Author's Note:

YES! I DO STILL EXIST! NO! I haven't forgotten about all of you. The last few months have been really hard and I've only just started working again and it's not even enough money to really get me by. My savings are almost completely gone. Actually they ran out this month to be exact…

You know how it is. Bills, bills, bills….

Hope you like this chapter, sorry for the long wait, made it a little longer then usual so that hopefully you have more to enjoy! Hope the wait was worth it! Please Review!

Blessed Be,
Raven Lynne

The Things We Hide
By Akasha Ravensong
"I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone"

Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Greenday

Chapter Fourteen
"Oh! Hermione dear, look at this lovely plaid skirt! Wouldn't that look just wonderful on you with that white blouse there?" Minerva said enthusiastically. "That vest is so adorable. It would look stunning on you. Much better then that droll set you're wearing now, don't you think? You just have to try this on!"

I clenched my fists together by my sides, grinding my teeth in annoyance. This was the fourth outfit in the fourth store she had tried to get me to try on and buy. I was ready to scream. I seriously doubted that Azkaban could really be as as tortuous as this woman was being today.

"Actually, Professor," I growled, "I think it's hideous. I am quite happy with the clothes that I am wearing now. They suit my mood quite perfectly, thank-you. I would appreciate it if you left me alone and stopped bothering me about what I was wearing. Contrary to your belief I wanted to come to London today to have fun. Not to have you drag me along while you window shop and try on new robes and insult what I am wearing"

"Don't be daft, Hermione. Now get in here right now so we can try this outfit on."

"You try it on if you like it so much." I was extremely annoyed. Why couldn't Dumbledore have just sent Professor Snape again? At least he didn't yack my damn ear off.

She ignored me and continued to ramble on and on about various outfits that she persisted in plucking out of the racks. I decided it was high time to ditch this witch; she was getting on my last nerve. My hand was twitching violently around my wand as I thought of hundreds of curses I'd love to throw at her. I just couldn't tolerate any more of her yapping.

Great Gods she's driving me up the bloody wall!

I watched as she headed towards the dressing rooms with a giant stack of clothing on her arms. All I needed was one second, just one second, for her to look away and I could be rid of her. Once I got into muggle London she wouldn't stand a chance of tracking me down until I felt like letting her. The Headmistress would stand out far too much to follow me. That would also give me time to enjoy myself thoroughly.

I thanked whatever gods were listening as a gaggle of witches wandered between myself and Professor McGonagall. I bolted towards the door. The streets of Diagon Alley were crowded, thankfully. I easily mingled and lost myself in the crowd. I laughed silently as I heard her screechy voice calling my name loudly. I could hear the annoyance in her tone. I would be walking out the front door of the Leaky Cauldron and onto the public transport faster then she would be able to catch up with me in this crowd.

I explored downtown London enthusiastically and in much better spirits then when I had been accompanied by my annoying Head of House. I was comfortable on my own despite the dangers that awaited a young girl out on her own. Perhaps I should have been more worried; however my own father had proven more dangerous then any crowd I had ever faced. I felt that I could handle myself so long as nobody got too close to me.

I found a bookshop that I loved and headed inside. I wandered through each row reading every section and scanning the titles. There was romance, mystery, horror, science fiction and fantasy, and then there was a section I had never noticed before. New Age. I paused, scanning the titles with curiously. What I saw blew my mind away. The muggles had books on Witchcraft and Wizardry. Who knew?

I pulled out a few books and scanned through the contents. There was never a book that didn't interest me, and knowledge was knowledge no matter what form in came in. Perhaps a few of these would help me to keep my mind occupied. I sat there for at least an hour reading a bit here and there so that I could get a good feel for the books. In the end I picked out a few books by an author called Silver Ravenwolf, and a few others that had caught my eye. I had a total of ten books picked out from the new age section and five others from the fantasy section. I figured that I would need quite a few to read. Considering the stunt I pulled today on McGonagall, I doubted I would be allowed back into London for quite a while.

