A Puppy for Christmas, a harry potter fanfic

A Puppy for Christmas
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

After the war, Hermione Granger returns to Hogwarts for her seventh school year as head girl. However, her friends and the professors notice that she suffers from depression, before an unexpected source finds a remedy for her situation. Completely AU, partly OOC.

Hermione sat at the empty Gryffindor table in the Great Hall of the newly renovated Hogwarts and observed the other students storm into the room, wondering if they had always made so much noise during her first six Hogwarts years. 'Thank Merlin everyone's back,' she thought in relief, as Harry and Neville lowered themselves into the seats on both sides of her. Ginny took a seat on Harry's other side, while Ron sat about five seats up the table next to Lavender. Hermione inwardly rolled her eyes. 'What does he want with that cow?' she thought in annoyance. During the war, she and Ron had been dating, and while they never actually ended their relationship, Hermione had been away the whole summer. 'Maybe, he just ended it, because I wasn't here,' she thought, feeling sad at the idea that, apparently, she didn't mean to him what he meant to her.

"Mione, where were you? We missed you the whole summer, and you weren't even on the train," Harry addressed her in obvious concern.

"Sorry, Harry, I was at Hogwarts already."

"The whole holidays?" Harry cast her a look of pure disbelief.

"No, only the last two days," Hermione replied in a small voice, glad that Professor Snape chose that moment to enter the Great Hall with the new first-years in tow. The Sorting began, and while Hermione absentmindedly watched the deputy headmaster read the names from the long scroll in his hands, her thoughts drifted back to the summer.

When the war had ended with Harry's defeat of Voldemort, Hermione had immediately travelled to Australia to restore her parents' memories and bring them back home. Unfortunately, her plan had not worked out at all. She had successively pointed her wand at her parents to make them remember her, however, to no avail, and while she was still debating what had gone wrong, her father had called the police. In the end, Hermione had ended up in a muggle prison waiting for some kind of trial. Unfortunately, she neither had the means to send an owl to any of her friends nor did she know how to reach anyone who might be able to help her by muggle means. She could not rely on magical means either, as the prison guards had taken everything from her, including her precious wand, which was still in a brilliant condition after using it during her six years at Hogwarts as well as during the war.

'I should have prepared for every possibility beforehand,' she thought, biting her lip in remorse. 'How in the world am I going to get out of here?'

Fortunately, during the war, she had secretly practised the Animagus transformation and had managed to transform into a Tayto, a magical animal that was half cat and half dog. It possessed several magical abilities, of which the most useful was that she could turn invisible and move completely silently at wish. To her relief, her Animagus form helped her to carefully flee from the muggle prison. Unfortunately, she could not apparate without her wand, and her Animagus form did not enable her to do so either. Moreover, she did not really have anywhere to go. She knew that there had to be a magical population in the town, probably even a magical shopping centre; however, she did not have a clue where to go and badly regretted not having done sufficient research beforehand. 'Harry was mistaken, when he called me the most brilliant witch of our year,' she thought in remorse.

'By the end of the war, saving Snape's life in the Shrieking Shack, fearing for Harry's life and focussing on the prospect of bringing Mum and Dad back, I was too excited to properly think,' she recalled in regret.

She had returned to the hotel, where she had rented a room; however, afraid to be captured again in case the police had checked out her whereabouts before her arrest, she merely stood under the window to her room and tried to summon her backpack using wandless magic. She had only practised wandless magic during the war but not perfected it yet, and it took her a couple of hours, before she finally managed to hold her backpack safely in her hands.

Afraid that the airports would know her name as that of a fugitive criminal, she transfigured an empty parchment into a broomstick, envisioning Harry's firebolt, and spent a month flying away from Australia. She always flew over relatively short distances and upon reaching the next island, she landed and transformed into her Animagus form for a land trip, glad when she was finally out of the southern hemisphere with its mid-winter weather conditions, so that it was at least warm enough to sleep on the beaches.

She did not know how much time had passed. She just hoped for a miracle that would take her back to Britain on time for her final Hogwarts year. Once, when she spent the night on the shore of the Indian Ocean in Thailand, three owls approached her, one of them carrying a letter from Professor McGonagall informing her that she had been made head girl. The other letters were from Harry, Ginny and Luna, and while Hermione was happy beyond belief to hear from her best friends except for her own boyfriend, she lacked the mental ability to respond adequately.

To her relief, the school owl obeyed to her request and patiently waited for her to scribble a quick response asking the headmistress to provide an international emergency portkey for her.

'Thank Merlin, I'm going to get home soon,' she thought in relief, which did not last long, as the thought 'I'm never going to see my parents again,' forced itself to the front of her mind, causing her to spend the night crying, just as she had done countless nights before.

It took a few days, before an old barn owl returned to her side, carrying a letter with the instruction how to activate it to work as a portkey.

It seemed like an infinite travel, before she arrived in what she recognised as the headmistress' office at Hogwarts, feeling utterly nauseous after the uncomfortable travel.

"Mione, are you all right?" Harry called her attention, suddenly touching her arm. "You're head girl? You didn't even tell us."

Hermione managed a small smile. "Sorry, I didn't have a chance to contact you. I had a very bad summer."

"What happened?" Harry enquired, eyeing her in apparent concern. "Where have you been? You didn't reply to any of our owls. Some of them even returned with our letters still attached. Why weren't you on the train?"

Hermione smiled at her best friend. "Isn't it my duty to ask so many questions at once?" she whispered, hoping that he would not notice her distress. However, Harry's look of utmost concern rather intensified.

"Later," Hermione mouthed, making a mental note to thank Draco, the new head boy, for leading the prefect meeting on the Hogwarts Express without her. While she would have boarded the train, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey had only allowed her to go to Diagon Alley and get a new wand as well as her supplies for the school year, but had otherwise insisted that she should remain at the castle and rest as much as possible after her ordeal. Professor McGonagall had even promised to contact the head boy and ask him to excuse Hermione for the train ride.

After dinner, however, Hermione did not have a chance to talk to Harry or any of her other friends. As soon as the meal was over, Professor McGonagall approached her. "Miss Granger, please follow me. I will show you to the head girl's rooms."

"Yes, Professor," Hermione replied and hurried to get up from her seat, uttering "Good night" to her friends.

Professor Snape and Draco were waiting for them in the entrance hall, and Hermione swiftly turned to her Slytherin classmate.

"Draco, thank you so much for leading the prefect meeting without me. I'm sorry I couldn't be there."

Draco nodded, cordially. "It's all right, Granger. Uncle Severus came by last night and explained the matter to me."

Hermione nodded in understanding and turned to the Slytherin head. "Thank you, Professor."

"Very well then, let's go," the professor replied, only to add, "For a Gryffindor, it must be a tragedy, but the head girl's and head boy's quarters are situated in the dungeons."

Hermione stared at the man in bewilderment. "I don't mind, sir," she then replied, indignantly, and turned to follow the two Slytherins and the headmistress, who was still acting as the Gryffindor head of house, to the dungeons.

The head girl's and head boy's rooms were situated near the Potions classroom and consisted of a large living room with adjacent bedrooms that were equipped with a small bathroom each.

"Remember that you're head girl and head boy and as such are supposed to set an example for the other students. I don't want to hear of any fights here in these rooms. Is that clear?" Snape looked from Draco to Hermione.

"Of course, sir," Hermione replied, only to add, silently, 'If Draco behaves.'

"Yes sir," Draco echoed, giving Hermione a reassuring nod.

'Well, it could have been worse,' Hermione thought, 'if I had to share a room with Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson or others such as Crabbe or Goyle.'

"If you wish to have more privacy, it is technically possible to completely separate these rooms," McGonagall spoke up. "The house elves will be able to do so in a blink."

Hermione and Draco exchanged a glance. "I'm fine with it as it is," Hermione was the first to reply.

Draco nodded. "Me too, provided that Granger doesn't prevent me from studying."

Hermione let out a snort, which brought a small smile to the headmistress' face.

Turning to the portrait at the door, McGonagall introduced the old witch. "This is Ceridwen Hufflepuff, the younger sister of Helga Hufflepuff. Ceridwen, these are Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, our new head students. Please keep an eye on them and call Severus or me if we're needed here."

"Of course, headmistress. Congratulations for becoming head students, Hermione and Draco. I am looking forward to having you in these rooms for the year. Please just call me Ceridwen."

They profusely thanked the old witch, and, when the professors left, began to unpack their luggage. To Hermione's relief, Draco's behaviour was exemplary, and she had the impression as if it was not so much different from dealing with her friends. 'Who is he, and what did he do to Draco Malfoy?' she wondered in surprise.

"Is there anything we still need to do tonight? I mean as head girl and head boy," Hermione clarified.

Draco shook his head. "No. Tonight, the professors are going to do the rounds. We need to meet with the prefects between the last afternoon class and dinner tomorrow. I already informed them during the train ride, and I've already set a timetable for them. We can go through it before breakfast tomorrow morning."

Hermione nodded in understanding. "Thank you so much for dealing with everything alone today."

"You're welcome. Uncle Sev… I mean Professor Snape told me what happened and that you were in no condition to ride the train. If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

"You?" Hermione blurted out, incredulously. "Sorry, I mean…" 'Oh, I am so stupid,' she silently scolded herself, averting her eyes to watch the pattern of what seemed to be a magical chameleon on the carpet.

Draco sighed. "I know I didn't behave well towards you during the last few years, but I hope you'll give me a chance to prove that I've changed. Will you?"

Hermione nodded. "Why are you calling Professor Snape Uncle by the way? Is he related to you?"

"He's my godfather," Draco explained with a small smile crossing his face. "He was the one who brought me to the right side of the war opposing my father."

Hermione nodded. "Harry told me that you had changed sides."

Draco smirked. "Potter was really great. Not only because of his defeat of the Dark Lord, but it was mainly him who kept Uncle Sev out of Azkaban."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "What did I miss during the summer?"

