A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks to Onyx Obsidian, Chelsea Always, Silver Orbed Lionness, Francine Hibiscus, HGxSS Always, woodshark, ALIASTESIN, leonix2009, and AlwaysShan for your reviews. If you like this chapter, please review and give it a follow.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I just have fun with the characters.

Chapter 7

Severus had just retired to his chambers after hours of grading the usual drivel submitted to him by the hormonal dunderheads he was employed to teach. He was frustrated that Slytherin house had been soundly defeated by Potter's new Gryffindor team and incensed that he'd lost ten galleons to Minerva, unfortunately for any essays that befell him that day. He may have set a new term record for the number of Trolls awarded in a single day.

As he settled in with a good book – not that he'd confess he thought muggle fiction to be good – and a glass of brandy his thoughts turned back to the little amber-eyed witch he'd seen crying that afternoon. He had been returning from Minerva's office enduring her taunting when he came upon Hermione Granger crying in the corridor undoubtedly on her way to the library. He was concerned for her and wanted to know why she'd been crying, but instead, he had to be an arse, like he'd been for the last two weeks.

He sighed to himself, unsure what to do. That night she'd come to his chambers, healed him, and then kissed him had just been too much for Severus. He could no longer deny his feelings for her. She was brilliant, beautiful, hardworking, loyal, fierce, ambitious, caring, brave. She was unafraid to argue with him; she pushed herself to be the best at all times, and she was light. Light to his darkness. She was still pure, while he was the man condemned to murder Albus Dumbledore. And so, he had to protect her and make sure they did not become too close so he would not have to witness the pain and disappointment in her eyes when she realised what he indeed was.

Suddenly, Severus was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of a herd of centaurs beating down his door. It couldn't be a member of staff as they would just floo him or send a patronus, so he assumed it must be a Slytherin Prefect with an emergency. Setting down his book and drink and pinching the bridge of his nose, this had better be an emergency or Merlin help the student breaking down his door.

He wrenched open the door with a sneer on his face and was shocked to find Hermione Granger, her face red and puffy, her chest heaving as sobs wracked her entire body. 'What could be wrong? Whoever did this to her will be hexed into next Christmas,' he thought.

"Miss Granger. It is past curfew, what in the hell are you doing banging on my door like the castle is on fire."

Severus looked into her bloodshot, amber eyes with concern and what he hoped was compassion, despite the fact that his face said he was pissed off. Then he saw a glint of that Gryffindor fearlessness and resolve in before he could stop her, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Severus staggered back in shock, wrapped his arms around her back, and without breaking the kiss pulled her into his sitting room and wandlessly shut and locked the door before anyone stumbled on them in the corridor.

He groaned into her mouth as Hermione jumped up and wrapped her legs around his hips and he cupped her pert ass in one had as the other snaked up her back and fisted into her unruly curls while their kisses bruised and their tongues danced around each other. His brain was mush, and he was completely incoherent. The consummate Slytherin, the youngest Potions Master in Great Britain, Death Eater and Double Agent for the Order of the Phoenix felled by a seventeen-year-old Gryffindor chit.

He pressed hot, wet kisses to her neck eliciting a moan from her and Hermione began grinding on his growing erection. Then, Hermione's hands slide from their position around his neck, and she started pushing off his outer robes. When her small hands reached the top button of his frock coat, Severus was quickly brought back to reality. He pulled back, dropped his hands to his sides, and her legs gave way, and she fell to her feet in front of him.

Severus gaped at her, his eyes wide and mouth open before putting on his mask of indifference. He turned, leaving his outer robe and Hermione a heap on the floor as he stalked into his kitchen.

'What the fuck just happened? When did she start feeling that way about me? Crazy, impetuous Gryffindor, doesn't she know what I am?! What is she thinking coming here and throwing herself at me?'

Hermione's entire body was on fire. She was wrapped around Severus Snape's body, kissing him with abandon, feeling his hands run along her back, through her hair, on her bottom. No wonder Lavender was stuck to Ron like the giant squid. Kissing him was heaven on earth. As his warm mouth trailed down her neck, kissing, sucking, nibbling she needed more. She needed to touch his warm skin against her own, and she started pulling off his robes. As she began to undo the top bottom of his frock coat, she found herself unceremoniously deposited on the ground. She looked up at Severus' face and saw the moment he employed occlumency to bury his feelings under those thick walls he put up. As he turned and stalked away to the kitchen, she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and stood up, determined to talk some sense into him before he completely shut her out as he was want to do.

She approached the doorway of his small kitchen; she took in her surroundings for the first time. Two weeks ago, she'd been so overwhelmed with his injuries and her own fatigue she had not noticed the décor in his chambers. She noted built-in bookcases covered one long wall perpendicular to the fireplace. She itched just to touch the spines of the tomes; to read their titles, but she had a mission first. Talk to him before he threw her out.

As she stood outside the kitchen door, she heard the crash of ceramic breaking. Hermione quietly pushed open the door and stood in the entrance. The kitchen was small, but enough for a thirty-six-year-old bachelor who took most of his meals in the Great Hall. She noted his fists were clenched at his sides and a blue teapot lay in shards on the floor. She pulled out her wand and mutter "Reparo", and the teapot reassembled and she silently levitated it to the countertop.

As the teapot mended itself, he looked at her in a fury. "Why are you here Miss Granger? What compelled you –."

"Severus, I like you," she blushed.

"You like me?" he sneered derisively.

"Well, it sounds glib when you say it. I – I think we have become friends over the last three months and ever since I spent the night healing you, I have realised that I care for you Severus, more than a friend."

"We are not friends Miss Granger," he glared at her, "I am a Professor, you are my student. If I had not bound myself to you when I sponsored your membership to the Order, I would throw you out now and cease all private tuition."

She approached him cautiously, reaching out and touching his arms, he flinched. "Severus, I may be your student at Hogwarts, but in the Order, outside of these walls, we are equals. I am an adult. Don't shut everyone out. We are friends. I do care about you, and I think you care about me."

"You are to forward witch! Brazen, bloody Gryffindor. We had a good routine, a companionable existence that worked, but then you had to wait for me that night when I told you to return to your dormitory and then you had the gall to kiss me!"

"You … you were awake?"

"Yes, I was awake. Hermione, you do not want to tie yourself to me. I am a Death Eater. I have done things, I will do things, that you will never understand and trust me when I say, come June you will hate me."

"Severus, I understand your role in the Order, I know you have to do things in service to You-Know-Who that you despise, but that's not you!"

"It was… Hermione, I was a death eater before you were even born. You need to bury any feelings you harbour. Find someone your age who is as brilliant as you."

Hermione laughed bitterly at that. "Any boy who has attended Hogwarts in the last five years holds no interest for me. Surely you must see that none of them could captivate me the way you do. Our conversations have been the most exciting and stimulating I've had in my entire time here. I want you. I am already bound to you."

"Be that as it may, we are in the middle of a war, you are my student, and this cannot happen."

"Tell me you don't have feelings for me too. If you can honestly tell me you feel nothing for me apart from student and teacher, I will leave this room, and we will continue as we have for the last two weeks."

Severus fixed his obsidian eyes on her amber ones and drawled "Your feelings for me are not reciprocated."

Hermione's bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering and silence the sob threatening to break through her. She jerked her head away so he would not see her tears and scampered out of the rooms as her heart broke.

When Hermione left Severus picked up the teapot she'd just repaired and threw it against the wall again. He then picked up every single teacup and proceeded to hurl them one by one.

Severus was a wreck - his skin was paler than usual, he was more gaunt, and he had dark circles rimming his eyes. For the next week, he did nothing but relive those moments in his quarters with Hermione. Remembering her scent as he kissed her neck and fisted her hair. She smelled of bergamot oil, amber, vanilla, new parchment and peppermint toothpaste. He could feel her lips on his and her hands on his shoulders. He had not been called back to the Dark Lord, but he did not sleep, he did not eat. He was even more impatient in class and woe betide any student who came across his path in the corridors. When he had lessons with Hermione, he employed occlumency as if he were continually in the presence of the Dark Lord and his magical core was exhausted as a result.

One afternoon, before a staff meeting, Severus overheard Minerva, Filius and Pomona speaking, "She looks exhausted. Barely contributing to class and her assignments are impeccable, but lacking their usual length. She passed in an essay exactly 12 inches the other day at the correct font size."

"I have also noticed Filius. She seems withdrawn, not her usual vibrant self," stated Minerva.

"Do you think it's because of Mr Weasley and Miss Brown?" asked Pomona.

'Hermione …? I haven't noticed anything; however, I'm also trying to avoid making eye contact with her…'

"Severus! You see Miss Granger outside of classes in your lab. Have you noticed any difference in her demeanour?" inquired Minerva.

"I cannot say that I have. Miss Granger is engaged in Defensive lessons and works to her usual standard in the lab," replied Severus indifferently.

At that moment Slughorn walked in "What are we discussing?" he asked jovially.

"Miss Granger's behaviour of late Horace. Have you noticed a difference?"

"Indeed Minerva, while her brews are to her usual standard, as my second best student, she is much quieter, but don't you worry. I have just the thing to bring up her spirits! I will be hosting another one of my Christmas parties. She rarely gets to attend my little suppers as Severus keeps her so busy in the potions lab, but Severus, my boy, you must attend of course as a former member of the Slug Club."

Severus sneered but nodded his head in acquiescence. Slughorn always invited Minister connections and famous witches and wizards he'd collected over the decades. Severus may be able to gain some information to share with the Dark Lord.

"Excellent! There will be enough young men there to tempt Miss Granger away from Weasley.

'Well, at least they don't think she's upset over me', thought Severus, 'Weasley's timing with Miss Brown is fortuitous.'

After the staff meeting, Albus called Snape to his office.

"Severus, you are not looking well. You haven't been summoned in a few weeks. Is everything alright?"

"No, everything is not alright Albus," he spat, "or did you forget that I will have to murder you in the next six months. My apologies for being anxious and distracted."

At these words, Dumbledore looked mollified but pressed on with his intentions. "Severus, when the term ends, I have a special assignment for the Order for yourself and Miss Granger. It will take up most of the Christmas holidays."

Severus never celebrated the holidays, but it did not mean he wouldn't be put out. He would now be forced to spend time alone with Hermione in close quarters, the very last thing he needed.

"And what, pray tell, is this assignment Albus? Surely there is someone else more equipped to handle this task?"

"Well, I had originally hoped Miss Delacour, and Bill Weasley could accomplish the task. However, the goblins were unwilling to give them leave over the holidays. As you know, the Auror's office has placed Kingsley Shacklebolt in the Muggle Prime Minister's office. The Prime Minister has a daughter two years older than Miss Granger, and she will be left unprotected over the holidays as Kingsley must accompany the Prime Minister to the United States. The Ministry is unwilling to provide protection and Kingsley has asked that the Order step in."

"Oh brilliant Albus, the double agent death eater should protect the Muggle Prime Minister's family from death eaters?" Severus sneered.

"You were complaining not too long ago that you have nearly run out of occamy eggs and boomslang skin. Tell Tom you must go abroad to Africa and India to collect rare potions ingredients not in stock at the apothecaries over the holidays. Kingsley will return to London 4 days before term starts so that you can portkey to both locations and Miss Granger can have a couple of days at home with her parents. You'll have to disguise yourselves as you are both known to the wizarding world."

"Obviously." Severus sighed "and I assume I have no say in the matter. At least I will not be forced to attend any revels this year."

"I thought that might be preferable, and we will be able to see how far Miss Granger as come along."

"When do you plan on telling Miss Granger of your plan Albus?" Snape inquired.

"The morning before she departs. I do not want Harry or Mr Weasley to know, and it will be easier if they are already gone. For safety, Harry and the Weasleys will be flooing directly to the Burrow."

Christmas was approaching fast. Hagrid has already single-handedly delivered the usual twelve Christmas trees for the Great Hall; garlands of holly and tinsel had been twisted around the bannisters of the stairs; everlasting candles glow from inside the helmets of the suits of armour and bunches of mistletoe had been hung at intervals along the corridors.

Hermione was not in the Christmas spirit at all. She wasn't speaking to Ron; she wasn't talking to Severus, she just threw herself into her schoolwork and private lessons with Severus. When she wasn't doing homework, she went to the Room of Requirement to run, and when she went to bed at night, she cast silencing charms around her four-poster bed and cried. To cover up her puffy face each morning she would cast glamours on her face before heading to breakfast. She spent the majority of class time distracted and replayed those moments in his chambers and subsequent rejection over and over again. She just wanted the holidays to come so she could have three weeks away without seeing Severus at all.

Hermione received an owl one morning at breakfast cordially inviting her to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party on the last day of term. Hermione groaned to herself. She'd been able to avoid Slug Club meetings with the insufferable Potions Master due to her private lessons with Snape, just as Harry had been able to avoid due to his tuition with Dumbledore. However, Dumbledore now wanted Harry to be collected by Slughorn and Severus had been a member of the Slug Club during his time at Hogwarts, so it was likely he had also been invited and could not turn it down.

