One month before the Golden Trio would complete their 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hermione was in the library preparing for her final exams. They were only 3 weeks away. She knew that she had a lot of studying to do before then if she wanted to get all O's on her exams. She had rolls of parchment and many tomes spread around the table that she was studying at. Everyone else avoided Hermione's table, they had all learned after six years of knowing her to stay far away from her when she was studying for her exams. She was prone to hexing first and asking questions later of those that interrupted her. She had her study table set up so that she could move quickly and easily from one subject to the next. An hourglass set beside her when it ran out she would turn it over and begin the next subject until Madame Pince closed the library. As the sky outside darkened and the shadows lengthened inside the library Madame Pince announce that it was time to close up. Hermione packed up her belongings and made her way towards the Gryffindor common room. She looked around as she entered and noticed Harry was whispering in Ginny's ear while rubbing his hands up and down her back. Ron and Lavender were sitting on the couch together talking to each other in low voices. Hermione walked towards the group and sat in a chair in front of the fire.
"Hello." Hermione said while looking at the group.
"Hello Hermione. Did you get your studying done?" Harry asked looking up at her as she spoke from beside Ginny.
"I did. You should have joined me. Exams are just around the corner and Ginny you have your OWLS this year to study for." The others laughed slightly and promised a study session the next day.
"It's Sunday Hermione, the one day a week that is set aside to relax."
"You can relax after our exams are over. You know how important our exams are. They will determine what classes we get into next year. Ginny your OWLS will determine what NEWT level classes you get next year." Hermione walked away not noticing the looks that followed her. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lavender were looking much happier now that she had left them.
"She spends too much time telling us that we should be studying. Maybe if she had a boyfriend she would be a bit easier to hang out with." Ginny said before kissing Harry again.
"I always said she was mental but we would never make it through half our classes without her notes or help." Ron said while swooping to Lavenders mouth for a snog.
The sun was shining on the face of the bushy-haired girl as her alarm went off. She turned over and looked at her clock. "Well, it's time to get up Crookshanks." She got herself out of bed and walked to her wardrobe, pulling out clean underthings a shirt and a skirt. "I'm going to go take a shower, Crooks." She told her cat while giving him a scratch behind his ginger ears before heading off towards the showers. Just after 6:30 am Hermione walked back into her dorm and sat down on her bed. She pulled a brush from her bedside drawer and pulled it through her thick curly hair. She then pulled her hair up into a loose bun and stepped to her wardrobe to get a clean robe. After she had dressed she stepped to her desk where she loaded her back with the books quills and parchments that she would need for the days classes. Hermione then quickly and quietly slipped from the room towards the common room.
The common room was empty when Hermione stepped into it. She stepped to the bottom of the boys stairs and listened after hearing no sound she hoisted her bag higher up on her shoulder and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast.
The Great Hall was bright with the sun shining fiercely through the ceiling of the Great Hall. Hermione quickly looked around the room and noticed that there were a few 5th, 6th and 7th years eating breakfast while reading from their textbooks or studying parchments. Professor Snape was eating at the High table while watching the students that were in the Hall. He sent a glare to Hermione as she made her way to her spot at the Gryffindor table not noticing a set of bright blue eyes that followed her across the Hall.
Just after 8 am the other two thirds of the golden trio along with Ginny and Lavender as well as the rest of the 6th year Gryffindor's sat down around Hermione and dug into their breakfast.
"You guys were late this morning, now you have to rush through your meal and you absolutely can't be late. We have potions fist thing this morning." Hermione scolded as she put her bag in her book and stood up. Causing a groan from all the 6th year's at the table.
"I'm heading off to potions. I'll meet you down there." She said as she walked quickly out of the Great Hall.
Ron waited until she had left the room then said. "She pushes us hard acting like she is our mother. The Slytherin's were right she really is a Know-it-All." The other 6th years as well as Ginny chuckled as they finished their breakfast not noticing the dark-haired boy that had heard the entire exchange.
