Hermione noticed that Severus' hand was shaking as he stood behind Minerva. His eyes were occuluded, but his jaw was twitching and he was more pale than usual.

She touched her cold fingertips to his hand and he said quietly, "Are you sure?" His eyes were still on the door in front of them.

"Yes, Severus," She said and touched her hand again to his, "Are you?"

"No," He said and he sounded so small and scared.

"Okay, Severus, I understand," She said. He could hear the slight disappointment in her voice.

Minerva turned to him, "Are you ready?"

Severus' eyes flickered, fear showing behind them, and then they were shielded again.

"As you'll ever be then?" She said and nodded. She turned around and stepped toward the door. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped forward as well. Severus did not.

Hermione turned around and walked back to him. He was staring over her head at the crowd of cameras.

"Sev?" She asked.

"I..." He said. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't.

"It's okay, Severus. It won't last long," She assured him.

"Mmm," He sounded uncertain.

"C'mon," She said and touched his right elbow.

He stepped forward and, before Minerva opened the door, he grabbed for her hand desperately and held onto it tightly.

As soon as the doors opened, the cameras were flashing incessantly and people were hollering all kinds of things at the group, mostly at Severus. It was hard to tell what was being shouted at him because there were so many voices at once. His hand shook harder in Hermione's. Hermione stepped forward next to Minerva, her hand sliding out of his, and Harry and Ron flanked him. Hermione. Hermione. His hand shook too visibly, so he gripped the bottom of his frock coat tightly.

Minerva put her wand to her throat and began reading the statement. Severus' eyes scanned the crowd and he scowled. What a fucking circus. The cameras flashed and he blinked at the brightness.

Minerva has finished her statement, pulled her wand away from her throat, and had turned to walk back into the hospital, when a reporter shouted, "How can you condone pedophilia like that? The man is old enough to be her father. She was his student. I'm not sure what it says about her that she sleeps with him, but it certainly isn't anything good?What the bloody hell is going on at that school? Hogwarts used to have an incredible reputation! What do you even get out of this, Granger?" What the fuck did you just say?

Severus could feel the rage bubbling in his stomach. Hermione growled next to him. His magic sparked in his fingertips and he stepped forward. The crowd stepped back, trained to fear this man, and he stood toe-to-toe with the short, fat man who had shouted at Minerva. He was at least half a foot taller than the reporter. He looked at him closely. The man was intimidated, but trying desperately to hide it. Harry's hand reached out and touched his elbow. Fat pathetic little fuck.

Ron scowled at the man and said, "If you've got something to say, say it, prick. If you're trying to pick a fight, I don't know who your best bet would be, probably couldn't even take a first year, but it certainly would not be Snape. Take it from me - I've got firsthand experience," He spat. True enough, Weasley.

More reporters shouted questions. Not all of them seemed bad, but Severus couldn't tell because there were so many at once. Stop. Stop.

"We will not be taking questions. This was neither a discussion nor a debate," and she put her hand on Severus' back to escort him back inside.

Snape allowed her to guide him and turned back toward the hospital to look for Hermione. When he couldn't find her, a small amount of panic flared up in his chest. He pushed the door open and searched for her. She was standing near a corner away from the crowd against the window.

Harry and Ron looked at her and then back to Snape, "You should probably take that one, Snape. Probably mean more to her from you," Harry said.

"We'll meet you in your room," Ron nodded. Minerva's hand patted his back.

When he approached her, his heart wrenched as he noticed she was crying. I'm so sorry, Hermione.

"Hermione..." He said quietly and out his arm around her waist.

"He called... He insinuated..."

"I know, Hermione," He said and she leaned into him, "You're nothing of the sort. You are not. I love you, Hermione. I love you."

She rested her head against his chest and he held her tightly to him. They stood there for a moment, staring at the window. She pulled away and he moved her in front of him, put his hand on her cheek, and kissed her forehead gently.

"I love you," He whispered.

"I love you," She answered.

He had his arm around her waist the entire way back to his room, despite how the angle and leaning stretched his skin painfully. I love you. I love you.

When they arrived back in the room, Ron approached him, "I should be getting back, Snape. Mum will be getting irritated."

"Yes, Molly Weasley is a force to be reckoned with, isn't she?" Severus said coolly.

"You've no idea," He snorted, "Expect you'll find out soon enough - once she finds out about you and 'Mione."

"She is unaware?" Severus narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, she's been... a bit more than a recluse lately."

"Ah. Yes. Understandable," Severus acknowledged. Poor woman.

"I'll be off then," Weasley stood awkwardly for a moment and then, much to everyone's surprise, extended his right hand.

Snape looked at his hand, hesitated, and then put his hand in it, "I am grateful for your support today."

"Yeah, no problem," Ron nodded. He moved away from Severus hugged the remaining three people in the room.

"I'll get out of here, too, Severus," Harry said and extended his hand to Snape. With far less hesitation, Severus gripped Harry's hand firmly. Lily. He hugged McGonagall and Hermione and took his leave.

"Where will you be staying once you leave? Your cottage?" Minerva asked.

"We have not spoke about it.

"Might I suggest Hogwarts? At least until after the memorial? They'll do an awards ceremony as well, for Order of Merlins," She said.

Snape rolled his eyes, "Yes, lovely. Memorials and ceremonies. How quaint."

"Severus... All of the dead will be awarded an Order of Merlin," Minerva said and raised her eyebrow at him. Good. Good.

That shut Severus up quickly. Minerva said, "You can stay with us at Hogwarts as long as you like. You will be protected from all the media and any unsavory people."

"Hermione, what do you wish to do?"

"Why don't we stay at Hogwarts for a couple weeks? At least until after the memorial. We can decide what to do after that?"

"The lady has spoken," Severus smirked.

"You are a good man to listen to your woman," Minerva laughed.

Severus chuckled, "I am no fool, Minerva."

"Indeed, you are not. I shall see you both tomorrow morning at breakfast? There are no students at Hogwarts at all this summer. Only staff." Hogwarts will be safe.

"Of course, Professor," Hermione smiled.

She hugged Severus gently and avoided his shoulder and pulled Hermione tightly to her.

"I'll see you tomorrow," She nodded and left.

Hermione looked at him, "Are you ready to leave?" God, Yes.

"Yes," He said quickly, "I am nervous, but I want to leave. I..."

"What?"

"I want to feel at least a semblance of normalcy... Of peace. I want that... with you," He was nervous , but stared into her eyes. I love you.

"I want that too, Severus," She said and reached up to kiss him.

I love you. I love you. I love you.