Flights of Fancy

Chapter One

~ Granger ~

Hermione sits in the Great Hall eating breakfast while listening to Ginny talk on and on about an upcoming Quidditch match, wondering how on earth she can miss the boys so much, when it sounds as if they never left. She gives a small sigh as Ginny begins talking season statistics and picks up a piece of bacon to munch on.

I miss my boys, she thinks sadly.

Harry and Ron are some of the few who decided not to return to take their N.E.W.T.s.

Due to the stress of the war and the final battle, most of last year's seventh year students didn't take their finals. In an effort to get things back to normal, Hogwarts had invited all those who were interested to return for a semester. They are to attend normal, seventh year classes, and then, at Christmas break, they will take their N.E.W.T.s.

Hermione, of course, did not even hesitate to send off her acceptance of the offer, and she was only mildly surprised when the boys laughed in her face and told her they would not be joining her. Harry had already been accepted into the Auror training program, despite not finishing school. Though Hermione was disappointed, she had expected no less.

Who would turn away the boy that saved the Wizarding world?

Ron was also offered a place, but he turned it down, saying he'd had enough fighting for a lifetime. Instead, he chose to take up working with George at the joke shop. Hermione remembers him telling her that, after seeing so many people dying, or crying, he just wanted to see people laugh.

She understands their decision not to return to Hogwarts, but it had still hurt to find out that she would be returning alone. When she had said as much to Ginny, the fiery redhead had boxed her on the ear.

"Aye! Thanks for that. Glad to hear how you really feel," Ginny joked.

"Oh, you know what I mean! I've never really been without the boys before... and after a year on the run, sleeping in the same tent, it is going to be strange without them."

Ginny had nodded sadly and wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you so busy, you'll be asking, 'Harry who?'"

Hermione is pulled out of her thoughts by Ginny nudging her arm.

"If my Quidditch talk was boring you, all you had to do was speak up," she smiles. "Now we need to head out, or we'll be late for Transfiguration."

"No, sorry. I'm just feeling a little sad this morning," Hermione says, standing up.

"Missing our boys?"

"Just a bit."

"I know. Me too."

On their way out of the Great Hall, Hermione notices Lavender staring at her, a mysterious smile on her face.

That can't be good.

"The harpy's staring at me," Hermione mutters to Ginny.

"She really holds a grudge, doesn't she?" Ginny laughs.

"It's not funny! I'm not used to being so openly disliked."

"Oh, really? So I suppose all those years of Malfoy taunting you were just foreplay?"

"By people in my own house, I mean," Hermione explains, trying not to blush at the thought of foreplay with Draco Malfoy.

"Well, I think you should stop worrying about it. What is she going to do?" Ginny asks as they round the corner of the Transfiguration hallway. "If anything, I say you should piss her off more."

"Why and how would I do that?"

"Because it would be funny, and by dating my brother, of course."

"Ginny," Hermione groans, "how many times must I tell you I am not interested in Ron that way? In fact, how many times must I tell him? He is my friend, and that is all. I don't want to mess that up."

"Blah, blah, blah. I know."

As they walk through the door of their classroom, Aberforth Dumbledore, the new Transfiguration instructor, greets them. He has taken over for McGonagall since there is no way for her to manage both teaching duties and her headmistress duties.

"Why, if it isn't one third of the Golden Trio!" he booms loudly at Hermione. "Good morning, my dear."

"Good morning," she says, having to fight to keep from frowning.

She hates all of the attention the teachers bestow upon her. No one treats her like plain old Hermione Granger, the know-it-all, anymore. Instead, they fawn and fuss over Hermione Granger, the war heroine who helped defeat Lord Voldemort.

That's a lie, she corrects herself, not everyone treats me like that.

Severus Snape doesn't treat her any differently than he has in the past while he was so deeply undercover. Whereas some students complain, saying he doesn't need to play his part anymore, Hermione finds his behavior comforting. His complete indifference keeps her down to earth and makes her strive even harder to garner any type of positive reaction out of him.

Just like the old days.

She has always had a high level of respect for Professor Snape...well, except for that year when she thought he murdered Professor Dumbledore in cold blood. Her respect for him has only grown since his true loyalties were revealed. She sees him as the true war hero, much more so than she sees herself. She views him right up there at the top, with Harry, and truly believes they would have lost if not for his sacrifices and hard work.

During her first day back to Hogwarts, Hermione had tried to approach him to apologize for leaving him in the Shrieking Shack.

"We thought you were dead," she whispered.

