Her Knight Errant

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 25 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Her Knight Errant

~H~

From the moment that Hermione and Harry had arrived at the Burrow, she'd had the feeling that all the Weasleys had conspired to play referee between her and Ron. Ginny, George, and Harry seemed to be trying to maneuver Hermione and Ron so that they were never alone or so that Ron couldn't get her in a corner by themselves. When Hermione sat down on the sofa, Bill casually sat down next to her, crossing his leg over the other and turning so that he was effectively taking up half the sofa. "So, do you follow international news, Hermione?"

"A little," she replied, cringing as Ron stood against the fireplace, watching them, very clearly annoyed that George, Harry, and Ginny were trying to engage him in a discussion about the Quiberon Quafflepunchers match against the Heidelberg Harriers and not letting him sit with her. "I get The Sorcerers Sun as well as the Daily Prophet."

"So, what do you think about Jaromir Taher and Ayman Malek demanding that we return all the pilfered magical artifacts and their claims that they were poached from the Egyptian tombs?" Bill asked, taking a drink from his beer. "Of course, the Goblins are refusing to admit that they were misappropriated."

Hermione shrugged. "Not much really, although I'm sure that the Goblins are furious."

Bill smiled and begun telling her what he'd heard at work, the controversy over the artifacts in question, which led to a discussion on everything from Ancient Egyptian magic to Goblin affairs.

When Mrs. Weasley asked Bill to give her a hand, Charlie plopped down on the sofa, taking Bill's place. "So, how are you, girl? Things flying straight?"

Hermione nearly choked on her Coke. "Fine. As well as can be expected, all considering. You?" she asked, taken off guard. He was visiting his family on an extended vacation, but this was the first time he'd ever singled her out to talk.

"So, you're returning to Hogwarts in a week?" he asked.

Hermione nodded mutely as she swallowed. They reminisced about their respective school years and his job in Romania until Mrs. Weasley asked Charlie to get Mr. Weasley from his shed. She then asked the girls to set the table, giving Hermione a reprieve from Ron's glaring stare.

After lunch, Fleur asked Hermione to sit with her and watch the children while the boys, Ginny, and Angelina played Quidditch.

When it started to get dark, everyone started walking back to the house. "So, you're avoiding me now, are you?" Ron hissed at her side, making Hermione jump in surprise.

She'd just picked up a magical toy areoplane and hadn't heard him approach her. "No, Ron, I'm not," she said with a sigh. "But I don't want any problems or arguments either. How is Auror Training?"

"It's going good. I'm not so good with Disguise, but I am getting on all right in Stealth and Concealment," he said. "Probably from sneaking around so much when we were in school."

"Probably," she admitted. "Harry was having trouble with Disguise as well. We used to work on it together."

"I would've liked that," Ron said, kicking a rock. "I liked having you help me with my stuff."

Hermione smiled, knowingly. "You used to like having me write your essays for you. If you want, come around when Harry's home. I'll help you with your Transfiguration."

"You guys okay?" Harry asked, joining them on Hermione's other side.

Ron perked up. "You mean it?"

Hermione nodded, relieved that he was talking to her like they used to and not berating her about her Bonding. "When Harry is home. I don't need problems right now."

"You mean with Snape?" he asked, frowning.

Hermione stopped and placed a hand on his arm making him turn to face her, hoping to stem off any arguments with him. "Yes, with Severus. His name is Severus, and he is my Bonded Mate. Got that?"

'Yeah," Ron said, jerking his arm free. "I got that – I still don't like it, but I get it. You'd rather be with him than me."

"That's not true, Ron, and you know it," Harry said, coming to her defense. "She didn't pick him – it happened."

"Yeah, and you got my sister," Ron snapped, scuffing his shoe, "just like she wanted."

"Ron, I was thinking of you when I said the rhyme," Hermione protested, but Harry held up his hand to silence her.

"Yeah, I lucked out, and Ginny is my true match – my soul mate. The spell picked me for her. Hermione didn't pick Snape – she'd picked you – then this spell mucked things up, and you keep taking it out on her like it's her fault!" Harry said as Ginny and Bill walked over. "You told me that you knew about bonding spells, and yet, you still act like a prat. It's not her fault – and she has to live with the consequences. Don't you get it?"

"Stop. Just stop it!" Hermione shouted, wishing that this argument wasn't happening.

