All the way

Severus walked a few paces behind Hermione as they walked slowly across the entrance hall. It was all the little things that she did that made his heart hurt with love for her; more than once he had found himself blinking back tears.

And this was from the man who didn\'t cry.

He was tired and under pressure from overwhelming and unfamiliar emotions; that’s how he justified the water that managed crawl from the corner of his eye. He took a long blink, which only helped two more tears out. He should have been angry, but the swollen heart in his chest stopped that.

Hermione held the front doors open for him and they went out onto the dark grounds.

\"Are you ok?\" She asked suddenly, \"You are really quiet.\"

\"Fine,\" He managed to croak, \"I\'m fine.\"

Hermione stopped and pulled him around to face her. He shook his hair over his eyes and as he pushed it back, he wiped the moisture away.

\"Some things not right,\" She stated, \"Has some thing upset you?\" He shook his head. \"Please tell me Severus.\"

\"There’s nothing wrong.\" He said weakly.

\"Look up.\" Hermione said, placing a finger under his chin and tilting his head up.

\"What are you doing?\" He asked, perplexed.

\"Look up to the moon... yes... that’s it...\"

Yes, there was some thing wrong. In the moonlight, Hermione could see that his eyes were glistening and the wet tracks on his cheeks were sparkling.

She reached up and held his cheeks, using her thumbs to wipe away the moisture. She moved his head so that he was looking down at her. She gave a small smile.

\"Come on,\" Hermione took his hand and started to walk down towards the lake, \"Tell me what’s up.\"

\"Nothing.\" He said stubbornly.

\"If I’ve done something to upset you then please tell me and I will try and make it right.\" She said softly, \"Have I done something wrong?\"

\"Not... wrong... exactly.\" He said reluctantly, \"It\'s just... I have this... feeling and its like if I don\'t do something then I will explode, but I don\'t know what to do.\"

\"Well if you tell me, then maybe I can help.\" Hermione pressed, \"Is it bad or good? The feeling I mean.\"

\"Good, definitely good.\" He told her.

\"Were do you get this feeling?\" She asked. Severus took her hand a place it over his heart.

\"Here,\" He whispered, \"right here.\"

Hermione took a shuddering breath, \"Is... is it like a bubble?\"

\"Yes, exactly like a bubble.\"

Hermione smiled; she took her hand from his chest and tangled her fingers with his.

\"Don\'t worry,\" she said as they walked along the path to the lake side, \"One day it will burst and it will feel brilliant. Just be

patient.\" After a few minutes, Hermione said thoughtfully, \"You know, you are just like the giant squid.\"

\"What?\" Severus scoffed, \"Me, like that thing? I don\'t think so.\"

\"No, really, you are.\" Hermione insisted as a tentacle broke through the water and waggled in the air, \"On the outside, the squid looks scary and untouchable, but...\" Hermione pulled her wand from her pocket and conjured a small ham roll. She knelt down by the waters edge and held out the roll. After a second, the squid raised its head and pulled the roll under with one of its wet arms. Hermione stretched out her hand and petted its damp head gently, \"If you show it the right attention and some care, it responds brilliantly.\"

The squid lifted a tentacle and stroked Hermiones outstretched arm. Hermione smiled. The lake dweller was so cute some times. Hermione said good bye to the squid and stood up. She could feel Severus watching her as she brushed herself off.

They walked in silence to Hagrids hut. Hermione knocked on the door and waited until it was opened a crack.

\"Oh, Hermione,\" Hagrid beamed, \"and Professor Snape too. Is it all over already? \"

\"Yeah, is she ready?\" Hermione asked.

\"Yeah course,\" He looked over his shoulder, \"LILY!\" he bellowed.

\"\'Mione!\" The girl ran under Hagrids arm and latched onto Hermione leg.

\"Were you a good girl?\" Hermione smiled as she lifted Lily onto her hip.

\"Yeah! I promise!\" she squeaked.

\"She was an angel.\" Hagrid said fondly. Hermione turned to Severus.

\"Do you mind?\" She asked as she passed Lily to him. He took her and she turned back to Hagrid.

\"Thanks for having her Hagrid.\" Hermione said as she rubbed the top of his arm.

