"Hermione! What the hell was all this!?" Ginny pounced like a tiger on her back and Hermione stumbled forward.

Ron caught her from the arms "What the hell happened? What did you do?!" he asked severely. She looked around with a huge smile she was unable to contain and saw that Neville and Harry were also there, but they were both silently observing.

"Tell me what exactly happened there, because I think I am going to lose my mind!" Ginny exclaimed and grabbed her hands pulling her.

"She just married Snape" Neville said sounding genially confused.

"Not married, we signed the official paper and I will ask him to use the six month trial period this law allows" she said trying to find her footing since Ron and Ginny were pushing and pulling her still.

"Fuck that! How the hell did he petition for you, that's what I am interested in!" Ginny said with a huge smile.

"I asked him to" Hermione said looking around.

"What?!" Ginny asked.

"He was willing to help me out Ginny, and I feel safe with him. After the events in the alley he treated me like a true gentleman" Hermione explained.

"So you started all this" Harry said thoughtfully.

"yes, more or less" Hermione raised her brows.

"I am interested learning why you chose him and not Neville" Ron joined sternly.

"She just said she asked him, what is there to learn! She asked him, he did it, she accepted" Ginny admonished.

"By the way Ron, don't put me in the middle of this" Neville admonished and straightened his jacket.

"I am so sorry Neville, honestly…" she begun but he raised his hand to stop her.

"Why so? Your choice, friend" he gave her a smile that seemed nonetheless genuine "I only came to help you get through this, because I knew how against this law you were…."

"She didn't seem too much against it when she cried out that YES…" Ron said sounding pissed off.

She glared at him "Where is your wife Ronald? Shouldn't you be attending to her? She is five months pregnant as I recall"

"And now you want me off this conversation because my words are rubbing on you the wrong way? Hell, they should! What the fuck got into you, to choose HIM as your husband!" he said angrily.

"It's a white wedding Ronald, get your head straight!" she shouted at him.

"No, you get your head straight Hermione! This is the guy that haunted our reality for seven years, not to mention that he is at least twenty years older than you. What the fuck got into you!?" he stomped his foot at the floor getting angrier by the minute.

Harry's calm voice made them all turn "he is also the guy that protected us with his life for seven years Ron, and the one that came out to help her without any real hesitations when I asked for his help seven days ago. He is also a valuable collaborator to us, so maybe you should weigh your words a bit more carefully about him"

"I am not talking about what he did for you all these years ago, nor about your mother. I am talking about what Hermione is doing to herself by choosing an overgrown bat as a husband" Ronald replied tensely.

"He won't be my husband Ron, he is just assisting me like Neville would, and keep your voice low" she hissed darting her eyes to the elevators, were Severus was waiting patiently with his back turned to them.

"Now where did all this Snape fan club came from? Tell me? Someone?" Ronald asked turning around. Harry crossed his arms, Hermione raised her brows and Ginny pressed her lips with disapproval. Ron turned to Neville "What about you? Won't you say anything about this? You have been offering your help to her for at least three months, and she decided to choose the vampire instead of you!"

"what you are doing is degrading me" Neville said tilting his head at him.

"ME?! I am degrading you?!" Ron exclaimed "What the hell has gotten into everybody?"

"Shut up for once!" Neville growled at him and everyone stopped and turned to him. He had gained a lot of height during the last years and he was towering over everyone. At that moment he looked rather threatening. Neville turned to Hermione "I am glad you have found a closure to your issues Mione, if there is anything I can do for you, or your …uhm..husband, please feel free to contact me" he said straightening up.

Hermione approached and took him in a warm embrace "Thank you for being there for me darling" she said with a reassuring rub on his back.

"I will always be" he replied and then turned to Ron "As for you, you need to find a anger management group, and I am leaving before I end up punching your mouth" he spat.

Ron stepped back abhorred "We will talk guys" Neville said looking around.

"Goodbye love" Ginny said with a warning glance at her brother.

"I will call you Neville" Harry shook his hand and with a last smile at Hermione he turned and walked out of the theatre. Silence fell upon them for several moments and Hermione was the first one to speak again.

"I am sorry I made you mad with my choices Ron. If I chose Snape then I had a very good reason to do so, and that should be enough of an explanation for you. I had a hard day and I need to rest. I don't need your hatred in my face" she said rubbing her temples. Ginny embraced her shoulders and started rubbing her arms.

