59- Of Guilt and Friendship

Standard Disclaimer goes here.

Author's Note: Wow, it feels good to be able to write again! :) My classes are over, so I've had more chance to write lately, and I'm so glad... Anyway, the lovely Ladyofthemasque and Horserider have been invaluable with feedback and beta services as usual. And thank you so much to all you fine folk who have reviewed or commented on my LJ or emailed me. It always makes my day to hear from you lot. *luff* Hope you enjoy what's to come... :)

Chapter 59- Of Guilt and Friendship

Hermione woke in the darkness to the uncomfortable pressure of her full bladder. Struggling awake, she felt a spike of unbridled joy at finding herself curled against Snape's long frame as he slept peacefully. Slowly, carefully, she extricated herself from his loose embrace and squirmed off the bed to rush to her bathroom. After using the toilet and washing her hands, she tiptoed, shivering, back to bed, stepping over discarded clothing. A glance at the clock told her it was only a couple of hours before dawn, and she paused to grab her wand before climbing back into bed.

I better lift that Imperturbable, in case anyone comes to my door. I'll put a one-way Silencing Charm on it instead, so no one can hear anything. A faint snore from Snape demonstrated the wisdom of that decision as she cast the spells.

As she gingerly slid into bed again, trying not to disturb Snape, she smiled. He looked exhausted, but so peaceful, his pallor accentuated by the chill moonlight. I know I should wake him and send him back to his rooms, but I don't want him to leave! I love sleeping with him. Her smile widened in amusement. Even if he does snore...

Burrowing under the covers again, enjoying the veritable furnace created by her lover's body heat, she stretched along his side and lay with her back to him, twisting and reaching over him to grab his opposite arm and pull him over. He responded with a faint snort and sigh, but he did roll onto his side, and Hermione draped his arm around her, hugging it as she backed against his body, spooning. As she wriggled her arse against his pelvis, he mumbled in his sleep and curled forward, pulling her tight against him. Comfortable and warm, Hermione heaved a deep sigh of satisfaction and drifted off to sleep again.

Hours later, Snape woke to the sound of knocking. Frowning in annoyance that someone was disturbing him...and where was all that light coming from?...he dragged his brain to coherence, only to become startlingly aware that he was wrapped around soft, warm flesh, and bushy hair was tickling his face as he stirred.

In a blazing flash of panic and realization, memories of the night before cascaded over him, and he froze, alarm bells going off in his head at the insistent sound of knocking on Hermione's door. Quickly covering her mouth with his hand, he leant close to her ear and hissed, "Hermione, wake up! Don't make a sound!"

Hermione, confused and irritated at being woken up, especially with his hand over her face, scowled and struggled to roll over. That was when she, too, heard the noise. Stiffening in shock, her eyes flew open and she rolled to lock eyes with Snape, who was staring at her like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Nodding once, she waited for Snape to remove his hand so she could respond. Holding his gaze, she said, "I cast a one-way Silencing Charm. They can't hear anything from in here." Relief washed over his taut countenance and she continued, "Hand me my wand and I'll lift it."

Snape whirled to snatch her wand from the nightstand. Giving it to her, he whispered through tight lips, "Should I leave? Hide? What are you going to do?"

Hermione inclined her head at him in reassurance. "Just be quiet. It's okay." With that, she lifted the Silencing Charm and called, "Who is it? What do you want?"

Muffled by the door, they heard Ginny saying, "It's Ginny. Harry and I were wondering if you were going to come to breakfast. It's getting late."

Both Snape and Hermione closed their eyes in palpable relief. As Snape wilted onto the mattress, Hermione slid out from beneath the covers and put on her nightgown, padding to the door. "Is Harry with you?"

"No. He's waiting with Ron in the common room. Why?"

Hermione gestured for Snape to stay calm as she opened her door a crack, blocking the space with her body and peeking out at her friend. Her voice was low as she said, "No. I'm not coming to breakfast. I'm having a lie-in today."

Ginny grimaced at her and said, "You look exhausted! Are you okay?"

Hermione bit her lip and cast her eyes down, struggling to suppress the smug smirk that wanted to surface. Apparently, she wasn't entirely successful, for when she lifted her eyes to Ginny, the redhead was eyeing her with a mixture of suspicion and amazement. "I am tired. But I'm fine." She started to flick a glance back at Snape but stopped herself and said, "Really. Not perfect, but so close that it hardly matters."

