Large hands cradled my wrist. They shook it slightly.

"Hermione…"

My eyes shot open. I blinked and the warm wood paneling of the dormitory ceiling swam into view.

I looked around; there was no dark figure bending over me.

My other hand snuck over to feel my wrist, where the skin was tingling, just in case. No Professor Snape.

I sighed, irritated with myself. My subconscious thoughts were still preoccupied with the events of two days ago. Every time I closed my eyes I could hear Snape's footsteps slowly approaching, I could hear his voice gruffly demanding my attention; "Granger… Granger!"

I could hear him whisper, "Hermione…"

After awaking me for the last time and summoning Madame Pomfrey, Snape had promptly departed, leaving me with my questions.

He knew I lied about Harry's plan. Didn't he?

I could picture him so clearly, sitting silently, calmly beside me, his aquiline nose in profile against the swirling grey mist of my liminal space, his eyes soft and contemplative. I remember watching his struggle to bring himself to question me. These were not the actions of a Death Eater bent on extracting information. Intuitively, I felt so sure that Snape was honestly trying to protect me.

Wasn't he? Or was it all a ruse? He was a spy; it was his job to deceive, and he was very, very adept at the art. Either he had lied to Voldemort or he had lied to Dumbledore- successfully. He could easily lie to me.

But I had felt safe with him, safer than I can remember feeling since before Voldemort returned. He knew I had lied, and he didn't care. He was on my side- he wanted me to keep my secret.

I was just me, and Snape sitting beside me, companionably watching the mist. I smiled to myself.

He had smelled… woodsy.

"I know that look." Ginny poked her head into the room and grinned, with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Huh?" She bounced toward me, plopping down next to me on the bed.

"Back for less than a week and you're already daydreaming about someone," she giggled delightedly.

"Wha- I'm not daydreaming!"

"Ok, that's fine!" She raised her hands in mock surrender. "I know better than to try and wheedle it out of you. But if you want to talk…"

"Thanks," I said, standing and stretching. Maybe things weren't so bad after all. It's hard to feel unprotected and afraid with Ginny wearing her Cheshire cat expression. I put Snape out of my mind. "Unfortunately I don't have any gossip for you."

"Ah well," her face zoomed from the giant grin, to a slight pout, and then to determination. "I had something else to talk about. Did you hear about Neville?"

"No, what happened? I haven't seen him."

"Really? Blimey, I thought everyone knew." Ginny pushed her hair behind her ears and frowned. "The Carrows were getting to him. They got worse and worse until he was given detention almost every night." She stared down at her knees, eyes unfocused. "A couple weeks ago they made some comments about blood traitors that had us really worried. He's hiding now, in the Room of Requirement."

"Ginny…" I looked down at her. She had been the acting head of the DA since Harry left and I'd heard from Dean that she had kept up the fighting spirit every step of the way. Yet here she was, discouraged. I'm not the only one with problems, apparently. "It's good that he has somewhere to go," I said soothingly.

"Yes, but we can't all hide," she said bitterly. "It's not feasible in the long run, even for the people who need to be away from the Carrows. The room doesn't provide food, and Mrs. Norris is almost always in the corridor, so it's damn hard to sneak things in."

I racked my brain. It was easy to improve the taste of food, or assemble it from ingredients using magic, but the spells for increasing the quantity were tricky. The best solution would be to summon the food from somewhere… Perhaps Dobby could help. "I'll think about it, Ginny. There's bound to be a solution."

"You think?" She looked up, surprised.

"Of course. We can experiment with replenishing spells and summoning. It might be difficult, but let's face it: practically anything is easier than sneaking past Mrs. Norris."

Ginny smiled. "Oh, I'm so glad you're back Hermione! I know you must miss Harry and Ron, but we really need some new ideas in the mix around here."

"It's good to be back," I said. It is, I suppose. Maybe I can be useful here.

She stood, and turned to leave. At the door she paused, and with the sparkle returning to her eye she said "sure you won't tell me who that smile was for?"

I tilted my head to the side, remembering Snape's musky fragrance, remembering the gentleness with which he touched my wrist.

"Nobody."

She raised a skeptical eyebrow.


Miss is far too caring for her own good, Miss is. Miss will go and get herself in trouble with the cruel mistress and master. Then Bibbits will need to call Master again, and Master will be displeased even though I is just following my duties, I am.

Oh why did Miss agree to help! I shudder with the anticipation of Master's anger. Bibbits shakes till his very knees wobble.

Last time, Master picked Bibbits up and shook me he did. Master's black hair shook too, and his black eyes bored into my face and Master asked me questions, questions! I deserves it, I was slow. Bibbits left for but a minute to avoid that Dobby elf and by the time he got back Miss was gone! And in the confusion with Miss in the dungeons and Master in the forest, and Dobby everywhere, and needing to not be seen nor heard for Master's orders, oh I is a very bad elf! Bibbits took too long! I pulls at my ears till they hurt good and bad!

Dobby is a bad elf too- worse for not knowing his place! He wears the bright socks and the fuzzy hats and he defies Master. Humans can't see me when I hide, but elves on the lookout, like Dobby, they can. He comes looking and makes me leave. I am a good elf. I obey my orders, and my orders say to not talk to elves or Miss until Master tells me. Master has a plan. Master is devious, and thoughtful, and powerful. And terrifying.

If only I could stop Dobby and stop his curiosity and stop his following! But Bibbits can't tell him to go away. Dobby is a stupid traitor elf!

Miss leaves her tower, and I knows where she will go. I go straight to the library. Dobby in the halls he is always! Why must Miss read so much? Now she must be looking for food spells. Miss is putting herself in danger from bad mistress and master. Miss is putting Bibbits in danger of breaking his promise to Master by being spotted by Dobby.

The things she wants- so easy for elves, so hard for humans. Miss is a capable witch. Miss is a great witch. But elf magic is greater.

A thought! Bibbits knows how to keep Miss safe! Bibbits will put the food in the Room of Requirement so that Miss need not put herself in danger. Miss will not be hurt, and I will not go to Master, and Master will not be displeased with me! And Miss will be safe!

I smile my whole mouth wide. I snap my fingers. Work to be done!