"Give me that reason then, and I shall leave you alone" he said pressing his lips in disapproval.

"He saved my life …and I trust him with it" she said looking up at him solemnly. Her heavy words took their toll upon everyone.

Ron uncrossed his arms and left them hanging in defeat "Well..." he said and she heard the critical tone in there. She didn't give him the chance to continue.

"I don't want you to harass him in any manner, and if I find out that you are onto him, I will come after you" she pointed at him warningly.

"As if Snape can be easily harassed…" Ginny harked. Hermione didn't take her eyes from Ron.

"What? you are going to keep a 24 hour surveillance on me?" Ron laughed sarcastically.

"No, but I am going to be training under him, so it won't be hard to check on you" Hermione continued.

"What?" Ginny's mouth dropped open.

"What is he training you for?" Harry asked.

"I asked him to join the Keepers. I told you guys I would do it remember?" she said.

"And he accepted?" Ginny asked.

"begrudgingly, yes he did" she said pursing her lips.

"Ah, now it all makes sense…" Ron turned around and took a few steps back and forth.

"Careful Ron" she warned.

"You chose him, so he can make you a keeper and he has the chance to get his hands on a beautiful woman, which in any other case would be rather impossible" he said turning around.

"Do you EVEN DARE suggest that I would sell my body, for a job? Fuck off!" she spat and within two steps she was on him. She raised her hand and smacked him hard across the face. The slap resounded all over the theatre and she looked over at the elevators. Severus was looking at them.

Ron was cradling his cheek, looking at her with shocked eyes "And if you should know he is fucking much sexier woman than me… asshole!" she said feeling her eyes welling with fresh tears. Harry bypassed her and grabbed Ron's arm dragging him away from her.

Ginny turned her around and embraced her with fervour "Don't mind my brother Mione, please. He is acting totally out of character" she said equanimously "I think his wife's pregnancy has deprived him of some basic venting techniques and he is taking out on you"

"I don't care…just tell him to keep away from me" Hermione said burying her head on Ginny's neck.

"I will darling…now shhh" Ginny said rubbing on her back as Hermione sobbed loudly. She raised her wet eyes to the elevators and saw that Severus had taken several steps closer to them. She really didn't want him to come head to head with Ron, so she raised her hand to stop him and shook her head in negation hoping that he would get her message. After a few tense moments she saw him retreat back, but keeping his eyes on her. "I will straighten him out later, although I think Harry is already messing with him heavily…but do tell me how you know Snape's sex partner?" she added and Hermione choked on her mucus.

She pulled back and wiped her tears away observing the seriousness of Ginny's face. She shook her head and smirked "I caught him in the act…" she muttered.

Ginny's eyes grew larger than life and her mouth dropped in an O shape "whaaaaa…?" she asked.

Hermione nodded regaining her composure and took a hanky that Ginny offered her "Yep…awkward moment actually" she blew her nose.

"I bet…" Ginny raised her brow "I also bet it has caused a lot of tension around you guys"

Hermione whistled "you have no…idea…how much"

"Do I even want the scene described?" Ginny asked pinching her cheeks with a smile.

Hermione fanned herself "Hot…"

Ginny raised both brows knowingly "Hermione?"

"What?"

"any other things taking place that I should be aware off?" Ginny squinted her eyes.

Hermione coughed and blew her nose again "a couple, yes" she said avoiding her friend's stare.

"Like?" Ginny approached eagerly.

"He also kissed me…" Hermione whispered looking around.

"And so did you a moment ago…" Ginny pressed her lips "Which I assume was to prove to the court that your decision was real and not staged?"

Hermione pursed her lips "I don't know Ginny…i honestly don't know" she said loosening up and fixing her skirt.

"Goodness gracious baby, what is going on here?" Ginny asked frowning and grabbing her upper arms.

"I don't know yet, and this isn't the best moment to talk about it" she said tilting her head towards Harry that was talking sternly at Ron.

"Aren't you coming this afternoon to get the rest of your things and Crookshanks?" Ginny smiled.

"Yes…now..shh" she pushed her friend as Harry and Ron returned.

"We had a good conversation with Ron here, and he wants to genially apologise for being such a jackass" Harry said crossing his arms.