Ginny's eyes widened and her chin dropped. Casting a glance back down the corridor, she breathed, "He's in there, isn't he?" Hermione didn't move or speak, but her dancing eyes gave Ginny her answer. Shaking her head in admiration and envy, she whispered, "You lucky witch!" Then, in a voice loud enough to be heard by anyone who may have been in the room, she said, "Fair enough. I'll see you later. Enjoy your lie-in." With that, she smirked and shot Hermione a saucy wink before loping back down the corridor.

Hermione shut the door with a sigh of relief, locking and Silencing it again. When she turned to look at Snape, he was watching her with narrowed eyes, his expression a combination of smugness, embarrassment, and anxiety. Hermione averted her eyes and pursed her lips, trying to hide the grin that was attempting to break through. Scurrying back to the bed, she flopped down on the edge, finally peeking at Snape through her lashes and permitting the smile to spread her lips.

Snape was leaning up, propped on one elbow, one knee bent and tenting the covers before they pooled at his waist. His hair was dishevelled, and his face was puffy from sleep. As he watched Hermione in awkward silence, she thought he had never looked more disarming.

Her voice low and shy, she said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak for the both of us. If you'd like to go so you can head to breakfast, I understand. I just wanted to get rid of them as quickly as possible."

Snape's brows rose, and he blinked. His antsy reflexes were tensed for flight, worried about keeping their secret, but his brain told him to calm down, as they were quite safe for the moment. Frowning faintly as he thought, he said, "No. I don't want to go to breakfast." His eyes clouded with remembered resentment at the thought of facing Dumbledore, and his rebellious side perked up, even more determined to stay where he was.

Hermione's smile widened, and she chewed her lip for a moment before saying, "Are you still tired? We could go back to sleep." She squirmed closer and caressed his arm just for the joy of touching him. Snape's eyes closed in pleasure and he relaxed his anxious tension.

Opening his eyes and glancing at the time, he murmured, "I'm still a bit tired, but I'd hate to waste our time together just sleeping. I can do that by myself." He quirked a lopsided grin at her and she giggled. Twisting to reach closer, he slipped his fingers into her curls and pulled her toward him to kiss her, but she clamped a hand over her mouth and grimaced. Taken aback, he frowned and backed away.

Through her fingers, she mumbled, "Morning breath. Even I can tell..."

Snape rolled his eyes and fell back on the bed, covering his eyes with his palms and scrubbing his forehead before raking his fingers through his hair and letting his arms fall to either side of his head. Hermione watched him, cheeks flushing uncomfortably. Heaving a deep sigh, he cast an aggrieved look at her and said, "While I hope to eventually impress upon you that, unless you ate sardines and onions in your sleep, I don't care, I shall attempt to accommodate your feelings on the subject with a suggestion." He paused to cock an eyebrow at her, commanding her full attention. "Why don't we take the opportunity to freshen up; partake of our morning ablutions?"

Hermione's brows rose in comprehension, and she dropped her hand, nodding vigorously. "Of course!" With a grand gesture, she waved toward the bathroom door, indicating he should go.

With a polite, "Thank you," and a nod, Snape pushed to a sitting position and twisted to swing his feet off the edge of the bed. Flinging the covers back, he stood and crossed to her bathroom, blissfully immodest in his nudity. Hermione watched him go, transfixed by the play of lean muscles under pale skin and dark hair. When he entered the bathroom, he spun, giving her an unobstructed view of his half-hard cock before the door closed between them.

Staring at the door, she finally shook herself from her daze and shot off the bed, a bundle of nervous energy. In an effort to distract herself while he cleaned up, she darted around, picking up his clothes and smoothing them into neat folds or hanging them. Making her bed, she also picked up the discarded magazine and the reshaped toy to hide them away. Cleaning the toy before secreting it under clothes in a drawer, she paused to marvel at it, tingles expanding through her core at the memory of the night before.

She was staring at it when the bathroom door opened, and Snape poked his head out. With a guilty start, she slammed the drawer shut and whirled, eyes wide. Snape squinted at her for a moment, clearly deciding whether to ask what she was on about, but then shook his head minutely before saying, "Well? I've been waiting."

Hermione became aware of the sound of the shower running, and steam wafted through the open door over Snape's head. Perplexed, she said, "'Well,' what?"

Tilting his head to one side and eyeing her impatiently, he said, "Do you want to shower or not? It's ready."

