I just remembered that I didn't put the obligatory, "I don't own or make profit from the characters, setting yadda yadda yadda" on the last chapter, so there it was!

I doubt that I shall ever explain how Ron and Hermione's relationship ended in the story, so for now let me just tell you that it was amicable and was merely because they were not meant for each other.

Severus Snape let his head fall back as his eyelids drooped. Ever since Nagini's venom had slithered through his veins he found it hard to maintain the energy he needed to get through the day. He endeavoured to find some solution to this problem, however, so far his efforts were unsuccessful. Severus felt the damp of his classroom more now, he felt the cold rush of air when he walked into the dungeons and he felt the colds stares of his students as they wondered how he had survived such a fatal bite. Soon they would all know. Whilst he had been in the Dark Lords service he had developed an antidote and kept a vile of it constantly on his person. He had, under many stern glances and harsh words, told Minerva of his "miraculous" recover, and she had told him that "such a discovery was marvellous and simply must be circulated". So, he published an article in Potioner's weekly and the antivenin had been dispersed throughout the wizarding world, even though there were only three other snakes of Nagini's kind known to them. The article was hugely respected in the potioning world, but the story of his recovery was yet to spread to the main populous. This was about to change; The Prophet were due to run the "headline" news the next day. Severus had received a letter asking if he would give them an exclusive; a request he had declined to answer.

Recently, the students had been pushing his last nerve with their night-time antics so he had taken to standing in the Slytherin common room watching them all go to bed. It worked well. He stood not moving, not speaking, just watching them. Many of them scuttled to bed as soon as he arrived to avoid his ominous presence and none had managed to escape into the castle since he had started his vigil. He only had to stay half an hour and the fear of him returning would stop them from trying.

So, now he rose from his seat and made his way towards the Slytherin common room. As he neared the concealed entrance he heard a faint sound to his left wheeling silently, drawing his wand and letting his adrenaline control his actions he moved forward. He saw two dim shadows in the hallway ahead. They were both too short to be what his mind had immediately jumped to and he lowered his wand, ready to reprimand the students. He straightened his posture and was about to clear his throat when he heard their hushed whispers.

"I'm telling you, that bitch will not survive after speaking to me like that!" Who the hell does she think she is, the filthy Mudblood!" Severus could easily make out the grumble of Macabre and he took a step back into the shadows.

"Victor you can't do anything to her, they'll all know it was you. Plus isn't she like super scary, helping defeat Him an' all, that's a pretty big feat." The other voice was more difficult to pick out, but Severus had narrowed it down to one of three Slytherin boys.

"You think I can't take that silly little bitch?" The question hung in the air and their was a shuffling and an intake of breath, "And don't worry about them knowing it was me, I'm going to scare her to death," Macabre laughed manically as the other boy began to talk again.

Severus receded down the corridor a few steps and then called out, "Who's down here? I will not tolerate this insolence and disrespect of the school rules!"

He lit his wand and came face to face with Macabre and the now named Travis Hendrickson. Macabre stared at him icily before sweeping past towards the common room. Slowly, Severus followed him, almost breathing down his neck as he walked all the way to his dormitory door.

"Goodnight Victor, sweet dreams."

Severus looked straight into his eyes as he closed the door and those few seconds of eye contact meant that he could slip into his mind and ensure that his dreams weren't so sweet after all.

The next day at breakfast Severus watched Macabre walk slowly towards the Slytherin table. He sat down heavily, rubbing his face and nursing the black bags under his eyes. He lazily dragged a plate of sausages and egg towards him as his friends looked at him warily. He stabbed at his food angrily and Severus couldn't help the malicious smile that spread across his face as he looked at the sleep deprived boy.

Sorry, that this chapter isn't very long, but I am writing this fic alternating between Severs and Hermione's viewpoint and there was nothing else approprate to go into this chapter.

Thanks to Literary Fantasy and DeceptiveFates who added this story to their story alert! :D

And thanks to Flamegirl5500 who reviewed! :D