The 7 of them were having their gathering out on the school grounds rather than in Hermione's room. May had brought with it warm evenings and dappled sunshine. Today had been such a glorious day Ginny had decided they should make the most of it, and with much gesticulating and silent yelling they had successfully managed to coordinate everyone meeting in the entrance hall straight after dinner. After some discussion, they made a quick detour to the kitchens for butterbeer and pumpkin juice, and then set up by the lake, conjuring a giant picnic blanket that Luna charmed to contain all the house colours in patchwork squares.
Exams were looming ahead of them, beginning the first week of June. For the first time, Hermione felt okay about exams, they were still a background stress, and she, of course, wanted to do well, but she felt she could handle them, and was ready. She had scheduled in her revision, but had mostly been helping her friends with whatever areas they felt weakest in, and had found this a good refresher for herself as well. It was leaving Hogwarts that was making her feel on edge. It was silly, really, seeing as she would be back the last week of August with the rest of the staff, and popping in regularly to finalise the the new Muggle and Wizarding Studies classes with Minerva, but the thought of finishing her education, of leaving with her friends never to return in the same capacity, felt like such a significant ending. This year had gone so unbelievably fast.
"Right." Said Ginny, in her familiar, no nonsense manner. "I'll be playing for the Holyhead Harpies next year, Hermione will be back here teaching, Luna's travelling and writing for the Quibbler, Hannah's starting her Healer training, what about the rest of you?"
"I'll be the Herbology Professor." Neville grinned. "And Gryffindor's Head of House."
"Yes, I know that, Neville." Ginny smiled. "Lavender, Draco, what are your plans?"
"I've been accepted into the Department of Mysteries." Lavender said softly. "It's a conditional offer though, based on my final grades."
"That's amazing!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's a really competitive programme, Lavender! And you'll definitely get the grades, you've worked so hard this year."
"Thank you." Lavender smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "They approached me, actually, and asked me to apply. Apparently surviving werewolf bites when the werewolf hasn't transformed makes you more suited to some of the work they do. I don't really know much about what it will even entail. It's all very hush hush."
"I'm sure it will be absolutely fascinating though." Hermione said, smiling.
"Yes and if you don't like it, just stick at it a year and then transfer. Any department will want you after you've worked for the Department of Mysteries." Ginny supplied.
"And you can always leave and do something else entirely." Luna said. "You hardly need to decide the rest of your life at 19."
"Good points." Lavender smiled again, genuinely this time. "I do feel quite excited about it, I'm just worried I won't be any good and they've only given it to me because of..." She indicated to her scars uncomfortably.
"You need to have more faith in yourself." Hannah said kindly. "They're a really selective department, they wouldn't have given you a job if they didn't think you could do it."
"Even if you'd been bitten my Merlin himself." Neville added, and everyone laughed.
"I'm going to be sorting the family estate." Draco said quietly. "Sell the Manor, start a foundation, rebuild the Malfoy name."
"Of course." Ginny said, a slight edge to her voice. "You don't need an actual job. You're rich."
"I can't help that." Draco shrugged. "If it helps, I am going to try and do some good, with all the money."
"Because you want to and that's the right thing to do, or because it will help your reputation?" She demanded.
"Both." Draco shrugged again. "It's hardly a crime to not want your family name to be be synonymous with mud."
"And who's fault is that?" Ginny asked.
"Ginny." Hermione warned.
"My parents'." Draco answered. "And they're rotting in Azkaban. Isn't that punishment enough?"
It seemed Ginny had no answer to that, and after a few moments tension, Luna announced she was going for a paddle and dragged Ginny with her. They both tripped and fell into the lake, shrieking, laughing, and things were okay once again.
"Sir, do you have a copy of Moste Potente Potions I could borrow? The one from the Library has been checked out all week."
It was the last class of the day, Hermione was the last in the room. Professor Flitwick was hosting a revision session which most of the students had hurried to get to. The little Charms Professor had all but told her there was no need for her to attend.
"The Potions in there are well above NEWT level." Snape said evenly, barely bothering to look up from the stack of essays on his desk. "You won't need it."
"I'd still like to take a look through though, sir." Hermione said. "I'd like to revisit the passages on manipulating certain ingredients to improve their efficiency, and the chapter on slow-acting venoms. Anti-venom potions are my weakest area."
"You can't seriously be worried about your exam?" Snape asked, his dark eyes finally meeting hers. "You brewed Polyjuice potion in your second year."
"Is that a compliment?" She asked, smiling as Snape scowled. "I'm not exactly worried about it, I just like to feel well prepared."
"Fine." He conceded, standing and heading through the door to his office. "Here." He said as he returned and handed her the book.
"Thank you." She smiled, stowing it in her bag and turning to leave.
"It was a full moon last night." Snape said, averting his gaze as she turned back to him.
"Yes." Hermione agreed, confused by the non-sequitur.
