Author note: Sorry guys for the delay. I was held up by many things, but here is the new chapter. I hope you will like it.

Thank you for the reviews. I'm glad so many of you took time to leave their opinions behind.

vampirela69: Yes, he is planning his homecoming. :-) But perhaps, he is not aware of the consequences... ;-)

Petite Mule: Thanks for asking, it is a good question. Why was George there?

Cat130: Thank you :-)

arabellagrace: I guess, he will try everything. ;-)

cares 1970: Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Yes, they are growing up, I guess, including Snape. :-D

LovedHoplessRomantic: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you like my story. Well, yes it is a sad story with George, but he must go on. I was wondering which of the two of them was more reckless, and I came up with Fred. So, George is more serious in this story, still, I hope you will like him.

guest: Thank you. Really, thanks for the review. I'm happy you like the story so far, and I hope you'll find the next chapter just as interesting.

LoveInTheBattleField: Thanks. ;-)

anon: Thanks. Sorry for the delay. I hope you will like this one.

Auroras Jenkins: Thanks. I'm sure she will in time. :-)

Luna de Papel: Yes, I admit, it might have been a little out of character. :-)

josiegrossie: Thanks, and I'm sorry for the delay.

RhodaBush: Coming right up. :-)

Chapter 14

I keep my secrets

1 January 1997

As his consciousness was floating to the surface, the first thing he felt was peace. There was also something else, something unknown that was slowly unrevealed itself. Like an ethereal force was accumulating from all his body parts, warming up his chest and creeping upwards, and it was suddenly bursting out in a wide smile on his face. It was an odd feeling, and he couldn't control it. The muscles of his face got sore from the unexpected strain. While he was wondering what exactly caused the unusual state of mind, the hot body that snuggled to his chest was calling for his attention. It could be dawn, the semidarkness was filtering through the tent, and the forest only started to wake. His tired eyes try to make out her silhouette, his fingers tangled in her messy curls. His mind started to clear up and he tried to solve the mystery of that unknown feeling. He felt at peace, definitely. And it was satisfaction, great never felt satisfaction that he experienced along with an unappeasable hunger and security. But what kind of false feeling of security possessed him there, in the middle of the forest, almost unprotected? He gently pulled up the blanket to cover them; the frosty night cooled the tent. Whatever this feeling was, he was certain that the very reason of it was the girl he held in his arms.

Happiness. The word knifed through his mind like a cornet's streamer through a dark night. Certainty immediately wiped the grin off his face. He didn't want to think about the consequences of his happiness. He didn't want to degrade himself an idiot who walked among clouds. If one didn't stand on the ground with both their feet, then one could easily miss a step, and that would have an unforeseeable kickback in his case. It was too late to regret, he couldn't just crawfish now that she gave him everything she had. Not that he wanted. He had never been happier before. What or who had the power to forbid him to feel this way. Hermione gave him this special and rare gift, and she had the power to take it back. Naturally this didn't mean that everything won't change. From now on he had to make even more efforts to close off his mind both from Dumbledore and Voldemort, but he was determined to protect what he had.

Like she kind of sensed his thoughts, Hermione stirred, and she opened her eyes at last.

"Good morning" she looked at him with an unsure smile, and smoothed out a strand of her hair from her face, and greeted her with a light kiss on her ear.

"What would you give for a bathroom?" he murmured in a deep, husky voice then with a sudden move he turned them around and he was leaning over her, rubbing his stubbly face into her sensitive breasts.

"Oh" she twitched from the slightly unpleasant, but also arousing touch. Her fingers were stroking his face. His manliness enchanted and fascinated her.

"Let's suppose you have a bathroom at your disposal. What would you ask for in exchange?" she asked as impishness flamed up in her. He whispered the answer into her ear, and she blushed. "We have a deal" she answered coyly.

Severus left the warmth of their bed, and grabbing his wand he recast the warming charms then relit the fire in the middle of the tent that merrily crackled in a short while. Hermione only got the chance to take a glance, since she didn't get much chance to do so the previous night. This tent seemed a lot more spacious and pleasant than the one they were camping with Harry and Ron at the time of the Quidditch World Cup. She was sure that her lover did not save time or energy to make this temporary love nest cosy for her.

Her attention now turned to Severus who was strolling up and down in front of her in his birth suit completely unperturbed. It is not like there was anything to be ashamed of. That was a very well cut birth suit. She couldn't wait to touch and taste him again. The owner of the marvellous and desirable male body was just reaching for her like he read her thoughts and motioned with his finger to her. Hermione wrapping the bed sheet around her body scrambled out of the bed. The black haired wizard led her to the farthest corner of the tent where a completely equipped bathroom awaited her.

"I'll come after you in five minutes" he promised her in his velvety voice then he left her in the minimalist style "room".

Hermione was already in the rudimentary shower stall when he reappeared and slipped into the narrow place behind her. The little witch involuntarily tried to cover herself when she felt his touch on her skin.

"Don't" he whispered into her ear and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Please don't shy away from me. There is nothing to be ashamed of." The tip of his tongue drew little circles on her wet skin. He trailed down on her neck then kissed her shoulder while he rubbed his painfully throbbing manhood to her plump bottom. "Feel what you do to me, little witch" he moaned then turned the girl around.

