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The death of a git, the rise of a hero...	By : h0lden Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 13301 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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"To our seventh years I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors..."

Albus Dumbledore's voice droned on and on about everything and anything as Hermione Granger sat decidedly depressed at the Gryffindor table wishing that her life was over. The school year was at an end. Her life was just starting and she desperately wanted it to end.

She looked across the table to Harry who sat stoically looking up to Dumbledore with an unreadable expression on his face. His green eyes were glassy and Hermione was sure he was just as bored as she was. But she didn't dare try to speak to him. He hadn't even tried to explain his actions from weeks before.

Harry hadn't been speaking to her for the better part of three weeks and now the end of the school year was here and where was she off to? The burrow to spend time wier fer friends and enjoy her childhood for one last time? No. That had been taken away from her the instant she became engaged to...that.

She gave a short glance at the sullen Potion's Professor as he sat haughtily, looking to Dumbledore with obvious contempt and she couldn't help but want to strangle the greasy git. Here she was miserable and losing all friends whilst he went along with his life pretending nothing had happened. The mere nerve of it all.

There had been no more meetings because one rainy afternoon Dumbledore had assured Hermione in the confines of his office that such occurrences would be taking place at their new location over the summer to involve the order. Oh goodie.

Now Hermione noticed the shadowy frown on Snape's face, noticing the finger that tapped absently at the crook of his folded arms, noticed the sickly waxen appearance of his face. She was going to be married to that? She felt her stomach lurch as she looked back to her meal in a confused and utterly repulsed fashion. It didn't matter than she didn't have to sleep with him, the mere fact was odds were she was going to have to marry Severus Snape, live in his home and see him all the time. That was enough to make anyone sick.

Ginny sat a few seats away wondering why on earth Hermione would even be looking at the greasy git if she didn't have to and noticed as Hermione sighed and looked back to her food with an ill look on her face as Dumbledore included his dull speech.

Much applause, cheering and general boisterous laughing and conversing commenced as Gryffindor was named house champions once again. But Hermione couldn't bring herself to cheer a little. What was there to be happy about? She was seventeen, engaged and miserable. Worst of all Harry wasn't talking to her, Ron had been his usual oblivious self and Ginny had just been plain annoying chatting her ear off about anything pertaining to any topic. More than anything she wished things were the way they were before.

She noticed that everyone seemed to be having a good time and decided it was a most opportune time to leave. No one would miss her. She slipped off her large hat and placed it on the table as she left, noticing that Harry didn't even look up to see her go from his position at the table.

Her parents hadn't taken the news well. Hermione knew that her parent's never truly wanted her to be a witch they merely agreed to her interest, hoping it would fade with time. But now engaged to a head wizard knew their hopes of their little girl following in their footsteps could never be.

They hadn't been informed of Voldemort's hand in this -"Too dangerous to send that kind of information by owl"- but the mere fact that their daughter was engaged to one of her Professor�s did little to soothe them.

"But, I thought it wasn't final." Hermione had said worried, "You said I probably wouldn't even have to marry Professor Snape."

Dumbledore had nodded wearily, his spectacles sliding down his nose as he spoke. "I did indeed Miss Granger, and I stand by what I said. I am merely doing this to inform your parents of your absence for the summer whilst maintaining our story for those who wish to tamper with the mail system."

"Seems like an awful lot of work for something that's not going to happen." Hermione had added with emphasis, seeing the clear look of worry in Dumbledore's eyes, which had scared her.

But now on the last night as her sixth year in Hogwarts Hermione relayed the thoughts that drifted through her mind.

Might as well go up to bed. she thought miserably, holding back a yawn as she trotted to the common room to the tired Fat Lady whom she relayed the password to and then rushed up to the girl's dormitory and to her bed.

She had already packed the majority of her things, leaving only her things to wear tomorrow and the vitals. She looked to the saddening suitcase with a frown and fell backwards onto her bed, holding back the tears that started, making her chin wiggle sporadically.