"I was going to harvest ingredients from the Forest this evening. Some are more potent after a full moon, and I find I tend to have better luck finding rarer ingredients at this specific point in the lunar cycle."
"How interesting." She took a good look at Snape, he was still standing, looking impassive and slightly hostile. Only ... only he was gazing somewhere over her head and his shoulders were tense. Was he ... inviting her? "Could I help at all? It would be good revision."
"If you must." He said stiffly. "But do as I say and don't get in the way."
Hermione nodded and watched, bemused, as Snape gathered a basket for collection, magical containers to keep everything separate and a series of knives and scissors. They headed out towards the forest together, Snape walking slightly ahead of her. He must have wanted her to accompany him, or he wouldn't have mentioned it, let alone allowed her to come. And yet, he hadn't just asked. Was that because of the boundaries that existed between them due to their relative statuses within the school? Her other teachers had no qualms making allowances for her, Minerva hadn't really treated her like a student since her return. And this was hardly an outing anyone could take issue with. Could it be ... insecurity that held him back? She glanced over at his face. Perhaps it was hard for him, to open himself up to rejection. He had given her an opening, and she had taken it. He would certainly have no issue telling her when she wasn't welcome, and she wasn't sure she cared, really, as long as she got to be around him.
"Don't trip." He snapped, as they entered the Forest.
Hermione frowned to herself, wondering how she'd managed to annoy him before she'd even said anything.
"What are we looking for, sir?"
Snape turned and glared at her, looking for all the world like she was nothing more than yet another inconvenience to him...
"Potions ingredients." He snarled, and turned away.
"Anything specific?" She persisted, determined not to rise to it. "I can see some foxgloves over there, but Professor Sprout has lots in her greenhouses."
Snape headed in the direction she had pointed to and crouched down to harvest some leaves.
"Wild plants are more potent than those grown in a greenhouse." He said shortly. "It's all worth collecting."
"Okay." Hermione said softly. "Why is that?"
"No one knows." Snape answered, then scowled. "This isn't a lesson, be quiet."
Hermione sighed to herself. He hadn't been this rude to her for quite some time. Perhaps she had been wrong for thinking he wanted her to come along. She held her tongue and followed Snape deeper into the forest, keeping her eyes peeled for anything that might be worth something to him. After some time, Snape crouched again, and carefully pulled up and stored several white mushrooms.
"Are those death-caps, sir?"
"Obviously." Snape drawled, making her feel disproportionately stupid.
Hermione blinked and wandered a little way away, beginning to wish she hadn't come.
"There's Wolf's Bane here, sir." She said dutifully, bending down to take a good look at the little flower that was responsible for so much healing.
"Don't touch it." Snape snapped.
"You think me so incompetent I can't be trusted to touch a very common plant?" She asked, before she could stop herself.
"Yes, I do." Snape sneered, his cold black eyes glittering.
Hermione turned away, ignoring the burning in the throat. It wasn't the actual words he was saying that was upsetting her, it was just sheer bloody frustration that he was behaving like this when they had been making such progress.
They continued walking in silence, Hermione had her arms crossed over herself protectively and was doing her best to ignore Snape and his stony silence. It was nice to walk the forest without fear, and it was interesting to look for wild ingredients. She was damn well going to enjoy it.
Later, she watched as Snape gathered some Hemlock and stinging nettles, using his wand to sever and package the latter of the ingredients. She wondered idly if he used these for his own personal brewing, there didn't seem enough to distribute into the student population. She wished she could just ask. She wished she understood why he was being like this.
"Sir!" She called excitedly, a shimmer catching her eye. "There's a fairy wing! Caught on this bramble!"
"Don't touch it!" Snape shouted, barging over though all she had done was point to it. "Those are incredibly rare!"
"I know." She said, forcing herself to mind her tone. "That's why I pointed it out."
Silently, Snape inspected the wing, then painstakingly removed it from the bramble, trying to cause as little damage as possible.
"I don't know why you're making such a fuss." He said dismissively. "It's broken. That makes it almost worthless, like you."
"Why are you behaving like this?" She asked softly, suddenly determined to sort this out. "You said it was okay to come with you. I can leave, if you like?"
"Then go." Snape sneered. "Good luck finding your way back to the castle now."
"I would be fine finding my way back." She said firmly. "But I want you to answer my question. Why?"
"Why?" Snape snarled. "Why am I behaving like a complete and utter bastard? Because I am one, Miss Granger. If you have thought otherwise at any point then you don't deserve the praise your other teachers have so willingly bestowed upon you."
Hermione stood impassively, silently assessing the man before her. Tension was radiating off of him, his hands were balled into fists, his pupils, almost indistinguishable from his irises, were dilated.
"That's not it." She said matter-of-factly. "Tell me the truth. I deserve it."
Snape's shoulders slumped and he turned away from her, his posture shifting from one of aggression to defeat in an instant.
