Chapter Five: The first of September

(i) Thank you for the kind reviews. I'm really pleased to hear your opinion of the story.

(ii) The characters and world of Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this, just endless enjoyment.

(iii) And last, but by no means least, a big thank you to my lovely beta, Chelsea.

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The first of September that year dawned on a Wednesday. Bill had been dispatched to ride the Hogwarts Express with the incoming students while everyone else rushed around double-checking that everything was perfectly prepared. There was an air of anticipation and excitement in the castle; Minerva had smiled brightly over breakfast before dashing off to speak to the house-elves. Even Professor Snape, who generally seemed so calm and collected, appeared distracted. Hermione began to realise that this would be a very important year for Hogwarts, given the many changes that the headmaster was instituting.

As twilight approached, Hermione made her way down to the Great Hall. She had taken more care than usual with her appearance, donning a pretty green robe with a wide square neck adorned with delicate golden thread work. She had even taken the trouble to apply a coat of mascara and lip gloss, something she hardly ever bothered to do. Today, however, Hermione wanted to look mature and authoritative in her new position.

Seated beside her was Professor Tonks, dressed in the sombre black robes of mourning. Andromeda had a kindly, friendly disposition, and though she looked so much like her sister Bellatrix, Hermione was surprised to find that it did not send her into terrified convulsions. Hermione supposed that it was because the two women had completely different personalities. It helped too, mused Hermione that Andromeda had kind, soft eyes and light brown hair that was styled in a very modern, indeed, Muggle way. Given that the pureblood witch was teaching Muggle Studies, Hermione thought that it was an excellent point, subtly made, and testimony to the witch's Slytherin background.

Even her conversation was comforting, thought Hermione as she listened to Andromeda chatting quietly away about how pleasant it was to have house-elves to help with Teddy. In response, Hermione spoke of her plans to use her coming year to prepare for her NEWTs in Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures and to take on the newer electives being taught.

Soon enough, the returning students filled the Great Hall, taking their places at the House tables. From the distance of the Head table, Hermione looked out onto the many faces and felt a great pang of loss as she saw the empty spaces at the Gryffindor table. It felt strange to be at the opening feast without Harry and Ron. She tried to catch Ginny's eye, but failed in her task as the youngest Weasley did not turn to look up at the Head table. Hermione tried to cling to her hope that she and Ginny would be able to spend time together but knew deep in her heart that she and Ginny had never had anything in common. They were friends due to convenience and circumstance, not interest.

As Hermione continued to ponder over the changes wrought by the Battle of Hogwarts, Minerva brought in the group of nervous-looking first years. As they gaped in awe at the enchanted ceiling and the colourful house banners on the walls, the Sorting Hat was placed on the stool.

The hat spun around to look at the first years, then looked out over to the other students before opening its brim wide and beginning to sing.

"This year I sing of hope and joy

Lie in the hands of lion, eagle, badger and snake."

As the hat finished its song, Hermione mused over the words. She realised that it had once again sung about unity. Every year, its message was the same: unite or face calamity.

While Hermione was thinking, Minerva led the disorderly group of first years forward. As Zara Amirally became the first Ravenclaw, Hermione looked at the students seated below her. Were we really that small? she thought. She wondered if they would heed the hat's message as she then turned her attention to the Head table. She thought about Professor Snape and pondered the complexity that was the man. He had worked hard to protect the students even as Death Eaters prowled the corridors of Hogwarts, and yet, he had never really shown open affection as other teachers had done. She wondered what the coming year held for them all. Hermione realised that, although she had spent the last month in the relatively intimate circle of Hogwarts' staff, Professor Snape had remained distant, albeit civil and polite. As she thought over his behaviour, she realised that the taciturn man only seemed to soften in the presence of Minerva and Filius. Others were met with a formality that belied their long years of association. Glancing around the Hall once more, Hermione saw the sorting was nearly over, with Polly Yaxley being the last student sorted into Slytherin.

