8

Chapter 8- September 20, 1998

Hermione woke to a pounding headache and cottonmouth. Groaning, she flung her arm over her eyes, blocking out the light filtering beyond her curtains. She would have tried going back to sleep, but her full bladder was sending urgent messages, so she heaved to a sitting position, swallowing hard at the disconcerting roiling in her gut. Squinting, she dragged herself into the hallway, hoping Snape wasn't in the bathroom. Rolling her eyes in relief that it was free, she hurried in, locking the door behind her and making a beeline for the toilet.

Bloody hell! It feels like someone is beating me about the head with a Beater's bat. I need water. And something for my headache. And something to settle my stomach. Ugh! Never. Drinking. Again!

She opened the medicine cabinet, but there were no potions there. Whimpering, she shuffled to Snape's door and knocked. "Severus? Are you awake?"

Snape jerked awake at the sound, rolling onto his back and reaching for his wand instinctively. Blinking, trying to wake up, he recognized Hermione's voice and exhaled in relief. His voice was gravelly with sleep as he propped himself up on his elbows and said, "Come in."

Hermione opened the door and moped over to plop on the foot of his bed, frowning. "Where did you put the potions? I feel horrid. Why do people drink if they're just going to get hung-over?"

Snape huffed and one corner of his lips quirked up. "If we had been thinking, we would have got you more water and an analgesic to stave off the hangover."

Hermione shrugged in irritation. "Please tell me you have a hangover potion. Or at least a headache one. I really don't want to have to go to the chemist for some paracetamol feeling like this."

Snape smirked. "I do have headache potion. I'd need to unpack it in the basement."

Hermione shoved to her feet and gestured for Snape to do so. "Well? Come on then!"

Snape swallowed, his smirk gone as he remained still. He realized that his bedding was tented with a morning erection. He had worn his boxers to bed, but not his pyjama bottoms. It would be extremely obvious how hard he was if he simply rolled out of bed right at that moment.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Just give me a moment, and I'll get dressed."

Hermione, impatience exacerbated by her headache, growled, "Oh, for Merlin's sake, Severus, I've seen you in pyjamas and I've seen you in your bloody pants; what difference does it make now?"

Snape glared at her, and she looked down at the bedding, her brows shooting toward her hairline when she noticed the decided bulge. Flicking an embarrassed glance back up at Snape, she saw he was still glaring at her. Clearing her throat, she edged back toward the door.

"I'll just... wait downstairs. Take your time. No worries." With that, she exited and slammed his door shut behind her.

Snape fell back onto the bed and raked his hands over his face and through his hair. Well, that was mortifying. Lovely

Several minutes later, clad in his pyjamas, Snape joined Hermione in the kitchen. A half-empty glass of water was in front of her, and she had already started brewing tea. Rubbing her head, she said, "You said it's in the basement?"

Snape jerked a nod and led her down into the cool darkness, flicking a nonverbal Lumos at the wall sconces. He opened a crate and fished out a bottle, presenting it to her with a flourish. "Here. Don't take too much. Start with one spoonful. Wait a few minutes. If the headache hasn't completely subsided, you may take another, but no more after that for at least four hours."

Hermione snatched the bottle and nodded, then winced. "Yes. Accio spoon!" The spoon sailed into her waiting hand and she downed the dose immediately. After just a few beats, her pained expression smoothed and she heaved a long sigh. "Good gods, that's loads better. Thank you so much."

Snape inclined his head and they trekked back to the kitchen without a word. Hermione sank into a chair and rested her forehead in one hand with her elbow propped on the table. Snape poured them each a cup of tea and slid one in front of her. It was the same mint tea that they had the night before, and Hermione smiled faintly.

"Mmm, this was really good with that cake last night. I bet it would be good again."

Snape rolled his eyes and huffed. "First it was ice cream for dinner, now it's chocolate cake for breakfast?"

Hermione pulled a face at him and said, "I'm an adult; I can have whatever I like for breakfast." She paused for a beat, then grimaced and said, "Except for alcohol. I don't think I'll ever drink again."

Snape crossed to the counter and cut a slice of cake for her as he said, "Nonsense. You'll have a pint at the pub when we have dinner there like usual. You've just learnt a very valuable lesson about moderation and how to take care of yourself properly when you do indulge."

