FINALLY! I am so sorry that this took me so long to upload, and I know that no matter how many excuses I come up with it will never be enough. You have the right to be angry at me, I will try super duper hard to upload chapter eleven tonight as well.

CHAPTER

TEN

"Severus, I need to ask you of something that concerns me?" Lucius moved to the center of the room and was standing there rigidly ringing his hands.

"What is it?" He drawled.

"That girl, the mudblood," Severus, who had been walking to the front of the classroom, wheeled around and glared at Lucius.

"Don't you dare call her that." He hissed in a low menacing voice.

"So my suspicions are confirmed, you care for the girl. What a pity," he shook his head, "you really were my friend Severus, I don't want this to happen, mind you, but it must." He apparated from the room. Severus stared angrily at the spot where he stood. What was he going to do to Hermione? Without checking the draught Severus apparated straight to his quarters, but just as he suspected he was already gone, and with him, Hermione. Her book, overturned, on the floor between the twin's room and the chair she had been sitting on. She must have gone to protect them. They were screaming in their cribs, the stars on the ceiling zooming across room. They quieted when they spotted Severus walk into the room.

"Mum." Lily demanded.

"Mum is away right now." He tried to soothe them.

"Scream." Luke insisted.

"She screamed?" Severus asked.

"Mafoy!" Lily yelled, in a voice that sounded startlingly similar to Hermione's.

"Malfoy." Severus corrected. That bastard, how dare he take her. Why is my family in so much danger? He shook his head, he knew the answer to his question.

Oh God, the twins, he was going to hurt them, I need to save them, protect them, keep them safe. If only I could wake up. OPEN YOUR DAMN EYES HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER! Hermione struggled to open her eyes. She came to in a dark, dank basement. Draco's leering face looming in front of her blurry vision. She struggled at the bonds that held her to the stone wall; her mouth was unable to open, a simple silencing charm, she assumed

"Look who's finally waking up…too much sleep is not good for you…speaking of sleep, how's Professor Snape? I suppose that's the only way a Gryffindor could get an Outstanding in his class." He snickered. She loosened a shoe off of her foot and lobbed it at him when he wasn't looking, it hit him in the back of the head with a dull thud. He turned around and started marching towards her.

"Why you foul mudblo-

"Now Draco, I sent you down here to keep an eye on her, not insult her. She is very skilled with wandless magic and we really don't need her anger fueling that, now do we?" Lucius walked down the stairs. Draco said nothing as he stood erect and glared at Hermione, Lucius told him to leave and the sharp featured boy glared at Hermione as he exited the room.

"Now, Miss Granger, if I allow you to talk will you refrain from polluting the air with obscenities?" He eyed her carefully. She stared at him. Why is he being nice? She rolled her eyes and gave a swift nod. He moved his hand and suddenly she could open her mouth again.

"Why am I here? Why on Earth are you being civil, to me of all people?" She pulled at her bonds again.

"I have something important that needs to be done. I need someone that people trust," he replied, "and you, Miss Granger, are very trusted."

"That doesn't explain why you are being nice, why don't you just torture me until I comply?" She spat.

"Mudbloods, girl, are like filthy animals, they can be trained, they can be useful," he sneered, "therefore, I do not need to beat mercilessly, unless, of course, you disrespect or disobey me." He finished.

"You're going to beat me if I don't do what you say?" He shook his head, she let out a sigh of relief.

"No, no, Narcissa would not be happy if I got blood on the floor, even with magic, it's hard to clean. However, I'm sure I have plenty of friends who wouldn't mind taking advantage of your body." A repulsive sneer crossed over his face.

"No wonder Draco is a lying, evil, greedy snake, with a father like you!" She growled.

"I'm sure Severus will be here any moment, so to allow him to play knight, I should be off, we'll be in touch Miss Granger." He nodded his head in mock respect in her direction.

He turned around and started for the stairs.

"You are far worse than any mudblood!" She hissed. Lucius rounded around and grabbed her by the throat pushing her further against the wall. She sputtered as he stared into her eyes. The snake charm around her neck came alive, opened its mouth and sunk it's fangs into Lucius's hand. The man let out a bellow, released her neck and fell to the ground. There was a loud crack and Severus was standing next to Hermione. He pulled out his wand aimed it at her hands. She fell away from the wall into his open arms.

"I'm sorry." He whispered before apparating them to Hogwarts.

After arriving back to their quarters, Severus cast previously unnecessary wards upon his rooms, Lucius was no longer a friend, and he was not able to apparate, floo, or even walk into the rooms. Hermione paced the room slowly.

"I think I'm going to go to the library." She said suddenly.

"Why?" He looked up at her exhaustedly from his place on the sofa.

"I'm falling behind with my school work." She answered, he sighed.

"I'll come with you." He pocketed his wand.

"You will not!" she glared at him. He looked taken aback. "Severus, you certainly will not follow me around like a guard dog. I will not be frightened in my own school. I will not walk around cowering like a child." She said sternly. He shook his head.

