Disclaimer: Still don't own anything Harry Potter related…

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your reviews! They make me a happy writer. ^.^ Also, yes, I know that there is a bit of AU here and there. It's kind of hard to not add it in.

First Day

Breakfast the next morning went as usual for the Gryffindors. Professor McGonagall handed out the schedules for the year while Ron stuffed his face. She smiled at Hermione when she dropped off her schedule. Hermione returned the smile and then looked down. She groaned, shoving the offending parchment into her bag. Ginny smirked. "What's the matter? Defense got you feeling down?" Hermione glared at her. "Heh. You gonna start the year out right?" She winked and Hermione blushed, glancing up at the staff table.

Harry snickered. "Don't worry, Gin. I'll make sure she behaves herself."

Hermione huffed and stood. "I'll meet you there."

"Wait for me, dear!" Harry jumped out of his seat and ran to catch up to Hermione, making a show of wrapping his arm around her waist. Ginny let out a whistle from the table, but it only caused Hermione to walk faster, dragging Harry along with her.

Minerva looked up when she heard Harry shout, as did the rest of the hall. She chuckled at his antics, but a quick glance cut it short. Severus was glaring at the couple that had just left. His hand was gripping his fork and his teeth were grinding. She sighed. "Severus?"

He didn't look at her until Hermione and Harry had left the hall. His entire body relaxed once the door shut and he turned to Minerva. "Yes?"

"Please don't torture yourself this year." She held up a hand to stop him from interrupting. "I will not stand for jealous acts, Severus. You need to either get over her or tell her how you feel."

Severus gave her his equivalent of a jaw dropping.

Minerva chuckled. "Finally coming to terms with it?"

"Minerva, I had hoped you would not think so low of me. Miss Granger an annoying know-it-all. She is also an underage student."

"You are the most stubborn person I have ever met, Severus."

"Indeed?" He drained the last of his pumpkin juice and stalked off to his classroom.

Snape arrived at his classroom right on time, as usual. Though his door didn't slam open quite as nicely as the Potions' door did, it still had the desired effect. The entire class jumped, having had the entire summer away from slamming doors.

Hearing him coming, Hermione quickly buried her nose in her book, not wanting to face him. His robe brushed up against her as he strode to the front of the room, causing her to shiver. She shook herself mentally and continued trying to immerse herself in her book… upside down.

When Snape reached the front, he turned and surveyed the class. His earlier conversation with Minerva had put him in a very foul mood to start the day with. Halfway across the room, his gaze rested on Hermione plus her upside down book. "As a general note, books are best understood when read right side up." Hermione blushed and lowered her book, discreetly turning it around, surprised that he hadn't called her out specifically. Harry tried to hide his snort but failed, causing Snape's attention to snap to him. "Do you find something amusing, Mr. Potter?"

Harry shook his head. "No, sir."

Snape sneered. "Ten points for lying, Mr. Potter." Harry silently seethed, but Snape continued on. "Today we will begin with Chapter One."

Hermione sagged into her couch. The day had been quite grueling. She didn't know how she was going to survive this year. It was bad enough that during last year she realized that her feelings of respect for Snape were starting to grow into something more. After talking to Ginny about it, she realized that she really needed to get the situation resolved. But how? She knew it was beyond stupid to just go up to him and tell him how she felt. He would probably just laugh and dismiss her.

Sighing, she unloaded her bag onto her coffee table. She glanced at the clock and figured now was as good a time as any to head to Minerva's office. She got more excited as she traversed the castle, remembering what she was going for. The thought of finally getting an animagus thrilled her. Though Minerva hadn't said that would be part of the curriculum, she was sure she could get it added.

"Ginger snaps" was out of her mouth before she even thought about it. She grinned. 'That woman really needs to change her password.' The gargoyle leapt aside, allowing her entrance into the Headmistress' office. She lightly knocked on the door, entering when a voice inside said to. She stopped short once the door opened, however. Sitting in the chairs that were placed in front of Minerva's desk were Draco and Severus.

