Snape's POV:

We walked down to Albus' office so she could say goodbye to her adoptive parents who were surprised to see that she was actually smiling. "We're just happy as long as Hermione's happy." Jane explained. Her husband, Christopher, looked a bit pale. I walked towards him.

"Thank you for raising her. You don't know how much it means to me..."

He smiled "She's a great kid. Never fought with anyone in her old school—except that one time where a boy who lived around the corner from us, and he kissed her and then went missing for about half hour..." he laughed "...they found him in the old tree, handing by his trousers. But that was years ago...before she was told about her being a witch."

Hermione snapped her head in our direction in horror "Please tell me your not telling him about Michael Jorkins."

Christopher chuckled "I could tell you that... but then I'd be lying...."

Hermione shuddered "He's a disgusting pervert...."

Jane laughed "Well she took care of him. It seemed forever for him to talk normally again. His voice was so high pitched he would've made a great opera singer."

"Severus, I think we should be on our way to dinner. They're a lot of hungry students out there." He stood "Very pleased to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Granger." Jane and Christopher left using the floo system. Albus turned to Hermione "So which name would you prefer Hermione?"

"Granger, she should keep Granger." I stepped in "It'd... just make things easier."

She gave an uneasy look "Why shouldn't I take my birth name?"

"We'd better be going." Albus said and motioned for us to get along. I'd have to thank him for that later.

Hermione's POV:

The whole walk from the office to the Great Hall felt like walking a mile in slow motion through thick, muddy sand. occasionally gave my dad death glances towards the back of his head. Every possible thought swam through my mind, why wasn't he going to let me take my real last name? Why did Dumbledore save his butt from questions? And the biggest one what the hell was the last memory?

About three Hufflepuff girls were taken aback when they saw me with both Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall. No doubt would there be a bunch of ridiculous rumors about me tomorrow, which will be edited by Slytherins so I am either a total whore or a... no most likely they'd make me a slut.

Dumbledore, McGonagall and dad broke off to the back entrance just right behind the Head Table while I just went through the front. About half way down I saw Malfoy and the other idiots snickering and smirking, but someone smacked Crabbe and Goyle's heads together which shut everyone up. I swear there was an echo after that...

"Hey you're Hermione Granger right?" Crap, McLaggen. "It's uh... me Cormac McLaggen. From the Slug Club meetings... and I just wanted to know if you wanted to go out with me on Saturday. Maybe we could have a butterbeer at the Tree Broomsticks."

"No thanks Cormac." McLaggen opened his mouth to say something but shut it when Dumbledore clanked his glass for attention, angrily he stormed off at the other end of the table. I took the seat next to Ginny and as far away from McLaggen possible.

"Where the hell have you been?" Ron whispered.

"Nice to see you too." I rolled my eyes.

"Hermione you've been gone all afternoon. What did McGonagall want?"

"Just to clarify some of my extra credit work I turned in..."

Harry got a weird look on his face "You're not taking extra classes again are you?" he whispered.

"No."

"Merlin, Hermione how much work did you turn in if you were gone an entire afternoon?" Ron shot.

"Oh come off it will you?" Ginny snapped.

"...may the feast begin." The bowls then filled with beef stew, our goblets filled themselves with pumpkin juice and Ron's mouth was stuffed with unidentifiable things.

Disgusted Ginny snapped "Ron relax it's dead, you don't have to kill it!"

"Shu uh Djinn-ee" he said mouthful.

"Honestly Ron there's this thing called 'chewing'. It doesn't hurt anyone but I think you should try it." He ignored me.

After about an hour Dumbledore dismissed us for bed, but it looked like Ron was about to fall asleep in his stew and probably drown in it. Harry was spaced out, possibly because he was still depressed about Sirius. Ginny and I left off for bed while Harry and Ron stayed back with Seamus and Dean. We took the long scenic route that passed the Quidditch pitch, where you could see the mountains.

"So, what was that thing with Snape all about?" she asked "He's never been nice to any of the other houses besides Slytherin. And yet he wanted to protect you from those Ravenclaws."

"So he wanted to help, I don't see any problem with that..." we walked for a little while longer then suddenly she pushed me into an empty closet "Ginny!! What the hell are you doing?!"

She pulled out her wand "Who the hell are you!!!" I pushed her wand away but she brought it back to my throat "I'm not afraid to be injured or killed for doing this I just want to know what you did with my friend... Now will ask you once again who are you?!"

