CHOICES
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/n: Here is the next chapter. Please read and review. This was a New Years present. So enjoy.
Chapter 9
Today was the start of term, and Hermione was so jittery that Severus could hardly keep track of where she was at any given time. Potions class would be starting and so would the apprenticeship. Severus was actually happy about this apprenticeship as Hermione was his apprentice.
Hermione had spent the last 2 days hanging out with Ginny and Draco. They made the cutest couple; and Draco had asked Ginny in advance to go with him to all of the dances and balls. Besides the fact that when they got mad at each other it would look like a tornado hit, with Ginny and Draco's tempers put together, it was bad.
Severus finaly found her in one of the corridors on the fifth floor. She was standing in front of one of the pictures of a princess on a mattress with a pea under it, and crying. Severus stopped and stared at her for a few moments, then he walked up to her and hugged her to him.
"What's wrong, Sweetheart?" he asked as they slid to the floor and leaned against the wall. If anyone, student or teacher, passed by at that moment they would probably die of shock, because Severus was rocking Hermione in his arms.
"It has just hit me that this is my last year here. It has been like my home to me, and I don't want to leave it," she said after wiping her tears.
He lifted her face to meet his and he kissed her. "Who knows, Kitty. Maybe you won't have to. I mean you could finish your apprenticeship with honors (which we both know you will) and then you could take over for me, while I am sitting at home enjoying my retirement in all of my old fogee splendore." Or, he thought, we could fall in love and get married and you wouldn't have to leave at all. He wondered if it could happen.
That made her laugh. "You are not old," she said, "Besides, I could always just stay an apprentice forever. Then you couldn't retire."
"You wouldn't be that mean. Now, we have to get ready for the feast. The students will be here in about 3 ½ to 4 hours, and you look a mess. But you are still beautiful in my eyes. I will take a shower first. I'm going to surprise the students with my new look. You go get Ginny and tell her to get dressed into her school robes, and at 6:45 she needs to go down into the Great Hall and wait for the other students to get there. Then you can come back and start getting ready."
"Okay," said Hermione getting up from the floor and dusting herself off. "See you in a few, then." And she kissed him on the cheek and went off to find Ginny.
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When Severus was back in their chambers he got in the shower and washed up. When he was through he went over to his closet and picked out a red and gold plaid button-up shirt with black jeans and a dark maroon robe. Then he added the finishing touch. He pulled his hair back and tied it with a gold string. When the people saw him they wouldn't recognize him. After he was through he went into the den.
Hermione came in a few minutes later and went to take a shower. He laughed to himself because she walked right by him and didn't even notice him. So he sat and waited for her to get through because it was only 5:30.
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Hermione got out of the shower and went to stand in front of her mirror. It showed her in a baby blue, knee-length, sleeveless dress with little silver stars splashed across it. She said okay and put her black school robe on.
She walked out into the living room and stopped. Severus stood facing her in his outfit.
"Damn," she said. "Somebody is looking pretty fine."
"You don't look to bad yourself. I think I will shock everybody. Don't you?" he asked her and winked. He walked over to the couch and sat down.
"Yes, not only the fact that you are wearing Gryffindor colors but you don't even look like yourself. And you sure shocked me," she answered.
"Yes. Apparently, I shocked you to the point to where when you walked in you did not even see me on the couch," he said.
"Oh. I'm sorry about that. You must have looked camoflauge with the couch. You know with those colors on," she retorted.
"Touche," he said. "As it is now 6:30, and because Ginny does not know how to do the charm disillusionment charm, you will have to go down there and do it for her. Albus has told me the seating arrangements too. When you have put the charm on Ginny, you are supposed to go into the Great Hall and sit in the chair next to mine at the High Table. Not for the whole year, but just on special occasions. Albus will tell everyone when they get there why you and Draco are sitting up there, as Draco will be next to Minerva. But I will be a little late coming there."
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"I have a few things to do. Now go, if I am not there when Albus gives his infernal speech I will be after. Tell him that, please," he said.
"Fine," she said, "I guess I will do that. But you ove me." She leaned down to give him a kiss. What started as a gentle kiss, soon became passionate. Instead of leaning towards her, Severus pulled her to him. Now, she was laying on top of him. She was so close to him that she could feel his heart racing. Their tongues melted against each other and Hermione got a surprise. She felt something hard pressed against her leg.
"Sev, I have to go. But one more question," she said. Hermione was going for a world record. She was going to try and get Severus Snape to blush.
"Shoot," he said.
"Is that a flashlight pressing into my leg or is it just me?" she asked. He started blushing, and the next thing Hermione knew she was sitting up. Severus had sat straight up, and as she was laying on top of him, she had to sit up to.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Kitty, why do you do that?" he asked.
"Do what?" she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes.
