-.-
When Hermione opened her eyes next morning she was still laying on his couch, warming up under a heavy duvet. The curtains were drawn shut, but the room was dimly lit as the sun passed through the heavy blue fabric. She looked around her, covering a yawn. She scanned her body slowly and felt no pain at all. Surprisingly she was able to open up her puffed eye half way and the puffing of her lips had subsided completely.
Her finger trailed around her cheekbone and the small abrasions there. A small memento from the alleyway fight that she intended to carry around with pride. After all, she was the army nurse so why not add some validity to that name. She smiled stiffly and she pushed with her elbow to sit up. She looked around in a hurry when she realised that she was still naked.
"Professor?" she asked carefully.
No answer so she tried again "Are you here professor?".
When there was still no answer she drew the duvet around her and walked towards the long corridor. The house was deadly silent. Maybe he had left during the night? She remembered waking up at some point to a delicious smell. He was observing her quietly from the kitchen that adjoined the living room. He had a steaming plate in front of him that woke up her hunger. Without any words he brought the plate over to her and stood silent guard as she ate and drunk to her heart's desire.
After offering him a timid thank you, she laid back down and quickly drifted off to sleep till this morning. Yesterday he told her he needed to get to work and Hermione remembered with deep embarrassment how she begged him to remain. Which he did to her ultimate surprise. She looked back at the cozy living room with the earthy colours and the bluish curtains, the nicely arranged kitchen and the large bay windows almost on every wall and raised her brow appreciatively. She wouldn't have expected him to own such a beautiful house. A bat cave was more suitable to his sombre personality. But this...this was the countryside, in a house she could have decorated herself in almost similar taste. She shook her head and shooed those thoughts away as she walked down the corridor. One door belonged to his bedroom were she woke up yesterday morning. The one at the end he told her was the bathroom, so the middle one was probably a study or another bedroom, right?…
-Right-….she told herself and knocked at his bedroom door.
It would be imprudent to just open it up "professor are you in?" she asked and waited.
No answer.
She moved her legs restlessly. She needed to get her clothes, she didn't want to keep walking around the house with only a duvet around her as cover. Another knock on the door "Professor if you are in answer, I need my clothes and I am going to open the door" she warned with an elevated voice in order to wake him up if was sleeping in there. Still getting no answer she winced, looked around her and placed her hand on the handle "I am opening the door now!" she said louder and turned the handle. The door opened up easily and she peaked shyly inside.
-thank heavens-…..
She signed in relief and entered quickly closing the door behind her. She dropped the duvet on the bed and took her mended clothes. She dressed up quickly and when she finished she looked at the side of her clothes were he had made a poor effort of fixing them. He truly had no idea about women's clothing did he? She shook her head and taking her wand from her back pocket she pointed at her clothes and fixed them. She moved to the mirror next to the bed in order to admire her work but when she looked at her face and her heart sank. She touched her half puffed eye and the purple hue around it. Her cheek was also deep purple and so was her temple. She lifted her yellow shirt all the way up to her armpit and looked at her ribs.
They had healed well with no traces of the Firebolt. She lowered the shirt and opened up her jeans pulling them down in order to see her hip that was also healed. Yet her face…still had traces of her recent brawl. She buttoned up her jeans and pulled her hair away from her face, tying them on a messy bun on top of her head. Caressing her cheek and temple she sat on his bed in order to wear her shoes. When she finished she exited to the corridor and made it for the bathroom in order to clean her face and try to fix her bruises better. The moment she was passing from the middle door, the handle turned, it opened up and she came face to face with him. She froze and looked up to him. He was wearing glasses and had his hair drawn back from the temples. For a few silent moments remained stayed stiff like statues looking at each other.
His eyes rolled down her figure making her suddenly very self conscious and he pressed his lips "Good morning Miss Granger. I see you fixed your clothes better than I did"
She exhaled "Yes, although I must thank you for the try"
He shook his head dismissing her "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Much better, thank you" she said and then looked towards her shoes. He didn't speak so she continued "I was calling you before…"
And that is when he spoke also…."Have you been calling me?…". They both stopped and their eyes locked. She was unable not to laugh covering her mouth. He didn't. He straightened and crossed his hands that were holding several papers patiently.
"you go first" he offered.
She checked herself swallowing the rest of her laughter and coughed instead "I was calling you before, but you didn't answer"
"yes, I was at the basement working, it is rather isolated down there" he replied and moved past her and towards the kitchen "Would you like some breakfast?" he asked.
"Uhm yes, if it's not any trouble for you…" she trailed off looking at him walking away, dressed in black from head to toes as always, although there was a significant change now. He was not wearing either his long robes, nor his dozen button coat. He was just in a pair of black jeans and a black shirt that was surprisingly flowing around his body.
"no trouble at all" he said mostly to himself and begun fixing some coffee when she decided that she had been checking the differences between the old professor Snape, and the leader of the Keepers quite imprudently. She turned around and made it to the bathroom where she took her time to fix her wounds, to make the puffing on her eye go down almost completely and her bruises to become green. When she felt satisfied she made it to the living room where the smell of scrambled eggs and freshly ground coffee woke up her hunger.
"That smells delightful…" she moved around the counter and came up where he drinking his coffee and reading some article.
"There is a plate for you in the microwave, and you can help yourself to the coffee" he said without looking up. She looked above his shoulder and caught several unknown dark runes. Raising her brows she poured herself a large cup of coffee and passed on the sugar and milk. She took the second plate and sat down across from him arranging her silverware meticulously. When she felt satisfied that her small personal space was well arranged she took a bite from her eggs and her eyes almost teared up from the taste.
She remembered the perfect vegetable soup yesterday and she couldn't stop herself from voicing her thoughts "You are quite a cook aren't you?"
He looked above his reading glasses and she gulped her food down quickly. Somehow she didn't want him to see her chewing like a cow. "You like it then?" he asked genially.
She wiped her mouth and nodded "It's perfect! The soup was equally amazing" she added.
He raised his brow and shook his head. She thought she saw an invisible smile playing at the edge of his lips, but he didn't say anything.
"Thank you" she said.
"My pleasure" he replied absently not looking up from his article.
"No, I mean thank you" she said tilting her head trying to catch his eyes. She was successful.
He nodded knowingly "There is no need Miss Granger I assure you"
"There is. You stood up for me at the wizengamot and saved me in the alley. I cannot thank you enough" she said meaning it.
"I told you yesterday. I am paying my debts. Now we are even" he said solemnly and lowered his glasses. Now that she had his full attention she felt rather uncomfortable with it.
"Fine then, a clean slate?" she asked with a soft smile.
He looked at her searchingly for a few moments and then nodded "By all means"
"Now that we owe nothing to each other, we can start this acquaintance anew, correct?" she asked
He looked at her warily "There is something in your tone that makes feel uneasy" he said.
She laughed and started arranging her silverware again to cover her uneasiness "It shouldn't make you feel that way "
"Don't tell me what it shouldn't make me feel, tell me what it should..." he raised his brow and placed his articles on the counter.
She swallowed uneasily "Two days ago you came to meet up with me, correct?" she asked.
He flicked his shoulders "Yes"
"We didn't get the chance to talk. Are you up for it now?" she looked at him critically.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yes, you can go to your work and let me go to Harry" she rejoined.
He leaned back and crossed his arms "You are here now Miss Granger, you might as well tell me your worries"
She signed and drunk another sip of coffee "Nice coffee by the way" she said shaking her head.
"The machine made that" he rebuked.
"You saw what happened at the wizengamot the other day, and you must know well by now that they want to make an example out of me, because I stood against this law for three years straight…" she begun.
He pinched his nose and closed his eyes "Yes"
"I thought the ministry was all for this law, when Harry set things straight for me. He told me that Kingsley assigned you to search the underworld for any dark magic that could be causing all this birth defects. If you can get him the evidence then he will be able to withdraw the law" she said crossing her hands in front of her carefully.
"Correct" he said looking at her.
She hit the table and looked at his eyes intensely "I want in also" she breathed out to him.
