I own nothing, it's all JKs! :)

AN: Hello my dear readers, this is going to be my first HP ff. My 'old' readers probably noticed that the chapters two and three are gone, that's because I'm currently rewriting the story. I changed a few major things in the plot in later chapters and I wasn't happy with huge parts of the already posted chapters, so here is the brand new and longer chapter one! Have fun and enjoy! :D

Rated M for language and content of later chapters.

Bad Day

The sound of heavy raindrops hitting the window distracted Hermione Granger more than she would have admitted to anyone, but somehow the usually soothing sound managed to piss her off today. The rain hadn't stopped since early September until now, mid-October.

Her usually focused mind strayed off its way too much for her liking, the sound of rain numbing her clean flow of sharp thoughts, reducing them to a blurry dizzy haze. The warm coziness of her office didn't help focusing her mind either. It unnerved her that she couldn't concentrate properly, especially with the piles of paperwork on her desk that screamed and begged for immediate attention. She sighed deeply and roamed through the first three stacks of paper, which turned out to be old auror reports, which she should check for timeline errors.

Joy.

Hermione wasn't happy with her job. Who would have guessed that the Gryffindor swot, the "know-it-all" with a brain like more than just one big encyclopedia had gotten herself the wrong job? Of course, she was good at her job, she had dreamed of becoming a researcher since she discovered the department in the ministry after the final battle but the longer she stayed, the worse became the feeling of not belonging. Maybe she should have applied for a job as an unspeakable.

Or maybe she just wasn't used to have a life following a routine. Since her first days at Hogwarts her life had been messed up, first by a giant troll, than by her friends and Voldemort, though Voldemort being the main cause her friends messing her life up as well. She had hoped for routine, for gaining even more knowledge while working at the research department but somehow it had lost its appeal to her in the process.

Doing research was a rather demanding job; whenever there was a case that needed someone to look closer into it, the researchers went to work. May it be something for the aurors, politics, history, development of new spells – it all connected in the Head Department Of Research. And yet she was bored out of her skin, misplaced in her warm cozy office behind her huge mahogany desk that could rival the minister's desk in size and organized chaos on top.

She sighed and tried to focus on the reports in front of her. Seriously, checking timelines was work for auror-trainees, not for researcher of the head department but her colleagues thought otherwise. Usually, researchers were old, one of many reasons why she had no friends here.

'Knowledge comes with time' and she was an exception. A bookworm, brightest witch of her age with top grades and the main part that made her believe was the reason for her employment was the fact, that she was a war heroine and well known for being friends with Harry Potter, boy who lived-and-lived-and-lived, newly appointed 'man of the century' by Witch Weekly, soon to be head of the auror department. It didn't matter to her colleagues that she was appointed straight to the head department of research by Shacklebolt himself, they still gave her work of a mere assistant.

Hermione's dear colleagues avoided unnecessary conversation with her, she herself had never had many friends and since people started to approach her because they wanted to get close to Harry she had separated herself more than ever from most social activities aside from meeting the friends she already had, which in fact weren't many.

Everyday followed the same routine: Work, work more work, somewhere inbetween lunch, back to her apartment, sleeping, work.

She was still on very good terms with Harry but he was busy with his auror stuff so most of the times he didn't show up for lunch at all and in his free time he was pretty busy with Ginny. As he had told her grinning a week ago 'pregnant witches can be a hell of a pain in the arse with all their strange demands!'

She smiled sadly, all of her friends had moved on while she was stuck with a life she hadn't wished for.

Ron had moved so far ahead that he had completely abandoned her and somehow Hermione couldn't bring herself to blame him. She had thrown herself into her work, always told him that they would have enough time 'later' which caused him to abandon her. Or rather: caused Lavender Brown to steal him from her.

Her relationship with Ron had never been a stable on but when she thought that it finally worked out for them he had met Lavender again. She had started to work as an office assistant in the auror department while Ron and Harry had still been in training and it didn't take her long to steal him away from her. In fact, it had only been a month. It had taken years until Ron had finally admitted his feelings for Hermione and yet it had only taken a month for Ron to walk off and three more to marry someone else so easily. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

The drumming of the rain became louder, more disturbing. It lured her mind into realms she didn't want to go to. Hermione sighed again, wiping her tired eyes with the palms of her hand.