Draco smiled meekly at her, but Severus kept his gaze focused on Minerva, determined not to turn around. "Ah, Hermione. Please come all the way in. These two were just leaving." She gave a pointed look to the Slytherins, who in turn got out of their seats and headed out the door. Draco grinned at Hermione and she playfully smacked his arm. Severus narrowed his eyes at the boy, brushing past Hermione without so much as a look in her direction.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Hermione plopped down in the seat Draco had occupied, knowing that Severus' scent would still be lingering in the other.

Minerva smiled conspiratorially. "Might I ask what is going on between you and Severus? I don't object, I'm just curious."

Hermione looked up, startled at the older woman's insight. "I-I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about, Minerva."

Minerva chuckled. "Whatever you say, Hermione. But I figured you had more sense than to deny things." She paused. "Unless rule breaking has caused more change than I thought." She winked to show that she was playing.

Hermione relaxed a little. "There's honestly nothing going on… unfortunately… He's his usual snarky self and I'm reduced to a blushing idiot when he comes around. It's driving me nuts!"

"So, you at least admit to liking him?"

Hermione cocked her head. "I suppose. Everyone else thinks so anyway. I developed my crush sometime last year…"

"What makes you think he doesn't feel the same way?"

It was Hermione who laughed this time. "You can't be serious, Minerva. The man hates me, I'm sure of it."

Minerva sighed. "He doesn't hate people easily, dear. Besides, I am quite certain that he is at least respectful of your brains."

"But that would be it." She shook her head. "No, he probably still views me as a childish, unattractive, silly know-it-all."

Minerva fought to contain her chuckle, remembering Severus uttering the same words earlier. "Well, how do you like your rooms so far?"

"They're quite wonderful, really. I even have my own lab."

Minerva's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah, they're really nice, too." She noticed Minerva's expression. "You, er, didn't know?"

Minerva shook her head. "Last I saw the rooms, there wasn't a lab, just a spare room of sorts." She grinned. "Might have something to do with your portrait though…"

"I meant to ask you about that as well. Do you know why he's there? He said it was a favor to someone, but refused to tell me who."

"I'm afraid that's the same answer you'll get from me. We have both been sworn to secrecy."

Hermione gave a frustrated sigh. "That's really unfair. Why would someone give me labs and an obnoxious portrait, but not tell me?"

Minerva shrugged. "I can't help you there, so maybe we can talk about something that I can help you with?"

Hermione smiled. "I'd be okay with that. What are we going over tonight?"

"I figured we would start with the basics of teaching. There isn't much about the subject matter I can teach you about." She paused, seeing the anxious look on Hermione's face. "Is there anything in particular you wanted to discuss?"

The younger witch nodded. "I would really like to become an Animagus."

Minerva chuckled. "I figured you might say that." She handed a book to Hermione that had been lying on her desk.

Hermione took the book, reading over the title, Becoming an Animagus. "I've never seen this book before."

A grin appeared on the older woman's face. "That's because it was removed from the Restricted Section and placed in my office after a certain group of students took it upon themselves to 'check it out'."

Hermione laughed. "Should have known." She opened the book and flipped through the first few pages. "How will we be going about this? I'm sure you want me to be in your presence when I try."

Minerva nodded. "I would definitely prefer it, though if I'm not available, you may ask another professor." She paused. "Professor Snape would be preferable, as he is also an Animagus."

"I didn't know that… Dare I ask what his form is?"

"That is something you will have to speak to him about. It's rather personal for him." She smiled. "Now, I know you are dying to start going over the book, but I really need some sleep. We can continue next week when you start coming regularly."

Hermione smiled widely. "Thank you so much, Minerva! I really appreciate this."

"You're quite welcome, dear. Have a good night."

"You as well." Hermione left the office and headed back to her room, looking forward to studying her new material.

A/N: The books say nothing about Severus being an Animagus, but it furthers my plot. So there. :D

Also, I would like to thank marble for helping me out so much with this storyline. Wouldn't be able to write it without her. Thank you!