He winced and looked taken aback "Want in on what?"
"Want in on the action. I want to help you guys!" she said feeling the traces of enthusiasm in her stomach.
He raised his hand to stop her, but she continued "I want to do anything I can to be a part of this. A part of anything that can overthrow this abhorrent law!"
"you are not qualified…" he trailed off.
"What?" she stopped frowning.
"I said you are not qualified" he replied steadily.
It felt like a slap across the face but her logic told her that he was partially right. She pursed her lips and leaned back "I can see how you might think that a nurse might be unable to handle the underworld, but you have no idea what I can do to learn. I will follow you in there and try to learn each trick, if only you would give me the chance…" he spoke over her.
"No Miss Granger" he said with the same emotionless tone.
She drew back and looked at him. She felt her eyes watering dangerously at the rejection "You don't understand…' she begun.
"No, you don't understand, young lady. The underworld is not some route around the middle class areas in order to get signatures. It's not parading with a couple of thousands behind you, holding up placates and telling the government to fuck itself. It's not even passing your days and nights saving lives in St. Mungo. The underworld can suck out your soul and leave you with no memories, it can drain your magical power to nil and leave you weaker than a squib. It is a parallel world were the air is thicker, the ground is dry, there is no water and around you magic flows freely. Magic that you have to block in order to survive. It is filled with creatures that have never heard off, that can gut you with their little finger. People - die - in there…" he hurled at her…she felt her face going pale "you are not qualified" he finished holding her gaze.
She raised her brows and looked at her fingers feeling tackled down and unbearably sad at having been pushed away so ruthlessly. Not even given half a chance "I want to help anyone who wants to bring down this law"
He inhaled and pushed some stray hair out of his eyes "Then find some other more compatible group to attach yourself onto"
She looked up pissed off "you make me sound like a leech"
He winced "Pardon my words.." he said shaking his head.
She nodded "Very well, since there is nothing to say or do that would change your mind…"
"There is nothing…" he said.
"I might as well finish my eggs quickly and leave" she said picking up her fork and hitting the eggs with controlled anger.
"I told you, you are free to remain as long as you wish to recuperate" he said carefully. His tone had changed from unyielding. It sounded softer.
"Thank you for everything that you have done for me. We are even as you said…" she looking up at his eyes. The sun caught in his iris, and she saw that it held a dark shade of green close to the centre "Since there is nothing I can do to help you in your job, I must move on" she said shaking her head to dispose of that useless information about the colour of his eyes.
"Fair enough, but keep in mind that my house is always open for you, if you need any privacy. I know things are going to become hard after the wizengamot calls on you again at the end of the week" he said.
She raised her brow avoiding his eyes and took the last bite off the eggs "That's nothing to concern yourself with anymore, right? We are even…remember? I'll manage them don't worry" she said dismissing his carefully placed offer.
He huffed "I think I see where this is going. You are not going to accept a suitor, correct?"
She looked up indignantly "Of course I won't"
"You'll sign your resignation from any magical rights…" he said.
"Indeed I will!" she said proudly.
"And you'll become a refuge, go into hiding…" he added.
"I'll see what I will do" she dismissed him again.
"you are indeed admirably brave, but rather frivolous" he chastised her.
"I will become a symbol of freedom" she rejoined.
"Were will your freedom be in hiding?" he said.
"And what would you have me do then? It's not as if you are in the same compromising situation!" she rebuked and pushed away her plate standing up.
"That I am not, correct" he said thoughtfully.
She turned around and smiled uncomfortably "I'll try to make a change…promise you will try the same"
He pursed his lips and stood up "I am doing what I can already" he said approaching her.
She straightened and looked back at the kitchen "Sorry about all that, I am very sensitive to this issue" she said.
He smirked "I understand"
"As for your cooking, it's really excellent" she said with a nod.
He looked at her carefully and offered her the first genial smile "I am always up for a cooking challenge whenever you are in the mood" he said.
Her brows raised to the top of her forehead "Did you just invite me to dinner?" she asked.