She tried to focus on the reports again when a tap at her window destroyed the last bit of concentration present.

"Dammit! Didn't I ward that window against post!"

Since all kinds of people, most of the times reporters, were sending her request for interviews, meetings and so on she had warded her office windows against owls. If someone wanted something from her they had to send it like everybody else – to her post box of her department or to her apartment or else she would open and close that window the whole day.

She rose from her seat, her lips pressed in a firm line. As much as she hated it, the poor thing that desperately tapped against her window was probably cold and exhausted from flying in the rain. As she opened the window to let the owl in she recognized it as one of Hogwarts school owls.

Right. She hadn't warded her window against the owls of close friends and Hogwarts in case of an emergency.

The drenched brown owl looked and screeched at her as if it wanted to say that it was about time that she opened that bloody window for her.

"It's okay, I'm sorry." She detached the parchment from the owl's leg and offered it a little reward. The owl ruffled its feathers in return, spraying cold water on Hermione and the documents on her desk.

"Really, was that necessary? I know it's cold and I already said I'm sorry!"

The owl spread it wings, hooted and flew off. Hermione closed her window while shaking her head and sat back down. Carefully she broke the seal of the letter and enfolded the parchment.

Dear Miss Granger,

I think you are aware of the ministry's demands for updating the recent history books, reports and 'Hogwarts – A History'. As I see that your current occupation meets the required standards and other participants of the war are unavailable for such task you will be assigned the main part of the research.

We expect you at Hogwarts as soon as possible; make sure you got all necessary things you need. Since you'll be staying at the school you don't need to make a reservation in Hogsmeade.

Yours sincerely

Severus Snape

Hermione snorted rather unladylike. It was such a typical Snape letter. Straight to the point without bothering to be too polite and the slight feeling that he would have written 'don't forget your brain, Granger!' if Minerva wouldn't hex him to next week if she ever got to know of it.

Many things had changed since the end of the war but some people would probably never do so. At least not Severus Snape, the current headmaster of Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry. He had survived Nagini's attack and Minerva McGonagall had been glad to go back to being the headmaster's deputy, leaving the task of running the school to him.

With visiting Hogwarts in the near future her day wasn't so bad anymore. For the first time what seemed to be weeks Hermione smiled a genuine smile. She looked forward to meet with her former professors, especially since Minerva had offered her a look at her private library of advanced transfiguration books the last time they had met. Maybe she would also have a chance to look at the new greenhouses and discuss a few charms with Flitwick she had came across while doing research for the auror department last year. The letter excited her like the first she ever received from Hogwarts. Looking back it was hard to believe that she really had graduated seven years ago, of course with an 'O' in every subject she'd taken. On the other hand she supposed 'as soon as possible' was very stretchable; she would be stuck with boring reports for at least another week or two.

Just as she settled in for a new start on those reports there was a knock on her door.

"Yes, please?"

Henry Winterbourne, the department chief, entered. He was a tall slender man with dark eyes and thick auburn hair that was dominated by gray strands. His goatee was only gray with a single weird looking auburn strand.

He eyed the letter that was still in her hand and frowned, looking displeased.

"Ah, I see you already received orders, Granger. You'll leave immediately; there's a lot of research to do at Hogwarts. We don't expect you back before everything is finished and we need your assistance here."

I'll stay at Hogwarts for the rest of my life if that's the case…

"And you don't need to hand in reports every week, we…" he paused. "…trust you with that, Granger." His grim expression and the hidden disgust in his voice said otherwise, they just wanted to do as less interaction with her as possible.

"But sir!" She wanted to remind him that reports were necessary but he cut her off.

"No 'but' Miss Granger, we sent the ticket for the Hogwarts Express and everything else to your home, you better leave and pack since the train won't wait for you. The headmaster expects your arrival this evening."

"Fine, I'll leave then." If they wanted her out of the office so badly so be it. Hermione started to pack her belongings in her bag.

"Oh and Granger, be a dear and bring those reports back to the auror office before you leave, their trainees can do a bit of paperwork too." He smiled a self-satisfied smile.

"Yes Sir." Was all Hermione could reply without hexing him through clenched teeth before Henry left. Clenching teeth wasn't healthy, she knew but that man unnerved her.