She turned and ran, but not before she heard Bill say, "Way to go little brother. You really know how to carry a hinkypunk on your shoulder!"

Hermione stopped behind the bush next to the gate to wipe the tear from her face, surprised and hurt by Harry's true feelings regarding her Bonding. He'd always been so supportive and encouraging, but in fact, he'd only been pacifying her.

"Whatever that girl decides, you should be supporting her. It's time you face the facts, bro. You and her – you're not a good match. I'm sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. Face it. You'll be happier when you do." Bill's voice was getting louder as if Ron was walking away. "Don't throw away seven years of friendship – RON!"

Hermione turned on the spot and Apparated for home. Bill was right, and so was Harry, but right now, all she wanted was to take a long hot bath with a good book and loads of bubbles. She still felt bad about the situation, and somehow Bill had just made her feel worse.

~MoM~

Monday morning, Maggie walked into her office and immediately noticed that not only did her office seem to have expanded, but that a second office space had been added. There was a new desk with a low bookshelf behind it, an extra file cabinet, and three chairs that stood behind a partition. The table with the magical registries had been moved and was now against the wall. The Marriage and Magical Unions ledger with its red quill was now sitting at the end of the table closest to the new desk with the Birth Registration ledger in the middle. It was just the opposite from how Maggie kept the ledgers, preferring the table to have the Marriage ledger in the middle, birth, marriage, then death, the natural flow of life in her opinion. The green and black quills that hovered over the Birth Registration ledger, and the Obituary and Life Termination register were busily writing away, but Maggie was distracted by the new arrangement.

Robbie Shelton walked into the Magical Marriage and Birth Registration Office with four wizards carrying two file boxes each behind her. "Good morning. You must be Maggie Whitmire," she said, placing a brass-plated plague on her desk that read:

Magical Licenses and Certificates Department

Muggle Marriage Assistance Program

"Yes, I – am," Maggie tried to say in introduction, but the wizards were blocking her from extending her hand in greeting. She plopped down in her chair, fuming at the impertinence.

Roberta didn't seem to notice. "Please, just set everything down anywhere, gentlemen, and thank you so much for helping me with them," she said kindly to the men, whose faces were partially obscured by the boxes.

"Our pleasure, Roberta," a broad-shouldered wizard said and stood up, as another turned around after placing his boxes on the bookshelf. Maggie was surprised to recognize Raul Aguilar and Ashton Mostyn from the Oblivators office, amazed that they'd personally carried Mrs. Shelton's boxes and not some of the maintenance wizards. Maggie recognized that one of the two other wizards was also from the Oblivators office.

"We're sure are going to miss you," Mr. Aguilar said, sadly.

"I'm going to miss all you guys too, but this is the best thing for me," Robbie said, pointing for the fourth wizard to leave the box on her bookshelf. "Victoria is a lovely girl and will fit in nicely. You'll see. She caught on quickly, and you won't have to worry about her handling everything or keeping up with you."

The Minister walked into the office, and Maggie bolted from her chair, as Mrs. Shelton tried to get around the boxes to greet him. "No, Robbie, please," he said, holding up his hand. "I just came down to see if the changes I asked for had been done."

"The office is quite spacious, thank you, Minister," Mrs. Shelton said, blushing slightly at his thoughtfulness.

"It's Kingsley, Robbie," he corrected her with a warm smile. "We'll be working together until this gets up and running smoothly."

Mrs. Shelton placed a hand on her chest, and her eyes opened wide in modest humility. "Kingsley – imagine me, on a first name basis with the minister?"

"I am looking forward to seeing this project of mine off and flying," Kingsley said. "The plaque for the door will arrive this afternoon. Carlos here will be happy to help you organize things and help you set up." The thin, wiry wizard smiled and began stacking books haphazardly on Mrs. Shelton's shelves. "You'll have complete access to the Marriage and Magical Unions and Birth Registration ledgers and Stamford Jorkins in the Ministry Public Relations office will help you with your pamphlets and leaflets should you need him. And if you do nearly as well as I hope, we'll have to expand the office again and get you an assistant."

"Thank you, Minister," Mrs. Shelton said graciously with a tone of awe.

"You're very welcome." Kingsley stopped in the doorway and turned around. Maggie walked to the side of her desk, hoping to catch his attention, but Kingsley apparently didn't notice. "Oh, and one more thing, since you'll be handling all the press releases for the Muggle and Muggle-born marriage announcements and Muggle-born births, you'll be dealing with the local papers. So for now, at least for the next several months, review all of the announcements with Mrs. Whitmire." Robbie smiled and nodded, and Maggie's eyes bulged in disbelief. "Robbie, Mrs. Whitmire, good day to you," he said, just before he left the office.