Hermione turned to Ron that looked at her like a wet puppy "Well?" she pressed.

He wiped his upper lip and looked at the floor between her and Ginny "I am sorry Mione…" he mumbled.

"Not clear enough…" Harry spat.

"I am sorry Mione…" he said clearly and looked up at her. Hermione had to force herself not to giggle.

"And?" Harry added.

"…for being a jackass" Ron added and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"A major one at that..did you even realise what you accused me off Ron?" she asked with a deep frown.

"I am sorry Mione, I went completely over the line, but I just wanted to find the reason that would make you lumber yourself with that man" Ron said sounding truly regretful.

"Problem is, I don't see it quite the same way" she said rubbing her fingers nervously. She looked back at Severus and didn't see him at the elevators. Suddenly anxiety washed over her. Did he decide to leave without her? Ginny turned around also "What's up?" she asked.

"Where is he?" she said trying to find him.

-.-

Severus placed his hand on Lucius chest and stopped him before he entered the third free elevator "What are you doing here?" he asked looking towards the floor.

Lucius tried to push his hand off, but Severus grabbed his lapel and pulled him close "What are you doing here?" he repeated and looked up to his old friend.

"Am I not free to go anywhere I please? As I recall the ministry scratched off my criminal records, so is there a point that you have your hands on me police officer?" Lucius spat dismissively.

"I am not an auror Lucius and as such I won't treat you with the typicality they do. What are you doing here, especially in the company of her" he asked raising his eyes on Margot that was cowering next to Lucius.

"I have the right to be with whomever I please. You fired me, remember?" she said throwing her head back proudly.

"What were you both doing in this hearing?" he insisted not letting Lucius go even if the man was struggling to pull back.

"I was a suitor for that filthy mudblood, remember? I was indebted to attend. Which didn't go to waste, as I saw a most unexpected result today" Lucius grinned at him.

"You are becoming a little paranoid for that little whore of yours, aren't you Sev?" Margot smiled.

"With each word, you are stripping the little dignity you have left…" he said with detest.

"Dear Margot simply escorted me. You know I am a friend of her husband Thicknesse" Lucius said haughtily.

"And you know me for years, so I don't have to warn you of how nasty I can become…" his eyes blazed.

Lucius raised his brow "I really cannot understand why you are threatening me. I have done nothing wrong"

"You and I come from the same background…don't let me catch you near Granger again or I shall revisit my past with you as a Guinea pig " he commanded and pushed Lucius away.

Lucius straightened his coat and locked arms with Margot "Don't threaten me, and I won't threaten your little mudblood, alright?" his tongue rolled nastily on that last word and he entered the waiting elevator. When the doors closed behind him, Severus rubbed his forehead feeling tired to the bone. Tired of this day, of this week and of the days that were to come. Needing sometime alone to set things straight in his mind he moved towards the appointed place to find that Hermione was searching for him. With her were Potter and the Weasley girl.

"Where have you been?" she asked when he approached.

"Had something to take care off" he said with a typical smile.

Ginny was the one that broke the ice with her instinctive reactions. She offered him her hand "Hello professor, I am so glad to see you, and even happier to see you next to my best friend" she said without any reservations.

He pressed it reluctantly "Nice to see you Mrs. Weasley"

Harry's turn was next and he surprised Severus when he spoke "Thank you for taking care of my friend, master" he said offering his own hand also "you said in Kingsley's office that she was your friend too, and today you have proved it"

He pressed his lips "Always dedicated to assist brave people" he said offering Hermione a fleeting smile.

"I hope we didn't make you feel obliged to take her case so personally" Harry said.

"Dedication is not an obligation" he rejoined. He felt Hermione shift next to him and he looked at her. She was looking at her hands.

"wow" Ginny's mouth traced whilst she took Hermione's hand and pressed it. Silence fell upon them and he strangely didn't want to bother it. It felt welcome to his tired mind at that moment.

"Well, master I will see you at work tomorrow then" Harry said after a few more uncomfortable silent moments.

"Very well Mr. Potter" he replied briefly closing his eyes.

"Talk to you this afternoon Mione,bye" he said and hugged her.

"bye" she replied. Her friend hugged her tightly and whispered a few words into her ear, that no one else heard. Severus turned his head discreetly the other way.