Hermione snorted and lamented, "I remember having such a good time, then things start getting a little fuzzy from there. Ron behaved himself, didn't he? Am I remembering that right?"

Snape served her the cake and sat. "He did." In a carefully neutral voice, he said, "How 'fuzzy' is you memory of last night?"

Hermione frowned in concentration. "I remember things, but I'm not sure what was real and what was in my dreams."

"What do you think you dreamt?"

Hermione's eyes went wide and she flicked a sheepish glance at him, her cheeks colouring. She chewed her lower lip and mumbled, "Um, just... things."

Could she have dreamt about us? Does she think what happened was a dream?

Snape sipped his tea and said, "I see." Unsure what to do, he pushed to his feet and said, "I'll leave you to your breakfast now that you feel better."

Hermione watched him stalk out, her voice stuck in her throat, struggling with the attraction that had plagued her dreams and left her aching with desire until she took matters into her own hands. In the silence of the house, she heard the water running in the pipes, indicating that Snape was showering.

I don't want to ruin our friendship, especially with me living here like this. If things went badly, it'd be dreadfully awkward. I'd quite likely have to move out. I don't want to do that.

Snape was in his room when she availed herself of the bathroom, and when she came downstairs to begin their daily work on the book, Snape was in his usual seat at the worktable, acting as if he hadn't a care in the world. Hermione took his lead and they spent the day in a studiously professional manner.

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Their behaviour continued in that fashion for days until they got an owl from Draco telling them that he had arranged for them to meet a former Death Eater...as well as the Malfoys themselves...at the Manor, so Hermione could interview them about Voldemort in a couple of weeks.

At that point, Hermione turned worried eyes full of naked emotion to Snape's and said, "I don't know if I'm ready."

Snape covered her hand with his and murmured, "You'll be fine. I'll be with you. So will Draco. You can do this. The wizarding world needs to know the truth."

Hermione chewed her lower lip and Snape's thumb caressed her hand. She looked at their hands and twisted hers to lace her fingers with his. Squeezing, she took a deep breath and met Snape's sober gaze. "I'll do my best."

Snape smiled fondly and said, "As always."

She offered a shaky smile back, and they returned to their work, focusing on her questions for the Malfoys and the Death Eater. Snape even encouraged her to practice asking him the questions, so she could get used to the words rolling off her tongue. By the time the date came around, things would be old hat to her.

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October 8, 1998

Hermione dressed in her birthday outfit, taking confidence from it, then added a more wizarding outer robe for her trip to Malfoy Manor. Snape followed her lead and wore his usual trousers and shirt but topped it with robes much like his former teaching robes. They were to Floo over and meet Draco before the other guest arrived.

Snape could see Hermione's nervousness, so he gripped her hands and crooned, "Relax. You'll be brilliant."

Hermione exhaled a shaky breath and smiled in gratitude. "All right, let's go."

Draco greeted them cordially when they whirled out of the Floo, dressed in finely tailored midnight blue robes that made his platinum hair and icy-grey eyes gleam. They were in a large library, with a plush sitting arrangement around the hearth. Hermione looked around with eager eyes.

Grinning, Draco said, "You're welcome to have a look. I thought this would be the most comfortable setting. Less formal than a dining room, with fewer distractions." He watched both Hermione and Snape eyeing the loaded shelves and drawled, "Or perhaps not..."

Hermione shook herself and flushed. "Do forgive me. I'll sate my curiosity some other time. How are you, Draco?"

He stepped forward with a slight bow, kissing her hand in greeting. "I'm quite well. And you?"

"I'm fine. A bit nervous about this interview, but Severus is keeping me calm." She cast a grateful look at the taller man, and he nodded acknowledgment.

"Hermione, if I remember correctly, there are several genealogy books in this library that may be useful for your historical search."

Draco nodded. "Grandfather and Father have been good about keeping copies of all pureblood families' bloodlines, naturally." His tone expressed his distaste, evidence of the turnaround he had made since the war.

"Those would be exceedingly helpful, if you don't mind me borrowing them. I'd be quite careful with them"

Draco chuckled and teased, "I know I can trust a bookworm like you with anything in this library. Come along, and we can start collecting them if you like."