He smiled and shook his head "Of course, whenever you decide to take a break from your quest, i'd love to make you some more scramble eggs. I like people who appreciate my cooking skills" he said without any restraints.
She shook her head "Thank you" she replied not knowing what to tell him. His offer caught her by surprise, but the tag in her stomach surprised her even more "Thank you for everything that you have done for me" she said looking at him carefully. Trying to read him.
"My pleasure" he replied calmly.
"So are you off to work?" she asked looking around her. Another bout of uneasiness around her stomach.
"I should be, I am late already" he said looking over at the fireplace "And you are off to Mr. Potter's?"
She nodded "I should be going, yes"
He walked past her and reached the fireplace taking a small silver box from the top. He walked up and offered it to her "Ladies first" he said captivating her eyes.
She remained silent for a couple of moments unable to move and when she finally did, it felt like she was moving under water. Like the air around them was thicker "I hope you manage to find the reason behind the birth defects" she said keeping the floo tight in her fist.
"I hope you figure out how to dodge this unholy law until I do find those reasons" he retorted.
"I really wanted to help you" she said looking at him intensely.
"You can help me, by keeping safe, and away from dirty fights" he responded quietly.
She smiled and nodded "You are a good man…" she trailed off.
"And you are a wild street cat, now go fight the cause away from villains Miss Granger. You have a lot to offer, and you have done more that enough already. Unfortunately you cannot assist me, even though I would have loved such a brave assistant. Keep your chin up and don't ever bow your head to the wizengamot" he said with side smile that made her heart smile.
She nodded and looked at her hands "I will, and you keep safe professor Snape" she said and turned her back to him. For a moment she debated kissing his cheek as a sign of appreciation, but she dismissed the idea as stupid. As she was ready to throw the floo in and call Harry's place, she heard him again.
"Almost forgot, wait" he said and moved quickly to his study.
She frowned and shuffled her legs until he returned with a rather large pack of papers tied with a silver magical string diagonally. She frowned as he approached and offered the thick bundle to her.
"What is this?" she asked but her heart was already racing and she felt her eyes watering even before she had touched them.
"The dark arts can become very useful in reversing situations that plain magic cannot, and if used carefully they can mend some serious wrongs" he said.
She took the bundle and her eyes begun streaming with tears of happiness "You gathered my petitions?" she gasped.
He raised his brow "All three thousand, two hundred and thirty four" he said.
She was crying without restraints as she embraced the work of three years. The work she thought lost. "You saved my work…".
"Don't make more of it, than appropriate" he dismissed her with a flick of the wrist.
She shook her head "More than appropriate? You said we were even back then…We are not…now I owe you professor. I owe you big time" she said and she reached up and gave him a big sloppy, wet kiss on the cheek. She then drew back and wiped her nose again with the top of her shirt, knowing that she looked ridiculous and disgusting and not caring the least. She had her petitions again in her hands and she was going to rub them on Kingsley's face when the time came "I owe you, and I pay my debts too" she said.
"There is no need" he said as she turned to the fireplace and threw in the floo.
She looked back at him once more and gave him a big honest smile making out the words "thank you" with her mouth. He nodded and smiled "Goodbye Miss Granger"
"12 Grimmauld place!" she cried and entered the green flames.
-.-
Several hours later found her musing at Ginny's couch still holding her petitions close to her bosom. What he did for her, touched her so deeply that it left her heart tender and open. Since arriving at Harry's house, she couldn't stop talking about what took place with him from the wizengamot and onwards. Ginny stood there listening to her patiently. Harry was at work since early morning and they were expecting him home any minute. They ate a simple and quick lunch that Hermione threw together and now they were lounging with a glass of wine. Well, Hermione's fourth glass to be exact, since she found it easier to deal with this black knight image that Snape was offering her, with a bit of alcohol pooling in her system.
"He said I was not qualified" she said for the tenth time in a row.
"I would worry more about him inviting you over to dinner" Ginny raised her brows.
"He saved me twice, and he also cooked me twice. I mean this man truly confuses me" Hermione said.
"I can see that"
"He is nothing like our old professor. You should see him. The difference in him is huge, it's like he is ten years younger, and much more approachable" Hermione mentioned.
"Maybe he looks younger because he is approachable. Our old professor was domineering and cruel" Ginny intervened.
"He is anything but…or at least that is what he showed me the last couple of days"
"Maybe because he owed you as you said" Ginny said.
"Maybe" Hermione remained thoughtful and drank all of her glass "I must find some way to bring these petitions to Kingsley. Pronto"
"Harry cannot take them Mione" Ginny said wincing.
"I know, Ron either, why didn't I leave those papers with Snape. Maybe he could take them. He has enough authority to do such a thing"
"The floo line is still open to his house, he hasn't severed it, send those papers back with a note, and maybe he could help you" Ginny offered.
Hermione frowned "I don't trust the floo, to send them alone. I should take them myself"
Ginny flicked her shoulders as the door to their house opened and closed "Here's Harry, maybe he can offer us some advice on this"
Hermione looked at the door "Hi Harry" she said carelessly.
When Harry saw her his face went deadly pale, he run into the room and grabbed her from the shoulders shaking her "What the fuck have you done! I didn't know you were here! You have no idea what is going on! Where have you been the last couple of days!" he cried.
Hermione let go of her petitions and pushed him away "What the fuck's got into you?" she cried standing up.
Harry took off his overcoat and searched the pockets. He took out the wizard weekly and opened it up. He brought it to Hermione's face and pointed at the article "This is what's got into me you bloody fool!" he hissed.
Hermione took the paper and felt Ginny behind her shoulder. The article read "Young muggleborn witch saved from possible kidnappers. After two days of recuperation, she talks to the aurors….The woman who saved me looked like the army nurse!". Hermione felt her head getting numb and she read quickly down the article.
"I was attacked while I was returning home from work. Two men jumped on me and before I knew it was pressed to the wall, getting beaten to death. They were merciless, and even though I was pleading for my life they seemed unwavering. The only thing I was left with was my voice whenever they didn't shove a fist in my mouth or closed it tight with their hand. Just when I thought that everything was lost I heard her voice telling them to let me go. They punched my chin and I passed out. I don't remember anything for several minutes. Only that I opened my eyes at one point and I saw this woman jumping over me. I looked at her face and even though I was quite dizzy I can attest that she was the army nurse. She is far too famous not to be recognised. This woman saved me!"
Hermione raised her head from the paper speechless and looked at Harry that lifted his brows critically "There you went and made a mess out of things again didn't you? Why did you have to get in the middle of this tell me?"
"I couldn't let a woman die, what are you saying Harry?!" she looked up to him abhorred.
"I am saying that the wizengamot is preparing to call you over for a testimony in order to check your motives. They are out to prove that this event had been staged between you and this woman in order to intensify the dislike towards the marriage law" Harry said shedding his coat and shoes.
"They are crazy" Hermione cried.
"They are determined and you are making it easy for them, by doing stupid things" Harry retorted harshly.
"You make it sound like all this is my fault!" she rejoined feeling her eyes watering.
"Isn't it?" he looked at her angrily "you are not making it very easy for me and Ron to help you Mione. You are exposing yourself too much. Where have you been hiding for two days?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked at Ginny for a few moments and then at Harry "I kept low, as you suggested, what does it matter where"
"It doesn't, the problem is you don't keep low for long!" Harry barked at her. "Snape and his assistant had been in that alley. You were solemnly lucky they didn't see you".
Hermione's brow raised "I thought they were fighting against this law"
"Snape is, Moore I am not so certain…. We don't want any witnesses" Harry trailed off.
Hermione swallowed uneasily "Ok, so what do we do now?" she asked.
Harry looked up to her "you lay low again"
"I cannot return home Harry, I was hoping I could crush with you guys here" she said and looked at Ginny.
"Of course you…" Ginny begun, but Harry talked over her "…cannot! Unless you want the wizengamot to get you. The first place they'll search will be your house, the second mine. Third choice will be Ron"
Hermione blanched "And what do you suggest I do then? Hit the road and try to live on the streets? I have nowhere else to go you bloody asshole!" she cried in despair.
