(A/N: I don't own HP. This chapter is a little bit shorter than usual, but I put everything I wanted into it. Next chapter will be longer. As always, enjoy, and Happy Reading!)

He is starting to look much healthier, Hermione thought to herself while she stole glances at Severus. It was true. He had lost that pale, sallow look. His face was fuller, he was a little tanner from spending so much time outside with Olivia, and a smile in place of a smirk did wonders for him.

"I think I am going to go to the salon today," Hermione told Snape as she buttered her toast.

"You're cutting your hair?" he inquired. He really hoped not. He loved her hair long. True, it could frizz up at the slightest sign of moisture, but he could not imagine her with short locks.

"I don't know, you don't think I should?" She hoped her search for his approval was not obvious. For some reason, she felt like fixing herself up a little more when he was around. Like today, for instance, she had put on skirt and even a touch of make-up. Snape had noticed how feminine, not to mention delicious, she looked. But back to the question of her hair.

He wanted to be honest and tell her no, but he didn't feel it was his place to have an opinion. "If you really want to," he said, but in a tone that implied otherwise.

"Well, I will just go and see if I can find something I like in one of the books. Do you mind taking care of Olivia for a few hours?"

"No, we'll be fine." Then he chuckled, "And we'll stay out of poison ivy."

"Thank you," she laughed.

Xxxxxxxxx

"I think its time to learn a new game," Snape told Olivia after the fourth game of candy land.

"Like what?" she asked, carefully putting the pieces back into the box. She had learned that when she was Severus, she had best pick up after herself. He was never mean to the child, but he was firm with his rules. He believed it was important for the child to learn some self-discipline. His parenting techniques were steadily developing.

"Do you know how to play checkers?" She shook her head. "Okay, I will teach you. It is a relatively simple game. After you master that I will teach you Wiz- I mean chess. That one is a bit more difficult," he told her. He had almost slipped up!

The child was a quick learner. After he beat her the first game, he realized that perhaps winning against a child was not the most important thing, so he let her win a game. By the fourth game she was really getting the hang of it.

"Did you hear that?" Olivia asked. "I think Miss Hermione is home."

"Hermione?" Snape called out. He was sure it was, given that you had to be Merlin himself to break through his wards.

"Yeah?" she called out nervously.

"Come and play checkers with us," Olivia called out. When Hermione stepped into the living room the little girl gave a squeal of delight. "Oooh, you look so pretty!"

Snape could only stare. Well it wasn't shorter, that's for sure. Hermione had gone through a transformation. Instead of the frizzy mass of curls, she had long, sleek spiral curls. She had colored her hair a few shades darker, and it looked amazing with her eyes. He gaped at her like a fish.

"You don't like it?" she asked him, disappointed. He continued to take her in with his eyes.

"You're beautiful," he whispered. He had not meant to say it out loud, but there it was. She turned bright red, and smiled.

"Well I just wanted a bit of a change," she replied, feeling more confident. Snape's eyes never left her face. She bit her lip, and something definitely passed between them.

"Can you make my hair pretty too?" Olivia asked, breaking the moment. Hermione laughed.

"You're hair is pretty! Look, now we match," she told her, referring to the hair color. "Why don't I braid your hair while you play?"

"Okay!"

Snape continued his silent thoughts. She is absolutely stunning. She is beautiful, smart, caring. And I am absolutely in love with her. He shocked himself with his admission. It's true. I am in love with Hermione Granger.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Snape spent the afternoon very preoccupied, but when it came time to go to Voldemort's side, he stored every thought and feeling into the back of his mind. He could sense something was going to happen, he just could not put his finger on it.

"WHERE IS EVANDALE?" Voldemort shouted. Well, more like hissed.

John Evandale had been given the special assignment to spy from inside the ministry. He was working as a "custodian" there, much to his dislike, to gain entrance into off limit areas, and overhear as much information as possible. The meeting had started over an hour ago, and he was still missing. Fifteen minutes later he finally arrived, but there was something strange about him. His eyes looked glazed over. He didn't even flinch when the dark lord approached him, venomous.

"WHEN I SUMMON YOU, I EXPTECT YOU HERE IMMEDIATELY!" he roared.

Evandale nodded and said spoke in a strange voice. "Forgive me lord, I was detained."

"That is your excuse?" Voldemort seethed. "Perhaps you do not comprehend the extent of my displeasure. Perhaps a lesson needs to be learned." He raised is wand, but before he could strike, a spark of light flew at the crowd and a death eater fell to the floor.

"IT'S AN AMBUSH!" Someone cried. The death eaters turned to run.

"Stand your ground!" Voldemort ordered, as an army of Aurors and other trained volunteers came at the band of death eaters. Snape realized why he had been acting so strange; he was under the Imperius curse. Severus had warned the order he was a spy. Someone, most likely Moody, had captured him, put him under the curse, and ordered him to take them to the meeting and take down the wards. It was brilliant, but also very dangerous. He just hoped Harry Potter was prepared for this.

Curses were being thrown left and right, narrowly missing Severus. The order knew not to attack him, but it was hard to keep track of who he was when he was wearing the same robes as everyone else. Severus made his was to the back and was picking off stray death eaters. He did not want to reveal he was a spy until absolutely necessary.

Voldemort was in the center of a ring of death eaters set on protecting him. If they had not and he had survived, they would have been dead anyway.

"Kill the muggle-lovers, but Potter is mine!" Voldemort shouted.

"I'm right here Tom!" Harry bellowed. Voldemort's eyes narrowed at the use of his name. The battle continued on, but a path was made between Harry and Voldemort. Snape cautiously made is way over to them.

"I'm going to dice you to pieces, boy!" Voldemort threatened.

"Its over, Tom Riddle," he said in a low voice.

"Stop calling me that!" Voldemort Shrieked. "Did your precious Dumbledore teach you that? Did you want to be just like your favorite professor? Well don't worry, you will. You will end up just like him. DEAD! Slow and painfully. By the time I am done with you, you will be begging me to kill you," he said in an insane rant.

The mention of Dumbledore put both Harry and Snape in a rage. Harry charged at him, wand out. Voldemort just smiled and waited, when he thought he had him right where he wanted he screamed "sectumsempra" and shot the curse in Harry's direction. He thought Snape would enjoy seeing his curse used on Harry. What he did not expect was for Severus to jump in front of him and take the curse. He felt a hot sting across his abdomen, and the warm sensation of blood. He fell to the floor, and the world faded to darkness.

(A/N: Oh's no's! And his own curse too! What's gonna happen next? Well that is for me to know, and you to find out next chapter. It should only be a day or two before I post again, so worry not. Please Review. They help gage how much you are into the story. If I know you are interested, I try to update faster so you aren't left waiting. You guys are so great!")