They opened an old-fashioned card catalogue, and Draco pointed his wand at it saying, Accio bloodline subjects."

Several drawers opened and cards flew toward him, dropping into a neat stack on the side table between an armchair and a sofa. Snape picked a few up and started Summoning the individual books from the shelves, followed by Draco. Hermione caught them and stacked them carefully, barely having time to see the titles before the next one came flying toward her.

They had almost finished when Narcissa swept in on Lucius's arm. Hermione felt a cold sweat prickling her scalp, but she acquitted herself tolerably well in the face of those who had captured and tortured her the previous March. The other guest arrived promptly, and Draco led the introductions.

Snape sat by Hermione on one sofa, his hand discreetly touching the side of her leg to offer silent support under such scrutiny. Draco demonstrated how much he had grown up since the war in the way he controlled the evening, even adroitly suppressing his father's pompousness or chiding the Death Eater for being offensive. Snape stayed silent unless addressed, preferring to let Hermione do the interviewing and Draco play host. However, that didn't stop him from pinning the others with his baleful glare when necessary.

Eventually, when Hermione had asked her list of questions, Draco escorted her and Snape across the library to wait while he and his parents said good night to their other guest. When he was gone, Narcissa and Lucius called out their goodbyes and departed, leaving Draco to rejoin Snape and Hermione.

"I'm sorry they got so obstreperous. You were brilliant, by the way." He bowed to Hermione, smiling.

Hermione flashed a tight smile. "Thank you. It was definitely an experience. Hopefully the others will go a bit more smoothly."

Draco chuckled and said, "Now that everyone else is out of the way, may I give you the two-Knut tour? We have a hothouse especially for flowers if you'd like another gardenia for your hair. The one you had on your birthday rather suited you."

Hermione and Snape exchanged an amused look, and Draco suddenly realized where the flower had come from. Mastering his shock at what he could now see to be their mutual attraction, he plastered a polite smile on his face and waited.

Blushing a little, Hermione said, "Why not?"

Snape offered his arm for her to take and gestured for Draco to lead the way. Draco did so, blinking in astonishment at the easy familiarity they shared. He took great pride in sharing the history behind the beautiful artefacts in the Manor, and Hermione was ever the interested listener. They made their way through an entire wing before reaching the main part of the building. Draco opened the door at the end of the corridor and gestured for them to precede him through into the main drawing room.

Snape and Hermione stepped in, but when Hermione looked around, she froze, and her pleased smile vanished, replaced by an expression of fear and horror. Snape turned to her, concerned at the sudden way all colour drained from her face and the seizing of her muscles as she stared upward at the huge crystal chandelier.

Draco stepped around them, frowning in puzzlement, took one look at her face, followed her gaze to the chandelier, and put two and two together. Cursing himself for his thoughtlessness, he gripped Snape's outer arm and hissed, "I didn't think. I'm sorry. Severus, use the Floo from this hearth and get her home now. Hurry!"

Snape, bewildered by Hermione's distress and Draco's urgency, dragged her to the Floo and wrapped his arms around her as he stepped into the green flames. It was a tight squeeze when they popped out at Spinner's End, and they were considerably sootier than usual, but he manhandled her to the sofa and guided her to sit.

"Hermione, we're home. It's all right. What's wrong? Are you all right? Talk to me."

Hermione's eyes were screwed shut and her face was twisted in a pained grimace. Snape deliberately peeled her fingers back from being clenched in fists and fitted his fingers between hers, gripping her hands in comfort.

Hermione swallowed hard and opened her eyes to see Snape watching her, worried. "I-I'm okay. I just... need to go to bed. I think I'm a bit... overtired; that's all. I'm sorry."

Snape scowled. "Don't apologize. What happened back there? One second you're enjoying yourself, and the next, you're nearly catatonic."

Hermione's eyes began to fill with tears, and she pulled her hands from his, shooting to her feet. "I'm tired. I need to go to bed. I'm sorry."

