AN sorry for the delay I am having trouble getting this story beta'd for another site. Hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 11

Severus took his place at the Head Table and leaned over to Remus and asked if he could stop by his quarters later on that he had a new potions experiment that needed tested. Remus didn't question the request and agreed. McGonagall then said to the entire staff,

"I am pleased to announce that Miss Granger has accepted the internship with Professor Flitwick. When you see her, offer your congratulations. She is now a part of the staff." McGonagall said.

Severus ate a little from his plate and after about fifteen minutes, he left to return to the infirmary. He knew that Hermione would be asleep until sometime tomorrow morning. He knew that she would not know that he was there with her. But he wanted to stay with her anyway. He would stick with their decision to not tell of their marriage. He knew that Poppy had found her wedding rings when she looked for any spells. She could detect the invisibility spell. There was nothing to be done about it.

Severus watched as his in-laws stroked Hermione's hands and wiped the stray locks from her face. He approached them and took the other seat that McGonagall had conjured and moved it from the immediate area to wait till they were ready to leave. He tried not to show that he was concerned for her while he sat there but George and Charlotte knew better when they had seen the look on his face as he came through the floo in their home.

They could tell that even sitting in there was affecting him even though he was acting like none of this had anything to do with him. They knew that he had saved their little girl and that he really did love her. They could also see that he no longer cared what the rest of the castle thought of his relationship and that he longed to be by her side even though he tried to hide it all.

They stood and looked to Severus to go. He stood and glanced at Hermione then showed them down to her quarters. He used his professor password to get into the room and sat down with them in on the couch leaving them the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace. They sat down and he handed them the album that he had made for Hermione. He watched them as they looked through the book.

"Severus is there any way that we could get a copy of this. We would really like one." Charlotte said.

"With magic, anything is possible." He said as he took the book then waved his wand and a second appeared next to the original. He handed them the copy and replaced the original on her bookshelf.

"How is she adjusting to married life?" George asked.

"She is doing well. She has moved all of her clothing into my quarters in the dungeons but keeps her rooms here so the students have a room of neutral ground to meet her in. She has kept her status as Head Girl."

"The other Professor, I think that her name is McGonagall said that they found her rings. She questioned us and we did not say anything but she was rather adamant about revealing your secrets." Charlotte said.

"I have known that woman twenty se ven years. She considers a secret to be a good challenge and loves to solve all challenges. But it has left her rather nosy. I told her Saturday that I was to be married. Hermione told her that she was marrying a Slytherin graduate that she had taught. She just can not put the two together." Severus said.

"Will Hermione really be okay? In our world her injuries could have left her confined to a chair if she would have survived the trip to the hospital." George said.

"Wizarding medicine is far superior in some manners than others. She will recover with no side effects and Poppy said that she will suffer no scar from the accident nor will she have any arthritis as the muggles call it until she reaches somewhere near one hundred."

"Severus, are you really okay? I know that you want to be there with her. I can see it in your eyes." Charlotte said.

"I just wish that she didn't have to suffer because some of the children here hold severe grudges. Hermione should not have been subjected to this war yet she was a big part of the end of it. She has made me want to be a better man and everyday she is with me I strive to be that better man. I sacrificed nearly twenty years so that people like you and Hermione would not have to live in fear of a tyrant like him. Now people, who have decided that the wrong side won the war, have wanted to seek revenge on the heroes of this war. Hermione was chosen as such a target. I wish more than anything that I could have protected her better." He said near tears at that point.

"Severus, don't beat yourself up over what has happened. If you would not have gotten there as fast as you did then she could have had a far worse outcome. She is alive because of you. You have saved her life more than once from what she has told us of you. She loves you." Charlotte said as she made her way to him and wrapped her arms around him. He sat there in near tears and allowed Charlotte to comfort him. He was grief stricken yet grateful that she would once again return to his arms. He stayed in her arms until he had composed himself enough that he could talk without showing any emotion before he tried to pull away.