Theodore thought 'They take her intelligence and caring for granted. If I had her caring about me I would be sure to show my appreciation.' Professor Snape noticed the boy's preoccupation and decided to investigate it further at a later time.
The 6th year Gryffindor and Slytherin's were waiting outside the potions classroom at 8:30 when Professor Snape opened the door and ushered them in. "Take your seats. Put your books away. Today we are having a pop-quiz about the effects of wolfsbane potion on werewolves." "There will be no talking and no looking at other's papers. Miss Granger please sit in the back row so that your classmates do not feel the need to copy from you." The Professor said smirking at the brown haired girl.
Hermione quickly moved to the back of the class and started on her quiz hiding the blush that crept upon her cheeks at the professor's words. One hour later all of the parchments were collected and the potion that they were making today showed up on the blackboard. The professor said. "The potion you are going to make today is on the board you have one hour. Get to work."
The class immediately moved to get their supplies and get started on the potion. The room was quickly filled with moisture from all the steaming cauldrons. Forty-five minutes later Hermione was just finishing up her potion. She noticed that Harry and Ron seemed to be struggling with theirs. "You must write a 3 foot essay with the name of this potion, its properties and the effects. It will be due at your next class." "Class dismissed." He barked. The class quickly left the room. The rest of the day went quickly and easily for Hermione and the other 6th year Gryffindors.
At dinner that evening Professor Snape walked down the Slytherin table and stopped at Theodore. "Mr. Nott, I would like to see you in my office after dinner."
"Yes sir." Theodore answered. Adrian Pucey asked him what that was about.
"I'm not sure. I didn't get into any trouble recently. Maybe it has something about the Quidditch team." Theodore answered as he turned back to his meal. Theodore watched the high table and stood quickly saying good bye to his classmates when he noticed the Professor leave the hall. He quickly made his way down to Professor Snapes office and knocked. An "Enter" could be heard quietly from inside. He opened the door and stepped inside. "Close the door and take a seat." Professor Snape said from behind his desk as he completed marking the quiz in front of him before turning to the student sitting in a high-backed wooden chair in front of his desk.
"What had you preoccupied with the Gryffindor table this morning, Mr. Nott?" He asked looking at Theo with a questioning gaze.
"Ah, I heard a rather interesting conversation after Granger left the table."
"You did?" The professor asked. Theodore didn't answer quickly enough because he was thinking about how to say what he had heard.
"Well out with it boy. What did you hear?"
"They were talking about her and from what I heard them say it made me believe that they really do not appreciate her caring or intelligence." Theodore looked thoughtful as he said this. He was trying to figure out why they wouldn't care for her like he would if she was his to care for.
The professor hummed softly before saying. "You know it isn't the first time someone like Miss Granger has been overlooked because she is different from others. You are not the first Slytherin to notice a smart, muggleborn Gryffindor be taken advantage of by her friends."
"My advice is to just watch her for now. She still has another year of school and you still have you apprenticeship. You have to also keep in mind there is a war going on." Professor Snape looked at the young man in front of him. He could tell the young man was enamored with the young Gryffindor. Hopefully for this young man the ending would be much different from the ending he had himself.
"Thank you, Professor." Theodore said quietly. He was afraid that the professor had read into what he was saying and was afraid of how the professor would react to it.
"You should get off to bed. I've noticed how much you have been studying."
"Good night, Professor." Theodore called as he left the office and headed to his own dorm to sleep.
Theodore prepared himself for bed while thinking of Hermione Granger. She was an enigma. She was bossy but shy. He could tell by the fact that she had a couple of close friends but didn't seem friendly with that many other people that were in the school. She looked after her friends and would do what was best for them. He wished that he could have her feel the way for him that she felt towards her friends.
A.N. My power supply went out on my computer and I had to wait until I got a new one put in before being able to update this story. Thank you for your reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter