You guys are all over this story! I'm SO glad you're liking it so much! Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy, my lovelies!

XX Willow

Her dreams are always the same, always tortured and painful.

They didn't always make sense, didn't even always have a reason. She was always chased. Always running, always feeling those cold, crawling fingers of terror gripping her chest and churning her stomach. The bodies of the people she'd felled always swam before her bringing a new wave of horror crashing through her.

She always woke up screaming.

This time she woke to hands on her shoulders, pulling her upright and calling her name.

"Hermione! Hermione wake up!"

Her eyes snapped open, landing on the dark face of her former professor. Her fingers clutched the sleeves of his robes as tears dripped over her lashes. She couldn't speak, couldn't even scream. Their faces haunted her. All of their faces.

Severus had temporarily forgotten about his potion when, upon entering the tent he heard the tortured screams of his assistant. He drew his wand and looked around, ready for whatever attack could take the former Gryffindor and well seasoned soldier down. Then he realized with a tug on his heart that it wasn't anything material attacking her. It was herself.

Her eyes were huge, lingering nightmares and tears poisoning them and forcing her to see something other than what was in front of her. He knew that she didn't see him kneeling before her. She couldn't see anything except the ghosts that haunted her.

"Their faces. All of their faces," she muttered under her breath, rocking slightly before him.

He paused for a moment, contemplating his next move.

Oh bugger, sod it all. With a rough tug, he pulled her into his arms. Her face pressed into his shoulder, tears staining his robes. He didn't rub her shoulders, didn't stroke her hair. He just held her tightly giving her the comfort of knowing that there was another person here, another face that wasn't going to haunt her but was there to help her.

Within a few moments, the trembling in her limbs stopped. She relaxed into his body, her face turning into his neck. He smelled surprisingly good, peppery and a little bit woodsy like the fires he often brews over. His grip never loosened and her arms came around his neck. She sniffed softly, subconsciously rubbing her cheek on his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" She nodded, sitting upright and rubbing her face with her hands.

He looked at her face, hands dropping as he cleared his throat.

"Did...I, uhm. I apologize for being forward. I hope you don't feel that I took advantage-"

She shook her head furiously and placed a hand on his arm.

"No, Severus. You didn't. I appreciate it. Really, I do." Hermione took a shaky breath, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Normally I just deal with it on my own so it was nice to have someone there just to be there." She blushed gently as she smiled.

"Thank you." He nodded, rising from the ground beside her. Straightening his cloak he glanced around the tent.

"Have you been here all night?" Hermione nodded, rubbing her eye with the heel of her hand.

"I refilled all your ingredients. Peeled the necessary ones. I must have nodded off recording them all. Has anyone heard anything from the missing group yet?"

With a huffing sigh, Severus pulled the potion he came to check on from its holding place. He noted that it was bubbling ominously and steaming slightly. He should add those dragon scales soon.

"Hermione, would you gather the dragon scales for me? The Ridgeback, if you don't mind. Quick as you can." Pulling on his gloves and arming himself with his wand and a large metal spoon, Severus started stirring it gently to calm it down.

"How many?"

"Four, right in my palm there."

Gently, she tapped 4 of the glistening onyx medallions into his hand and stepped away.

"A wise decision." With ever so much care, he flipped them into the mouth of the cauldron, one at a time. The surface popped slightly and hissed as they dissolved turning the potion bluer and bluer with each scale.

"All right?" Hermione queried as she noted the smoke dissipated and the potion itself started to sparkle translucently.

"Yes, it seems to have stabilized now. Interesting..." Hermione's brow furrowed.

"It stabilized the potion? Aren't Ridgeback scales known for their catalyzing effect and used mainly in explosive potions?"

"Yes, which is why this is particularly curious. Good memory, Miss-ahem, Hermione."

She smiled at his slip-up.

"Old habits die hard, hm Professor?"

He looked at her down his nose and sniffed in mild amusement.

"Indeed. Off you go. Get some breakfast or something. I'll need you back here to clean out some of my vials."

"But you never answered my question, sir."

With an exasperated sigh he shot a glare at her.

"They returned late last night. They're all fine. Go and get some food and let me tend to this potion."

Breathing a sigh of relief, a roll her eyes and smirk, Hermione stretched as she walked out of the tent.

No, working with ex-Professor Severus Snape wouldn't be so bad after all.