Only Time Will Tell

Chapter 2: The Witching Hour

Remus Lupin will wait for me, Hermione thought giddily as she hurried towards the Great Hall. She couldn't have asked for anything more. And she couldn't wait to see her best friends and her family.

Hermione felt like a princess going to a ball as she hurried towards the Great Hall where her friends and family were gathered, awaiting her arrival. How she had missed them this summer--Harry, Ron, Ginny, her parents. She smiled. In a matter of a few short weeks, her life had changed, dramatically. She'd have never believed it herself if she hadn't lived through it.

"HERMIONE!"

She ran towards them, into several very happy and very welcome embraces. Even Professor Dumbledore joining them for dinner did not dampen her spirits. She had her friends, she had her family, and she had Remus Lupin. What more could she want?

***

It was a couple of nights before the start of term and Ginny and Hermione were sleeping in the same room since the other students weren't there yet. It felt like a slumber party. They stayed up half the night talking, reminiscing, planning for the next year, pairing boys and girls in their minds.

Ginny rolled to look at Hermione. The light of the moon shining through the window made Hermione's face look pale but her brown curly hair looked oddly luminous. There had been a lull in their conversation and Hermione was staring at the ceiling, smiling to herself.

"So who is it?"

Ginny's voice brought Hermione out of her reverie. "Pardon me?"

"Who is it?" Ginny's voice sounded mysterious and mischievous at the same time.

"Who's who?" Hermione asked, feigning innocence.

Ginny groaned. "Hermione, you've been walking around on cloud nine since we got back. At first I thought you were just happy to see us, but that excitement's worn off the rest of us and you're still glowing." Ginny watched her best friend closely. She'd known Hermione long enough to know she was keeping a secret and Ginny was dying to know what it was.

Hermione looked at Ginny. "You sound like my mother."

"So I'm not the only one who's picked up on this mysterious beau of yours."

Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed. "Go to sleep Ginny, it's late."

Ginny laid on her back and looked out the window. The moon's pale glow washed over their beds. She could see the dusty colored craters vaguely accented along its edges. It had been full just a few nights ago. Now the moon was waning. The moon!

"OH MY GOD IT'S PROFESSOR LUPIN!" Ginny shouted, sitting bolt upright in bed. Ginny was smiling widely as comprehension washed over her face.

Hermione looked surprised, then burst out laughing. "Ginny, please, promise me you won't tell a soul. PROMISE ME!"

Ginny nearly jumped from her bed to Hermione's, beaming. "I won't, I promise," she giggled. "Merlin's beard he's the last person I'd have expected, but... well, you have had a crush on him for years now. Does he know?"

"Oh, he knows all right."

"Hermione, you didn't..."

Hermione blushed and looked at the floor.

"Oh my god you did."

***

The next day, the students arrived in droves at the Castle. There was a steady rain outside and Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were quite happy to be inside. Professor Dumbledore welcomed all of the new and returning students to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on the stool and the first years were sorted into houses. The beginning of the school year was always an exciting time. Harry mentioned with a note of sadness that this would be their last welcoming feast. Hermione nodded, but she had something else on her mind. Something she had been waiting to do since she'd returned to Hogwarts.

The feast ended and Dumbledore bid the students good night. Much to Harry and Ron's surprise, Hermione jumped up and walked to the staff table. Hagrid was delighted to see her and shook her hand warmly. Hermione smiled before turned her attention to the man sitting next to Hagrid.

"I believe I have something that you quite mistakenly left in my possession. Since I have no need of it, I am returning it to you." She kept her face as even as possible, hiding the anger that bubbled just beneath the surface. She slid the thin box containing the pure silver letter opener that he'd so brazenly thrust upon her at the beginning of last summer across the table. She gave him as dark a look as she dared.

"There was no mistake, Miss Granger." His voice was cold and slippery and the words dripped from his tongue.

"Ah, yes, Professor Snape, that is where we differ. You see, there was a mistake made, and that would be your mistake, Professor Snape, not mine."

Snape opened his mouth to speak but Hermione had already spun around in a flurry of robes and walked away. She could just imagine Snape fuming behind her. Smiling, she caught up with Ron and Harry.

"What was that about?" asked Ron.

"Oh, nothing, I just had something I needed to take care of."

"With Snape?"

"Yes, Ron, with Snape," Hermione said, exasperation sounding in her voice.

Ron and Harry exchanged glances before letting Hermione's odd behavior drop.