Summary: The Gryffindors' new best friend.

A/N: Thanks for reading, everyone! Enjoy the trio becoming friends with Severus in front of everyone else and his sudden realization at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 9

Severus had gone to Draco's room the next morning and had explained what he wanted to do. Draco advised him to stay with Crabbe and Goyle all day. He would fill them in, and they would be trying to attack Potter at some time during the day.

Severus wasn't a fan of the two Slytherins, but he supposed he could be their shadow for the day. Hopefully whatever would happen would be done earlier in the day rather than later.

Severus had sent an Owl to Harry the previous night asking them to have a quick meeting in the Room of Requirement that morning. He explained everything to the trio before classes. They would be ready for whenever Crabbe and Goyle decided to attack.

oooOOOooo

It came quickly after Charms class and before lunch. They had gotten out of class first, and Crabbe and Goyle turned around and waited for the trio to emerge. They were almost last out of the classroom and Goyle was ready with a stupid comment.

"Potter, how many times do you have to try that Impervious Charm? Are you a Wizard or not?"

Harry's fists clenched as he responded. "Shut up, Goyle."

Goyle's wand was out before anyone knew it, and then he was faced with four wands in his face, the trio's and Severus'.

"Snape, what the hell are you doing?" Crabbe said as he pointed his wand in Severus' face.

Severus snarled and moved his own wand to Crabbe's neck. "Don't you dare point your wand at me," he growled.

"Well, what are you doing holding Greg at wand point with those three?" He motioned over at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Severus lowered his wand, causing Crabbe to do so as well.

"There's no reason to pull out your wand. Potter hasn't done a thing to you!"

Goyle also lowered his wand and turned to Severus, giving him an incredulous look.

"Are you serious?" he said.

Severus shrugged. "I'm tired of watching all of you treat him like shite. I was bullied in my younger years, and I just don't like other people being bullied."

That was an incredibly true statement, and it worked well for this ruse.

"He's Potter! The Dark Lord wants him dead!"

"Well, then, you should leave him to the Dark Lord, shouldn't you?" Severus spat back.

"Merlin, Snape. Who are you? I thought you were with us!"

Severus hesitated before sneering at Crabbe and Goyle.

"I guess I'm not with you. I don't support bullies."

"Malfoy is going to hear about this!" Goyle threatened.

"Go ahead and tell him," Severus ground back. "I don't care what Malfoy thinks either!"

Goyle glared at Severus. Turning to Crabbe, he addressed him.

"C'mon Vince, let's go."

Crabbe looked at the four and sneered at them before turning and rushing after Goyle.

Harry moved up to Severus.

"Umm, thanks," Harry said, a little wide-eyed.

"Yeah, thanks," Ron mumbled without looking at Severus.

Hermione came up to him. "That was very brave of you. Thank you."

He looked at her, then averted his eyes and nodded. "I need to go," he mumbled and moved around the three of them, quickly heading away.

Severus headed for the Great Hall. He wasn't surprised that by the time it took him to get there, the entire Slytherin house had been informed about his actions. He received caustic glares from the majority. Malfoy glared at him, his mouth curved down into a frown.

"Traitor," he said as Severus walked up to where he usually sat.

Severus stopped dead, realizing that he was once again an outcast in his house. He turned and went to the end of the table, sitting by himself. He glanced up and saw Potter looking at him from the Gryffindor table. He quickly looked down. He knew this was all an act from his Housemates, but it still stung. It threw him back to when he'd been a true outcast. His life had vastly improved since then, but it still hurt to think about those times. Now he was back in the same environment, this being even worse because, in the past, his Housemates would at least speak to him despite not really liking him.

Bloody hell.

oooOOOooo

For days Severus was shunned during meals and study sessions in the Great Hall. He was currently sitting at the end of the table reviewing Potions and preparing his essay on the Wiggenweld Potion. He didn't notice someone coming up to him.

"Oy, Snape, do you want to study with us?"

He looked up to find Ronald Weasley standing there offering for him to join their group.

"Does it look like I want study buddies?" he sneered.

Wesley shrugged.

"It's just that you're here all by yourself, and everyone else has paired up with at least one other person. We have room over there for you."

Severus frowned and glanced over at the rest of his housemates at the table where he sat. They were all glowering at him. He sighed.

"I like studying alone," he pushed back.

"To be honest, we could use your help with Potions. Hermione's good, but… you're better."

Severus arched an eyebrow at Weasley as he mulled it over. He had every intention of joining them, but he wanted to put up a good show for his housemates, who weren't sitting with him but were near enough to hear his conversation.

"Fine," he said in a clipped tone.

Gathering his books, he followed Weasley over to the other table where Potter and Granger were seated. He gave a quick nod to them and opened his book, sticking his nose into it, and ignoring his counterparts.

Harry spoke softly while still looking at his text.

"We should be able to sit during study sessions from now on."

