So I posted this chapter a little earlier. I hope you like it. :-)
Also, Thank you for your reviews.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Hermione woke up next morning very animated. The school was finally starting and she couldn't wait for her first class to begin. She had Transfiguration with her Head of the House, Minerva McGonagall, but before that, she had to get ready for breakfast in the Great Hall so she put on her uniform and her robes and then got out of the room.
In the common room, she was surprised to se Malfoy who was clearly waiting for something. Or someone.
"Morning!" The boy greeted and got off from the couch.
"Good morning." Hermione greeted back.
"Are you heading to breakfast?" He asked with a small smile on his face.
Hermione raised a brow in doubt and answered "Yes..."
"Can I join you? At least until we get there..." he pleaded.
Hermione thought for a second before answering "Sure, why not? Come, we're going to be late."
The two of them walked in silence all the way to the Great Hall and sometimes Hermione got the sensation that he was staring at her. When they got there, everybody was already seated at the great tables, eating and when they entered, all the eyes were on them. Hermione walked to her seat in front of Ginny's, next to Neville and Draco found his way back to his seat at the Slytherin table.
Hermione ate in silence, but a few minutes later, Ginny broke the silence "Um... Hermione? Why is Malfoy staring at you?"
Hermione raised her eyes from her plate and replied without turning her head to see him "He is? Well, I don't know what's gotten into him... he acted a bit strange this morning too".
"Maybe he likes you" Ginny said with a smirk.
Hermione rolled her eyes at that "Sure he does..."
"Actually," Ginny started, "I'm not sure he likes anyone but himself. Or maybe he can, now that he is changed as you said it"
"I'm sure that there is someone he fancies, but I highly doubt it's me…"Hermione told her firmly.
Ginny laughed and then added "Yes, maybe you're right..."
Hermione only narrowed her eyes at the other girl and then turned to Neville who was sitting quietly in his chair. "Oh, Neville, I'm so happy that at least you returned to Hogwarts. Unlike somebody else we know..."
"Well, my grandma says that I should finish my education, and plus, I want to start my apprenticeship in Herbology after this so I probably need to finish my studies for that to happen..." Neville replied.
"A pprenticeship! Oh, Nev, I'm so glad to hear that! I was thinking about one too, I don't think Herbology is my thing, though..." Hermione also replied thoughtfully.
"That's great, Hermione! But have you decided on the field?"
"Not really, no... I think it's between Transfiguration with professor McGonagall, Charms with professor Flitwick, or... Potions with Snape."
"Potions?" Neville asked in surprise. It was no secret that he was terrified by professor Snape since first year, but Hermione thought that he got over it." But Hermione, you're not going to choose Potions, aren't you? I mean, It's Snape we're talking about. Do you really want to spend all your time with the bat of the dungeons?"
At that, Hermione raised her eyes to the teacher's table and she was surprised to find Snape looking at them with a scowl. Was it possible that he heard what they were saying? Was he reading their minds? "No," Hermione thought, "He can't do that... can he?" or maybe he was angry for last night when she got away without deducted points or detention. She grinned proudly at that thought. He probably wanted to make her stay after curfew so he can deduct points once again, but she surprised even herself when she took off. She thought about her last conversation with her Head of the House. It was a good thing that she asked Harry for his Invisibility Coat and Map. She feared that the next time, she wouldn't escape so easily. She was distracted from her thoughts by Neville
"Hermione, why are you staring at Snape?"
"I didn't realise I was staring... I was just thinking about what you just said..." she lied.
"And?" He asked her.
"And I don't think professor Snape would be a bad choice if I were to choose him. I would have so much to learn from him... he's the best in his field after all..."
"Yes, he probably is," he admitted "but he is still Snape..." Neville shook his head.
"Oh, Nev..." Hermione started slowly "you can't possibly still be afraid of the man!" Neville leaned back in his chair with a small blush on his face. "You need to get over your fear, Neville. You slayed the Dark Lord's Horcrux, Nagini, the beast that almost killed him, and you are still afraid of the man?" Hermione told him, trying to make him feel more confident in himself and she succeeded. The boy was smiling proudly, but when his eyes met Snape's, Neville forgot about his heroic actions and went back to his Snapefobia.
Hermione sighed at his visible discomfort and then promised with a smile on her face "Don't worry, Neville, you will get over your fear, eventually and I will try my best to help you."
Neville smiled shyly at that " Thank you, Hermione..." and then returned to his food.
"Neville," Ginny then started " Luna told me that the two of you are together. It's that true?" She continued with a mischievous grin.
Neville's face turned a deep shade of red and he was fidgeting in his chair."W…Well, I think that Luna is a very… unique person a…and I like her. And y… yes, I asked her if she wanted to be my girlfriend. I was surprised when she said yes…" he said thoughtfully as he glanced at the Ravenclaw table where Luna sat.
