Chapter 1

Professor Severus Snape woke with a start. He was in a cold sweat and his bedsheets were soaked. He had the dream again. Again! As much as he wanted this nightmare to disappear, it kept coming back. He could hear her screaming, even though he had not been there when she was murdered. He still heard it, as if she were right in front of him, being murdered by Lord Voldemort.

Severus shook his head and ran his fingers through his long black hair. A shower was definitely needed. He sat up and wrestled his body from the damp mangle of sheets. He cast scourgify on the bed and the sheets were freshly laundered. Severus made his way to his bathroom and walked right past the full length mirror and straight into the shower. Severus allowed his mind to wander on thoughts of her. His one chance at happiness had been snatched away from him. The hot water consumed him, and he let the thought of her drift away.

Once dressed, Severus made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Students milled about and whispered behind his back as he passed. "Insolent little pests." Severus thought as he passed some giggling 5th year girls.

"Good morning Severus!" Cried Dumbledore as he sat down at the staff table.

"Good morning headmaster." he replied curtly.

Dumbledore looked at him with a twinkle in his eye. "Having nightmares again, are we Severus?"

Severus snapped his head towards Dumbledore. He knew that no one had heard him. The Great Hall was not full of students, and the ones that were there wouldn't be able to hear over the buzz of conversation. They were the only teachers at the staff table. "It is considerably annoying how you seem to know everything."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I know YOU Severus."

"You seem to be the only one who does." Severus picked up his fork and prodded his eggs.

"Possibly a blessing in disguise." Dumbledore began eating his bacon.

"Some blessing." Severus continued eating his breakfast in silence. It was going to be a long day.

6 years later

Severus woke from his dreamless sleep. Today was the start of term. Another year to look forward to. He sniggered to himself. "What is there to look forward to?" He got up and made his way to the shower. His thoughts wandered different places these days. Especially with the dark lord on the rise once more. Hence his dreamless sleep draughts. When Lord Voldemort returned, his nightmares were unbearable. He could not afford to not be at his best at any moment. He had just been existing for years, and now he had a purpose again. Not one he particularly cared for, but it was still a purpose.

He buttoned his frock coat and made his way to the Great Hall. He passed the House tables and saw a 5th year girl with her nose in a book. "Ah, the insufferable little know it all is already at it." It was only the 2nd day back from summer break and Hermione Granger was studying. As Severus passed, he saw that the book she was reading was Advanced Potion-making by Libatius Borage. Severus cocked his head slightly. "Why on earth is she reading a book that is meant for 6th year students?" But he knew the answer to that. As much as he hated to admit it, it was something he himself did when he was in school. He would study day and night, reading ahead so he could get good marks. He truly was brilliant.

Severus sat down at the staff table and began prodding his scrambled eggs. Students started milling in, chatter began filling the air. Severus could hear bits and pieces of conversations all over the great hall. Nothing interesting of course. Mostly who was dating who, where they had spent their summer, who would be on the house Quidditch team. Severus did not care about any of this, and began eating his breakfast.

"How are you this morning, Severus?" Dumbledore sat down on his right, grabbing a goblet of pumpkin juice.

"As good as always, Headmaster." Severus inclined his head towards Dumbledore.

"Looking forward to today's lessons?" Dumbledore began eating his sausage.

"Not particularly." Severus washed down his eggs with some water, and began eating his bacon.

"Oh Severus, there is always something to look forward to. In time, you will find it."

At this, Minerva Mcgonagall sat down to the right of Dumbledore. "Good morning Albus."

"Good morning Minerva. Slept well I trust?"

Minerva took a sip of pumpkin juice. "Oh yes Albus, quite well. I am looking forward to seeing who will be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year."

Severus stopped listening and excused himself from the table. the He made his way along the house tables toward the dungeons. He was mentally drowning out the chatter, when he heard a voice. Now, this wasn't uncommon for Severus. Being an occlumens meant he sometimes heard other people's thoughts without actually trying. It didn't happen often, only when someone had a strong mind with intense thoughts. He frequently had to drown out Dumbledore's thoughts of fizzing whizbees or cockroach clusters. But today, he heard the thoughts of a 5th year Gryffindor. He glanced over at the Gryffindor table, and saw miss Granger with her nose in her book. Potter and Weasley were chatting away with the Weasley twins about some nonsense, but not her. She was thinking of the different methods of potion making.