"You will be leaving Hogwarts in a few short weeks." He said finally.
"Yes." Hermione agreed. "Why does that mean you to have to be an arse to me?"
Snape clenched his fists briefly, he was still turned away from her, so she moved silently to stand before him.
"It cannot have escaped your notice," he said slowly, still not looking at her. "That I am a hated, friendless man."
He finally looked up at her, his face twisting into a sneer.
"Do you really think I will celebrate losing the one person I have in my life who treats me like a human?"
"Oh." Hermione exclaimed. "Then ... then you don't know! I'm so sorry, sir, I would have told you! I just assumed Minerva had announced it!"
"Speak plainly, girl." Snape snarled.
"I accepted Minerva's offer of employment." She told him, watching the flicker of emotions on his face. "I will be here next year, as the the Transfiguration Apprentice. And I will be at Dumbledore's grave every Sunday, sir. Without fail."
Snape stared at her for several heartbeats, he looked a curious mixture of of vulnerability and anger, before it softened and a half smile brightened his pale face.
"Even if there's a storm?" He asked mockingly, though something about this whole interaction told Hermione it was a genuine question.
"Even so." She said seriously. "I enjoy your company, when you're not being an arse."
Snape looked away, but not quick enough to fully hide the fact he was smiling slightly.
"You can't speak to me like that." He said softly, his voice lacking conviction.
"Why?" Hermione challenged. "I will be graduating in a few short weeks, and then we will be colleagues. Besides, I thought you liked being treated like a human."
"Like isn't quite the word I would choose." Snape answered evasively.
He needs it, though, she thought quietly, still reeling from from the revelation that he had been ... distressed thinking of her departure.
"Well I will remind you, then." She said gently. "Now, if you've finished being an-"
"Stop saying 'arse'!" Snape shouted, looking torn between laughing and stamping his foot in anger.
Hermione struggled to contain her own gaiety.
"If you've finished being an ass? A buttock? A bottom?"
"Granger!" Snape warned, still clearly torn between indignation and amusement.
"If you've finished, may we continue collecting ingredients? And can we talk about it like normal people?" She asked, keeping her tone polite to soften the bite of her words.
"Fine." Snape conceded, scowling, though he seemed more relaxed.
His demeanour was also different. He led her deeper into the woods, and pointed out ingredients to her, talking her through the best ways to harvest them and the most useful parts of the plants. He was pleased when she spotted things before he did, and they were both excited to find some horned slugs at the base of an oak tree. The silence that fell between them as they walked and searched was comfortable and almost ... friendly. He led her to a little stream that ran through the forest, and held out his hand to help her cross the stepping stones. The gesture surprised her, chivalrous as it was, and his skin was cool though his cheeks flushed slightly as she touched him. As she stepped down on the other side, he released her hand, but didn't immediately turn away. Hermione gazed up at his unreadable face, surprised to find something akin to thoughtfulness in his expression, before he continued on. They only headed back as it began to grow dark, and Hermione was surprised at how far into the forest they had ended up, time had gone so quickly.
"May I come with you after the next full moon?" She asked hopefully, as the trees were beginning to thin out again.
"You'll be in the middle of your exams." Snape said evenly. "Perhaps in September."
"Definitely in September." She argued. "Please? I really enjoyed it, and I can try and talk to you less next time. And I'll be able to harvest most of the ingredients without help."
"Fine." He agreed, the smirk on his face uncharacteristically warm.
"I'm so glad you'll be back here next year, Hermione." Poppy said, giving her a tight hug. "You'll be such a wonderful addition to the staff."
"Thank you." Hermione hugged her back, full of gratitude. "I've so enjoyed training with you this year, and I really appreciate you having me back an evening a week next year."
"I'll be glad to have you, it's been a strange and pleasantly uneventful year, it will be good for you to get some practical experience next year."
"Yes." Hermione agreed, beyond the odd minor injury she'd done no practical work at all. "But if there is a serious incident over the next few weeks and I can help, I want you to summon me."
"Even if you're in the middle of a NEWT?" Poppy teased.
"Maybe not." Hermione smiled. "But outside of exams, call me anytime."
"I will."
"What are the causes of the most common injuries here?" She asked interestedly. "Quidditch accidents?"
"You're supposed to be leaving to revise." Poppy smiled, looking exasperated.
"I will once you've answered me."
"Yes, Quidditch accidents. Followed by minor injuries from students duelling or playing pranks, then beautifying charms gone wrong - from the boys as well as the girls. Potions accidents are rare, but they have the most potential to be serious." Poppy smiled and ushered her towards the door. "No more questions. Go and study."