Draco let out a deep sigh, before he told her in detail how Professor Snape had been forced to undergo a trial just like any other Death Eater. Only due to Professor McGonagall and Harry Potter, the so-called saviour of the magical world, speaking up for him, he had been free to leave.

"Potter told them that he and you and Weasley were only alive, because Uncle Sev saved your lives multiple times."

Hermione nodded, sighing. "Yes, that's true, and I'm sorry that I couldn't be here to speak up for him, too."

"That's all right. Potter spoke on your behalf as well."

"What about Ron? Didn't he support the professor?"

Draco shook his head. "No, Potter told me that he decided not to help the slimy git as he called him."

Shaking her head in annoyance, Hermione wondered what had gotten into the boy. 'I'll need to speak with Harry tomorrow,' she resolved.

"So, is it true that you spent the whole holidays in Australia?"

Hermione nodded, feverishly trying to suppress the tears that once again welled up in her eyes.

Draco's expression softened. "It's all right to cry you know. Believe me, I cried a lot, when my parents were carted off to Azkaban. I mean, my father deserved it. He should rot in Azkaban, but my mother didn't deserve it. Uncle Sev and Potter then spoke up for her, so that she got another trial and was set free."

"Oh, thank Merlin." Hermione cast her classmate a tearful smile. "I think she even helped Harry during the final battle."

Draco nodded. "That's why Potter helped her, too."

While Hermione had already been able to talk about her whole summer ordeal with Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey, it was good to just to chat about everything with a classmate – even it was Draco Malfoy, with whom she would have never imagined being able to hold such kind of a conversation.

Nevertheless, she could not help herself crying during the night. 'I only wanted to keep Mum and Dad safe,' she sobbed to herself. 'What have I done? They won't ever remember me again. Now, with Crookshanks gone as well and Ron not being my friend let alone boyfriend anymore, I'm all alone.'

'You still have good friends such as Harry, and Draco seems nice too,' a small voice spoke up from the back of her mind; however, it did not help much to console her.

At breakfast the following morning, Professor McGonagall distributed the time tables. Hermione eagerly looked at the parchment in front of her, only to frown in disappointment. Her schedule only consisted of the main subjects; however, the elective subjects were completely missing.

"Professor?" she enquired, trying to keep her voice void of the annoyance she felt.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" The headmistress turned around to view her.

"Why are Arithmancy and Ancient Runes missing from my time table?"

McGonagall let out a deep sigh. "Give me a moment to explain to everyone." Seeing Hermione nod, she quickly handed out the remaining time tables, before she returned to the high table and addressed the students.

"Some of you might have noticed that all of the elective subjects are missing from your time tables. As you know, we lost several students and teachers during the war, and we just don't have enough staff to keep our former program upright. I would like to ask the head girl and head boy to arrange study groups for the seventh years, so that those who are interested in one of the elective subjects can study together. Professor Snape and I will provide you with the necessary books. At the end of the school year, I wish to have at least one student for each subject who can take the NEWTs and is willing to teach said subject from next year onwards."

"But professor," Hermione spoke up, frowning. "Don't we need a mastery to, for example, teach Arithmancy or Ancient Runes?"

McGonagall nodded. "It is not mandatory. If you wish to take a mastery, you will have to find a master who is willing to have you as an apprentice, while you teach at Hogwarts, provided that you want to teach. In fact, I very much hope to be able to fill our empty posts with our current seventh-years. Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy, please keep me updated about the study groups. Once school resumes after the Christmas holidays, I will ask each of the seventh years if you would like to become a professor and in which subject."

"What if there are multiple applicants, for example, for Care of Magical Creatures?" Ginny Weasley spoke up.

"In that case, it is up to our staff to decide on a candidate," McGonagall replied, crisply. "However, I hope that we will have at least one candidate for Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, Potions, as the double workload as Potions professor and Potions master is too much for Professor Snape in combination with his position as the deputy headmaster. I also wish to have a successor as the Transfiguration professor and for the head of Gryffindor position. As soon as possible, we also intend to introduce two new subjects, Alchemy and Magical Traditions. In order to better be able to assist our students in various matters, we are considering to separate the head of house positions from the teaching positions.

"Professor!" Hermione turned around noticing that it was Luna who had spoken up. "Will you please hire a new professor for History of Magic as well?"

Several people began to clap their hands at the suggestion, and Hermione instinctively joined in, noticing that almost everyone seemed to agree with the Ravenclaw.

"Yes, I believe that a change in that position is long overdue," McGonagall agreed, receiving another round of applause from all over the Great Hall.

'This sounds totally cool, and I'm sure that I want to become a professor,' Hermione thought in excitement, 'but for which subject? Most of what McGonagall named is interesting.'

Hermione realised quickly that while Draco seemed to be as studious as herself, her friends simply enjoyed that they only had to study for the core subjects. Ginny was only attending the Care of Magical Creatures study group, and Harry's only elective was Alchemy, which he studied together with Hermione and Draco, as no one else seemed to be interested in the subject. 'Oh well, considering that we never had Alchemy before, it affords some intense studying to even take the OWLs at the end of the school year,' Hermione thought, however, knew better than to voice her concern. 'At least Harry is doing some studying,' she thought in relief.

Apart from Alchemy, which presented itself as a challenge even to her, Hermione participated in the study groups for Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies and Magical Traditions. 'Having much work helps to distract me from grieving about my parents, Crookshanks and Ron,' she told herself, as she spent her whole free time studying. Only during the nights, when she let herself sink into her bed in exhaustion, her thoughts returned to the loss of her family and her boyfriend, and she cried herself to sleep on a daily basis.

'Thank Merlin I have my own room now, as Ginny wouldn't give me a moment of peace if she caught me crying,' she thought. 'She'd surely tell Harry and Ron, and I wouldn't want Ron to think that I was crying over the loss of him.'

Unbeknownst to the girl, however, not only Draco but also Ceridwen in her portrait witnessed her grief and growing stress due to sleepless nights and overwork. While they did not directly confront her, they were concerned enough to inform the professors.

When Hermione finally collapsed during the Muggle Studies exam that took place two days before the beginning of the Christmas holidays, Professor McGonagall took her to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey decided to keep her asleep until the leaving feast.

Neither the healer nor the headmistress listened to her protests and decided that it did not matter that she was going to miss the Care of Magical Creatures test on the following day.

When Hermione woke up, feeling very much refreshed and better than she had ever felt since the summer holidays, Harry was sitting on the edge of her bed.

"The leaving feast is going to begin in thirty minutes," he informed her, giving her a concerned look.

Hermione stared at him in shock. "They really made me miss my Care of Magical Creatures exam?" she all but hissed. "How dare they?"

"Miss Granger, if you don't want me to cast a sleeping spell at you that'll make you sleep through Christmas, you better behave yourself," Pomfrey spoke up in a no-nonsense voice.

Hermione inwardly groaned. 'I didn't even hear her coming,' she thought in annoyance. "Sorry, Madam Pomfrey," she quickly apologized. "May I go now?"

The healer nodded. "Yes, you may attend the leaving feast. Please take better care of yourself in the future."

"Yes, Madam," Hermione promised, half-heartedly.

While during the war, many students had remained at Hogwarts over the holidays, to Hermione's surprise all seventh years apart from Harry and her were going to travel home in the morning.

'They're all so lucky to have parents,' she thought and quickly rose from her chair to return to her room knowing that she wouldn't be able to keep her tears from leaking from her eyes. However, before she could reach the doors to leave the Great Hall, the headmistress called out to her.

"Miss Granger, please come to my office, as soon as everyone has boarded the Hogwarts Express."

"Let's go and see everyone off at the station," Harry suggested, as he joined them in front of the doors.

"Please do so." McGonagall cast Harry a look of what appeared to be appreciation, before she added, "I don't mind if you wish to take a small detour to Hogsmeade, but I expect you back and wish to see Miss Granger in my office at two o'clock in the afternoon."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied.

"Thank you, Headmistress," Hermione echoed. She was not really in the mood of going to Hogsmeade; however, the thought of what was surely going to be a scolding in the headmistress' office was not overly appealing either.

She separated from Harry in the entrance hall, and both went to fetch their warm winter robes, before they met again and boarded a carriage together with Ginny, Luna and Neville.

"Hermione," Neville suddenly caught her attention. "What happened to Crookshanks by the way? I was wondering all the time but never got around to ask.

Hermione cast her friend a sad look. "I don't know. When I last saw him, he was at the Burrow, but according to Ginny, he hasn't been there anymore for some time. In fact, I haven't seen him after the war."

"Can't you feel him through the bond?" Luna spoke up, looking at her, dreamily.

"I wasn't bonded with him," Hermione replied, unsurely.

"Ah, you probably didn't know that, as you were raised in the muggle world, but you should have bonded with him. He was a Kneazle, so a magical cat. I wonder why he didn't tell you."

Hermione simply shrugged. 'Bad enough that Mum and Dad and Ron and Crookshanks are all gone,' she thought, letting out a deep sigh.

After seeing their classmates off at the station, Hermione and Harry walked into Hogsmeade. However, the town was full with people who were doing some last-minute Christmas shopping, and seeing all the festive decorations accompanied by Christmas music everywhere simply brought tears into Hermione's eyes. 'I'm never going to be able to spend Christmas with Mum and Dad again,' she thought in devastation.

"Do you still need any Christmas presents?" she asked her friend.

Harry shook his head. "No, I already bought everything during the last Hogsmeade visit."

Hermione nodded, contentedly. "Me too. Shall we go to the Three Broomsticks then?"

Harry agreed, and soon they found themselves nursing warm butterbeers at a small table in one corner of the pub.

"Why did you remain here?" Hermione asked. "I mean, with Ginny being your girlfriend, I thought you might spend Christmas at the Burrow."

