A/N: Whoop, chapter 10, can't believe it! :D Thanks for the amazing reviews guys! I have most of the next chapter finished, so I hope I'll have it up for you by tomorrow :) Someone told me there were a few typos in the last chapter, so I'll try an fix it as soon as I can, but right now I really want to continue this and I'm quite busy in real life as well, so it might take a while... Anyway, let me know what you think! Enjoy! xxx :)

The next morning when Snape was on his way upstairs to go for breakfast, a voice called to him from a nearby portrait.

"Severus, my boy, may I have a word?"

The potions professor turned and put on an indifferent mask at seeing one of his former masters.

"What is it, Albus?"

"How are you, Severus? I have meant to talk to you for quite some time, but it seems to be nearly impossible to get a hold of you these days. It doesn't help that there are hardly any portraits down in the dungeons either."

Severus growled. "I am sure you are aware just why that is.", he replied coolly. Nosy portraits in his dungeons were the last thing he needed. It was hard enough to find a moment of peace as it was.

"Seeing as you finally found me, what is it you want?", Snape snarled at the former headmaster when he was met with silence and a pair of twinkling eyes.

"Who says I want anything else but catch up with an old friend?"

"You are the only person that dares to approach me before I had my first cup of coffee or tea in the morning, but even you aren't masochistic enough to stop me on my way to breakfast to simply catch up with me."

Dumbledore had the audacity to chuckle at him. Severus scowled in return, his eyes darkening with annoyance.

"Well, as it is, there is something I would like to talk to you about."

He gave him directions to an abandoned room at the far end of the castle asking him to meet him there after breakfast.

"I could have class you know.", he scoffed.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again – how on earth could he still do that, he was a bloody portrait – and then he just walked out of the frame and disappeared.

Snape sighed, hurriedly walking to the great hall, deciding that he would need coffee this morning.

oxoxoxoxo

Hermione had of course noticed that the potions professor arrived late for breakfast. He also looked as if he was in a bad mood already, if the brooding expression on his face was anything to go by. She was wondering what had happened and wished she could ask him, but she knew she wouldn't see him until later as she had potions last thing today.

Ever since last night she had had the nagging feeling that their relationship was changing and she was hoping that it would start to turn into a proper friendship. She needed someone in her life, someone she could rely on and she was secretly praying that Severus could be that person.

As Snape poured his coffee he noticed Hermione watching him and had to hide a smile. He raised an eyebrow causing her to blush and turn away. His stomach did the now familiar flick when he remembered her turning away in exactly the same way last night on the astronomy tower. He had looked at the memory over and over in the pensieve he had inherited from Dumbledore, unable to fully grasp what she had said to him. At the same time he rejoiced in the feeling of having done something right and he felt the sudden urge to hold her again. He knew his thoughts were on the border of inappropriateness, she was after all his student. If McGonagall had known just how they spent those extra classes she would have reeled, even though nothing out of order had happened. But she had always been very protecting of her Gryffindor Princess and he often had the feeling that after everything that had happened last year the headmistress sometimes still didn't fully trust him.

Still, not even Minerva McGonagall would be able to change that he had committed to helping Hermione. The young woman needed him and the comfort he could give her or so it seemed. As long as she wanted it he wouldn't deny her.

A horde of owls flew into the hall just then, breaking his train of thought. He observed how a white owl landed on the Gryffindor table in front of Hermione and he had the suspicion it belonged to Potter. He and the boy had made their peace after the war which didn't mean that he had developed a particular liking for him. He liked him even less when he noticed a frown appear on the curly haired witch's face.

She met his gaze and smiled shyly, than she got up and left. He wondered what was wrong, but was quickly distracted by the prospect of having to talk to Dumbledore. Now that the man was no more than a portrait he often brought out the worst in Snape, just like Potter did.

Sighing he took one last sip of coffee and left for the abandoned classroom, cloak billowing behind him.

oxoxoxoxo

Dumbledore was already waiting for him. The room was the same in which the mirror of Erised had once stood and he was surprised that it now held a frame. He was almost certain there hadn't been one before.

"Now, dear boy, I hope you are feeling a little better after your well-deserved cup of coffee. Or was it tea?"

Snape couldn't help roll his eyes. "Coffee."

Dumbledore chuckled.

"Now, I wanted to speak to you, because it came to my attention that you are giving extra-classes."

