Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter characters.
Changes Two Chap 7
Hermione stormed down the hall, her clogs smacking the stone floor angrily. She ignored the passing students clenching her fists so as to not hex anyone. As it turns out bringing Sirius back was about the worst thing she could have done. Yes, Harry was happy, as were a number of people who had missed the mutt, unfortunately instead of keeping Harry safe, Sirius was pushing him to get into more trouble. "Oh yes, watch Malfoy why don't you." Hermione mutters crossly traveling down the familiar path.
She had to keep Harry safe, no matter what, that is why she was currently marching toward her old classroom the same room in which her arch nemesis now ruled. She needed someone who could put a wrench in the boy-wonder's snooping, the fact that his interference would piss Sirius off was just an added bonus. And maybe it would pull some of the attention off of her, she felt as though she was under a microscope every single moment of the day; it was absolutely annoying and infuriating.
Shoving the large door open Hermione stalked into the room saying nothing as she approached the front desk where her soon to be unlikely ally was working. With a flick of her wrist the gaping door slammed shut and Hermione froze determined to not be the one to break the silence.
The familiar, and somewhat comforting, sound of a quill scratching paper fills the room as Snape studiously ignores her choosing instead to grade his newest batch of essays. With her patience running thin the Gryffindor pulls her wand and points it at the paperwork. "Evanesco." She intones smirking when the papers disappear.
"And now everyone fails." Snape states carelessly glowering at the witch.
Hermione shrugs innocently the smug smirk still planted firmly on her features. "You were going to fail them anyway; I just saved you the paperwork."
Leaning back in his chair Severus Snape inconspicuously places his hand over his wand incase the witch decided to do anything rash. "And what, pray tell has caused you to suddenly decide to save me from my paperwork?"
"Harry, with leave of common sense and a... annoying godfather, has taken it upon himself to do some investigating." Hermione informs her once colleague spitting out the last word as though it were diseased. "It's stupid and dangerous and completely irresponsible, he won't listen to reason, not with both Ron and Sirius…" Trailing off the time traveler flexes her empty hand. "We need to stop it, unless of course you want Harry to snoop around Draco's every move."
Severus straightens at the mention of his godson noting Hermione's slight wince when she realizes she had called the Malfoy heir by his first name. "And what would you have me do about it Ms. Granger?" He drawls slowly examining the girl before him, her erratic behavior was annoying at best and he wondered briefly why the Gryffindor suddenly seemed so inclined to ignore their petty feud.
If possible the girl's hair seemed to frazzle even more as though lightning was gathering in the room no doubt because of her mood. "Give him detention, hold him after class, turn Sirius into an effing rug for all I care just-." Stopping suddenly Hermione presses her lips into a thin line giving Snape the distinct impression of someone much older. "I've spoken with some trustworthy students, they agree that what Harry is doing is dangerous so they're going to try and keep him busy outside of class. Unfortunately there's only so much that can be done to keep him from his quest short of fully hexing him."
Severus stared at his pupil taking note of the way she now held herself; he could clearly see the muscles in her jaw clench as she waited for his answer. It hadn't made it pass his notice how she added Black to her plea nor how she met his gaze unflinching, he had a feeling that one more shove might cause the girl to act and unable to help himself he cast the bait. "Since you seem so worried for Potter then why don't you do something, or are you so incompetent that you can't even control your little pet."
Eyes narrowing angrily Hermione slams her hand onto the desk leaning forward menacingly igoring the stir in the atmosphere that her anger was causing. "You listen to me you rank arrogant amateur if Harry realizes why Draco needs that cupboard fixed it will be on your head, you are the one who will have to deal with the aftermath not me. I'll throw you to the dogs quicker than you can blink." Straightening stiffly Hermione crosses her arms over her chest trying to reign in her magic that was leaking out uncontrollably as someone knocks on the classroom's door. "Are we clear?"
"What cupboard?" Snape asks watching his student's face falls into an innocent pose as the door is opened by a young Slytherin. Was he the only one who saw past her annoying masks? Obviously there was more to the so called know-it-all than he knew. Either she was a wonderful actress or she was psychotic.
Hermione's smirk transforms into a smile as she curtsies slightly. "That's all professor, thank you for taking the time to hear me out." Turning pleasantly she gives the first year a wide smile and nod before walking past him not even trying to hide the slight spring in her step.
'It really does feel good to rant a bit, although Snape was probably even more suspicious of her now. Oh well, he'd help her, if only to protect Draco.' Stopping suddenly the Gryffindor winces as a headache begins to pound on her temple. Pretending to be nothing more than a student was taking its toll, she already knew everything that was being taught and slowly her Jane persona was beginning to bleed through. It would be only a matter of time until all of her walls came crashing down.
Turning a corner Hermione smiles widely as she sees Neville, Ron, and Luna. The bookworm opens her mouth to greet them only to frown as Ron storms past her a scowl set firmly on his face. "What's all that about?" She asks the remaining students blinking as Luna links arms with her.
Luna smiles dreamily staring after the rumpled boy. "Harry's busy at the moment." She informs Hermione easily changing her pace to match the brunette's.
"Okay, I never realized Harry's time meant so much to him." Hermione answers, throwing her friends teasing grins.
"Well." Neville begins giving her a smile of his own. "I doubt it would, except for the fact that he's busy with Ginny."
"Oh." Understanding dawns on the time-traveler and she finds herself hard pressed not to snicker. 'Apparently Ginny is taking her role of keeping Harry occupied very seriously.' "That's productive."
Luna shakes her head at Hermione's statement pulling the elder girl closer. "Not at all actually, the Sheela Na Gig isn't here yet, otherwise Mrs. Weasley would be quite cross."
Hermione winces slightly at the mention of the fertilty hag whose carvings were found across Ireland and Britain. "I'm sure she would." The girl replies ignoring Neville's curious look, thankfully the boy apparently had enough common sense to not ask who they were talking about. "So why don't we go grab some light reading, there's this wonderful book I found in the library about defensive spells, I thought maybe we could look over it and try some."
Neville nods staring down at his new wand reverently wondering how much a difference it would make to use a core specially designed to him. "Okay, so do you want to meet in the Room of Requirement?"
Hermione glances at the boy fondly not really paying much attention to the Ravenclaw as Luna unhooks her arm and slips away from her all the while staring at her as she always had, with a look that seemed not quite right, as though she could see past what was shown.
The Gryffindor tilts her head thinking over her options before agreeing. "Yes, after supper tonight." Turning on her heel she ambles down the path back the way they came.
"See you there, Professor." Luna calls quietly after her as her retreating figure turns a corner. The blonde stares after her friend tilting her head to the side curiously before continuing her stroll with Neville.
If the Ravenclaw had chanced to look around the stone corner she would have found a very peculiar sight, or perhaps a not so peculiar to her.
A startled Hermione Granger was trying not to hyperventilate as she attempted to push herself off the ground. That whispered sentence; that one little word had brought the great warrior to her knees. "Professor." Hermione bites out nearly without sound, as soon as the title leaves her mouth it settles in her soul and with a soundless crack yet another piece of Hermione Granger falls away.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Please Review! Sorry it took so long but I'm already planning the next part so yay! Personally I've always loved Luna and Neville, they bring a bit of normality to the story I suppose. And now we wonder what steps is Snape going to take and what will Sirius' reaction be? Stay tuned for a particular juicy scene between our favorite bookworm and dog.