"Hermione?"

It was Ginny. Figured.

"Hey Ginny." Hermione offered weakly, holding in the tears and forcing a smile onto her face. Ginny looked a bit peaked herself and came over to Hermione with a slight grimace. There was an air of uncomfortable questions that Hermione knew she'd have to answer sooner or later, she had just been hoping for the latter.

"You left in such a hurry," She said sitting next to Hermione on the bed, "I hadn't even a chance to ask when you were coming to the burrow."

There was a heavy silence, one in which Hermione couldn't even meet the eyes of Ginny who seemed to have been expecting it. There was a sickly moment of recognition that flashed in the blue eyes across from her and then finally the words that confirmed it.

"You're not coming to the burrow." It was a statement, not a question and with a heavy heart Hermione looked sorrowfully to Ginny and nodded darkly. Ginny nodded back as if in a trance before speaking again with solidarity. "You're not going to tell me why, are you?"

Hermione again shook her head, feeling the complete break down of her spirits starting. She was going to be alone. Ginny said nothing more but stood, the bed creaking under the loss of weight.

"Have a nice summer then." Ginny offered stiffly before leaving the room, her head held high and a small crease in her brow. The door shut quietly behind her as she rejoined the festivities invariably being held in the common room.

It was then that Hermione Granger, once future head girl and know-it-all of Hogwarts rolled over in her bed and sobbed at the fact that her life as she knew it was over.

* * *

"Thank you for arriving on time Miss Granger." Dumbledore said with a small smile the next morning in the empty foyer of Hogwarts. It had been cleared out that very morning with jovial students alike heading off to the Hogwarts express.

No one had come to say goodbye. Except Neville, but he didn't count really. She had watched out the window as all her friend's left for their homes, happy smiles about their faces and felt her heart crumbling as she dwelled upon her summer's residence.

She had sworn she saw Harry look up to her window, gaze at her and then leave off with Ron and Ginny but she knew she was wrong. Why would he be looking at her?

She still didn't understand why Harry was mad at her, why should he be? When had she been anything but totally and utterly honest about everything? Was her candid nature and knowledge a surprise? Surely not, she'd known him since they were eleven and she honestly didn't see what the whole fuss was about.

"I'm not going to have to marry him." she had muttered to herself as she got dressed that day, images of Snape and Harry rolling about in her head as she brushed her hair diligently.

Now in the foyer with her bags packed and a brave smile on her face Hermione stood beside Dumbledore, awaiting his orders. If anything this would be a learning experience for her, perhaps there would be some new books to read or some new lessons to memorize, just anything to take her mind off of-

"Ah Severus."

Hermione slightly shuddered at the name and didn't bother to look around as the sound of swishing robes trailing on the ground and echoing march of boots across the stone floor invaded her ears. She knew it was him.

"Headmaster."

The bored, rumbling timber sounded behind her and she suddenly wished Dumbledore had sent her off already. Standing near Snape was making her angry and uneasy and it wasn't a pleasant mix.

Snape stood a few feet away behind her, looking to her bushy head and inwardly sighing. How was he ever to convince anyone that he'd marry that? Lucius had been beyond suspicious at their last meeting together at the Hog's Head, questioning Severus mercilessly about Hermione. It had been twelve fire whiskey�s and one woman of questionable character that Snape hired to get him off his back.

He saw her shifting stance and crossed arms and had to stifle a groan of disdain. An entire summer with her. The know-it-all that no one could stand, not even her friends. He had seen the cold shoulder routine and couldn't help but find perverse satisfaction in it. Little chit knew how it felt now.

He didn't want to admit it and never really would, but he truly disliked her and it was for a very adolescent reason. The order of Merlin. He hated to dwell on it, but every day he had to put up with her irritating presence or her know-it-all screechy voice ringing in his ears was just one more stab at his pride. That little brat had stolen his order of Merlin right from under his nose...and spelled him to boot. No, he didn't just dislike Hermione Granger, he believed he just might hate her. The tricky thing was, he was fairly certain that she hated him right back.