"You embarrass me so bad. You know exactly what that is, because you are the cause of it. Now you have to go."
"Okay, I will go, but you and I both know that it is your body not mine." She was walking to the door before he could say another word. At the door she turned around and said, "And I guess your body likes me." She walked out and went to meet Ginny.
When Ginny saw her she said, "Hey, Hermione what took you so long?"
"Well, Severus had a little flashlight problem," answered Hermione.
Ginny started laughing when she figured out what Hermione was talking about. She then said something that shocked Hermione to her toes.
"I know what you mean, Hermione. Draco has had a few problems like that too. Except instead of asking him what it was to make him blush (like you did I'm sure), we usually work it out together."
"Ginny," said Hermione, whose mouth was dropped open. "Do you actually mean that you and Draco have…have…shagged before?"
"Yes, Hermione we have. About every day almost."
"Whoa," said Hermione, "I haven't ever done it before. Now hold still." She tapped Ginny on the head and watched her fade to her surroundings. "Gin, did it hurt?" she asked.
"Only the first time, and even then only for a few minutes," answered Ginny. Hermione heard her walk towards the door that led outside and peer out.
"They are coming, Hermione. We had better go into the hall. I will hide under the Gryffindor table, until they are watching the sorting. Harry and Ron know how to do the charm don't they?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, they do. Where is Draco by the way?" said Hermione.
"He is already in there, come on," said Ginny.
When Hermione and Ginny were situated in their seats, Hermione said, "Hi, Draco. Severus is going to shock you guys."
Ginny who was close by said, "Why?" at the exact same time as Draco.
"I can't tell you, but he will shock everyone," said Hermione. They heard the tell-tell signs that the older students were here. The next minute they all walked in closely followed by the teachers, save for Hagrid, Minerva, and Severus. Hagrid had just walked in, which meant that the first years were with Minerva. When Hagrid had sat down at his end of the table, next to Draco, he said, " 'Ello, Hermione and Draco. How are yeh doin' today?"
"We are fine," they said.
"How are you, Hagrid?" asked Draco. That statement coming from him made a few of the students gasp.
"Fine, fine, Draco. How is yer girlfriend?" Hagrid answered.
"She is fine. I hope," he said. He was looking into the crowd the whole time trying to find Ginny. The she caught his eyes and waved. He waved back. "Oh yeah, Hagrid, she's fine."
From a door to the right came Minerva; sorting hat and stool in hand, followed by scared first years. She sat the hat on the stool and gave the instructions. Then the hat began to sing:
A lot of years have come and gone,
Good times and bad times have wizards and witches known;
But through all our trials we have come through them all,
Now let me tell you about something that is going to fall.
When I put you in your house for the next seven years,
Most of you will be of good cheer.
But for some who live their lives in acting,
Those will rebel against their house protecting.
Gryffindors are brave and bold,
Sometimes they do or do not do what they are told.
Ravenclaws have brains and wits,
They (most likely) will pass the test.
Hufflepuffs are loyal and true,
They will always help you.
Slytherins are smart, but not very loyal,
Although they will always find a way out of toil.
Whether you're in a house because you want to be,
Or you are in a house because you have to be;
Each and every one of you will make a difference in peoples lives, whether good or bad.
So come on up and try me on,
I'll decide your house because I'm through wih this song.
When the sorting hat was through and had bowed to all four houses, Proffesor McGonagall started to call out the names. There were 10 Hufflepuffs, 16 Ravenclaws, 21 Slytherins, and 25 Gryffindors in all. Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and stool and set it to the side. When she sat down, Dumbledore stood up. He knew that Severus was going to be late, because Hermione told him during the sorting.
"Now, as always, before the feast begins, I have some start of term announcements," he said. "As I understand it, Mr. Filch has an updated list of things not allowed in the school posted on his office door. And it is an overwhelming number, too. I think it is about 862 items now.
"Anyway, I assume everyone is wondering why Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy are sitting up here. I have come up with a most ingenious idea: that is to have the Head Boy and Girl apprentice under any Professor of their choice. Mr. Malfoy here, has chosen to apprentice in Transfiguration under Professor McGonagall. While Ms. Granger has chosen to apprentice in Potions under Professor—"
But the students never found out who because the doors to the Great Hall were pushed open, and a guy came walking through them. They all thought that Snape had been fired of something like since he was not in his seat. The guy that just walked through the doors made all the girls, even Hermione, smile and gasp. Then like wildfire, whispers broke out that went like this:
"He is so cute", "I wonder if he is single", or "I hope that's the new Potions Professor." While they were all talking the guy had walked up to the High Table and sat next to Hermione.
"As I was saying," continued Albus, "Ms. Granger will be working under Professor Snape. Now let the feast commence." He sat down and started eating. A couple of the girs had started retching when they found out who it was.
