All the way

Severus allowed Hermione to lead him down to the dungeons. As the walked along the dark halls to his old classroom, Severus started to at last feel at home again.

He kept a tight hold on Hermiones hand, as if to stop her from running away. Maybe in his subconscious that was the reason. He knew that him picking the tower as the first place to go probably scared her, but he didn\'t think he could have faced it without her.

They finally entered the classroom and Severus looked around. Every thing looked the same as it always had. The desks were in the same place, and his nasty things in jars.

\"The new woman didn\'t want to touch them. She thought they might be cursed.\" Hermione said as he shot her a questioning look.

He snorted with laughter.

\"She wouldn\'t sleep in your rooms either, or use your office.\" Hermione supplied, \"Minerva and I sealed them so that no one else could get in. Do you want to see?\"

Severus nodded again. She led him down between the desks and to his office door. Pulling out her wand, she lowered the wards and pulled him in. She was right.

They went over to his desk. The papers he had been grading when she and Luna had barged in were in the same place, the red ink on the end of the quill was dried.

\"Your rooms were left open if you want to go and see them.\" Hermione told him.

He held her hand tighter and went over to a door. He opened it and they went through. Hermione seemed reluctant, but Severus was forceful, tugging her in behind him. Torches flared as they entered.

His rooms were also untouched. He could hardly wait to move back. Hermiones flat was lovely, but this was his real home. Severus pulled Hermione into his living room and onto the black leather sofa.

She sat rather stiffly. Severus sighed and closed his eyes reveling in the feel of his old sofa.
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\"Severus,\" Hermione said softly when his hold on her lessened, \"Severus, are you awake?\"

When she got no reply, she pulled her hand from his and left him sleeping. Hermione hurried up to the Head Mistresses office and knocked on the door.

\"Come in.\" Came Minerva’s voice. Hermione opened the door and stepped in, \"Hermione dear!\" The old witch beamed, \"What are you doing here? How’s Severus?\"

\"Well,\" Hermione sat down opposite Minerva, \"Severus is fine and I came to talk to you about him actually. Are you still offering me the Potions position?\"

\"Yes, yes. Of course.\" Minerva smiled.

\"Well, as I’m new to this, I think I could only cope with first and second years. I know it is with in my rights to hire an assistant id I wish. So, I would like to hire Severus.\"

Minerva looked skeptical, \"I don\'t know... He\'s only been out of prison a couple of days, and term starts in two weeks...\"

\"Please Minerva, trust me.\" Hermione did her sweetest daughter voice. That way, she got what ever she wanted.

\"Well... ok, but you keep him in check. Do you hear me?\" The witched pursed her lips.

\"Oh, thank you Minerva! I love you so much!\" Hermione leaned over the desk and hugged the blushing woman.

\"It was nothing...\" She mumbled, \"Where is he any way?\"

\"Down in his living room,\" Hermione told her firmly, \"Could you add some extra rooms onto his and owl me when we can come?\"

\"I\'ll get right on it. Can you stay for tea?\" Minerva asked.

\"Well,\" Hermione thought that maybe she should get back to Severus, but he was sleeping, \"Ok, one can\'t hurt.\"
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Severus\' eyes flew open. He looked around. Where was Hermione? She was there when he went to sleep, wasn\'t she? His eyes darted around the room frantically. Why had she left him?

Severus jumped up and stomped out of his rooms like death. Had she gone with out him? He stalked out of the dungeons and up the marble stair case. Thinking about asking Minerva if she had seen Hermione, he started to her office.

At the bottom of the stairs however, he heard an unmistakable laugh. Hermione was up there. Why hadn\'t she woken him up? Furious, Severus stormed back down to the dungeons.
____________________________________________________

Hermione set her empty cup on Minerva’s desk, \"I really must go now. Hopefully Severus will still be asleep and won\'t even know that I’ve gone.\"

Both witches stood up and hugged.

\"Bye Hermione, see you tonight.\" Minerva called as Hermione left.

She hurried down to the dungeons and through the classroom to the office and then to the living room. She opened the door and stepped into the pitch black room. She spun around as the door closed and she was immersed in darkness.

Reaching for her wand, Hermione found that it was gone. Breathing heavily, she stuck her arms out to feel for the sofa, or some thing to hold on to.

Suddenly, she could hear some one else breathing, but couldn\'t tell the direction. A logical voice in her head was saying that it was only Severus, but she was still nervous.

\"Severus?\" She called out, \"Severus turn the lights on! What’s the matter?\"

\"What’s wrong Hermione?\" His voice hissed, \"Scared?\"

\"No,\" Hermione felt better knowing he was there somewhere, \"but you\'re worrying me. Turn the lights on and tell me what the problem is.\"

\"You left me.\" he said coldly.

\"Only to see Minerva.\" Hermione frowned.

\"You could have awoken me.\"

\"I didn\'t see the point.\" She said haughtily, \"Where did you think I was?\"

\"I don\'t know,\" His hard voice was getting closer, \"That is the point.\"

In the darkness Hermiones wrists were grabbed and she gasped. Why was he so angry?

\"Don\'t EVER\" He stressed the world in her ear, \"EVER leave me like that again. Do you understand?\"