Finding Your True Self

Hey, I’m so sorry this is much later than I said I would be but life has been really hectic. Back at uni, writing for the student paper, STILL having a horrible cold and never minding the gigantic amount of studying I already have!
Anyway I hope you all like this, and thanks for the review, really mean a lot. :)

Oh…..Harry Potter and his universe are not owned by me, I just like to play with them, that’s all. :) Also making no money whatsoever!

This is now REVISED so hopefully all the mistakes are gone, I hope! I don't have a beta so just doing this by myself anen Ien I read it too much I can't even tell if I have gotten something wrong any longer. Didn't want to hold the chapter up any longer so just posted. But now I think all the revisions have been made so...........

On with the story………………………..


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Chapter 4: Welcoming and Shocks

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As Hermione stepped out the door she placed a couple of wards on the door, you never did know who was listening.

“Miss Granger” Said a silky voice behind her. Hermione turned to see Severus standing behind her, his usual glare replaced by an amused smile.

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“Miss Granger” Severus repeated, his smile growing into a smirk. He loved to sneak up on people, especially students and see the chocked etched on their faces.

“Professor Snape” Hermione replied courtly, having managed to get past her initial shock she took her first look at him in years. His appearance was the same always, yet his usual stone cold features seemed to have disappeared with the smile on his face.
He seemed younger somehow, even though time had gone past since she had last seen him.

“I hear Albus has asked you here to teach? I hope you will settle in ok?” Another shock for Hermione, Snape being civil. Severus smirked again he did like to surprise people.
“May I walk you too the Great Hall Miss Granger.”
With a slight nod of the head Hermionreedreed, she would have to see where this civil Severus led.
There was a buzz and she entered the hall in line with Snape, it hadn’t been that long since she herself had attended Hogwarts and many knew her face from the many photos taken of her due to her help in the downfall of Voldermort.
Everything looked relatively the same, which felt odd to Hermione. During her short time away from Hogwarts she had changed dramatically, both in appearance and emotionally, to see Hogwarts and in particular the Great Hall looking just as she had left it was slightly disconcerting but as Hermione took it all in she realised that if it had changed at all she would have been devastated. No she was home, finally.
As they continued to walk up the hall she looked longingly at the Griffindor table wishing that just for one moment to see Harry and Ron sitting their with beaming smiles plastered on their faces.
With a long sigh she sifted her eyes away from the Griffindor table and to the Head Table where sat all the teachers. Each one was watching her with wide smiles on their faces. As she came to climb the stairs Severus let her pass in front of him, another shock for her, Snape and mannerisms. She chastised herself, one for still referring to him as Snape which is something she only ever still with Harry and Ron, since her and Severus’ relationship had grown amicable through their correspondence. Secondly for not believing that Severus did not have any mannerisms, sure he had shown some etiquette in his letters but a man of his calibre would have been taught manners at a very early age.
As she reached the Head Table she made to take one of the two spare seats and was again pleasantly surprised when Severus pulled out her seat for her before sitting down next to her.
Hermione finally looked back up at the rest of the hall, surprised to see that all faces were still on her, perhaps it was the students awe at Professor Snape showing manners but whatever it was that was making them stare it started to make her feel slightly uneasy.
The Headmaster then stood up to make an announcement. “We are pleased to welcome Professor Granger back this night, for the position of Charms Professor. You may all remember her from her time here and or her work in the downfall of the Dark Lord, but I do hope that you will all treat her with the same respect and politeness that is expected towards all members of staff.” This was immediately followed by a loud round of applause directed her way. Hermione felt the blush start from her neck upwards and spreading over her face.
The Headmaster cleared his throat and everyone seemed to snap out of their trances and resume eating and talking. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at this and looked over towards the headmaster who sat down and just grinned and winked at her before returning to his own meal.
“I thought you would be use to the attention by now Miss Granger.” Severus remarked beside her.
“I don’t think I will ever be used to being the centre of attention somehow.” Hermoine responded.
Severus just raised an eyebrow and returned to his own meal.

As the evening began to dwindle down and the students returned to their dorms Hermione was inundated with greetings from all the staff members. Hugs and congratulations went all around. “Let us all retire to the staff room for proper celebrations do you now think.” It wasn’t a question, but neither was it an order, as the staff all obediently started to head in the direction of the staff room which was situated behind a tapestry on the ground floor. Severus walked ahead and Hermione was very surprised to feel quite hurt by this. “Don’t worry about it my dear, he has just never been good with people, although you should take note that tonight is the first night in many years that he has stayed till the end of dinner and then followed my suggestion of adjourning to the staff room.” Albus said to her with a wide grin and his eyes sparkling down on her. Hermione didn’t even know why her heart lightened at the thought of this. Surely she didn’t have feelings for her former potions teacher, the one teacher who had made her life hell for seven years? Surely not, and even though their relationship had turned into somewhat of a friendship through their letters she could not imagine anything more than that, could she? Hermione was confused to say the least, the only reason that brought her out of her thoughts was the slight chuckle by the Headmaster who was looking at her with his damn twinkling eyes, she would have to watch what she thought this year.

At about 2am everyone started to head out back to their chamber, with it being Saturday they would get a chance to sleep in before getting up. They had celebrated hard that night since after the downfall of the Dark Lord everyone seemed more inclined to not let work or stress hold them down too much, that is everyone but Severus who sat in what seemed to be his favourite seat by the fire sipping a never ending glass of firewhisky.
As Hermione headed back to her chambers she was accompanied by Severus, who with drinking all that firewhisky seemed to be perfectly sober still. ‘Did anything change this man?’ Hermione wondered and then got a rather 'steamy' image of Severus in her head that was enough to make her blush profusely.

Severus looked over in wonder, what on earth would making her blush that way? She hadn’t had that much to drink that night he noted. It was then he questioned why he cared. Of course their ‘relationship’ had changed from teacher/student to equals, even a light friendship, during their correspondence in the last couple of years but why would he care what Miss Granger cared enough to blush like that. But the fact of the matter was he did care, and that’s what unnerved him.


As they arrived at her door Severus curtly wished her a good night before whisking off in the direction of the dungeons, leaving Hermione to wonder what had changed in the time they had left her chambers to the time she had returned to them.


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A/N:
So what do you think? Is it okay?
I am still suffering from a bad cold so please review to make me feel better, please. :)

Talk to you soon.

Love,

AngelDust xxx