Love through Time (SS/HG/RL)

Remus Lupin

Severus and Hermione were again silent while walking towards the Gryffindor tower, only the clicking sounds of their shoes were echoeing down the hallway.

They didn't walk side by side, Severus walked faster than her and reached the Gryffindor tower first followed by Hermione, who was now breathing heavily because of trying to catch up on him.

The look that she made of exhaustion made Severus smirk in amusement.

"Exhausted, Granger?" he snarled. Hermione looked at him with a grimace patched on her face, "Well, it is not my fault that you walk faster than me Snape, besides, we've been walking for hours, and well...oh for Merlin's sake...you walk so fast!"

He grunted on her response.

"No, you're just slow Granger. Now go to your precious Gryffindor common room and fix up your things, we'll be starting in about...twelve in the afternoon after lunch, your new belongings have been brought already by the house-elves, you will find it on your bed, if you need something call some house elves to help you..." he said after.

Hermione looked at him with a frown, he glared back.

"What is it now Granger?" he spat.

Hermione pursed her lips and muttered.

" It's nothing " He still heard it though.

"Well then, I shall go now and fetch some of my books for our... research later " he replied curtly.

She nodded and he turned around, to walk away from the Granger girl, but then...

" Err...wait! Snape!" she called out.

He stopped in his tracks but didn't turn to look at her.

" What Granger?" he hissed.

"Uhh..I--I just wanted to say thank you, it's rather nice of you to help me in my situation right now, I really appreciate it, " she said out loud for him to hear because of their long distance.

He was surprised. No one actually thanked him, except for Lily of course...

'Lily' he thought gravely, Lily hates him now, she already ended their friendship, the only person who really acknowledged him, who smiles at him genuinely, who had been nice to him and...thank him...was now gone.

And now Granger seemed to do that to him also, she understands him...might actually want to be friends with him too,  sure it only had been a day of their...meeting but still. Despite that, he didn't want to get his hopes up, maybe one day Granger will hate him too...like Lily did.

He sighed and massaged his temples, it was now silent, he can't hear any movement from behind, is she gone?

He turned around.

Gone.

And so did he, gone with a flash walked to his dorm, still thinking about the Granger girl.

'Maybe, this year won't be bad after all...' he thought solemnly, and for the first time in months he smiled, but not too widely, might ruin his image if somebody in the other houses, or even Potter and his wretched friends saw it.

***
Meanwhile in the Gryffindor tower...

When Hermione finally reached the portait of the fat lady, who was surprised because of the unfamiliar face in front of her, gave the password.

It didn't open.

'Of course' she thought with drip of sarcasm.

She looked up at the portrait where the fat lady stood narrowing her eyes at her.