The potions professor looked at him. "If you know that much, I am sure the Headmistress has also given you all other necessary information.", he drawled.

"My, my, don't be offended, Severus. I only meant to ask how it came about that Miss Granger has suddenly shown so much interest in potions."

The dark wizard sighed. "She has always had an aptitude for the subject, Albus, as you are well aware. It simply came to my attention just how talented she actually is and as she also seemed in need of a challenge I offered to personally teach her."

"Hm." The former headmaster seemed pensive and Snape felt something cold run down his spine. When Albus Dumbledore looked like that he was at his most dangerous.

"My boy, has it occurred to you to ask Miss Granger to become your apprentice? I believe this world is in dire need of more potions masters, especially ones that are as qualified and passionate as you, don't you think?"

"I do not take on apprentices!", he snapped reflexively, even though the thought had actually crossed his mind, when he found Hermione brewing in his class room at night for the first time.

Dumbledore looked at him knowingly and smiled. "I am sure you could make an exception for someone as talented as Miss Granger. You are already giving her extra classes as it is. I believe the two of you would be a great match."

Severus' heart skipped a beat, praying that the old headmaster did not intend the double meaning in those words. Then again, his mentor had never been known to speak without prior thought. Could he possibly know what had happened on the astronomy tower last night? Not that it had been more than a hug, but his little speech about death wishes could have given away how much he cared about the young witch. Not that he cared in an inappropriate way. He was merely… Doing the right thing.

He sighed, looking at Dumbledore who seemed to notice his inner turmoil.

"Think about it, my boy. You have all year, after all."

With that he smiled and walked out of his frame, leaving the surly professor to sort out his thoughts.

Snape was reeling and badly wanted to hex someone, but he knew it was almost time for his first lesson of the day.

He left the room, quickly striding down to the dungeons, willing his thoughts to go away. They didn't of course, but at least they moved to the back of his mind.

oxoxoxoxo

After lunch Hermione walked by herself to her class of Defence against the Dark Arts. She dreaded the meal times, because she hated sitting on her own, not daring to talk to her friends, even though she had noticed them watching her, as if to make sure she was alright. The thought comforted her a bit, but hurt her at the same time, because it made her realise just how much she missed the company of Harry and Ron at dinner. She had always been able to rely on them to distract her from her studies for an hour or so and most importantly it had made her feel part of something. Now she was sitting alone, a constant reminder that the times of Ron stuffing his face across from her were long gone.

Walking into the DADA classroom she realised that it was her second most dreaded thing, just after the meals.

Professor Itana Cruz had taken on the cursed position of Defence Professor after the war. She was a strict teacher and her punishments for students who disobeyed were nearly as severe as those of Professor Snape. To say she was feared among the students would be wrong, but especially her NEWT class found that they disliked her a lot.

Hermione thought it was a bit stupid that she wouldn't let them have practice duels, even though that was the best way for them to learn how to use defensive spells. Not that they were learning many of those either. Professor Cruz was of the opinion that now that the war was over they didn't need to worry about Defence too much, so she taught them the bare minimum they needed to pass their NEWT's. That left the class frustrated, because all of them had made some battle experience during the war, most of them had also been part of the DA and all of them were hoping that after all they had been through they would be able to obtain an 'O' in the subject.

When they asked her to teach them a particular hex that could be very useful in a duel, she refused, telling them that it was too dangerous to consider for a practical exercise. One of the boys had cried out in frustration.

"We nearly died last year as it is, Professor, it's not like we don't know what we're doing!"

"The fact that you nearly died is even more of a reason not to let you take an unnecessary risk now and it definitely does not mean that you know what you are doing."

There were more cries of frustration.

That day they all had to write a 30 inch essay on 'Classroom Security'.

Following this Professor Cruz talked a lot about wizarding wars and Hermione received more than one verbal lashing for pointing out that DADA was indeed not the same as History of Magic.

Another day the whole class had to serve detention with Filch, because Ernie MacMillan had asked their teacher where she had been during the second Voldemort war.

The more the class' frustration grew the more often they received supplementary work or even detention. It also caused Hermione to grow more and more anxious. Every time Professor Cruz gave out to the class or talked to them like a group of ignorant children she felt her wand-hand twitch. It wasn't like her to feel the urge to hex someone, but the professor was certainly going on her nerves and it made her feel paranoid talking about the war again. It automatically caused her go back to the state of constant alert that she had acquired while she was on the run with Harry and Ron.

