A/N

Did you enjoy the last chapter? Well here's the next one if you did. Be warned though, I had this written before I typed up the first chapter so do not expect another quick update ;)

Enjoy!

Severus was not seated in his usual chair next to Filius and Pomona, but instead seated between Hagrid and Trelawney. The latter of which kept making passes at him and tried to engage him in a conversation about a vision she had about falling in love with a dark haired man. Minerva was smirking. Severus was not amused. This was worse than the time Albus had 'accidentally' placed him in front of the Gryffindor table after losing a game of chess to him. Severus glared at Minerva. She only continued to smirk. He stood up, tall and intimidating. He only had minutes till the students arrived. He had to make this quick.

He strode up to her, black cloak billowing behind him and vein pulsing dangerously on his forehead. "Minerva!" he hissed "I demand to be moved at once! How dare you place me between such utter dunderheads! They make Longbottom look competent! I will have nightmares about Trelawney! The things that woman is suggesting! Or worse, I will make sure that Gryffindor is in the minuses for the rest of the month" he threatened menacingly.

Minerva's eyes narrowed. "Severus, you will not take out your anger on the students because you do not get on with your colleagues. And I would be much obliged if you would please go back to your seat. The students are staring and the first years need sorting" she whispered.

Severus turned to face the Great Hall and noticed that Filius was standing there with the first years and, indeed, the students were staring. He gave them one of his renowned "Death Glares" and added a bit extra for the first years. Best to instil fear in them while they were still young. Stopped them from acting like Gryffindors in their later years.

With one last glare, he made his way back to his chair. His eyes travelled to the Gryffindors who were seated in front of him. He frowned. There seemed to be a new student seated with Potter and the Weasleys. One with hair worse than Hermione Granger's. It looked like a natural disaster. He wondered if this one, too, was a know-it-all. He groaned internally. She better not be. Dealing with one was hard enough. Another would be impossible. He didn't even want to think about it...

The new girl turned to Ginny Weasley and Severus got a good look of her face. What he saw nearly made him fall off his chair. Complete with pale skin and dark circles under her eyes was Hermione Granger. Severus wondered what the girl could have done in the past few months that made her appearance so...different. She truly resembled someone else and if it wasn't for his sharp eyesight and years of looking through disguises he would have never recognised her.

She looked up and he looked away quickly, turning to Hagrid. The half giant grinned at him and began talking about dragons. Severus groaned.

Minerva shushed them both as she began her speech, welcoming the new students and welcoming back the older ones and introducing the new DADA teacher, Professor Reginald Cattermole. Severus was quite thankful. The half giant had a tendency to spit while he spoke and Severus was as interested in dragons as he was in the social lives of Hufflepuff 7th years. While Minerva held everyone's attention, Severus took the time to look over the students. He noticed that several Gryffindors were gone, and there was a rather large space between students. He also noticed something different with his Slytherins. The war had changed them. For better or for worse he could not tell. Some sat, relaxed and chatting quietly as to not arouse attention while others sat rigid, glaring at everyone who dared look at them. He knew instantly that they would be the ones he needed to keep an eye on. Mentally noting their names, he moved on to the first years. They were all looking around the Great Hall, many fascinated by the enchanted ceiling. A small portion of them were looking at their future teachers. One particular student seemed rather interested in him. He glared at the young child, who immediately focused their attention elsewhere. He smirked. He still had it. He wondered if he still could make sixth years cry. He glanced at Minerva. Best to try it out on Hufflepuffs. Or Ravenclaws. If Minerva found out he was making her Gryffindors cry she'd make him sit where he was. Permanently. He shuddered. Not a thought he wanted to entertain.

His mind wandered to Miss Granger and wondered what on Earth the girl had done to herself to end up in that state. She truly looked like she had been in a war. And not came out on top. Potter and Weasley looked the same as before, albeit more matured. In fact, almost all the students looked more matured, except the first and seconds years who couldn't comprehend what the war was about and how much it had affected the Wizarding World.

Minerva finished her speech and Filius unrolled the scroll of first year's names.