Hermione gasped as she understood. Flustered, she said, "Oh! I thought you were going to go first, then I would..."

Snape's annoyed expression melted into one of smug mischief. A decidedly Slytherin smirk crossed his lips and he drawled, "Why waste time and water? I'll help you get at any places you can't reach..."

Hermione blinked. Swallowing against her suddenly dry throat, she felt her pulse racing. Darting a look back at her door, she cast another locking and Silencing Charm on it, then quickly grabbed the pile of Snape's clothes from the foot of her bed and hid them in her closet. Casting a sheepish look at Snape, who was watching her with a bemused smile, she crossed to the bathroom and meekly entered when he backed out of the way.

Snape gravely inclined his head toward the toilet, waving his hand in a vague gesture as he said, "Shall I leave you...?"

Hermione hastily demurred. "No, thank you. I'm fine." In the awkward pause that followed, she couldn't help but notice that his partial-erection was gone, and while she wondered about it, she also felt a jolt of petulant envy that he was so much more comfortable than she was, and he was the one naked!

Snape nodded in response, and, when she made no move to enter the shower, he tilted his head toward it and said, "Shall we?"

Hermione cast a quick glance at the steaming water and then spun, rushing to her sink and rummaging through the mirrored cabinet, leaving Snape to watch her, frowning in perplexity. With a sheepish look, she whirled again, brandishing a toothbrush, which she proffered to him, her own toothbrush and toothpaste clasped tightly in her other hand.

Snape's brows shot up in surprise. Blinking at her, he took the toothbrush and muttered, "I could have Apparated to my bathroom for mine..."

Hermione shrugged exaggeratedly and grimaced. Waggling her hand at the toothbrush, she merely said, "My folks are dentists."

Snape stared at her, nonplussed. Clearly struggling for something to say, he finally managed, "Ah. Yes. Well... thank you."

Hermione, still feeling awkward, edged past him to place her toothbrush and toothpaste on a shelf in the shower. Then, in a flurry of motion, she whipped the nightgown over her head and stepped into the spacious tub, leaving the garment to float into a pile on the floor. Leaning back to peer around the shower curtain, she said, "Well? You coming in or what?"

Snape, standing there...holding the toothbrush and feeling rather silly...shot an acid glance at her for turning the tables on him and stepped in behind her, setting the toothbrush by hers on the shelf. Tugging the curtain closed, he was enveloped in steam, and he watched Hermione duck under the water, letting it sluice over her shoulders and drench her hair.

When she turned around, she wiped the water from her face and cast a half-smile up at him. He shook his head ruefully and blinked against the deflected spray. Jerking her thumb over her shoulder, she stepped forward and to one side, indicating that she would switch places with him. Inclining his head, he stepped under the water as she passed him.

A deep sigh soughed out of him at the soothing feel of the hot spray. Ducking his head, he let the water sheet over his hair, streaming off the ends onto his shoulders and chest. Stretching his arms over his head, he twisted, wetting his body...and nearly jumped out of his skin at the feel of sudsy hands sliding along the planes of his back.

His gasp of surprise had him nearly choking on the unintentionally-inhaled droplets, and he coughed, craning his head as best he could to look over his shoulder at Hermione, who was industriously washing him. She glanced up innocently at his astonished expression.

"You said you'd help me get at the places I can't reach, so I thought I'd return the favour." With that, she flashed an impish grin at him, apparently over her momentary awkwardness.

Snape spun, and she pulled her hands away, dripping suds. He let the water rinse the foam off his back as he eyed her. After a beat, Hermione reached forward again, this time rubbing his chest. Snape caught her hands in his and held them still, eyes narrowed and pinning her with a consuming gaze.

It hadn't occurred to him that simply sharing a shower could be so emotionally charged. But, he had never had a lover bathe him, and the overwhelming feeling of being loved and cosseted stunned him with its intensity. Hermione's grin faded under the blast of heat and love radiating from his eyes.

Snape pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her and caressing her hair as if she were the most precious thing on earth. The suds on his chest felt slippery as she pressed her breasts against him and hugged him tight. Turning her head, she laid her cheek against his chest, closing her eyes in a surfeit of contentment. Snape rested his chin on the crown of her head.

"My love..." His murmur barely carried over the noise of the water, but Hermione heard the rumble of his voice under her ear and sighed.

Her whisper of, "I love you, Severus," made him squeeze her tighter and press a kiss on her head. After a long moment, she pulled away, smiling up at him as she said, "Let's finish, shall we?"