Hermione was revising at her desk, while Ginny sprawled on the floor, her notes taking up nearly all the walking space. Next week was their last week of classes before exams started. She could barely believe it. The weeks since the anniversary had flown by. Fridays had involved revision and discussions of the future, with the occasional moment of humour or solidarity that had so defined the last year. Ginny had pitched the idea of monthly meetings with the group which had been unanimously agreed upon. She was sure they were all incredibly grateful for sense of normalcy they had managed to create for themselves and each other. It would have been a very different year without it. Hermione glanced down at her best friend, she was scowling at her revision notes like they had personally offended her. The rush of affection Hermione felt for the redhead nearly made her cry, she was going to miss her terribly.
Sundays at the grave had been uneventful, though being in Snape's presence brought her a strange sense of peace. Last week, as he had nodded at her when she had passed him the tea, something fierce and burning had gripped her chest. She had carefully dismissed the feeling, and not thought about it again. She had, in many ways, made a lot of progress with him. He accepted her presence without much fuss, he had demonstrated on more than one occasion, that he trusted her. He had even, in his own unique way, revealed that he cared about her and would miss her, if she was gone. All of this was, of course, because of just how lonely his life was, rather than being about her specifically, but it was still something. It was also, almost nothing. What they had couldn't even be called a friendship, which is how she would have described her relationships with Poppy and Minerva, perhaps even Professor Flitwick and Professor Vector too. But then he was Snape, she couldn't lose sight of that. Hermione thought of his dark, lank hair, his scowl and his sarcasm. She thought of the way his face opened when he smiled. An ache appeared against her breastbone, and she rubbed at it unconsciously. She cared about that man deeply, there was no denying it.
"Why did I let you talk me into taking Arithmancy?!" Ginny demanded.
"Because you're good at it." Hermione answered. "Because it's a great subject to have a NEWT in. Because it will help you with all sorts of future careers."
"Not if I bloody fail it!"
"You're not going to fail it." She said soothingly. "What is it you're struggling with? Is it Numerology again? Let me take a look."
The final week of classes were far more emotional than Hermione could have ever imagined. Most of the final year students left their last classes with tears in their eyes, while others cried openly. She couldn't help but feel slightly ridiculous, seeing as she was returning at the end of the summer, but it was still an ending, still the end of the era. This last year at Hogwarts had provided her with the safety and stability she had so badly needed after the trauma of the last year of the war. And the end of her formal education, and in a way, her introduction to the wizarding world, felt huge and deeply upsetting. Professor Babbling shook her hand and told her she had a wonderful career ahead of her, Professor Vector hugged her and rolled her eyes and expressed her wish that she had beaten Minerva to the offer of an Apprenticeship. Professor Flitwick had pulled her down to his level and whispered how excited he was to induct her into his Poker League next year, and even Minerva had become emotional as they said goodbye to their relationship as teacher and student.
"You're both being ridiculous!" Ginny had exclaimed, hands on her hips in a startling impression of Mrs Weasley. "You'll be working together everyday next year."
"I will miss you too, Miss Weasley." Minerva had said, smiling and dabbing at her eyes. "More than you know."
Ginny had surprised them both by bursting into tears.
Herbology had made her cry the most, purely because she and Professor Sprout were both obviously so proud of Neville. The three of them had hugged and cried and laughed at their own dramatics. Only DADA had left her unmoved, but only because she had only known Professor Grey a year. He had been a competent if uninspiring teacher, but she had no real attachment to him, or especially to the subject.
She had approached her last Potions class with mixed feelings. Professor Snape had been a constant in her life for many years, and while it was true that he was a harsh and sometimes cruel instructor, she had always immensely enjoyed his classes, and would miss them. He was a true Master of his craft, and it was mesmerising to watch him work. On the other hand, she was looking forward to the next phase of their relationship, as equals rather than teacher and student. She hoped (cautiously and very, very privately), that it might make things easier between them, once Snape didn't feel restricted by the social constraints that bound them both. His class, like the others, had been an informal Q session, and when he had dismissed them, Hermione was pleased to watched each student approach Professor Snape, shake his hand, and thank him before leaving. Snape had looked momentarily stunned as the first one had done so, but quickly recovered. As she had taken her turn, Hermione had murmured 'Thank you for everything' and met his cold, dark eyes with hers for perhaps a moment longer than would have been required to be polite. She had felt, and still did, vaguely frustrated that there wasn't an appropriate moment to address this properly with him. She was grateful for his teaching, of course, but she was also grateful he had kept her friends safe at Hogwarts for the last year of the war. She was grateful for everything he had done to help them, and keep Harry safe. She was grateful that he had reluctantly allowed her near him this school year. Being in his presence was one of the only times she felt truly at ease, and she had come to value and look forward to their time together more than she could understand. It was pointless to think such things though, he wouldn't want her to try and articulate any of that, it would only make him uncomfortable, if not angry. The mere fact that he was surprised his own students had treated him respectfully spoke volumes to how he thought of himself. Out of everyone, the person who seemed to dislike Snape the most was himself, without question.