He sprinkled her body with his adoration. He was sliding down on his knees in front of her. His hands softly squeezed her bottom while his lips found her womanhood, kissing her skilfully. She sighed and moaned loudly when one of his fingers finally found that sweet, secret spot inside her body, and started to stroke her. When his wicked activities caused her body to tremble with pleasure at last, he suddenly straightened up to take her body with one thrust. Just when she thought that the pleasure she felt couldn't be enhanced; he immediately disproved her hazy thoughts on love making. His efforts didn't go unpunished though. It took him great willpower to hold back. She was so tight and hot, and squeezed him so sweetly he nearly lost his mind.

Half an hour later they fell on the rudimentary bed both wet and exhausted, and they fell asleep huddled up against each-other. It seemed thought that Hermione would never get enough of her newly discovered sexuality, and didn't let him rest for long. Severus had the feeling that she would be seriously sore the very next day; still he couldn't resist the temptation.

He apparated her home side along before the sun went down, which with a little hindsight was quite irresponsible of him. What if she asked how he knew her address? Fortunately for him, Hermione was on cloud nine, too happy to care about such trivial things.

After they said goodbye, he stayed behind for a while hidden by a Disillusionment Charm. He watched as Hermione had dinner with her parents. He started to freeze in the cruel cold of New Year's Day; still he didn't want to leave. Neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort wished for his company, so he just stood there watching her through the window, as he did it a few months prior. The only difference was that now she belonged to him.

It was getting late, and the house was already dark for a while, the whole family retired for the night when Severus popped up in their living room. He went up the stairs without making a noise. He didn't have to worry that somebody would discover him. The parents were in their own bedroom, deeply engrossed in each-other. He knew exactly where he would find her bedroom. Frist he only opened her door ajar to peek in, then he entered the room and quietly closed the door.

Hermione was deeply asleep; she must have been exhausted by the time she got into bed. She stirred when he stepped closer and mumbled something in her sleep. He slowly bent to press a kiss on her forehead, but then she involuntarily hugged him to her, trapping him this way. It caused him a great difficulty to set himself free without waking his sleeping beauty. He then pulled a little phial out of his pocket and placed it on her bedside table. One more glance at her and he quietly left the room.

12 August 2002

"Harry, it's enough" Ginny was calm, but even a fool could have detected the threat in her sweet voice.

They were in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place, and she was bending over the seating plan, trying to make the finishing touches, but she was very much distracted by her fiancé who was strolling up and down in the room for hours now. The young man suddenly stopped and looked at his red haired soon-to-be-wife of a beauty in confusion.

"You are like that since you met Snape." Ginny now stood up, walked up to Harry and gently touched both sides of his face. "You just walk around in the house all day like a dotty, or stare out of the window for hours. You don't talk to me, and if I tell you something, you don't even hear me. I know it's all too much and happened unexpectedly... in the worst possible moment for that. It's hard enough for me, so I can't imagine how you feel now. Still, I beg you to put this whole Snape thing aside for a while." She lightly kissed his lips, her fingers circling the buttons on his shirt. "I don't want our wedding and most importantly our honeymoon to be shadowed by secret children and resurrected heroic villains." She pressed her lips on Harry's already bare chest, while her fingers slid down, only stopping at his belt buckle. "I promise, when we are back from Cuba, we will do anything to help Hermione to get through this, but until then, I need you to focus on us. Only you and I, all right?" Harry was staring at her like he was only awakened from some form of coma.

"All right," he nodded with a mischievous smile tugging the corner of his lips "Miss Ginevra Potter-in-five-days Weasley." Then he ferociously attacked her lips, while he pushed his fiancé towards the nearest sofa.

14 August 2002

Despite the bright early afternoon sunshine, Minerva McGonagall was bunked up in her office. Apart from her and the caretaker the castle was empty, although the signs of the upcoming school year were in the air. Filch seeked her out more and more often with his sadistic and insane ideas of regulation that he cooked up for retaliation of student pranks. Admitted or not, this was one of the reason why she hid in her office all day.

Albus Dumbledore always handled the matters of the school easily, seemingly without putting any effort in it. Like it was nothing more than minor things of no consequences that he could get rid of with a wave of his hand, so he could turn all his attention to the really important, cunning and devious strategic plans that no one could see through. That's how years passed and Minerva took his being there for granted, and most of the time she didn't even see how exhausted and depressive his life must have been.

Dumbledore was her best friend, one of the most important people in her life. After he died she had a hard time to elaborate the guilt, for she couldn't provide him the support the elderly man needed. The former Headmaster was all repressed guilt and self-accusation, and he chose self-sacrifice as an ultimate atonement. Perhaps it was not a coincidence that Severus Snape and the most famous wizard of their world understood each-other so well. They were driven by similar things and they tried to gain salvation the same way.