Snape nodded and released her, backing under the water to rinse again. She handed him a bottle of viscous liquid. "It's shower gel. Much nicer than soap. Try it."

Snape squeezed a glob out onto his palm, eyeing the transparent orange goo askance. Hermione snorted and rolled her eyes. Lifting it to his nose, he gave a cautious sniff. Grapefruit and bergamot. Not bad. Then again, those are among her favourite scents.

Hermione was rubbing the gel all over her body with a net sponge, but Snape just lathered it between his hands and began smearing it over his skin. At least it wasn't a girly scent... Hermione tilted her head pointedly at the water and Snape quickly switched spots with her, facing away to wash his groin. While she was rinsing, he idly examined the other bottles on the shelf: shampoos, conditioners, crème rinse, moisturizing treatment, more shower gels, bubble bath... He shook his head at the sheer variety of products available.

Hermione spun to see him perusing the shelf. Barely sparing a glance at her, he said, "Which of these do you use for your hair most often?"

Hermione pointed at the bottles. "That shampoo and then that conditioner. The others are for every once in a while. Why?"

Snape reached past her to rinse his hands in a businesslike manner, then poured a dollop of shampoo into his palm. His voice was casual as he said, "I was just wondering which was what your hair usually smelled like. I like it, remember?" With that, he beckoned for her to switch places with him, and as soon as she was free of the spray, he attacked her sodden curls, massaging the shampoo into her hair.

Hermione squeaked in surprise, but it was quickly followed by a moan of delight. Shivering at the sensation, she sighed in approval when she felt the warmth of his body almost pressing against her from behind as he gently scrubbed his fingertips along her scalp. His long, strong fingers worked their own magic, and she felt almost drugged with the pleasure of it.

When it was time to rinse, he clasped her to him and turned them sideways, one hand then reaching up to direct the spray while the other slid through her hair; then he turned them the other direction and repeated the process until the shampoo was completely rinsed out. Snaking one arm out to grab the conditioner, he worked a generous amount from crown to ends, at which point Hermione roused enough from her languorous daze to say, "I need to leave it in for a few minutes. That's when I usually brush my teeth."

Snape rinsed his hands and nodded. "Very well then." As she squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush, Snape reached for the one she had given him and held out his hand for the toothpaste when she was done with it. Hermione handed it over, then pointedly turned away from him to brush her teeth. Snape faced the other direction as well while he did the same.

As soon as he was done, spitting out the foam as furtively as he could, he turned around, noting that she was still facing away, but that she was waiting patiently. He tapped her on the shoulder and they edged past each other quickly. Snape grabbed some shampoo and made quick work of rubbing it through his hair while she finished. He saw her reach past him to place her toothbrush back on the shelf and he spun.

She flashed a lopsided smile at him and said, "Rinse that out first." She stepped forward, guiding him under the water again. He vigorously ran his hands through his hair, rinsing quickly and wiping the water from his eyes. Then, he tugged her to him and went through the same procedure he had earlier to rinse the conditioner from her hair. Her warm body snugged against his and her luxurious moans and coos aroused him, and he felt his cock stiffening against the small of her back.

Her hair was clean, and she felt pampered beyond belief, relaxed and coddled and loved. But when she felt his cock springing to life behind her, all lassitude left her and a surge of erotic energy sang through her body, ending in a tingle in her centre.

Snape felt her sudden tension and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against him. Bending his head, he murmured in her ear, "You make the most delightful noises. Apparently you've noticed the effect they have on me..."

Hermione closed her eyes and leant back into him with a sigh of pleasure. "Mmm, indeed." She wriggled her hips, grinding onto him as best she could, given their differences in height.

Snape growled, nibbling on her ear and holding her with one arm around her ribs while the other hand snaked down her belly and through her curls, seeking entrance. Hermione's startled cry turned into a moan as his fingers delved between her lips and stroked her clit gently. She could feel Snape's cock pulsing behind her.

Backing out from under the water, Snape leant against the wall, momentarily gasping at the comparative chill of the damp tile on his back. But, once he was secure...feet spread and planted, holding him against the wall...he manipulated Hermione so she could rest against him, supported by his grasp. He inched down the wall until she was pressed against his groin, his erection nestled against the crease of her arse.