"Roland Artemis" Filius called and the small boy shyly walked forward and had the sorting hat placed on his head. Moments later it called "Hufflepuff" and cheers erupted from said table as the boy walked over to join his new house. Filius continued calling out the first years and Severus smirked proudly when "Andrea Dolohov" became the first new Slytherin. The sorting ended with Jeremy Weasley, who became a Gryffindor and Severus was pleased with the year's haul. 13 new Slytherins, 10 Ravenclaws, 11 Hufflepuffs and 9 Gryffindors. With one last, 'Stay away from the Forbidden Forest' Minerva clapped twice and the Feast began. Severus licked his lips and dug in. There was nothing quite like the Hogwart's Welcoming Feast. He noticed with a smirk that the dratted peppermint hum bugs were nowhere to be seen. Chatter broke out at the Head's table with the teachers talking about the new first years, the damage done to their offices and classrooms during the war, the new teacher and the weather. Minutes later there were several screams and Severus didn't bother looking up. He knew it was the ghosts floating out of the tables as they did every year, scaring the first years (and some older students who should have known to expect them).

Severus turned to Minerva, who was seated several chairs away from him and deep in conversation with Filius "I pity you Minerva" he called loudly, catching the attention of most staff members.

Minerva turned to him confused "What do you mean, Severus?" she replied.

He gave her a pitying look "Just look at your prized student, Minerva." All heads turned to Potter. Severus cursed "Not Potter! Miss Granger you dunderheaded fools!" he hissed. The heads all turned slightly to look at Miss Granger. Some gasped, others cried "Look at her hair!" and some just stared. Minerva's mouth fell open slightly. Severus smirked at her. None of his Slytherins looked like that.

"Headmistress! What 'appened to Hermione? I mean Miss Granger" Hagrid asked loudly, gobsmacked and staring unashamedly. Severus shook his head. Gryffindors had the subtlety of an angry elephant. Many of the students now turned to Miss Granger.

Miss Granger turned around, eyes widened, then turned back quickly and Severus pitied the girl. A large majority of the Hall's eyes were on her, staring. Even the small first year's. Her brow furrowed, she turned to whisper something to Potter who turned and looked rather alarmed at all the eyes. He whispered some to Weasley, who stood up and began shouting at people to go away, that there was nothing to be seen here. Some of the younger students looked away quickly but many of the older students didn't. They weren't afraid of Weasley.

Potter stood up and glared angrily at the sea of starers. He whipped out his wand and Severus almost laughed out loud.

Potter shouted at them much like Weasley had. When they didn't turn he spoke quietly to the group and the four of them (Miss Weasley included) left the Great Hall.

Chatter broke out in the Hall after they left. Many were talking about Miss Granger's...hair style. Severus didn't know what to call it. He was sure Minerva would have words with the girl. That hairstyle was simply not acceptable as Head Girl attire. They were to look and be dressed respectfully not look like they had just gotten out of Azkaban.

After dessert was finished, Minerva stood up once more. "Now that you are all fed and watered" she said with a small smile, quoting Dumbledore, which brought laughter from some of the older students "There is one more matter of business to attend to. The Head Boy and Girl"

Severus noticed with a proud smirk that when Head Boy was mentioned, Draco sat up straighter and puffed up like one of his father's peacocks. So Draco was Head Boy. He turned his head to the Gryffindor table to see if Miss Granger was doing the same, then remembered she had left the Great Hall and not yet returned. Severus was surprised. He'd assumed she would be back, now that the chatter and whispers had stopped.

"It gives me great pleasure to introduce our new Head Boy and Girl, Mr Draco Malfoy and Miss Padma Patil" Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table and then stopped rather abruptly. Only Pavarti Patil was left clapping. The Slytherins burst into applause as Draco stood up and bowed. There was scattered applause from a few Ravenclaws who suddenly realised that the Head Girl was in their House and standing there rather embarrassed. The Hufflepuffs clapped politely and the Gryffindors stared gobsmacked. It didn't take a dunderhead to know why.

Hermione Granger was not Head Girl.

A/N

I know I know, the chapter ended like the other one but I didn't know how else to end it. ;) Will try and write up another chapter soon. And think, if I post another chapter this will be my longest story ;P a whole THREE chapters :O

Any ideas on how to improve much appreciated :)

Also if I spell words with an added u, or a s instead of a z it's because I'm Australian. Not that I can't spell ;)