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

"He's awake?" Snape said slowly, for a moment forgetting how much he hated Harry. Sensing that things were still awkward between he and Hermione he slowly turned to her, masking his surprise from before.

"Would you mind giving us a moment in private, Miss Granger?"

Hermione, surprised that he was being this cordial gave a faint nod. Obviously he had to talk to Harry about something in private. "Of course."

She slowly made her way to the bedroom, not seeing the looks that Snape and Harry were shooting her as she exited. Snape cast a longing look to her back, his mind still on the note before facing Harry with a formidable glance.

Hermione closed the door behind her, wishing that things weren't so complicated. She was beyond relieved that Dumbledore was safe now, beyond elated that he was awake. She had only seen him so frail this afternoon, and now he was safe and sound. This was emotionally exhausting though, and she fell onto Snape's bed from fatigue. She could have moved to her own cot, but Snape's bed always had a warmer, more comfortable feel to it.

She lay on the bed, looking to the ceiling and wondering what Snape had to speak to Harry about. She was so tired, many late sob filled nights, much anxiety day to day had her peaked. Most of all though, she was troubled about what she was going to say to Snape.

"What can I tell him?" she mumbled to herself, "I wrote all those things when I thought he cared for me." She rolled onto her side, refusing to cry any more this afternoon. Images of Snape's eyes bored into her mind, never letting up.

"I'm fairly certain he can't wait to be rid of me. I bet that's why he wanted me to leave...so he could ask if the war was to go on as planned...to ask if whole marriage farce could end immediately."

Her chest heaved with dry sobs at that murmured though, a harsh one that she hadn't wanted to admit to herself. But it made sense, he was probably just waiting for the war to start on Voldemort so they could end all this baby making and romantic bollocks. She thought that she had been ready for such a thing as well, but now lying in his bed with thoughts of him surfacing around her mind, she wasn't sure of that at all.

Turning over once more she heard the sound of the front door slamming, and in it she felt her heart sinking. He was gone without a word. Slowly the tears slipped down the sides of her face, pattering against the pillow without a sound. She had thought for certain he would stay a bit...perhaps even to talk a bit before leaving. Foolish of her to think he'd choose an annoying twit like her over anything else.

Hermione was in the drudges of misery when Snape whirled the bedroom door open, looking to her frame on his bed in silence. She hadn't noticed him and his mouth went dry just watching her lying there, flushed and silent. He couldn't find his voice, and instead stalked to the bed with silence precision. Suddenly he heard her sobs, soft and muffled against the pillow she held so tightly to herself.

"Hermione?"

Hermione let out a strangled gasp, sitting up immediately to face the older man in tense alert. She hadn't heard him come in and had automatically assumed he had left with Harry moments earlier.

"I thought you'd left."

"I'm on my way." Snape said slowly, watching as she squirmed under his gaze. Now they were alone, and the air around them was beyond tense. Snape was looking shocked and anxious all at the same time. He had just received startling information on both business and personal ends, and now he had to choose. He only hoped Hermione could understand.

"Would you mind waiting here a moment, while I attend to some things?" Snape asked Hermione lowly, hoping she wouldn't scream at him for being insensitive and leaving at such a time. Hermione looked groggy and could only nod faintly, not meeting his eyes.

"Yes." She said softly, her lips almost stoic. "I'll wait here."

To further prove her point she patted the bed on either side of her, making it clear she wouldn't move. She was looking to her h in in silence as Snape moved to the door, feeling his stomach churning. He liked that she had made herself comfortable in his bed, on the contrary to what he'd thought so many times before.

He had expected her to be angry at his sudden departure; most women he'd met were like that. But as he had come to learn over the course of their relationship, Hermione Granger was not like other women.

"I'll return within the hour." Snape promised lightly, moving to the door of the bedroom. Hermione didn't answer; finding that sitting there in silence was far superior to watching him leave and sobbing.

She didn't want to admit it, but him leaving without even addressing their situation hurt her a bit. She knew that Dumbledore was a priority, but logic didn't stop the sting of being cast aside.

