EXPECTED AND DESERVED

Disclaimer: This is a non-profit tribute to the works of JK Rowling who created and, together with her publishers and licensees, owns the characters and settings elaborated herein.

A/N: Spoilers to OotP, not HBP-compatible. Thanks to all my reviewers and my previewers, Bellegeste and Cecelle.

Dear Severus,

Ministry of Magic, here I come! I'll be working as a Muggle Liaison Officer. I met Draco today, looking less nightmarish than last time, assisting Mr Weasley in Misuse of Muggle Artefacts. I hope that works out for him; I know Mr Weasley loathed Draco's father.

Was Lucius Malfoy ever your friend? Do you miss him? Sorry, I don't mean to be nosy … or maybe I do. It occurs to me that I've just asked whether he's why you became a Death Eater. I've no right, I know. Don't answer if you'd rather not. You've been so open these last months that I've begun taking advantage.

I'm sorry. I hope I didn't hurt you. You never ask anything. Are you not interested or, horrors, afraid of the answer? Or just too polite to pry?

What's the new crop of first years like? I thought about you last night as you were, I suppose, sitting at the Feast and listening to the Sorting Hat – What did it sing this year? – and suddenly I missed your voice so much I pulled out my old Potions homework to re-read your comments. "Less time plagiarising the library and more use of what little brain you possess might be beneficial," was about the politest of the lot. I laughed till I cried and felt a hundred times better.

I'll be 18 on September 19 and I'm having a birthday dinner with mum and dad. That's when Muggles come of age. They wanted me to have a big party, but I'd rather just have my particular friends. Since Harry and Ron are in Italy and Neville on nightshifts at Villeroi Gardens, that means you. Do say you'll come. Meet us at home at 6 pm and dress Muggle formal.

Hermione

P.S. Do you like ballet?

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Miss Granger,

Congratulations on your expected and deserved success.

Lucius never had friends, only hangers-on and those he thought he could use. I was one of the latter. My decision to join came shortly after the Shrieking Shack incident. I wanted to hurt Albus, though I thought he cared little. Wrong, in so many ways.

There's nothing I need to know but that you're well and happy – and that your happiness depends only on yourself. The rest is detail. I'm content to let you choose what to share.

The first years are a bunch of scared rabbits. Jennet and Muscari stand out as potential leaders. Otherwise, the most striking feature is that, after this year, we'll have no Weasleys for a decade. The Hat is still singing about unity.

Should I feel hopeful, knowing you've missed me? Perhaps not, when my self is so easily replaced by my keepsakes. Or gratified that you kept any? I suspect, however, that you kept all your old homework, not only mine.

Albus gave me leave of absence and suggested I could chaperone any seventh years you might care to invite. Rolanda says Ballet's a kind of dance? I don't dance.

Snape

A/N Just a reminder that this story was written before JK changed her mind about Hermione's age and that I've decided to preserve it as is, like a snapshot.