\"Any thin\' fer yeh, Hermione.\" The half-giant blushed, \"Bye.\"

\"Bye.\" Hermione turned back and Severus handed Lily back to her. The little girl yawned, \"Come on, its bed for you. You have an early start in the morning.\"

\"I thought I was doing your first year classes tomorrow.\" Severus said quietly as they walked back to the castle.

\"You are, but do you think I want to miss it?\" Hermione smiled, \"Lily\'s going to stay with Ginny.\"

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

When they got back to the dungeons, Severus got to watch his favorite part of every day. He loved to watch Hermione putting Lily to bed. It was a magical scene, when she tucked the small girl in and sat on the edge of her bed, stroking her hair until she was asleep. Severus watched from the door way.

Finally, Hermione slowly stood up and backed over to where he was. He took a step forward and pulled her back into his chest. She sighed and leaned into him. He kissed the top of her head lightly.

\"Is it tiring being perfect all the time?\" He asked softly.

\"I wouldn\'t know,\" She replied as they walked out of the moon lit room, \"I\'m not perfect.\"

\"Yes you are.\" He insisted. They went to his bedroom and he got ready in the bathroom while she changed in the bedroom. When he came out, she was sliding into bed. Severus got in next to her and pulled her to his side.

\"You\'re sweet.\" She told him quietly.

\"Sweet? I don\'t think so. Why am I sweet?\"

\"You said I was perfect.\" She stated simply.

\"Just because some one tells the truth, it doesn\'t make them sweet,\" He put his arms around her securely, \"apart from the obvious things to do with me, you are brilliant with all children, you are brilliant with animals; you are just brilliant.\"

\"Like I said, you\'re sweet.\" Her tone had an air of finality to it, and Severus was too tired to reply.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

Hermione growled in frustration. For the last half an hour, she had gently been trying to pry Severus\' possessive arms from around her; she had been unsuccessful. She didn\'t want to wake him yet; she wanted to get Lily over to Ginny so that she could make sure she gave him her full support on his first day back.

His arms were like cast iron around her middle. He shifted and Hermione hoped he would turn over, but he only pulled her closer- if that was possible. Carefully, she turned over in his tight embrace and looked up into his peaceful face. Hermione reached up and swept a tiny piece of hair out of his face.

Hermione started to laugh; she had pulled at his arms for ages and now, when the tips of her fingers grazed his cheek, he woke up.

\"Something funny?\" He murmured as he slipped one of his legs between hers and rubbed his semi-erection into her hip. Warmth was sparked in Hermiones stomach.

\"No, I was -\" Severus cut her sentence off by crashing his lips with hers. She moaned and pushed into him. No, Hermione thought. She had to stop this before they had to go all the way and there wasn\'t enough time. She pulled back.

\"I need to go and get Lily ready.\" She croaked.

\"Not yet,\" He whispered, then licked the shell of her ear, making her shiver, \"You\'ve got me in this state,\" He ground his arousal into her, \"and you... can get me out...\"

\"No I can\'t, I have to get her up.\" Hermione turned and tried to crawl away, but squealed as Severus pulled her back.

\"Tease.\" He hissed affectionately.

\"Later,\" She told him, \"I promise.\" He let her wriggle away and off of the bed. Hermione went over to the door and looked back.

Severus was lying on his side, watching her with heated eyes. She squeaked and bolted.

Severus closed his eyes; amazing as she was, Hermione didn\'t have her priorities right a lot of the time. He was sure that his raging hard on was more important than Potters daughter; obviously it wasn\'t to Hermione.

Severus had felt her tugging at his arms, but wanted to see what she would do if he really had been asleep. He had sensed that she had turned over, but her small touch had startled him into opening his eyes.

He loved waking up next to her and holding her in the night; he just loved her so much. Listening carefully, Severus could here Hermione getting Lily ready. After a while, he heard the rush of floo and then all was quiet. Deciding it was time to get up; he slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom.

Dressed in her dark red robes, Hermione walked back into living room, to see Severus standing by her door in full bat robes. She smiled and walked over to him. They walked in silence up to the Great Hall. They ate in silence and went back to the dungeons in silence.

Severus seated himself behind his desk in his classroom. Hermione perched herself on the edge of the desk and crossed one leg over the other.

