Hermione
Chapter Three
Hermione
She was back. After five years, she was finally back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This time, she wasn't a student; she was a professor. Scotland had always been beautiful but the castle was especially breathtaking when it was quiet.
Not having to worry about students just yet Hermione took her time as she made the trek from Hogsmeade to the castle. The clouds were heavy with rain and the wind jostled her around as she walked. She had placed feather light charms and shrinking spells on her bag and suitcase but Crooks' weight was wearing on her. As she neared the castle she saw Minerva waiting at the entrance.
"Welcome back, Hermione," McGonagall smiled. "It's so good to see you dear."
"It's good to be back, Professor," Hermione grinned. "It's been a while."
"Yes, it has, but I'm glad you're here. Having you here at the castle will be a great boon."
Hermione smiled. "I'm glad to be here."
McGonagall led Hermione through the castle and up to the staff rooms so she could have a chance to settle in. Hermione's quarters were next to Neville's on the third floor and she was glad to see that he would be close by. It would be nice to catch up with him and have someone to chat with on tough days. The stormy weather made the castle feel drafty and Hermione thought about running to Hogsmeade tomorrow to gather some warmer jumpers and perhaps a woolen blanket or two as the season would only get colder.
Hermione began unpacking her things as Crooks meandered through his new home. She pulled her potions kit out of the bag and piece by piece she walked it to the office area she had next to her kitchen. All of her current research went on the desk and she conjured a workbench for ingredients as she collected then. She would have to talk to Neville and see if he'd be willing to allow her grow space in the greenhouses. Her photographs of her friends went on the shelf with her book collection, the picture of her parents she hung on the wall. After she got Crooks settled with a tin of cat food she went to find Neville.
Wandering the castle she remembered the way mostly by instinct. Hermione found herself smiling as she was surrounded by the space where she made so many of her memories with her friends. She found Neville sitting in the great hall with Luna. They were both smiling and combing through a book together. The great hall was otherwise quiet, only a few members of the faculty were roaming around. Hermione cleared her throat, and Neville and Luna turned to look at her.
"Hi there, Hermione," Neville got up and embraced her. "It's good to see you."
"You too, Neville," Hermione grinned "And you Luna."
"Hello, Hermione," Luna smiled at her "It's nice to see you again."
"I'm glad to be back," Hermione looked over at the book they were studying. "It's been a while, what are you reading?"
"It has," Neville sat back down. "But it's good to have you back. We were just reading through the new edition of care of magical creatures. They added in an extra chapter on the effects of the mature mandrake versus the juvenile."
"That sounds fascinating!" Hermione's eyes sparkled at the idea of new information. "I'll have to pick up a copy."
"You can borrow mine when Neville's done with it if you like. Luna smiled. "I've read it twice already."
"That would be lovely, thank you Luna!"
The three of them talked for a while, before Hermione excused herself to go to bed for the evening. She was tired from her journey and wanted to get a good night's sleep before she started on her lesson planning for the year. As she lay down in her sparsely decorated quarters Hermione's mind spun. She had much to do before she'd be ready for classes next week.
The next morning, Hermione woke up early and got ready for the day. Deciding against making tea in her rooms she went down to the Great Hall for breakfast where she saw Neville and Luna already there. They waved to her and invited her to sit down with them. The table conjured tea and toast for her as she sat down.
"Good morning," Hermione grinned while stirring honey and a bit of milk into her tea.
"Good morning, Hermione," Neville said. "Any plans for the day?"
"I think I'll get started on lesson planning and then maybe a trip to Hogsmeade or I'll walk the castle grounds to make sure I remember the layout as well as I think I do." Hermione laughed. "How about the two of you?"
"We're lesson planning as well." Neville gestured to Luna "Maybe we could work together in the library like an old study session before the students get here?"
"That sounds lovely, I would love that." Luna agreed in her usual dreamy voice. "I have to take care of some things but we can meet at the library in an hour if that works?"
"That sounds perfect, see you then Luna." Neville said, his eyes tracking Luna as she exited the room.
Oblivious Hermione buttered her toast "I haven't seen you in an age Neville! How was your summer?"
Blinking back to the present Neville smiled. "It was lovely Hermione, how was yours?"
They made small talk for a few minutes before Neville said goodbye and Hermione was left to eat her breakfast alone with the prophet.
Hermione was walking down the hallway intent on finding Neville and Luna for their planning session when she turned a corner and saw them snogging in an alcove. She was so surprised that she froze before quickly backing up. She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help but overhear part of their conversation.
"I've been thinking about you a lot lately," Neville whispered into her neck. "I missed you so much this summer."
"I missed you too Neville." Luna sighed. Her eyes closed in contentment.