She was a rule-breaker, plain and simple. The day she had gotten involved with that no good Potter was the day she had sealed her fate in his book. He had no regard for those who put themselves into danger only for hopes of recognition. There was nothing worse than someone who was famous for nothing. Potter and Lockheart were prime examples. A boy who killed Voldemort when he was a baby and a man whom if ever came across Voldemort would undoubtedly cry like a baby.

In truth he was sick of babysitting the lot of them. If that damned Harry Potter would just sit still for one year it would make his job a whole lot easier. But no, the little sod had to keep on getting into more mischief year after year after year and who was there to clean the mess up? Him. And who never got recognition for it? Him.

In truth the mere fact that Hermione was affiliated with the boy wonder was her own failure in his eyes. He had no tolerance for follower's of that ilk. Sod the lot of them.

"Well I should be going." Albus said softly, placing a small gumdrop on the ground with a creak of his back as he stood in alignment once more. "Wouldn't want to be late."

"Aren't you coming with us?" Hermione asked in a rather strangled voice. Alone with Snape? Surely he was joking. Hermione had always admired Dumbledore for many things but at times she seriously questioned his lack of judgment.

Leaving an ex Deatheater alone with a student he hated? Could there be a stupider thing to do? Albus took one look at them and gave them a shrug of an apparent laid back nature.

"Surely not Miss Granger, I know where we're headed. It's you whom weren't privy to the disclosed location."

Hermione ground her teeth; honestly it was like talking to the bloody cat in the hat sometimes. Backwards land where the entire breadth of Professor's are dolts and the student's are the only ones that make any sense.

Snape didn't seem to pleased himself having dramatically stepped forward with a swoosh of his robes (almost knocking Hermione's suitcase over in the process) to give Dumbledore a surely deserved eyebrow raise accompanied with a decent glower.

"Headmaster I-" Snape growled, hoping to convey to the Headmaster his feelings of the trepidation at the dangerous of travelwithwith the hormonal student via a gumdrop port key.

"I shall Apparate there immediately." Albus said interrupting him and going on with a smile on his face as his beard flowed down his middle. "I shall see you both there shortly."

And with that he was gone.

Snape looked to his side and down at the grim girl at his side. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes glazed over with what appeared to be angry tears. Oh splendid, a whole summer of that. He looked to the reddish gumdrop feeling rather stupid at their mode of transportation. A bloody gumdrop.

"Well, what do we do now?"

"What do you think you silly little girl?" Snape snapped rudely, wishing that he was anywhere but his current location and situation. He could already feel the suffocation of being trapped in a marriage upon him, and all anger was mis-directed at the almost innocent Hermione Granger. "I advise we follow his directions."

Hermione looked decidedly peeved at his rudeness and had obviously had quite enough of it. She sighed deeply and spoke in calm, even tones at her despised Professor. "I don't appreciate being treated like an imbecile sir."

"Then don't give me a reason to do so." Snape said absently, stepping forward and looking down at the confectionary sweet near the tip of his right boot.

Hermione looked to the man she had so often stood up for, called logical and taken pride that she was being educated by him. How naive a child she had been, the man was a monster.

"I can't believe he left me alone with you." She muttered darkly, half hoping Snape had heard her and half hoping he hadn't. In the end, hadn't would have been a better choice.

He went rigid then, not even daring to look at her with the anger that was swelling within him. How dare she even speculate that he was unworthy of Dumbledore's trust? Those long tunnel-like eyes of his finally met her's probing her into submissive fear until he spoke dimly.

"Dumbledore happens to trust me."

The words were short and concise but Hermione knew they were weighed heavily in his mind. He meant those words, and they meant a lot to him. Hermione chose not to say any more, no good would come of it. There was a long, awful pause and soon the guilt overrode her and she had to speak up.

