A/N: I'm sooo sorry it's taken me so long to post. I had trouble writing this chapter. I am back in the flow of things and have the next two chapters written so they will be posted a week apart. Thank you for all the reviews that you have sent me and also to everyone that continues to read. Knowing this is still read, makes me continue to write it.

Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: Sixth Year

As they were told, Hermione and Severus arrived two days early at Hogwarts. They were greeted at the main entrance to the castle by Minerva who brought Hermione into a hug.

"How are you Kitten?"

"I'm good Mom."

Minerva smiled. "What happened? You're glowing."

Hermione smiled widely. "We'll have a girls talk later."

"Sounds good to me."

Hermione nodded and hugged her mother again. "I missed you," she whispered.

"I missed you too," Minerva whispered back and tightened her hold for a moment before letting Hermione go. "What are planning on doing today?"

Hermione shrugged. "I've already gotten everything for the school year and I've not got any school work to do any all that has been checked over by Severus."

Minerva nodded. "That doesn't surprise me."

"Why don't you go and get yourself settled."

Hermione nodded and looked over at Severus. He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Go ahead up to your room. I just want to speak to you mother for a minute. I'll be up soon."

"Okay. I'll wait for you in the living room."

Severus nodded and they briefly kissed before Hermione turned and all but ran up the stairs to the rooms that she shared with her mother.

"You wanted a word?"

Severus nodded. "I'd like to ask Hermione to move in with me in my chambers."

Minerva nodded. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because I would like you permission so I don't go against what you want."

Minerva nodded again. "Then I give you permission to ask her. And thank you for thinking about me Severus."

"You're Hermione's mother and you're always going to be a part of her life. I know she would prefer for us to get along than not."

"You're right Severus."

Less than fifteen minutes later, Hermione was joined in the living room by both Severus and Minerva. She stood and hugged her mother once more. There was something worrying her mother and she was worried about her. It wasn't very often her mother looked constantly worried about anything that didn't pertain to her. Hermione sat back down on the sofa and Severus joined her. She leaned into him and smiled. Her mother sat in her fathers chair by the fire and leaned back, her eyes closed.

"Mom, are you okay?"

"I'm fine honey," she whispered. "I do believe Severus has something to ask you though."

Hermione looked at him. "Severus?"

"We'll talk about it later, darling. I'm going to go and arrange a few things; you stay here and talk to your mother."

"Okay." They kissed briefly before Severus headed out.

Hermione went and sat in front of her mother's chair and rested her hands on her knees. "Speak to me Mom."

Minerva opened her eyes and looked at her daughter, thinking about how much she was going to tell her. Finally, she decided to tell her something, just to try and make herself feel a little better. She hated it when Hermione saw her down. "Albus still hasn't returned from wherever it is that he went. I've been left in charge of the school until he gets back as Natasha is too emotional to hold the wards."

"You shouldn't be holding them either Mom!"

"I am not having any problems at the moment, Hermione."

"To hell you aren't. I can read you better than any one and I can guaranty that when Dad sees you later, that he will tell you the same thing; give the damn wards to Filius. You're going to make yourself ill."

"Hermione, please, I'm fine."

Hermione looked at her mother disapprovingly. "I'll let Dad talk some sense into you tonight."

"Will I be seeing you later?"

"If you don't then you know where I will be and I'll talk to Dad later. If you want me up here, you just have to ask, Mom."

Minerva nodded and stayed still as her daughter pressed a kiss to her forehead and left to find her lover. Minerva sighed and put her head in her hands. She knew her daughter was right, but she had promised Albus that she would be the headmistress of Hogwarts while he was away and if anything were to happen to him, then she would take his place. And that meant having the wards as well as the responsibilities.

~0~0~

Down in Severus' rooms, Hermione was snuggled close to Severus on the sofa in front of the blazing fire. She was worried about her mother, but she was happy that she was finally with Severus. Their relationship had been physical since her seventeenth birthday and Hermione felt like her world wouldn't turn without Severus. Severus felt similarly to Hermione; he felt that he would not be able to live without Hermione. He wanted to propose to Hermione but was unsure how to do it or even if her mother would let him, the way she was feeling lately.

Later that night Hermione sat down with her father's portrait in her hands.

"Hello, kitten."

"Hi Dad."

"Are you okay?"

"On top of the moon."

"Ah, you and Severus moved on to the next level of your relationship."

Hermione nodded. "Mom doesn't know."

