It was past midnight at Grimmauld Place, a small light spilled into the hall from the kitchen, where Hermione was anxiously pacing. Everyone else had long been sent or retired to bed, but Hermione had quietly snuck downstairs to wait. Her arms were folded as she slowly walked the lengths of the kitchen, her mind was racing through multiple possibilities. Nothing could bring her to sleep on a night like this and her bushy hair and tired expression showed her unruly lack of sleep. A cold mug of tea sat solemnly on the wooden counter along with her watch and the Daily Prophet. On the front cover of the folded paper was the moving image of a Ministry worker, standing outside a destroyed wizarding family home. Hermiones eyes glanced to the watch as she passed it, noting the time. Her quiet pacing was interrupted however with the minute click of the front door closing. Hermione rushed to the kitchen door and swung it open, stepping out into the hall. The very man she had been waiting for stood tired and weary in the hall.

"Severus" she breathed, as she hurried to the man and embraced him.

Severus took her in his arms lightly but quickly moved away.

"Severus what's wrong?" Hermione whispered as she searched his eyes for the answer.

Snape looked to the stairway and decided to move elsewhere. He lightly took Hermiones hand and led her to the kitchen. When they finally stood inside Hermione closed the door behind her and watched him worriedly.

"What happened?" her voice was barely audible in the empty room.

Snape hesitated a long moment.

"Things had gotten far worse than I expected tonight" he paused

"The Dark Lord has never been so crude" Snapes voice was beginning to rise and Hermione felt her nervousness stir.

"What do you mean?"

"I had to….I was forced to…"

Severus Snape bent over the large wooden table, placing both palms hard against the blistering wood. Hermione waited patiently for him to speak. Severus took a deep breath before conveying his story properly.

"A girl was brought in. Around the age of seventeen." His voice began to break; yet he struggled to remain contained.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had ordered this young muggle to be tortured…in the most vile of ways. Each Death Eater who wished to could have his way with her."

Hermiones breathing began to falter, she knew from Severus' stories that these men would not have been in any way merciful. Severus turned to face her, tears glistening in his eyes and began to walk towards her.

"I didn't touch her, but to watch was - "

Hermione let out a small sob and moved to hold him.

Severus buried his face in her hair and pressed his lips against her blessed head.

"It's over, It's over now." Hermione kissed his chest and moved her soft lips slowly to his cool neck. His breathing was ragged and his eyelids shut but Hermione aimed to calm him; she stood on her toes and pressed her forehead to his.

"I love you. You are nothing like them. You're the bravest man I've ever known."

Severus swayed and held Hermione tightly as she pressed her lips softly to his. He kissed her firmly back and caressed her lower back.

"I love you." he mused.

They continued to embrace and kiss, not wishing to waste a moment of each other's company. They're lips broke apart and reunited, brushed and wrestled. Each felt every inch of the other, exploring chests, backs, necks and cheeks. Warm skin on warm skin. Hermione felt an aching; she wanted Severus so intensely. Something deep within her wanted to burst from inside her and attach to him, but she felt without her physical being she would not feel this, this overwhelming sense that if she let go of him she would break. Severus needed her. But he was haunted from his earlier experience. His stomach grinded remembering the unnatural events that had occurred and suddenly he felt as evil as each of those men. His lips left hers and his grip was slightly loosened. Hermione struggled to let go the slightest but thought it best.

"Hermione I – "

A creaking of floorboards and the two lovers moved apart, much to Hermiones dislike.

The door of the kitchen creaked open and Snapes face turned to the composed and partly distant mask it always did, which upset Hermione at this time and place.

She turned and walked a little length of the kitchen, away from the door and the intruder, who she did not wish to talk to.

"Ah Severus." The enthusiastic voice of Mr. Weasley was easily recognised.

"Arthur."

"Sorry, I couldn't sleep and neither could Remus. I'd decided to come down for a quick tea when I bumped into him in the hall."

The door creaked ajar and Remus Lupin was revealed, a crooked smile upon his face.

Severus nodded and turned, reaching for his wand and waving it at the kettle.

"Of course, I'll join you. Ms. Granger also found sleep was evading her this evening."

"Ah Hermione, didn't see you there. By god you're up late! When did you get back Severus?"

Severus conjured four mugs and each of them, along with the kettle landed soundly on the kitchen table, with four teabags.

"Only a moment ago and Ms. Granger arrived downstairs not long before you."

Hermione had now made her way slowly to the table, taking a seat next to Arthur Weasley, who was sitting across from Remus and Snape.

"I don't know why I couldn't sleep." Hermione tried not to look to Severus and smiled weakly at Arthur.

Arthur smiled widely and looked to Remus.

"Maybe we'll let Molly do all the cooking from now on eh Remus?"

Lupin chuckled lightly and smiled.

"I agree Arthur."

Tea was made and after some small conversation Hermione excused herself to bed. All the others also agreed that they too would leave to try and sleep, including Severus. Hermione left the kitchen last however as she volunteered to clean up after the others, vanishing the mugs and replacing everything. When the kitchen was back to normality and she reached the staircase Severus was waiting for her. The darkness of the hall left deep shadows along his face, dark crevices across his withered expression. It broke Hermione a little to see him this way. Without a word to each other, she followed him up the stairway to his bedroom. They silently undressed and slid into the soft bed sheets. Hermione buried her face into his warm chest and after a long pause the atmosphere was tense.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, gently stroking his chest.

Severus kissed her forehead and nodded.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

Another long pause filled the room.

"Goodnight Hermione."

Severus rolled over onto his side, facing away from Hermione.

Hermiones eyebrows furrowed as she nodded slightly, trying to accept this distance. But she couldn't help but feel hurt and alone. After a moment she too turned over and tried to sleep.