"Ingredient, potion, antidote. Medieval method." He heard her thoughts as if she were speaking directly to him. He kept walking, down the staircase to the dungeons. "I've never heard her thoughts before… let alone any student" It was intriguing to Severus that he could hear her thoughts, having never heard a student's thoughts that he wasn't actually trying to hear. He entered his classroom and flicked his wand. Cauldrons flew from the shelves onto the tabletops, along with potion vials, mortar and pestles and measuring spoons.

Gryffindors and Slytherins began filing into the room. Draco Malfoy, followed by his two cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, sat at a workstation closest to Severus' desk. Potter, Weasley and Granger chose a workstation farthest away from his desk. Severus noticed Potter and Weasley were still in conversation about Quidditch, while miss Granger was deep in thought. "If what I read is correct, we should be learning how to brew the Draught of Peace. It is the first potion listed in the 5th year potions book." Severus quirked his head in her direction and sneered. Nobody took notice. "Little know-it all."

Severus stood at the front of the class, waiting for silence. All eyes focused on him, and he began to speak.

"Well, I see that you all have decided to carry on with your mediocre attempts at potions. A very select few will make it through the O.W.L.s." He glanced at Malfoy, who smirked back at him. "Insolent little brat." Truth be told, Severus couldn't stand Draco, nor his father Lucius. But, he had to play the game. And he played so very well.

"Today, we will be doing a review of a potion you learned in 4th year. If you cannot remember how to brew this potion, there will be no hope for you." He glanced around at the anxious faces and focused for a split second on hers. She was nonplussed by his statement. "How many of you remember the Wit-Sharpening potion?" A few hands raised into the air. "For those who did not raise their hands, you will certainly need this potion to pass my class this year." He snarled at them. "You have 1 hour!"

Students began pulling out their potions books, looking for references to potions they learned in 4th year. Potter and Weasley looked slightly dumbfounded, while Granger walked over to the supply shelf and started grabbing ingredients. She walked back over to the others, and started setting out her ingredients.

"Hermione, could you help us with this one? We forgot how to make it." Weasley was trying to put on the charm. Severus sniggered.

"Ron, this is one of the easiest potions to make, surely you remember?"

Ron shook his head.

"Harry?" She looked at him pleadingly.

Harry thought for a moment. "I remember armadillo bile and scarab beetles."

Hermione smiled at him. "Yes, and ginger root. Here, I have notes on this potion right here, along with brewing instructions."

Severus glowered at the three of them as he made his way around the room. "Remember that you will not have partners during your O.W.L.s. You will have to rely on your own intelligence." He saw some grimaces and sneers from the students. He finally arrived at the table where Potter, Weasley and Granger were working. Granger had already ground her beetles and cut her ginger roots, and was mixing in her armadillo bile.

Potter and Weasley were still grinding their beetles, glancing every so often at the notes in Granger's book. Her handwriting was elegant and easy to read. "Mix ground scarab beetles until potion turns red, then remix armadillo bile until yellow." He heard her thoughts as if she were speaking, so loud and clear. But, she wasn't reading her notes from the book, she was reciting them from memory. Severus glanced at her potion, and it was indeed turning a bright yellow. Some students made the mistake of letting it turn green.

At that moment, Granger grabbed Ron's hand to stop him from stirring. "Ron, your potion is supposed to be a brighter red, not a dark red. Look at Harry's."

Ron glanced over and saw that Harry's potion was indeed brighter than his. "Oh right, thanks Hermione."

As Severus started thinking of a nasty comment to make about Weasley's potion, Granger piped up. "And make sure when you add the armadillo bile, you don't let it turn green." Severus was taken aback. He had just been thinking this exact thing to say.

