A/N: Just a forewarning, Severus' and Hermione's pov for the most part is going on at the same time hence the constant switch. I wanted to keep up the suspense and make it interesting. I hope I did it in a way that is easy and entertaining to read. Enjoy!

Hermione paced her room trying to figure out just how she was supposed to get McGonagall in her rooms. Why had she been so foolish and not discussed this with Severus to greater depths? He had been the spy during the war, not her. It should have been obvious to request more of his input on the matter.

Why hadn't he given her any? Why did she have to act like she knew exactly what she was doing? Bugger her and her incessant need to be a know-it-all. This would fail and then Severus would laugh in her face about what a fool she had been. Not that he had offered any ideas of his own.

Pacing, she twisted her hands nervously while chewing on her lip. She had to think, and quick. Glancing at the clock she realized they wouldn't have much longer before McGonagall would go to bed and their chance would be over.

Turning around violently from frustration she almost knocked over a potion vial she had brought to her room. Waving her wand to pause it in mid-air, an idea suddenly hit her full force. Potions. That was it!

Quickly, before any more time was wasted, she scrawled out a note to McGonagall.

Headmistress McGonagall,

It is imperative that you meet me in the potions lab immediately. I have an idea for a new potion, but Professor Snape stated since I would be brewing it on school grounds I would need you to grant permission. I hope that I am not bothering you, as I am extremely excited to get started as quickly as possible and show you what I have in mind.

Thanks,

Hermione Granger

Tapping the letter with her wand, she sent the letter to McGonagall and rushed out the door.

She had no clue what she would do once McGonagall actually got there, Severus had yet to show the complexities of inventing a potion, but hopefully she could come up with something. Even better maybe she could find some of his notes on ideas he has had and hasn't gotten around to.

Entering his office she saw him sitting behind his desk looking oddly calm considering the circumstances. She figured that had to do with having to spy during the war. He probably had to do much harder missions than this. It almost made their current situation seem silly.

He looked up at her startled. "Hermione?"

"Sorry change of plans." She walked over to his desk hoping to quickly explain enough for him to have a clue what was going on, but not be caught talking to him when McGonagall got there. "I'm creating a potion; you demanded I get permission from the headmistress."

With that she turned on her heel and marched into his lab. Quickly scanning over ingredients she snatched some fluxweed, pomegranate juice, and rat tail. She prayed with all her heart that she could pull this off.

Just then she heard the door open and close. Voices reached her ears and she assumed Severus was conversing with McGonagall what she had told him. She didn't know what excuse he would use to leave, but that was his problem to deal with. Right now she had to figure out a liable potion recipe.

Severus watched dumbfounded as Hermione ran into his lab slamming the door. Obviously, there had been a change in her plans which pointed to the fact that she hadn't had it all perfectly planned as she portrayed at his house. Very well, he would make it work.

Hearing bottles clanking in the lab, he wondered just what kind of recipe she would come up with that would convince Minerva this wasn't a hoax. He hadn't had time to explain any of the properties of certain ingredients. All he could hope was that all the brewing she had been doing had given her an idea of what certain ingredients were capable of.

He tensed up when he hear the door open and automatically stood beside his desk, straightening his back. Whatever was going to happen he needed to at least look professional, although he figured Minerva wouldn't care how he looked. She had seen his facades during the war, nothing would lessen her suspicion.

"Good evening, Severus."

"Minerva. How are you?"

"Very well, Severus. Miss Granger owled me stating she was told she needed my permission to start working on her own potion experiment."

"Indeed. I informed her it was up to you in the end, this is your school after all." Severus could have sworn he saw her lips turn up in a small smile at that statement and he almost scoffed.

"Will you be showing me what she has planned?" Minerva motioned towards the door to his lab.

"No, unfortunately Miss Granger will have to show you for herself. I have looked over her notes and trust that she can explain sufficiently well what she wants to do without me there. I have other pressing matters to attend to at the moment but should be back within the hour."

"Ah, very well. If you think she is capable of showing me I'm sure she is. I will see you around, Severus, perhaps in my office?" She smiled at him looking up over her glasses.

