Well Worth It

Summary: Do to complications with Voldemort, Snape ends up staying with Hermione Granger over the summer. Takes place the summer before seventh year. A/U.

Disclaimer: I do not, and will never own the Harry Potter series or it's characters, for they belong to JK Rowling. I just borrow them to have fun with. :)

Chapter 1: A Backround to the Beginning

"Crucio!"

A new wave of pain shot through Severus. He was suffering once again at the hands of his alleged lord. He wasn't quite sure what had gone wrong during this particular meeting, but something definitely had gone wrong. The only thing Severus heard as everything started to black out, was the ending of the incantation by Voldemort. Voldemort looked from Severus, who was lying on the floor unconscious, to the Death Eaters standing in a ring around himself and Snape, scowling.

"Proceed. Don't kill him. Bring him to the gate of Hogwarts when you are finished with your...fun. He will serve as a warning to the old fool." he hissed to his Death Eaters. He turned with one last malevolent look towards Snape, and walked out of the room.

-SHr-

"Hermione, are you going to go to Hogsmeade with us this weekend?" asked Ron as he shoveled a spoonful of food into his mouth.

"No, I'm afraid not. I can't...I have so much studying to do. Exams are in two weeks! I can't possibly..." Harry and Ron looked at each other, rolled their eyes and groaned. However, Hermione who, as usual, was oblivious to the transaction between the boys (or so they thought), just kept on talking.

"Urgh...Hermione..." Ron whined. She stopped and gave him a small glare.

"Really, I would, but there is just two much for me to review. I'd advise you two to stay back and review too, but we all know that that won't ever happen." She stopped and looked at the boys and saw the frown on both their faces. "Oh, come on guys, I'm sorry, really. This is the most important thing to me right now. You guys can go into town without me just this once. We still have next year. I'll tell you what though, you can pick me up some candy from Honeydukes, or smuggle a Butterbeer back for me. I really should go now. I left some books in the common room that are in need of being returned to the library. See you later." With that, Hermione walked out of the Great Hall. Harry and Ron looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and went back to eating.

"Hey, Ron did you see Hermione eat anything?" asked Harry.

"Uhhh...no," he said through a mouthful of food, "Why?" he finished after swallowing.

"Just weird, is all." Harry looked at Ron, and they both just shrugged their shoulders, and started to talk about what they were going to do on their last trip to Hogsmeade.

-SHr-

Hermione was running until she came to the stairs. It was then she started walking the rest of the way to the Gryffindor Common room up in Gryffindor Tower. After all, what good would it be for her to run up the stairs, and risk getting hurt? She wouldn't be able to take her exams then. 'No, that would not be good at all.' Plus, she was in a hurry to get her books out of there before the common room filled up with students going to the Hogsmeade Village. Lost in her own thoughts, she walked down the hall and bumped into Professor Dumbledore.

"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, sir! I'm sorry. I was lost in thought and wasn't paying attention to where I was..." before she could finish her sentence and make a fool out of herself, the Professor interrupted her.

"Quite alright, Miss Granger, quite alright. Miss Granger, might I ask why you are not in the Great Hall with your friends discussing what you will do on your last trip to Hogsmeade this year?" he asked. Hermione looked up at him, and took a moment to study him. The normal sparkles that were usually in his eyes were gone, and he was unusually pale. However, what alarmed Hermione the most was that the Headmaster looked everyday his 150 -something years. Something was terribly wrong.

"I was going to go return some books to the library, then get in a few hours of studying in. Exams are just around the corner. Sir, is everything alright?"

"To be quite honest, Miss Granger, no. But do not worry about it. It is not something you need to worry about at the present time. You have enough on your hands at the time, what with the end of the year exams in two weeks. Your time is much better spent on that than listen to an old man like myself carry on about things. Besides, it wouldn't be very good if our future Head Girl flunked her exams, now would it?" he said with a slight smile. Hermione just stood there gaping at him. "I'll see you at dinner, Miss Granger. Good luck with your studies," he said and continued to walk down the hall. It was then that Hermione snapped back to reality.

"Goodbye, sir, and thank you!" she yelled after him. Hermione smiled her first real smile that morning and started to walk towards Gryffindor Tower again, this time with more to think about. 'I'll be Head Girl? This is like a dream come true. But I wonder what is wrong. It's not like the Headmaster to be like that. He said it was nothing for me to worry about yet. Does that mean that in some way, I'm involved with whatever is happening? Well, I guess the best thing for right now, is to let everything unfold on its own, right?' Hermione nodded to herself, and looked up. She was already at the common room entrance.

The Fat Lady smiled down at her, "Hello, Dearie. Password?"

"Hello. Gryffindor Rules," she answered with a smile.

"Indeed. Have a nice day Dearie."

"You as well, and thank you." The Fat Lady nodded and the portrait opened. Hermione walked through to the common room.

End of Chapter 1

A/N: This is my first fic, so any constructive criticism is welcome. Also, I am in need of a beta. So, if someone is interested, it would be greatly appreciated. I shall try to make future chapters longer than this one. Please R&R. thanks.

-OdangoAtama17-