"Thank you for everything you've done for her sir" Ginny said with a smile.

"My pleasure" he replied kindly.

The couple waved at Hermione and left them alone. The awkward silence drew between them one more time and he closed his eyes "Would you like us to leave?" he asked.

"yes, I would like to get some sleep if it's ok with you" she said not looking at him.

He pressed his lips bothered "Listen Hermione…" he begun and at the same time she spoke "I wanted to…". They looked at each other. She laughed and he pursed his lips inhaling.

"We do seem to be doing this a lot" he said and pointed at her "You go first"

"I wanted to tell you I am sorry about my attitude today. It was inexcusable" she looked up to him with hesitation.

"It's ok"

"I also wanted to thank you for helping me out today. I told you to petition…i don't know why I did it, but you took that opportunity and you pulled through for me at the end" she added and approached him a little.

He didn't want to come face to face with anymore conflicting emotions at that moment, so he kept his distance "you had many helping hands around"

"But I chose yours…" she said meaningfully.

He harked and rubbed his face "indeed"

"Severus, I think we need to talk about some things" she said touching his arm.

"What about?" he said resting his hand above hers.

"About what I told you this morning, and about my terrible behaviour" she said.

"This morning you spoke the truth about your feelings, which I find commendable. And my behaviour the previous night hadn't been appropriate. I overstepped many boundaries. As such I will ask for your forgiveness one more time and reassure you that it will never happen again" he said solemnly.

"The problem is, I am not sure what I want right now…" she said taking his arm and leading him at the elevator. He followed unable to stop a deep frown of confusion. What did this woman want from him? She wanted to be kissed or not, and what was he supposed to do about all this?

"You are not helping me very much with that response" he said shaking his head.

"I know, just please, I am asking for some time. Give me some time to set some things straight in my head" she said with a timid smile.

He flicked his shoulders "I don't own your time"

"As for this contract, Severus, you know how against I am to the marriage law. This has been rather hard on me, and you have made it a little bit easier, by stepping in at the right moment" she said as the elevator started moving.

"I wanted to assure that this contract means nothing Hermione. You have no more obligations towards me, than you had up till now. I do not intend to follow it's rules and neither do you, so you have nothing to worry about. You are quite safe from me" he said solemnly.

"I know I am" she said looking at him sweetly.

"My house is yours, and you can bring all your things there at your own pace. You will manage to find our personal spaces in the end I suppose" he said mostly to himself.

She laughed lightly "can I bring my cat? I have him at Harry's house"

He smirked "Of course".

"Can I get out of the house or is it under a cloaking charm?" she asked.

"Of course you can, I will encourage you to actually try to get to know the village around. They are quite pleasant and private people. Good company at times" he said thoughtfully.

"I will do that first thing tomorrow" she said happily.

"There is a small library in the village, a fruit market and several general stores. Don't expect any magical malls though. Just quiet country businesses" he opened the door for her and they exited at the lobby. The moment they stepped foot out a myriad of flashes exploded around them as dozens of reporters were waiting for them in front of a auror line at the reception. She instinctively embraced him and he slithered his arm around her shoulder protectively "Shit…" he hissed "Hold on" he told her and disapparated on the spot.

They apparated in his house and remained hugging for several moments. Hermione was the first one to break the silence "We are going to have problems with the reporters" she said.

"I had to find the most painless way to feed what happened to the press" he said sounding remorseful.

She looked up to him "it's ok, really. How could I make any complaints to you? You saved my life and offered me security, and all I did was make you risk losing your job"

"It was my decision to hide your trace, not yours" he said and removed his arms from her carefully.

"I asked you" she looked at him.

"I could have denied you" he rejoined and sat down at the stool.

"Why didn't you?" she asked sitting across from him.

He leaned his elbows upon the counter and placed his palms above his eyes "I told you I pay my debts"

She shook her head crossing her hands "I think you cannot admit to being a decent man Severus"

"And now you are my psychologist, great" he rebuked from the same position.

"I can try to be if you'd like me" she said and removed his hands gently.

He observed her closely "Today, you are dedicated to mess up my mind aren't you?" he asked not able to stop himself.