Reading the invitation, she noted that she was allowed a date. Ron was out of the question, as they had not spoken since their fight after the Quidditch match and he was now attached to Lavender. Cormac MacLaggan had cornered her under some mistletoe and promptly shoved his tongue down her throat before inviting her. She hit him with a stinging hex before declining his offer.

Hermione's timetable was full, and she could only talk to Harry properly in the evenings while they studied in the library. One evening Hermione was working on her ancient ruins translations while Harry was making notes on Snape's copy Advanced Potion Making.

"You need to be careful Harry", said Hermione.

"I'm not giving back this book Hermione! I've learned more from the Half-Blood Prince than Snape or Slughorn –."

Hermione smiled ruefully knowing the real owner of the book. "I'm not talking about your so-called Prince," said Hermione giving the book a nasty look, "I'm talking about girls. I went into the girls' bathroom just before meeting you and a dozen girls, including Romilda Vane, are trying to slip you a love potion. They all want to go to the party because they think you're the Chosen One."

"I am the Chosen One," Harry smirked. "Why don't we just go together?"

"Oh, that's a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?" exclaimed Hermione.

Excellent. We'll meet in the common room eight o'clock and head to Slughorn's office together."

The evening before Slughorn's Party Hermione was assisting Professor Snape in brewing Wolfsbane for Remus Lupin. He had never let her help him with the complex brew before. They were still not speaking to each other than professionally, but Hermione appreciated being close to him. As Hermione chopped the Valerian root into equal pieces 7/16th of an inch long, she decided she was sick of his surly behaviour.

"Are you going to Slughorn's party tomorrow?" she asked conversationally.

He grunted in affirmation.

"I am as well. Harry and I are going together. It should be fun," she said nonchalantly.

She watched Severus through her eyelashes, as he continued breaking up the moonstone with his pestle. He was suddenly crushing it to powder with much more aggression than before. Hermione was determined to get Severus to talk to her again, either through irritation or providing him with some useful information.

"Professor Dumbledore wants Harry to befriend and be collected by Professor Slughorn, so I'm going to try too. Subtlety isn't exactly Harry's strong suit, and he will need it here."

Hermione heard Severus mutter something under his breath sounded like "stating the obvious Hermione."

Frustrated that he wasn't taking the bait, Hermione continued "Harry is obsessed with Draco. He doesn't understand why Draco quit the Quidditch team and is still convinced that he cursed Katie with the necklace. I'm afraid he's going to start acting recklessly. Dumbledore is insisting Harry keeps his invisibility cloak on him at all times. I think he may start spying on him."

The Potions Master stopped crushing moonstone powder and looked at her intently. "If Potter finds out that Draco has been tasked with murdering Dumbledore, he will kill him. Potter is reckless and impulsive. You may not think him a killer, but I don't doubt he would try. As his best friend and a member of the Order, it is your job to help reign him in… The other professors have noted that you are distracted lately. Maybe you should stop focusing on your feelings, and consider your commitment to the Order like the rest of us."

Hermione's eyes widened at his words, and she silently went back to chopping her roots.

Severus did not want to attend Slughorn's party. He hated socialising, he hated pandering, and he did not want to see the Gryffindor Princess on the arm of the Chosen One. The woman he cared for on the arm of a Potter.

'Why is history repeating itself?' he thought to himself.

Still, he put a little more effort into his appearance than usual. He took special care to wash and dry his hair to eliminate the excess oil from his superfine raven locks. He donned a new frock coat of a dark hunter green that resembled his usual black in certain light and replaced his regular teaching robes with black silk dress robes.

Snape noted that Slughorn had garishly decorated just as he had when Severus himself was a student. The office was enlarged using an undetectable extension charm. The ceiling and walls were draped with emerald, crimson and gold hangings so that it looked as though they were inside a circus tent. Severus stood in the corner with the best view of the entrance. He had a glass of firewhiskey and was avoiding all conversation courtesy of his customary sneer.

He sucked in a breath and downed his drink when he saw Hermione walk in on Potter's arm. She was wearing a forest green floor-length dress with a high neck and lace overlay. It was nipped in at her waist and the skirt flowing out. It accentuated all of her curves in a way her school uniform never allowed. Then as she headed to refreshments table, Severus' eyes bulged out of his head when he saw the back of the dress. While the front was very modest, the dress was completely backless down to her tailbone.

'Merlin,' he thought, 'she looks exquisite.' He had to avoid her at all costs. He knew if he got too close he may attempt to recreate that night she'd come to his chambers.

After an hour, Severus had heard overheard some interesting conversations between ministry officials that he knew the Dark Lord would want to know about and figured he could leave unnoticed when Slughorn threw out an arm and scoped him out of thin air towards Potter and Granger.