He continued on in silence, thinking it would be a good idea to check on Malfoy. As usual, Malfoy was making a spectacle of himself in front of Pansy Parkinson. She was fawning all over him, it was sickening. Malfoy's potion was going from a dirt yellow to an olive green. Severus bent down on the pretense of checking the potion and whispered so that only Malfoy could hear, "Stop stirring Draco. The potion is supposed to be yellow." Malfoy stopped stirring and added in his ginger roots. "Well done Mr. Malfoy."

Malfoy smirked and Pansy Parkinson gushed. "Oh Draco, you are so good at potions."

Malfoy looked over at Potter, Weasley and Granger. "It is my BEST subject." he said loud enough for the whole class to hear.

Granger finished with her potion and sat, reading her notes. Potter and Weasley were still mixing the armadillo bile. Potter's potion was turning a light purple.

"Remember Harry, the potion needs to be a deep purple."

"Oh yeah, thanks Hermione."

Severus sat down at his desk and waited for the other students to finish with their potions. "You have 20 minutes until the end of class." He stated to the room. Malfoy was just now extinguishing his flame, a smirk clear on his face. Granger had been done for the past 20 minutes, while the rest of the class struggled to remember how to finish the potion.

Weasley had just extinguished his flame, when Granger hopped off her stool and re-lit it. "Ron, the potion needs to be purple, not lavender. Here." She showed him her notes.

"Oh, right. You know how much I hate potions Hermione." Granger rolled her eyes at him.

"Bring up a vial of your potion for testing. You will receive the results next lesson." Severus knew that a majority of the class would not do well, but he also had not planned on having them brew a wit-sharpening potion. All because of Granger's thoughts. She brought up her test tube, and placed it on his desk. She glanced up at him, then quickly turned and walked away. He glanced at her potion vial. The color was perfect, and he knew she would pass. Malfoy brought up his, along with Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson. He knew these four would not get top marks, but he would have to give Malfoy almost full credit, due to the ruse he continued to play. He hated giving students preferential treatment, but it was all part of the facade. Potter and Weasley brought their vials up next. Weasley set down a vial that was still a light shade of purple, while Potter presented one that was just a few shades lighter than Granger's. Severus hated to admit it, but Potter was not that bad at potions. He always gave him lower marks on purpose, or sabotaged his potions in some way to make his abilities seem worse.

He waited for the other students to bring up their vials, then he dismissed the class. Potter and Weasley were packing up their bags, while the other students filed out of the room.

"Ron, will you help me put these ingredients away?"

"Naw, Snape can do that." Ron sneered at the ingredients lying on the table.

"Professor Snape Ron." She began putting her things into her bag.

"We will see you in Transfiguration Hermione." Ron started for the door.

"We should help Hermione." Potter protested.

"She's fine, besides, I want to get out of here."

"Go on Harry, I'll catch you up." She began gathering the ingredients into her arms. Potter followed Weasley out of the door. Severus watched as Granger made her way to the shelf and began putting the ingredients in their respective places. He flicked his wand and cauldrons, vials, ingredients and all other supplies zoomed onto the shelves. One of the jars of armadillo bile knocked into Granger's hand, causing her to drop the jar of scarab beetles. It crashed on the floor.

"Oh no." She put the remaining jars away and pulled out her wand. "Reparo." The jar became whole once more, sitting on the floor. She bent down, and began picking scarab beetles off of the floor. Severus got out of his chair and made his way over to her. He was going to make a snide comment when she raised her head to look at him. She looked embarrassed and was biting her lip. He heard her thoughts once more; "Oh no, I hope he isn't upset with me." He merely stared at her, as if noticing her for the first time.

"I am sorry Professor, I should have been more careful." She got to her feet and put the jar of scarab beetles on the shelf.

Severus was not sure what to say. "I would advise more caution in the future, Miss Granger." She looked slightly shocked. "Did he just call me miss Granger?" Severus could have kicked himself. There was a slight kindness to the way he had addressed her.

"You are dismissed." He turned from her, and began making his way to his desk to collect the vials for testing. He heard her gather her bag, and make her way out of the room.