"I won't tell her. I know how protective she is of you."

Hermione nodded. "As happy as I am at the moment, I'm worried about Mom."

"Don't be."

"Why not?"

"Because you'll make yourself ill."

"I don't care! She's my mother!"

"Calm down Hermione."

"Talk to me Dad, please. I need to know she's okay."

"She's still recovering from the events of last year."

"There's more than that, Dad."

"Okay. I don't think she's very well. I think she's made herself sick worrying over Dumbledore, you and the school."

Hermione nodded. "Can you talk to her for me? Try and get her to see sense?"

"I'll try."

"Thank you."

Alan nodded. "Now, tell me some good news, how is your research going?"

"It's getting there. Severus has a book that I can look at tomorrow while he's with me. Hopefully that'll have a spell that we can use."

"Have you spoken to him about it?"

"Not yet. I promised him I'll speak to him about it tomorrow when he's here."

"Where is he now?"

"Supervising detentions."

"Figures."

"I know." Hermione yawned. "I'm going to go and try and get some sleep, Dad."

"Okay Kitten. Don't leave it so long next time."

"I won't, I promise. I'll speak to you before I go to bed tomorrow and let you know what I've got."

"Okay, sweetheart."

"Goodnight Dad."

"Goodnight Kitten."

Hermione kissed the frame and sat it down on her bedside table before curling up in the large king sized bed, facing her father who was quietly telling her stories of when her mother was still in school. She fell asleep listening to her father's voice. Something she'd never get tired of hearing.

Severus came home much later than what he was hoping and found Hermione curled up tightly under the sheets. He smiled lovingly at the sight and after going through his nightly routine, he joined her under the covers and gently pulled her into his arms. Hermione sighed and smiled in her sleep. Severus pressed a kiss to her crown and closed his eyes, content to have Hermione securely in his arms, fast asleep.

~0~0~

Severus came up behind Hermione and placed his hands on her shoulders and made small circles with his thumbs. "How's the research coming, love?" he whispered.

"It's slow, but I think I finally found what I need."

"Good." He pressed a kiss to her crown.

"How come you've not asked about my research?"

"Because I know that you'll tell me when you're ready."

Hermione nodded. "I'm ready now if you want to know." She paused. "I might need your help."

Severus sat down in the chair next to her and grabbed her free hand. "I'm all ears."

She smiled at him and nodded, taking a deep breath, she started: "A couple of years ago, Mom told me that she often wished that Dad was there with her. She said that she wanted nothing more than for her husband to be alive again, to help her through life." Hermione paused to wipe a tear away from her cheek. "I promised myself that I would find away to bring Dad back."

"What do you mean by back, love?"

"I looked into his death and asked him about it; he was hit by a curse and it may be possible to bring him back to life. I've been looking for three years for something, anything that will help me bring him back. I want him back, just as much as Mom wants him back, but if I don't find anything soon, I don't think I'll be able to carry on my research, I've had so many failures I don't think I'll be able to last another one." Tears had started falling down Hermione's cheeks and Severus brought her into his arms and held her tight.

"I have something that might help, and it's not the book you've been looking in."

Hermione nodded and watched as Severus got an old looking book from the very top shelf of his bookcase and handed it to her. "Look at page ten."

Hermione did as she was told and flipped straight to page ten. The answer she was looking for was starring her in the face. "Is this one of your books?"

"It is. I used that spell and potion to bring back my mother. She's dead now, was far to old to live any longer, but it works. Bring the person back to full health."

Hermione smiled at him and threw herself into his arms. "I love you Severus!"

"I love you to." He kissed her crown. "If you had told me all those years ago, you wouldn't have had to worry about anything and you're mother wouldn't be the way she is."

Hermione nodded. "I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"It's fine love. I know how it feels, wanting to keep something to yourself until you've succeeded."

Hermione nodded and relaxed into his arms. "You haven't by chance got any of this potion laying about have you?"

"Sorry love. You'll have to make it."

Hermione nodded. I could use the challenge."

"It's not a hard potion to make and I'll be with you when you make it."

Hermione nodded. "When can we start?"

"At the weekend. You need to rest before I even think about letting you make a potion."

Hermione nodded. "I guess I could use a good nights sleep."

"Why don't you go and speak to your father then your mother. I'll get the bedroom ready for the night."

"Okay Severus." They kissed lightly on the lips before Hermione turned and headed straight for her mother's chambers.

To Be Continued ...