Hello all. So I was starting a different HG/SS story when this idea popped into my head, consuming all of my fanfic brain power. I have no idea where it came from, but I'm really starting to like some of the ideas that are popping up in my head.

This story takes place between books two and three, in the summer before the golden trio's third year. I'm going to try to stay as true to the books/movies as I can…just imagine that this is the way that Hermione grew up. It will be self explanatory, but I'll try to throw a little note at the end of every chapter to kind of sum up the tangent that my brain has taken.

Anyway, enough drivel…hope you enjoy…

"You cannot be serious!" Snape huffed the words out, sitting across from Dumbledore in the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked at his potions master. Snape had a look of utter disgust on his face, his black eyes glazed over in anger.

"Quite the contrary, Severus. Miss Granger's parents were quite clear in their last requests. Should anything happen to them, they wish that their daughter's, should I say, Hermione's potions master be given sole custody of the girl." He tipped his head slightly, watching Snape's reaction once again.

"Why on earth would these muggles want to do such a dreadful thing?" Snape sat down disgustedly, crossing his arms sharply across his chest.

"Apparently Miss Granger is quite taken with potions, and spoke very highly of you to her parents over her past two years as a student here. " Dumbledore stood, picking up a piece of muggle paper and handed it to Snape for him to look at, as well as an envelope addressed to him. "It's all in order Severus." He placed a hand on Snape's shoulder, feeling the professor's body tense. "I suggest you prepare your home. Miss Granger will arrive at King's Cross at 3pm this afternoon."

Dumbledore moved away from Snape, leaving the dark haired man alone with his thoughts.

Snape looked down at the paper, reading it for a third time. He couldn't believe it. He felt bile rise up in his throat. Finally standing, he tossed the document back on Dumbledore's desk, but put the envelope in his pocket, then spun and left the office, his black robes billowing behind him. He could not believe that in two hours time, he would be the guardian of Hermione Granger.

Hermione got off the train at King's Cross with Molly Weasley at just before three. Molly pulled Hermione's trunk, and Hermione clung desperately to her small satchel. She couldn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. She instinctively leaned into the red headed woman for comfort, but then pulled away at the once again reminder that it was not her mother. Her mother and father were dead. She took a deep breath trying to control her emotions, and continued walking.

Molly looked down at the young girl, and a wave of sadness flowed through her. She felt equal loss. When Hermione's parents had died, Molly had been only too eager to take the girl in. She had even painted half of Ginny's room (on Ginny's orders) pale lavender, as it was Hermione's favorite color. Despite the circumstances, Ginny was ecstatic to have a sister, and Molly, another daughter. When she had gotten word from Dumbledore after the Grangers' funeral that Hermione was to be given into Snape's custody, her heart had sunk, not only for Hermione, but for herself as well.

Despite the girl pulling away, Molly wrapped her arm around her shoulder as they walked towards the station's exit. "Mrs. Weasley, I need to use the bathroom. Do you mind watching my trunk?" Hermione's voice was shaky, and Molly was leery of letting her go into the bathroom alone.

"Alright dear, but don't be long. We have to meet Severus in a few minutes." Hermione's heart sunk at the words, but with a quick nod she pulled away from the woman and entered the lady's room. She barely had the stall door closed before sobs overtook her once again. She didn't know how her life had turned so dramatically. Not one week ago she had had a wonderful life, a mother and father who adored her, and a small circle of friends that she would be visiting with very soon. After the Weasley's trip to Egypt, she was to accompany them to the Leaky Cauldron to spend the rest of summer break. Now, she would be spending it alone with the dreadful Severus Snape. Another batch of tears cascaded down her face.

"Hermione, dear, are you nearly ready?" Molly's soft voice floated to the young girl, and she steeled herself, wiping her eyes and cheeks quickly with the back of her hand.

"Yes, I'll be right out." She took a deep breath and left the stall. She glanced in the mirror. She looked a mess, but she didn't really care. With one final glance and with a small smile to her reflection (that didn't really fool her, but helped just a teensy bit) and headed for the door.

Joining Molly in the corridor, the two women made their way towards the entrance. As soon as they stepped outside Hermione's heart sunk. She saw him, standing across the street between two buildings. He was half hidden in shadow, wearing muggle clothing. It was odd seeing him dressed so. He wore a black dress shirt, black slacks and black shoes. Some things never change Hermione thought to herself. She saw him visibly stiffen upon viewing the two of them. She took a deep breath and followed Mrs. Weasley across the street. She could tell that Molly was tense as well, and she just wanted the whole ordeal to be over with. She had no desire to go with her professor, but the one thing she knew was how much he liked his solidarity; the one thing they would now have in common. She just wanted to get wherever they were going so that she could be alone.

"Good afternoon Severus." Molly spoke in a tone that would have fooled anyone else, but Hermione knew it was a front. Snape seemed to as well. His mouth turned up in a smirk.

Molly gave Hermione a slight nudge, and the young girl realized that she had been staring at him. "Uh, hello Professor." His head jerked down to look at the young witch. He eyed her, and the fire in his gaze frightened her. She quickly looked down at her shoes, moving unconsciously towards Molly.

"I assume your travels went…well?" His low drawl went right into Hermione's spine, sending a chill through her. Her brow furrowed and she felt hot tears burning her eyes once again.

"Just fine, Severus." Molly spoke again. After that there was a long moment of awkward silence. Hermione reached up to wipe away a tear that was dangerously close to escaping. Snape made a coughing noise. Molly shuffled her feet, and Hermione couldn't take it anymore.

