The death of a git, the rise of a hero...

The morning of classes that followed were uncomfortable ones to say the least. Hermione was still mortified at the fact that she'd tried to seduce Snape and even more distraught at the fact that now he had something to hold over her until dead did they part.

"What's with you?" Ron had asked as they made their way to Charms that afternoon, "You've been so quiet. Not answering questions in classes, not telling Harry and I to do our homework."

"I know." Hermione said, forcing a smile. "I suppose I'm just a bit tired."

Harry suddenly acquired a rather angry looking face at that admonition from Hermione. He supposed he knew exactly why she was tired. The same reason why Snape wouldn't let her see him this morning. She'd fallen for him, and now all they did was spend their nights shagging.

His stomach lurched at the thought. Reason soon overtook him though. Hermione didn't like Snape. She just didn't. She could barely stand him in the first place.

"Why are you so tired?" Harry asked innocently as the three of them walked to the Great Hall for lunch that day. He tried not to appear too nosy.

"I've been reading quite a bit." Hermione said with a shrug, trying not to blush. "Nothing much else."

"Mmm." Harry commented hollowly. When Ron was a few s ahe ahead of them, Harry grasped Hermione's wrist and dragged her to a secluded spot in the hall. She was surprised to say the least.

They were near the wall with Harry's arms on either side of her shoulders, pinning her softly to the wall. She was trying to hold in a grimace as he did so.

"Harry, we're going to be late for lunch." she managed to choke out, worried that they were going to be caught.

"Would you like to come to the Astronomy Tower with me tonight, Hermione?" Harry asked nervously, his heart pounding, as she looked to him in moderate worry.

Was he serious? She and Harry alone? That was a laugh. He'd be all over her like a new Quidditch broom. She tried to look torn at the idea as she spoke.

"Er..."

"It'll be completely secluded." Harry promised quietly, looking to her intently as the last of the students made their way past them slowly. "I swear."

Hermione's mind whirled at this thought. It was either spend her evening with Severus whilst he made fun and yelled at her, or go up to the Astronomy Tower and have Harry all over her. She'd get boils!

"I'll think about it." She finally answered slowly, "I'm rather busy-"

"Just think about it." Harry said smoothly, suddenly placing a small parcel in her hands. He stalked off to the Great Hall for lunch then, leaving Hermione with the package in her hands.

She looked at him a moment, wondering if she'd be able to explain to him why they couldn't even kiss. Not that she wanted to. Deciding that she wasn't sure she wanted lunch anymore, she made a move to go back to the flat when a tall blonde man intercepted her.

She felt her blood run to ice as she looked to him reproachfully, her dark eyes growing darker if possible. She clenched her jaw, trying not to show her moderate fear. Without Severus, she was just another Mudblood in his eyes.

"Oh, hello Mr. Malfoy." Hermione said respectfully, trying not to tremble with him this close to her. He looked down to her, his own lips turning into a sneer.

"Good afternoon, Miss Granger." he said softly, knowing he couldn't very well call her a Mudblood in the middle of Hogwarts. He looked to be wearing very expensive robes and his long blonde hair was tied back loosely. He was obviously making a social call, and she didn't need to guess with whom it would be.

"I believe Severus' last class just ended." she said gently, looking to him with hidden malice. "You'll likely fine him in the dungeons."

"Mmm." Lucius mocked, looking her over. "How sweet of you to know his time table."

It's the same every day you dolt.


She smiled gently, trying to back away from him as he came closer, leering at her in her uniform. She crossed her arms, hoping that he couldn't hear the crinkling of the package in her robes.

"And what are you doing, still staying behind?" Lucius said waspishly. "I thought you'd be down there to meet him for lunch."

Hermione felt her heart pounding in her ears. He was trying to get her to admit to something, he was trying to catch her in a lie. What could she do?

What if she answered wrong?

"Ah Hermione, there you are." Came a silken voice from behind her as she turned slightly, her lips turning into a sudden smile. "I believe we were going to meet in the Potions room, not here."

Snape strode over to she and Lucius, his eyes trained only on her, silently telling her to calm herself. She let her breath leave her a moment, looking to his strong and protective frame.