Still nuzzling her ear, he trailed his hand back down her pussy lips, slipping between them to tease her clit and spread the moisture that had nothing to do with the spray from the shower. Hermione's hips rocked forward, seemingly guiding him toward her entrance. His breathing starting to go shallow with desire, Snape travelled further, feeling the heat enveloping his questing finger as he slid slowly into her cunt.

Hermione was falling into a fog of lust, wanting to feel him within her again, but when he reached his goal, she was unexpectedly wrenched from her pleasure by a stinging pain. Opening her eyes and frowning, she squeaked, jerking away from the offending touch. Snape instantly drew back, worried.

"What's wrong?"

Hermione scowled and said, "I don't know. I wasn't expecting that. It just... stung."

Snape buried his face in her hair and sighed in remorse. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." He carefully lifted his hand and splayed it over her belly again, holding her.

Hermione nervously caressed his hands. Still frowning, she said, "It's not your fault, I'm sure. I honestly had no idea I was sore."

Snape squeezed her briefly and said, "Hermione, I daresay it is my fault after what I did to you last night. I shouldn't have been so... enthusiastic."

Hermione squirmed in his embrace and spun to face him, trying not to be too distracted by his erection slipping over her mound. "Don't blame yourself. I enjoyed that more than I can explain." She cupped his face in her hands and held his gaze. "I wanted that. Bloody hell, Severus, I wanted more! You know what I wanted, and when you couldn't give me that, you gave me the next best thing. And it was. I had no idea I'd be sore like this later. I'm sure I'll be perfectly fine. I just have to... get used to it." With that, a wicked half-grin flickered over her face.

Snape's mournful expression cracked at her naughty implication. Eyes narrowing with devilish intent, his lip curled and one eyebrow climbed toward his hairline. "Indeed? And just how do you propose to 'get used to it'?"

His cock gave a decided throb against her, and she gasped before retorting, "I'll just have to keep practicing." She smirked at his sharp inhalation. Affecting innocence, she said, "Although, I seem to learn more in this subject with a study partner." She lightly trailed a fingertip down his chest, following the thin line of hair over his belly, peeking demurely at him through her lashes.

Snape was struck dumb in amazement at her calculated, coy pretence, then he shook his head slowly as he gazed at her in warning. "As much as I would enjoy assisting you in your study, I must once again bow to the importance of being careful, particularly now that I know what I'm missing and the temptation is therefore that much stronger!"

Hermione made a moue of petulance, then sighed in regretful acknowledgement. Snape leant his head against the wall and closed his eyes in frustration and self-denial. His eyes snapped open when Hermione stretched up to plant a kiss on his lips. Grateful that he could finally kiss her again, he pulled her close and snogged her thoroughly. When they parted, she looked a little dazed.

Snape smirked and stifled a snort of amusement. Heaving another deep sigh of disappointment, he stood up straight, guiding Hermione back under the shower for a final rinse. Hermione blinked owlishly at him as the water streamed over her shoulders. Chewing her lip, she glanced down at his erection and murmured, "But... what about you?"

Snape blinked at her in confusion. "What about me?"

Hermione's gaze darted around and she flushed awkwardly. Ducking her head, she mumbled, "You know. What about you?" On the last word, she gestured vaguely toward his groin, and Snape looked down in surprise.

Slightly bewildered, he glanced back up and said, "I told you your noises have that effect on me."

Hermione, frustrated at his obtuseness, scowled and flailed in impatience, letting her hands smack against her thighs as they dropped. "Obviously. So, like I said, it begs the question of 'what about you?'!"

Comprehension dawned, and Snape's blank expression crumpled into one of sheepish discomfort, followed by wry amusement. "My dear, nothing need be done about me. Don't you remember our liaison in the alley? It will go away on its own, I promise."

Hermione pursed her lips in a pout and frowned as she switched places with Snape. As he rinsed one last time, she crossed her arms and huffed petulantly, grumbling, "It hardly seems fair."

Snape paused in dragging his hands through his tangled hair and looked at Hermione in astonishment. A beat of silence gave way to his peal of laughter, and Hermione glared at him in pique. Still chuckling, Snape leant forward out of the spray, squeezing the excess water from his hair and wiping his face. His lopsided grin expressed his delight and he said, "Well then, if you're so worried about it, you can make it up to me some other time. Does that sound better?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him with an acid grimace, but she relaxed her stance. Heaving an aggrieved sigh, she dropped her arms and said, "Fine." At Snape's inquiring tilt of the head toward the taps, she nodded. "I'm done." He turned off the water and she opened the curtain to reach for towels.