Harry shook his head. "Would you have joined me at the Burrow?"

Hermione scoffed. "No."

"I thought so." Harry smiled. "After what Ron did to you, I'm sure it would feel awkward to spend Christmas with the Weasleys. So, I decided to keep you company here, especially as Draco told me he was going to go home to his mother so she wouldn't be alone."

Hermione nodded. "I know, and it was the right thing for him to do." 'I'd never leave my Mum alone for Christmas either,' she thought and could not prevent her eyes filling with tears.

Harry gently laid his hand on her arm. "Mione, are you sure that there's nothing that we can do? Perhaps there's some other spell we could use to recover their memories? Have you talked everything through with the professors? Perhaps with Remus and Professor Snape?"

Hermione shook her head. "Remember that I'm a fugitive criminal in Australia?"

"I am not though." Harry cast her a look of pure determination.

"Thank you, Harry, but no. I need you here and not in some muggle prison in Australia."

Harry nodded in apparent understanding; however, he seemed thoughtful, causing Hermione to make him promise to not do anything stupid.

"I won't," Harry assured her, sounding sincere. "Maybe, you could write them a letter and explain everything?" He then suggested, causing Hermione to sigh.

"I don't know what to do anymore, but as they didn't listen to me, when I travelled around half the world to see them, I don't think they'll believe what I could write in a letter," Hermione replied, feeling helpless and depressed about the matter.

When they returned from Hogsmeade, Hermione slowly made her way to the headmistress' office, worrying what the upcoming conversation might be about. 'I hope they won't take the head girl badge from me, because I was so stupid to fall asleep in the Muggle Studies test and miss the Care of Magical Creatures test,' she thought in concern. 'My life is already bad enough right now.'

'They surely wouldn't do that,' a voice spoke up from the back of her mind; however, it did not help to alleviate her fears.

To Hermione's relief, the headmistress called her in quickly. She looked up in surprise upon noticing the deputy headmaster sitting in one of the chairs. He was wearing a bored expression.

"Miss Granger, please take a seat," McGonagall addressed her in a soft voice and, once she complied, continued. "Did you have a good time at Hogsmeade?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, Professor. It makes me sad though that Harry only stayed over Christmas to keep me company."

"He seems to be a very good friend," the Potions master commented, unexpectedly.

"That he is," Hermione agreed, giving the professor a small smile.

The headmistress let out a small sigh. "Now, as to why we called you here," she cast her a strict look. "As you seem unable to take care of yourself, we decided that you must not attend any of the study groups anymore."
"What?" Hermione blurted out, her eyes widening in shock. "But…"

"Miss Granger, you heard the headmistress," Snape spoke up in a firm voice.

"But…" Hermione almost choked, unable to prevent herself from crying.

The professors patiently waited for her to get a grip on herself. "Sorry, Professors," she uttered, only to add, "Is that all?"

"Miss Granger, would you like to remain at Hogwarts as a professor?" McGonagall asked in a soft voice, causing Hermione to look up in surprise.

"I'd like that," she admitted, "but…"

"No buts," Snape interrupted her, sternly. "You can only teach one subject at once, not half a dozen. Therefore, there is no need to study each of the electives."

"You would be able to teach any of the core subjects," McGonagall added, "provided that you don't have a special preference."

"No, Professor. Anything would be fine with me."

"Then see to it that you take better care of yourself," McGonagall replied. "Please think about which of the core subjects you would like to teach, except for Defence Against the Dark Arts, as I hope to keep Professor Lupin on the position for a long time now that the curse on the position must have been broken. On a different note, I received the instruction from Madam Pomfrey to tell you that you must take a walk once a day for at least an hour."

Hermione frowned. 'Has Madam Pomfrey even looked out of the window today?' she thought in annoyance. 'The weather is disgusting.'

"There is no such thing as bad weather, there is only bad clothing," Snape spoke up, smirking, as he somehow seemed to guess her thoughts. "I am under the same instruction from the healer by the way, so if you wish you may join me."

"Yes please," Hermione uttered in delight at not having to do these walks alone. "Thank you, sir."

"However, there is one condition." Snape cast her a thoughtful look.

"What is it, sir?" Hermione inwardly groaned in annoyance.

"During a one-hour walk, you may only ask two questions."

A small smile played on Hermione's lips, as she replied, "Agreed, sir. Thank you for inviting me."

"Meet me at 4 o'clock in the entrance hall, and not a minute later."

"Yes sir," Hermione agreed and took her leave, somehow feeling happy at the idea of going for daily walks together with the Potions master.

'I just hope I won't say anything wrong,' Hermione thought, as she eagerly followed the Slytherin head outside for their first walk together.

However, she did not even have a chance to say anything at all. As soon as they crossed the grounds and began to walk on the path beside the lake, Snape began to hold a long monologue about potions ingredients.

Hermione listened with rapt interest. Most of the ingredients she already knew, even if she was not aware of their exact properties and uses. However, some ingredients she had never heard of.

Eagerly listening to the teacher's monologue, Hermione did not even notice just how far they walked. She looked at the professor, startled, when he instructed her to follow him right into the Great Hall.

"Dinner is going to commence any minute now," he informed her, making her look at her wrist watch in shock.

"Oh, I didn't realise how fast the time passed," she thought aloud, causing the professor to smirk.

"I trust that my explanations kept your interest?"

Hermione nodded, eagerly. "Yes, sir. Thank you so very much for teaching me about potions ingredients. It was very interesting."

Snape gave her a sharp nod. "Tomorrow, same time same place."

"Yes sir. Thank you, sir."

'That was totally amazing,' she thought, as she followed the professor into the Great Hall, where a single table had replaced the house tables. She quickly slipped into the seat next to Harry.

During the next few days, Hermione spent the afternoons taking long walks with the Potions master, who continued to hold hours-long monologues about potions ingredients, their properties and their use in combination with other ingredients. It was so interesting that Hermione never noticed how fast the time passed and was always surprised, when it was already dinner time when they returned to the castle.

She felt extremely grateful towards the professor who spent so much time with her and used the opportunity to teach her so many interesting things.

One day, the professor said, "As tomorrow is Christmas Day, I suggest that we forego our daily walk."

"Oh," Hermione merely replied in clear disappointment. 'Of course, he will have better things to do,' she told herself.

"Or do you prefer to take a walk listening to me rambling about potions ingredients even on Christmas Day?" the professor enquired, apparently having noticed her unenthusiasm.

"Yes sir. I really like our walks. They're extremely interesting," she replied, smiling at the wizard who had taught her so much during the last few days.

"Very well, but then we should leave at 3 p.m., so that we'll have some time to freshen up before Christmas dinner."

Hermione agreed, feeling very happy at the man's readiness to entertain and teach her.

Christmas Eve was spent in the headmistress' office together with all teachers, who had remained at the castle during the holidays, and Harry, much to Hermione's relief. 'I wouldn't want to spend Christmas Eve alone or with Harry in my rooms wallowing in memories and sad thoughts.'

They had much fun, especially as Hooch, Pomfrey and McGonagall kept telling them funny stories of their own time at Hogwarts. Even Professors Snape and Lupin released the occasional joke from their school days making everyone laugh.

Hermione enjoyed herself so much that she was surprised, when the headmistress dismissed them, stating that curfew had begun and the heads of the houses had to check on their students who had remained over the holidays.

"Shall I check on the Gryffindors?" Hermione offered, somehow feeling strange to not have any head girl duties during the holidays.

"There are only three second-year girls in Gryffindor," Harry spoke up. "I can easily check on them."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, warmly. "Please do so. You know how to contact me if anything is amiss. I shall see each of you for Christmas breakfast at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning."

As Hermione followed the professor into the dungeons, her steps became slower the nearer they came to her rooms.

"Miss Granger?" the professor suddenly caught her attention.

"Yes sir?" Hermione looked up realising that he was smirking.

"Would you care for some quality time in my Potions lab?"

Hermione stared at the professor, wide-eyed. "Oh yes, sir." 'Everything is better than being alone in my rooms on Christmas Eve.'

"What are we going to brew?" Hermione enquired with enthusiasm, when they arrived in the Potions master's meticulous private lab. She stared around in amazement. 'I wouldn't have imagined his lab to be so bright with all the white tables, shelves and sinks and the many torches around the walls,' she thought, feeling extremely impressed. That the whole room seemed very well organised was not a surprise though.

"I need to brew the Wolfsbane potion," Snape informed her, "as the full moon is in three days' time. You may assist preparing the ingredients."

During the next few hours, Hermione diligently prepared ingredients under the Potions master's watchful eyes, while the man began to brew the complicated concoction.

Hermione thoroughly enjoyed herself, especially as the professor explained about each ingredient, the best way to prepare it and its function in the potion in detail.

At 2 o'clock in the morning, Snape tried to send her to bed; however, Hermione refused, insisting that she wanted to continue preparing the ingredients.

Two hours later, they reached a stage, at which the potion had to simmer for seven hours, and Hermione returned to her rooms promising to come back and assist again after Christmas breakfast.

'That was so cool,' she thought, reflecting all parts of the brewing process in her mind, before she drifted off to sleep.

When her alarm went off at seven o'clock in the morning, Hermione felt more refreshed than she had ever felt since the last summer, even if she had only slept for three hours. 'It was the first night I didn't cry me into sleep since the summer,' she realised. 'Thank Merlin Professor Snape made me assist him with the Wolfsbane potion.'

Before she could further follow that string of thought and lose herself in it, she got up and took a shower to ready herself for the day.

Returning from the bathroom, her eyes fell onto the pile of presents sitting on the table of the living room. There were many colourful gifts, probably from each of her friends, but there was something special that caught her attention. There was a basket with a dark blue cushion inside, and on that cushion a puppy was fast asleep.

"A puppy? Is that for me?" she thought aloud in excitement that only intensified, when said puppy opened black eyes and let out a squeal of apparent pleasure.