"Stop sulking and come join us, Severus!" hiccoughed Slughorn happily. "I was just talking about Harry and Hermione's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught Harry for five years, and Hermione is your brewing assistant!"

Trapped with Slughorn's arm around his shoulders, Severus looked down his hooked nose at the pair, and his black eyes narrowed.

"Funny, I never had the impression that Potter had any skill whatsoever when it came to potion-making. Miss Granger, however, is exceptional."

"They are the top of their class, and what a fine couple they make," Slughorn said jovially, "I am glad to see you in better spirits tonight Miss Granger," Slughorn winked, "Your work ethic is impressive my dear, but its also important to have some fun."

Hermione blushed and smiled prettily. "Thank you, sir. I am looking forward to spending time with my parents and taking a break over the holidays."

'Oh she will not be pleased tomorrow…' thought Severus.

"Good Good! Now both of you, remind me what your career plans are after Hogwarts."

"Well sir," replied Harry, "I would like to join the aurory, while Hermione has always had her heart set on becoming a barrister and help write and pass legislation at the Ministry."

Snape sneered at both suggestions while Slughorn applauded them each for their ambition, saying it was positively Slytherin.

"Actually…" interrupted Hermione, "I've been thinking of becoming a Healer. Working with Professor Snape, this term has been truly inspiring."

Severus noted Harry was staring at Hermione's response agog and was about to say something when suddenly Draco Malfoy was being dragged by the ear towards them by Argus Filch.

"Professor Slughorn", wheezed Filch, "I discovered Mr Malfoy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him an invitation?"

Malfoy pulled himself free of Filch's grip, looking furious. "All right, I wasn't invited!" he retorted. "I was trying to gatecrash, happy?"

"No I'm not!" said Filch, You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the Headmaster say that night-time prowling's out unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"That's all right, Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn, waving a hand. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you may stay, Draco."

Snape was looking at Malfoy, furious and fearful. 'What is that boy doing? He will not tell me anything, even though I declared to the Dark Lord in front of all of the Death Eaters that I would assist him. Fool! He needed to get through to this boy.'

"I'd like a word with you Draco", blurted Snape.

"Oh, now, Severus", said Slughorn, hiccoughing again, "It's Christmas, don't be too hard - ."

"I'm his Head of House and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise to be Horace," said Snape curtly. "Follow me Draco."

As Snape drug Draco away from Slughorn's party, Hermione could not help but note that Draco honestly did not look well. She'd not seen Malfoy up close in ages; she now saw that he had dark shadows under his eyes and a distinctly greyish tinge to his skin.

Harry leaned into her and said resolutely. "I'll be back in a bit, 'Mione – going to the loo."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Like hell, you are Harry Potter. You're going to follow them," she hissed, "You're taking me with you."

"Fine! We have to hurry."

They hurried off into the crowd. It was easy, once out of the party, to pull the Invisibility Cloak out of Harry's pocket and throw it over themselves. The corridor was entirely deserted. What was more difficult was finding Snape and Malfoy. Hermione transfigured her heels into flats, and they ran down the hall. They pressed their ears against door after door until they crouched down to the keyhole of the last classroom in the corridor and heard voices.

"… cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled - ."

"You will expel me? No one suspects me."

"Potter suspects you! And he has the ear of Dumbledore and the entire Order of the Phoenix. I prostrated myself at the Dark Lord's feet for you Draco."

"I don't want you butting in!"

"So that is why you have been avoiding me this term? Have you feared my interference? You realise that had anybody else failed to come to my office when I had told them repeatedly to be there, Draco - ."

"So put me in detention! Report me to Dumbledore," jeered Malfoy.

"You know perfectly well that I do not wish to do either of those things."

"You'd better stop telling me to come to your office then!"

"Listen to me," said Snape, his voice so low now that Harry and Hermione had to strain against the keyhole to hear. "I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow, Draco –."

"Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me, and I'm doing it. I've got a plan, and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!"

Hermione stopped listening at that point. She was in shock realising that Severus had taken an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy. While Harry did not know that Malfoy was being forced to murder Dumbledore, Hermione did. She recalled his words to her weeks ago.

"Hermione, you do not want to tie yourself to me. I am a Death Eater. I have done things, I will do things, that you will never understand and trust me when I say, come June you will hate me."

'Oh, God! Severus will assist Draco in murdering Dumbledore … if Draco fails, Severus will die from the vow.'