"Oh," Hermione said relieved as he neared her. "I must have misunderstood. I apologize."

"No matter." Severus said with a gentle gulp, looking down to his reli stu student. Without another word he captured her into his arms, kissing her thoroughly, his lips firmly calming her.

She felt her arms going around his shoulder, kissing him back in silent thanks for her rescue. He didn't know how this one appearance might have saved their life.

He broke off as Lucius coughed loudly beside them. Still holding her by the waist he looked to his blonde acquaintance and held in a sneer.

"Lucius, what a pleasure."

"Mmm." Lucius mused, "I'm here to speak with you about something of importance, Severus."

"Well, my wife and I were just going to lunch." Snape said delicately, Lucius was about to speak when Snape looked to Hermione tenderly.

"Hermione, would you mind just waiting for me at the end of the hall a moment?"

"Of course." Hermione said gently, then on impulse pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. He felt his stomach flip as she did so, and found himself watching her as she walked off to the end of the hall to wait.

"Shirking responsibilities to go and have lunch with a Mudblood?"

"Lucius." Severus said sternly when his attention was back on the sulking blonde. "You asked me to make her trust me. How can I do that if I'm skulking off with yveryvery moment? We've already made plans."

"Plans?" Lucius said viciously, "Plans? Are you mad Severus?"

"No," Snape answered evenly. "But if you think I can win over the Mudblood enough to have her display utter devotion to the Dark Lord, you'd realize that I first need her to trust me."

"How long will that take?" Lucius said boredly.

"I can't tell." Snape said softly. "She's very clever."

"We know that." Lucius bit off angrily, "That's why we want her."

"And you shall have her." Snape said haughtily, "But you must give me time."

"Fine." Lucius said miserably. "Fine."

"I shall meet you another time then." Snape answered as he prepared to turn, "But for now, my wife and I are going to have lunch."

"You don't even sit together." Lucius said silkily, smirking as Snape's smirk dropped. "I've been told."

Bollocks.

"We're eating in my chambers today." Severus answered with a snarl. "Besides, Albus doesn't condone Professors sitting with students and vice versa at meals."

"Even if you two are married?"

"Even if we're married." Snape said detachedly, "If Hermione was a Professor it would be different. But she's not. She's a student."

"I see." Lucius mused a moment before giving his comrade a brisk nod. "Until later then."

Snape nodded back, heading back over to Hermione as she stood waiting for him, her hands lowering from her ears. She hadn't wanted to hear what they were talking about, she knew if it was important Severus would tell her later.

"Give me your hand." he said lowly as he approached her. Hermione looked to him pensively, holding her hand out as Snape took it, locking his fingers with her own as they made their way down the hall.

She looked over her shoulder to see Lucius heading in the different direction, his long blonde hair sailing over his shoulders as he stalked off. That explained the handholding.

"We're eating in the flat today." He said gently, not looking at her, but still holding her hand in his. He was momentarily interested to note that her hand was silken to the touch, and so small in his larger hands.

A few students passed them in the hall, some were giving Hermione meaningful looks, and others were pale and trying to avert their eyes. Some stopped talking as they passed the couple and resumed when they were past them.

Snape looked over to the younger girl walking with him, her face solemn as she looked to the ground. She looked very tired and very sad. He looked ahead of him as they prepared for the steps leading down for the dungeon.

Suddenly a large piece of paper came sailing through the air. Severus and Hermione didn't notice until the large paper landed and stuck to the back of her uniform.

She cried out in surprise as it magically slapped against her back and tried in vain with her free hand to see what it was. Snape looked over in irritation, wondering why she had cried out. He viewed as she tried to grasp and tear the paper off of her back.

"Calm down." he whispered silkily as he frowned, grasping the paper off of Hermione's back with his one free hand. He brought it in front of him, reading it in confusion.

On it was a rather crude cartoon drawing of what could only be a very ugly and frizzy haired girl with wings and long fangs that reached past her knees. It's caption read in spiraling letters; Hermione Snape: bride of the overgrown vampire bat...

