Disclaimer: And after three chapters, I still do not own Harry Potter.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry I haven't updated sooner. I just started High School and I had alot to do. Don't worry, though, I have up to Chapter Five written up in my most prized possession. My notebook. So all I need to do is type it all up. When I have the time. REVIEW, please. It'll motivate me more. Much love.

Severus had seen the girl he rescued and decided to go after her. She rushed into the Great Hall and looked around nervously. She, then, ran to the Gryffindor table and Severus groaned out loud and everyone nearby looked over at him. A low growl escaped his throat and they looked away quickly. When he looked back, to his dismay, Hermione was surrounded by the "Marauders". Oh, how he hated them. They took every hope for friendship with each lie they told. He may be greasy, but he isn't a greasy bat nor is he all too greasy, he couldn't help it anyway. He may cry sometimes but don't they? He didn't see anything wrong with him that deserved to be picked upon. Severus saw that Sirius had put his arm around Hermione when he re-connected with the real world. He always blanked out when he was thinking. Or ranting, possibly? A strange pang of jealousy surged through him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if to suck in the violent string of hexes he could cast. He opened his eyes slowly, but caught Hermione pulling Sirius's arm off her and she didn't look pleased with him at all. Abnormal. This girl was worth knowing. He almost smiled but, you know, Severus Snape did not smile. Not a lot, but certainly not in public where everyone could wonder why he was smiling.
After the feast, he spotted Hermione rushing in the direction of the Headmasters office. She looked distraught. His curiosity was sparked and he disillusioned himself and followed behind her. When he caught up to her, she was standing outside the Headmaster's office guessing passwords.

"...Ice Mice? Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans? Sherbert Lemon?" She guessed it right and entered up the steps. He rushed to try and catch the step so he could go up. Alas, he wasn't fast enough. He groaned and waited outside the Headmasters office until she left. When he heard the Gargoyle shift, he rushed into the nearest corridor that connected to the one Hermione would be going through. He rushed out the end and Hermione crashed right into him.

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't see you there," she exclaimed, picking up her stuff.

"Watch where you're going," he snapped. He was quite good at this acting aggravated thing.

"You're the one who shot out of the corridor," she countered. He only sighed, he didn't feel like arguing with her. He had learned, in only a short time, she was just as stubborn as he.

"What's your name?" he asked suddenly, looking expectantly at her.

"Hermione Granger, and yours, if I may ask," she replied, confidently and quickly.

"Severus Snape," he answered, slowly. He saw a flash of recognition in her eyes. He growled.

"They've told you about me, I take it," he spat, the word they sounded like an infectious disease.

"Yes, in fact they did. But I didn't really believe it all. Of course not," she snapped.

"You should've. I am a cruel, impatient, stubborn loser," he growled, trying to frighten her away. He obviously wasn't used to feeling close with a person since Lily.

"Oh, I did believe that part, I mean, I can tell from how you act that's how you'd like to seem. I also believed that you were jealous of Lily," she stated rather matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"You like James." Severus started turning red and looked as if he were about to say something very rude.

"I'm kidding, relax, Mr. Ego," she laughed, "I'm not that stupid.

"Very funny." There wasn't any hint of any sort of amusement in his voice. Hermione sighed.

"Well, it's getting late, Pro– er... Sn– Severus," she stuttered, turning red. He looked at her curiously. She purposely mistook that for him agreeing and she waved as she walked away. He raised his hand weakly and waved back. Severus turned and stalked off to the Slytherin Common Room to think.

Hermione squealed as she stretched. She had just woken up. She thought back to her meeting with Dumbledore. He had told her to be careful not to reveal anything or do anything... misguided that would change the future. She pulled out her schedule and groaned. Potions with the Slytherins. Even in the past, she predicted this would not be pleasant. There was always competition between the houses. Lily walked into the room and looked at Hermione.

"Hey, Hermione!" exclaimed Lily. She looked over at Hermione's bed.

"Where's your trunk?" Oh, Merlin's Beard. How was she going to explain this.

"I don't have stuff yet, my parents thought it'd be best if I left my American clothes at home and got new ones," she explained, on the spot.

"Would you like to get new clothes with me? At the next Hogsmeade trip?"

"I would love to!" she answered, quite sincerely. Lily beamed.

"Can everyone join us?"

"Everyone being Sirius, Remus," Hermione winked, " and James?" Lily blushed.

"Is it that obvious?" she said, shyly, "And yes, but also Peter Pettigrew, you haven't met him yet though."

"No, it isn't that obvious, I can just tell," she answered, smiling. Though, she wasn't feeling all to happy. The mention of Peter Pettigrew, that traitor, threw her off.

"Do you like anyone?" Lily asked.

"I met a nice Slytherin, but I'm not sure if he'll like me now," Hermione answered, faking disappointment.

"Who is he?" asked Lily, beaming with excitement.

"Oh, I don't know his name," Hermione answered, anti-climactically, "I'm sure he's a Slytherin though, he was bragging about it."

"What about Remus?" Lily asked, quickly forgetting the Slytherin.

"I could like him I guess," Hermione answered, slowly and unsure-like, "I see him more like a very good friend, though."

"Yeah, he's the one you could trust with anything," agreed Lily, "Anyway, we best be off to Potions. Maybe you could point out the boy?"

"So who is he?" Lily asked, quite excited, while Professor Slughorn, the Potions teacher did roll call. Hermione glanced around, nervously, looking for an unsuspecting boy to choose as the one she met. She saw a cute brown-haired boy and pointed at him.

"Oh. That's Mulciber. He's mean to me because I'm a muggle-born," sighed Lily.

"Well, I'll be excepting the same treatment then."

"You're a muggle-born? Oh, how cool! I didn't know," exclaimed Lily, louder than she should've.

"Miss Evans? Something you'd like to share with the class?" asked the professor. A chorus of "yeah"'s swept the classroom.

"Sorry, Professor, I was just introducing myself to the new girl and explaining some things," explained Lily, pretending to be innocent and sorry.

"Oh, well then! That's quite alright. How about we all meet the new girl!" Hermione's eyes widened and she shook her head at the professor. He chuckled.

"Nonsense, nonsense! No need to be shy, Miss Granger." Lily looked over to Mulciber. She wanted to see if he recognized Hermione. Lily wasn't exactly sure Hermione told the truth about meeting a nice Slytherin. Especially if it was Mulciber. Hermione walked up slowly, with her hair covering her reddening face. Her eyes swept the room, shyly. She smiled inwardly when she saw Severus looking up at her, looking curious.

"This is Hermione Granger, everyone. She's moved here from America!"

"Then how come you sound English?" asked a rude sounding Slytherin girl.

"Because I lived here before. My parents got job transfers," Hermione answered, lying, but she was getting quite "into" the lie.

"Are you a mudblood?" snarled the boy, who was apparently Mulciber.

"Inappropriate question, Mr. Mulciber," yelled Professor Slughorn, "Five points from Slytherin!" She looked at Severus, who didn't look too surprised or shocked. He looked up at her for a moment and looked down at whatever was in front of him. Hermione slid her way to her chair and slunk back into it.