"Yes," Severus replied. "But for this one, we should only speak sparingly." He turned and looked back at the Slytherins. "They're all eyeing us. I'm surprised no one has hexed me."

"It's probably because Slughorn is too close and will see," Ron said.

They sat quietly for a few minutes before Hermione spoke up.

"Severus," she said. "Can you explain why you use mint in the Wiggenweld instead of dandelion root? Wouldn't it produce the same effect?"

"No," Severus said as he looked up at her.

He took his textbook and showed them all the recipe.

"The mint combines with the salamander blood but isn't as basic as the dandelion root. Dandelion would render the potion inactive as it doesn't bind well with the blood."

"Ah, I see," Hermione said.

They pretended to discuss the potion for a minute.

"Tomorrow," Severus said. "We can talk a little more. By next week, we can just converse normally. It will be commonplace to see me with you, and the novelty of a Slytherin working with three Gryffindors will become old."

The three nodded, and they all went back to their studying.

oooOOOooo

They continued like that for a week, and as Severus had said, the newness got old and people ignored them. The Slytherins still scowled at Severus, but they paid him no heed except for the occasional hexing in the hallway when no faculty was around.

It took another week of him spending time together with Harry, Ron, and Hermione outside of class for everyone to ignore them completely. Now, they spent all their time together, and aside from getting looks from the Slytherins no one paid them any mind.

He took to walking with Hermione between all his classes, as they shared them. He found he enjoyed her company. She was quite brilliant and fun to debate theory with.

"I'm not really sure what I want to do after graduation," she said absently. "I guess it will depend on whether the war is over or not."

"It may be. What would you want to do in that case?" Severus asked.

She thought about it as they walked to the Great Hall for lunch.

"I thought I wanted to work for the Ministry."

"You thought you did?" Severus asked curiously.

They sat down next to each other, and Hermione gave him a determined look.

"There's so much injustice in our world, Severus. I want to change that. But I'm not quite sure how to do it. I mean, if I start at the Ministry, that's all it will be. A start. I'd be at the bottom rung working for others. I wouldn't be able to influence anyone for years, probably."

Severus nodded. "That's true. What could you do that would make a difference?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. Possibly teaching. I can help to instill tolerance among the new generation."

"What would you be interested in teaching?"

"I'm quite fond of Transfiguration and Charms, but those won't instill change in anyone."

"Perhaps you can talk to Dumbledore about a new curriculum. Maybe something about tolerance among Wizards."

She thought about that. "That's a good idea. And maybe it can not just be about Wizardkind, but about all magical creatures."

Severus nodded. "Good idea."

Hermione began to become excited.

"This could work, Severus. I could have a series of lessons on equality, and then differences among races and how we can celebrate those instead of looking down upon them."

"And you could get guest speakers from those different species to come in and lecture."

Hermione reached out to him in excitement and grasped his hand, giving it a squeeze. She didn't notice his surprised flinch.

"I can do this, Severus! Thank you for helping me flesh it out!"

Severus blushed as he stared at their entangled hands. He frowned and pulled his hand from hers.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be so forward," Hermione said as her cheeks pinked.

Severus' eyebrows furrowed. He mulled over exactly what he was feeling. His eyes drew back up to Hermione's.

"It's all right. I'm just not… My family isn't demonstrative like that. I was just taken aback."

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she explained.

He shook his head. "You didn't." He stared at her as if he was trying to read her mind. "It was… pleasant," he finally admitted.

She bit her lip and looked worried.

"Really, Hermione. It was nice."

He offered up his hand to her again. Reaching out, she squeezed it again, causing him to look back at her. She smiled shyly at him.

"Thanks for helping me out," she said again.

He grinned. "You're welcome."

"Hey!" Harry said as he sat down next to Hermione. "What's up?" He eyed Severus and Hermione's grasped hands.

She removed her hand from Severus' and grasped Harry's arm.

"Oh, Harry, Severus and I were just coming up with a way I can help with change. I can create a class on tolerance here at Hogwarts."

Harry thought about that. "That sounds like a good idea, Hermione."

Ron sat down across from them then and started shoveling mashed potatoes onto his plate.

"Ron!" Hermione cried.

Everyone looked at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Can't you say hello before you start stuffing your face?" she said haughtily.

He looked at the other three.

"Hello."

With that statement, he started cramming potatoes into his mouth. Severus smirked at him, and Harry shook his head. Hermione glared.

"Anyway," she said slowly. "I want to create a class to help everyone learn about other cultures within the magical world."

"That sounds like something you'd excel in," Ron said with his mouth full.

Hermione looked at him in exasperation before smiling. "Thanks, Ron," she said genuinely.

He nodded before going back to his lunch. Severus looked at Hermione and grinned at her. She grinned back, and he swore something within him flip-flopped. A sudden realization came over him as he continued to look at Hermione.

He fancied her.