"In the morning, I have classes at nine, ten, then at one, two, and the last from three to four thirty. If you need anything, my house elf Nubby will fetch anything that you wish. To call him all you have to do is call out his name. I will have breakfast delivered if you would like to take it here or in the infirmary which ever you choose. If you can not remember how to get to the infirmary, there is some floo powder in the bucket on the mantle. Just call for the infirmary and if you need me, just call Nubby and tell him you need me and I will be there. I am going to take my leave now. I am afraid that I am not feeling very well." Severus said.

"Try to get some sleep. Hermione would want to see you rested." Charlotte said.

"I will take something if I can not sleep. Good night." He said as he turned and left.

He made his way to his dungeons knowing that Remus would help him to see her and that Remus, being her head of house could sit with her without question. He quickly changed out of his teaching robes his white shirt trousers and a black vest. Then floo called Remus to meet him in Remus' quarters. Severus disillusioned himself and they left for the infirmary.

Remus perched himself in one of the wingbacks and politely watched as little subtle things changed on Hermione over the course over the next hour. Severus however, took great pleasure to be able to stroke her cheek or her hair and hands without being seen. He was able to lightly kiss her forehead and cheeks and gently on her lips. He remained quiet through it all continuing gently show his signs of affection without fear of Poppy catching him. Even McGonagall tried to catch him in there as she made her rounds through to check on her before she retired for the night. Severus knew he could not stay the night so after an hour he tapped Remus on the shoulder after kissing Hermione goodbye so they could leave.

In his quarters that night, Severus knew that he would not be able to sleep without Hermione so he took a sleeping draught so he would be rested for class tomorrow.

Hermione began to stir around lunch Monday but wasn't fully awake till just before classes were to let out for the day. She was told of what had happened to her and that she would be completely well in a few days. Poppy told her how she was sorry that her amulet was damaged and would not work anymore but it had kept her alive. Hermione was told that her other jewelry had been found and that only her and McGonagall knew it was there. Hermione asked if he had been notified. Her parents merely nodded and said that he wished Hermione a speedy recovery. Hermione smiled at that and acted as if she needed no other encouragement. Harry Ron and Ginny were allowed ten minutes to visit before supper and were told they could have the same amount of time the next day. Filius came through and checked on her and her parents before he left for supper.

After supper that night, McGonagall and Severus came to check on her.

"Miss Granger, how are you feeling tonight?" McGonagall asked.

"Much better than what I did after I woke up. Madame Pomfry gave me a pain relieving potion and I can stand to be in the bed now. You are actually in time to see if I can walk." She said.

"Do not try to over do it. You have no work to do this week. Rest while you can." McGonagall said.

She scooted out to the edge of the bed allowing her parents to help her to stand and watch her as she made slow easy steps to the bathroom to relieve her bladder after refusing to use the bedpan.

When she got out, they all watched her return to the bed and stay in a sitting position to talk to them.

Miss Granger, the aurors have sent their report and charged the four students that have attacked you with attempted murder. The wizengamot have accepted the charges and set a date for your trial on Friday. You will have to give testimony as to what happened. Professor Snape and I will also have to testify. Be prepared to be there all day." McGonagall said.

"What happened yesterday?" Severus asked.

"I had just entered the hallway to see Professor McGonagall about my apprenticeship paperwork when Knott, Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson came up behind me. I told them to go away. They refused. Knott disrespected me and I docked points. Parkinson said that I was going to pay for their fathers and before I could cast my shield they threw hexes at me and I went down. The next thing I remember was Madame Pomfry my mum and dad standing over me telling me to wake up."

"The students that attacked you have been expelled and there was an announcement on your attack this morning." McGonagall said.

"I do not have any good robes to go to the ministry in. Can I be excused to go to Hogsmeade on Thursday provided that I am able to leave the infirmary?"

"Of course dear you are a professor now. You have all of the privileges of being a professor." McGonagall said.

Hermione smiled at that but did not say anything.

"When will Hermione be able to leave the infirmary?" George said.

"Tomorrow morning provided that her pain is tolerable and that she stay away from the stairs as much as possible." Poppy said.

"My quarter's floo is connected to my new office on the ground floor. I could just floo there and avoid the stairs for a few days."