Maggie sat down at her desk, fuming at the implications of what the Minister had just said, and started shuffling her files as she watched Roberta Shelton and Carlos organize Mrs. Shelton's work space.

~H~

Hermione laughed as the green powder erupted in George's face. "That's not funny!" he snapped as she siphoned the glittery powder back into the jar. "You have to contain it while I add the Dreamer's venom."

Hermione checked the potion. "We still have time, it hasn't turned." She looked up at him. "Are you ready?"

George glared at her, but lifted the flask of venom and the stirring rod. "Yes. Go." Hermione swished her wand, encapsulating the green glycerin powder, and moved it to hover over the cauldron as George carefully counted off three drops to each rotation of his stirring rod, being extra careful to keep is rod under the hovering powder. The drops fell through the powder, making globules slide down the stirring rod into the potion, creating a small hiss each time they touched the surface.

Hermione's arm began to shake slightly, and she struggled to maintain the slowly shrinking mass. George's face was getting sweaty, and he started to mumble as he counted. She maintained the spell even when the powder seemed to have all dissipated, knowing that the powder would start to appear clear as the mass within the orb of her containment spell grew less and less. This was the point when most people who attempted the brew this potion failed; they broke off the containment too soon, making the fine dust fall into the cauldron. She shrunk the orb of the containment spell, concentrating the powder within. Suddenly George started his count down. When George reached one, Hermione moved the orb from the cauldron and pushed it into the jar next to her as George started stirring in the opposite direction.

She handed him a flannel when he finally pulled his stirring rod out. "Thanks. Sorry I snapped at you," he said, mopping his face.

"It's okay." Hermione pulled out another cauldron to start the base for the red ones. "Two more to go, or do you want to wait?"

"Nah, let's get them done," he said as he added the dragon sulfur.

They finished the red and the blue without any incidents other than George and Hermione both feeling and showing their fatigue.

Hermione was confused when George put his hand on her wrist, stopping her from pulling out another cauldron. "I think we should stop for the day," he said, laughing. "It's really late, well past my normal dinner time. Angie is going to be here any minute, and I need a shower," he said jovially.

Hermione felt the blood drain from her face, and her stomach felt like it had rocks. "Severus! Oh, my gods – he'll – what time is it?"

"It's almost seven. Were you planning on going out again tonight? If not, you can stick around if you like," he said, putting the potions aside to set up for the night. "We're eating late and going to play snaps."

"He's going to be furious. I can't believe it's – he's going to kill me – or you! I can't believe I'm so late," she stammered, hurriedly shoving things away.

"Just do that Patronus trick," Ron suggested from the doorway. "George, Angie's here. I'm heading for home."

"Right," Hermione and George both said at the same time.

"Now you're channeling him. It's weird seeing you two working together." Ron shook his head and looked at George. "It's like you were with Fred: your heads always close together, sharing private jokes, laughing, cussing at each other, saying the same things at the same time."

She was so nervous her wand shook, making it hard to produce her Patronus. On her second try, her otter form burst from her wand, and she infused it with her voice. 'I'm sorry! We got so wrapped up in what we were doing that I completely lost track of time. Forgive me?'

The otter sped out the door just as Angie walked over. "Hermione! Don't tell me he expects you to pull an all nighter?" Angie asked, holding a large covered dish.

"Oi! No. We're done," George said, urging everyone upstairs. "So, what did ya make me, eh?"

"I didn't; I picked this up from your mum. Really, George, you should learn to cook," she said, teasing him.

Hermione was torn between staying and going home or trying to find Severus. But she did not want to go to Malfoy Manor and had no idea if going to his house would be a good idea.

"Oi, Hermione are you staying?" George asked from the foot of the stairs. "If you are, you're welcome to use the bathroom first."

Hermione sighed. "I might as well. I have a change of clothes, but... What if he sends an owl – or comes here?"

"Who?" Angie asked as George said, "Well, I'll hold the owl for you, or if Snape shows up, I'll invite him in to wait for you. Either way, come upstairs and get cleaned up."

Hermione agreed, feeling a sense of dread. She was rinsing out her hair when Severus' voice suddenly echoed loudly in the small bathroom, startling her. "I do not like being stood up. Tomorrow at six then. Don't be late."

