AN: Hello, this is the first chapter in my fic, "Seeing Sparks". There are a few things I need to tell you about! My story takes place in Harry's seventh year. He has decided to postpone his Horcrux search until after he finishes school. The odd part about this is that the story focuses on Hermione, so the things on her mind are not the same as Harry's would have been. On another note, this fic was inspired by the song "Sparks" by Coldplay. I'd also like to remind you to respect my opinions and please, do not send me flames saying that I am disgusting, that Snape and Hermione would never be together… etc, etc! I am writing this because my muses asked me to, and if you don't like it, that's not my problem! Thank you and have a nice day!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter- no matter how hard it is to admit!
Summary: Hermione's 7th year at Hogwarts would have been memorable enough- what with the Second War, NEWTS, and the excitement of coming of age! But add a dash of love with a man you've hated for as long as you've known him, and you'll find yourself seeing sparks.
Chapter 1: Back Again
Have you ever noticed the difference between going somewhere and leaving it? Hermione has noticed in the past seven years that the train ride to school has always seemed shorter than the ride home. But it's all the same really… the same distance, the same amount of time. Just… different expectations.
Hermione's expectations at this point in her life weren't very high. The Second War was raging on and she couldn't help but wonder, 'What on earth is going to happen if we lose?' Hermione is not some silly optimistic girl. She's smart enough to comprehend that the good guys don't always win.
There are two sides of a war, and to the Death Eaters- we're the ones with crooked morals.
"Hermione, you're doing it again." Said Harry, sounding somewhat bored.
She looked up to see him smiling.
"Doing what, exactly?" She asked.
Harry chuckled, and told her, "Staring off into space while we're trying to tell you what we saw McGonagall doing with Filtch! "
"Ew! And I am not staring off into space!" She retorted, blushing slightly.
"Yea you are! Don't deny it!" Ron jeered.
"Oh fine… I've just been thinking…"
"Not again!" Harry and Ron chorused. Hermione smirked then let it fall. She looked them each in the eye.
"I was thinking about the Second War." She told them, causing Harry and Ron's cheerful disposition to drop like a newborn giraffe.
At that moment the compartment door slid open to reveal a slightly nervous looking Neville Longbottom. Alright, let's be honest. He looked terrified.
"Neville, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, she gestured to the seat in front of her and he stared confusedly at it for a while before sitting down.
"Haven't you heard the news?" He asked with slight awe.
"About McGonagall and Filtch? Yeah! I've always known it was coming!" Ron shouted.
"Not that news… that's just plain bizarre... no, the news about Professor Snape!" Neville interjected.
Hermione frowned for a moment, and said, "Professor… but he isn't a professor here anymore… he killed Dumbledore!"
"Yeah but there was a trial and they're letting him teach again!" said Neville, looking horrified yet calmer now that he was in the presence of Harry.
Silence filled the compartment as their thoughts overflowed to a point where nobody needed speech anymore, because they were all thinking about the same thing. But of course, it didn't last long as a tidal wave of Harry's fury swept over them all, threatening to drown them.
"It's disgusting. Repulsive! He killed Dumbledore! The greatest headmaster this school has ever seen- the most powerful wizard of his age- dead at his hands! How dare he show his pallid face here? Does he wish to kill McGonagall too? What the hell makes him think he has the right to teach here whenever he pleases!" Harry struggled to control his magic, as he noticed that the lights were flickering and the compartment door had just turned itself purple.
"Well, my gran said he was given veritasurem for his trial and he said something about Dumbledore telling Snape to kill him earlier… And Dumbledore had already sworn that Snape was spying on the Death Eaters for the Light side… The board had said that they trusted Dumbledore's word and would not lock away Snape because they think he is a Death Eater… It's all too complicated. I'd just like to say that our last year at Hogwarts will suck and leave it at that." Neville gave a small smile, but ruined the effect completely by loosening his tie and letting out a tiny whimper.
Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Neville talked about all things that weren't Snape-related through the rest of the train ride. Hermione contributed to the conversation (which involved the goings on between McGonagall and Filtch) but in the back of Hermione's mind was Snape, and what could have happened to have McGonagall let him teach again.
There he was- alone, at the very end of the head table. He wasn't talking, and nobody was talking to him. He wasn't eating, but he was drinking. Hermione watched him carefully throughout the feast, waiting for some hint or clue to jump out at her, but none came. The only thing she noticed was that he downed an entire bottle of wine before the feast was through. The queerness of Dumbledore's absence was too distracting for her to notice any of his particularly evil characteristics.
Either that or there were none.
Hermione was not the only person staring at Snape. In fact, it was no wonder he watched his plate so intently. She knew she would do the same if all of Hogwarts were watching her every move.
"Don't look at him, Hermione" demanded Ron, interrupting her train of thought. He gently brushed her arm and she turned around to face Harry, who was still attempting to give himself permanent wrinkles.
She smiled weakly at Harry, and told him, "I'm sure there's an excuse as to why he's here. He could have been under the Imperius..."
"So you're on his side now?" Harry accused.
"No, there are no sides. I'm just saying that they wouldn't have him teach here if he killed Dumbledore for no reason."
"There was a reason. He's a Death Eater, that's the reason," said Harry as he shoveled more food on his already overflowing plate.
Hermione sighed and rested her head in her hands. She let her hair fall like a curtain around her face. Now, in the semi-darkness, was where it was easiest for her to think. She shut her eyes and just tried to think.
Ron had other ideas though, and rubbed her back as if she were crying.
"I'm fine, Ron. I'm just thinking. You should try it sometime." She said from behind her screen of hair.
"Ah… but that would be sacrificing the one thing that makes me different than you. And no offence, I love you and all, but let's face it- we can't all be like you." Ron said casually, as if he had not just professed his love for Hermione.
"I think I'm going to go up to bed now anyway." Hermione admitted, sitting up.
"But the password- you need the password to get in the com-" Hermione interrupted him with a tap on the HG badge pinned to the front of her robes.
"This doesn't stand for Hermione Granger you know." And she stood up from the table and walked briskly yet calmly from the Great Hall.
Walking the corridors and stairwells up to Gryffindor Tower, it was the first time she couldn't think. Her mind was so blank, that when she arrived before the Fat Lady she stood there, staring at the portrait for a full minute before she remembered the password.
"Pig-pimples" she uttered, then crawled through the portrait hole- not hearing anything but her own breathing.
Exhausted, she climbed the stairs to her dormitory, stumbled through the door, and collapsed on the bed. Hugging her pillow to her as if it were her anchor to the earth, Hermione slept.