Ginny intervened "Yes you do" she said meaningfully. Hermione paused and looked at her. Ginny's eyes flickered to the fireplace.
Hermione inhaled and tried to calm herself. After Harry's attitude somehow going back to Snape and asking to stay for a couple of days seemed much more appealing "Do you?" Harry asked wiping his forehead from the perspiration.
Hermione buttoned up "I do…i think" she added mostly to herself.
"Then go there…" Harry stood up "…Listen to me, it's not that I am kicking you out of my house. You don't understand the danger. You are totally exposed here. They are going to come searching for you, and I cannot hide your trace. No one can…you have to find a way to keep low and hide your magical trace for a while. Until this thing blows out. Mione they are going to indeed make an example out of you, and they are dedicated to do a good job out of it also"
Hermione wiped her tears and stopped Ginny that tried to hug her "I understand quite well Harry" she said coldly.
"you freaking asshole" Ginny hissed at her husband.
Harry's face broke "Mione I do this for your safety"
Hermione picked up her papers and nodded "I am sure you do Harry…Ginny please. We will be in touch" she said to her friend. Ginny fell on her and hugged her tightly reaching out to her ear "Go to Snape for the love of Gods…. The connection to his house is not broken. The moment you leave I will close it down" she whispered in her ear and Hermione shivered. She nodded slightly and hugged her back "I love you Ginny" she whispered.
Ginny drew back and looked at her husband sternly "You made a mess, now get the fuck out of my living room and let me say goodbye to my friend!"
"She is my friend also!" Harry said angrily.
"You are not acting like it!" Ginny rejoined.
"Ginny please, Mione, stay if you so wish, but know that by tomorrow afternoon they will come to hunt you here. I told you I cannot hide your trace" Harry said and tried to hug her.
Hermione remained frozen as he pressed her in his arms "Please tell me you understand" he told her quietly.
She winced at the need to reassure him, when at that moment she was being thrown into the streets "It's ok" she said trying to sound warm. She didn't know if she managed it.
"Now go, get the hell out of here. You did enough already!" Ginny barked at him and he turned around with a sad smile and walked out of the room.
Ginny pushed Hermione to the fireplace "Go to Snape!" she hissed.
"He might not be able to take me in…" Hermione tried to debate.
"Fuck this, now go!" Ginny said throwing some floo under the hearth and pushed Hermione and her papers in. She didn't call the direction, because the last connection was still running.
Hermione exited out of breath in Snape's living room only to be met with another scene that left her equally numb. Her old professor held a woman by the thighs, pressed upon one of the kitchen counters and was kissing her roughly. The woman had her legs wrapped around him and her nails were digging on his naked shoulder blade. His shirt was open and half off and his jeans were unbuttoned as his hips were grinding with her pelvis. The moment she appeared in front of them, they both stopped in shock and he was the first to push away from Margot almost throwing her off the counter. Hermione's eyes rolled down his naked chest and abdominal that was well toned and she couldn't stop herself from looking at the waistline of his jeans that was open on top revealing a pair of black boxers. Immediately he closed up the offending piece of clothing and tried to fix his shirt. Margot jumped off the counter straightening her skirt. She spoke first and she looked very pissed off.
"ok, what is this? Someone tell me." she said looking at him and Hermione.
Hermione buttoned up and swallowed as her initial shock begun to fade away. Had she really caught her old professor in the middle of a fuck session? She coughed and looked away from the couple "I am so sorry for coming like this professor. I didn't know I would catch you in such a private moment" she said sternly.
"Indeed you didn't!" Margot spat at her putting her hands on her waist angrily.
"The connection was left open from this morning. I should think that if you needed privacy you would have taken care of that part!" Hermione retorted harshly to him, bypassing Margot completely.
"I didn't even think about it" he said totally confused and flustered.
"This is really improper. You shouldn't be here!" Margot said pointing at the fireplace.
"Of course I shouldn't! Excuse me!" Hermione bit back and made it for the fireplace to take the floo, not even caring where she would exit now. Only caring to get out of here also. As it seemed no house was available to her. The moment she caught the floo box she felt his warm hand stopping her. She raised her eyes angrily to him, but when she saw his flustered face and his hair out of order around his face, her anger backed away a couple of steps.