Snape spoke no more, shutting the door to the bedroom behind him as he left Hermione, sitting in the center of his bed with her head bowed. He cringed as he heard the familiar sigh of despair coming from inside the room, knowing that he was the one to have caused it. He reached the front entrance to their flat, looking to the doorknob disparagingly.

The letter he had read this afternoon had shocked him. Her words, her confessions, her ardent admiration and adoration for him had been overwhelming. No one had ever romantically loved him, not with this sort of deep sentiment. He had been a fool to turn her away so many times, a complete idiot not to see the obvious emotion she had towards him.

And now, of all times he was leaving her. It was his duty he knew, but he was leaving her to stew about in confusion once more, leaving her to second guess her feelings and words. But most of all, just leaving her.

Before his own feet knew what they were doing, and before he could move to unlock and unward the door, he had twirled around on his heel and stalked back into the bedroom, slamming the door open with force.

"Professor?"

Hermione's head whipped up, faint remnants of tears dried now. Before she could ask what the matter was, Snape had grasped her by the shoulders and gently dragged her to a standing position beside the bed. As her mouth opened to protest, or even question his actions, Snape quickly lowered his mouth over her own, stopping all previous questioning.
rmiormione whimpered in shock as he kissed her, with all the passionate intensity he had locked up for so long. Lean hands grasped the back of her neck, dragging her deeper into the feverish kiss. Hermione's heart sang of course the instant his lips had touched hers, no tentative brushing of the mouth, just full coursing electricity.

Oh my...

This kiss was like none other, none of the one's anyone -Severus included- had ever given her. This was full blown lust a.som.something else, intertwining with desperate need for her mouth against his own. Slowly, tentative hands made their way up around his broader shoulders, her mouth moving at a rapid rate to keep up with his own.

She sighed softly, feeling suddenly at ease despite her confusion at this sudden encounter. His hands were around her back, pulling her to him as her hands played about absently in his dark hair. He was a good kisser, she knew that much. She could feel it everywhere, tingles of excitement running through her all over, all the way to the tip of her toes that were currently curling.

His hair entwined around her hand, getting caught every now and then but causing a most delightful shiver to go down his spine with her every contact. She was warm against him, her lips sweeter than imagined and even more willing. She was almost melting into him and with this realization he felt complete abandon.

Hermione felt the bed against her knees and prayed they wouldn't buckle, although she was fairly certain Severus would keep her stable. She felt her hips against his own, grinding into one another as her lips parted, letting his eager tongue slip in with ease. Slowly her own slipped past his, twining around it absently as he groaned. This was a sound that met Hermione's ears with great satisfaction, this was a sounda maa man who needed to be kissed more often.

Soon though Hermione felt him trying to break apart slowly, their kissing slowing as he finally broke from her mouth, his arms still around her, holding her to him. He was panting as was she, and Hermione still felt her surely swollen lips humming with feeling.

"Hermione," Snape finally said hoarsely, looking even more attractive to Hermione when flushed. "I need you to know...I feel precisely the same way."

Hermione's eyes instantly shut at the mere sound of her name passing through his lips in such a way that sent her head and stomach spinning. The euphoric sense that invaded her was accompanied with the realization that all this hardship, all this pain and confusion was gone.

He felt the same way.

"You do?" Hermione said softly, her eyes finally opening and looking to the face she had hated for so long, but now couldn't remember ever doing so. Snape gave a half grin, something Hermione was finding she completely adored.

"Yes."

Suddenly without any warning at all Hermione's eyes were glossy, bleary and spilling with tears. Through the haze she saw Snape's eyes widening in confusion as he peered into her face, gently removing the excess tears with a steepled forefinger.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Hermione insisted, her voice hitching in places as she rubbed her eyes furiously. "I honestly don't know why I'm crying."

Snape let out a low chuckle, a mostly foreign sound to Hermione and wrapped her tighter in his embrace. "Silly girl." he murmured against her forehead, placing a gentle kiss on it as her head leaned against his chest. For once, she knew that the words were completely void of all patronization.