"Excuse me?" All his senses from the war started screaming there was more behind her words than literally portrayed. He kept his face impassive as he awaited her response.

"For tea, of course. We haven't had a casual conversation since the end of the war." Her smile warmed considerably as if nothing odd had went between the two.

Severus eyed her warily up and down before slowly responding. "Yes, of course, tea. Any time, Minerva."

With that Minerva walked over to the wooden door and knocked twice, sharply. He didn't tear his gaze away until she was inside and the door firmly shut.

Throwing his cloak behind him, causing it to have its signature billow, he walked out of the door. Heading to her office, his mind started racing. They could get into some serious trouble. A scowl swept across his face as his brows furrowed.

What was he nervous about Minerva for? True, she was powerful, but he was more so. That wasn't arrogance speaking, but the fact he had outdueled her several times. Not to mention he managed to lie to Voldemort and keep his cool. If he could do that, he could certainly worm his way out of a situation with Minerva.

Marching through the corridors, he spotted a pair of Ravenclaws snogging passionately in a corner by a suit of armor.

"Twenty points from Ravenclaw and I suggest you get back to your tower before I take more."

Never stopping, he smirked as he heard them scurry off as quickly as possible. Even after being declared a hero of the war students were still terrified of him. He was glad that, while the Ministry still posed a pain in his arse, the students still treated him the same.

At first, he was worried they would all mock him, or worse, pity him. Neither of which would have done him any good. Fortunately, his dark presence, even with it revealed he could in fact love someone, was still as fearsome to students as always. He assumed being able to manipulate the Dark Lord had something to do with that as well.

Climbing more stairs on the way to Minerva's office, his thoughts went back to the ridiculous plan Hermione had brewed up. Obviously, she was trying to get them both thrown into Azkaban. What would talking to a ridiculous painting be able to do? Dumbledore was wise and well-respected but there was only so much influence a mere canvas could have.

Sighing, he finally reached the stone gargoyle and muttering the password, he ascended the stairs that were revealed.

Hermione was peering in at the Wolfbane potion when Minerva walked in. Thankfully the potion would be done well after their scheme was over with, giving her and Severus time to talk over everything that had happened before getting to work, without looking suspicious. Squaring her shoulders she turned and faced McGonagall with a pleasant smile plastered on her face.

It was hard to believe that this woman whom she had looked up to as a type of mother was now the main problem that was causing her and Severus to sneak around the way they were. She knew McGonagall held a soft spot for her, but she didn't think it was enough to try to make decisions for her. Especially decisions that concerned her love life.

"Headmistress, how are you?"

Hermione noticed the older woman glancing around the lab and curiously wondered if she had ever been in Severus' private lab before. She had almost forgotten how private Severus could be since he had been opening up to her. Hopefully she hadn't made him mad by asking the woman to come down here.

"Very well, Miss Granger and yourself?" McGonagall peered over her glasses once more and Hermione suddenly grew nervous at her gaze.

"Fine, if you would like I can get started showing you what I am hoping to start working on, with your permission of course."

Hermione decided a little sweetness never killed anyone and moved over closer to the table ready to lie her teeth off if she had to. When McGonagall didn't move from the door she slowly glanced up at her questioningly.

"Headmistress?"

The Headmistress' lips thinned considerably and she gave Hermione a look the closely resembled one she had given Harry and Ron many times when they had gotten caught breaking rules. Her palms started getting sweaty and she felt her mouth go completely dry. Something was not right.

"Hermione, I am no fool and I would hope you would not take me for one."

She knew. Hermione didn't know how she knew but she did and this was about to be it. Severus would be hauled off to Azkaban and her future career would be ruined. Not to mention they would never get to see each other again.

Hermione internally scolded herself. She had to get a grip maybe that was not what McGonagall was talking about at all. Maybe she just realized Hermione didn't know as much about creating a potion as she was acting like she thought she did.

"What do you mean?"

"Severus is on his way to my office is he not?" The headmistress looked at Hermione with a knowing look.