"Hello there," she greeted the small animal, "may I pick you up?"

All of a sudden, she felt incredibly happy, and before she could do as much as wonder what happened, a small voice penetrated her mind.

'Hello, I am Maya, and I am an Aesculapian Shiba-Inu. I have taken the liberty of bonding with you.'

'Thank you, Maya. I appreciate it,' Hermione thought back, smiling, as she picked up the puppy, cuddling her close to her chest.

'An Aesculapian Shiba-Inu,' she thought in confusion. 'I've never heard of such a species. She must be magical though if she managed to bond with me.'

Maya was cute as a button, and Hermione felt extremely lucky. 'Do you know who gave you to me?' she suddenly remembered to ask, examining the basket closely. However, there was nothing attached to it except for a small bag with puppy food and two small toys.

'I don't know,' the puppy replied, before she let out a big yawn and nestled deeper into Hermione's robes, reaching out to lick Hermione's chin with obvious eagerness.

When Hermione arrived in the Great Hall for Christmas breakfast with her arms full of sleeping puppy, everyone cooed about her new familiar.

"Is that a dog?" Harry jumped from his chair to get a better look at Maya.

"Yes, this is Maya, my new familiar," Hermione replied, grinning in happiness.

"What a cutie." McGonagall gently caressed the puppy's ears, causing Maya to eagerly lick her fingers.

"She seems to like you," Hermione observed, smiling.

"Which is really strange," the headmistress agreed, as she continued to coo over the puppy. "Maya, don't you realise that I'm a feline Animagus?"

By now, everyone was gathered around Hermione with the exception of the Potions master, who was sitting at the breakfast table nursing a large cup of tea and his eyes focused on what seemed to be a Potions journal.

"Oh no!" Hermione suddenly remembered the Wolfsbane potion. "What am I going to do with her, when I'm in the Potions lab?"

Snape looked up from his reading. "Just bring her with you," he uttered, matter-of-factly.

"Is it safe for her?" Hermione asked, wide-eyed.

The professor nodded. "You said that she was an Aesculapian Shiba-Inu, didn't you?"

"Eh, yes?" Hermione cast the wizard a questioning look.

To her surprise, he smirked. "Unbelievable that our resident know-it-all did not go to the library to check out her familiar's species right away."

Hermione could not help blushing. 'He's right, you know,' she told herself, wondering how that had not been the first thought on her mind before joining the others in the Great Hall.

"Severus," McGonagall lightly scolded the Potions master. "Considering that you kept her in your lab until the early morning, she probably didn't even have time to do such a thing."

Hermione gave the old witch a broad smile, feeling very grateful towards her mentor, who was still acting as her head of house.

"An Aesculapian Shiba-Inu is a dog with a certain affinity for Potions or even Healing in general," Snape explained, patiently. "As such, she might rather be helpful in a lab than a nuisance."

"Oh, that's amazing." Hermione gently cradled Maya close. "You're absolutely awesome, little one. Thank you so much for bonding with me."

Maya looked up and eagerly licked Hermione's face again and again, until the girl lightly pushed her snout off her face. "Thanks Maya, but I just took a shower. I'm not that dirty."

Harry and Snape let out simultaneous scoffs.

To Hermione's relief, Maya simply lay down to sleep under the table, once Hermione and the Potions master continued brewing the Wolfsbane potion.

"Professor?" Hermione spoke up, once the professor extinguished the flame under the cauldron and set the finished concoction aside.

"Yes?" Onyx eyes turned to view her, making Hermione smile. 'He looks incredibly handsome in his blue sweater without his teaching robes,' she thought, before she replied swiftly.

"May I assist next month too?"

"No, the next time I'm going to assist and prepare the ingredients, while you will brew the potion."

Hermione stared at the professor in disbelief. "I'd rather prefer preparing the ingredients, as I definitely don't want to poison Professor Lupin."

"Go and get your warm winter robes for our walk. I trust that you'll be able to transfigure something into a warm snowsuit for your puppy?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes sir. Are you sure that she'll be able to walk so far? I mean, she's only a puppy."

"I'm aware of that, and considering how late it is and that we'll have to be back for Christmas Dinner on time, this won't be a problem. We can't go far anyway, and we can always carry the little one back."

'He said we,' Hermione thought, somehow feeling delighted at the thought, as she ushered Maya back to her rooms.

Ten minutes later they headed towards the entrance hall with Maya wearing dark blue winter robes that matched her own.

During the remaining days of the Christmas holidays, Hermione was busy training Maya where to do her business and how to behave towards students, professors and especially the cats in the castle.

Maya received the shock of her young life, when her hunting instincts got the better of her and she chased a cat all over the castle without listening to Hermione. When she thought she had finally caught the lightly smaller animal, the feline turned into Professor McGonagall, who told her in a stern tone that she was not allowed to chase cats.

Maya gave the kind old lady's hand a series of eager licks in obvious apology, before she ran to Hermione's side demanding to be picked up into the safety of her arms.

"I'm sorry," Hermione profusely apologized to the headmistress, who looked in apparent amusement at an ear of the dog, the only spot of her that was visible from where Maya was nestled deep into her robes.

"I think little Maya learnt her lesson this morning," she commented, smirking.

"Hopefully," Hermione replied, gently caressing the puppy's fur.

When the students came back to Hogwarts at the beginning of January, everyone cooed over Maya, even Draco, who spent some time playing with the puppy once he and Hermione returned to their rooms that evening.

"You seem to be much happier now," he uttered, matter-of-factly, giving Hermione an assessing look.

"Yes. Very," Hermione admitted, smiling. "Sorry for being such a cry-baby last year."

Draco shook his head. "I didn't particularly mind, but still, I'm happy for you that you're feeling better now."

"Thanks, Draco," Hermione replied, gently lifting the puppy onto her lap. "How was your holiday?"

Draco nodded. "It was all right, but I feel sorry for my mother having to stay in the big manor just for herself all the time."

"Oh, that's indeed horrible," Hermione agreed, thoughtfully. "Would she perhaps be interested in a teaching position?" she then enquired. "Perhaps, she could teach History of Magic or any of the subjects, for which we don't have a professor right now."

Draco stared at her, wide-eyed. "Oh, Hermione, that's a fantastic idea. I'll go and speak with Uncle Sev. Maybe, he can ask McGonagall."

"Do so," Hermione reassured him, smiling.

While she was happier now due to having a familiar, she was still extremely annoyed to not be allowed to participate in any of the study groups, before she was called into the headmistress' office a few days after school commenced again.

'I hope she won't mind me bringing Maya,' Hermione thought, as she took the puppy out onto the grounds for a weewee before heading to McGonagall's office.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," the headmistress greeted her and motioned her to take a seat, before she picked up Maya for a quick cuddle.

"You're such a cutie," she cooed, gently tickling the puppy's belly. "Oh my, aren't you tickly?"

'Did she call me here to cuddle with Maya?' Hermione wondered in disbelief, before the older witch finally came to the point.

"I was asked to make a suggestion to you."

Hermione looked up in surprise.

McGonagall let out a small sigh, before a small smile began to play on her lips. "Professor Snape asked me to offer you the position of his apprentice."

Hermione stared at the older witch in bewilderment. "Thank you, Professor, I'll happily accept, but why doesn't he ask me himself? I mean we're going for walks every day between the last afternoon class and dinner."

"I am aware of that, but Professor Snape thought it would be easier for you to decline if he didn't ask you directly."

Hermione chuckled. "Oh, that's so Professor Snape, thinking that I might not accept his offer. Of course, I'd love to become his apprentice."

McGonagall outright smiled. "I thought so, and you're right. That's typical for him. He wants you to take your NEWT in Potions right away, which means as soon as the Ministry of Magic offers an exam. Usually, they take place three or four times a year. Afterwards, he will teach you mastery level potions, and he will most likely ask you to cover part of his classes or assist him with the grading of homework etc. After you finish your NEWTs in all the other subjects you are taking, you will become our Potions professor. You and Professor Snape can still agree on sharing both the teaching position and the Potions master position. How you share these two positions is up to the two of you. I wish to be informed, but I will leave any decision to you and Professor Snape. Do you agree under these conditions? You don't have to reply right away. You can discuss the matter with Professor Snape or with your friends. Just let me know when you have decided."

Hermione grinned, happily. "I have already decided, Professor. I gratefully accept the position as Professor Snape's apprentice and as Potions professor. Thank you so very much for offering this to me. I appreciate it very much."

McGonagall nodded in apparent understanding. "I will make sure to divert your gratefulness to Professor Snape, when I'll inform him about your decision later tonight."

"Eh… May I tell him myself? I could see if he's in his office or his lab and just speak to him?" Hermione asked, knowing that she as much too eager to wait another day before discussing the matter with Snape.

The older witch smirked. "Of course, you can do that. I believe that he'll appreciate hearing your positive reply directly from you."

Hermione once again profusely thanked the headmistress, before she took her leave and headed straight to the Potions master's office with Maya in tow. By now, the puppy had become used to the big castle and could already manage to walk the whole way without having to be picked up half-way to the dungeons.

'I'm going to remain at Hogwarts as Professor Snape's apprentice and his fellow Potions professor; how cool is that,' Hermione thought, feeling absolutely delighted at the idea. 'He's really nice, and I love working together with him,' she mused, before she became distracted, when Maya began to lightly growl at one of the paintings along the corridor. Hermione quickly ushered her towards the dungeons, reassuring that puppy that everything was all right and the people in the portrait were only making fun of each other and not really fighting.

More harshly than intended, Hermione knocked at Snape's office door, glad when she was called in quickly.

"Miss Granger," the Potions master greeted her, quirking an eyebrow. "Did we not already endure enough of each other's company to last for the evening?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Very charming, Professor. I just came to inform you that I'd love to become your apprentice and fellow Potions professor."