Today Professor Cruz seemed to be in a particularly foul mood. Her lank blond hair was tied up to a bun similar to the one the headmistress wore, just that it didn't have the same effect. The way Professor McGonagall wore it somehow added to her strict demeanour and forced students to immediately spring to attention and quieten down respectfully when she was around. When the DADA teacher pulled up her hair in the same way it made her look like a muggle secretary.

Hermione sat down at her desk next to Ernie and sighed when Cruz started a lecture about useful wards. Her annoyance grew, when the professor mixed up the use of two different wards and then mispronounced another one. At the end of the lesson Hermione was so angry that she raised her hand to interrupt her teacher. She had never been known to be disrespectful towards a professor and she still didn't like breaking rules, but the blond woman had a way to stop her from thinking about those things. Too much was simply too much.

"Professor, may I suggest that we practice putting up those wards and then try to break each other's? From my own experience I can say that one's wards will only get stronger when they are put to a practical test and-"

"How dare you tell me how to teach a class, Miss Granger!" The DADA professor was almost shrieking and everyone was staring at her.

"I will not have you question my teaching methods any longer, enough is enough! All of you will write a 30 inch essay on protective spells for tomorrow. Class dismissed. Not you, Miss Granger!"

Hermione had bent down to pick up her bag and as everyone else rushed out the door she slowly straightened up again.

"Yes, Professor?" Her face was void of emotion and she silently counted to ten to pull up the walls in her mind and keep her anger at bay.

"Miss Granger you are the most intolerable student I have met during my teaching career and I honestly don't understand why the headmistress and the rest of the staff think so highly of you."

Hermione didn't even flinch; she had listened to far worse over the years, especially in Snape's class.

"I truly believe that all the praise has gotten to your head, I cannot think of any other explanation for your utterly disrespectful behaviour. Do explain to me, Miss Granger, why you are insisting so much on a practical class? The war is over, surely you know that."

Hermione opened her mouth to answer, her anger slowly rising again, but the woman in front of her didn't give her a chance.

"But maybe that's why. You don't want the war to be over, I'm sure you liked all the attention you got from the media, because you were part of the Golden Trio. Harry Potter's female sidekick. You must miss feeling important. So now you have to make yourself important by pretending to know more about Defence against the Dark Arts than even your teacher, even though you actually don't have a clue."

That moment Hermione completely lost it. She felt backed into a corner again and there had just been one accusation too much.

"Do you think I spent my last year away from school on holidays, Professor?", she spat. Her hair that was down today began to frizz with her anger and magic bristled around her although she was completely unaware.

"I know what I say when I talk about wards that you can't even tell apart because I put them up every single day for an entire year! I know the war is over, but that doesn't mean that there isn't anything dangerous left out there, they haven't even caught all the remaining Death Eaters! What do you think will happen to us if we meet one of them out in the streets one day? How are we meant to defend ourselves if you don't even allow us to practice spells, because they are too dangerous?" Her voice took on a sarcastic tone at that remark.

"We survived a bloody war, Professor! Everyone that is in Hogwarts today fought for their lives last May! I bloody risked my life every year since I came to Hogwarts because I happened to be Harry Potter's best friend. I played real life wizard's chess, I was petrified by a basilisk, attacked by a troll and a werewolf, I was at the bottom of the black lake, in my fifth year I fought in the Department of Mysteries where a curse from Antonio Dolohov nearly killed me, I fought off the Death Eaters that invaded Hogwarts after Professor Dumbledore was murdered and last year I nearly died so many times I can't even count! I was eye to eye with Lord Voldemort and his damned snake Nagini and you don't even want to know what Bellatrix Lestrange did to me." She was practically hissing now, her magic almost visible in the air around her.

"I risked my life countless times and I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for some of the things I did."

"Miss Granger, reign your temper.", warned Cruz calmly.

"I will not and you will bloody well listen to me! I gave everything I had to end this war and I will never get back the things I sacrificed and you – you – someone who won't even tell us where she was when we watched our friends die, think I didn't want the war to be over? You think I want attention? For the record, Professor, all I ever wanted was to learn things and do well in my NEWT's , but that was before I was dragged into a war, because some megalomaniac wanted to kill my best friend!"

"Please calm down, Miss Granger. I am sorry for what you had to go through, but that is no excuse to behave the way you do."