It took all Hermione could to keep her face impassive. Her heart was racing and she knew one little slip up could cost them everything. If nothing else she had to keep her emotions in check. It wouldn't do to waste what little progress they had accomplished by just admitting to the whole thing.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Oh really? I know more than you think I know Miss Granger and I would suggest you speak the truth. If you lie and you are found out it will present you with more problems than you would have otherwise."

Hermione just stared at her unsure of what exactly to say to the woman. Before long, McGonagall started to speak again, her words becoming tenser, causing Hermione to grow even more nervous.

"He is using you Miss Granger. Mark my words. You will be nothing more than someone to warm his bed. When he realizes he is still in love with Lily he will leave and what will you be left with? A broken heart and a ruined reputation. He will move on in life as Severus normally does. It wouldn't besmirch his reputation; he has far worse allegations on him than taking advantage of a young girl."

Here, McGonagall paused to eye Hermione's reaction. Hermione for one was looking like someone had just slapped her in the face. She couldn't believe what Minerva McGonagall had just said to her about Severus. It was one thing not to want them together but to insinuate that all Severus wanted was an easy shag. What had he ever done to deserve such ridiculous slander?

Try as hard as she could, Hermione could feel her anger boiling up. The woman could slander their relationship all she wanted, but not Severus. After all he had been through he did not deserve it.

"I will have you know, Headmistress, that Severus is a perfect gentleman and not at all like you are portraying him! After all he did in the war you should be ashamed of yourself."

"So you admit there is something going on between you two?"

Hermione felt her face go red and couldn't believe that the woman in front of her used to be a Gryffindor, much less the head of house. At the moment, she was using completely Slytherin tactics and Hermione didn't like it one bit.

"No! Although, I don't see what the big deal is. I am grown, I did my years as a student, and I am simply his apprentice. There are no laws against age differences once a witch or wizard is of age! In fact, if you carefully read Hogwarts: A History you would be aware of a girl that was with her professor as a student, but after being tried it was decided nothing could be done since she was of age and he wasn't showing favoritism!"

"Ah, yes, I remember that quite well, but this is Severus Snape we are talking about. Not some professor seventy years ago."

Hermione felt like she was about to explode with anger and became vaguely aware that she was gripping her wand rather tightly. Fortunately, she was pointing it at the stone floor and not the Headmistress in front of her. Then she would be in trouble.

After a silent pause, Hermione looked scathingly at McGonagall and almost hissed her next response. Maybe being around Severus so much was causing his personality to rub off on her. At the moment, she was glad if it was.

"And what, may I ask, do you have against Severus Snape?"

McGonagall let out a small sigh and her face softened to the smallest degree. If Hermione hadn't been around her so many years she wouldn't have even noticed.

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for Severus. He was a great student and played a tremendous role in the war, as you have already mentioned, that I can't even imagine having to do. What that boy went through, Merlin only knows. But, he is tainted by that past Hermione and I will not watch him drag you down into it. He will cause you nothing but misery. I will not stand by and watch."

It suddenly clicked in Hermione's head that McGonagall wasn't trying to keep them apart to be hateful, but that she was just trying to protect her. Hermione felt her anger ebb away slightly at that thought. She knew the woman had always held a warm spot for her, but not to that degree.

Even if she was looking out for her, it still did not take away from what she was saying about Severus. He wasn't even the one that had constantly tried to push things further. It had been her. Although, if she remembered correctly he would have taken things much farther yesterday if they had not been interrupted.

A blush spread across her face and she tried to bring her focus back to what was at hand. Quietly she looked at her previous head of house and tried to be understanding.

"You are wrong about him. He may not have the best past and I may not know everything about what went on in it, but I know him now. He would never hurt me."

McGonagall took a step towards her for the first time during the entire conversation and looked at her almost pityingly.

"I wish I could believe you, Miss Granger, but I've known him far longer than you have and I can't. I will do what it takes to make sure he stays away from you. Once I gather adequate proof you two are together I will use it to ensure he can't be near you, do you understand?"