They stood that way a full moment, Snape gently rocking her as her soft hiccups and tears diminished into nothing. When he found she was er ser silent, just leaning into him with her arms tucked in-between them he moved back, looking to her tenderly.

"I need to leave," He said softly, sensing the agitation in her eyes. "But I swear on my life, I won't be longer than half an hour. But I do have my obligations as-"

"I know." Hermione interrupted, looking to him warmly. "And I'd beorriorrible person if I kept you from it."

"I seriously doubt you could ever be a horrible person." Snape said lightly, caressing her cheek with his thumb lightly, watching the way her eyes sparkled at certain angles. He saw the faint blush rising on her cheeks and felt a playful grin cross his features as she giggled. It was a welcoming sound, there had been far too much sadness in this flat lately.

"You'd better go." She finally said with a blissful sigh. "I'll be here...waiting."

Snape let a small uncharacteristic grin to pass faintly through his features before nodding. He leaned over quickly, placing a small kiss on her lips as she beamed. He gave a short wave, making his way out the door.

Outside the now closed doors Snape let himself give out a large beaming smile, one that would frighten and students who would later claim he'd need to check himself into St. Mungo's immediately.

Snape -not a man of much outer rejoicing- suddenly felt the need to yell, or to do something that would free him of this unrelenting pressure in his chest. Deciding that he'd better not yell outside his window and startle passers by, he resumed his walk out the flat door, closing it behind him whilst he fixed his usual scowl on his twitching lips.

Although truth he told, he was finding it very hard to do.

* * *

Hermione meanwhile was positively elated, jumping up and down on Snape's bed as if she were a child again. She pumped her fists up in the air in a very boxing manner and then toppled onto the bed once more, in a fit of overwhelming giggles.

"He loves me."

Of course she was happy. Life was finally becoming good again! Dumbledore was awake, Harry knew how she felt and Snape...Snape loved her! Dear Lord, just saying to the words to herself were enough to send her spiraling on the bed, giggling like a madwoman.

Suddenly there was a knock at the front door. Knowing full well Severus had a key and knew the wards, Hermione assumed it was a school chum. Smoothing her hair and trying to make her features neutral she went to the front door, her wand poised in her grasp in case of anything strange.

"Harry." She said lightly, seeing her friend in the doorframe. "What are you doing here? I thought for certain you'd be going to see Dumbledore."

"Are you alright Hermione?" Harry said softly, ignoring her questioning. "You look like you've been crying."

Tears of joy Harry...trust me.

"Oh, no." Hermione said, trying not to beam. "It's nothing really, must be my allergies. Anywhooo, what can I do you for Harry?"

She realized about halfway through her 'Anywhooo' and 'what can I do you for' she sounded completely out of character a bit sloshed at that. Harry gave her a wayward grin before stepping into the flat, looking to her with bemusement.

"I was coming to see if you wanted to come and see Dumbledore with me." Harry said lightly, looking to her with surprise. Hermione gave a slight shrug, looking to Harry with question in her eyes.

"I thought he'd want a little space, personally." She said lightly, meaning her words. "I mean, if I'd come out of a rather extensive and worrisome coma, I may want a bit of reprieve before I was inundated with people barraging me with questions. Besides," She said with a small grin, "I'm sure I'd just cry and make him feel awkward."

Harry nodded taking into consideration her words. "Well, he asked to see me especially, and I thought you might want to join me. That is...if you promise you won't sob all over his desk."

Hermione giggled slightly, feeling like her old self once again. It had been a long time since she wanted to see anyone. Harry looked quite antsy, obviously wanting to see Dumbledore as soon as he could.

"Sure." Hermione finally said, grasping her wand and placing it in the side of her skirt. She and Harry made their way out of the flat, locking and warding it behind them. They walked to Dumbledore's office, carrying on as if they were two first years again and they'd just defeated the infamous troll in the girl's lavatory.

Suddenly they rounded on Dumbledore's office, and Harry still rambling on about some faux pas Ron had pulled was oblivious to the suddenly stoic Hermione. Her dark eyes were wide with fright, and she suddelatclatched onto Harry's wrist.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked with a laugh, pushing her off and making his way to the office. "C'mon, I want to see-"

"Stop Harry!" Hermione shrieked, grasping him by the neckline of his robe and literally dragging him away from the door. Harry fought at her hands, wondering if being married to Snape had now fully driven her insane.