Git.

She grabbed her bag and the reports, delivered them to the auror office in a rush and flooed home.

Three hours later Hermione sat foot on the Hogwarts Express, feeling terribly nostalgic. She only carried a small magical bag with her in which she had stuffed all things she would need in the next few month and a cat container, inhabited by a very unhappy Crookshanks.

In the old days she had carried a bunch of suitcases und bags with her.

"Times change…" she muttered barely hearable to herself. She now possessed a rather large amount of magical stuff and didn't need to trouble herself with a lot of luggage.

Her ginger fluffball used to stay at her parents house, supposed to give alarm if dark magic managed it's way through the wards she had set up but since he caused more trouble for her parents cuz' he disliked the Australian heat she had retrieved him a few weeks ago and cast more wards.

"Constant vigilance" she thought with a snort. Moody's paranoia had made it under her skin, burnt into her very soul forever.

The train set into motion and she still hadn't taken a seat. She passed the wagons and cabins and finally sat down in the one she had occupied with Harry and Ron at the end of their first year.

Carefully she ran her fingers over the fabric of the seat and sat down near the window; carefully placing Crookshanks on the seat across from her. It still felt the same as years ago. Breathing in the scent it also still smelled the same.

Hermione couldn't help but shed a tear as memories of three innocent children, a black haired famous boy who had just met with Voldemort, a chocolate frog obsessed redhead and a little know-it-all with her nose in a book sitting in the cabin flooded her mind.

The ride on the train felt like time traveling. So many memories, so many emotions, so many familiar things that had not been affected by the war.

She remembered her first time here, reminding Ron that he had some smut on his nose and searching for Neville's toad. The second time she was already friends with Harry and Ron, the third when she was alone with a nervous Ginny Weasley because the boys couldn't make it trough the barrier.

The Hogwarts Express was the same, the landscape, that passed the window, was too. For the first time in years Hermione realized that it weren't the things that changed much, it were the people.

She indeed had changed a lot since the war had ended.

After the war she had still grown a few inches, her hair wasn't such a big mess anymore and her face had lost all traces of innocent youth. She had grown into a woman but her mind had changed as well. When she was a schoolgirl, her one and only goal was 'outstanding' in every subject. Becoming friends with Harry and Ron added the defeat of Voldemort to her list. Both things had been achieved years ago, she should have had a happy life but still... she'd become restless. She wasn't satisfied with her life. Of course she had the job she had dreamed of, her salary being more than just acceptable. Of course she was well known and respected everywhere (with the exception of her department) and still her mind felt restless, sometimes haunted. Something was missing; she just wasn't able to figure out what it was.

Half an hour later her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice, asking if she liked something to eat. Hermione stared at the elder witch who had sold the very same things so many years ago. A few wrinkles had been added to her face over the years but she still smiled a friendly smile, her eyes twinkling slightly.

She couldn't help smiling back.

"Three chocolate frogs please."

"Here you go, Miss Granger." The witch handed the frogs over, waiting for Hermione to pay.

Hermione didn't need to ask why she knew her name, she had gotten used to being popular but it still made her feel uncomfortable.

Sensing her distress, the woman tried to make a polite conversation.

"I suppose you're going to visit friends?" She asked with another smile assuming that she would visit Ron and his wife who where living in Hogsmeade.

Hermione handed the money over, trying to hide that she was hurt by the thought of Ron and Lavender. She didn't consider them friends at all, but only a few people knew that they were seeing each other before Ron had married Lavender, so the public didn't know about the background story and still thought about them as best friends.

She had been lucky that Rita Skeeter was busy with stalking the newlywed Harry and Ginny at that time or it would have ended in tragedy. Either Lavender, who probably would have babbled all details to the press or Rita, who would have written another "Hermione Granger" headline story for the Daily Prophet would have died a painful death.

Carefully she choose her next words.

"No, it's business that brings me to Hogwarts."

"Ah, weren't they looking for a new professor for next term? I always thought that you would -"

Hermione cut her off. "No, it's ministry business."

The witch looked disappointed.

"I see. Good evening to you then, Miss Granger."

"Good evening..." Hermione mumbled, realizing that she was going to crush the boxes of the frogs with her hands any moment if she didn't stop gripping on them so tightly.

