Hermione stirred and laid in bed for a moment as she remembered where she was. The events of earlier that night came back to her and she sighed sleepily. She was so tired of feeling the way that she was constantly feeling. She just wanted a little bit of peace. She just hoped that she would be able to find some eventually. She wanted to remember what it felt like to be Hermione Granger. It was getting harder and harder to remember who she had been. The thoughts and feelings that she had before all of this seemed strange to her. So much was different. She was so different. Maybe that wasn't entirely a bad thing. The process in which this transformation had happened was a bad thing, growing up, however, was inevitable.

She suddenly noticed something tickling her hand and she looked over to see Snape's head resting on the bed and partially on her hand. She imagined that he must be quite uncomfortable. He was still sitting in the chair but he had slumped forward so that his upper body was resting on the edge of the bed. His hair was surprisingly softer than one would think but it was still tickling her hand. She found herself smiling as she watched him sleep. He looked rather peaceful. She laid there for a few moments studying him and wondering random things about him. If he was as lonely as she sometimes felt. She allowed herself to think about his life and for the first time she realized how desolate it seemed. She couldn't imagine being so alone, with no friends, or no family.

Hermione had to admit that she didn't know very much about his private life. He might have friends and confidantes. She just couldn't imagine it. Dumbledore seemed to be the closest thing to a friend that he had. In that moment she felt very sorry for him. Earlier he had shown her a kindness that had surprised and confused her. She wanted to repay him for that. Somewhere between falling asleep and waking up she had forgiven him for whatever part he had played in the events that had transpired in the chamber. In truth, he was just as much a victim as she was. He had saved her from even more torture. Neither one of them could take back what had happened but he had saved her from what could have been far worse. He had stayed at the castle and looked after her when he really didn't have to. He had let her help him with his potion's project, and most of all, quite possibly most importantly, she got the sense that he understood her. At that moment he felt like the only one.

She moved her hand and she watched as he stirred and then woke up. Hermione looked at him and felt the urge to smile. The puzzlement in his eyes as he woke up looking at her was endearing. He seemed to have realized that he was a little bit too close to her so he moved away, leaning back in the chair.

"Good morning, or night. I'm not sure what time it is," Hermione said as she sat up in the bed.

Snape turned and pointed to a grandfather clock in the corner. It was six o'clock. It was hard to tell whether it was daytime or nighttime from the dungeons but she assumed they hadn't slept for nearly a full day so it was probably evening. She was getting rather hungry but she was also quite comfortable where she was. The room was cool and it made the contrast of being under the warm blankets that much nicer. Although she supposed it was rude not to give him his room, and his bed ,back.

Hermione looked over at him and found him watching her with a thoughtful look on his face.

"May I ask you a question?" he asked.

"Yes." Hermione wasn't looking forward to the question or giving an answer. Whenever Snape had something to ask her very rarely did it turn out to be something good.

"What happened in the chamber right before I appeared?" The look on his face was serious yet contemplative at the same time. She wondered why it mattered. She tried to think back to that night but her mind was protesting. She didn't want to remember, not even if she thought that he would understand. It felt like a barrier had come down between them earlier that morning. She didn't know if it was on her end or his. Something just felt different. It was a good different though. She forced her mind to skim through the memories, refusing to let it linger on any one thing.

"I remember Lucius." It was hard for her to admit that but she did. He knew the worse. There was nothing else worth keeping from him. "Afterwards I think I heard Voldemort speak maybe? Or was it Lucius? I don't remember. The last think that I recall is the smell of death and then everything after that is a blank. I woke up here at Hogwarts."

Snape seemed to be weighing her statement but whatever conclusions he was drawing he seemed content to keep to himself. She was content to let him.

It was time to move on.

Severus watched her and again it occurred to him how strange it was to have someone else sitting in his bed. He wasn't sure that had ever happened before and it was unnerving him for some reason. This was a sort of sacred space to him and that he had let her in made him feel odd inside. She did that to him quite a bit. One moment he cared and the next he didn't. One moment he wanted to stay at Hogwarts and look after her and the next he was ready to ship her off to St. Mungos. She constantly made him second guess himself and it drove him insane. Anyway, he believed her. He wasn't sure why but he did. The mystery of Voldemort's sudden interest in her was simply going to remain a mystery just a little longer. If she couldn't tell him what had happened he would have to find a way to discover it on his own.

"Would you like to go down to the Great Hall for dinner?" he asked. Food would definitely make him feel a little better. His whole body was sore and he was not looking forward to moving from his post in the chair but it had to be done eventually.