It was sunset by the time I reached the Leaky Cauldron, and to my surprise it was not McGonagall that sat at a table waiting for me, but Professor Snape instead. I smiled and headed over towards where he sat.

Imagine that, I'm happier to see Snape, the greasy git, then I am to see my own Head of House. Miracles do happen.

He looked up as I pulled the chair out and sat down. "Its quite late you know. Minerva was quite put out when she realized what you had done and stomped all the way back to Dumbledore." He commented nonchalantly. "You are lucky that I had to come and restock my potion supplies or there would have been an extremely irate professor here to welcome you."

He took a long sip from his glass, staring down at me over it the whole time.

"Sir, you aren't mad at me?" I asked quietly, and a bit confused.

"You haven't inconvenienced me in any way, so no I am not. I was looking forward to an evening out and now I have had it. However, you will be punished for your actions today. Have no doubt of that. I do understand why you disappeared like that on her though. The woman has been an absolute nuisance of late, and I'm sure that I would have done the same if I had been in your place. Never do it again. Next time you feel the need for a bit of freedom, simply come to me and I'll see to it that you are able to go out with me instead of her or some other annoying fool."

I looked at him in shock. He just offered himself as my companion for all of my future outings. Where was the slimy and greasy Potions Master, feared by all and loved by none? He was… smiling… at me… The fact that he was smiling at me was beyond creepy, but it did amazing things to his face. The stone features of his expression were softened and he looked younger, happier.

"Thank-you professor."

"Hermione, in private and among ourselves I think it would be appropriate for you to call me Severus." He grabbed a menu from beside him and was suddenly all business. "Now, since we will have missed supper at the castle, what would you like to eat?"

Did he just call me Hermione? What happened to Miss Granger? Wait, what happened, supper? We're eating dinner together?

"Sir?" he raised his eyebrows and looked at me with an amused smirk. "I mean, Severus."

"Pick something to eat, Hermione, we're having supper at the Leaky Cauldron. It's on me, don't worry about it. I've already cleared it with the Headmaster."

'Alright," I replied. This day was just getting weirder and weirder. What parallel universe did I just walk into? "If you're sure." I smiled wholeheartedly for the first time in weeks, and the last thing he said to me when our meals were served had was so priceless that I would remember it for weeks afterwards.

"Minerva had a spectacular temper tantrum when she got back, such a shame that you missed it."

"Yes, but if you were to use arrowroot to change the consistency of the potion…"

"No, no, no! Arrowroot would change the outcome of the potion if not nullify its effects on the body completely. You'd have to use something else in combination with the phoenix tears to keep the consistency of the potion the same in order to achieve the same results. Perhaps powdered kelp would work instead. Arrowroot would render too many of the other potions ingredients useless."

"Your right, I concede," I answered.

"Of course I'm right, Hermione, I am not called Potions Master for nothing. I did have to go to school for an additional three years after graduating Hogwarts, and receive an internship for another two years. Not including various seminars that I have attended to make sure that my knowledge is continuously updated and always remains current."

I laughed. "My, aren't you full of yourself, Severus Snape. You could use a healthy slice of humble pie."

"Indeed." He said in reply, lacking the usual sneer in his voice and demeanor. "You make excellent company, Hermione. I did not expect to actually enjoy myself this evening. We have returned quite a bit later then I intended. It is well after eleven in the evening."

"Oh my, did we really talk that long." I suppressed another tremble from cold, not wanting to show weakness in front of Severus. "I've had a good time, too."

"Yes we did. Did you not notice that we were the last people at the leaky Cauldron, and that as we were leaving Tom was closing up for the night? It was at least nine then."

An icy wind whipped though my hair and I could not hold in a shiver this time. I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth. "No wonder it has gotten so cold out. At this time of night you can tell that it's fall. The nights begin to get crisp. Mother Nature never cared much for official dates, did she? It's only the middle of August."

'You're shivering!" Snape exclaimed, just noticing. "You should have said something. It's bad enough that I've kept you so late, but if you catch cold Poppy will have my head mounted on the wall faster then you can sneeze. Here, use my cloak."

