"Well then, Miss Granger, why are you up here?"

Bollocks. Now what?

The way she saw it, she had three options:

1. Say nothing and enrage him to the point where he would force the truth from her anyhow.

2. Lie.

3. Tell the truth.

Shit.

She highly doubted she had the balls to stand there and say nothing – it wasn't in her nature, considering she had always been one to answer any question given, and by now it was simply a habit. That left two options, and lying was clearly out. After all, this was Severus Snape, one of the greatest Legilimens of all time, and even against people who couldn't invade her mind, her lying was average at best.

Great. One option left, the inevitable one: tell him the truth.

"Well, sir… Um…well, you see… The thing is…um…"

"Miss Granger, despite the fact that I enquired as to why you are sitting here sniffling, don't assume that I shall stand here all evening and wait for what I am sure will be a pathetic tale anyway."

Hermione felt her blood boil.

"Then leave, why don't you? What makes you so sure that I'll even tell you? Or that the answer will be of interest to you anyway?"

As she said this, she looked up into his face and saw something she couldn't place flash across his face. Before she had a chance to look again, it was gone.

When he next spoke, his voice had lost that patronizing sneer it had always carried before now.

"Miss Granger, I will not be leaving because I have known you for a considerably long time, and I know that you are no coward. If this was something easily dealt with, then you would have already done so. Despite what I said earlier, you are an incredibly capable young woman, and I am here because you look as though you need help, though I have never known you to need help before."

As he said that, Hermione felt a sudden glow expand from her heart. He was here to help when no one else was. The more she considered it, he was the only one who had bothered to look for her, and she had hardly hidden very far away. Surely she could trust him, couldn't she? Summoning all her Gryffindor courage, she took a deep breath and looked up into her former teacher's face.

"I am here, Sir, because I…I discovered I am not as well suited to Ron as I thought, and I really have to get out of this wedding but I don't know how, and all methods I can think of requires too much courage. I don't know what to do."

As Severus Snape looked down at this young woman, he felt something he hadn't felt in years flash briefly across his chest: sympathy.

He knew she had been considered for submission to both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw before she was finally sorted. She was noble and loyal as most Hufflepuffs, and so she had considered going through with the wedding; she was as clever as a Ravenclaw, yet couldn't think of a cordial way out of her predicament; and her bravery was so huge that it had lead her to defeat the Dark Lord only three years before. Yet here she sat, and her bravery had run out. She couldn't bring herself to hurt her friend or his family. This was the reason she had not been considered for Slytherin: she was selfless and would never consider her own situation before others. Of course, had it been in her nature to consider such a thing, she would have seen a way out before now. But since it was not, he would have to give her a hint.

"What about magic, Miss Granger?"

"Sir?"

"You are a witch, Miss Granger, so why not use magic to help you? There are many potions that could help you, if brewed in time. They are not well known, but they still exist."

"But Sir, I have hardly any time left!" she cried.

This was true. Severus had intended to leave once he had planted the idea into her head, but now he saw there was no hope for her if she was left to help herself. Not only would she have to locate the correct method, but she would also need a place to brew, as well as the ingredients. She could hardly brew such a delicate potion in her kitchen, and if she asked to use one of her friend's cauldrons tonight, the game would be up.

Before he had time to think through what he was about to say, he blurted it out:

"I shall help you, Miss Granger."

As she gazed up at him in awe, believing herself to have misheard, they both suddenly became aware of voices on the slope behind the barn getting closer.

"Quickly, Miss Granger, we are leaving."

"Where are we going?"

"My home, but it is quite a distance, even by apparition. You will need to hold on tightly." She took his hand and grasped firmly. "No, Miss Granger, you shall need to hold onto my waist."

For a moment, she seemed unsure. Then she appeared to shake herself mentally, walked forward, and took her potions master into a strong embrace. Severus Snape had not been hugged since the time he and Lily had first seen Hogwarts. He remembered it clearly. She was so excited, she jumped up and ran to him across the carriage, capturing him into a rib-breaking hug. That was the first time he had been hugged too – Mrs. and Mr. Snape were not the emotional sort.

Now he stood there, being embraced by a young woman of 20 years of age, and he was unsure how to react.

She has to! he mentally scolded himself. She needs your help and quickly, so stop considering her holding you and go!

With that, he placed an arm around her shoulders and disappeared in a blink.