"I am a bit hungry," she admitted.

"I'm going to get cleaned up and then I'll join you in a few minutes." He watched as she got out of the bed and then made her way across the room. She stopped as she reached the door and turned back towards him.

"Professor Snape?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"I just wanted you to know that I am grateful to you and Dumbledore for letting me stay here. I know I haven't spent much time saying it or showing it. This whole situation has... it's had my mind elsewhere but I would like you to know that I am very thankful for all that you have done for me." With that she disappeared out the door and left him with a thoughtful look on his face.

Severus had to admit that she'd just impressed him. She had spent this whole time being self-absorbed and blaming everyone for what had happened to her. Not that she didn't have that right. He fully understood that she wanted someone to blame for what had happened to her, unfortunately that blame frequently seemed to have fallen to him. He hoped that she was beginning to come to terms with what had happened. He still didn't know what he was supposed to do about her. As far as he was concerned she was ready to leave Hogwarts. The reason she was here in the first place was to make sure that she was physically and mentally well. Her physical wounds had healed two weeks ago. Mentally he believed that she was sound. She had worried him that first week but now she seemed better.

Perhaps it was time to send her to the Weasley's at the Burrow. True, it might not be safest place for her if Voldemort really was after her, and it seemed that he was, but she couldn't stay with him in the castle for the rest of the summer. Perhaps Grimwauld Place would suffice until they could figure out what it was that Voldemort wanted from her.

With quite a bit of moaning and groaning Severus got up from his chair and made his way to the restroom. He looked in the mirror and ran his fingers through his hair. The only evidence left from his injured lip was a small cut that was already nearly healed. After a quick shower Severus dressed in clean robes, grabbed a packet of herbs, and then made his way down to the Great Hall.

Hermione hadn't made it down yet so he assumed that she had decided to get cleaned up as well. There was an issue of the Daily Prophet sitting at the table so Severus grabbed it and skimmed through it. There was nothing of extreme interest but he entertained himself by reading a few articles. He heard footsteps and he looked up to see that she had entered the Hall. She walked over to the table and sat down across from him. Summoned by their presence, food appeared on the table before them.

The first thing Severus grabbed was a tea cup that he filled with hot water. He then took the packet of herbs that he had put in his pocket and emptied the contents into the cup. With four painful gulps the concoction disappeared down his throat. His face must have showed how unpleasant it had tasted.

"What was that?" Hermione asked as she looked at him worriedly.

"Just something to ease the pain. I'm a little sore."

"Well, if you would have taken the bed like I had suggested..."

"I was trying to be a gentleman," he said dryly.

"I appreciate it. I don't think I've ever had a man share his bed with me." Severus felt his face going red. He suddenly felt very awkward and he didn't quite know what to say.

"I've been thinking about something so I thought I would bring it up," she said as she poured herself a glass of juice and took a sip.

"Yes?" Severus asked wondering what it could be. He was wondering if she wanted to leave. He wouldn't really blame her. There wasn't much to do here at the castle when school wasn't in session. Truthfully it had to be boring for her. She probably missed her friends and he couldn't fault her for that.

"I miss my wand. At first I thought that I never wanted to have one again, not after what happened, but it's become such an extension of who I am. I feel incomplete without it. So, I was hoping that tomorrow we could go to Diagon Alley so that I can get a new one."

Severus could tell that it was taking a lot for her to ask. He didn't know if it was because she felt as if she was imposing on him or she was afraid to actually leave the safety of Hogwarts. Either way it was too much of a risk to let her leave. At least until he found out why Voldemort wanted her.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think that's possible at the moment," he said as he piled food into his mouth. He was hoping that she would let that be the end of it but he knew better. This was Hermione Granger.

"Why isn't it possible? I've been stuck here for two weeks. Not that I dislike it here, but it would be nice to get out for an afternoon."

"It's not possible."

"Can I have a reason?"

Severus sighed, seeing no other way around it but to tell her the truth.

"Because the Dark Lord has taken an interest in you since you escaped him and is intent on finding you. At this moment you are at the top of his list, even above Potter."

"Why? Why does he want me?"

"I have no idea."

Hermione looked at him and he could see her processing it, see the fear in her eyes. He wished that he had put it more gently. She was silent for the rest of the meal and he kept trying to think up points of conversation, each time he failed, so he accepted the silence and finished his meal. When he was done he got up, intent on going back to his room for a nap in his bed.

"I have an idea," she said before he could get more than a foot away from the table.

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