"Oh but you will…"

"Hush," he put his finger to my lips and quieted me. "I insist."

I tried to ignore the shiver of an entirely different nature that raced down my spine. With a touch far more gentle then I could have ever imagined him capable of he placed the cloak around my shoulders and instantly I felt the warmth return to my body. It was charmed to keep the wearer comfortable no matter what temperature.

He left his hand on my shoulder and I began to grow nervous. I noticed how close to me he was standing as we walked. I noticed that it was so late that we were completely and totally alone on this path between Hogsmede and Hogwarts. If he were to try anything we were completely isolated. There was no moon tonight either, so if he had wanted to he could have easily silenced me with a spell and raped me then and there. He was a far superior wizard then I was. He could simply use obliviate to wipe my memory of the incident and nobody would be the wiser for it.

I tensed up completely. I assured myself over and over again that he meant me no harm. He was my professor! Dumbledore trusted him. But what if he was wrong, what if Severus Snape was a Double Agent, really a Death Eater misleading the Order the way he was supposed to be deceiving Voldemort. I could not help but feel nervous. What if he tried to touch me? What if… My breathing quickened and I lost focus. Paranoia won. Suddenly I didn't know where I was or what was going on.

I was trapped inside my memories, within my mind I was reliving the moments that my dad had attacked me and tried to rape me. I could not see what was around me, I could only feel the strong embrace of a man around me, holding me captive and I fought against him. I screamed, and cried hysterically.

"No don't do it! NO!"

Eventually I calmed down and when I came too I was on the cold damp ground with Severus' arms wound tightly around me. He was rocking me back and forth and stroking my hair calmingly. I wrapped my arms around him and cried those cleansing tears that I had previously been holding back. I felt relieved as if a burden had been lifted from my body heart, and soul. The pain was still there but I felt as if I could manage for now.

"Severus…"

"Hush, Hermione, I've got you. Everything is going to be ok. Nobody is going to hurt you again. Now while I am here." He murmured gently into my ear. "Can you stand?"

"Yes I can…"

But I couldn't. I found myself completely exhausted. Crying like that had sapped the rest of my strength and I found I had nothing left to give. I collapsed like a rag doll in Severus' arms.

"I'm sorry," I said hoarsely, "but I guess I cant."

"It's ok, don't worry, I'll take care of you." His voice was gentle and soothing.

Severus bent down and picked me up gently as if I might break, cradling me against his body. I wrapped my arms around his neck and curled my head into the crook of his neck. I doubted that this was a side of Severus Snape that many were allowed the chance to see. Soon I found myself asleep in his arms.


Hush, Hermione, I've got you. Everything is going to be ok. Nobody is going to hurt you again. I'm here.

I ran the words over in my head over and over again as I held the limp Hermione in my arms. The words that I had uttered thoughtlessly in reply to her need troubled me. I had never been a caring man and was not the type to play 'knight in shining armor.' It just wasn't who I was. I looked down at her, she looked at peace finally.

I found myself fiercely protective of this girl, no woman, in my arms. More protective then I could remember being for anybody else in my life. I had meant those words with all my being when I said them. No matter how impulsively I had spoken, I had meant every word. I wanted to protect her from the world.

It shamed me to find that I liked her like this too, in my arms, her body cradled up against mine. It had felt good when I had held her shaking form up against my body. Too good. I was old enough to be her father. On top of that I was her teacher for another year. No, I had simply been alone for far too long. Perhaps there had been some sense in Albus' incessant meddling in my love life.

I lay Hermione down in my bed and covered her gently with my blankets. Then I sat down in the bedside chair, watching her. Muttering a spell under my breath, I lit the fire. Golden firelight danced across her face, lighting up her brass colored hair. She had blossomed into a beautiful woman. In fact, I remembered that she had been given the use of a time turner in her third year at Hogwarts, which meant she would be turning eighteen this year and not seventeen. I wondered if she knew.

I did not have long to ponder anything however, for soon, I too had fallen asleep.

Please Read and Review! Hope you liked it!