After a dinner of roast beef on rolls, George Apparated with Hermione to Grimmauld Place and waited on the pavement until she was inside the house.

~*~

Hermione was reviewing the Moon-Song Spell in the five borrowed books and Luna's diary when Severus arrived unexpectedly at Harry's house. "Nice blue door," she heard him say as he passed Ginny in the entryway.

"Thank you. Hermione's in the kitchen," Ginny said, but by the sound of his boots, he had simply walked on past her. She heard Ginny add, "Nice to see you too, Headmaster!" sarcastically.

"Insolent twit," Severus grumbled. He stopped in the doorway, watching Hermione. "What are you doing? Surely you haven't started memorizing your school books already?"

"Nice to see you too," Hermione said, not bothering to look up from the book she was reading. "What do you want, Severus?"

"To spend the day with my wife," he said, walking into the kitchen and standing directly behind her.

Hermione was so used to the act after six years of it, it hardly fazed her anymore. "I'm busy today," she said while checking the entry of one of Mr. Malfoy' books against Luna's diary once again. It didn't match exactly. The potion wasn't the same. Not only did Luna's only use muslin to separate the potion from the leavings instead of a cheese cloth, the one in Mr. Malfoy's book added laurel glucose and plimpy secretions. Most likely to create a nice lather in the water, she thought, writing down the annotation on her parchment.

"I can see that," he said, laying a pair of what looked like gardening gloves next to her. "I was hoping you'd come with me. I have ingredients I need to acquire, and I like to pick my own."

"I can't today," she said, comparing the directions from the other book from Mr. Malfoy to Luna's diary and finding that they didn't match exactly either. The potion called for mountain glacier water instead.

"You are not scheduled to work. I checked," he said smoothly, although a bit coolly, and she looked up at him, not believing that he'd actually checked up on her. "I stopped by the shop first. Weasley said you were not coming in." He looked at the book and his eyes narrowed as he frowned. "What are you reading these for?"

She simply replied, "I wanted to know the truth," as she turned the page, comparing the description for the resulting dreams, which was referred to as 'the magical connection of pre consummation.'

He picked up one of the books, and his frown deepened when he saw what she was researching. "I told you about this spell. I thought we had resolved this."

"I-I wanted to know for sure – who was telling me the truth..." she started to say and faltered. "Mr. Malfoy and Mrs. Longbottom lent me these books."

He dropped the book on the table and exhaled sharply. "Oh, of all the idiotic – fine!" He grabbed her arm, hauled her to her feet, and dragged her from the kitchen through the house to the Floo. "Potter, I will need some of your Floo Powder. I'm taking my wife to Hogwarts."

"Fine, but – Hermione, are you all right?" Harry said as Severus literally dragged Hermione past him. "Hey! Don't..."

But Hermione didn't hear the last of Harry's admonishment because Severus had shoved Hermione into the Floo and snatched a handful of powder. "Headmaster's office, Hogwarts."

They landed in the office. She stumbled. He cleaned them off with a few swishes of his wand, grabbed her arm and pulled her along with him out the door, making her stumble and jog to keep up with his long strides. "Severus, this is insane..."

"Yes, it is insane – it has been insane since its inception," he snarled as he continued to walk purposefully down the corridor. "What is insane now is that you are questioning me."

"You're hurting me!" she admonished him and tried, unsuccessfully, to wrench her arm free of his grasp.

His fingers tightened on her arm. "Then keep up." He dragged her all the way to the library and along the shelves to the Restricted Section. Madam Pince looked up as they passed. "Don't mind us, Irma. My wife and I have a research project."

Hermione crossed her arms as she watched as Severus scanned the bookshelves, checking the book titles, opening one after another, occasionally handing one to her to hold. A book trolley appeared beside him, but Severus seemed not to notice it. Occasionally, he conjured a marker to place in the book before handing it to her. Many of the books were simply set aside as he went, and a few were stacked onto a pile that floated beside him. One book he opened and marked had the sounds of weeping, another of joyous sighs and whispers. Another one burst into music as he opened it, the music changing as Severus turned the pages. The music was a slow and dreadful requiem on the page he'd placed a marker before shutting it and thrusting it at her.

Finally, he turned and levitated the stack of books to a nearby table. He dropped the books with a loud thud, earning him a glare from Madam Pince, and opened the book on the top of Hermione's stack. Immediately, the music started again. "Read."