That Friday the 7 of them were sprawled out in Hermione's room, all quiet and at varying degrees of shell-shocked. Ginny and Lavender had been crying softly since they'd arrived.
"I think we're all being a bit insane." Hermione said softly, swallowing against the lump in her throat. "We've still got 4 weeks before we actually leave."
"4 weeks of exams!" Lavender shouted. "And then we have to go out there! To the real world! People will look at me! Everyone here knows what happened and has got used to it. But out there I'll be ... I'll be a freak!"
"Lavender." Luna said seriously. "If anyone looks at you and sees anything other than a beautiful human being they're not worth your time or consideration."
For whatever reason, this made Hannah burst into tears and fling her arms around Luna, who looked shocked and slightly alarmed.
"Why weren't we friends sooner?!" She cried. "You're so amazing! We've missed out on so much time together!"
"We can be friends for the rest of our lives." Luna replied serenely. "Missing a few years of friendship at school hardly matters."
This only made Hannah cry harder, and after Luna shot Neville a slightly pleading look, he pulled his girlfriend into his arms and let her cry.
"This is insufferable." Said Draco, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "I can't be around all this emotion. I'll be ill."
"Don't you dare go anywhere, Malfoy." Hermione said firmly. "You're one of us now. You sit there and suck it up, like it or not."
"You can't be serious?!" He shouted. "I can't sit here and watch you all crying?!"
"We're feeling our feelings, Draco." Luna said softly, taking his hand. "It's healthy. You know this."
"Fine." Draco relented, sitting back. "But I'm not crying. You can't make me."
Hermione started laughing, and soon the rest of them joined in, tears of humour and sadness blending together and uniting them all.
"We all cried pretty much all night on Friday." Hermione told Snape.
It was Sunday and they were sitting by Dumbledore's tomb once again, drinking tea. They cast cooling charms now, rather than warming charms. The sky was blue, rather than grey, the ground green, rather than white.
"Draco wanted to leave, but we wouldn't let him. I don't think I've ever seen anyone quite so uncomfortable."
Snape smirked and turned to look at her, his eyes glinting.
"Sentimentality." He sneered. "Slytherins have no need for it."
"Slytherins feel emotions just the same as anyone else." She said firmly. "It probably did him a world of good to see people processing them normally."
"Sitting about crying all night because you're finally finishing your education is hardly normal."
"Of course it is. It's the end of an era, and we've all been through so much together and leaving Hogwarts and our teachers and each other is a hugely emotional thing. There's no shame in that."
"Gryffindors." Snape scoffed, still sneering.
"And a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw." Hermione reminded him. "It's you Slytherins in the minority here, which most likely means you're wrong."
"Slytherins are never wrong." Snape said imperiously, his smirk widening as Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled reluctantly.
In the first week of exams, she took Ancient Runes, Athrimancy and Charms. Ancient Runes was a 4 hour translation that left her absolutely dead on her feet. Athrimancy was in two parts, a problem to solve in the morning and an essay covering the history and development of the subject in the afternoon. She and Ginny both felt like it had gone well, and had eaten an early dinner together and fallen into bed, still smiling. Charms was a theory paper in the morning followed by a practical examination of their skills. It was gruelling, but she felt satisfied by her performance, though apparently not quite as satisfied as Luna who had come out of the exam skipping and thrown herself into a beaming Professor Flickwick's arms.
That Friday had seen them all quiet, subdued and exhausted. Even Neville, who wouldn't formally finish his apprenticeship until September seemed to have been caught up in the stress of it all.
On Sunday, she had taken her Defence textbook with her to the tomb, hoping Snape wouldn't mind if she used the time to revise. It was the exam she was most nervous for, and the first exam of the next week.
Snape didn't comment when she pulled it out, and they drank tea in a comfortable silence while she studied.
"Defence is your weakest subject?" He asked quietly.
Hermione had to consciously stop herself from getting defensive. His tone had been neutral, it was a genuine question.
"Yes. Not that anyone will let me say it." She rolled her eyes. "The examiners aren't going to care I stabbed I bit of Vol- of You-Know-Who's soul."
"You might be surprised." Snape smirked. "They might be ... fans of yours."
"They might ... might be? F-fans?!" Hermione spluttered, incensed. Snape looked decidedly amused by her reaction, but then he seemed to take pity on her.
"If you can keep your head under the pressure of the examination, I'm sure you will perform ... adequately."
"Thank you." She smiled slightly. "I'm sort of hoping that won't be such an issue for me anymore."
"Ah, of course." Snape drawled. "Compared to breaking out of Gringotts on dragon-back, NEWTs are hardly worth noting."
"I wouldn't quite say that." She said airily. "Only that the stakes are little less high."
"The fate of the Wizarding World doesn't rest on you achieving 7 'Os'?" Snape asked sarcastically. "Are you sure?"
"Quite sure." Hermione smiled.
