has she been though, you know since the killings?" Severus asked.

"The Leaky Cauldron, Moody was in charge of staying there to keep watch, he is the only other one to know," Dumbledore said," not even she knows that he knows and i want to keep it that way i don't want her to think that i betrayed her trust.

Severus stared at the ground, as if in deep thought, spike in energy when needed it dormant.

"Severus what happened to her parents no child should have to live through and it is a fact now that her parents weren't as rich as they were suppose to be, most of the money they left behind with the house and business was taken by taxes, it seems that our golden child is living in poverty," Dumbledore announced, this fact sunk into him.

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I hope you like it, I've kept putting this story on the back burner but now it has my attention the chapters are going to be longer than the ones in my other story so more to read and more to review about.

I thought that putting an Umbridge back in would spice things up, I don't really know were I'm going with the plot of the story really, just type as the words come to me, and let the story go were it leads me. In addition, I must say I am sorry it took so long for me to get up this chapter. For the most of my time, I've been working on my story Unfair Love you should read it.

Ps I also have another story called Lost and Found this one is a Hermione and Snape fic hope you like it.

Thanks for the reviews.

Steph