Hermione sat down and began to read the section he'd marked, gasping at the fact she was reading about bonding spells – a blood binding bonding spell. When she reached the end of the page, he levitated the book and opened another before her. The next one was another type of bonding spell, to lock memories within an object. Severus stood over her a while then moved away, leaving her to continue reading the books. Hermione read the pages he marked in each book carefully, absorbing every word.

After having her read all the pages he'd marked, Severus sat down next her. "The spell you cast, it's what's called a triad spell – much like several of these. It's not a potion nor an enchantment or a charm – it's all three," he said calmly, lacing his fingers across his middle. "You made a wish – the most basic of elemental magic. You said the enchantment, drank a potion, then submerged your body in another potion – made from the coagulated leavings, did you not?"

"Yes," she said, unable to meet his eye, but simply stared at his hands.

"The spell was then in effect but still in its open phase, the in-between time – between the intent and the affect. The dreams happen when the couple connected by the spell are at rest and are at their most susceptible state to the affects of the spell. They are the evidence that the spell is in the 'casting' phase. If you and I had not consummated the spell – if the sun had risen on the day after that full moon before I'd had sex with you – the spell would have been broken. Like a miscast spell, the magic would have simply dissipated. However, because of the influence of the spell on me, there wouldn't have been anything I wouldn't have done to get to you. Nothing. There would have been nothing that the Weasleys could have devised to keep us apart. I'm not bragging, Hermione, it's the truth."

Hermione remembered the tales in Mrs. Longbottom's books and the one that played music as she'd read; the Knight errant that rescued his lady fair and claimed her as his.

"Once the spell is consummated – that's it. It's as permanent as the Avada Kedavra and as binding." He sat up and gripped the armrest of his chair. "So, read, Hermione. I'll be in my office when you've convinced yourself that I am not lying to you. The password is snips and snails."

~S~

Several of the portraits began to rile at him as soon as he returned to his office. "Severus, what is the meaning of this?" Black snarled.

"You cannot just drag a student into the office..."

"You know the rules! You cannot simply manhandle a student..."

"It's not even the start of school! What is she doing here?"

"That was Miss Granger, wasn't it? Where did you take her?" Whillimena Smytheson asked before leaving her frame.

"The audacity, man!"

"Quiet!" Severus snapped and stopped in front of Dumbledore's portrait.

"Severus, my boy, I assume you have a good reason for bring Miss Granger to Hogwarts so prematurely?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus turned his head slightly, exhaled and looked back up at the ex-Headmaster. "Did I, or didn't I, tell you that Hermione Granger is now Hermione Snape?"

"She is still technically Hermione Granger, although many will address her as Mrs. Snape due to your Bonding. Unless you decide to marry the girl?" the ex-Headmaster said more as a question than a statement.

"Why should I?" Severus asked in return. "Technically she is my Bonded mate, my wife." He turned around to address the other grumbling portraits. "She is in the library – reading." He turned back to Dumbledore. "May I have a private word?"

"Of course, I shall await you," Dumbledore said and slipped from his frame.

Severus went upstairs and pressed his thumb on the corner of a painting of a lovely English garden. "Dumbledore, I would speak with you," he said, and the old man stepped onto the grassy green. "I am at my wits end with this girl."

"She is asking questions, prying into your past, and digging into the corners of your life," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Severus exhaled as he clenched his fists. "Yes, she is – it's annoying."

"I thought so. My boy, you have lived in the shadows for too long, unable to allow anyone to see you exposed and knowing that even the slightest bit of personal information could have been used against you. You have developed a thick skin, divided your mind into a myriad of chambers and boxes, closed off your emotions to the point that numb feels normal to you – what did you expect? Hermione Granger is the opposite of all of this. She is open where you are closed. She is caring and giving where you've had to be guarded and careful. She feels and expresses herself where you haven't allowed yourself that luxury for years. But you are so alike in so many ways – even you must see that. I've heard you exalt her for her cleverness, intelligence, and tenacity, if not only in complaint. In time, you two will find a balance. Give this time."

Severus listened to the speech and sighed. "I don't know if I have the patience to raise a little girl into a woman."