Embarrassed at having overhead something so personal Hermione spun on her heel as she turned the corner and ran. She glanced quickly behind her to be sure they hadn't seen her eavesdropping. Relieved they didn't seem to be following her she took a deep steadying breath, abandoning the idea of lesson planning and turned the next corner where she ran directly into the chest of an ill tempered Severus Snape.
Strong arms shot out, steadying her as she wobbled on her feet, eyes wide. Muttering curses Severus sighed. "Are you quite finished accosting my person Ms. Granger?"
Hermione looked up at Severus Snape. He stood there, his strong hands grasped her by the elbows keeping her upright. Blinking repeatedly as if he would disappear between one second and the next she nodded dumbstruck.
Something about his face was younger than the last time she saw him, which didn't make any sense. He was taller than she remembered, having to tilt her head up to look at him. His hair still shiny and his eyes were as dark and as cold as they'd always been. Although he didn't seem impressed with their unexpected embrace he didn't have the cruel twist to his mouth she remembered.
Snape pushed his arms outward, moving his hands up Hermione's arms to grasp her by the shoulders and push her away from his person as much as possible. "Watch where you're going, Ms. Granger," he said gruffly.
Hermione was still so shocked to see Snape alive and in Hogwarts that she couldn't speak. She just stared at him.
"What are you doing here?" she finally managed to ask. Fingers reaching up towards his face on instinct. "Are you a Hogwarts ghost now?"
"I'm the new potions professor," Snape rolled his eyes. Brushing her hand away. "I assume you're here as a professor now as well?"
Hermione was stunned. She had never thought that Snape would be a professor at Hogwarts again. He had always been so bitter and hateful. More recently, he'd been dead. Hadn't he?
"But I thought you were dead," Hermione said finally voicing her thoughts.
"Apparently so did the world. Hogwarts, it seems, had other plans." Abruptly he turned and strode off his black cloak billowing behind him.
Severus Snape was alive. Alive and would be working with her as a professor at Hogwarts. How had Minerva not mentioned this? Did the other professors know? Neville? Luna?
With a deep breath Hermione immediately stalked towards Headmistress Mcgonagall, determined to get some answers.
Minerva answered Hermione's knock and bid her to come in. Seeing her former professor sitting at her desk working on whatever paperwork was the most urgent at the moment. Probably going over any last minute acceptance letters.
"Headmistress I'm worried I'm seeing ghosts. Is Severus Snape alive and a professor here at Hogwarts again?" Hermione's voice got more shrill as she asked. She had no idea how to take any of this.
Mcgonagall looked up, an astonished look on her face before she dropped her head in her hands, her shoulders slumped.
"I knew something had escaped my mind during your orientation. Whatever it could have been has been eating away at me, I apologize for the oversight Hermione." Minerva stood.
Hermione dropped into the chair across from Mcgonagall, disbelief plain on her face. "You mean to tell me Severus Snape is not only alive but has been here at Hogwarts this entire time?" Hermione all but shrieked. She took a deep breath, trying to center herself in her newfound reality.
"Not exactly." Minerva winced slightly. "I know you are aware of the strange magic surrounding the history of Hogwarts. Your own time here was quite fraught with it." She sat down in the seat next to Hermione, placing her hand over hers. "Severus has been restored by the castle. His body was placed in some kind of stasis charm. We don't know how it came to be but on this last anniversary of the battle of Hogwarts he appeared in the shrieking shack not knowing time had passed or where he had been. While he was in the stasis though the years seemed to have a reverse effect. He's de-aged about 5 years while the rest of us continued on."
Hermione's eyes widened with each revelation Minerva entrusted to her. "You mean to tell me he's been here for months and no one has thought to mention it? How has he been here without the world finding out?"
"Dear, he has requested to not be made into a spectacle." Minerva sighed." He knows his quiet is coming to an end. He's agreed to help us fill the gap in our faculty now that Horace has refused to sign on for another year. In exchange we agreed to keep his existence a secret among the castle residents until the day before students begin to arrive."
Hermione nodded. Knowing what she knew about Snape the fact that he would want peace and quiet for as long as possible made sense.
"Who found him?"
Hermione's gears were turning. Minerva said he was in a stasis. If only she could look into the charm, replicating such magic could have lasting effects on the wizarding world. Maybe she could talk to whoever found him and gather any details about what he'd experienced.
"He saw the memorial service and waited until nightfall before making his way here. Hogwarts recognized him as headmaster and allowed him entry." Minerva sighed. "Other than that, it is not my story to tell. If you'd like any other details you can discuss them with Severus."
Nodding Hermione thanked Minerva and walked numbly to her quarters. Hogwarts had always had a way with magic. It was strange to think the castle could hold life within it's walls for years. Finishing her nighttime routine with hot tea she picked up Crooks and went to bed with her mind spinning.