She noticed that the professor seemed pleased, even if he did not voice it, as he replied, "Miss Granger, I suppose that I don't have to tell you that the Potions mastery and also the teaching position is much work, more than you have ever worked or studied before."

Hermione grinned. "Sorry, Professor, but after offering me the position, there's no way that you'll be able to talk me out of it. Can we begin right away?"

A small smile played on the professor's lips, as he lightly shook his head. "No, Miss Granger, we need the headmistress to set up a proper contract, which we'll both have to sign, before you'll officially become my apprentice. Please consider wisely if you really wish to do this. I will be your master, and you're going to have to obey to me even if your opinion differs from mine. Do you understand?"

"Of course, sir, I understand, and I'll promise to do my best," Hermione replied, unwilling to change her decision. "I appreciate it very much, and I look forward to working together with you."

Snape mumbled something that sounded like "Unsufferable know-it-all," before he said aloud, "Meet me in Professor McGonagall's office at 8 o'clock on Saturday evening. I trust that this doesn't interfere with your head girl's duties?"

"No, sir. That's fine, sir," Hermione replied, somehow feeling sightly disappointed that she could not begin right away.

Draco was the first to hear the good news, and he was outright happy for Hermione.

"Congratulations, Hermione. Uncle Severus might be strict, but he's a good man, and he won't order you to do things, which are illegal or not all right in any way."

Hermione nodded. "I know. I trust him. Thanks, Draco." She offered a small smile, only to become distracted, when Maya scratched at the door. "Oh, do you have to go out, Maya?" she cooed at the Puppy, before she obediently led the puppy out into a small herb garden, to which Snape had shown her a secret back door on Christmas Day.

'Thank Merlin, he showed me the way to quickly go outside,' Hermione thought, gratefully, each time she took Maya out, knowing that the puppy only had a few minutes before her business used to become urgent.

When she told her friends at breakfast the following morning that she was going to become Snape's apprentice and the new Potions teacher from the following school year onwards, she almost regretted having said anything.

Everyone sitting at the Gryffindor table seemed to deem themselves entitled to voice their opinions.

"With Snape?" Harry cast her a look of utmost concern. "Hermione, are you really sure? You could certainly get any other position at Hogwarts without having to work together with him."

"I'm sure," Hermione replied, smiling, just when her former boyfriend's voice caught her attention.

"She's going to work with the slimy git of the dungeons? I knew Malfoy was going to corrupt her, when she moved in with him," Ronald spoke up aloud from the other side of the table.

"Ronald!" Ginny shouted, glaring daggers at her brother.

"Mr. Weasley, fifty points from Gryffindor," McGonagall spoke up from the high table. "If you had seen fit to visit Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy in the head girl's and head boy's room, you'd know that Miss Granger has not moved in with Mr. Malfoy as you voiced it."

"I'm here, you know," Hermione spoke up, icily. "At least, speak to me and not about me."

"I can see his point though," Lavender, her former roommate, commented, casting her a nasty look.

"Now, shut up," Neville admonished her. "Snape?" he then said in a barely audible voice, giving her a questioning look.

Hermione nodded, smiling. "He's really nice, and he explains a lot, when we're brewing together," she whispered back, knowing that Neville would probably never understand how she could like working together with Snape. 'At least, Neville accepts it,' she thought, feeling very much consoled. 'And Harry will, too.'

Shortly before Easter, Hermione spent a whole day at the Ministry of Magic, taking her NEWT in Potions.

Compared to the long-winding, complicated Wolfsbane potion, which she had already brewed with Professor Snape three times, every other concoction seemed to be simple. Therefore, Hermione managed to brew the potion for Dragon Pox, which was mentioned in her seventh year, without any problems. Needless to say that in the oral exam, which took place in the afternoon, she answered all questions perfectly.

A few days later, a large barn owl brought her results. She had received "O"s in both the practical and the theoretical part.

'Thank Merlin, at least the Potions NEWT is done,' she thought in relief, feeling very much accomplished.

During the following weeks, she still attended classes; however, outside of class, she spent almost the whole day brewing potions from the mastery curriculum.

At first, Snape had insisted that she was not allowed to brew alone and had to spend her time in his classroom, while he was teaching. However, Maya quickly informed him through Hermione that she was not an Aesculapian Shiba-Inu for nothing and was well able to prevent Hermione from making larger mistakes and protect her from any potion that had gone wrong.

From that time onwards, she was allowed to use his private lab just by herself, provided that Maya was with her.

However, it was not during Hermione's brewing time alone that Maya happened to interfere in her brewing for the first time. It was when Hermione was brewing the Wolfbane potion with Snape preparing the ingredients. Maya was perched on a chair next to Hermione's; however, suddenly reached out for the dried Gentian petals, which she was just going to put into the half-finished concoction, and kicked them down onto the floor.

"Maya!" Hermione exclaimed, horrified. "What are you doing?"

"Wait." Snape gripped her arm, as she leaned down to pick up her ingredients. "Maya, did you do this on purpose? Can you explain to Hermione why you did that?"

Maya quickly shook her fur, an action, which Hermione usually interpreted as release of stress for the puppy.

That doesn't belong into the potion= Maya then said, matter-of-factly, without any further explanation.

Snape leaned down to view the puppy. "Maya, are you certain? Do we need to replace it with any other ingredient?"

Apparently unsure, Maya began to meticulously clean her white belly.

"We can't simply leave the Gentian petals out," Hermione turned from the puppy to her master.

"We can and we will," Snape decided. "Remember that Maya is an Aesculapian Shiba-Inu, even if she's only nine months old. She instinctively knows that the ingredient doesn't belong into the potion we're brewing. Of course, we shall have to inform Lupin that he will have to shut himself into the Shrieking Shack for the full moon, as we can't guarantee the effectiveness of the Wolfsbane that is lacking that specific ingredient."

"Are you sure that the potion won't harm Remus?" Hermione looked into onyx eyes that promised warmth and reassurance.

However, Maya was not done yet with her assessment of the Wolfsbane potion. Just when Hermione was at the last step of the brewing and added small pieces of birch bark, Maya bit one of her fingers.

Hermione stared at Snape in horror. "Are you sure that she knows what she's doing? I think she just managed to add a drop of my blood into the potion."

"Maya," the professor once again addressed the canine, who jumped from her chair and stood with her front paws against the man's legs.

A drop of liquid from a healthy human helps= she informed him.

Hermione translated for the professor, before she let out a deep sigh. "Maya, are you sure that you know what you're doing?"

Maya turned around to view her and reassuringly licked her hand.

"Oh well, I don't take any responsibility for the potion," Hermione decided.

Snape nodded. "Yes, we will inform Lupin and ask if he is willing to try it out. Let's finish this and then call him into my office."

To Hermione's surprise, Remus immediately agreed to try out the new concoction. "Severus, if you trust the dog and believe that I should try out your concoction, who am I to refuse? I am very grateful to the two… ah, sorry, three of you to spend so much time brewing the potion for me. And of course, I will spend the night of the full moon in the Shrieking Shack."

'What if the potion harms him?' Hermione worried, however, knowing that Snape seemed to fully trust Maya's assessment, did not voice her concern. She only told Draco about the potion and her worries in the evening of the full moon, when the head girl and head boy did their rounds through the empty castle together.

"You're worrying too much," Draco said in a soothing voice. "Uncle Severus is very strict and the strictest towards himself. If he had any doubt that the potion might harm Lupin, he wouldn't give it to him but throw it away and brew the Wolfsbane anew."

"I hope you're right," Hermione replied, feeling very grateful for the head boy's reassurance.

"Maya will receive the Order of Merlin one day," a soft voice suddenly penetrated her ears.

"Luna," she said in surprise. "What are you doing here? It's long after curfew."

"I'm just on my way back to Ravenclaw, but I knew that I had to meet you and reassure you," Luna replied, airily, casting Draco a dreamy look.

"Luna, let me accompany you back to Ravenclaw house," Draco said in a firm voice, before he turned to Hermione. "Return to our rooms; I think we've done enough for tonight."

Hermione nodded. "Thanks, Draco. Good night, Luna." With Maya in tow, she slowly returned to the dungeons, wondering if they would manage to cure Remus sometime soon.

In the morning after the night of the full moon, Hermione was up extremely early. It was 3:30 a.m. 'Oh no, if he transformed, he wouldn't be back in his human form by now,' she thought in annoyance, deciding to head to the lab to get an early start at her work. To her relief, Maya was all for it; however, Hermione simply could not concentrate. 'What in the world am I doing here? This is much too dangerous,' she decided. With a flick of her wand, she banished the potion, just when Snape entered the lab.

"What are you doing here at this time?" he asked in apparent disbelief, as he gently caressed the puppy's fur.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm so excited that I couldn't sleep." She inwardly rolled her eyes, knowing that the professor was going to ridicule her.

However, he surprised her by nodding in apparent sympathy. "I understand only to well. I'm excited, too. Shall we go to the hospital wing and see if he's back already? The moon is supposed to set in five minutes."

"Oh, cool; so, by the time we arrive, he might be back. Yes, let's go," she said, enthusiastically; however, the professor merely smirked at her excitement.

By the time they arrived at Pomfrey's office, neither she nor Remus were there.

"Poppy has probably gone to fetch him," Snape said, matter-of-factly. "Let's have some tea."

Hermione stared at the man in surprise, when he filled the kettle with water and made it boil, as if it was the most usual thing to make tea in the healer's office.

"Sugar? Milk?" he enquired, after pouring two mugs of tea.

"No sugar, but milk please," she replied, profusely thanking her master, when he placed a steaming mug in front of her.

Maya raised herself to stand on her hind legs trying to take a nip from Hermione's cup.

"No, Maya, leave it. That's too hot for you," Hermione lightly admonished her, causing the puppy to lie down on her feet for a much needed nap.

It seemed to be a long time, before Madam Pomfrey returned, closely followed by Remus.