"What are you doing?" Harry bellowed, looking at Hermione incredulously as they rounded the hall, Hermione seeming to have superhuman strength. "I need to see Dumbledore!"

Hermione said nothing as they rounded the hall, finding the edge of the hall. Hermione was silent, pushing Harry roughly behind her to the ground as she peered around the corner and then ducked her head back. He went to protest when he viewed her wand being whipped from her cloaks. He was suddenly very wary of what Hermione was up to, or what she was planning.

Before he could question the said plan, Hermione had stuck her head around the corner, viewing the lone office of Dumbledore. She stepped out from behind the stone wall's protection and pulled her wand out in front of her.

"Hermione!" Harry called, looking to her with confusion in his eyes. She was acting so strangely, so bizarre that it was frightening. Hermione, not hearing anything and focusing entirely upon Albus' door was silent. Suddenly her wand was raised, pointed in front of her with intensity.

"Prohibire periculum!"

Harry, watching everything in silence suddenly gasped darkly, falling back from the force of the spell. He fell onto his back, looking at the blinding green flash of power that was shooting from Hermione's wand to Dumbledore's door. Harry watched the door with wide eyes, seeing as a sudden skull like shape shone on the door-

Voldemort.

-and then disintegrated into a pile of ashes on the ground below it. The spell, having run its course filtered back into the wand with a small dulling exit. Hermione, obviously spent from the sudden excursion of power swayed back a forth a moment, feeling rather disoriented.

Harry ran over to Hermione, grasping her by the shoulders as her eyes rolled around in the back of her head. Harry shook her, sudden tears springing to his eyes. "Hermione, wake up!" He called, grasping her to him as she swayed more severely.

Moments passed in which Harry called her name and a culmination of students as well as Professors came to Dumbledore's office. McGonagall came rushing over to the two of them, looking beyond frightened.

"Potter, Granger...What happened here?"

"Voldemort." Hermione suddenly rasped, her eyes coming into focus. "It was his sign."

"This happened before." Harry said softly, holding Hermione up as she tried to remain upright. "When you were first captured."

"I know." Hermione said softly, her limbs slightly shaking. "Severus told me it was because I was a powerful witch. But this symbol was different...it's a mere mark of evil."

"You are a powerful witch indeed, Miss Granger." McGonagall said with admiration and sudden panic clearly written about her face. Suddenly sensing the students milling around the office, some crying and whimpering, some whispering amongst themselves, she turned and became authoritative.

"Back to your common rooms immediately!" She ordered brusquely, going to the students quickly, leaving Hermione and Harry alone at the end of the hall. Harry suddenly grew rigid, looking to Hermione in fright.

"That means Dumbledore...he may have been kidnapped."

"Harry." Hermione said lowly, her dark eyes growing solemn. "Don't you find it very convenient that the very day Dumbledore comes awake, is also the time his office is suddenly taken over by Voldemort's spells?"

"You're right." Harry agreed, nodding gently a moment. "So what do you propose? That it wasn't even Dumbledore at all?"

"Precisely." Hermione said with a calculating look. "That's why you were sent for. This was all just a rouse to get you into the office so he could capture you without immediately alerting the entire school."

She took a breath, feeling quite spent from her sudden activities and calculations. She looked to her friend slowly, giving him a look of sudden relief. "You're just lucky you weren't in there with him."

Harry, still confused about the sudden happenings grew solemn a moment. Suddenly he took Hermione's hand in his, not seeing the sudden panic in her eyes. What he needed to say next was painful, especially having to say them to such a friend as Hermione.

"Hermione, it wasn't just me who was going in there to see Dumbledore today. He wanted to see me and-"

Hermione felt her legs buckling at his admonition, and there in the middle of the hallway she fell to her knees, scraping them but never noticing. The realization had suddenly hit her and she suddenly knew the name Harry was about to speak;

"...Snape."