Chapter Text

"Goodnight Granger,"

Snape's parting words lingered in her mind that night, the next day and every day since.

Each day Hermione had continued in her venture of a friendship that seemed impossible to achieve. Without fail she had managed to get at least one greeting a day in with the Potion's Master, occasionally he would nod in acknowledgment. On these days she did a little celebratory dance once she was sure he couldn't see her.

Now, with six days remaining until the students arrived at the castle, Hermione was about to experience her first staff meeting. Most of the remaining staff had arrived the day previous, though it being Sunday, the meeting was scheduled for Monday. She was curious if Snape would be any less welcoming to her efforts with additional colleagues present, was that even possible? Of course it was.

Hermione boldly decided to arrive to the meeting almost late, in the hopes that she might bag a seat in close proximity to Snape. Of course her presumption that he would be seated alone, away from the main crowd of the staff may not be accurate. Perhaps he was closer with his colleagues than Neville was aware of.

The witch did not want to acknowledge the effort she was putting in to attain this friendship. It had become an almost obsession, but wasn't that always how she worked? With passion and vigour? There was nothing out of the norm for her in these endeavours, she told herself. Not only was Snape a colleague now, he was thoroughly fascinating on an intellectual level. Hermione would relish in the opportunity to discuss her more academic interests with a friend. She just needed to keep peeling back those layers, unbuttoning that frock coat with steady deliberation.

Blushing at the thought which had just invaded her mind, filling her subconscious with fumbling fingers and unbinding buttons, the witch inhaled deeply dispelling her thoughts before entering the staff room.

Just as she had hoped, Snape was sitting near the back of the crowd, alone. What she hadn't accounted for was both Neville and Remus waving her into a seat next to them, which they had clearly saved for her. Hermione stalled, frozen in her decision. While she stood rooted to the spot, like a dear in headlights, Snape lifted a mug to his lips and took a drink, soon leaving it back down on the table in front of him. He had in no way acknowledged her presence in the room, almost everyone else had waved or called out to her. He however, folded his arms across his chest once free of his beverage and stared straight ahead.

Hermione desperately wanted to pass off her friends in order to sit next to Snape but everything in her being told her it was a bad idea. The questioning looks from Neville, Remus and likely the entire staff would probably anger Snape and she had been trying her best to keep things civil. With one last glance at the Potion's Professor she took her seat next to Neville and settled in for the meeting.

When Minerva stood at the front of the room the chattering ceased. Every set of eyes focused in her direction. The headmistress gave a little nod to Hermione before she started to speak.

"Welcome back professors and welcome to our newest member of staff, Miss Hermione Granger," a small amount of mumbled talk broke out. "Yes, well, you can welcome Professor Granger in your own time." Hermione smiled up at Minerva, thankful she had not called on her to introduce herself formally.

The meeting began with talk on time-tables and schedules which magically appeared on the tables in front of the staff. Hermione couldn't help but glance back at Snape occasionally, at no point did he return her look. She could see him scowling deeply at the paper in front of him which drew her attention to her own schedule. Her class time-table was overwhelming to say the least, managing her time would be essential, thankfully she loved a challenge. Flipping over a page she noted her Hallway Patrol and Hogsmeade chaperone schedules seemed to coincide with Snape's on many occasions.

The witch wondered why she, as a new recruit would be paired with the least welcoming of her colleagues. He was the deputy head she supposed, maybe this was standard procedure. She chanced another quick glance back at the man, only to discover his intense gaze was directed at her. Not knowing what to do she smiled and turned back to the table.

As the meeting came to a close most of the staff gathered together to catch up. Hermione stayed close to her friends while being introduced to the Transfiguration teacher who had replaced Minerva and reacquainted with her old professors. Feeling overwhelmed she moved away from the main crowd, the exit in her sights. Minerva and Snape seemed to be having a serious discussion near the front of the room but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Abruptly Snape turned from the headmistress and made his way to the exit. Making sure her friends were still in conversation with other staff members she quietly headed for the door trying to avoid garnering attention.

A swish of black indicated he had rounded a corner, probably seeking out his quarters. Hermione quickened her step, trying to catch up. Once around the corner his billowing cloak was in her sights and she had to suppress a smile at the sight of it. What was going on with her? Snape was only a couple of paces ahead when he stopped suddenly, causing Hermione to crash into his solid frame. Instinctively she reached out, grasping his arm to stop herself from falling backwards.

Hermione looked at her hand which was wrapped tightly around his forearm. Why hadn't she released her grip on him yet? Eyes wide with shock she looked up into his face, he was frozen, staring at her fingers splayed across his arm, but surprisingly he did not try to remove her hand. Easing her grip, she allowed her fingers to fall away from his arm, which seemed to happen in slow motion. In its return to the safety of her own person her thumb briefly grazed along the side of his hand. Something fizzled beneath her skin at the unbidden contact.

