It just...happened...

The two stubborn gits walked back wordlessly, Hermione still humiliated after the way she had acted and Snape was…well….Snape.

They were standing quite a deal apart, not really meeting the other’s eyes, which loomed when the other wasn’t looking. It was comical really.

Hermione couldn’t help but notice as she stood almost beside him, as she glanced down to avert her eyes on time, that he had really wonderful hands. They were long and tapered fingers, that didn’t seem to match the rest of him. Sure, he was a graceful walker, he did so with such a flourish that Hermione herself felt clumsy next to him. But they were so…she couldn’t find the words, and didn’t bother thinking about it further.

She hummed tunelessly until she caught wind of Snape’s glare in her general direction. She immediately corked her whistling and her grip on the bucket grew tighter. She was always doing something stupid when he was around lately…why?

She had been so calm and poised and above all, dignified all through her years at Hogwarts. Now, this her seventh year all she had to do was pass him in the halls, have him glare at her and she was shaken. Thankfully her work hadn’t suffered, that would have been her end.

Her mind traced back to Harry then, her poor, pale friend…her almost brother comatose in the hospital bed, Ron had been acting so strangely it was bizarre, and Dumbledore’s sudden disappearance…it was all a bit strange in her opinion.

Snape coughed suddenly next to her, lightly and quite gentlemanly if a cough could be categorized as such. He placed the hanky back into his dark cloak pocket, and Hermione faintly made out his initials S.S.

‘Like anyone would want to steal it.’ Hermione thought with a sudden bubble of laughter that died on her lips. It was a mean thing to think. But…he had made her suffer tonight, surely it was almost past ten at night. It seemed that they had been walking forever.

“Professor?” Hermione asked timidly, “Are we lost?”

Snape shot a dark look in her direction, “Surely not Granger.” He said, his hands defiantly on his hips as he stood his ground and gave her a brooding look.

‘Muggle men and Wizards are all the same…Never want to ask for directions.’ Hermione stifled another laugh at her thought and then nodded, embarassed that she had even brought it up.

He sighed emicalically, just to prove how annoying she was to be with, and continued his long strides ahead of her, surging through the underbrush and thickets and trees that surrounded them.

She snuck another look at the pasty Potion’s Professor, and wondered if he was as afraid as she was. With Harry Potter unconscious in the Hospital wing with Voldemort on the loose…she eredered suddenly.

Did he really know where they were going? Was it all a lie to keep her suspicions and overreacting at bay? Bollocks. The man was a human puzzle; you never knew what to expect.

They stepped out of the mouth of the forest and Hermione felt a sudden surge of lost anxiety…they would be back to Hogwarts within moments, out of the cold…and away from dark and prying eyes.

She felt a small pang in her chest, as if she was almost regretting leaving. But why? Stay out in the cold with Severus Snape while he berated her? Bloody hell, she obviously had vapor lock on her brain.

Hogwarts came into view just then, and Hermione felt a sense of relief flush over her. She and Snape were almost back at Hogwarts…no more of his berating…just some nice pumpkin juice and a long, dreamless sleep awaited her. The mere thought rose a small wistful smile on her rosy lips.

“Just as I promised Granger.” Snape muttered darkly, throwing her a formidable glance “Hogwarts.”

Hermione looked to him uncertainly; he looked almost offended…but at what? Surely not that she was leaving him with such haste? Or was it his hurt pride over the fact that she had questioned him on their whereabouts moments prior. He frowned at her and continued their trodding towards the school.

None of her worries mattered now, all that did was she was going to be safe, in Hogwarts…perhaps Harry would be awake! That in itself made her trudge on faster, almost overtaking Snape as he quickly quickened his own pace. Funny, they hadn’t been walking that fast before…almost taking their time. No…their heavy wear had weighed them down was all.

When they reached the large doors and shoved them open Hermione was shocked to see a large group of Professors all standing in the great hall, looking with wide eyes towards the door.

They saw Hermione and Snape enter, shivering and looking quite befuddled. McGonagal was standing next to a sudden arrived Dumbledore, who looked more morose than Hermione had ever seen him.

She looked up to the narrowed eyed face of Snape, and saw as her stomach dropped that he looked utterly lost and…could it be frightened? Snape didn’t get frightened…he was…Snape.

“Go to bed Miss Granger.” Snape suddenly ushered not lng ang at her, nudging her a bit with his hand…a sudden whirl of emotions started in her stomach as his fingers made the contact with her back.

She nodded and was prepared to go off to bed when Dumbledore rushed over towards the pair, his usual twinkling eyes were now wild and caused a tremor of fear to raise in Hermione’s heart.

“What is it Albus?” Snape asked gruffly, looking to her with a sudden pang in his chest and…forearm. Obviously something was amiss; Professors weren’t on first name basis with the Headmaster in front of students.

Dumbledore wasn’t looking to Snape though, his blue eyes were focussed now on the wildly frightened Hermione Granger, whose heart was beating at an alarming rate.

“Miss Granger.” He said, looking to her morosely, as Hermione spied the other professors with teary eyes and scared expressions…this did nothing to calm her nerves.

“Yes Headmaster?” she said, her voice sounded different, strangled almost, as if she were hearing another person’s voice.

He looked so sullen then that Hermione wanted nothing more to hug him as he placed a comforting hand on Hermione’s shoulder.

“…Harry is gone.”