Dumbledore laughed. "Severus, if there is one thing I know you have, it's patience. And in case you haven't noticed – she's not a little girl anymore. But, alas, like you, she's only known one love before this union. One love that came from someone who was a friend by convenience and circumstances and therefore the relationship happened because of expiations. Do not compare her to Lily, my boy, who only accepted you as far as it was in her gain to do so, not unconditionally and not whole-heartedly. You have a chance to develop that kind of relationship with Hermione Granger."

Severus looked up and scoffed. "You're daft."

"I'm pigment and oils, not daft," Dumbledore teased him. "I suggest you simply let Hermione do things with you that you normally do. Let her be around you, even if it's reading or brewing. Teach her, show her, and see if she doesn't open up to you."

"She has no trouble opening up to me. It's annoying and I'm tired of teaching," Severus admitted. "And I do not compare her to Lily – there is no comparison."

The old man gave him a patronizing smile and his eyes sparkled. "And yet they share similar traits. I suggest you then simply discuss things with her that are of your interest. If she is ignorant of facts, then explain them. Let her ask – give her answers. Isn't that where you started with Lily?" Dumbledore plucked a rose and inhaled the scent. "Ah, I miss roses. I should have some painted in my frame. Nothing smells so sweet as something you had and lost, only to have it come back to you."

"You're nutters, old man," Severus sneered.

"So I've been told." Dumbledore's gaze turned serious. "Do you still have the ashes?"

Severus looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, you know I do."

"Summon him. He will come to you," the ex-Headmaster insisted.

"I know, on a new moon," Severus reiterated.

"Yes. He came to you before when you needed him, he will come again," Dumbledore said. "Light the ashes and add your tears. Fawkes will return to you."

Severus collapsed into a chair. "It would be good to hear him sing again."

A house-elf immediately arrived.

"A Firewhisky, please," Severus said and slumped into a chair to wait for Hermione.

~H~

It was some hours before Hermione sought him out in his office. She walked up to his desk and picked up a parchmentweight. "Are you ready to go?" Severus asked casually.

"No," she said softly, staring at the patterns in the glass orb, wondering if he'd agree to her request or not, but resolving to try all the same. "I would like to see the Slytherin common room, please."

"What?"

"You heard me," she said, carefully placing the parchmentweight where she'd picked it up, and then looked up at him. "I want to see the Slytherin common room, please."

Severus regarded her a moment, disregarding Headmaster Black's admonishment at her audacity and scolding him as Severus rose from his chair. Silently, he indicated that she walk to the door.

They walked in silence to the dungeons. He stopped in a corridor and opened a door concealed within the stone of the wall. The Slytherin common room was not what she'd expected. Where Gryffindor's common room was round and lit by tall windows, the Slytherin common room was a long, open dungeon room with rough stone walls and what reminded Hermione of alabaster lamps, only green, hanging from chains. Persian rugs covered most of the floor, and an elaborately carved marble fireplace filled one wall surrounded by carved chairs with black leather cushions. Around the room, more of the same type of chair, elegant black leather sofas, and dark wood tables filled the space with sitting areas.

"It's awfully dark down here," she said in awe.

"It's brighter when the fire's lit and the lamps are turned up," he said softly from behind her.

"Where did you hang out when you were here?" she asked, still gazing about the room rather than turn to face him.

He reached around her and pointed to a table against the far wall under one of the magical windows that lined the wall. All the windows showed a view of the lake with over two-thirds of the glass appearing to be submerged like an aquatic display at the zoo or aquarium. Hermione walked over and stood next to the chair, looking out the window at the green murky water. It was eerie. Hermione waited. A shape passed by the glass. "Did you ever see a mermaid?"

"Yes," he said from right behind her.

"What else?" she asked, still mesmerized by the magical window.

He listed off the creatures of the lake.

Hermione turned around. "Would you show me your room," she requested, wanting to see more of the place he'd called home for seven years.

"What is the point of this?" he asked, scowling.

"Please, just show me where you slept," she asked again, looking up at him hopefully while holding onto the back of the chair.

Almost imperceptibility, he shrugged and held up his hand toward the other end of the room. He led her through a door on the left of the fireplace and along a long narrow corridor. He pushed open a door and she walked in. The lamps flared to life, illuminating a long, wide room with two rows of beds, four on one side, three on the other, interspaced with wardrobes and bedside tables. Each four-poster had long, hunter green drapes and multi-green colored quilts. A trunk stand stood at the side of each bed near the foot. "Which one was yours?"

"That one," Severus said, pointing at the far end of the room. "The last one on your left."