Snape seemed to return to his senses faster than she. Removing her eyes from his hand she looked into his face. He was scowling at her, but no more than usual.

"Why are you following me?" he snapped. "Won't your fan club wonder where you've run off to?"

She laughed, so thankful he hadn't immediately started screaming in her face.

Severus detested staff meetings. These days he didn't even have Minerva's company to mollify him. As irksome as the older witch could be, she made for a decent distraction and her sarcastic wit paired well with his own. Not to mention the bets they would wager at the beginning of each year would keep him entertained through the misery of grading essays.

He didn't know at what point Minerva had worked her way into something he considered a friend, but now with the loss of her company he was sorry he had allowed it go so far. He hadn't realised how dependant on her company he was until he had to play the villainous headmaster during the final year of Voldemort. Severus was familiar with being disliked and reviled, but to see it on the face of his last remaining friend had hurt, almost as much as losing Lily all those years before.

Of course after his true role in the war became apparent, Minerva was full of remorse for her treatment of him during this time. He assured her that apologies were not necessary and that he was accustomed to the disdain of others. Looking forward to the return of their friendship he hadn't even complained about her pitying looks.

However, the overwhelming pressure of running a school immediately after a war had left Minerva with little-to-no personal time on her hands. Severus some times wondered if the witch regretted her decision to accept the role, he certainly regretted his appointment of deputy headmaster.

His usual seat occupied, Severus watched as the rest of the staff arrived. Some greeted him with a friendly smile or wave; like Hagrid, others skirted around him avoiding his eye as much as possible. Longbottom walked in head down, his chin tucked to his chest and planted himself beside Lupin. An empty chair obviously intended for Granger sat next to them.

The newest staff member was cutting it fine, he thought. Trying to make an entrance most likely. He rolled his eyes at the thought.

Finally Granger came through the door and immediately looked in his direction, he of course was not looking at her, he wouldn't. He did however lift his mug from the unoccupied half of the table, took a swig and placed it on his own side. No doubt if the meddlesome witch decided to sit nearby she would require ample space for diligent note-taking.

For some time she stood frozen in the doorway, greeting people when they called out. She seemed to be contemplating her next move. Unsurprisingly she sat next to Longbottom and Lupin. A new trio of irritation. Severus scowled at his relocated coffee mug.

Minerva must be having a laugh. On almost every single night patrol and Hogsmeade visit she had paired him with Granger. He had in the past refused to be paired with Longbottom and thankfully Minerva had the good sense to keep Lupin far away from him. But now this! He'd give her a piece of his mind once this meeting ended.

The Granger girl kept looking back at him, fuelling his utterly foul mood. He glared at her in warning and she smiled that same thrice damned smile again.

"Minerva," he said in a venomous whisper while the rest of the staff were preoccupied fawning over their new distraction.

"Yes Severus?" Her placating tone set his teeth on edge.

"This had better be a misprint," he said indicating his schedule.

"What seems to be the problem? Did I misspell your name in the haste to get them finished-,"

"You know damn well what's wrong," he hissed angrily, cutting her off. "You've paired me with Granger at least three times a week for rounds!"

"Severus," she said kindly. "You refuse to patrol with Neville, I cannot pair you with Remus for his sake more than yours," she continued, "and now you decide to take issue with Hermione?"

Seething he said nothing in response. The girl was watching them, he could feel her eyes on them. Instead he huffed out an irritated breath and swept from the room without further argument.

Muttering under his breath about Gryffindor witches with sanctuary of the dungeons in his sights he walked quickly. After rounding the first corner he heard her, he knew it was her. Who else would follow him? By the sounds of her steps she was practically running to catch up.

Stopping suddenly and turning to face the object of his irritation was a mistake. The witch in her haste to reach him had failed to notice him coming to a stop and slammed directly into his chest. Her hand reached out to steady herself clasping his forearm in a tight grip.

Too encompassed by the warmth of her fingers, even through layers of black material her skin burned with a heat he was not accustomed to. He faltered temporarily in his anger. No one, not even Minerva touched him, they knew better.

Finally coming to her senses the girl let go, only to immediately brush his hand with her thumb. Severus widened his eyes in shock and quickly schooled his features into a frown. He feared it might not be as menacing as he wanted. But the residual tingle from her touch seemed to capture his anger, filtering it into something unfamiliar.

"Why are you following me?" he asked. "Won't your fan club wonder where you've run off to?"

She laughed. Again. Not at him in the way he was accustomed to from years of bullying and taunts. But laughed at him in a way he imagined friends did, that wasn't quite it either though. Minerva had laughed with him as a friend, that was animated, maniacal. This.. this was different.

"What… do you want Miss Granger?"

He proceeded to walk again in the direction of his quarters, Granger bounced after him, insisting he divulge details on their scheduled rounds for the upcoming school year.

Merlin save him from persistent Gryffindor witches.