She turned to hand a towel to Snape and smirked up at him. "I just want to make sure you're not broken after all." With that, she cocked an eyebrow at him in challenge, and Snape snorted.

As much as wanted to scoff at her remark, he knew he wasn't completely successful at hiding the dazed awe he felt at the memory of how their antics the night before had utterly sapped his strength. Thus it was that his riposte lacked his trademark snap. "I assure you that everything is once again in working order...a fact which does not need proving at this moment, thank you very much."

Hermione giggled, hiding her face behind her towel. Lowering it to reveal dancing eyes, she lilted, "If you're hurt, I'd be happy to kiss it and make it better."

Snape's eyes widened at her sauciness. Then, the converse idea hit him like a Bludger. She was sore. And he could kiss it and make it better... His eyes rolled back and he groaned inwardly at the thought, inhaling sharply through his nose. When he gazed at her again, she was taken aback by the return of the crackling lust in his eyes.

They stared at each other for a long moment, then Snape tore himself back to the present and wrapped the towel around his waist, tucking the end securely. Hermione shrouded herself in her towel and snagged another one to dry her hair. They both pretended not to notice the way Snape's towel tented and rippled with his bobbing erection.

Hermione stepped out of the tub and peeked through her door cautiously before flinging it wide to help disperse the steam. Snape strode past her to grab his wand off the nightstand, quickly casting a drying charm on his hair and body. He looked at the clock and swore under his breath.

"What's wrong?" Hermione was rubbing her hair with the towel.

Snape wrenched her closet door open with more force than was strictly necessary, and she stared at him owl-eyed. Untucking the towel and whipping it off, he spat the spells that clothed him, his discarded garments once again whirling to cover his nudity.

Hermione blinked at the transformation. Snape dropped his towel in the hamper by the bathroom and paused by Hermione in the doorway. His expression was a mixture of frustration, rebellion, petulance, and resignation. "Breakfast is long over. I have to go. I can't remain unreachable for long."

Hermione sighed regretfully, nodding. "I know. You're right." She peered up at him wistfully. "I'm so glad you came to me last night. Being with you has been the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Snape lifted one hand to caress her cheek, cupping it as she leant into his palm. "Thank you for saving me, Hermione."

She launched herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face against his chest. He once again kissed her hair and then rested his cheek on the crown of her head. Her voice was low as she said, "I'll miss you so much. I love you."

Snape squeezed her tighter and murmured, "And I, you, dear heart." He backed away, his love and gratitude shining in his eyes. Then, with a slow nod, he Disapparated, leaving Hermione to reflect on the momentous events of the previous night.

Snape appeared in his bedroom and looked around disconsolately. While the sleep-of-the-dead he had enjoyed and the shower had both worked to refresh him, he felt his return to solitude weighing on him and making him tired again. He stepped to his wardrobe and took out fresh clothing, noting that, while he was clean, his clothes were stale and rumpled. With a few flicks of his wand, he changed into the new set of clothes, absently Banishing the worn set to the laundry.

It would be a couple of hours before lunch would begin, and he realized that he was mildly hungry. Well, more thirsty than anything else really, considering how dehydrated the previous night had left him. Entering his sitting room, he sank into his armchair and summoned a tea service, complete with honey and lemon, and even a plate of biscuits. Breakfast of champions...

As he snacked, he summoned a house-elf and requested a copy of the Daily Prophet. The elf returned quickly, bowing as she offered the paper to Snape. With a polite nod and "Thank you," he dismissed the elf and scanned the headlines, gathering his courage to eventually turn to the classifieds section.

He had only been reading for a few minutes when he was startled by a demanding knock on his door. Frowning, he folded the paper and laid it on the tea tray before standing to answer the door. The knocking continued, rapid-fire and insistent. As he approached his door, he heard a voice calling, "Severus! Severus Snape, are you in there? Open up!"

Flinging the door open, he stared blankly at the agitated witch on his threshold.

"Minerva?"

McGonagall stepped forward, forcing Snape to fall back and allow her into his quarters. As he stared at her, bewildered, she grabbed the door from his grasp and slammed it shut. Spinning to face him again, she drew herself up stiffly and sucked in a deep breath, her eyes bulging slightly in her perturbation.

"I went to your office...couldn't find you...when you weren't at breakfast...I couldn't believe it when I found out...I never would have expected it...I'm shocked, just shocked..."