"I really do not want you to do any physical excursions for at least three days till your bones have a good chance to mend."

"I understand. No nothing for the next three days." Hermione said smiling.

"Good. Then Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, have a good day. Severus?" McGonagall said.

"Professor, can my husband and I borrow Professor Snape for a few minutes alone?" George asked.

"Of course." McGonagall said.

She moved the screen around them for some privacy and allowed them some time.

"Professor Snape, we would like to thank you for saving our little girl. We would like to thank you by taking you out for a meal some time during the holidays as a way of saying thank you." George said.

"There is no need to thank me. I was just doing my job. But I would be honored to attend. I will get back with Miss Granger for a date and time that would be beneficial to my schedule." Severus said shaking his hand and giving her a slight hug in return.

"We are going to return home. Hermione, please listen to Madame Pomfry and be careful. We will get together soon." Charlotte said hugging Hermione.

"Congratulations and be careful." George said.

Severus winked at Hermione before he said "Miss Granger." He followed them out as Hermione said "Bye mum dad." Hermione waved at them and watched them as they flooed away.

Severus and McGonagall slipped out of the infirmary allowing Hermione to get some sleep after she was given a sleeping draught to help her sleep. She knew that she would not sleep well without Severus in the bed with her.

The next morning she was released after breakfast and she made her way to her Office via the floo. She began to slowly transfigure her rather ugly desk into the beautiful Imperial style hand carved writing desk that she had always dreamed of having. It took her a great deal of time before the desk was finished then she began working on her chair. It was not something that she really approved of so it was transfigured into something a little more charming and a lot more comfortable a large leather squishy rolling arm chair. She transfigured two ugly plain wooden chairs into chairs for in front of her desk. She planned on changing the color of the paint and other things after lunch.

Severus knocked on her door and she bid him to enter. He shut the door behind him making sure that she did not have a portrait in her office yet before saying or doing anything. He noticed her desk and chair eyeing them rather suspiciously before stepping around to her and kissing her passionately but very gently as if she would break.

"I missed you while you were in the Infirmary." Severus said.

"I missed you too. What did McGonagall say about my rings?" She asked.

"She has not put us together yet. But I think that she could if she just really thought about it." Severus said as he took her hands in his and gently kissed her knuckles.

"I hope that she keeps adding one and one and coming up with something other than us." Hermione said.

"We only have a few days to go then we will be off for the holidays and then we will have a wedding to attend. Then somewhere in the middle, I am going to take you to that muggle hotel that your parents booked for some quality time where no one can find us." He said as he helped her up and kissed her again being careful not to touch her hip or the area in her back.

"Maybe now we have all of the interruptions behind us." Hermione said giving him a quick kiss.

"Now my dear, we are required to attend lunch and you are going to sit with the staff." He said.

"My dear husband, my apprenticeship does not start until the new term and I was hoping to sit with my friends. They have requested it."

"But, I do not want to see you out of my sight again. You my dear will not be that far from me again." He said.

"If you insist, then I have no choice but comply." She said cheekily.

"You are going to sit up there with me. I am making it an order as your deputy Headmaster and I am asking you as your husband sit up there with me. You do not have to sit next to me though." He said.

"Maybe not by you now but at the start of the new term, you might not be able to keep me away." She said nipping his lower lip.

"Come." He said as he released her and led her out the door leading her down the corridor. "This is the way to the staff entrance into the Great Hall." He said as he pointed to a doorway.

"Aren't you coming?" She asked.

"In a few minutes. I shall be there momentarily." He said before turning off in another direction.

Hermione made her way into the great hall and sat down at the end of the table in Snape's old chair leaving his new one for him for when he would come.

The professors all acknowledged her as she sat down rather carefully into the chair. Remus said, "Hermione, how are you feeling today?"

"Better. I managed to begin decorating my office this morning although I didn't get much done."

"Just don't over do it." Poppy said.

"I was sitting down the whole time. At least the room no longer looks like a broom closet." She said.

"My dear that was a broom closet. I just enlarged the closet for you and added the floo and fireplace Sunday." McGonagall said.