He scowled angrily and crumpled the paper up, placing it in his robe's pocket. He was making a face until they finally reached the door of his flat. He dropped her hand slowly, seeing as a tear had made its way down her cheek.

Was she really bothered by the stupid drawing? Was a woman of Hermione Granger's maturity and intelligence really so offended by a poorly done comic?

He opened the door to the flat, letting her in first as he closed the door behind him. He summoned some food from Dobby and walked over to Hermione as she sat at the long table.

Snape pulled out his wand and shortened the table, making nougnough to accommodate them. He looked to her a moment as she gazed up in surprise. He said nothing, merely pulling the chair across from her and sitting down slowly.

He pulled out the crumpled paper and laid it on the table, smoothing it out slowly as he watched her. He saw her dark eyes cloud over with tears as she read it, seeing the ugly caricature of herself. She winced and looked away, not meeting Snape's eyes as he spoke.

"Hermione," Snape said softly. "Do you often receive these?"

"Some." she sniffed angrily. "They're different of course, but they usually say almost the same thing. Sometimes they're in my books or my bag." she broke off a moment.

"I don't care though." she said hollowly, "They're all pathetic if that's the best they can come up with."

Snape nodded, looking to the disparaging girl a moment. He could deny that he felt just a bit bad for her. She was being treated like a friend from few and a pariah from others.

"It's just embarrassing." she finally admitted, rubbing her eyes and the tears from her face.

"I see." Snape said gently, throwing the paper into the fire as it lit on command. Hermione watched it disappear after being engulfed by flames. "I'm sorry to hear it."

"Oh I bet you are." Hermione scoffed, not looking to Snape as his hooded eyes narrowed.

“Pardon me?” he warned.

"I remember how bad you felt for me in my fourth year when you made fun of my teeth. Or how sorry you were after you read that article about me being Harry's girlfriend and humiliated me in front of the whole class. And I'm sure you were completely distraught when I went to the dormitory crying after some of your classes."

She stopped then, her face flushed and her heart hammering as she spoke. Finally she'd told him what he'd done; finally he'd know the cruelty he'd bestoon hon her for so many years.

"That was a long time ago." Snape said silkily, looking to the fire in boredom. He did remember the things he'd done, he was rather ashamed that he'd taken pleasure in making a child cry.

"It wasn't that long ago and you know it." Hermione growled dangerously as Snape regarded her. "And I've accepted that you don't care, so don't worry yourself with faking compassion for my sake." She shivered a bit despite the fire, she was cold inside and out.

"I'd like to have a lie in if you don't mind." Hermione said gently, her lips trembling as she spoke. Snape didn't answer, merely watching as the young woman rose from her seat at the table and walked to the bedroom.

A few seconds passed until he heard the gentle shutting of the door, and the soft sobs that emitted from the other side. He looked to the empty table, the seat where she had been sitting and allowed his head to fall into his hands.

His head lay on the table a few moments as he replayed what had just happened between he and Hermione. He knew he should be angry but he wasn't. He felt bad for her, almost compassionate. But what had she done? Thrown it in his face.

He ate the lunch Dobby brought for him slowly, knowing that he had nothing better to do. He didn't want to go anywhere. He didn't want to see anyone. He wanted everyone to bugger off, and he wanted them to leave Hermione alone.

He admitted it. He felt bad for her. She was still a teenager, confused and lonely now with him. She'd signed over her life and her chastio hio him, and he'd thought about taking both during the duration of their farce of a marriage.

He had no more classes for the day, but he recalled that Hermione did. Frowning and glancing at his pocket watch he realized he had better wake her up before her classes started.

He walked into the bedroom, seeing that she'd summoned up a fire place near the far wall of the room, hoping to warm it. He of course found it suffocatingly hot.

He saw her on her small cot, blankets pulled up over her shoulder's and her back to his bed. She looked so small then, so innocent and naive. He found that he didn't really want to wake her up, perhaps he'd just let her sleep for the afternoon and give her a pass to give to her teachers the next day.