She pushed up and the upper half of her body leaned on the counter, brining her face only just inches from his "Not on purpose… I swear" she murmured close to his lips. He swallowed hearing his heart drumming in his ears as she closed the distance and enfolded his lower lip with hers in a wet kiss that send shivers down his back. He closed his eyes and frowned deeply. As Hermione let go of his lower lip and kissed the upper part his breath felt constricted. The palm of her hand moved under his hair and she drew him on her open mouth tasting him with her tongue. He opened his mouth and accepted her sensual intrusion, as his body wound tight. His hand traced the contours of her face as they tasted each other. Her breaths came sharper as he retaliated the explorative kiss without any restraints. Forgetting who he was devouring and with how much need. Not even caring that the same woman had told him this morning that she was not certain what she wanted out of him, he cupped her cheek and leaned her head to the side as he pushed his tongue to her mouth in all earnest, biting, sucking, exploring. Contrary to all expectancy she was not pulling back from him, but pushing herself up to his body and he didn't have to think twice as he pulled her from her arm and slowly her chest pressed on his. Every contradictory emotion since he woke up got washed away under her sweet taste and he felt his heart warming up and his stomach bubbling. His body woke up with violent totality and he had to physically stop himself from picking her up and pinning her to the couch with his weight in order to ravage her. As the kiss drew long moments of pleasure on both of them, he felt the need to put a stop to this, or else he would lose grip to all sense. Feeling his muscles flexing from the tension, he pushed her slowly away. He kept his eyes closed as his breath came quick upon her lips. She was panting "That was exquisite.." she said giving him a small peck.

He bit his lower lip and squeezed his eyes tight trying to control himself. She had brought him so close to losing it, with just one kiss "It was…" he said softly and forced himself to open his eyes.

She was looking at him with blazing eyes and her lips were slightly parted, wet and a little swollen from his intense sucking "…intense" he managed to say.

Her hand caressed his cheek gently "You look like a deer in headlights".

"You cannot blame me. This morning you told me to keep away from you, and four hours later you are taking that request back" he said feeling his throat dry and his heart still pounding. His lower body was throbbing from the fire she triggered in him.

She rubbed her forehead on his cheek "I am sorry Severus, I told you I was grey, neither black nor white"

"So you are experimenting in order to decide which colour to choose?" he asked caressing her hair tenderly.

"You make this sound like a lab experiment, and it's not…" she said kissing his cheek softly.

"Just remember that experimenting on me could cause irreversible damage at some point"

"What do you mean?" she asked pulling back. Her eyes were smiling.

"I may not be able to stop next time" he said and looked at her deeply.

She bit her lip and blushed "I might be willing to take that risk. You see I don't want to experiment with anyone else at this moment"

"Well, that's a great compliment" he said as he admired the brown tints of her expressive eyes.

"Just give me time…" she nudged him with her nose.

"I don't own your time, I told you before" he responded feeling his breath catching one more time.

She kissed him softly once and before he had the time to enjoy that tender touch she pulled back and sat on her stool again "So you want me to fix us some lunch?"

"No, I have to go to work" he said rubbing his face.

"You've lost half the day already. Didn't you take this day off?" she asked.

"No, I send men in the underworld. I need to attend to them" he replied with a small wince.

"Should I come along to fix my papers, or possibly start some basic training with you?" she asked eagerly.

"Not today" he shook his head dismissively "The weekend is coming. Let's rest for a couple of days and from the beginning of the new week, you will come meet the keepers officially"

She jumped off her stool and made around to him "I am going to Harry's this afternoon then. I want to see Ginny and bring back my cat and some of my things. Any new arrangements I have to know about?" she said placing her arms on his shoulders.

"No, my bedroom is still yours, and I will sleep in my study. Arrange the room to your own preferences" he replied slithering his heavy arm around her waist.

"Ok, I am off to take a bath and some sleep. I will try to fix you some dinner before I leave ok?" she leaned her head on his shoulder and rubbed his back.

"I don't require such a thing off of you" he said quietly.

"I want to" she said with another sweet smile and giving him a peck she went towards the bathroom "Be careful at work" she said in an after thought. Severus remained bemusing and after the door closed he raised both his brows and his mouth blew silently. He had a difficult situation that was thinly balanced in his hands. He was apprehensive but at the same time willing to get into this trouble with both feet. He just was not certain that she knew what she wanted, and if he was ready to put his heart on his sleeve for someone so indecisive. Time would only tell….

-.-