"How are you doing, Hermione?" whispered Severus as he grabbed her hand under the table.
"Fine, but I don't think those girls are. You made them get sick," she answered before bursting out laughing.
"It isn't my fault. Now let's eat," he said. He piled tons of food on his plate. Once everyone was through eating and had desert Dumbledore stood up again.
"Now that everyone has had their fill, let us get ready for bed because classes start tomorow. Goodnight, everyone." He left the Hall and then everybody else did.
Hermione and Severus had left to go to their chambers. Ginny was no longer staying with them because of classes.
When they got into their nightlclothes and hopped into bed, they talked for a little while before going to sleep.
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In the morning when they woke up they just laid there for a few minutes. Hermione had a thought.
"Sev?" she asked.
"What?" said Severus who was playing with her hair; as usual.
"Do you remember when you asked me what all I had done that you blamed on someone else?"
"Yes," he said slowly.
"Well, I've thought of something else. In my first year at the Quidditch match, when Harry started to fall off of his broom, I went over to where you were sitting and put your robes on fire. When I heard you yelp I scooped it into a jar and went back to where I was sitting," she said. Severus had quit playing with her hair and sat up.
"Do you mean you're the reason I have a scar on the back of my leg and I didn't know how it got there?"
"You have a scar?" she asked.
"Yes, I do." He pulled his leg out from under the covers and showed her the scar. It was very peculiar. It was of medium size, and it looked exactly like a…heart.
"Wow. I didn't know that happened," she said. "But I think it is time we started getting ready for class. I will see you in Potions later." She kissed him and then left to go get ready.
She went to the Great Hall when she was through. Severus would be there later.
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Severus had a treat for Hermione that day in Potions. She wouldn't even know it was coming. He picked out a yellow shirt with a white T-shirt and black jeans. He had white Nikes for shoes. He also pulled his hair back which was starting to be his new trademark.
When he went down to breakfast he purposely took the route by Gryffindor's house table. He got to Hermione's seat and bent down and said, "Be ready for plenty of surprises today." He stood up and walked to the High Table.
As soon as he sat down and started eating, he noticed Draco get up from his seat at the Slytherin table and walk across the room to the Gryffindor table. Draco stopped at the end and started looking down it. When he spotted Ginny he walked down the table and sat next to her. He then did something that would break every barrier between Slytherin and Gryffindor. He kissed her, and as he kissed her she wrapped her arms around his neck; and the whole hall fell silent. Even the owls who had just arrive stopped dead in their tracks.
The next moment everyone from Slytherin who had a Gryffindor girlfriend in secret, got up and went to their girlfriends, said hello, kissed them, and went back to their seats. Everyone except for Draco, he stayed right where he was. Everything went back to normal until Pansy Parkinson came over to him.
"Dracy-pie, why are you sitting next to her?"
"Because she's way better looking than you'll ever be. And I love her. So shove off." At that Ginny said, "Aww," and kissed him again.
Severus laughed silently to himself, then he finished eating and went to prepare for his first class.
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Hermione's first class was Transfiguration. Today they were learning what form of an Animagus they would be.
"Now, Class, as most of you have been here before I will expect respect from each of you," said Professor McGonagall.
"The spell we will be learning today is called the Anime spell. (A/n: no it has nothing to do with the cartoons.) It will help you find out what kind of Animagus you will be. The words to te spell are Anime Persano. Now I will call you one by one to the front. You are to say the spell and see what comes out of your wand." While she was calling out names, Hermione, Harry and Ron were discussing what they thought their Animagus would be.
"I think mine will be a stag," said Harry.
"Mine, will probably be a monkey," said Ron.
Hermione was silent, she was thinking about what her's and Ginny's were. Ginny's was a beautiful auburn ferret. Her's was a— suddenly her thoughts were cut off.
"Hermione, what do you think your's will be?" asked Ron.
But before she could answer Professor McGonagall called out her name.
"Ms. Granger, would you kindly come up here?" Hermione walked to the front of the class and said the spell. Nothing happened.
Ms. Granger, is there something you would like to tell me?" said a very suspicous looking McGonagall. "Because there is only one reason, and one reason only why the spell won't work." Hermione looked guilty the whole time, but Professor McGonagall wasn't through yet. "Come now, Ms. Granger, surely you know all about that. Show me your Animagus."
"Yes, Professor," said Hermione.
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A/n: Muuuuahahahahahaha. Cliffie. Next chapter find out what Hermiones Animagus is also Ron and Harrys. Plus an almost spilled potions secret, hogsmeade dates and buying new dresses, and surprises gallore. Review to find out. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I WANT AT LEAST TEN IF NOT TEN, THEN FIVE REVIEWS OR THE NEXT CHAPTER IS NOT GETTING PUT UP.