Disclaimer: still don't own harry potter…
That didn't go so bad, he thought. This girl, Hermione Granger, seemed to be quite intelligent, with a infinite thirst for knowledge. She was reminiscent of him in many ways. Except for the fact that she was in Gryffindor, with Muggle parents. But, then again, being a pureblood wasn't everything. Even he wasn't a pureblood. She was certainly smarter than any pureblood he'd ever met. And more attractive. Much more.
For a brief moment, he wished that he had some of his old memories, so that he could find out more about her. But, after what Dumbledore told him, and had explained to him that 40-year old Severus Snape hadn't wanted his memories anyway, he wiped that thought from his mind. He would find out what he could about this young woman the old fashioned way. Talking.
"Okay, so what class is your favorite, then?" Snape asked. He knew what his choice would be. Defense Against the Dark Arts. He assumed hers would be the same, with her apparent expertise at spell casting. (She had levitated all the books from their tabled back onto their respective shelves, save for the ones written by Snape).
"Actually, it's the class your father teaches. Potions," she said.
Snape was somewhat taken aback. From what Dumbledore had told him, not a soul in his classes liked Potions. What was it about this girl?
"You like Potions?" he asked her, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice. He had, after all, entered the library looking for Potions books.
Hermione smiled. "I know, I'm strange. I don't think many people in my Potions class enjoy it, except maybe the Slytherins. But, well, I've always really been fascinated with potion making. I've wanted to be a Potions Mistress ever since my fifth year."
Snape listened intently. He'd never met anyone talk about learning with such fire in their eyes. He was mesmerized.
Someone else walked into the library. Out of the corner of his eye, Snape saw the boy look at him and Hermione. Then he walked over to them.
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Hermione looked up and saw Ron walking towards him and Severus Jr. She smiled in greeting. "Hey there, Ron."
Ron smiled, sitting down at the table, beside Hermione. "I thought I'd find you here. Harry, Ginny and I are playing chess. We thought you might want to take a study break," he looked at the person sitting opposite from him, "but I guess you already are."
Hermione looked between Ron and Severus Jr. She enjoyed talking with him, but she knew Ron would be hurt if she didn't go back to the common room with him
"I guess I'd better go," she said to him, standing.
Snape smiled. "It was good talking with you," he said earnestly.
"Um, this might seem like a silly question, but what house are you in?" she asked.
Severus smiled, remembering what house Dumbledore had placed him in while he was in his office. "Gryffindor, actually."
Hermione was surprised. With a father like Severus Snape, she had expected him to be put in Slytherin. Then again, Snape himself had the heart of a Gryffindor.
"Really?" she asked him.
"Yeah," he said. "Dumbledore had me put the hat on in his office, and I was placed in Gryffindor today."
"Well, would you like to come and join us for chess?" she asked, wanting to spend more time with him.
Snape snuck a glance at the boy named Ron, and saw the disappointment in his eyes. 'He likes her. But, so do I. He's just going to have to handle a little competition…but what if they're dating?'
"That depends…does he mind?" Severus asked, as polite as he could muster.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, looking at Ron. "He's not my boyfriend…we're just friends…and even if he were…you're more than welcome to come and hang out with us."
Snape smiled at the pained look on the boy's face. "Thank you, Hermione. I'd be honored."
Snape walked between Hermione and her friend, Ron. He enjoyed listening to her talk, and he enjoyed watching Ron roll his eyes at them almost as much. Once they reached the portrait of the fat lady, Hermione rolled the password off her tongue, barely missing a beat in her conversation with Severus about truth potions and their side-affects. Stepping into the common room, she saw Harry and Ginny sitting on large chairs, hunched over the table between them.
Walking over to them, Hermione introduced Severus Jr.
Harry was surprised, to say the least.
"Snape has a son?" Harry asked. "I didn't know he was married."
Snape looked at the son of his most hated school rival, and tried to keep the ice out of his voice. "It's possible to have children without being married, Harry Potter."
"Good point," Harry said. Noting that Hermione had invited Severus Jr. to play chess with them, he said, "Well, Ginny and I are nearly done our game…would you and Hermione like to go next?"
Snape looked at Hermione. "Why not?" he asked.
Hermione smiled. "Sure."
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By the time it was Snape and Hermione's turn to play, he was getting a little too warm in his thick sweater, so he removed it, having only his undershirt on, only to find Hermione thinking along the same lines, as she had removed her robes to reveal a cute, baby blue, baby tee top.
Snape forced himself to concentrate on chess. He hadn't played much, but he was a fast learner. He gave Hermione the honor of being the first to start. She led with her knight. Snape countered her move. They did this throughout the whole game, not really getting anywhere, but not caring because it was fun. Snape had never actually had this kind of fun before, not really. At school he'd always been known as the greasy git or Snivellus. But Hermione had accepted him. She had looked past his outward appearance, and had made an effort to get to know him. Even Potter, who looked too much like his father, was accepting of him. Even though he was under the impression that Snape was the son of his father's school rival.
Snape wasn't one to count his chickens before they hatched, but for once in his life, he actually felt accepted.
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"I hate him!" Ron yelled. "He just waltzes in all 'I'm the son of your Potions teacher!' Flaunting himself all over Hermione! Like she'd even go for someone like him!"
Harry, Neville, Seamus and Dean just sat on their beds, listening to Ron rant about Snape Jr. Harry tried not to smile. He did sympathize with his best friend. Ron had liked Hermione for years, but nothing had ever happened between them, and Harry had started to wonder if anything ever would. They could certainly be a happy couple, but Harry didn't really see any fire in their relationship. Not like he had with Ginny…but then again, they did have the whole "Harry could die any day" thing going for them.
"And that smug little arse just sits there, looking at her! Like she was a piece of meat!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry spoke up. "I think you're exaggerating, Ron."
"I know I am!" Ron said loudly. "That's the point of a rant!"
Harry nodded quietly, trying again not to laugh or grin.
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Hermione sat on her bed, talking to her dorm mates. "He's just so nice, and smart…I can really talk to him. I've never met another person who enjoyed Potions."
Parvati spoke up. "Yeah, but….he's Snape's son. Isn't that kind of weird?"
Hermione shrugged. "Not really," she said. "I don't even really notice." That was a lie.
"You don't really know him, though," Parvati pointed out. "I mean, you've only known him for a day."
"Well, what's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked her.
Parvati sighed, choosing her words with care. "Well, we know that his father spent years on both sides of good and evil…maybe Snape Jr. inherited the dark half." Off Hermione's startled look, she added, "I'm just saying be careful, that's all."
Hermione tilted her chin. "I will, but I doubt there is any need."
