All the way

With a \'pop\', Hermione appeared in front of Luna\'s house. It was a small cottage with a garden full of poppies. She made her way up the path and to the front door. Hermione lifted her hand and knocked.

After a second, Luna opened the door. Hermione had to admit that Luna had grown out of her weird ways. She still acted a little dreamily though.

\"Hello Hermione, Come in,\" She walked back into the house and Hermione followed her into a long hall, \"Have a seat in the living room, I’ll get some drinks.\"

Hermione peered into one of the rooms and then entered. It was a small living area with a sofa facing the fire place. There was not much else in the room, but the dark red on the wall made it look rather full.

Hermione settled herself on one end of the sofa and soon Luna joined her, handing her a glass of pumpkin juice.

\"So, do you have some news?\" She asked eagerly.

\"Well, yes. It\'s the Appeal date,\" Hermione frowned, \"its tomorrow.\"

\"WHAT!\" Luna jumped up, spilling her drink all over the floor, \"That\'s brilliant!\"

\"No Luna,\" Hermione sighed, \"I have one day to find the witnesses I want, and persuade them, and make sure they can make it tomorrow!\"

\"Don\'t worry Hermione,\" Luna said, suddenly calm as she sat back down, \"You can do it.\" She patted Hermione on the arm, \"So, you want me to write that as our main story, right?\"

\"If you don\'t mind.\" Hermione said a little sheepishly. She knew that Luna would loose loads of readers by reporting good things about the appeal.

\"No Problem. Now off you go and find your witnesses.\" Luna took Hermione full glass and practically pushed her out of the house, \"See you soon!\" She called from the door way.

\"Ok, bye.\" Hermione smiled then apperated.
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Minerva was sitting in her office. She was bored. People thought that being a Head Mistress made you busy all the time, but she had hardly anything to do.

\"Minerva, my dear,\" Came a voice from the wall, \"Your boredom will pass soon enough.\"

\"Shut up, Albus.\" She said grumpily as she played with the sleeve of her robes.

Minerva looked up when a sudden knock startled her.

\"Come in!\" She called. Quickly, she straightened up in her chair and looked business like.

\"Hello Minerva,\" Hermione Granger said.

\"Hermione dear, come and sit down,\" She watched as the young woman entered the room and sat down, fidgeting badly, \"What is the matter?\"

\"I need a favor,\" She seemed to look up towards the painting of Albus Dumbledore. Minerva followed her gaze just in time to see the dead man give an encouraging nod, \"Would you please be a character witness for me?\"

\"For you?! Why what have you done?\" Minerva asked. She couldn\'t see Hermione getting in trouble.

\"No,\" She shook her head, \"Not me, my client.\"

\"And who\'s your client?\" Minerva asked kindly. Hermione mumbled something, \"Sorry dear, I didn\'t hear you. Who?\"

\"Professor Snape.\"

At first Minerva was sure she didn\'t hear right, and then she thought it was a joke, but the look on the girls face was deadly serious. Minerva choked.

\"W... What do you mean!?\"

\"Ask Professor Dumbledore, He\'s innocent!\" Hermione said desperately, pointing to the painting. Minerva looked up.

\"It is true Minerva, Severus has been wrongly imprisoned.\" The old man nodded slowly.

\"No, I can\'t... he can\'t... what do you mean Albus?\" Minerva was sure she was dreaming.

\"I will tell you the details later, but please help Miss Granger to free an innocent man.\" Albus told her kindly.

Minerva looked between the two of them, \"What will you need me to say?\" She asked faintly.

\"Just what you felt about him before he killed Professor Dumbledore, what he was like as a student and then a teacher and about what you thought about him over all.\" Hermione said hopefully.

Minerva had had her doubts that Severus did kill Albus, he seemed to worship the old man. But the evidence had been overwhelming and as time went on, the more she believed that he did commit the crime.

\"And... um, when would I been needed?\" She asked.

\"Tomorrow.\" Hermione said quietly, \"The Ministry sacked me because of perusing it, and then they only gave me a week to get it together.\"

\"They sacked you!\" Minerva stared wide eyed.

\"Well, they were going to, but I quit first.\" She said stubbornly.

