For all the times he saved me

A/N: There, now I'm really back. And Sarah? I do have every intention of finishing this story.

She was proud of herself. She had spent almost two hours reorganizing her office, and the rest of the day she had been busy charming the books of the library to return to their own spots on the shelves if she tapped them with her wand. It was good therapy, she decided. Later that day, she had visited the infirmary to get a gel for the bruise which was now hellbend on hurting her with every step she took. She'd called a house elf to serve her tea in her chambers, and busied herself the rest of the evening with unpacking the few things she hadn't gotten to that morning. She had noticed the extra shelving in the now joined library, and was even a little grateful for his quick action. But not too much, because she was still a little angry with him. Tomorrow, she decided, she would spend the day with the kids, and pick up her books. She just hoped there would be enough room for them.
Morning came too quickly in her opinion. She hadn't turned in too late, and she'd been out cold for nearly eleven hours, but she was still reluctant to get up. She was comfortable and warm under the covers, and she just knew it wouldn't be on the other side of them. When she remembered her plans for the day, she did it anyway.
She had been right of course. The stone floor was like ice under her bare feet, and the draft in her chamber enveloped her almost entirely bare body like a cloak of snow. Goosebumps arose all over her exposed skin, and she shivered violently. Maybe she should look for a nightgown as well today. These rooms were really not made for walking around in, wearing only knickers and a bra. She practically ran towards her dresser, and, after grabbing some clothes from it, she dashed towards the bathroom. She stopped, only for a moment. Bathroom? Erm... Oh right. Through the library. Fine. She was so cold, and so convinced anyone would still be asleep at this insane hour, she ran out the room, and straight through the door into the bathroom. She stripped of her underwear and turned on the tabs. She sighed as the hot water ran down her back and legs, warming every bit of skin the moment it touched her. Heaven...

He just stood there, incredibly grateful noone was there to see his face. He was well aware of looking like an idiot, but he just couldn't seem to snap himself out of it, no matter how hard he tried. Had his eyes been deceiving him? They must have. He was standing in the doorway, on his way to his sunday morning ritual: a strong cup of coffee, and a good book. In stead, he got an eyefull of young annoying woman in her underwear. A small part of him decided to note the color of the underwear. Green. Slytherin-green. That same small part of him told him that should be interesting. He could not, for the life of him, fathom why. He did however find it important to note she hadn't locked the bathroom door. He had half a mind of just going in there and 'accept his attraction', as Lupin had called it. In stead, he went to sit in his usual chair by the fire, and picked up the book he had started reading the night before, all the while trying his utmost to ignore the soft moan coming from the bathroom. Thankfully it was a one time thing, so he deduced it was a reaction to the warm water. As long he kept telling himself that, it would be fine. After a few minutes he was so immersed in the book, he had forgotten all about it.

A small moan escaped her as the warm water streamed down her body. Thank god for showers. She washed her body, skipping over the now blackened bruise on her hip. It hurt, but it was managable. Nothing a little Arnica root gel wouldn't cure. The work of the previous day had softened her mood, and so had her long night's sleep. She was still hellbent on revenge, but in her mind's eye, it didn't involve any disection whatsoever anymore, nor anything close to feeding him his own balls for supper. She could still not comprehend why he would catch her, only to let him fall again. She dismissed that trail of thought. She was going to enjoy today. And she was sure as hell not going to let the thought of him ruin it.
After her shower, she pulled her hair back in a tight braid, not really feeling up to battling the wet strands of horridness that morning. She looked at the clothes she had pulled out of her closet. Oh bugger. The potions robes? She couldn't very well show up at Ron's house wearing those, could she? She doubted he would even let her in if she showed up looking like Severus. Okay. She had a choice. A difficult choice. Wrestle herself into these robes, just to walk the few feet required to get to her own room, or risk having the insufferable man catch her in her underwear. She looked at her reflection. The underwear which she was wearing looked just fine. The matching grey set with green lace had been a gag gift from Harry on her last birthday. She had taken to wearing it whenever she wanted Ron to leave her alone. It had been a statement, and it had worked. Oh Fine. She would risk it. She gathered the robes in her arms and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
She could feel all of the color drain from her face the moment she opened the door to the library.
Oh hell's balls. He was sitting in an armchair by the fire, reading a book. Maybe, if she was real quiet, he wouldn't notice her. He hadn't looked up yet, and he had his back to her, so there might be a small chance. She tiptoed towards her door, trying to make no noise whatsoever. She made it halfway.
"Geez Hermione, I would never have pegged you for slytherin colored underthings." Remus. Shit. Shit shit shit. She had frozen on the spot, and blatantly refused to turn around. She just knew he would be standing there, most likely still in the doorway, for he hadn't been in the room when she left the bathroom. He would be smiling. Smirking even, if she was lucky. And as for the man she was so desperately trying to avoid, he would've turned by now, wouldn't he?
Straighten up you daft bint. She did. And she turned even. Oh good for me.
Both men were staring at her, Remus exactly like she had predicted, leaning his shoulder against the doorpost, holding a cup of coffee and, yes ma'am, I do believe we have a smirk. Just great. In the armchair to her right, Severus had turned around to face her, and was sneering at her over his book. She was getting the unmistakable feeling he was actually blaming her for interupting his reading. She could feel the anger boiling up inside her, but she tried to stomp it back down. She did not have the time for a fight today.
"Nice bruise." He sneered. Oh hell, maybe she had.

Remus sighed as he took in the scene before him. Severus had turned his back towards Hermione, which was a very stupid thing to do, he reckoned, and had resumed his reading. Only the little white around his knuckles as he clutched the book just a little harder than he should've, was a telltale sign he wasn't actually taking in the words on the page before him. Hermione had dropped the robes she had been holding and had actually stomped across the room to stand infront of the man in her underwear. Screaming at him. Oh dear. It took him all he had not to burst out laughing. The girl, who, he had to admit, looked delicious without her clothes on, was yelling at the top of her lungs, which made her breathing laboured and her cheecks flushed. He hoped to hell Severus had the sense not to look up. Remus knew, that no matter what the man said or did, he could not resist a sight like the one standing within arms reach of him at that very moment. And he also knew that the girl would never give in to him. Not this time anyway. Maybe he should step in now. He finished his coffee and pushed himself away from the door.
"Hermione, weren't you supposed to go somewhere today?" He asked. He put his empty cup on a table, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Her face changed as his words settled in. "Oh bugger, the kids."

A/N: Harry Potter Wiki: "Bruise Removal Paste is described as an antidote for bruises, but arnica root gel, which is not of magical origin, will do the same thing."