The sorting over, Minerva removed the hat and the stool. Once Minerva took her place at the Head table, Professor Snape stood up. He was dressed in his customary black robes, but these were of the finest spider silk, with satin Slytherin green piping round the cuffs and collar. He cut a starkly authoritative and powerful figure, very different from the one Dumbledore had made while standing on this very same spot. Hermione was unable to take her eyes off Professor Snape. This was the first time she had seen him occupying Dumbledore's throne-like seat, for over the holidays the staff had sat around a large table in a much more informal manner. She wondered how hard it must have been over the last year to carry on, knowing that others believed him to be a murderer and a traitor even as he worked to bring about the success of Dumbledore's plans. Hermione had always admired and respected Professor Snape; she had known of his brilliant mind and his outstanding bravery, but tonight, watching him, her admiration increased significantly.

As Professor Snape stood looking down upon the student body, a hush descended on the hall.

Hermione, once again, was struck by the fear and power Professor Snape exuded by merely standing and staring out at students, both new and old.

As the silence intensified, Severus thought about what he should say. He realised that his words needed to be short, but he wanted to express his desire for a new start. Thus, he said, "Welcome students, new and old, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Today is the start of a new year and a new beginning for us all. Enjoy the feast."

As Severus sat down, the feast appeared. The students, who seemed famished, began to tuck in hungrily.

Hermione, who had begun to grow accustomed to Hogwarts cuisine, was struck once again by its sheer quality and quantity. The house-elves had once again outdone themselves for the opening feast. Into Hermione's musings came the harsh, rough sound of Sybil Trelawney's gasp. As Hermione quickly glanced to her right, she saw Professor Trelawney, frozen as she reached for the bowl of roast potatoes. Into the now sudden silence, Trelawney recited,

"If snake and lion are entwined,

Oh my goodness, thought Hermione. That was a prophecy. Trelawney just made another prophecy.

Hermione was not the only shocked listener. The entire Head table, as well as most of the students sitting in the front rows, had heard the pronouncement. Immediately, there was much discussion and twittering among both the staff and the students.

Hermione turned once more to look at Professor Snape. That the prophecy was about him was unquestionable, for it had mentioned the Head, but who could the lion be, she wondered. Hermione was not the only one. Minerva seemed to be pondering the words of the prophecy closely, too.

However, watching the students gossip about what they had heard, Hermione's immediate reaction was one of anger and pity. She felt sorry for the headmaster. He had been working so hard, and this pronouncement was making a mockery of him on the very first evening. Hermione tried desperately to catch Ginny's eye to curb the uproarious and inappropriate laughter emanating from Gryffindor table at the expense of Professor Snape, but she was once again unsuccessful.

Once the feast ended, Hermione quickly made her way to the Gryffindor table. She wanted to do her best to curb the rumours that were bound to follow as students wrote home to inform their parents and friends of what had taken place.

The senior boys were joking about, and Hermione listened as Dean snorted, "Well, we all knew Snape needed a good shag. Maybe this will finally let him have one, so that he can stop being such a bastard."

Hermione felt annoyance flare up inside her. "Really, Dean, don't you realise that for the last twenty years, he was a spy? Professor Snape had to act like he hated all of us and that he favoured the children of the Death Eaters to keep his cover."

Dean seemed to accept this and nodded, but Ginny said, "You may be right, 'Mione, but he still has to shag a Gryffindor. Can you imagine one of us touching the Greasy Git? Yuck."

This hurt Hermione for some reason. She knew that she was no beauty either, but she felt that if she ever found love, outward physical appearance wouldn't really matter. Besides, Ron hadn't seemed to mind how she looked when he'd tried so hard to get into her knickers. Looking hard at Ginny, she said, "It is none of your business who the Gryffindor is. Since the prophecy spoke about it being true love, the person it speaks of won't have a problem with fulfilling his desires."

Ginny grinned viciously. "Sounds like you care, 'Mione."

"Of course I care," replied Hermione hotly. "We are all alive; we are all able to be here because of the sacrifices that man made. It's the least I can do." Then, suddenly realising that she was no longer a student, but part of the staff, she said, "Right, you lot, off to bed, now."

As the students grumbled, gossiped and returned to their common rooms, the staff gathered in the staff room. Hermione listened as wild speculations were made, until Minerva said, "Who the woman in the prophecy is, is none of our concern. We don't know when these events are going to take place. We have more important things to worry about than Severus' love life, like running this school."

