Chapter 3:

Hermione woke slowly as she tried to get her surroundings. She was aware of Ginny next to her. It felt like there was a brass band playing a symphony in her head and it hurt. Badly. She groaned loudly in unison with Ginny.

'I'm too old for this Ginny' she murmured, placing her head in her hands.

'You're only 24 love' Ginny chuckled, and then winced sharply.

'Tell me you have some hangover potion, you do not want to mess with me right now' Hermione said darkly as she rubbed her temples.

As if on cue Harry entered the room at this moment. He was already dressed for the day and he was grinning superiorly down at the two women. This didn't bother Hermione as he was carrying a bottle which looked like her new best friend.

'This is why I keep you around' joked Ginny as she took the bottle from Harry whilst kissing him. It wasn't that it made her uncomfortable but it made Hermione turn away. The adoration between them was sometimes too intense to watch. After she had taken a large gulp, Ginny passed the bottle to Hermione who grabbed it with a strong vigour. The liquid tasted like honey and vanilla and she felt instantly better.

'Thank you my lovely' Hermione said gratefully. She rose and hugged Harry tightly. Ginny discreetly took a step back.

'How are you feeling?' Harry whispered in her ear, and she knew he wasn't talking about the hangover.

'Better' she replied kissing him on the cheek lightly, 'than I have in a long time'.

'I've invited her to stay for as long as needs to, that's fine isn't it Harry?' questioned Ginny as she snaked her arms around Harry's waist, resting her head on his shoulder.

'You know you're welcome here for as long as you want' said Harry gazing at Hermione with a grin.

'It's only for two days. Thank you both, I really do appreciate it...I'm going to go and have a shower, if that's okay?'

Harry and Ginny smiled at her. Hermione nodded and left the room. As she looked over her shoulder on her way up the stairs, the two of them were kissing. It was undoubtedly cute, but it was still a very painful reminder of everything she no longer had. She hurried up the stairs and into the bedroom where Ginny had put her things. The room thankfully had an en-suite so she could get straight in the shower.

Two days, she thought, Two days and I can start afresh. A new life at Hogwarts. The love life can be put on hold for now. I'm going to just focus on being the best teacher I can, Hermione thought as the warm water cascaded down on her. This was going to be a long two days, she concluded somewhat bitterly.

At Hogwarts that morning the teachers and students alike were tucking into their breakfast. Snape was just drinking black coffee as he wasn't feeling hungry that morning. In fact he was anixous, a feeling quite foreign to him. His potion wasn't progressing as he had hoped. He had never failed in his potion-making before. It was the reason the wizarding world was years ahead in its medicines than it should of been. Snape of course had never allowed to be recongised for his work. He had always submitted his potions under an alias. He didn't need nor want to attention. He was comfortable in his solitude. He took a long sip of the scalding hot coffee as he mulled over. He really didn't understand what he was doing wrong.

'My my Severus, you've managed to look even more annoyed with the world than usual!, i didnt think that was even possible', said the chirpy teacher to his left.

'Ah, Sprout, unless you wish to feel the bane of my displeasure, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself', Snape stoutly replied.

'Oh no!', Sprout said in mock horror, laughing at what seemed to Snape, an ungodly volume. All I want is some peace is that really too much to ask, Snape thought as he mulled over his coffee.

After quickly finishing his drink, he rose and swept out of the great hall, his robes billowing behind him like an ever-constant storm, heading straight for the dungeons to prepare for his first lesson. Why is it not working? He really could not comprehend it. On the way he passed two students gossiping idly, which for some reason annoyed him severly.

'DETENTION! 6PM TONIGHT!', he all but bellowed at them.

'What the hell?! We didn't do anyt-' the older of the pair started.

'Do you want to make it two nights? Get out of my sight now', he growled, his lip curled in distaste.

The Griffindor badges on their chests made he start, they best not tell McGonagall, he thought, otherwise she'll want to ... talk. He shuddered as if the thought replused him and carried on to the dungeons, hoping he'd be able to get some work done on the potion before lessons started.

'Monkshood...horned toad, baneberry... goosegrass, scarab beetle, shrivelfig, dragon blood...what's missing', he muttered furiously to himself. The answer was tantalisingly close but he couldn't quite reach it. The door slammed shut as he entered the dungeon. He sat and remained completely still, lost deep in thought until the bell rang signifying the start of the teaching day and a stream of first-years floated in silently and sat down awaiting instructions, the fear Snape instilled in them in their first ever potions lesson still present in their faces and dispostions.

The two days that Hermione had thought would never end, went suprisingly quickly, no doubt due to Ginny and Harry's attempts to keep her occupied like she were their child. Though she herself who have been content wiling away the time reading and planning lessons, they had taken it upon themselves to make sure every moment from the second she woke up, to the minute she went to bed that she was busy. On that hazy Thursday, when Hermione who had not yet shock away the final remants of her hangover, was coerced into going shopping with Ginny. She was convinced into buying a large number of items, none of which she felt she actually needed though Ginny was helpful in picking her some lovely teaching robes and little things to decorate her room and office with.

That evening, her friends took her out for dinner at her favourite restaurant. As happy as this made her, the evening was tinged with nostalgia as she remembered the times Ron brought her to eat her in the early stages of their relationship. Those dinner dates didn't last for a very long time however, and became a less and less frequent affair.

On the Friday, Harry enlisted Hermione's help in cleaning Grimmauld Place whilst Ginny was at work. They spent most of the day laughing and reminscing, spending more time having tea breaks than actually cleaning anything. That evening, it turned out the reason Harry had cleaned the house as he was throwing Hermione a going away party. All of her friends were there and gave her cute gifts that warmed the girl's heart and made her face ache from smiling.

Ron didn't turn up.