Chapter one

"RONALD WEASLEY IF YOU DO NOT GET YOUR BOTTOM DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW I'LL ZAP IT RIGHT OFF AND USE IT AS A PIN CUSHON!" Harry and Hermione sniggered as Ron ran swiftly down the stairs hopping every so often over the cracks in the long extended staircase.

"What on earth were you doing up there Ronald? I called you down fifteen minutes ago!" screeched Mrs Weasley, "if we don't get a move on now you're going to miss the train."

"Just giving that ghoul one last kick up the arse before I leave, I didn't get any sleep last night because of that blasted thing."

Mumbling, Mrs Weasley ushered them all out to where Mr Weasley was standing smiling at his children and their friends. "Everyone ready? ...right, Hermione, you go with Molly and Ginny...I will take the boys." All nodded in agreement and together held the specified port key.

Hermione landed with a bump: feeling her breakfast slowly making its way back up she took in a deep breath. Port keys, she mused, she truly preferred Muggle transport to that swirl and pull of those menacing objects any day. Following Harry and the Weasleys down towards the gateway she felt a slight pang of excitement, she was going back to the place she loved, the place she learned, the place she called home.

Rushing through the barrier she hurried to keep up, she was the last of the group to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Hermione look after that lot will you, sweet pea, sometimes I think you're the only one who has their head screwed on right" Molly murmured rolling her eyes, before staring seriously at her."How are you feeling my dear?" Hermione didn't reply, instead, looking to the ground. She seemed to understand as she gave Hermione a tight cuddle."Just don't work yourself too hard, you truly need to rest... all those night terrors are not good for someone your age."

"I'll try Mrs. Weasley" Hermione smiled. Climbing onto the train and sitting down next to Harry she sighed; she had tried so hard to keep her nightmares from being noticed, yet it always ended the same...with her screaming.

The train journey went as usual, Harry and Ginny sneaking off, Ron stuffing his face with as many chocolate frogs as possible and ending up snoring and dribbling all over the seats and her, left alone with her own thoughts. It was the same with the journey from the station to Hogwarts itself, Hermione thought, smiling to herself at the comfort of the repetition throughout the years, it made her happy to know that she was in a place where she knew what was going on. Her comfort zone so to speak.

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Severus hated this. That meddling fool, how dare he order him to this meeting with only an hour left of freedom before those bumbling excuses for students ruined his peace and quiet for another year. Quick celebration he said? Bollocks to that, all Severus wanted was to sit down on his sofa with a good book and a bottle of fire whisky.

Entering the staff common room he took his time to scowl at every single member, showing them personally his distaste for both the situation, and the company.

"Severus my boy, do not make such funny faces like that, you're scaring the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, what have we practiced now? Happy face my son!" At this Dumbledore put his two index fingers on each side of his mouth and pushed upwards giving the impression, in Severus's opinion, that he was indeed utterly bonkers. Severus simply raised an eyebrow.

At Severus's reaction Dumbledore simply smiled and patted his head. "Do not fear Severus, I am sure I will get you to smile this year at least!"

"Of course you will headmaster."

"OH BRILLIANT! And why is that?"

"Because at the end of this year Potter and the dimwits will have left and my sanity will be secured."

A twinkle of something that Severus could not quite put his finger on suddenly appeared in the headmaster's eyes. "Ahhhhh, now Severus. They are not all dimwits if I am not mistaken...now; I know for sure Miss Granger is meant to become one of the most intelligent witches of her time, if she is not already."

"Headmaster, there is a difference between intelligence and common sense, and without the latter she is as dim-witted as that fool of a Weasley," Severus drawled and with this he nodded and moved towards the quietest part of the room.

A loud clap was heard in the middle of the room; Dumbledore stood smiling at his staff all of which he considered close and loyal friends.

"Welcome back everyone to another wonderful year at Hogwarts, I just want to introduce to you our new DADA teacher, Professor Rowse Hebert", at this a young brown-haired man stood from his seat and waved. Severus noticed his almost shabby appearance which reminded him of Remus Lupin, that's all he needed...another fucking werewolf, Potter-lover, student softie teaching beside him. Not that he truly hated Lupin; he was just a complete annoying idiot. No. This guy was a little different behaviour-wise though, he seemed almost too confident for Severus's liking, almost like he KNEW that he was good-looking and talented...oh god not another Lockhart...would rather a thousand Lupins to one sodding Lockhart.

"Right now that everyone's ready we should start making our way to the hall, the students should be arriving shortly!" As everyone started shuffling out the young teacher grabbed hold of Severus's arm. "Mr. Hebert, if you do not remove your hand within the next few seconds then you will be short one limb...would you like to guess which one?" he growled.

At this Hebert quickly stepped back. "My apologies Professor Snape, it's just you were the only one I have not greeted yet, and would like to have gotten to know everyone that I hope to work with."

"First of all Mr. Hebert, you will not be working with me, and second, I am as interested in greetings as I am in eating live Blast-Ended Screwts...good day." And with that Hebert was left gawping in an empty room as Severus swept through the corridors smirking as he mentally patted himself on the back.