Hermione walked down the row and stopped at his bed, holding onto the bedpost. The wardrobe was smaller than the others and set at an angle in one corner, jammed against the bedside table. A small table was tucked into the opposite corner.

"I used to sit there on my trunk and write on that table or brew potions for my housemates."

Her eyes drank in the loneliness of the space. "Your wardrobe has one door but all the others have two," she observed, surprised by the inequity of the fact.

"I didn't have a lot to put in there," Severus said resolutely. "I rarely unpacked until almost December. Although, by the third week, the elves had washed all my clothes and placed them in the wardrobe anyway, regardless..." He paused as he leaned against the wall and stared at her. "Tell me why you felt compelled to see this?"

"I wanted to see where you lived," she said, fingering the bed already made up for the returning student. "What was your favorite place in the castle?"

Severus stared at the wall for several heartbeats. Hermione had just accepted the fact that he wouldn't answer her when he said, "The library, a hidden nook on the second floor, an archway in the bailey that overlooks the courtyard that was partially hidden by a camellia bush, the potions classroom, and there is an old class room in the east tower. I stopped going to the tower room after my second year, unless I was up early enough before breakfast. It was a bad place to be trapped..."

"Because of Harry's dad and Sirius," Hermione assumed aloud.

"Yes, they would on occasion find me there," he said, his tone becoming harsh. "It was only safe on the mornings after a full moon."

"I know that archway in the bailey; I like sitting there too. I used to go up to the east tower to watch the sunrise on days I woke up early. It is a nice place to read," she admitted, smiling that they had similar retreats. "And of course the library. I love the library here."

"I'm very well aware of that," he said with a smirk. "So, now are you ready to leave?"

"Yes, Severus, I am," she replied, turning to follow him out. "May I ask you one more favor?"

"Depends," he said, eyeing her suspiciously.

~*~

They arrived near the park with a set of rusty swings, two seesaws, and a merry-go-round. "This is the park."

"It apparently hasn't been kept up over the years," she said as she surveyed the dusty grounds, patchy brown grass and the old fashioned swing set, trying to imagine a young Severus and Lily, swinging on the swings and laughing.

"It's the same as it's always been since the factory closed." He took her hand and guided her across the bridge and down Riverbend, through an alleyway and down another street. It didn't look too much different than his street, only narrower and possibly with a few more occupied houses.

As they reached the end of the street, the sound of multiple Apparations broke the silence. "Hurry, down this way," he said, starting to run. Hermione ran as fast as she could to keep up with him. He turned right between two houses, threw his back against the wall of a house, and drew out his wand. She did the same. In less than ten heartbeats, his breathing was slow and normal while she was still breathing heavily and her heart was pounding in her chest. He Disillusioned his head and peered around the corner, then pulled back and leaned against the wall. "Damn."

"What?"

"A few ex-associates," he said, casting his Patronus and infusing it with his voice. 'Millerton Corner, Manchester. One block over from my house. At least three known and wanted. Hermione is with me. Come quickly. I will keep her safe.'

As the vibrations of his voice made the hawk ripple, Hermione heard a gruff voice shout, "He's down there," as if across the street a few houses down. "I saw him and the girl."

"The one he wants?" another asked, yelling back. Hermione heard the heavy, boot-clad footfalls of two men running.

"Yeah," the first one answered.

Severus leaned around the corner, fired off a stunner around the corner, turned back, and pulled her next to him. "We have to move. Follow me and do what I say." He didn't wait for an answer. He stepped out and fired a set of curses. Hermione didn't see anyone in the street until a jet of green hit the corner of the house near her face. Severus pushed her behind him and started backing up to the door of the house. "Hermione, get inside quick," he ordered.

"Why?"

"Stop asking and just do it," he snapped, firing another strong stunner that chipped bricks off a house.

Another shot hit the wall near her head, making her duck and turn while firing off a stunner.

"Get inside now!" he snarled as he cast a quick series of spells.

Hermione lobbed off two Reducto Curses with as much force as she could muster, shattering the wall near where the spells seemed to be coming from.

"Good aim, but move. There are two more of them," he said, fired a curse and ducked a red jet of light. "Damn it, woman, get inside. We are sitting mooncalfs out here!"

Hermione turned and entered the house. Severus quickly followed, shoved her toward the back of the dwelling and out the back door, setting off entrapment curses along the way. "Through the gate," he snapped, shoving her to walk to the fence.

