Who Are They Now? *COMPLETE*

Severus leaped up onto the stage in a smooth high jump, quickly gathering Hermione's head in his lap and assessing any damage done by the fall. His hands slowly running through her now (surprisingly) silky tresses. He noticed her wince slightly in her unconscious state as he found the lump now forming on the back of her scull.

"Severus, is she alright?!" Simon asked, panicking slightly. "Bugger, I wonder what that was all about? Do you two know each other?"

"Yes. Actually, I used to teach Miss Granger. We've been through quite a lot together. Though it's been nearly ten years since I've seen her." Snape mumbled lowly, still running his hands softly over her relaxed features, first her smooth forehead, then temples, down her jaw and running his thumb under the plump curve of her lower lip. "She should be fine, could do with some water, though." He responded, finally raising his eyes to the director.

"Yes! Yes, of course. I'll be right back with that." He said, before bustling out of the auditorium.

Severus pulled out his wand and ran a basic diagnostic spell then a simple healing spell over her minor injury. His large hand cupped the back of her head and he leaned over, whispering into her ear, "Hermione, wake up. Everything is fine. I'm alright. I'm safe and alive, thanks to you." He said, brushing his hand on her smooth cheek. "Wake up. Show me those eyes, Hermione. Show me those honey whiskey eyes." He said, more to himself than to her, startling slightly as her lids fluttered and slowly drifted opened.

"Honey whiskey eyes? Why, Professor, if I didn't know better, I would say that you'd looked closely at them before. And that you're nice." She whispered quietly on half a breath, a small hesitant smile on her face. As her gaze locked with his worried black eyes, he chuckled softly.

"There we are. Nice to see you, Miss Granger. What's it been, 10 years? You look wonderful." He joked.

"Indeed. 10 years, sir. I'm glad to see that you look... Very well also." She responded to his levity as a single tear ran from the corner of her eye and over her temple to rest somewhere in her hairline. "So very, very glad." She sniffled.

He'd seen the distant and morose look with a slight mixture of panic still remaining in her eyes upon opening, and recognized it for what it was. He still had those days, himself. He was no stranger to flashbacks and post traumatic fits. He also recognized the happiness that graced her delicate features upon seeing his current healthy state. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her closely for a moment.

"How bad is it right now? Will you be able to continue today, or do you need some time?" He murmured into her hair, keeping everyone oblivious to the real meaning of their conversation.

"I'll be alright. Perhaps just a short break to get my bearings." She replied.

Simon returned as Severus released her from the warmth of his arms.

"Ah, Hermione. Everything alright, luv?" He asked his star.

"Actually, Simon, could we just take a short break, give Miss Granger a few minutes to collect herself." Severus stepped in, helping Hermione to her feet.

"Of course, of course. Certainly. Need you in top form with the show starting soon. Right! Let's everyone take 10. And we'll start back with 'I'd Rather Be Blue'" he announced to the cast and crew.

"Well, Miss Granger, care to catch up?" Severus asked, offering his arm to his former student.

HGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione was shocked, to say it simply. Her mind whirred with emotions, memories and feelings all coming at lightning speed as she saw her former professor. Horror at his likely cutting comments, shock at how small a world it truly must be, despair for his near loss and formerly crumpled state, elated to see him clapping wholeheartedly for her, pride that she could show him her talents, then panic and dismay at the overwhelming despair that his memory brought back. One after the other, thoughts jumped into the forefront of her mind just before the scene before her tunneled to black and she fainted dead away.

It was like her brain's processor was rebooting slowly, trying to adjust and take in all the new information it had just been given. In her unconscious state, her body was free to relax, as her mind began talking itself back down.

Right. He's here. He's alive. He looks good; healthy and happy. He doesn't look like he hates me anymore, which is good, because apparently now he'll be around a lot for rehearsals... He looked pleased with me; like he took his own pride in seeing me perform. And his eyes. There was something more there. Something like... Affection? Tenderness? Would I be crazy to say... Desire?

As Severus healed her and began speaking into her ear, she began coming back to herself and found she liked being delicately cradled in his arms. Perhaps she wasn't far off with his possible feelings? It only proved more so as she heard the words absently leaving his lips.

"Hermione, wake up. Everything is fine. I'm alright. I'm safe and alive, thanks to you." He said. She felt his warmth on her cheek. "Wake up. Show me those eyes, Hermione. Show me those honey whiskey eyes."

Oh she loved the sound of her own name coming from those lips in that sinful dark chocolate covered voice, as well as the compliment on her eye colour. She opened her eyes.

"Honey whiskey eyes? Why, Professor, if I didn't know better, I would say that you'd looked closely at them before. And that you're nice." Oh please be nice, or would I rather have you naughty? Hmm...

"There we are. Nice to see you, Miss Granger. What's it been 10 years? You look wonderful." He joked.

"Indeed. 10 years, sir. I'm glad to see that you look... Very well also." She swallowed thickly, her throat tight with the emotion she saw reflected in his deep, black eyes. "So very, very glad."

In that moment, she saw an emotion that had been greatly lacking in her company, outside of her closest friends; understanding and compassion. She knew he knew what had happened, and must have been happening to her, and she would always be eternally grateful for his careful response. As he pulled her into a tight hug, he whispered softly into her hair, "How bad is it right now? Will you be able to continue today, or do you need some time?" Who was this man, really? Perhaps she had never been lucky enough to know his as he had been in such a tremulous position during the war, but who he was now, Hermione had no clue; but she would make for certain that she would find out.

She informed him that she would like to take a moment and continue, and as the director gave them all a short break, she was surprised and delighted, once again, by Severus' offering her his arm and asking to 'catch up'. Perhaps Hermione was more right than she ever thought to come back to theater. Things seemed to be looking up.

A/N

Sorry it's been so long since my last update... RL has been more than it's usual level of craziness as of late. So I have a definite idea of where I'm going with this story. I'm guessing it won't be very long, maybe about 10 chapters or so... Any opinions on things we want to see or about what we've seen so far? I reiterate, MUST. HAVE. REVIEWS. I'm basically like Tinkerbell, only instead of applause, I need reviews to live....

HarryGinny4EVA- I seriously love when you review me! I'm trying to make this at least for the most realistic as far as things that the charactors would most likely be dealing with after the war. As a (soon-to-be) veteran of the military, A huge point that is drilled into our sculls is the problems that we will face adjusting to our new life as civilians and the programs and resources available to us to help deal with these kinds of issues. The whole crew will most definitely be featured throughout the story, just you wait.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!