Deciding that was the best course of action, he slipped off his boots and crawled into his own bed, finding that he was rather tired himself. He lay there, not drawing the curtains around his bed this time and began to feel himself drifting to sleep.

He awoke with a start as a crackle of green flames started up and Snape's heart jumped in his throat. Someone was trying to see into the room. Damn Hermione for making a fireplace in their bedroom!

Knowing full well that it wouldn't be anyone from Hogwarts, Snape suddenly pulled out his wand, pointing it to the still sleeping frame of Hermione Granger and whispered fiercely.

"Accio Hermione."

Hermione's slumbering frame quickly made its way over to his arms. Her limbs were limp and he caught her with ease, noticing she still hadn't stirred from her sleep. He supposed it was only natural since dreaming had a floating like feel to it in general. He placed a spell to make her cot disappear and watched her face stay blissfully content as she lay next to him.

She was warm against him, her hands on the pillow a few inched from his face, and they smelled lovely. Like roses or some such thing. She was quite a deal smaller than him, but seemed perfectly fitted for one side of the bed.

Don't wake up. Don't wake up. he willed silently, looking to her in worry. He slid her under the covers until she was facing him. He felt his knee bump her own and drew it back in fear that she'd wake up. Still her body was so close, so soft against his cloaks.

He propped her head on his pillow and drew her to him, his nose accidentally brushing her cheek. He flushed and began covering her with his arm tightly as the face of Lucius Malfoy suddenly emitted from the flames.

He spoke languidly, as if he'd been expecting Severus to be waiting for him. "Since you refused to listen to me earlier this afternoon," Lucius drawled. "I suppose I'll have to tell you now."

Snape didn't answer, his eyes still firmly shut as he held Hermione to him.

Just pretend you're asleep. Just pretend you're asleep. Don't move.

Hermione still hadn't awoken, and he was utterly thankful to feel that she was barely stirring. Snape had been worried she'd wake up, see she was in his arms and then start screaming as Lucius finally caught on with proof.

"Severus?" Lucius voice called out, seeing the sleeping man in the large bed with his wife. Hmmm...That was surprising. He'd fully expected to catch Severus with two separate beds or something to that effect.

But no, they were sleeping peacefully with each other. Lucius, knowing full well what Snape was like when woken mid-nap decided that he'd come back later.

With a crackle his head disappeared and the fire suddenly went out. Snape's dark eyes snapped open as he looked to the fire, sighing deeply in relief before looking back to his bride.

Hermione still did not stir, and he prepared to accio her back into her own bed when he saw the small necklace around her neck, glinting in the dim light of the room.

It was a small gold lion that sparkled brilliantly and he gently lifted it in his hands a moment, turning it over. Snape couldn't remember ever seeing the necklace on her, or any items of jewelry for that matter.

He then noticed the small torn open box on Hermione's nightstand and felt his jaw clench. It had been a present for her. Surely from an admirer too stupid to see that it was futile.

He didn't know why but that made him a bit angry...jealous even. Someone else was trying to woo his wife? It could only be Potter. He suddenly looked to her in wonder. Did she care for him?

Why should I care? She's not my real wife. he thought dimly. A few forced kisses don’t make us devoted to one another. This is all just a rouse and she knows it as well as I.

Snape looked to her face, seeing the innocent flush on her cheeks, the gentle look of her lips, lips slightly parted as she slept, her eyes closed lightly. Her hands were a few inches in front of her on the pillow and she barely moved in her sleep.

He felt a rush of compassion overtake him as he watched her innocent sleeping frame. That’s what she was, innocent. He’d expected too much of her at times.

How brave she'd been in the face of Voldemort, how cruel he'd been as she tried again and again to prove herself. How often had he berated her efforts instead of telling her what she'd done right? She’d done nothing but try her best.

He didn't know what came over him then as, without a word, Snape gently slid his arms around her warm frame, drawing her into a small embrace against him. Her head rested against his chest. as he placed his chin on the top of her head noticing her hair smelled lovely. He could feel her soft breathing on his neck and it lulled him to sleep. But not before he looked to her face softly and whispered something for only himself to hear.

"I'm sorry."