"What?"

"Walk through it," he snarled, practically shoving her forward again and into the wooden fence that gave way as if not there. She found herself standing amongst biting fanged geraniums and strangling ivy. Severus pushed past her, grabbed her hand, and pulled her with him to a door. "Get inside the house." Only once inside did Severus relax. "Once I have word, I'll come back. But stay here."

She was fuming mad by his chastisement, his treatment, and his innuendo that she was a helpless female that needed protecting. "No, I can..."

"Hermione, they are after you!" Severus snarled as he whirled to face her, his face contorted with anger. "Do you understand? YOU are the target! This house is protected with every spell I know. Now, please! Stay here." And with that he left the house, slamming the door behind him.

~*~

Hermione had been in Severus' house for over an hour, waiting for word. She had gone to the sitting room, found a book, and had tried to read, all the while wondering what, if anything, was going on. Severus had returned with Kingsley, and both men had insisted on escorting her home, but neither of them had answered her questions about what had happened. Harry had been waiting on the front step when they'd arrived. Severus grabbed her arm and forced her to go inside quickly, followed by Kingsley. They had wanted her to go upstairs, but she'd refused, wanting to know what had happened and what was going on.

"One of the attackers is dead from a blast. We dug him out from under a pile of bricks," Kingsley told her. Hermione blanched, realizing that she'd killed one of the Death Eaters with her Reducto Curse. She staggered against the wall, and Severus reached out to steady her, holding her even after she'd said she was 'fine.'

"The second one was picked up a few blocks away, seriously injured, and placed under guard at St. Mungo's," he continued as if reporting the news, which made it easier to hear, even though she was feeling nauseous over killing someone.

"The third wizard got away. From what we've gathered by the blood evidence, Severus wounded him severely enough that he hadn't been able to Apparate. There is enough trace of the third wizard for the Aurors to follow, but how he's eluding them is still a mystery." Kingsley turned to look at Severus. "I had planned on going to St. Mungo's immediately after dropping Hermione off here to question the Death Eater in custody. I'd appreciate you coming, if you don't mind?"

"Let me see to my wife first, and I'll join you there," Severus stated. Kingsley motioned for Harry to step outside with him. "Hermione, are you all right?" Severus asked.

"I'm fine," she lied. "I just killed someone. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Don't be cheeky with me," he said a bit curtly, but clearly concerned about her. "Hermione, it was you or him. Personally, I am glad it was him and not you."

She leaned against the wall and hung her head, willing herself not to cry or throw up.

"Hermione, go upstairs and take a bath or go lie down," he suggested softly. "I'll ask Potter to make you some tea. Would you like that?"

"No," she sighed, not sure what she wanted.

"You've had a shock, you're upset. Take a bath and relax. I'll go home and get some Calming Draught and Dreamless Sleep Potions," he suggested adamantly.

"I have those," Harry said, entering the house again. "Hermione, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Harry," she said, refusing to look up.

Harry walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, ignoring Severus' glare. "Hermione, it's like when we were in the castle during the war – shoot first and ask after. You were only defending yourself."

"I killed someone. I didn't even see him, and I killed him," she said in a hushed, guilt-choked voice.

"I know," Harry replied patiently.

"Hermione..." Severus said, but she closed her eyes and hung her head agian. The day had been nice, all things considered, just before the fight in the street ruined everything.

"Go take a bath, and I'll have Kreacher bring you something," Harry persisted, gently and affectionately rubbing her arm.

"Hermione?" Severus asked, but she didn't want to talk about it. They were right; a bath would be good. That and a bottle of Ogden's.

She started for the stairs, stopping to say goodnight to Severus, but he was already gone.

Harry still tried insisting that she take some Calming Draught, which she'd accepted, but never took.

After her bath, she had a light dinner with Ginny and Harry before taking her tea and going to bed.

Hermione had slept in late, only then realizing that Harry had spiked her tea the night before with the Dreamless Sleep. Hermione rose, feeling groggy as if she'd overindulged on Firewhisky the night before. She owled George to tell him she'd be late to work and went to the bathroom to wake up in a cold shower.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

Just a stroll down Severus memory lane...

I want to thank my betas, MadBrilliant, for giving this a read and helping me clean up all my mistakes. I really appreciate it very much. Shug, I hope all is going well for you, doll. You're in my prayers.

Thank you also to Southern_Witch_69 for my beautiful banner. I really love it!