The redhead clapped cheerfully at his speech. "I'm so happy for you two… and Neville, you shouldn't be so surprised by the fact that she wanted to be your girlfriend… you are a very handsome and brave and intelligent wizard and I think that Luna is a very fortunate girl to have you."
Hermione nodded at Ginny's speech and then added:"Ginny is right, Neville. Luna is a very lucky girl."
Neville looked away from the blonde girl at the Ravenclaw table and replied:"Do you really think so?"
"Yes!" both of the girls exclaimed at the same time and then let out a chuckle.
A few minutes later, it was time for them to part. Hermione and Neville headed to their class in Transfiguration, and the redheaded girl headed for her first class, Charms with professor Flitwick. On her way there, she met Luna who was also headed to Charms. The two girls walked together to class chatting and laughing.
Hermione spent her day walking from class to class, from one part of the castle to another. She was walking to her last class of the day, Potions, when she met Harriet again. The little girl looked lost once again.
"Hi, Harriet, are you lost?" she inquired with a friendly smile on her face.
The girl just nodded timidly with a blush on her face.
"Have you finished your classes?" Hermione asked her.
"No," Harriet answered slowly "I still have Transfiguration but I can't find my way to class".
"Ok, don't worry; I will take you to your class." Hermione assured the other girl.
They got there before the class started, but when Hermione glanced at the watch, she nearly started running as she saw that she had only four minutes to get to the dungeons. When she finally got there, she was breathless, but she arrived just a minute later. She hoped that the professor wasn't there already and entered the room. She exhaled relieved when she saw that Snape wasn't there and she wanted to take her place next to Neville when a voice from behind her made her jump backward.
"Late already, Miss Granger?" Snape started with a scowl.
"I'm sorry, sir, I was…" she stopped in mid-air. She wasn't looking for excuses. She was late. Even if only by a minute, but still…
"You were…?" the professor questioned impatient.
"Late, Sir, I'm sorry I was late." She said with a small smile.
"We will talk after class, Miss Granger. Now take your seat and turn to page 234." He said as he went in front of the class to lean against his desk.
Hermione took her place next to Neville and she opened her book at the requested page. They had to make a Wiggenweld Potion so she went to gather her ingredients from the cupboard. She was still looking for a flobberworm's mucus when she heard a loud bang and she didn't have to turn to know that it was Neville's cauldron that was now on the floor.
"Mr. Longbottom, do you know what would have happened if you added that unicorn horn in that state of the brewing?" Snape inquired in his low baritone voice.
Neville looked up from the cauldron and answered "N-no, Sir"
Snape let out a snort. "Of course you don't. Twenty points from Gryffindor for almost destroying my classroom and another five points for not knowing the answer to my question. Now everybody get back to brewing."
Hermione went back to her place next to Neville and placed her ingredients on the table "Don't worry, Neville, I will help you through it." She whispered to the boy as she started cutting and slicing the ingredients.
Hermione watched as Neville put the salamander blood in his potion and it turned the color it supposed to, green. She saw relief on his face as his potion turned the right color. He bottled the potion and took it to Snape who was sitting behind his desk, grading some papers. He nodded his approval and the boy returned to his seat very excited. She liked this confident and happy Neville and she wanted to help him stay like that all the time. Hermione finished her potion and took it to the professor. He made no sign of approval and she was dismissed to her seat. "That man!" Hermione thought irritated. How was she supposed to learn if he didn't even tell her what she did wrong? She crossed her arms at her chest and waited for the rest of the students to finish their potions. Five minutes later, the class was dismissed and she stayed behind as he told her.
The Gryffindor jumped in her seat as the last student closed the door behind him with a loud crack. He was still grading papers and he made no sign of stopping so she sat back on her chair in front of the class and waited. A good ten minutes later, Snape finally raised his head from the graded papers and saw Hermione lost in her thoughts.
"Miss Granger" he started loudly enough for the girl to jump once again in her seat. "I do hope that I haven't distracted you from your dreams".
Hermione blushed slightly "I wasn't dreaming, professor...".
"Of course you weren't…"he replied with a smirk on his face.
She let that go, not wanting to lose another points by arguing with the professor and changed the subject "Sir, I am really sorry for being late…" she tried.
The scowl returned on his face and added:"Miss Granger. Do you know what the Head Girl is supposed to be in this school?" he didn't let her respond and continued "an example, Miss Granger, an example. And what is your example for the other students if you are turning late for classes, staying after curfew, running around?"
Hermione lowered her head ashamed "I am sorry, Sir, you are right. I will be more careful next time."
Snape deepened his frown, walked over to where Hermione was standing in front of her desk and then asked in suspicion:"Careful not to be late again or careful not to get caught?"
"Careful not to be late again, of course, Sir" she answered with an innocent smile as she looked up at the man in front of her.
"We will see about that, Miss Granger." He said as he lowered his head to look directly in her eyes."Now you may go." And he turned on his heels and went back to sit at his desk.
"Goodbye, professor" she saluted.
"Goodbye." He answered back without raising his eyes from his graded papers and she got out of the room.