Who was she, Minerva McGonagall in the world shaking chess party of these two men? She wanted to believe that she was loyal friends to both of them, as much as they let her, and they could feel they could count on her no matter what. It's true she was mad at them as she so kindly called the portrait of Dumbledore's attention to the fact day after day, and that they bowled her out, because they didn't trust her. Her anger though relented during the years and matured into deep bereavement. McGonagall glanced up surprised, when her wonderings were interrupted by a shadow fell on her desk. It was time to give up a part of mourning.

"How did you get through the protecting spells?" she asked calmly the dark haired man who was towering over her.

"I still have a few cards up my sleeve, Minerva" he answered with an impassive face.

"Yes, I can see that, Severus" the Headmistress answered dryly then she slowly stood up and walked around her desk. She still hardly believed that he was alive, and her sharp eyes didn't miss the positive changes. "I have this feeling that our conversation will be long. Please, make yourself comfortable" she said and led him to the comfortable looking armchairs in front of the fireplace. "How about a glass of Odgen's?"

"I believe, I can offer you something more pleasant" Severus answered holding up a bottle of Glenfiddich that only Merlin knew where he hid until then.

"This is fifty years old at least" Minerva was eyeing the bottle knowingly. "Where did you get that you scoundrel? And don't you believe for a second that that would sweep me off my feet"

"I wouldn't dream of it, Minerva. I wouldn't dream of it" he answered, and she didn't see the twitch of his lips.

Minerva McGonagall listened to Severus quietly and without interruption, and he had a lot to tell. He didn't only tell her about his life after his 'death', but he had to tell her everything about the events before the war and the secret agreement between him and Dumbledore. The Headmistress was blinking from incredulity, or glared at him sternly, but never said a word.

Severus at last informed her about his plans of returning, and revealing himself to the Wizarding World of Britain. Although she was worried how the Ministry would react, still she assured him of her full support. The only thing Severus asked of her was to keep his resurrection a secret for a little while more. He was about to leave when Minerva stopped him.

"Tell me how this could happen? You and a student? Hermione Granger for that. I still can't believe it." McGonagall was not the kind of person to encroach others personal affairs, but this was something she just couldn't get over. Severus recoiled and quickly turned around. He was staring at his former colleague for a while, his face impassive. It was surprising how easily he could slip back into his one-time mask of indifference.

"I didn't plan on it" he answered in a low voice at last, and he ran his hand through his black strands. He squeezed his eyes for a second and pinched the bridge of his nose like he was tormented by headache. "I don't know how it happened. In summer, right before Hermione's sixth year Albus asked me...or moreover ordered me to watch her and protect her if it was necessary. Perhaps I got to know too much of her, I started to see her in a different life. I was aware of the age difference, just as I was aware of how much my feelings for her endangered both of us. I tried to keep her away, but she slowly melted my resistance, and as idiot I was, I just let her. She became too important for me, you have to understand Minerva. I hope you didn't believe that I seduced her, so I could have my wicked way." He elegantly raised an eyebrow.

"No, I didn't think you did, and I'm quite aware it is none of my business. Thank you for taking me into your confidence. Hermione is a good friend of mine and it pained me to see her wasting away in these past years. She was always a warm person full of life. For a while I thought that the war caused her to change, but then I realized that was a lot more behind her demeanour. Instead of helping her, I had to idly watch as she suffered, and shot life, love, and everything out. She was so lonely."

"No one ever..." his question faded into air.

"No, Severus. As far as I know, she never gave a chance to anyone. I hope you can fix things between you two."

"That I hope very much too, Minerva" he replied and exited her office.

"Severus" the Headmistress called after him. "There is something you didn't tell me, isn't it?"

"Well, yes, there is" he nodded. "And that will be a secret forever, if it is up to me" he added and stepped on the staircase.

He could hardly know that his acts and decision will start an avalanche of events that he didn't have the power to stop.

Theodore Fairburn was on his way to the castle, carrying a huge but light box. He had only two weeks before the school year started, and it was time to prepare for classes. To be honest, he couldn't wait September to come. He really missed the charming but slightly unwilling Professor Granger. Well, it was not really the girl he found attractive, but the mystery that surrounded her, and of course her 'war heroine' status. With a woman like her by his side, he could have got everything and anything.

Naturally, summer provided enough entertainment, since he never met a woman in his life, who could resist him. They all gave in at the end. More often than not, he didn't even have to ask. May that be a muggle or witch; they didn't have a chance against his charm. He preferred muggles though, because it was easier to get rid of them after a pleasant night, and forget about them the next day.

He was almost at the gates now, but he had to stop to wipe off his beading forehand. Oddly enough, the sun was almost sizzling in this early evening hour. After he put his embroidered, monogrammed, pure, white linen handkerchief away, he pulled his wand out of his sleeve. He needed it to get through the gate.

If he didn't glance up in that very moment, perhaps he had never seen the tall, dark robes covered person, who was approaching from the direction of the castle. It was an unusual choice of wear in this unbearable heat. He was just about to shout at the mysterious stranger, when he suddenly disappeared in the hedge that ran along the road. He rushed after him, but a second later he could find a trace of him. Whoever was that, most certainly visited the castle with the knowledge and permission of the Headmistress. How else could he have gotten into the maximum security school property?