For once Ginny actually scared me "It is I, Hermione... Granger daughter of Christopher and Jane, Muggle-born, both of my parents are dentists..." Snape, Severus and Evelyn, Half-Blood, father is a DADA teacher at Hogwarts I corrected mentally.

She lowered her wand "I'm sorry Herm, I-I just had to be sure it was you. I-I just got a little paranoid, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright." I went for the door but she held me back.

"Herm, I'm only asking this because I care..." she paused "Are you and Snape.... together?"

"How can you even think that?!?! He's old enough to be my father!!!!" I chuckled inside.

"Sorry, sorry. I just had to ask. I mean you miss your classes at the same time he has a replacement, you show up late the same time as him, you wear his clothing!—I'm sorry but everything just sort of points to a relationship!!"

"Ginny..." Merlin this was hard "I'm not dating anyone, especially not Snape. Come on, you know me better than that."

She sighed "I'm sorry Hermione. Truly I am but I was just getting worried. Ever since we got back from summer he's been... pleasant... I don't know. Ron and Harry have said that he was nice to you whenever you were in his class. Haven't you noticed that he's actually being fair with the whole point giving thing? He's even taking points away from Slytherin when they screw up."

I shrugged, "Maybe he's just being nice because he finally realizes what a complete arse he's been for the past five years and now he's trying to be... decent."

She finally gave up "Whatever the reason I hope it stays this way." I explained.

"Yeah... yeah I hope so too"

A repulsive odor assaulted my nostrils "Can we please get out of here? I think if we stay in here any longer my nose is going to melt."

She sniffed once and gagged "Oh gods!" she kicked the door open. "SWEET AIR!!" she screamed. Down the corridor a few Hufflepuff guys had the most confused look on their faces. We laughed stupidly and ran as fast as we possibly could towards Gryffindor tower.

"Dr-Dr-Dragon Fangs" I shouted breathlessly at the fat lady. The door opened and we saw that Harry and Ron had already beaten us back.

"Where the hell did you go this time?!" Ron spat.

"Gee Ron, your just a ray of sunshine today aren't you?" Ginny snapped.

I laughed "Well good night everyone..."

"HEY WAIT A MINUTE—!!" Ron shouted but I was already up the girls dormitories stairs. I locked the door to make sure Ginny can't take any more of my clothes. Lavender and Parvati were babbling on about some random Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw... poor guy. What a stupid time to come in. I could only assume that they were desperate enough to date anyone at this point.

"He's so—"

"—No doubt—"

"—the eyes—"

"—the hair—"

"—the Quidditch bod!"

Murder me.

"Oh, hi Hermione." Parvati asked "Uh... when did you get here?"

"Just now."

"Do you agree with us?" Lavender practically drooled.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Some guy, in our school, in a house..."

I wanted to say 'Duh!...' but I bit my tounge. There was a loud tapping sound on our window but it was just an owl.

"I've got it..."

I grabbed an owl treat and gave it to the beautiful brown owl though it didn't fly off when I got the letter off. Instead it just screeched and held it's leg out.

"Who's it for?" they said together.

"M-Me..."

Hermione Granger—

I know this may sound strange, but I just want you to know who I really am. Meet me in the Forbidden Forest at noon tomorrow. Don't be afraid about this being a prank or anything by some idiotic Slytherins I just want you to talk with you.

Hope I see you tomorrow. Can't wait... happy birthday

—Fire

P.S. please don't hex me...

The owl screeched again and flew off. The handwriting was messy and scrawled slightly so I assumed it was written by a boy.

"Well what does it say?" Lavender urged.

"It's just from my parents." I lied "they just wanted to tell me happy birthday." They nodded and went to bed.

Fire? Who would pick a name like that? And why would they pick it? So many questions swam through my head at the same time. The thing that didn't bug me was that I'd find out who fire was thankfully on a weekend. I read the letter again and again but it still didn't make any sense at all. So I guess I'd have to meet this 'Fire' person tomorrow.

Curiosity got the better of me. I climbed out of bed and placed Lavender and Parvati in enchanted sleep, silenced and locked the room, and grabbed the box. "Sorry dad. But this is where I stop listening to you..." the pensieve grew to it's normal size and I was sucked in...