\"You quit,\" Minerva smiled, \"Does that mean you will take the job here?\"

\"I don\'t have time to think about that right now,\" She said hurriedly \"but look, if you want to support me, come to court room two at the Ministry, at 9:30 tomorrow morning. If you don\'t come,\" The girl looked down and sighed sadly, \"I\'ll understand.\" She stood up, \"I really must go, I have lots to do. See you Minerva, Professor Dumbledore.\"

She left quickly. Minerva knew what she had to do. She had always had a soft spot for Hermione and, not having any children of her own, treated her like her daughter.

\"Albus,\" She looked up at the smiling man, \"Do you think that Flitwick would do his Deputy Head Master job tomorrow and look after my office? I know he likes his lie in\'s at the week end, but I don\'t think 9:30\'s too early, do you?\"
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At 11 pm, a very tired Hermione apperated to Azkaban. She rushed up the steps as fast as her worn out legs would go. She had spent all day rushing around all over Britain.

She had managed to persuade; Ginny and her mom and dad, Filch, maybe Minerva, maybe Flitwick, maybe Sprout and Remus and his new wife Tonks.

It was a good bunch of people, and she was lucky that most of them thought of her as family. The Ministry had played a dirty trick, but she had overcome it. They were going to be fine.

She entered the prison and walked up to the desk. The burley looking guard was asleep. Hermione leaned over carefully and took his keys.

She sprinted up the corridor and skidded to a stop at Snapes cell. As quietly as she could, Hermione unlocked the door and slipped in. It was dark and she could see the out line of Snape in bed, breathing evenly.

Silently, she shut the door and went over to the bed. She sat on the edge, near Snapes waist; he was lying on his back. Hermione took a moment to look at him. With the moonlight shining through the barred window, his skin looked flawless. In fact, he looked peaceful and almost -dare she say it- handsome.

Hermione shook her head, now was not the time to be thinking like that.

\"Professor,\" She cooed quietly, \"Professor, wake up...\" His eyelids fluttered open to revile his black gaze.

\"Miss Granger?\" He muttered.

\"Yes, it\'s me.\" She smiled, \"I told you I’d come back. Didn\'t believe me, eh?\"

\"What time is it?\" He moved into the sitting position.

\"About eleven, I’ve just finished getting our witnesses.\" She yawned.

\"Only just? Who, and how many, have we got?\" He said seriously.

\"We definitely have six people and we may have another three.\" Hermione smiled.

\"Who?\" He scowled.

\"Definitely Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Remus, Tonks, and Filch, and maybe Flitwick, Sprout and Minerva.\" She said proudly.
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\"How... how did you g-get all of those people?\" Severus was stunned. All those people were going to help him, when he was sure they wouldn\'t piss on him if he was on fire.

\"I explained to them about how you are innocent and they listened to me, simple really.\" Hermione shrugged.

Severus was overwhelmed. She had been out all day, searching for, and persuading, people to come and speak in his defense. This woman was a wonder. Severus had never been a religious man, but he felt that he should thank some one for sending this clever, sexy angel to help him.

\"Well... um, thank you... I suppose.\" He said gruffly.

\"You\'re welcome, Professor,\" She said kindly, \"Do you know what?\" She said seriously, \"I really think we can win this, really, truly win this.\"

\"I have no doubt that you will do your best, Miss Granger.\" Severus told her sincerely.

\"You better take a good look around this place over the next few weeks, because you won\'t be seeing it for much longer.\" Hermione stared around the cell.

\"Wishful thinking.\" Severus muttered. There was still a chance that they wouldn\'t win. Actually, a massive chance.

\"Right, I have been thinking about jobs and a home for you and I think I have it.\" She said brightly, \"After we win this, I am taking up your old position at Hogwarts and I know that I am within my rights to hire an assistant to help me if I think the classes are too much.\"

Severus caught on, \"You\'re being very Slytherin, aren\'t you?\"

\"Why yes, I believe I am.\" She smirked. Oh, looking like that she was so kissable, \"So, what do you think, you can teach who ever you want, as long as I have one class and no one can stop it, not even Minerva.\"

\"I think,\" He paused for effect, \"that if I ever had a chance of getting out of here, it is in the very, very clever witch sitting in front of me.\"

Hermione squealed and threw her arms around his neck. He was shocked at first, but that was soon washed away by the feel of her body molded to his. She squeezed him lightly and rocked them a little. Severus placed his arms loosely around her.

\"Thank you so much Professor,\" She whispered in his ear, her breath warm, \"that means so much coming from you.\"

Too soon, Hermione let go and stood up. \"Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then. Good night, Professor.\" She said softly and left.