Snape, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been poured down the back of his neck, struggled to maintain his façade of perplexity, trying to keep back the dread that his clandestine behaviour had been discovered. Lifting his hands in a calming gesture, he raised his voice over her barely coherent rambling, cutting her off.

"Minerva! Stop! Do calm yourself and start making sense..."

McGonagall waved her hands in exasperation. "Calm myself? How can I? How can you be so calm? Surely you have some feelings on the matter! Well...?"

Snape averted his eyes and crossed to his armchair, frantically trying to come up with something to say to defuse the irate witch's ranting. McGonagall followed him and took the opposite chair, perching tensely on the edge of the seat. Desperately stalling, he picked up his teacup, sipping to moisten his throat. McGonagall fidgeted, then sprang up from her chair toward him, stopping beside him and gripping his shoulder firmly.

Snape hazarded a glance up at her, and was galvanized to see her gazing down at him through a film of tears. Guilt and remorse curdled the tea and biscuits in his gut and he grimaced.

McGonagall squeezed his shoulder and whispered fiercely, "I am absolutely livid!" Snape winced. "As well you must be."

Snape froze, confused. The cold fear coursing through him faltered, and he felt a wild surge of hope that she was not talking about him and Hermione. Unwilling to incriminate himself, he merely turned a stony glare on McGonagall.

She released him in favour of yanking a handkerchief from her pocket and turning away to furiously wipe her eyes and nose. Sniffling hugely, she fussed with her handkerchief, twisting it as she said, "I know you don't always come to meals, and I didn't think anything of it until Albus told me." She pinned Snape with a look of blazing indignation as she continued, "He was wrong, Severus. You have every right to be angry. I told him so in no uncertain terms."

She spun and paced in front of his hearth, leaving him to watch her, his entire being flooded with relief. Her gestures were wild and excited as she barrelled on.

"He had the sheer audacity to act as if he were the one offended! I don't blame you one bit for not coming to breakfast this morning. If he had behaved in such a high-handed manner with me, thinking he could control my life, I would have had to avoid the Great Hall myself, lest I do something that would prove inappropriate for a Deputy Headmistress!" Her eyes narrowed on the variety of satisfying images that were parading through her mind. Almost as if to herself, she muttered, "The bloody old goat would certainly make a good real goat! He has the beard for it..."

Snape's eyebrow climbed in startled appreciation of her ideas of vengeance. Before he could respond, she focused on him again and continued.

"Albus may be in charge of this school, but he is not in charge of running everyone's lives for them! When I think of all that you have sacrificed and endured in the years that you've been under Albus's thumb...and now that the war is over and you're finally free..." She trailed off, shaking her head in disbelief. "I completely understand your desire to make a life for yourself, Severus. I think it's grand that you still have ambitions..."

Snape broke in with a sardonic, "Wouldn't be much of a Slytherin if I didn't, now would I?"

McGonagall drew up stiffly in surprise at his remark. Eyeing him with reproach, she said, "Come now, Severus, I know we're both House Heads, but surely you realize that people are more than their House affiliations."

Snape inclined his head in tacit apology and said, "I do. Although you will never convince me that House loyalty and pride is unimportant. Consider our wager, if you will."

McGonagall blinked rapidly and fell back a pace, then returned to the seat opposite Snape. Sinking slowly into the chair, she said, "I hadn't thought about that for ages..." Frowning, she cast a sidelong glance at him and continued. "That reminds me: in light of what has happened, we may nix the part where Albus is the witness. I daresay we can trust each other as adults to complete the bet between ourselves?"

Snape regarded her solemnly, nodding as he felt the anger and resentment toward Dumbledore bubbling up again.

McGonagall settled back into the chair, relaxing her tense posture. Looking as if she were mentally shifting gears, she took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "Now then, what I wanted to tell you...besides the fact that I am outraged at Albus's flagrant disregard for you as a person...is that I am on your side." She paused and locked eyes with Snape, emphasizing her declaration. Snape once again inclined his head, this time in acknowledgement.

"I refuse to stand by and let him stand in your way. Now, from what he told me, Slug and Jiggers already declined your inquiry..." She sniffed in disdain, flicking her fingers to indicate her lack of patience with the whole situation. Snape scowled in remembered humiliation, but McGonagall raised her eyebrows haughtily at him and said, "Never mind that, Severus. You know it's no reflection on your abilities."