Hermione just stared at the woman in shock and the weight of the situation caused her to drop her wand. The clatter of it hitting the floor caused her to jump and she realized she had tears rolling down her face.

Gathering all her courage she stared at the woman that was threatening to take away the happiness she had found.

"I love him."

"I'm sure you do, but does he love you?"

With that McGonagall turned around and left the lab. Hermione clutched at the workspace in front of her, realizing her hands were shaking. Unable to form coherent thoughts she squatted down and fumbled to pick up her wand off of the floor.

The minute her hand enclosed on it, she let herself collapse and dissolve into tears.

Severus entered the office and quickly marched over to Dumbledore's painting. He didn't know how long Minerva would stay with Hermione and he would rather not have to play spy again if he could help it. Merlin knows, he thought his days of sneaking around were over after the war. Now he was breaking into the headmistress' office like some meddlesome school-boy.

"Ah, good evening Severus. I was wondering when you would stop by." Even as a painting Albus' eyes were twinkling and Severus silently cursed the old man.

"Yes, well, I have a pressing matter I must discuss with you." He grimaced before cutting to the chase. "Miss Granger seems to think you will know a solution to our problems pertaining to Filch and Minerva."

"So you two are together? That is splendid, my boy! I'm sure Miss Granger will present your life with quite a change for the better."

Damn him and his twinkling eyes. Could he not just have an ordinary conversation with the man for once?

"I would have you know, she needs to learn Occlumency and with such allegations flying around we need a place to meet that nobody will be aware of. She thinks the castle ideal, but I am afraid with Minerva being Headmistress this is not entirely safe."

"That is where you are wrong. You are still Headmaster of this school Severus."

Severus looked at the man like he had lost his mind. "Albus, has inhaling oil fumes caused you to lose all sanity? Obviously, I am not headmaster or I would still hold this as my office."

"Maybe to the ministry, but to the castle until one's death once titled headmaster one is always headmaster. Not to fear, the castle will aid you, particularly since you have now voiced your need so openly."

"So you are saying, as far as the castle is concerned, I have more power than Minerva?"

Severus mind was spinning. He was still headmaster? At least, as far as the castle was concerned. This would change everything; he and Hermione would have it much easier now. He could relax, if only he knew how it would help him.

"How will it help me?" He eyed the painting warily.

"I would think a bit of pacing around your rooms would suffice."

There he goes with his eyes again. Why couldn't Albus ever just simply say what he meant? Nothing could ever be simple with him. Very well, he didn't have time to risk staying any longer and he had gotten what he had come for.

"Thank you, Albus. I must return to my lab now, good evening." Severus gave the painting a small bow before turning and starting to the door.

"Oh and Severus? Do tell Miss Granger I said hello will you, although I'm sure you two will be busy discussing other matters. Good evening."

Severus only gave a curt nod to signify he had heard what was said before flying down the stairs. So he was still headmaster and they both needed to search their rooms. This should be interesting.

Keeping to the shadows he made his way back to his lab. On the second floor he watched as a tense Minerva strode back to her office and silently wondered what exactly had occurred between her and Hermione. She didn't look too happy and his worry suddenly increased.

Quickening his stride after she passed, he quickly made his way back to his office. Upon opening the door and seeing no sign of Hermione he made his way over to the door of his lab. What he saw shocked him. Hermione Granger was on the floor with sobs wracking her body.

Without another thought he swept her into his arms and sitting on the cold stone floor allowed her to cry into his robes. Whatever Minerva had said to cause her so much distress he would find out later. At the moment, all he could focus on was getting the bushy haired girl that he had grown to care so much about to calm down.

A/N: So there you go. Sorry it took so long, but honestly after the response I got from the last chapter that I worked incredibly hard on, I haven't had much motivation to write. If there was something you didn't like about it please let me know. Like I've said I love reviews and they are my main motivation to keep writing. I hope this chapter revealed a good bit of stuff for you guys and you enjoyed it, as short as it may be. I definitely will not take as long to update again.

Also, I wrote a one-shot called, A Falling of Heroes, if you want to check it out. It is about Hermione and Severus in the boat house.