Defence Against the Dark Arts had gone much better than she had expected, and she felt satisfied with her performance in both the written paper and the practical. It had drained her, though, and brought back unpleasant memories of having to use defensive magic to keep herself alive, rather than to prove her abilities. Ginny, Luna, Draco and Lavender all looked similarly troubled after the exam, and the 5 of them had sat together at dinner, not caring that it drew stares from all corners of the Hall. She had gone to bed early and had a lay in on Tuesday, then spent the day studying in the Library with Ginny and her friends. There was a strange kind of tension inside her.
Herbology ended up being a spectacle, but only because one unfortunate student lost his grip on a bouncing bulb which had smacked one of the examiners in the face and caused a nosebleed. This had attracted the attention of the Venomous Tentacula which begun to strangle him. Luckily, she and Neville had been able to distract it with some Chizpurfles allowing another examiner to get him free, though not before they had both been set alite as the plant spat a fire-ball at them both. By the time Madam Pomfrey had arrived, she had already healed and treated their burns and been told she'd been given extra points to cover all the time she'd missed in the exam. Overall, she wasn't sure whether she had scored better or worse than if she'd been able to complete the practical without incident, but no one had died or been seriously injured and she'd gained some good practical Healing experience, so it wasn't a total disaster.
"They're talking about taking him away." Neville said sadly, talking about the plant that had caused so much trouble. "But it wasn't his fault, he was just doing what they're supposed to do. The examiner shouldn't have got so close."
"I don't think he realised how close he was." Hermione said evenly. "With all that blood pouring all over him."
"Another reason he should have stayed away from the carnivorous plants!" Neville said indignantly. "If you're bleeding, steer clear!"
"I doubt Professor Sprout will let them take him away." Hannah said soothingly. "It was just an accident, they happen."
"Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Levels is right." Hermione said testily as she plopped herself down on the bench and poured out the tea. "I'm so tired I could cry."
"Please don't." Snape responded, looking annoyed and amused all at once.
"I'll try, but don't be mean to me because it will absolutely send me over the edge."
"Noted." Snape smirked into his mug.
"I'm going to miss you over the summer, you know." She said daringly, catching a glimpse of Snape's startled face before he turned his head away from her. "I'll be popping into Hogwarts regularly to get everything set up for the new Muggle Studies classes, will you be around at all?"
"No." He responded shortly.
"Oh." Hermione did her best not to let her disappointment show. "And I suppose seeing you outside of Hogwarts is-"
"Out of the question and absolutely ridiculous." He snarled.
"Right." She agreed.
They spent the rest of the afternoon in silence.
"You did what?!"
"I really don't understand what the issue is." Hermione said tiredly. "We see each other every Sunday without fail. I don't see why, over the summer, we couldn't-"
"Couldn't what?!" Ginny shouted. "Grab some lunch?! Go on a dinner date?! He's Snape, Hermione. Have you forgotten?!"
"No I haven't forgotten. I just don't see why it's such a big deal. I'll be popping in here over the summer, Minerva suggested we get lunch or go for a walk while I'm here. I don't see-"
"She's Minerva! And he's Snape! It's completely different! And even then you'd be seeing each other within the context of Hogwarts! Seeing Snape outside of Hogwarts is-"
"Out of the question and ridiculous." Hermione supplied.
"Yes." Said Ginny. "Exactly that."
"That's what Snape said. Verbatim."
"Well he's right." Ginny said. "It is. Merlin, Hermione I know it's been a rough few weeks but don't lose your head completely."
"I haven't." She said crossly. "I just don't see why he was so angry about it. Or why it's such a terrible idea to him."
"Because he's Snape!" Ginny shouted. "Of course he reacted like that. He's hardly going to feel comfortable seeing you out and about in the real world. He barely feels comfortable seeing you here!"
"Yes I suppose." Hermione said, resigned. "I will just really miss him. And if I'm going to miss him and I've got you lot, what's he going to feel like? What's he even going to do all summer? Sit rotting at Spinners End? That won't be good for him. He's seemed ... a little more like he was before the war recently. I don't want him to get worse. And you said you wanted to keep in touch with Madam Hooch, why is it any different, really?"
"Because she's Madam Hooch and he's Snape! Come on Hermione!"
"Yes he's Snape but he's still just a person!"
Ginny sat on the bed and gave Hermione an unreadable look.
"You like him." She said finally.
"Like him? As in like him, like him?!" Hermione asked, feeling herself flush.
"You do!" Ginny accused. "You like him! You want to ... to hang out with him and spend time with him and see him over the summer!"
"None of that means I have feelings for him!" Hermione shouted. "I like spending time with him! He's interesting and funny when he's not being mean! He's-"
"You like him!" Ginny shouted back, her brown eyes glinting. "You do Hermione! You may not be ready to admit it to me or even to yourself, but you like him."
Hermione stared at her friend, her heart racing. Could she be right? Could she really have come to-
"Let's not argue." Hermione said softly. "And especially not about this."
