Change of Season

A/N: Thanks to those who have reviewed! I'm glad you're still enjoying the story ...

Chapter 6 – Change of Season

On the afternoon of September first, Hermione waited anxiously for the boys and Ginny to arrive. She had briefly entertained hopes that she would be able to join the boys for this last trip on the Hogwarts Express, but had quickly realized that Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was simply too chaotic to be safe.

So, she just waited at Hogwarts, and as she waited, she thought about whether she ought to tell the boys about Percy. She felt odd keeping such a huge secret from them, but she suspected that Ron would explode at the mere suggestion that anyone in his family might be on the wrong side of the war. Harry's reaction might be more measured, unless, of course, he discovered the source of her information.

So, perhaps she wouldn't tell them anything about Percy or Snape.

At last, Hermione heard the whistle signaling the train's arrival at Hogsmeade Station, and a short while later, the carriages began arriving with all the returning students. Fortunately, Ron, Harry, and Ginny arrived in one of the first carriages, with Luna and Neville right behind. After a round of hugs and excited greetings, they headed into the Great Hall for the Sorting.

Soon after they found their seats, the din of excited voices died down as Professor McGonagall led the firsties in. Hermione, looking at their young, apprehensive faces, wondered if she and her friends had ever been that young and innocent. They had seen so much in the six years they had spent here that their own sorting felt like it had occurred lifetimes ago, or perhaps to someone else entirely.

Sitting with Harry, Ron, and Ginny, Hermione dutifully listened to the Sorting Hat's song, then watched as the newest witches and wizards joined their assigned Houses, cheering loudly for the additions to Gryffindor House. Between, they whispered amongst themselves about the happenings of the past month and the latest gossip Ginny had heard on the Hogwarts Express.

Eventually, after the feast had begun, Harry asked quietly, "Hermione, has there been any progress on identifying the traitor to the Order?"

"I haven't been informed of any new developments," Hermione responded cautiously. She gave the other two an apprehensive look. The last thing she needed, she thought, was for Ginny or Ron to find out that their brother was suspect. She awkwardly tried to change the subject, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "Are you prepared for your private lessons with Snape?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I guess so. Dumbledore seems pretty adamant that it's necessary."

"It won't be so bad," Hermione consoled. "Professor Snape's really all right when there's no one else around. Or at least, he was actually rather pleasant this summer when I was working on my independent study."

Harry looked skeptical. "He's a git, Hermione. Always has been, always will be."

"He's not," Hermione said mildly, but not wanting to have the same old argument again, she didn't press the issue. Harry's expression said clearly that he didn't want to hear it, anyway, so she focused on the facts that he might actually hear. "In any event, he has knowledge that you need if you're going to defeat You-Know-Who, so you really have to try to control your temper and show him some respect, Harry. It's important."

"I know, I know," Harry said. "Let's talk about something else, please."

"Hermione, guess who was really disappointed that you weren't taking the Hogwarts Express this year?" Ginny broke in, looking and sounding like she was bursting with a secret.

"Who?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Oi, Ginny, get over it," Ron said. "Hermione's not gonna care that Percy was asking where she was."

"Percy?" Hermione asked, trying to hide her dismay. "Percy was asking where I was?"

"Yeah," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "He was threatening to come visit soon, too. Wanted us to let him know when the first Hogsmeade weekend is – said he's gonna owl you to arrange a date."

Hermione felt the color drain from her face as she tried to suppress her panic. Harry said, "I don't know what makes him think Hermione wants to date him." Feeling like she was about to start hyperventilating, Hermione stole a glance at the Head Table. Snape caught her eye, frowning in apparent concern. She gave a slight shake of her head and looked away, but she felt his thoughtful gaze on her for the next several minutes.

Forcing her attention back to the conversation her friends were having, she found Ginny was defending Percy to Harry and Ron. "Maybe she does. He's not that bad, is he?"

"Yes, he is," Ron said. "Don't worry, 'Mione, we'll help you get out of it."

Hermione shuddered. If they only knew.

Snape watched Miss Granger laughing and talking with her friends. Other than that single moment, when she had looked momentarily panicked, she seemed to be enjoying herself. He couldn't quite suppress the satisfaction he felt at the realization that her instinct, when frightened, was to look to him to help her calm herself.

