N/A Thank you for all the reviews already! That was the pre-amble and this will be the start. And no more Hermione's POV.

Hermione's ears perked up as she recognized the voice. She looked up the front of the room and a confused feeling overwhelmed her. The man had short black hair, a protruding nose, a very well sculpted chest (from what she could see under his white shirt), and slender legs with a pair of black pants on. His skin was somewhat pale and he voice was deep and dark. 'No, it couldn't be him. Wait until he says his name."

"Hello class, my name is Professor Smith, but you may call me Samuel."

Hermione let out a sigh of relief to herself. She knew it couldn't have been Severus. She opened her textbook and notebook and started highlights and dictating like mad. Professor Smith loved to speak fast and waited for no one. When the class was over, she quickly picked up her bags and darted for the door. She didn't want to stay in there; he reminded her too much of her past and she knew the class would be tough. As she left, she could feel his eyes watching her leave and it left her uneasy.

The rest of the day flew by and by four she was back in her room. She dropped her books on her desk and let out a long sigh. She was glad her first day was done and was excited for the rest of the week. The only problem was that for her chemistry class she needed to take a tutorial along with it every Tuesday and Thursday, which meant she'd be seeing Mr. Smith every day for the rest of the semester. Maybe there was another chemistry class she could take with another professor. She pulled out her laptop, plugged it in to charge and looked up classes. There was no one else teaching the class she needed. She groaned.

She then heard a knock at the door. 'I'm not expecting anyone...' Hermione thought to herself. She opened the door and saw three girls standing outside her door.

"Welcome to second floor! I'm Ginny, this is Molly, and this is Minnie." Ginny said, pointing to each of the girls and holding out a basket.

"We saw you moving in and heard you were home schooled. May we come in? We brought a gift basket of fun!"

Hermione smiled and let them in. She had never had an all-girl group of friends. Sure, she knew Ginny but she was Ron's sister and Ron is well… history. The girls all sat down on her bed and unloaded the wicker gift basket. Popcorn, a few movies, a small tub of ice cream and four spoons.

"So what's your major?" Molly asked.

"Medicine with a chemistry minor."

"What? You must be nuts! I'm a music major, Minnie is an English major and Ginny is a history major."

Hermione chuckled. "I quite enjoy it and if I had the time I'd love to take history as well."

The girls all laughed and Minnie grabbed Hermione's hand. All three of the girls lead her down to the common room where they heated up the popcorn.

"So any cute boys or Profs you like?"

Hermione giggled and shook her head.

"I heard there's a chemistry teacher who came here about 5 years ago who is pretty good looking. What was his name... Smith I think it was."

Hermione choked in her own spit and started coughing uncontrollably. The girls patted her back and Molly went to go fetch her a glass of water. Five years ago, when the war ended, all the evidence was pointing to the same thing. It couldn't be though, it just couldn't. She took a sip of the water and without thinking started to cry. The girls all looked at each other confused. Hermione was very thankful they were there and there wasn't anyone else in the common room. She walked over to the nearest couch and sunk into it.

"I'm sorry… when you said five years ago… I'm parents are divorced and that was when they started to fight. I've had a strange past and that—"

"Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't know." Minnie said, all three of the girls hugging Hermione and helping her feel better. Little did they know she was crying about the war and the chance that Severus might still be alive.

They spent the night in Hermione's room watching old cheesy movies and eating popcorn and ice cream. Hermione did feel a lot better and was thankful for the new friends she met. Nothing like this ever happened at Hogwarts.

The next morning she woke up and went to go get a coffee before going to her chemistry tutorial. It was going to be a long day. She walked to the Professors office and knocked on the door. Professor Smith opened up the door and smiled.

"Welcome to my office! Come in Miss Granger."

Hermione stood at the door with a look of a deer in the headlights.

"How did you know my name?"

Professor Smith looked at Hermione and seemed very apprehensive. "We have a class list with your student ID photo beside it. I was checking who was in the class just now."

Hermione felt like that wasn't the truth but walked in anyways. "Professor… I don't mean to insult you or anything but are there any other teachers who teach this course?"

"Why, is there something wrong with my teaching?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, it's just… you remind me of someone… someone I'd rather not be reminded of."

Professor Smith chuckled. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that but I am the only teacher teaching the introduction to organic chemistry course." He stood up, picked up a pile of books and smiled at Hermione. "Now, why don't we walk to class together?"

Hermione sighed, took a big gulp of coffee and started to walk beside him.

"So, your transcripts say you were home schooled, and you scored the highest we've ever seen on the entrance exam, homeschooled or not. You're a very bright witch."

Hermione turned her head at Professor Smith and gave him a puzzled look. "Pardon?"

"I mean woman. I've been reading the book wicked and that must have slipped out." Professor Smith said with a chuckled. When they reached the classroom, Hermione shuffled in and sat in the back row. No more front row for her.

After class, the rest of the day went by well. She ran into Dudley a few times but didn't want to say hi. He wouldn't recognize her and she didn't want to get to know the little brat anyways. The last time she saw him though he said hello.

"You're in my biology class. I'm Dudley."

He held out his hand and Hermione eyed it but didn't shake it. "I know. I'm a friend of Harry's." she said sternly. Dudley stepped back in fear.

"Y-y-you're not… one of them are you?" he said in hushed tones. Hermione smiled. She heard the kind of fun Harry had with this and now it was her chance. She nodded her head.

"But don't you dare tell anyone or else I'll give you a pig tail again like Hagrid gave you."

Dudley shook his head nervously and ran off to his next class. She didn't see him at all the rest of the day. Hermione chuckled. She had to write Harry about this. It would give him some relief being he was still in therapy at St. Mungo's. She scurried off to her room and saw her three friends waiting outside her room.

"Minnie said she saw you talking to Dudley Dursely. Ginny has had a crush on him forever! Could you hook them up?"

Hermione laughed and nodded. She knew a way to arrange that. "Do you have his number?" Ginny nodded and handed her cellphone over to her. Hermione stepped away and told the girls she would be right back.

"Uhh Hi Ginny, how're you?"

"Listen Dudley, it's Harry's friend. Tomorrow, meet Ginny at the cafeteria and eat lunch with her alright?" Hermione heard a bit of squeal at the other end of the line and then a small yes. She smiled, thanked him and hung up.

"Meet him at the cafeteria at lunch time tomorrow. You're set!"