"I'm sorry sir it-"

"It's time we made our departure Miss Granger." Snape said icily, his back to her. "Kindly stop blabbing and step up and bring your suitcase with you."

"But there's only one port key." Hermione pointed out bluntly as she followed his directions and grasped her satchel firmly in her hand. Snape shut his eyes a moment pinching the bridge of his nose dramatically before lowering the hand, opening the eyes and looking at her as if she were the biggest dunderhead since Neville.

"I am well aware of that Miss Granger," he said scathingly, "And it would appear we have only one course of action."

Hermione squinted at him as she tried to decipher the meaning, but before she could do so he had grasped her wrist, dragged her roughly to him and with his free hand had grasped the gumdrop.

There was a twist at her navel, a spiraling of colors and then...

She stood against Snape with his arm still around her in a room she barely recognized for a moment. Her head was spinning and her stomach heaved a moment before settling.

It appeared that the same had occurred to Snape as they both stood blinking and shaking their heads a moment before looking down, realizing they were still clinging together and with mutual outburst of horror broke apart and walked off in separate directions. Hermione to Dumbledore and Snape to the fire.

Gads...I touched him...again. she shuddered at the fact that in the past month she'd done more than brush up against Severus Snape, that thought along sending her stomach heaving. She tried to take her mind off of it by looking at her new surroundings and appreciating the delectable scent wafting into the room.

The current room looked all too familiar and it took Hermione a full minute to realize where they were. When she did she nearly shrieked with joy as she raced over to Dumbledore. With a grin on her face she threw her arms around him as he nearly toppled backward over the chair he was standing in front of.

"Thank you Headmaster."

Dumbledore had stationed the Order at The Burrow for the summer, and with a small twinkle in his eye he smiled softly at Hermione. It had been the least he could do for the poor girl and apparently the right thing to do as the once depressed girl looked near tears from excitement.

Snape looked over from the fire at the first sounds of Hermione's squealing with a venomous look of fury painted upon his sallow face. Any outsider would insist it was jealousy. Jealousy over Hermione? Surely not. Jealousy over the fact that the litte brat was so overjoyed and that Albus had done it all for her. Her. Not him.

Again I'm brushed to the side. Snape thought sourly as Dumbledore revelled in Hermione's animated presence. What had Snape ever offered but sullen sarcasm? Might as well just throw myself into the fire...as if anyone would notice. Appears we all know who's Albus Dumbledore's favorite person is now...

"Your friend's will be arriving shortly I believe...along with the rest of the Order." Albus said to Hermione with a merry twinkle in his eyes, "And unless my senses deceive me I believe that Molly has some cookies waiting just for you in the kitchen."

Hermione's eyes sparkled with new light. She had her life back again...almost. Harry, Ron, Ginny...she'd have the whole summer to spend with them as soon as she explained herself. She could have cried at this thought and she looked up to the Headmaster with new respect.

How could she describe her feeling of undying thanks? She nodded, looking to Dumbledore with utter and total admiration and said the only thing she could.

"Thank you sir, I had no idea."

Dumbledore nodded, trying to look stern as he looked down at her from behind his half moon spectacles a small smile appearing on his lips as he spoke. "Sometimes I believe you don't give me the credit I deserve Miss Granger."

"Yes sir."

Hermione said with a smile and with one final thank you dashed into the kitchen with Dumbledore's reassurance in her mind, finally giving the once despairing Gryffindor all the hope she needed.

_______________________________________________

Author�s notes: Before any of you get worried that I�m moving into slash,Snape is not jealous of Hermione because he�s in love with Dumbledore, it�s more the fact that Dumbledore�s been like a father to Snape and he�s jealous of the attention Hermione�s receiving from Dumbledore as Snape believes all attention should be given to him. (ex. almost siblings battling for attention from parents) What can I say? The man�s got a complex. Thanks for the reviews! cheers. holden.

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The death of a git, the rise of a hero...