"How are we traveling…sir?" She wasn't sure how to address him. She definitely wasn't going to call him Severus, but professor seemed odd when they weren't in school. She really didn't want to call him anything. She wanted to be anywhere but with this man.

"Apparition. I've gained special permission from the ministry to transport you by side along apparition." Snape's tone was even and calm; he showed no emotion or empathy for his student. Hermione nodded swiftly. Molly seemed to take that as her silent cue.

"Alright dear. I'll collect you in three weeks." She beamed down at Hermione as best she could, but they both had sadness in their eyes.

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley. Have a lovely time in Egypt." Hermione sniffed, then embraced the woman, squeezing her so desperately tight that Molly herself let several tears fall. "I'll see you in three weeks." Hermione let go finally, and a set feeling of dread spread through her. It was all over. In not so graceful terms, she now belonged to Severus Snape. Molly stepped back, gave Snape an odd look, then disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway. Hermione heard the telltale pop as Mrs. Weasley disapparated.

Hermione's eyes were trained on the spot where Molly had vanished, and she didn't notice Snape walk up behind her. Finally the scraping of the wheels of the cart that her trunk was on pulled her back to reality. She turned and glanced up at her potions master. He watched her silently for a brief moment, and it made her extremely uncomfortable. "I shall transport your trunk first, then we shall go." His voice was deadpan, and she could do nothing but nod. With a flick of his wand, her trunk silently vanished, as did the trolley it was sitting upon. Snape turned back to her, then held out his hand. Pulling her bag close to her chest with one hand, she tentatively took his offered one with the other. She was surprised at the warmth she felt. She had barely made contact with him and he twisted on the spot. She realized this would be her first time disapparating. A thrill of excitement went through her despite the despair she felt.

She was suddenly sucked so tight against him that it was uncomfortable. She couldn't draw breath and began to panic. Just before she started to thrash for air, they appeared back in the alleyway.

A wave of nausea roiled over Hermione and she thought she might be sick. She felt dizzy, and it took her a moment to realize that they were not in fact in the same alley as before. This one was darker. There seemed to be cloud cover; the sun was hidden behind a thick wall of grey clouds. The pavement beneath their feet was full of holes and patch work. She stumbled as he quickly pulled away from her.

He began walking away from her, and she instinctively followed. She had to walk quickly to keep up with him. He always seemed to walk with a purpose, and Hermione didn't understand why he did now.

He turned sharply to the right upon emerging along the road. She followed him down a row of town houses, glancing around her as they walked. The road was of similar condition as the alley, and she had to step carefully to avoid tripping. Finally Snape stopped in front of a house at the end of the street. It was built of dark gray bricks, the cast iron railings rusting on both sides of the stone steps. He climbed the stairs and when he reached the door she heard him speak an incantation and the door opened without him touching it.

So this was to be her new home. She thought briefly that at least she would only have to spend summer holidays here. She could stay at Hogwarts during all other holidays, and in three weeks time she would be back with the Weaslelys. She followed him up the stairs, but stopped before she crossed the threshold. It felt odd just walking in to her professor's home. Though she knew it was her home now as well, it felt so wrong. He noticed her pause, and turned around. "Please come in Miss Granger. I do not wish any bugs to enter while you stand gaping." His words pierced her heart. Why did he have to be blatantly discourteous? She quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

She glanced around the sitting room just inside the door. It was surprisingly exactly as she had expected. The floors were all dark wood, and the walls were covered with book shelves, and each shelf was crammed with books. There was a leather chair in the corner, and a small leather sofa pushed against the wall opposite a small fireplace. He pointed, and finally spoke again. "Sitting room. Kitchen is through there." He pointed off to the right. "My potion labs are in the basement. Do not…ever…go down there or interrupt me when I'm working." His eyes burned into hers and she nodded quickly, tears threatening to overtake her again. He began walking. She followed.

Round the corner and opposite the kitchen was a narrow wooden staircase. He climbed up to the second floor with her right behind him. He reached the landing and she saw three doors; one nearest the stairs, one in the middle, and another door at the end of the small hallway. He pointed down to the far door. "Mine." He opened the door nearest the stairs. "This shall be your room. The bathroom is there." He pointed to the middle door.

She glanced down the hall momentarily. "Only one bathroom?" She spoke hesitantly, her spirits dropping even further.

"Miss Granger, please be aware that I was not expecting to take on a ward this summer. I am no more looking forward to this than you are, believe me." His tone was cold, and try though she might she could not stop the tears from falling. "My apologies if the living arrangements aren't up to your expectations. Now, collecting you today has put me quite behind on my work." And with that he spun on his heels and proceeded downstairs.

As quickly as she could she entered her bedroom, and though Snape was downstairs by then, he heard the sob escape her as her door closed.

Poor Hermione.

Okay, so let me make a couple things clear. Though I extremely love the idea of Snape and Hermione as a couple, I am NOT writing that into the beginnings of this story…maybe not at all. I have no desire to write of inappropriate relations between the two. In my mind right now Hermione is desperately hurting and in need of comfort…that's all. I think my point will be made as the story progresses.

I also thought this would be an interesting angle from which to develop Snape's character.

I have little popcorn ideas of interactions between the two of them between now and the end of book seven, but if you have anything in mind that follows this cannon, please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll try to include it.

Please leave feedback. Tell me if you love it or hate it, I'd love to know what you think. I'll be back soon with chapter two

-TG