"You foolish Chit of a woman, do not allow your pride to put you in danger." He growled.

"Please do not make me a prisoner in my own home." She pleaded.

"I don't want to lose you, really we shouldn't be together at all, you and the children are not safe with me." He collapsed into a chair, his head in his hands. She walked over to him.

"Severus, without an 'us' there are no children, they aren't born yet." She sighed.

"Maybe it would be better that way." He whispered.

"Don't you dare take my children away from me." She said firmly. He looked up at her.

"You really love them?"

"Don't you?" She stared down at him in disbelief.

"Yes, I think it would be safer, for you, if we didn't get together, that doesn't mean I don't love our children." He tried to gauge her reaction, but her face was impassive.

Suddenly she was on him, straddling his lap, kissing him, her arms around her neck.

"No. No, I am not letting you go, or the children." She snapped before she crushed his lips with hers. Severus was entirely too shocked to do much more than kiss her back. He pulled away after she started unbuttoning his shirt.

"What are you doing Hermione?" He stared into her eyes.

"What does it look like I am doing? You are not a stupid man, use your common sense." She smirked. He narrowed his eyes.

"I haven't changed my mind about waiting until after you've graduated." He insisted. She pouted.

"Why; I am of age…and I am plenty mature." She leaned back, still on his lap.

"You are of age technically, and I did not say you were not mature." He replied. She stood up angrily.

"Bloody Hell Severus! Must you always be so proper and gentlemanly? You do nothing more than chaste kisses…and the occasional kiss that leaves me with a very strong desire to rip your clothes off!" She was pacing again. He watched her with his eyebrows raised, speechless.

"It's not approp-"

"To Hell with being bloody appropriate! For Merlin's sake, I live with you, we're raising our children together! How is that appropriate?" She asked forcefully.

"We have no choice in the matter, do you want Luke and Lily to lose their magic because their parents were foolishly stubborn?" He was standing now, also angry. She looked guiltily at the floor and his expression softened.

"Hermione, it's late, you've been through a lot today, why don't you head to bed. I'll go get the twins from Poppy." He said kissing her forehead. She sighed and turned around to head to her room.

"Goodnight Hermione." He said, she stopped in her tracks.

"Goodnight Severus." She started to her room again. After picking up the twins and settling them into bed, he placed extra wards on his quarter before leaving.

Hermione poked her head out of her bedroom door. The living room was silent except for the quiet humming of lullabies playing in the nursery. She stepped out of her room. After crossing the living room she knocked on Severus's door.

"Severus," She called lightly. No answer. "Severus, I'm sorry I keep bringing this up, I know why you're saying what you are saying, it's just…" She trailed off gently pushing open his door. She sighed upon finding his room empty, she walked over to his bed.

"I know you're mad, but you really don't have to run away." She crawled into the bed and fell asleep.

Several hours later, Severus walked into his living room holding an elegantly silver-wrapped box. He walked to his room and after setting the box in his trunk he shed his cloak, shoes, socks, and shirt. He stood in the center of his room, staring at the mark on his arm. It stayed dormant, ever since Voldemort had been killed the damned mark stay still, it didn't hurt, but every day it reminded him of what he was, and it couldn't be removed. He sighed, kicked off his pants, walked over to and collapsed into his bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, Severus awoke contently warm. He sighed and wrapped his arms tighter around the warm being in his arms. He opened his eyes and stared down at the face that rested on his chest. Hermione's warm breath sailed across his chest and he shivered. Her eyes fluttered, then opened, she looked sleepily up at him. A smile crossed her face.

"Good morning Severus." She chirped.

"What are you doing in my bed?" He asked.

"Sleeping, of course." She said brightly.

"Clearly, how did you get here, and when?"

"Too many questions, and so early in the morning." She laughed and rolled off his chest. He gasped at the cold air that assaulted his skin where she had been.

"I came in here last night, when you were gone, by the way, where did you go?" She asked as she slipped out of bed, padded to the center of the room and magically twisted her hair into a bun.

"That is a surprise my dear." He stood as well, she hummed in response. "I'm sorry about last night." She whispered. He shook his head and pulled her closer to him. She breathed on his bare chest, running a finger nail over his skin.

"It doesn't matter now." He said kissing the top of his head. She nodded.

"When are we leaving for the Manor?" She asked.

"As soon as I take the draught to Poppy." He answered. "I should do that now, maybe after I take a shower." He ran his hand lazily over his face where stubble had grown on his chin.

"And breakfast." She stated.

"What?"

"You can take her the draught after you shower and eat breakfast." She replied. He stared at her.

"You can cook?" He asked, she rolled her eyes and pushed him towards the bathroom.

"Yes, dear, now go." She shoved him unceremoniously into the bathroom and he turned around just to see her pull the door shut. She stood outside the door and snickered, before walking away to go wake up the twins.