"OF COURSE IT IS!", she screamed, unconsciously letting go of the magic that flared around her. A surge of raw power ran through the room. The windows rattled, chairs broke, a few jars burst into pieces and Professor Cruz was flung against the wall.

oxoxoxoxo

"Where is Miss Granger?", Snape asked his NEWT class when he found her chair empty.

"She's with Professor Cruz, Sir." Pavarti Patil said.

Snape frowned. "And why would that be, Miss Patil?"

"She told Professor Cruz we should practice using wards and the professor snapped at her. She dismissed us but ordered Hermione to stay, Sir."

McGonagall had mentioned before that the new DADA teacher had complained about Hermione and he suddenly had a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Well, I think I should inform Professor Cruz that she has no right to prevent students from being on time for my class.", he drawled.

"Open your books on page two-nine-three and take notes on antidotes. If the work isn't done properly there'll be detention for all of you."

With that he rushed out of the classroom, his cloak flattering angrily behind him. Taking a few short cuts he was able to reach the DADA classroom within a few minutes. When he rounded the corner he heard Hermione shout at Cruz. The door was locked and warded. He reached it and just as he started to break the spells he felt a surge of magic from inside. Feeling panic rise inside him he blast the door open and looked wide eyed at the scene before him.

oxoxoxoxo

Hermione was still too angry to care when she flung her professor across the classroom, even though she was surprised by the force of the magic that erupted from her.

Cruz recovered quickly and jumped up, her wand drawn. She didn't notice Snape in the room and neither did Hermione as she watched her teacher who looked as if she was about to hex her.

"How dare you use wandless magic on me!? You are not even allowed to know how to do that!"

Just then she noticed Snape. "This girl is dangerous, Severus! We must take her to Minerva immediately; I believe she suffers from severe psychological damage."

The young Gryffindor went to turn her back and move over to Severus for protection when the DADA professor directed her wand at her.

"Don't move!", she shrieked, sending a bunch of ropes flying towards Hermione.

Hermione's body had already been on alert and with the agility of a person that has survived a war she pulled her own wand and silently cast a Diffindo on the rope.

At the same time Severus had thrown up a shield and another spell that rooted his colleague to the spot.

"Now I believe it is time to call the headmistress.", Severus whispered in an icy tone.

He sent out his patronus to alert Minerva and then turned to Hermione who was shaking all over.

Her eyes met his black ones and she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but knew she couldn't.

He softly took her arm and guided her outside.

"Are you okay?", he asked softly, pushing a few stray curls out of her face.

She shook her head, her brown eyes filled with tears.

"I'm so sorry.", she whispered, hanging her head. "I shouldn't have spoken to a professor like that, but… you should have heard the things she said to me. She said she thought I didn't want the war to end! I just… I just lost it." Finally looking at him he saw the panic in her eyes.

"Will I be expelled?"

He shook his head and squeezed her arm reassuringly. Opening his mouth to say something, he was interrupted when Minerva arrived.

"Severus, is everything alright?"

Snape turned around to look at the headmistress and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not, Minerva."

He stepped aside and revealed Hermione's shaking form behind him, before pointing to the classroom in which Professor Cruz was swearing and shouting because she couldn't move.

McGonagall raised an eyebrow and entered the devastated classroom.

oxoxoxoxo

Ten minutes later they were all sitting in the headmistress' office. Hermione was holding a cup of tea in her still shaking hands. She had magically exhausted herself, even though she didn't care. She just wanted to know if they were going to throw her out.

Snape was standing close behind her, giving her all the comfort he could without taking her into his arms. Professor Cruz was staring daggers at them from another corner of the room and McGonagall was viewing the memories of the two parties in her personal pensieve, because Hermione had refused to repeat anything Cruz had said to her.

Finally Minerva emerged from the memories and looked around the room, lips pressed together in a thin line.

"Miss Granger, I am glad to tell you that I don't deem it necessary to expel you. However I will speak to you tomorrow. Now you should have a rest. Severus, would you please take her to her chambers?"

Snape nodded and did as he was told. Hermione followed him with a simple "Thank you" towards her former Head of House.

Minerva smiled as she watched the two of them leave. She had of course spoken to Albus and both agreed that for some reason or another the surly wizard had come to care for the young witch and his protective stance behind her didn't do anything to contradict that observation.