She had never bought anything but this time she took three chocolate frogs. Usually Harry had been the one to buy them. One for Ron, one for her and one for himself; despite the fact that she didn't like them much.

When she was alone again she opened the first box, caught the frog and froze it with wandless magic. Still she couldn't bring herself to eat them if they where jumping around and struggling to be eaten, it was an act of barbarism to her.

She took a bite and forced her attention to the card in the box. Seeing that she'd gotten herself another unladylike snort escaped her. Why of all cards in the world must she look at her own card today? Why couldn't it have been another Harry Potter card?

Since he defeated Voldemort Harry had become so popular, that his card had been in every second box she had bought over the last few years, scarcely getting Dumbledore or someone else out of it, despite the fact that quite a few people where added to the collection after the war had ended.

Harry had risen from "the boy who lived" to "the man of the century" as the Witch Weekly magazine liked to plaster all over the cover every week. The golden trio, the most popular people in England were still getting inquiries for interviews, photographs and so on.

Hermione had been stupid enough to meet the top reporter of Witch Weekly a few months after the battle, suspecting they were interested in more details about her part in defeating the dark lord.

Instead she was bothered with questions about her favorite robe designer, her favorite make up, tips for the readers on staying as slim as her and so on.

If not for being polite she would have spat that hiding in places all over the country and searching for Horcruxes for month and a big epic battle were the best diet and workout everyone should try but she had been able to detain her temper.

They even did a "Hermione Granger hairstyle tutorial"-series, announcing that voluminous, intentionally slightly messy looking hair was chic. Since the press only knew of her from her pictures with Victor Krum in her fourth year, when her hair had been tamed, they believed the tamed mass of curls was her natural style. Witch Weekly had also reported that she had such a good sense for fashion since she managed to make the messy look on her hair so natural.

If only they knew!

She never answered a second inquiry for an interview.

Hermione looked at her picture and sighed. The Hermione on the card smiled at her, took out a book and started to read with a concentrated expression.

The next two cards where Remus and Snape. She studied the smiling face of Remus Lupin, a lump forming in her throat. So many people died in the war, so many lives wasted because of an arrogant powerful git that wanted the world down to his feet.

Snape's card also looked exactly like she remembered him. Dark eyes, pale skin, dark hair, arms crossed in front of his chest and his expression the usual mix of a scowl and a sneer. With a sigh, she tucked the cards into her pocket.

She spent the last part of her journey remembering the people she had loved and lost and those who lived. The sun slowly vanished from the horizon and night settled in. The screeching wheels of the train brought her back from her daze. Time had passed by fast and they had arrived in Hogsmeade. She rose carefully, grabbed her things still feeling a bit dizzy and made her way through the wagons to the platform.

Barely setting foot on said platform she felt herself pulled into the arms of an enormous man who hugged her tightly, almost strangling her.
"How are yeh? I've been waiting fer yeh forever!"

She returned the hug, which she indeed had needed after her minds excursion to the war time, as good as possible in her position.
"Hagrid! It's so nice to see you! I'm fine, I'm fine..." Hermione looked up at him and smiled. "Yourself?"

"Wonderful!" He practically beamed down at her, released her from his arms and looked around. "No luggage Hermione?"

She pointed to her bag and the container and smiled. "I'm a witch, you know? And I finally made it to that shop you had recommended to me. They really had some amazing stuff!" Her eyes lit up as she remembered the tiny, barely noticeable shop in Diagon Alley, which sold all kinds of magical house wares, some of them big enough for Hagrid to use.

"Ohh before I forget!" She opened her bag and handed a small parcel to him which enlarged as soon as the half giant touched it.
"A little thanks for your help and all.."

He hugged her again and she was sure that he was blushing furiously underneath his beard.
"Wouldn' have been necessary..." He mumbled.

They started to make their way towards the castle in silence. Hogwarts looked as impressive as ever, slightly illuminated against the darkness of the night, a big amount of light escaping through the windows of the great hall. Hermione inhaled deeply. The air was chilly and clear. Feeling refreshed and relaxed she couldn't help but smile, it felt good to be back at Hogwarts so maybe this research job was going to be enjoyable.

"Everyone's been waitin' for yeh, yeh know? Minerva's curious as hell to see yeh! And Severus -"

"You call him by his first name?" She blurted out.

