Always Kiss Me Goodnight

Chapter One - New Blood

(To the reader - this is my first ever fanfic and I hope you enjoy. Comments always welcome)

"Please give Miss Granger your warmest welcome. She will be joining us as our new Defence Against the Dark Arts" said Dumbledore as the large hall doors sprung open.

As the school began to clap their hands they were met with silence. Miss Granger was not there. Both the staff and pupils looked perplexed apart from Dumbledore. He knew that Hermione Granger had always been one to make an entrance and her first day as a teacher would be no different. He smiled and waited patiently at the lectern.

Suddenly a beautiful white owl flew in leaving a trail of sparks behind it. The magnificent creature flew around the Great Hall, swooping down low across fascinated pupils. The owl came to rest at Dumbledore's feet before transforming swiftly into human form. Cheers erupted and Hermione smiled warmly before shaking Dumbledore's hand.

"You have not changed a bit Hermione." He whispered while putting a hand on her back and gesturing to her seat at the staff table.

As she walked the short distance to her seat she caught Professor Snape's eye. He looked disgusted. There was no smile or warm greeting just a cold and soulless stare. She felt like a child again who had smashed a vase accidentally.

'Why does this man not change?. Surely working here now makes me an equal. Yes I used to be irritating when I was younger but now I am a grown woman of twenty five','she thought

Hermione confidently took her seat next to Severus and did not say a word. There was no acknowledgement  or even a glance, he simply remained expressionless and jealously radiated from him.
Dumbledore knew how he felt but the darkness that Severus carried made him a bad candidate for the role. Dumbledore just hoped that Hermione could get through these next few months without a hitch.

She would need the the strength of an ox to put up with Severus as he could be terribly stubborn and cantankerous.

Dumbledore just knew that somehow these two opposite personalities would attract and work together. In some ways he also hoped that her delicate nature would soften Severus down a bit. He had rough edges and much pain from his previous history as a Deatheater.

XxX

Hermione enjoyed her first evening meal as a staff member. She listened in to the quiet hum of conversations that were taking place in the school and had fond memories of her time as a young student with Ron and Harry.
Occasionally she felt the silk fabric of Severus's robe as he reached over for his glass still barely speaking a word to anyone else around him.

An hour has passed and the Great Hall has started to become empty as the pupils made their way back to their dormitories. Severus rose from his seat and abruptly pushed his chair back in place whilst giving a quick nod to Dumbledore and made his way back to his private rooms. His black silk robes billowed around him as they caught the air.

"He's a big softy underneath all that fabric. Give him time Hermione and he will come round. It took me only two years" a gruff voice spoke.
Hagrid was quite a welcome voice to her ears as she turned and smiled at him.

"After all this time he is still the same. Do you think he really hates me for getting the position?"

"Well, he might be a bit moody about it but I assure you he won't cause you any problems.  The war changed him,"

"I hope so. He does make me terribly nervous but I will try to persevere," she replied.

XxX