Feeling chastised, the staff all ambled off to their chambers. It was only then, once Minerva was sure that everyone was abed, that she made her way to the headmaster's office. She knew Severus would be awake and probably waiting for her.

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What a bloody farce, was Severus' thought at hearing the prophecy. He had just spent the better part of twenty years in misery because of one, and now, when he was finally free to make his own decisions and live his own life, along came another. Severus could, however, not deny that this prophecy was specifically about him, as he was the head of Hogwarts.

When Minerva entered, Severus was not surprised. "I knew you would turn up," he said bluntly.

"Of course, I would come," said Minerva. "Severus, do you know whom and what the prophecy spoke off?"

"Don't tell me you didn't understand," said Severus snidely. "Obviously, it spoke of me and some twice-cursed Gryffindor. As if any woman will want to have anything to do with me, especially after Potter announced to the world that I was still pining for his long-dead mother."

"Oh, Severus," said Minerva.

Severus scoffed. "I know what I'm like, woman. I don't do well in relationships. The only woman I ever loved, who happened to be a lion, was Lily, and she is dead. The prophecy is a load of bollocks."

"Not necessarily," said Minerva gently. "If you think carefully about Lily and remember all of the things you loved about her, you'd realise that, although Lily is gone, another much like her takes her place today."

"What on earth are you on about?" asked Severus briskly.

"Are you so oblivious, Severus?" said Minerva gently. "To me, it is blatantly obvious. The woman the prophecy spoke of is Miss Granger. No one is more like Lily than she is. Muggle-born, gifted...indeed, more gifted than Lily ever was. For Lily never did work as hard, or care as much, or display as much Gryffindor courage, true understanding and compassion and grace under fire."

Severus was appalled. His face contorted in rage, and he said in a voice soft and low, "Surely, Minerva, you are not suggesting that I seduce or make advances towards a student? I may be many things, but a paedophile I am not."

Minerva chuckled. "Really, Severus. What I merely meant is that you should not dismiss the prophecy out of hand. Hermione is eighteen and technically an adult. Besides, would it not instead be prudent to get to know the girl, especially since she is now a member of staff and a graduate who is merely taking electives?"

Severus shook his head. "Minerva, you are delusional. Do you think I would even consider getting to know the Gryffindor Princess in that manner? Are you so ready to throw your precious student to the wolves? You know what kind of man I am, the things I had to do while under the auspices of the Dark Lord. They were called Dark Revels for a reason. Besides, even if I did make a play for her, she would not look at me. I know what the students think of me."

"You may be surprised," said Minerva. "Miss Granger is a smart young woman and a strong one. There is a hidden depth to her, a core of strength that can never be satisfied unless intellectually matched. She is enthusiastic about learning, is passionate about potions and wants to spend the rest of her days at Hogwarts, taking on one apprenticeship after another. She is so like you in her thirst for knowledge and her love of reading that it is startling. Really, Severus, can't you see she's ideal? We must heed the prophecy: Anguish, loss and heartache follow...."

Severus scoffed again. "When has my life not been filled with anguish, loss and heartache? I've never known anything else."

"That may be," said Minerva heartlessly, "but you are consigning the same on a young woman who still does not realise that the prophecy rests upon her. If you care nothing for yourself, think of her, think of the future of Hogwarts."

Defeated, Severus sighed. "I shall think about it."

At Minerva's wide smile, Severus shook his index finger at her and cautioned with a glare, "Only think about it, Minerva! Please don't get overly excited. And for Merlin's sake, woman, don't go blabbering in the staff room about this. Let no one know that the lion is Miss Granger. We've got enough trouble with the gossip this prophecy is sure to cause than to have people speculating about my love life. If they attribute a partner for me, one who has just graduated and returned as a teaching assistant, the school's reputation will plummet. All our hard work to bring about a curriculum change will melt into oblivion as the Board of Governors takes umbrage over this issue."

"Of course, Severus," placated Minerva. "Not a word. I promise. I'm just glad you're going to think about it."

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