She all but ran up the stairs, and Snape heard her bedroom door slam. Completely confused, he sat on the sofa, staring at the cold hearth. Several minutes later, the fireplace sprang to life with green flames, and a small box whirled out of it. Snape Summoned it and saw the Malfoy crest pressed into the sealing wax on the parchment and his name scrawled on it. It was followed by a larger box of the books that had been left behind in the library that Draco had agreed to lend to Hermione.

Hoping the note might have some answers, he opened it and read, "Severus, please give this to Hermione." Attached was a box containing the gardenia and a note that said, "Hermione, please accept this as a token of my deepest apologies for distressing you. Had I but thought, I could have avoided upsetting you like that, and I regret failing you in such a manner. Sincerely, Draco."

What the bloody hell is going on? Mystified, Snape climbed the stairs and left the box at Hermione's door, wanting to knock but refraining. He eventually went to sleep, but his mind kept roiling with questions.

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In the darkest hour of the night, Snape shot straight up in bed, wand in hand, and every nerve on red alert at the shriek issuing from Hermione's room. Flinging the covers off, he sprang to his feet and barrelled through his door and hers, Stunning spells on the tip of his tongue and brain. In the faint light of the streetlamp from the window, he saw Hermione still in bed, tossing and flailing as she mumbled and choked.

He flung a nonverbal Lumos around him, bathing them in light, and saw nothing in the room to torment her. Leaping to her bed, he sank down beside her, frantic eyes searching for the danger. Her eyes were closed, but her cheeks were wet.

"Hermione? Hermione, are you all right?" He laid a careful hand on hers where it clutched the bedding, and Hermione jerked awake with a scream, eyes rolling wildly as she batted at him.

Snape leant back and caught her wrists, holding her so she couldn't hit him. "Hermione! It's me. It's all right. You're safe. I'm not going to hurt you."

Hermione's glazed eyes focused on him and she blinked rapidly. A strangled sob burst forth and she collapsed back onto the bed, shuddering. Snape bent forward and gathered her into his embrace, stroking her hair and whispering nonsense to soothe her. Hermione wrapped her arms around him and held on tight until her paroxysm eased.

When she had calmed to only faint hiccoughs and sniffles, Snape murmured, "Hermione? Are you all right?"

She gulped and backed away, her face still looking haunted as she wiped her wet cheeks and blew her nose on a hastily Summoned tissue. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. Just a bad dream."

Snape lifted her chin to meet her gaze, incredulous. "Just a bad dream? Mercy, Hermione, that was a beast of a nightmare if I've ever seen one. What's going on? You're scaring me."

Hermione stared at him mournfully, then squirmed backwards to sit against her headboard, hugging her pillow defensively. Snape moved around to sit by her on the empty side of the bed, facing her and giving her his undivided attention. Hermione stayed silent for a long while, but Snape didn't move, except to enclose her hand in between both of his.

Finally, she whispered, "It was being there again, at Malfoy Manor."

Snape nodded in encouragement. "Go on."

"I-I didn't realize it would hit me so hard. I thought I was okay."

There was a long pause, then Snape said, "What hit you so hard?"

Hermione shivered, closing her eyes. "That drawing room. And the chandelier."

Her lips trembled, and more tears leaked out from under her closed lids. Snape murmured, "What about them?"

Hermione cut an accusing look at him and snarled, "Surely you heard about it! When Greyback and the Snatchers caught us and took us there to hand us over to Voldemort?" Snape jerked involuntarily at the name, but she forged on, spitting the words like poison. "That batshit abomination of a witch locked everyone else in the cellar and kept me in that drawing room to torture me! Sh-she cut me and Crucioed me!"

Snape's eyes opened so wide in shock that a thin ring of white was visible around the black. Hermione's brow furrowed in anguish as she said, "Then Dobby dropped the chandelier on us to get Bellatrix, but she got away. I was under it. Ron dragged me out from it and we escaped to Shell Cottage, but not before she managed to throw her knife and kill Dobby. He died in Harry's arms...right in front of us...on the beach. I was covered with cuts from the crystals, and I was bleeding..."

"Ye gods..." Snape's horrified whisper seemed to flip a switch and Hermione dissolved into sobs again. This time, however, she turned to him for comfort, burrowing against him while he rubbed her back in sympathetic silence.