"You're right." Ginny said finally. "It's just, he's Snape, Hermione."
"I'm aware." She answered, weary. "Believe it or not I do know exactly who he is."
It was Friday, and the 7 of them were sitting in a stunned silence, unopened bottles of butterbeer and wine before them. The final week of exams had dawned bright and clear. The sunshine had bathed the castle in a warm glow, and the students in their final year of Hogwarts had all been quiet and reflective. Potions on Tuesday had been the most difficult exam by far, and she and Draco had shared a grim look with each other as they'd left the practical portion at the end of the day and retreated to their rooms. She and Ginny hadn't mentioned their discussion about Snape, and Hermione had decided the whole thing could be looked at during the summer, it simply wasn't the time. Her last exam had been Transfiguration, and though it was her best subject, she felt a heavy sense of pressure to achieve top marks, given she would be taking over teaching it soon. It had gone well, she could admit to herself, but she had expected to feel a sense of freedom and elation once that final exam had been completed, but instead she just felt empty and exhausted. But perhaps that wasn't surprising. She hadn't slept that well since exams had started, and it was beginning to take its toll. She'd only had one nightmare so far, but it was taking her a long time to fall asleep, and often she would wake in the early hours and wander the castle before the rest of the inhabitants woke up. It felt like such an ending as well. Hermione thought of the little girl who had walked into Hogwarts, 11 years old, full of wonder and ambition and excitement and fear. She missed that child.
"Don't you start, Mione," Ginny grumbled. "You'll set me off."
Hermione dabbed at her eyes and smiled, her emotional reaction had taken her completely off guard.
"Sorry." She said softly. "I just can't believe it's over."
There were general murmurs of agreement. It was their last Friday together, while there was still a week left of term, final year students had a graduation ceremony followed by an end of term feast with their teachers on the Thursday, then sailed back across the lake, as they had first arrived at Hogwarts, and got the train back for the final time. They had decided not to make a big thing of the final Friday together at Hogwarts, seeing as their next meeting was already scheduled and they'd already spent so much time being sad. The location and frequency of their meetings was changing, but the group they had established together was strong, and would continue. The evening passed with gentle conversation, soft reminiscing and deep rooted affection.
That night, Hermione and Ginny slept in Hermione's bed, clinging together.
The final week of term flew by so quickly it was as if it had barely happened at all. She had expected it to go slowly, with a clear schedule, but between celebrations, spending time with her friends and getting everything packed up, she felt she had barely had a minute to process. She was moving into Grimmauld Place with Harry and Ginny, and they had big plans for renovating it. It was a strange feeling, not to have her parents and their home to fall back on, but she was trying not to dwell on it. Their house was still in their name, but it was almost empty and she hasn't been back since she had sent them to Australia, and had no desire to return until she had to. She had decided she would write to them again over the summer, letting them know her grades and her plans, and for now, Grimmauld was a good base, especially since she would be spending the vast majority of her time at Hogwarts, come September.
On Sunday, she and Snape had sat in silence. Hermione hadn't known what to say, unsure of her welcome, and her own confused feelings where the Potions Master was concerned. There was so much she wanted to say to him, so much she wanted to thank him for, but she knew it wasn't what he wanted, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was being silly for being so sentimental. She had had a meaningful conversation with all her other Professors, closing the chapter of being student and teacher, but with Snape, it wasn't so easy, and from the way he had behaved the last time she had seen him, she wasn't so sure she meant anything to him at all. He needed some sort of human contact, perhaps that is all that she was to him, the means to an end.
"Have a good summer, sir." She had said softly, and all he had done was incline his head slightly before he had left.
Ginny, Luna, Lavender and Hermione were all getting ready for their Graduation Ceremony together. It wasn't strictly formal, but everyone was getting dressed in their finery, and the boys would be wearing dress robes. Hermione had chosen a dress in deep burgundy with a V neck, flowing skirt and open corset back. It was a bit more flashy than she usually went, but it was her last day at Hogwarts and it felt appropriate to show herself and everyone else just how much she had changed over the years. Ginny had gone with a fitted green gown with a halter neck, her red hair swept up into a loose bun, Luna was sporting a a blue and yellow tea dress, with long sea glass earrings and her hair loose and wild down her back. Lavender was wearing a dark purple, satin gown, form fitting and low cut, her scars on clear display.
"You inspired me, Hermione." She said smiling. "If you can go to a Ministry Ball with that awful word carved on your arm, I'm not going to hide my scaring behind baggy clothes anymore. Besides, I have an incredible body."
"You really do." Luna beamed. "You look like a model. Or a sculpture, moulded out of clay and adorned in fancy purple clothes."
"Thanks Luna." Lavender smiled.