Still, Snape sank in on himself, crossing his arms and shaking his hair forward as he suffered the continued sting of their rejection and Dumbledore's machinations.

McGonagall leant forward and lowered her voice, highlighting the covert sense of her mission. "I want to help you. You deserve to move on and make something for yourself. You're still young, Severus, and, while you have done well here, you deserve the chance to do what you want with your life. It may have been ages ago, but I at least had the chance to do other things before I came here to teach." Her lips twisted wryly and Snape snorted.

An odd sensation had been stealing through Snape as McGonagall talked. It was similar to the feeling he got when he was with Hermione, only not as intense. Upon consideration, he realized that he was feeling the comforting warmth of friendship.

Through his years as a student, Snape had experienced McGonagall's trademark, somewhat formal mentoring style, which had continued even after he had come on as a teacher himself. As he had learned from her in his profession, they had forged a courteous colleagueship. Over the years, that relationship had grown into a friendly rivalry, particularly when Snape became Head of Slytherin. Once the Order had reformed during the war, the bond between Snape and McGonagall had deepened, even though it was largely unacknowledged, as McGonagall had invested more care into Snape as a fellow soldier.

Now, all those motherly tendencies that had periodically surfaced over his tenure at Hogwarts had surged forth to morph into a genuine regard of friendship. And while it was still a novel experience for Snape to have a friend, he recognized the frank offer for what it was and appreciated its true significance. Particularly now that his oldest and best friend had betrayed him in such a traumatizing fashion.

On the tail of such an unexpected sensation, he felt a niggling sense of guilt creeping up on him, plaguing him as he thought about what he was hiding from this witch who was so candidly supporting him. Sod it! I'm tired of feeling guilty just because I'm trying to be happy for once! Perhaps it was that guilt which made him respond with more honest grace than was his usual wont.

"I would... appreciate that very much, Minerva." He inhaled deeply, noting the pleased smile that was spreading the older woman's lips. "I'm sure your greater experience will be quite helpful." With that, he inclined his head gratefully, and McGonagall sat up straight, preening.

"Indeed. Well, I do hope you won't let Albus's abominable behaviour affect your performances. You've managed to surprise me several times over...although I could have done without that shock you gave me with Miss Granger." She levelled a severe gaze at him over her spectacles.

Snape pursed his lips and shot an aggrieved look at her. His tone was bordering on exasperated as he said, "Minerva, I told you, Miss Granger is safe with me!" He locked eyes with her, his guilt and his hidden love for Hermione prodding him to be as sincere as possible. When she didn't immediately ease the severity of her glare, he continued in a low voice, "I gave you my word."

McGonagall's lips twitched and her brow furrowed as she wrestled with conflicting emotions. Finally jerking her head irritably, she huffed and flapped her hands as she said, "Very well then. I know. If I am to trust you, I just have to trust you!" She then cut an acid glance at him and drawled through twisted lips, "But you must admit that it was a very disconcerting thing to witness..."

Snape's conscience once again gave him a pang at her willingness to back down and trust him, and he ducked his head sheepishly and muttered, "Well, I'm sure you can imagine how disconcerting it was to experience it in front of the entire cast."

As he had hoped, his remark sent McGonagall into a spate of chuckles, diverting her from focusing on the connection he and Hermione had displayed. She smiled fondly at him and ruefully admitted, "Well, I daresay your claim to being shocked is as good as mine."

Chuckling again, she stood, nodding cordially at Snape as he rose as well, barely a beat after her. When she turned to cross to his door, he strode past her and stopped with his hand on the knob, ready to open it for her. She paused and gripped his arm again. "Remember, I'll be keeping my eye out for any prospects that might suit you. And don't worry about Albus. He'll just have to get over the fact that you are not his property." She squeezed his arm again and released him, stepping back and nodding for Snape to open the door.

Snape inclined his head in gratitude and murmured, "Thank you, Minerva. Good day," as he pulled the door open, gesturing courteously for her to step through.

"Good day to you, Severus." She swept over the threshold and Snape shut the door behind her, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against the smooth wood as he digested the significance of her visit along with the roiling guilt in his stomach.

Eventually, he straightened and went back to his chair to finish reading the paper. After perusing the classifieds, he sighed in disappointment that there was nothing listed that was even remotely in his field. Giving himself a good mental shake, he thought, There's still time yet. And with Minerva looking as well, I'm sure something will come up before too long.