When she quieted again, she remained curled across his lap, and he kept caressing her soothingly. Eventually, she murmured, "Didn't you hear? I assumed that would've been big news for the Death Eaters."

Snape heaved a sigh and said, "I didn't hear the details, only that you all had been captured and had escaped...thank the gods for small mercies."

Hermione squirmed and sat back up, turning to face Snape. He lifted a hand to brush her tangled curls away from her face and she leant into it, closing her eyes. Snape's heart thudded and he raised his other hand to wipe away her remaining tears, smoothing over her cheeks. She clasped his hand in hers, dropping it to her lap. Snape slid his other hand from her cheek and wrapped it around hers.

There was a long pause as they stared at their twined fingers. Then Snape whispered, "You must have healed well. I don't see any scars."

She met his eyes and smiled faintly as she muttered, "Dittany." Snape flashed an answering smile, then Hermione said, "The crystal cuts were all pretty superficial scratches. The knife wound was worse. It's not completely gone; at least, it's not particularly visible, but I can still feel it."

At Snape's frown of inquiry, she lifted her chin, baring her throat, and brought his fingertips to graze over the thin groove that was nearly invisible. He leant forward, seeking the visual confirmation of what he could feel. It was several inches long, from the centre of the column of her throat back toward her jaw.

His fingers trailed from one end to the other, then smoothed over her throat and back behind her ear as he bent forward and pressed a gentle kiss to the scar. He heard her gasp, but she didn't back away. Heartened by that, he continued dropping light kisses along the groove, then nuzzled her ear with his nose before breathing, "Would you like me to stay with you until you fall asleep again? Help keep the nightmares at bay?"

Hermione exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. In a shaky whisper, she said, "You don't have to do that."

Snape pulled back and met her eyes with a fond smirk. "I don't mind. You've done the same for me countless times."

Hermione frowned and tilted her head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Snape ducked his head and offered a sheepish grimace. "Uh...I have a confession to make."

Brows rising, Hermione said, "A confession?"

Snape sucked in a deep breath and let it sough out, one hand rubbing the scar on his own neck. "I had my own reasons to offer you a room in the dungeons, and even to offer this room here." He paused, and Hermione stared at him expectantly. "You know how you thought it was being in the dungeon that helped me sleep? Well, it wasn't that. It was you. I always slept better during my naps when you were around than I did at night on my own, until I had you nearby. It made all the difference. You were there to comfort me when I woke in the middle of my living nightmare after Nagini attacked me, and every day I remember after that. Just knowing you were on the other side of the wall or just down the hall... you helped keep my dreams sweet, Hermione."

She was owl-eyed, completely taken aback. "You never said anything..."

Snape looked away and muttered, "I didn't want to scare you away."

The silence stretched on, and Snape was afraid to meet her eyes again for fear of what he might see there. Hermione studied him, realizing just how much they had come to rely on and care for each other in such a short time. She thought about what he had said, and understood how being close to each other could help fight off the demons of their past that tried to plague them. In a soft voice, she said, "Actually, I would prefer it if you stayed."

Snape's wide-eyed gaze snapped to hers, and his chest tightened at her shy smile. Wanting to crow in excitement, he instead cleared his throat and said, "I'll just let you get settled, and I'll be right there at your vanity."

Hermione gripped his arm and drew his attention, waiting until they had locked eyes to say, "That won't be necessary. You're welcome to lie here and be comfortable. I don't mind."

Snape's throat went dry, and he swallowed hard. Pulse speeding up, he rasped, "Good to know."

Hermione flashed a smile and ducked her head as she squirmed back under her covers, knowing full well that a blush was spreading over her face. Snape edged off the bed until she was settled, then carefully eased back down beside her, on top of the covers. A deft flick of his wand extinguished the lights, and he lay flat on his back, his ankles crossed, with one hand behind his head. Hermione rolled onto her side to face him in the darkness.

"Thank you."

It was a faint whisper, but Snape heard her. He was startled to feel her hand sliding down his arm to twine her fingers with his. "I'll make sure you're sleeping, and then I'll leave you in peace."

Hermione voiced an acknowledging noise, then silence blanketed them.