Hermione had allowed Lavender to pull her hair back loosely into a half-up half-down style, her curls tumbling down her back, but insisted on doing her own makeup, darkening her eyes slightly with shadow, applying blush, mascara and soft pink lipstick, but leaving it at that. Luna was also wearing light makeup, while Lavender and Ginny had gone all out. They all looked stunning, and Hermione felt tears sting in her eyes as she looked at them.
"No crying!" Lavender said firmly. "We all agreed. And we'll only mess up our make up."
"I'm not crying!"
"Nearly." Ginny smiled, pulling her into a one armed hug. "Right, lets get a photo before we head down, how do you set this thing up, Luna?"
They entered the Great Hall together, mingling with their fellows as they took in the decorations. It was early afternoon, and the celling reflected the blue sky outside. There were chairs lined up facing the raised area at the front of the Hall where the head table usually was. There were House banners lining the walls, and enchanted streamers hanging from the rafters. Laughs and shouts echoed around, but they were a brittle thing, it felt like the room was thick with unspoken emotion. At 2pm, a bell sounded, prompting them to take their seats in alphabetical order wait for the ceremony to begin.
Finally, the faculty filed in and lined up to the right of the stage, and Minerva entered last, standing in the centre, ready to address them all.
"Welcome." The Headmistress beamed. "And congratulations to you all for completing your education at Hogwarts."
Several rows ahead, Hermione could see Lavender had already broken the 'no crying' agreement.
"Your time here has not been without difficulty, and most of you have faced trials and tribulations well beyond your years. I'm sorry we couldn't have done more to protect you. Believe me when I say we all, without exception, tried our best. But you have overcome it all. You face your futures now, with a solid education behind you, an exceptional set of qualifications (hopefully!), and friendships that will last a lifetime."
Minerva looked around at them all.
"I can still see you all as the little 11 year olds you were when you came here. Wide eyed, knobbly-kneed, and yet here you are before me: young adults, ready to enter the real world and make your mark. Time has made a fool of me once again. I couldn't be any prouder of you all."
Hermione swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, around the Hall, many were wiping their eyes, some of the staff included. Snape alone looked unmoved and was staring at the opposite wall like it had personally offended him.
"Right." Minerva clapped her hands. "You will file to the left of the stage here, Professor Flitwick will prompt you when it is your turn to come onto the stage and receive your certificate of completion from me, then you will exit to the right, and shake the hands of your teachers before you take your seats once again."
Hermione watched in a daze as they began to line up, head onto the stage, shake Minerva's hand to raucous applause, and then file down, greeting their teachers as they left. A few pulled their favourite students into hugs instead of shaking their hands, to giggles and laughs from the boys as well as the girls. When it was her turn, she was overwhelmingly grateful for the sensible shoes she had opted for, and walked confidently over to Minerva, shaking her hand before the Headmistress pulled her in a rough hug in an uncharacteristic display of affection. Eyes stinging, Hermione made her way over to leave the stage and thank her teachers. The whole faculty was there, so she had the opportunity to express her gratitude even to the members of staff whose subjects she had not taken to NEWT level. Professors Vector, Sprout and Sinistra all pulled her into hugs, as well of course, as Neville, Poppy and Hagrid. And it was Hagrid's warm, rough and musty embrace that finally made hot salty tears spill silently from her eyes. Professor Snape was last in the line, and he shook her hand with a nod, not meeting her eyes. Sighing to herself, Hermione took her seat and pulled herself together, clapping especially loudly for the strays, and Ginny loudest of all.
Light food and champagne was served after the ceremony had been completed, students and staff mingling together. Luna had made sure they all had lots of photos together and with their favourite teachers. They even managed to get a full group shot of the strays with Professor Snape in the background.
"He's looking at you, Hermione." Luna said as she assessed the photo. "Quite intently."
"No he isn't." Hermione said, flustered. "He's just looking in this general direction."
"Nope." Ginny said. "Definitely looking at you."
Thankfully at that point fireworks erupted overhead, the dazzling display courtesy of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, signalling the end of the ceremony. After much hugging and laughing and crying all round, the students made their way out of the hall. They had just half an hour to gather their outwear and make their way to the lake, ready to sail back across. All their luggage had already been sent to the train.
Hermione entered her room and stopped short, stunned. On her desk was an enormous bouquet of daffodils.
"Come on, Mione." Ginny entered without knocking. "Oh those are stunning! Aren't daffodils your favourite?"
"Yes." She whispered.
"What is it? Who sent them?"
"I ... I don't know for sure."
"Hermione," Ginny came round and took a good look at her face. "Who sent these?"
"It's the complete wrong season." Hermione said faintly. "It must have taken all kinds of magic to grow them."
"Who sent them?!"
Hermione turned to look at her best friend.
"The only other person who knows daffodils are my favourite flowers is Professor Snape."
Ginny's eyes widened and she went over to the bouquet, inspecting them to make sure there was no note.
"Well." She said finally. "Now we know."
"Know what?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"Professor Snape likes you too."