Severus scowled at the door. He hadn't really expected Hermione to believe him, but — no: he couldn't think that way. What was done was done. For now, at least.
He let himself fall back down to the floor, with his back against the wall. He wrapped his arms around his legs, propping his chin up on them. He hadn't lied, but there was no way of proving that, and Hermione would never let him forget this.
Though his thoughts still haunted him, he did not walk away to sleep on the couch. Eventually, Severus simply allowed sleep to overtake him.