"Please Miss Granger. What happened was totally inappropriate but it was hardly your mistake. I left the connection open. I am lacking sleep and I acted headforemost. Please excuse me and Mrs. Moore" he said turning his head slightly towards the woman.
"She should excuse us? What the hell are you talking about? This is your house!" Margot exclaimed.
"And as such…" he looked back at her sternly "…i will ask you to keep your voice down and act like an adult about this"
"I am the problem in the equation now, and not this girl? She has been pursuing you for three days now. What the hell is going on here?!" Margot cried and took two steps towards Hermione.
He squared his shoulders to her and spoke heavily "I will not tolerate this second rated attitude in my house Margot! We are all adults here. Miss Granger was brought here by me, to be healed. She left this morning and I forgot to severe the floo connection. The end!" he growled and both women froze.
Margot crossed her arms "Fine then, what is she doing here now?"
He turned to her "What happened? Why are you here?" he asked confused. Hermione's eyes fell to his well built chest and stomach again as in his haste he didn't button it up.
She swallowed "Nothing of importance. I think I should be going, I caught you in a private moment" she said and made it to get the floo again.
His hand tightened around her and she winced. He tilted his head "Give me a moment please" he said seriously.
Hermione's brows questioned him but she remained silent as he turned and grabbed Margot by the arm. He almost pulled her at his front door and they went out. He closed the door behind him. Hermione lowered her hand from the floo and heard their elevated voices outside. She looked back at the counter and bit her lip as she remembered they way she had caught them. She would have never believed him capable of this kind of attitude, although logic screamed at her, that of course a forty year old male would be having intercourse.
It didn't matter that she always remembered him as the old vicious professor with the dark robes and the acerbic tongue. What she saw today made her stomach twist up in knots and she didn't know why. What she saw today had nothing to do with the professor she knew very well once, but had everything to do with a man she hardly knew anything about now. Just as she was ready to grab the floo again she heard the crack of an apparition outside and she saw Snape enter the living room. He started buttoning up his shirt as he approached her.
"I really must ask your forgiveness about this" he said calmly.
Hermione looked down "It's me that should apologise. I never thought I would be intruding your privacy in this manner" she tried to explain.
"Forget what you saw" he said.
Hermione forced herself to smile even though she didn't think it would be such an easy thing to forget "I will try"
"Tell me what happened?" he asked looking concerned.
Hermione licked her lips uneasily and looked fleetingly at the door "The girl I saved in the alley recognised me and I am all over the news. Harry said the wizengamot is going to call me tomorrow to question me about the event because they want to prove me and the girl set the whole thing up in order to destroy the marriage law image" she said quickly.
He frowned "I can see them doing such a thing, yes" he said mostly to himself.
"They are going to search my place and then Harry's and Ron's…" she begun but he raised his hand to stop her.
"I told you this morning, that my house is yours, if you need a good cover. The offer still stands"
Hermione exhaled so quickly that she felt her knees wavering "may I take a sit?" she said feeling like a tone was lifted from her shoulders.
"Please do" he offered and he sat across her.
"If I am not a big bother to you and your girlfriend, could I possibly occupy your couch for a couple of days? Until I find another temporary solution?" she asked even though he had already offered his home to her.
He pursed his lips "Margot is not my girlfriend…' he trailed off and looked at her. Hermione swallowed but didn't speak "…and you can stay here for as long as you need. No one is going to bother you" he added.
-Didn't Harry say that Margot was his assistant?…-
"Harry told me that he cannot cover my magical trace…' she said.
"I can" he said succinctly.
Hermione closed her eyes and hugged her petitions "I cannot count the times I need to thank you…." she muttered.
He smiled rubbing his face "Thank me by having breakfast with me tomorrow, young lady. That would be more than enough" he said looking at her with his tired but calm eyes.
Hermione's heart smiled for the second time that day, and both times he had been the instigator of that fleeting happiness.
-/-