In the last few weeks, despite his stern admonitions to himself, he had found himself relaxing his guard more and more readily around Miss Granger. He couldn't resist the desire to store away happy memories of this time with her before he was forced to revert to the nasty, biased professor she had known for the previous six years.

Still, perhaps there was a way to continue spending time with her outside the classroom. Narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, he decided to speak with Albus about it. Perhaps Miss Granger would be interested in continued independent study. After all, there were other curses and hexes that might do well with a prophylactic potion ...

After the feast had concluded and the Prefects had led the new students to their dormitories, Hermione and Terry Boot, as Head Girl and Head Boy, set off together for a meeting with Dumbledore and the four Heads of House. They arrived at the gargoyle ten minutes early, and chatted idly about the Sorting as they waited.

At precisely the appointed time, the gargoyle admitted them, and Dumbledore greeted them at the door to his office. He got right down to business, quickly outlining their duties. Most of these weren't unexpected; they had both worked with previous Head Girls and Boys as prefects during the past two years.

Hermione had to force herself to pay attention, as she found her gaze constantly drifting to the corner of the room where Professor Snape stood. He was observing quietly, seemingly watching her, and Hermione wondered if she would have an opportunity to interact with him at all now that the castle was brimming with students.

Eventually, the meeting wound down and Hermione rose to leave. However, before she even managed a step toward the door, Dumbledore said, "Miss Granger, Severus, if you would both remain for a moment, there's something else I'd like to discuss."

After bidding everyone else good night, Hermione reclaimed her seat and waited until they had all left the room. When the door closed behind them, Dumbledore said, "Hermione, Professor Snape tells me that your independent study is complete, but for some aging of the resulting potion."

"Yes, sir."

"Very good," Dumbledore said. "I shall speak with Hagrid about getting appropriate test subjects. I suspect he'll need some time to come around to the idea."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, sir."

"Now, Professor Snape feels that your experimental potion has a good chance of success. Is that not so, Severus?"

"Yes, I do. " Snape said simply.

"It occurs to me that there may be other hexes and curses that may be amenable to prophylactic potion use, or perhaps there may be a way to develop a single potion to protect against multiple hexes, curses, and jinxes. Would you be interested in working on such a project with Professor Snape, Hermione? He has agreed that, should this proceed as he expects, he will credit the hours spent on this project toward an Apprenticeship, should you decide to pursue a Potions Mastery after finishing school."

Hermione tried to contain her excitement, but couldn't quite manage it. "That's a brilliant idea, sir! I would be honored and – and thrilled to undertake such a task."

"All right, then, I'll expect you to work out a reasonable schedule and plan between you, then." He smiled, looking very pleased. "Good night, both of you. Severus, you will ensure that Miss Granger arrives safely at her quarters?"

"Of course," Snape replied smoothly.

As they walked toward Gryffindor Tower, their footsteps echoed loudly in the otherwise silent corridors. After a moment, Snape asked quietly, "What upset you earlier?"

Although she was surprised by the question, Hermione didn't pretend not to understand what he meant. She said, "It was nothing, really, sir."

He said, "The look on your face, then and now, suggests otherwise."

She glanced at him, then decided she may as well tell him. "It's just ... apparently Percy was looking for me rather keenly at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Ron and Ginny said he told them he was going to owl me for a date at the first Hogsmeade weekend."

Snape glanced at her. "Ah," he said. "We will have to discuss this further, then."

She smiled. "Well, on the positive side, Ron has promised to help me get out of it."

"You didn't tell him of our suspicions, did you?" Snape asked, sounding alarmed.

"Of course not. He'd hardly be speaking to me if I had. No, he just thinks Percy is a pompous arse, so ..." She felt her cheeks grow warm, realizing what she had just said, and to whom. "Sorry, sir," she murmured awkwardly.

To her surprise, Snape chuckled. "It's all right. Percy Weasley is a pompous arse. If only that were his worst fault ..."

Hermione laughed quietly with Snape. As they reached the portrait guarding her quarters, she turned to face Snape. "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for arranging for me to continue my independent study." She paused, then said, "I don't think I would like it if I only got to see you in class or in the Great Hall."

His expression was enigmatic as he leaned down to whisper in her ear, so quietly that she barely heard him, "Neither would I, Miss Granger." Straightening, he said in a more formal tone, "Good night, Miss Granger."

Quote from HBP: "She gave the other two an apprehensive look."