"I did not transform," he informed her. However, his expression did not seem as joyful as Hermione had expected considering the news.

"But?" she asked, carefully.

"But I feel as if I had the flu, and I felt like howling at the moon in my human form," Remus admitted.

You need to tell him to practise transforming into a doggy; then all his wolfy needs will be gone= Maya suggested, causing Hermione to stare at her familiar in disbelief.

"Maya suggests for you to become a canine Animagus to get rid of the remaining symptoms of lycanthropy," Hermione explained.

"Poppy," Snape spoke up, "could you please check on Lupin and tell us if the lycanthropy is still in his system?"

"Of course." Pomfrey waved her wand over her colleague, smiling, when she slid it back into her robe pocket. "Congratulations, Remus. You're not a werewolf anymore. I can't find any sign of lycanthropy."

"Well, congratulations, Remus," Hermione added, feeling delighted at their success. "Now, let's see if this is permanent."

"It probably is," Pomfrey informed her, "otherwise, it would still show on my scan. Nevertheless, you should spend the next full moon in the Shrieking Shack again just to be sure."

"Of course, I will do so," Remus reassured them, hastily wiping tears of joy from his face, before he leaned down and picked Maya up from the floor. "Thank you, cutie. I heard that I have to thank you for this success."

Maya replied by thoroughly licking Remus' face over and over, until the wizard held her at arm's length and stared at her in apparent disbelief.

"The flu-like symptoms are all gone now. I trust that was your doing?"

Maya carefully licked the man's hands, causing him to smile in obvious happiness. "Thank you, Maya, Hermione, Severus. You can't believe how much I appreciate this and how grateful I am."

"We too," Snape uttered barely audibly, only for Hermione.

"Oh, Remus, we are very happy for you, too," a teary-eyed Hermione said, pulling Remus into a bear's hug.

During the following full moon, which was just before the beginning of the NEWT exams week, Remus did not transform either. It was not that Hermione had expected him to transform after what Madam Pomfrey had told them; nevertheless, it was reassuring. However, the professor once again suffered from flu-like symptoms, of which he only felt reprieve, when Maya spent some time cuddling with him. He also told them that he had once again felt the urge to howl at the moon in his human form.

"Perhaps, Maya, Miss Granger and I can come up with a solution to the problem," Snape replied. "After all, we have the whole summer to run some tests, provided that you'll be willing to try out anything we brew."

"Of course, I will, and I can't thank you enough," Remus replied, smiling broadly.

'Thank Merlin that I can remain at Hogwarts as an apprentice and professor at the same time, even during the holidays,' Hermione thought in relief, before she became distracted by her NEWT exams that took the whole week, so that there was barely any time for her to spend in the lab with Maya and Snape.

At the end of the week, she was relieved beyond belief to have finished the NEWTs in all the other core subjects, and she even tried to take the exams in Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Alchemy as well as Care of Magical Creatures in spite of not having specifically studied for them during the last couple of months. Nevertheless, she had the impression as if she had done well in everything.

She was extremely happy upon getting to know that each of her friends were going to remain at Hogwarts or at least would come back after the holidays. Harry was going to become the professor for the new subject of Alchemy, Draco was going to teach Arithmancy, Luna Divination, Daphne History of Magic, Susan Care of Magical Creatures, and Neville promised to become Professor Sprout's apprentice and teach Herbology, once the older witch wanted to retire. Ginny had accepted the offer of becoming the head of Gryffindor, and Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother had been hired as the new librarian.

'Thank Merlin Ron has left Hogwarts,' Hermione thought, once the students had left for the summer. 'Helping his brothers with their shop is probably the best he can do, considering how lazy he is.'

Together with the other professors, Hermione and Maya accompanied the students to the station in Hogsmeade. Afterwards, everyone except for Professor Flitwick, who had remained at the school in the absence of the headmistress and her deputy, went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. 'Thank Merlin, they don't drink stronger things,' Hermione thought in relief, as she felt uncomfortable at the idea of drinking alcohol, except for wine, something that her parents had very occasionally allowed her to drink together with them.

"Congratulations for passing your NEWTs," Pomona Sprout was the first to speak, and Hermione noticed in surprise that she was the only of the former seventh years who seemed to have remained at the school over the summer.

"From now on, you must call us by our given names," the Herbology professor informed her. "I trust that we may also call you Hermione?"

"Of course," Hermione replied, smiling. "Thank you all so much for everything."

'This summer is definitely going to be better than the last one,' she thought, as she pulled Maya up onto her lap and cuddled her close.

During the first four weeks of the holidays, Hermione and Severus were busy brewing potions to replenish the stock for the hospital wing. Severus insisted, however, that Hermione had to brew at least one concoction from the list of the mastery potions each day.

She had to continue taking daily walks with Severus even during the holidays, and she spent regularly time with Remus to watch him, while he was practising the Animagus transformation.

Perhaps, the fact that his body was used to regular transformations due to the lycanthropy, helped, and by the end of July, he already managed to transfigure his right hand into a paw.

"Congratulations, Remus," Hermione said with enthusiasm. "That was the hardest part. Now, you're going to be able to transform soon."

Maya gently licked the paw, which very much resembled her own.

You're going to be a beautiful Tsujo Shiba Inu= she then announced, and Hermione quickly translated.

"Maya, what exactly is a Tsujo Shiba Inu?" she then enquired.

He's a normal, magical dog, not an Aesculapian Shiba Inu= Maya patiently explained, and Hermione obediently relayed the information to her colleague.

On August 15, all teachers, who had spent their summer holidays elsewhere, returned to Hogwarts. Hermione was happy to have her friends back, but to her surprise, she realised that she had been so busy that she had not even missed them. Between brewing potions with Severus, helping Remus with the Animagus transformation and joining Minerva and Poppy for the meals in the Great Hall as well as regular walks with Severus, time had just flown by. With Maya being with her at all times, she had not felt alone or depressed like during the previous summer anymore.

"How was your summer?" Harry enquired, as she took the seat between him and Severus.

"Very quiet but interesting," Hermione replied, smiling. "And how was yours?"

"It was great." He lowered his voice, only to add, "Ginny and I got engaged."

"Oh, that's great. Congratulations, Harry." Hermione felt outright happy for her friends. "Did you buy her a ring?"

Harry shook his head. "No, we checked my vaults at Gringotts and took the ring, which my father gave my mother for their engagement."

"Oh, that's brilliant," Hermione admitted.

"And you?" Harry asked in a small voice. "Do you still not have a boyfriend?"

Hermione shook her head. 'He's not even a boy anymore,' she thought, only to scold her own mind vehemently. 'What am I implying? He's my master and twenty years older than me.'

"Oh, you seem so happy that I almost thought you were seeing someone," Ginny spoke up from Harry's other side.

"He'll come around and ask you," Luna commented, causing Hermione to blush fiercely.

She lightly shook her head giving Luna a warning look.

However, the small conversation with her friends during dinner that evening had the consequence that she actually considered the matter. 'I am in love with him,' she realised, feeling horrified at the idea. 'He will never feel anything for me. I am just his student, apprentice and as he calls me an insufferable know-it-all.'

It was only during the last week of August that Hermione realised just how much the professor seemed to at least appreciate her.

"We're going to have a guest this weekend," Severus informed her, just before they both retired to their own rooms on Friday evening.

"Who is it?" Hermione asked, curiously, surprised that Severus would ever willingly have someone visit him.

"It's Professor Ito from the Mirai School in Japan," Severus explained. "He was my master during the two years I studied for the Potions mastery."

"You studied in Japan?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Yes, I spent one year of my studies at the Mirai School. I only took my mastery in Potions though. Professor Ito also teaches Laser Magic, which I now find quite interesting. At that time, however, I sorely wanted to concentrate on Potions."

"Do you regret it?" Hermione enquired, sensing slight regret in his expression.

"Yes and no. Professor Ito has always invited me to come again and study Laser Magic, but due to the war and other things, so far I never got around to do so. Ever since I began working together with you and even Maya, I haven't even thought about it anymore."

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad we haven't lost you to Laser Magic," she said, warmly. "So, Professor Ito is going to come here to visit you?"

"Yes. He will arrive tomorrow morning and stay until Sunday afternoon. I will introduce you to him as my apprentice."

"Thank you, Master," Hermione replied, looking forward to meeting the Japanese Potions Master.

Professor Ito seemed strict but outright funny, and his English was very good. He allowed Severus to swiftly introduce Hermione to him, before he unexpectedly cooed over Maya.

"Oh, I see your puppy has grown big." He lifted the puppy into strong arms and cooed something that had to be Japanese, as Hermione could not understand a word.

"She is my puppy, and her name is Maya," she supplied, causing the Professor to cast Severus a surprised look.

Severus let out a deep sigh. "Originally, Professor Ito gave Maya to me with the intention that I should make her my familiar. She is a puppy of his own extremely rare breed of Aesculapian Shiba Inus. But at that time, you seemed to need a canine familiar much more than me, and I hoped that you would agree to become my apprentice anyway, so I gave her to you."

Hermione instinctively reached out, when Professor Ito handed Maya to her. Cuddling the puppy close, she said, "Thank you so much, Severus and Professor Ito. Maya has really changed my life for the better."

Professor Ito grinned. "I am glad to hear that, and I am glad that Maya-chan is in good hands with you. I hear that she has already proved her value as an Aesculapian animal?"

"Yes sir. With her help, we have managed to invent a cure for lycanthropy and heal one of our colleagues," Hermione supplied, smiling. "Thank you so very much for giving her to us. I appreciate her immensely."

"She can do great things if you let her," Ito replied, seemingly contented.

They had much fun during the weekend with Professor Ito; however, when Ito returned to Japan, Hermione suddenly realised that school was going to commence again after just a little more than a week.