\"I can\'t wait to see Pat and Annie\'s face when they see you.\" Hermione smiled.

\"I can,\" Severus put his hand on her knee, \"I can think of one thing I would rather do -\" At that moment the door burst open and a first year fell into the room. He had obviously been pushed and ran out imeadiately.\"Oh well, \"Severus sighed, \"At least you made me a promise...\"

Hermione moved into the chair that he vacated as he swooped over to the door.

\"In!\" He barked to the new Gryffindors and Slytherins. The students filed in, eyeing him wearily, and started to fill the seats. Pat and Annie ran up to the front of the class and took the front row seats.

\"Good morning Professor Granger.\" they smirked together.

\"Silence!\" Severus snapped as he strode to the front of the room. He gazed around the room, \"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making,\" He said in barely a whisper, \"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don\'t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren\'t as big a bunch of dunder heads that I have previously taught.\"

Hermione was impressed; he still had it. Every one was silent, watching him in awe and fright. Hermione smiled and watched as he strode around the room asking questions to random students. They all had two things in common though; they were all Gryffindors and they all looked terrified. He strode back to the front of the room and put some instructions for a simple potion on the board.

\"Get started!\" He barked and they scrambled to get ready. Hermione stood up and went to him.

\"You were brilliant!\" She told him, \"Did you see the look on the Weasleys face? It was priceless!\"

\"Yes, quite.\" He answered smugly.

Soon the students had bubbling cauldrons in front of them and were getting into trouble.

\"Do you want me to go and help them?\" Hermione asked.

\"They\'re your class, do what you want.\" Was her reply.

Smiling, Hermione set off around the class, helping scared looking students.

\"Hey! Professor mudblood?\" drawled a voice from behind her. Slytherins tittered as Hermione turned. She almost gasped. Sitting behind the desk in front of her was a boy, with white blond hair and cold grey eyes.

\"Excuse me?\" Hermione said in an authorative tone.

\"You heard.\" He sneered.

\"50 points from Slytherin,\" Hermione took great pleasure in taking points, \"for disrespecting a teacher.\"

\"How is telling the truth disrespecting?\" He looked around to his fellow house mates who were all snickering.

\"25 points from Slytherin and detention with filch for the rest of the month.\" Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, \"What’s your name?\"

\"Lucius Draco Malfoy.\" The boy said proudly.

\"What’s the problem here?\" Severus asked from over her shoulder.

\"Nothing.\" Hermione said.

\"Mr. Malfoy?\" Severus glared the young Lucius.

\"Like Professor Granger,\" He spat the name out like poison, \"said: nothing\"

\"50 points from Slytherin,\" Severus hissed, \"for lying to a teacher.\"

Severus went back to his desk and sat down. He watched Hermione smiling kindly and helping the first years; she was a natural. She had a... spark about.

He was glad that she was there with him in his first lesson. He had been apprehensive and her presence calmed him. Severus gazed at her as she sat on the edge of the Weasleys desk. They chatted for a minute and then Hermiones laughter filled the room. She threw her head back laughed. She looked towards him and their eyes locked.

Hermione smiled and her eyes turned soft. She turned back to the red headed girls and started to help them. He had seen the newest Malfoy sneering at her and heard her taking points; he would find out why in -he looked at his watch- 15 minutes, when the lesson ended.

Hermione hopped off of Pat and Annie’s desk and was about to go and see Severus went some one knocked on the door. A second year entered, holding a note.

\"Yes?\" Severus snapped.

\"I... I n-need Professor Granger,\" The boy stuttered. He walked over to Hermione and handed her the note, \"Here.\"

Hermione took the parchment and read it as the boy ran from the room.

Hermione

I have decided that it is time to take the potion and I want you there. Please come to my rooms when it is convenient.

Remus.

Hermione crumpled the note and rushed up to Severus desk.

\"Severus, I need to go now,\" She said in hushed tones, \"I\'ll be back as soon as I can.\"

Hermione sprinted from the room.

Frowning, Severus picked up the parchment that Hermione had dropped in her hurry to get away. Suspiciously, Severus read the note and scowled. What potion was he taking and why did he want Hermione there?