Hagrid's face reddened again.
"Yeah, he's a fine man... much like Dumbledore.." A picture of Snape in one of Dumbledore's glorious colorful robes formed in her head followed by a memory of Neville's boggart and she giggled.

"So how is it?"

"No no! Yeh'll see! Yeh should've come to visit more often.."
She indeed had avoided visiting the school despite various invitations from Hagrid and other professors. She didn't know why she'd done it at first but she had figured out that she probably had never been ready to face a place where so many people she knew so well had died. The battle had left her with quite a few horrors to hound her at night and it was still difficult to walk the grounds knowing of all the bodies that had once soaked the earth with blood.

"I'm sorry about that.." She paused. "So what's with the headmaster?"

"Made some kind o' fuzz about yer quarters with the ministry, wanted you in the school not down there." The half giant gestured towards Hogsmeade with his head.

"Mhm... So.. How is he? As headmaster I mean."

"Fine man Hermione, fine man.. Got me out o' trouble after tha' travelin' thin', remember? Risked a dementor's kiss fer himself an' all jus' after bein' out o' St. Mungos."

Hermione didn't remember much from the first few weeks after Voldemort's downfall. The battle and the previous events had been stressful and the time after hadn't been any better because she had had all the media on her heels and almost everyone, knowing her or complete stranger, congratulated her for being such a big help to Harry. She somehow managed to remember that Hagrid had to face the Wizengamot for bringing the giants to civilized places.

"So he saved you from going to Azkaban..."

"Yeh can say tha'"

"I see..."

They continued their walk in silence until they reached the front doors. As soon as Hagrid had opened the door for her, Hermione found herself in the firm embrace of Minerva McGonagall, her former head of house. The elderly witch had not aged since the last battle and the smile of the usually stern woman that showed off on various occasions and had vanished after the death of Albus Dumbledore for quite a while was back in place.

"Hermione! How are you dear? I haven't seen you in ages!"

"I'm fine, really I am!" Hermione also smiled brightly. She liked her former professor a lot, during the time at the order and after the war they became quite friendly with each other. She loved to discuss her ideas and theories with her, the witch always had some things on her mind, which she herself wouldn't have thought about at first.

Poor Hagrid was forgotten.

"The headmaster will be down in a few minutes. I just heard that you were coming and decided to go and see you! So, tell me, are you here for -"

The woman was cut off by a familiar deep voice, which made Hermione turn her gaze towards the source of the sound.

"Good evening."

There he was, Severus Snape, still tall and still... full stop. He was not scowling, not sneering but instead he was smiling slightly! There also was a decent lively color on his face and the once hard features were smoothed and softened a remarkable degree. His hair was much shorter but it seemed to be fuller and less to absolutely not greasy as she remembered it to be from years ago. Hermione couldn't help but stare for a moment as memories of the last time she had seen him rushed back into her head.

The wizarding world had been in utter shock when Snape had risen from the dead 48 hours after Voldemort's downfall, less then 24 hours after Harry had cleared his reputation from being a death eater and declared him a war hero.

The only answer to the question how he had survived was "precautions". No matter how much money the reporters offered for the exclusive information he kept his silence. It also was rumored that he had the responsible healers at St. Mungos under wand oath not to spill a single word to anyone.

Hermione remembered quite well the shock she had experienced as Snape, declared officially dead and supposed to be left in the cold dungeons until his funeral, had suddenly appeared in the infirmary's door frame, panting heavily, skin almost a bright white and hands bloody from digging his own nails into the skin as he fought for the strength to make it from the dungeons to the hospital wing. Or at least to the remainders of said hospital wing.
The next thing she remembered was him collapsing on the floor, his dark eyes fixed on hers, never leaving her until he lost consciousness a few minutes later.

She finally managed a decent "good evening professor", when he approached her and shook her hand.

"Minerva, you can have her all to yourself in the morning. I have a few things to discuss with Miss Granger."

"I wish you both a good night then"

Without another word he led her towards the stairs. The last thing Hermione saw before she fixed her gaze on Snape was the small smile that graced professor McGonagall's features.

sssSsss

Hate it? Loved it? Found any mistakes? Please review! :)

I'm doing my best writing in English, so if they are any major mistakes please let me know!