Snape lay there in the dark listening to Hermione's breathing. After a while, it evened into slow, deep breaths, and her fingers went slack. He stayed for at least another half hour after that, just to make sure she was asleep, then ever-so-slowly extricated himself from her lax grip and moved off the bed. Weariness was tugging at his eyelids, and he yawned as he shuffled back to his own room and burrowed under his covers. It wasn't long before he was asleep, too.

Hermione woke again in the purplish pre-dawn. Snape was gone, and she frowned, remembered anxiety sending icy prickles over her skin. Her nightmare had come back, albeit in more disjointed, murky pieces than before. Her throat was tight, and her eyes burned with fresh tears wanting to be shed. Sucking in shallow, shaky breaths, she slid out of bed and hastened out to Snape's room, pausing on the threshold and looking at his sleeping figure.

Struggling to breathe deeply and calm herself, Hermione closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the doorjamb for a long moment. The twitchiness inside her wouldn't go away, so she tiptoed closer and stood beside the bed, wringing her hands as she whispered, "Severus?"

Snape didn't stir until the third time she said his name. He rolled onto his back and peered groggily up at her. "Hermione?"

In a small voice, she said, "Can I sleep in here with you?"

Snape was too sleepy to ask for details. Without a word, he scooted over and lifted the covers for her to climb in beside him. She lay down in the warm cocoon created by his body heat under the blankets and exhaled a long sigh of relief. Snape shifted until he was on his back, one arm flung over his head, and Hermione lay beside him, staring at the ceiling.

After several minutes, Snape woke from his resumed doze to the feel of Hermione rolling over to face him, burrowing her head against his chest under his raised arm and draping one arm and leg over him, effectively pinning him to the bed. The shock of it roused him thoroughly, and he ended up watching the light brightening beyond his curtains for a long while before drifting off again, his arm lowered to wrap around Hermione's shoulders.

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October 9, 1998

It was late morning when Hermione woke again, feeling deliciously comfortable and safe. She inhaled the warm scent of Snape beside her and snuggled closer. The movement woke Snape, and he slowly realized that Hermione was curled around him. The sensation of her trusting form pressed against him sent a wave of heat washing over him, pooling in his groin, where he was once again mortified to note that he was quite hard, bouncing in eagerness for the woman next to him.

Hermione stirred, stretching her limbs, and brushed against his erection, making him gasp. At that, she froze, contrasting sparks of hot and cold streaking through her. Voice husky with sleep, she said, "I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you?"

Snape huffed and rumbled, "No."

Carefully, Hermione peeled away from him and rolled back, looking away and attempting nonchalance as she said, "It's quite all right. I didn't suffer sleeping around the boys for months on end without realizing that... those happen quite normally in the morning."

She gasped when Snape grabbed her arm, preventing her from getting out of the bed. Turning to look at him, she saw him curled forward onto one elbow and tilted toward her, eyeing her intently. She blinked rapidly, taken aback by his expression.

"It's not just because it's morning. You know that."

His voice was both earnest and slightly scornful. He held her gaze and eased his grip to caress her arm. Hermione's heart hammered in her chest, and she swallowed hard, drawn to his eyes, which had managed to turn even blacker.

Inclining her head, she murmured, "I do now."

Snape sat forward quickly, pulling her closer and descending upon her with a fierce kiss. Hermione felt dizzy with the rush of sensations and found herself snogging him back as eagerly as he devoured her.

When they separated, Snape rested his forehead against hers, panting. "I'm glad we could... come to an understanding."

Hermione released a shaky breath and said, "Indeed. However, I think it's time for me to get up." She squirmed out of the bed and ran her hands over her tangled hair, sucking in a deep breath. Spinning toward him, she took in the image before her of Snape twisted on his side, propped up on one hand, hair dishevelled, covers bunched around him, looking at her with swollen lips and eyes full of desire. The answering jolt in her centre gave her pause, making her want to climb right back in bed with him, but her reason roared at her to be cautious, and she edged toward the door. Blushing, she flashed a smile and said, "I'm so grateful that you stayed with me...and let me stay here with you. It was lovely waking up feeling so protected."

Snape licked his lips and cleared his throat. "I'll stay with you any time you like. Gladly."

Ducking her head, she murmured, "I'll keep that in mind," and whirled, leaving him alone in his room again.

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