'Oh no, it's really time to go over Severus' lesson plans together with him,' she thought in horror at her own tardiness. However, when she voiced her thoughts to Severus, he managed to alleviate her fears.

"We'll go through my lessons plans during this week," he promised. "Everything is completely planned, and you only have to make sure that you know everything about the recipe in question. You especially need to know what mistakes those dunderheads can make and make sure to take possible antidotes with you to the classroom. Even if Longbottom has graduated by now, there might be another dunderhead in your class."

After the Sorting of the new first-years, Severus sat at the high table on his spot between Hermione and Minerva. 'Thank Merlin, no Potters, Weasleys, Longbottoms or Malfoys,' he thought, feeling relieved at the prospect of a couple of quiet years ahead. 'Oh well, considering that I'm only going to teach the fifth through seventh years, I don't expect any bigger problems anyway.'

Severus and Hermione had agreed with Minerva that Hermione should only teach the first through fourth years, while Severus was going to oversee the older students' Potions classes, so that Hermione would have enough time to study for the mastery.

While his colleagues indulged in the delicacies of the welcoming feast, he could not prevent his thoughts from drifting off. 'I hope she'll be able to take her mastery at the end of next year, which means after two years' time, just like I did. I can't wait for our relationship to become that of two normal colleagues instead of master and apprentice. From that time onwards, I can try to summon the courage to ask her to become my wife. Oh well, if she doesn't have a boyfriend by then that is.' He unconsciously let out a deep sigh, causing Minerva and Hermione to fawn over him.

"Severus, what's wrong?"

"Is everything all right?"

Even Maya rose from her spot on Hermione's feet, put her paws onto his knees and stretched to lick his hands in apparent sympathy.

"Everything is all right; sorry, I was lost in thoughts," he quickly reassured them. 'She's a know-it-all, but I hope that she's going to be my know-it-all in the future,' he mused, before he tried hard to push all thoughts about a certain bushy haired apprentice from his mind.

If Hermione had feared that the students would not respect her considering that she was not much older than them, she realised soon that her worries were completely unfounded. Deciding to apply a completely different teaching method from how Severus had taught them, she patiently explained about the potion and its ingredients, while she displayed the recipe on the screen. When the students began to prepare the ingredients, she explained about the precise method of preparation and about the exact effect of each item within the potion. To her relief, the first through fourth years listened with obvious eagerness, before they diligently began to brew their potion, again under her tutelage.

The last afternoon class on her first day of teaching was with the fourth year Slytherins and Gryffindors, and when the class was over and everyone had brought a sample of their concoction to her desk, one of the Slytherin students spoke up.

"Professor, thank you so very much for explaining so much. This is the first time I've the impression as if I had really understood what I was doing."

"Same here."

"Absolutely."

"'t was amazing." Several students from both houses spoke up, while the others nodded their heads in obvious consent.

"Thank you all for being careful and brewing so diligently," Hermione replied, feeling absolutely delighted at the students' reaction to her teaching.

At dinnertime the same day, Dennis Creevy, a fifth year Gryffindor, approached Hermione at the high table.

"Hermione, eh, sorry, Professor Granger…"

"Hermione is all right, Dennis," Hermione replied, smiling, as she gave the boy, whom she knew well from her own time in Gryffindor, an encouraging look.

"Eh, what I wanted to ask is… will you soon teach us fifth years too? The others were all talking about the best Potions class they ever had, and just now right before the OWLs, it would be really helpful if we could understand what we're doing."

"Oh, Dennis, I am sorry, but I'm sure Professor Snape will be equally able to teach you and answer all your questions. You just have to ask him." In a small voice, only understandable to Severus and Harry who were sitting on both sides of her, she added, teasingly, "He loves being questioned."

Harry and Severus let out simultaneous snorts.

"It's true," Ginny spoke up. "The main topic in the common room between the last afternoon class and dinner was the younger students' Potions classes. Congratulations, Hermione, it seems you're in the run for the position of best teacher of the year."

"Oh, shut up," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes at her friend.

"What if you taught two classes per week for the fifth years and one each for the sixth and seventh years, where we only have one class for all four houses?" Severus suddenly suggested. "In return, I could grade some of your papers or exams if you wish."

"I believe that this is a wonderful idea," Minerva spoke up from Severus' other side.

From that time onwards, Hermione taught some classes for the older students as well and even offered for the fifth- and seventh-years a voluntary exam preparation class on Saturday mornings.

With classes as well as her own studies for the Potions mastery, Hermione was very busy; however, she loved her work and she loved brewing together with Severus. She still found time for further research on the wolvescure together with Severus and Maya, considering that the potion, which they had used to cure Remus, was not perfect due to the side effects. Remus had been able to counter the side effects by becoming an Animagus; however, they could not heal people in general demanding for them to become Animagi to make the potion efficient.

Hermione and Severus contacted Healer O'Brien, the head healer of St. Mungo's, and offered at least one variation of the wolvescure per month to the hospital. Healer O'Brien then distributed the potion to one werewolf per variation who wanted to test the new potion.

It was during the full moon at the beginning of November that the werewolf who tested one of the new variants did not transform and not have any side effects such as the flu-like symptoms. When he did not transform during the December full moon either, the new potion was officially declared as the so-called wolvescure potion.

This achievement had two effects, the first of them being that Hermione and Severus became extremely busy, as St. Mungo's and the ministry of magic wanted them to brew as many doses of the wolvescure potion as possible. The second consequence came as a complete surprise for Hermione.

During the leaving feast before Christmas, the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, came to Hogwarts. Sitting on Minerva's other side, he had dinner together with them, before he rose from his chair during the dessert.

"Dear professors, dear students, today I have come to Hogwarts to thank two of your professors and their familiar for curing many people from a bad illness. Hermione and Maya Granger as well as Severus Snape have invented the wolfscure potion, an effective remedy for lycanthropy."

"What is lycanthropy?" one of the Hufflepuffs asked.

"If someone is suffering from lycanthropy, he or she is a werewolf," Shacklebolt explained. "Over hundreds of years, potions masters have tried to find a remedy. However, until a few months ago, there was none. Therefore, this potion is a huge success, and the ministry of magic has decided to present Professors Granger, Snape and Maya Granger with the Order of Merlin first class.

"Maya?" Hermione whispered to Severus, who returned a small smile and nodded.

"She certainly deserves it."

"That's out of the question. I just didn't think it was possible," Hermione replied, before she hurriedly rose from her chair and went around the table towards Shacklebolt. Under huge applause from the students and her colleagues, she accepted the Order of Merlin. Severus did the same, before Maya obediently stepped in front of the minister of magic to receive her own medal.

"She looks even cuter in her dark blue robes with the band of the medal around her neck," Hermione whispered to Severus, who nodded his agreement.

'It's almost as if we were a couple and Maya our kid,' Hermione thought, feeling incredibly proud of her familiar. 'This is the best Christmas present after receiving Maya last year,' Hermione thought, happily. 'Severus will be delighted to finally receive some recognition.'

However, Hermione and Maya barely had time to enjoy their success, when Severus and Minerva came up with a different task for them on Christmas Eve.

At dinner in the Great Hall on Christmas Eve, Minerva addressed Hermione from Severus' other side. "Hermione, do you know about Neville's parents?"

Hermione looked up in surprise. "They're at St. Mungo's, right?" she replied in a soft voice. "Do you think Maya will be able to somehow help them?"

Severus nodded. "She might be able to help, and I believe that it won't hurt to try."

"Perhaps, we should go early tomorrow morning, before Neville and his grandmother will arrive to visit them, so that they won't get their hopes up," Minerva suggested. "I already arranged everything with Healer O'Brien, and he will be at the hospital from seven o'clock onwards."

First thing on Christmas morning, Hermione, Minerva, Severus and Maya went to St. Mungo's and asked for Healer O'Brien. To Hermione's relief, the head healer accompanied them himself and led them to a room in the long-term ward of the hospital.

'These are Neville's parents,' Hermione thought in horror, as she observed two completely unresponsive people lying in their beds. Alice was playing with what seemed to be the wrapping of a bubble gum, and Frank merely stared at the ceiling.

"Mrs. Longbottom," O'Brien addressed the woman, "three professors from Hogwarts and their doggy have come to try to cure you.

Alice looked up with apparent interest, however, still remained unresponsive. All of a sudden, Maya jumped up onto the bed and began to lick the woman's face, causing the woman to instinctively cuddle her close.

Hermione, her colleagues and the healer observed in excitement how Alice cuddled with Maya, before she slowly turned her head, appearing much more alert than before.

"My baby?" she asked, immediately. "Where's Neville?"

"Neville is fine," Hermione was the first to assure her, gently picking Maya up into her arms, as she returned to her side.

"Alice, do you remember me?" Minerva enquired.

"Minerva? Where's Neville?"

"Neville is at home with Augusta," Minerva reassured her. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Death Eaters," Alice replied, giving Severus a look of pure suspicion.

"Bellatrix Lestrange tortured you and your husband into insanity," Severus explained, "and ever since then, you've been here at St. Mungo's. Only now, Hermione's dog here was able to cure you."

"Frank?" Alice then asked.

"He's in the bed behind you," Minerva explained. "He hasn't been cured yet."

"Maya, are you tired, or do you think you can heal Frank, too?" Hermione asked in a soft voice, gently caressing her familiar's fur.

I can do that= Maya replied and dashed over to Frank's bed, probably sensing that he needed her help as well.

Ten minutes later, Frank was cured as well, and Healer O'Brien went to summon Augusta and Neville through the Floo, while everyone fawned over Maya.

"Minerva, I believe Hermione and I should return to Hogwarts with Maya. We should give our doggy hero a small dose of Pepperup potion," Severus spoke up in a soft voice, making Hermione agree immediately.

"Alice, Frank, we'll see you," Severus turned to his former classmates. "I believe that Minerva will offer you guest quarters for the time being, until you'll be able to actively participate in normal life again, considering that twelve years have passed, since you were attacked."

