Hermione awoke the next morning and took some time to think about the day before. She was situated in her new rooms and was pleasantly surprised to have a spacious living room with a bedroom, office, and bathroom attached to it. She was pleased to learn that with her new job she would get an adequate stipend that would meet her needs especially since she need not worry about expenses associated with room and food. She was concerned that all of her possessions were at her father's house and she needed to get a new wand. She was not sure how she could afford to buy her necessities right away without any money. Dumbledore told her to take this week to settle into her rooms and catch up with anything she needed and she could start on work next week.

Hermione decided she could not spend all day in her rooms and left them to head to the great hall for breakfast. She sat at the round table with the rest of the staff and was welcomed to the faculty by them all. She noticed that Professor Snape was not in the room but need not wonder for long as he walked into the hall and took the seat next to her.

"Good morning professor," She greeted.

"Good morning Miss Granger," was his response. "What do you have planned for the day?"

"I am not sure sir. I have no possessions with me as everything was left at my father's house so I have nothing to unpack. I am in need of a new wand but have no money to purchase one so I am at a lost on what to do."

"Miss Granger perhaps I could go to your father's house and get your things for you."

"Sir that would be wonderful. I do not think I could face him, at least not for awhile. I would hate for you to have to go out of your way though."

"Think nothing of it." With that he stood up and left without another word.

Why Hermione thought to herself is he being so nice to me.

Severus walked to the gates of the castle and apparated to an alley not far from Hermione's house. He knew where she lived because he had been contemplating coming to confront Hermione's father. He knocked on the door and it was answered by an inebriated man who assumed was Hermione's father.

"Mr. Granger I assume. I work at Hogwarts and have come to retrieve Hermione's belongings. "He said.

"Like hell I'll let you take anything from here. Over my dead body will you remove her things from my house" Mr. Granger answered.

Severus was only too happy to follow through with Mr. Granger's threat of over his dead body, but thought better of it. Instead he punched the man in the face, kicked him a few times in the stomach and cast a spell that would make it impossible for him to rape a woman again. He left Mr. Granger on the floor and cast a spell to locate all of Hermione's belongings. He quickly packed everything up and left the house without a backwards glance. He apparated back to Hogwarts after shrinking all of Hermione's things and walked back to the castle.

As Severus entered the castle he saw Albus and Minerva walking towards him.

Albus spoke first, "Severus my boy, where did you run off to this morning in such a hurry."

"I went to Miss Granger's home to retrieve her possessions from her father."

Minerva was surprised. "That was rather kind of you," was her response.

"Yes well I did not think it would be healthy for her to go back to that house and she was in need of her possessions. Plus I really wanted to punch the man in the face."

"While I do not condone physical violence under normal situations, I can't say I blame you." Albus stated.

"Albus could you tell me which rooms you put Miss Granger in so I can deliver her things back to her."

"Of course up on the hall way to Gryffindor Tower the portrait of the young couple walking through a garden is guarding her door."

Severus left Minerva and Albus in the entrance hall.

"Albus I'm surprised at Severus. He is not usually so generous to others" Minerva spoke.

"Yes I believe he is afraid for her, and wishes to help make her feel safe again. It is a pleasant surprise to see him act this way. Perhaps if helps to heal Hermione he will help to heal himself as well."