"I would expect no less of someone with your magical capabilities," he had sneered. "If only you would have had a book with you to give you the answer."

"Sir, I am so deeply sorry."

"I do not require your apology, Miss Granger. I had adequately prepared for that outcome. My body was pumped full of anti-venom and Blood-Replenisher. I did not need any further assistance. Now, go. Leave me in the peace I have surely earned," Professor Snape demanded.

Hermione and Ginny sit near the fire in the Gryffindor common room, with their books out after a long day of classes, trying to study, that is, Hermione is trying to study while Ginny complains about the Potions master.

"I mean, really! Three feet of parchment on how to properly brew yesterday's potion because Neville messed up? It's really not fair. My potion was fine," Ginny pouts.

"Your potion was twice as thick as it should have been," Hermione reminds her.

"Shut it. Whose side are you on?" Ginny jokes.

"I'm on the side of your education. If you want to do well on your N.E.W.T.s, you'll have to work harder."

"I have a whole extra semester after you take yours...I'll be fine. I think," the redhead mumbles, paging through her potion book.

"I'm going to go upstairs and read for a bit," Hermione tells her, gathering her things.

"What the bloody hell were you just doing?"

"I'm going to read for fun, that is."

Ginny shakes her head, not understanding Hermione's thirst for the written word.

Not many people do understand, Hermione thinks sadly as she climbs the stairs to her dorm.

Hermione piles all of her school things into the trunk at the foot of her bed and readies herself for the night. She changes out of her school uniform into a plain, short, red nightgown, and then pulls her hair up into a loose clip.

Ever since her time on the run, Hermione has found herself indulging in silky, completely impractical nightwear. After a year in flannel and long johns, she needs to feel just a bit more feminine.

When she is done in the bathroom, Hermione climbs into her bed and pulls out the latest book she is invested in. It is an old tome, containing the largest compiled source of information on house elves. She hopes for S.P.E.W. to make a comeback one day and wants to be fully prepared.

As she flips through the dusty old pages, Hermione feels her sweet tooth kick in and remembers the delicious chocolate chip cookies her mum had sent her, waiting in the nightstand. She eagerly pulls the drawer open and grabs the tin.

When she peels the lid off, she is struck by the smell of her mother's cooking. She grabs a particularly good-looking cookie and quickly devours it.

After placing the tin safely back in her drawer, Hermione turns her attention back to the book she was reading.

House-elves have, for many centuries, served the most noble houses in the...

Hermione's eyes become unfocused and the book slides from her lap, hitting the floor with a loud thud. Black eyes, dark hair, and perfect lips haunt her mind. Her body begins coursing with the need to see him... the only man in the whole world who matters to her.

Severus. My Severus. I need to see you.

"I need to see him," she whispers, "right now."

Hermione launches out of bed and just barely has the frame of mind to throw her school robes on over her short nightgown. She hurries for the stairs and bumps into Lavender on her way down.

"Where are you going?" the girl asks her.

"I have to see my Severus," Hermione urges, pushing past her.

She doesn't notice the wicked smile on Lavender's face, or the patronus the girl summons.

Hermione stumbles across the common room, past a confused and ignored Ginny, and out the portrait hole.

I must get to the dungeons. I miss him so much!

Somehow, Hermione manages to make it all the way to the dungeons without encountering anyone, and she is glad because she doesn't have time to chat. She must get to Severus; he is probably wondering where she is.

Hermione decides to try his office because she has no idea how to get to his private chambers. Her heart is racing, pounding heavily in her chest, as she approaches the door.

She raises a quivering hand and knocks.

He'll be happy to see me, right?

She hears soft footsteps coming from inside the office and holds her breath.

The door before her swings open and Hermione's heart almost bursts in relief at seeing him in person.

"Severus," she breathes out happily.

Severus's face is an angry mask looking down at her.

"Miss Granger," he snaps, and suddenly his whole body relaxes. He looks down at her with wonder. "What took you so long?"

Before she can prepare, Severus sweeps her up into his arms, holding her in a tight embrace, and kisses her.

Fire shoots through her body, and she pushes herself harder against him, wanting more contact.

Without breaking their kiss, Severus steps backwards and leads her inside his office, slamming the door behind them.

Both are so caught up in their passion that neither sees the camera flash from the hall.

A/N: The next chapter is rated NC-17. It opens up from Pansy's perspective though, so if you wish to skip the racier aspects, read through her section and head to the next chapter.

Also, special thanks to HazelThorn1989 for the beta!