The Longbottoms profusely thanked them, before they were allowed to leave.

"Thank Merlin, I heard that Neville's granny is very scary," Hermione whispered, as they strode to the fireplace in the entrance hall.

"You can say that," Severus replied, smirking. "Let's floo right into my quarters, so that Maya can get some rest, before we'll need to join our colleagues for Christmas breakfast."

"Maya really is a hero," Hermione breathed, as she watched her familiar sleep on the dark green carpet in front of the fireplace.

"Just like you," Severus replied in his silky voice, as he leaned over and placed a kiss onto her cheek. "Sorry," he then uttered, "I shouldn't have done that."

Hermione's hand automatically went to the cheek in question, while her eyes widened in surprise and at the same time delight.

"Thank you," she whispered, "I liked it very much."

Severus shook his head. "I'm sorry, but you're my apprentice, and I'm your master. This was not the behaviour required from a master."

Hermione shrugged. "Does it matter, when we're alone?"

"Yes, it does. Thus, I am sorry."

'He kissed me,' Hermione inwardly cheered. "This is my best Christmas ever," she said aloud, smiling happily. She noticed that a faint smile appeared on Severus' face only to vanish again quickly.

"Saving someone from a horrible life is the best that could happen to us on Christmas morning," Severus replied, undeterredly. "I believe that it's probably time to head to the Great Hall now."

Alice and Frank indeed came to live at Hogwarts to get used to normal life twelve years into the future. Needless to say that Neville was overjoyed to have the parents he never really knew before. When the Longbottoms seemed to adjust well, Minerva offered Alice the position as the Ravenclaw head and Frank the position as the Hufflepuff head from the following school year onwards, and both happily agreed.

"It's good that we have so many young people on the staff now. It was really getting boring with all the older teachers," Severus admitted to Hermione in private one day.

"I look forward to becoming a proper teacher," Hermione replied. "I wished the mastery exam was already over, so that I can fully concentrate on teaching the students. Today, I had some of the Hufflepuffs destroy each other's potion, and I really need more time to speak with them or even assign detentions, which I can oversee myself."

"You're almost ready for the mastery exam. Why don't you take the exam in December?"

Hermione stared at her master in shock. "This December? I thought the apprenticeship was three years?"

Severus chuckled. "It is as long as you need to take the mastery exam. If you want to finish the apprenticeship faster, you can do that."

Hermione sat straighter. "Yes please. If you think that I'm able to do it, I want it. What do I have to do?"

Again, Severus chuckled. "Actually, you don't have to do anything, because I've already registered you with the ministry for the exam in December."

"You what?" Hermione stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Well, why should I bother having an apprentice, when you don't really need it? I can't wait to have my lab back just for myself to brew in peace and quiet."

Hermione realised soon that Severus never intended to have peace and quiet back in his lab. As soon as she took the mastery exam at the beginning of December, 15 months after she had begun teaching Potions at Hogwarts, he came up with several possible topics of research that obviously included her and Maya.

"Please think about which of these projects you'd prefer. Considering that you're now able to teach all Potions classes, I'm going to accept Ito's offer and visit him in Japan for a week or two."

Apparently noticing Hermione's disappointment at his words, he explained, "Ito promised me another one of his puppies, so I'm going to pick him up. I hope Maya will like some canine company."

Looking at the canine, Hermione saw that Maya eagerly waggled her tail in apparent anticipation.

"Why are you going now in the middle of the school year?"

"I trust that you don't mind stepping in for me as Head of Slytherin?" Severus replied, completely ignoring her question. "I promise that I'll be back by Christmas."

"Please see to it," Hermione replied, smiling a smile that did not really reach her eyes. "Maya and I will be waiting for you."

Hermione could not help terribly missing Severus. 'Thank Merlin, Christmas will be in less than two weeks' time and he promised to be back by then,' she thought, when she returned from the Slytherin common room, where she had spent a few minutes before curfew, just like Severus used to do.

To her surprise, Luna was comfortably sitting on the sofa in her living room, giving her a dreamy smile. "Hello Hermione, I hope you don't mind that I'm intruding, but I wish to give you my Christmas present early," she said, airily, handing her a small, rectangular package.

"Thank you, Luna," Hermione replied in surprise. "Christmas is only in ten days' time though." She cast her friend a questioning look, noticing that Maya was eagerly licking Luna's face.

"I thought you'd need it now. Just remember that Japan is nine hours ahead of Scotland, so you better don't wake him up in the middle of the night."

Intrigued, Hermione opened the package and found a small device with a photograph of Maya on one side and a screen on the other. "What's this?" she enquired, causing Luna to smile broadly.

"My newest invention. A Wiz-to-wiz. It's similar to a muggle mobile phone, but it works with magic. Let me just configure it for you." She pointed her wand consecutively at the Wiz-to-wiz, at Hermione and then back at the device, and suddenly, the screen came to life.

There was a blue button that said 'Phone.' Luna pressed the button, and the names of all her friends appeared. "The others don't have their Wiz-to-wizs yet, except for Severus. He knows that you're going to call him eventually. You can talk with him and see him on the screen, and there is the purple button called 'Message', which you can use to send him or each of the others messages. Minerva has registered the Wiz-to-wiz with the ministry and patented it for me."

Hermione hugged her friend. "Thank you so very much. This is absolutely brilliant."

Luna chuckled. "I knew you were going to miss him and would need it now. Press the blue button and say his name. Go on, call him; I'll see myself out."

Hermione hesitantly turned the Wiz-to-wiz in her hands. 'I hope he won't mind me calling him. It must be very early morning.' She hesitantly pressed the blue button and whispered his name.

An instant later, his face appeared on the screen. "Hermione?"

"Severus, sorry, am I disturbing you?" Hermione asked, unsurely.

"Of course not. So, Luna gave you a Wiz-to-wiz, too." He smirked. "How are things at home?"

"Everything's fine. I just miss you. Did you already get your doggy?"

"Yes." Severus turned the Wiz-to-wiz a bit showing her a dog that looked like the spitting image of Maya except for the colour. Where Maya was white, the dog was black.

"He looks gorgeous," Hermione said in surprise.

"This is Ninja. I hope he'll become good friends with Maya."

"I hope so, too. She's already gone to bed. It's quite late here."

They quickly finished their conversation with Severus' promise to call her during the weekend.

During the days leading up to Christmas, Hermione and Severus talked through the Wiz-to-wiz on a daily basis, and even Maya and occasionally Ninja listened in to their conversation with apparent interest.

Before Hermione realised how fast the time passed, Christmas Day arrived. 'I just hope he'll really come back today,' she thought, as she took extra care preparing her hair and her outfit for Christmas breakfast in the Great Hall.

When she entered the Great Hall with Maya obediently walking beside her, Severus was already sitting at the breakfast table with Ninja perched on his feet.

"Merry Christmas," she greeted everyone, while Maya quickly dashed around the table to greet every single person. The peace and quiet with only Christmas music as background music ended, however, when she noticed Ninja.

The two dogs immediately began a mock fight, which was loud and wild and extended over the whole Great Hall.

"Ninja is of the same age as Maya, but they are not related," Severus informed her. "Ito told me that he has two couples of parents. He also gave me a certificate, which allows you and me to breed this species of dog, which is not only very rare but his own invention. No one else is allowed to breed them till now. He advised me though to only give any puppy to a Potions master or at least someone who is absolutely trustworthy."

"Oh Merlin, that's totally amazing." Hermione stared at Severus, wide-eyed. "I'll have to write to him and thank him."

"Perhaps, we can convince Luna to sell us one of her Wiz-to-wiz devices, which we can give to him," Severus suggested, smirking.

He then sobered and rose from his chair only to kneel down next to her. Taking her hand into his own, he asked, "Hermione, will you do me the favour and become my wife?"

Before Hermione could even realise what he meant, he added, "I have the permission from your parents to hold on for your hand."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "My parents?" she asked, incredulously.

"Your parents. Yes." Severus smirked.

"How did you manage to ask them? They don't even know about me?" Hermione enquired, trying to remain calm.

"Oh, I have my ways. I'm not a Slytherin for nothing," Severus replied, grinning. "Would you like to meet them?"

Hermione almost growled, impatiently. "Of course, but I can't go to Australia. I'm a wanted criminal over there."

"You don't have to go to Australia. They're here."

"What?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"Ninja, please go and fetch the Grangers," Severus instructed his familiar, who then dashed towards the door to the antechamber, raised his paw and opened the door.

Hermione stared in shock, as two familiar figures followed the canine into the Great Hall and towards the breakfast table, where they took the seats opposite of her and Severus.

"Mum? Dad?" she asked, incredulously.

"Hermione, my dear. I am so sorry for what we did for you back in Australia. We just didn't know," her mother addressed her.

"I know. It was my fault," Hermione replied like in a daze. 'This all seems just like a dream. How in the world…' She was brought back to reality, when Severus took her hand and repeated his earlier question.

"Would you do me the favour to become my wife?"

"Yes," she replied, swiftly. "Of course." She instinctively leaned over, and Severus pulled her into a long kiss.

"Congratulations to your engagement." Minerva was the first to speak, before she asked a house-elf to bring champagne for a proper engagement party.

"Hermione, why doesn't the snow reach the ground?" her mother suddenly asked, pointing to the two large enchanted Christmas trees beside the high table.

"That's a charm," Hermione explained, before she introduced her parents to each of her colleagues and friends.

Breakfast was happy and funny and lasted the whole morning. Only when it ended, several of her colleagues went to look for Christmas presents under the Christmas trees, which they then distributed to everyone.

Suddenly, a huge banner covered the opposite side of the Great Hall.

'Congratulations, Hermione and Severus!
Merry Christmas!'

'This is the happiest day of my life,' Hermione thought, feeling delighted beyond belief.

The End.

Merry Christmas!