'I suddenly have the entire weekend free.' Minerva stood, sweeping her robes out of the way as she turned to follow him. 'I don't know who the schedule clearing fairy is,' she caught his wrist in her fingers as they stepped through the door and into the secret passage. 'But if I ever figure it out I'm going to kiss him.'

'Unhand me woman.' He mock postured, rearing back slighting, attempting to pull his wrist from her tightening grip. 'That would be a gross violation of his, or her, personal space.'

'Oh stuff it Severus.' She squeezed his hand once more before dropping it altogether. 'I know it was you, and one day, when you least expect it…'

'Very well.' He interrupted conceding to her point, her unspoken sentiment that she would always stand by him, treat him fairly and kindly now.

'Let me know if you need anything. Otherwise I will see you this evening.' She watched him dip his head slightly in acknowledgement of her words before sweeping his way from the passage and towards his office. 'I'll make a Gryffindor out of him yet.' She grinned, turning to head towards her quarters.

Chapter 26

Hermione looked up at the sound of the door closing softly. She felt a smile pull at her lips as she took in his face, the furrow of his brow as he shook his head, his eyes unguarded and amused. She watched as he turned to face her, his eyebrow lifting as his head tilted. She bit her lips together in an attempt to school her features, control the laugh that threatened.

'Do I amuse you Miss Granger?' He let the words drip, the sarcasm he was renowned for showing here in his chambers and out of his classroom.

'Marginally Sir.' She echoed his use of her formal title, her control on her giggles slipping.

'Indeed.' He drawled, his lips stretching into a smile to match hers as he set about removing his robes. He draped them on the hook by the entry to his chambers, his frock coat left haphazardly over the back of the couch.

'Do I get to know what has you so perplexed?' She raised her own brow in question.

'Perplexed?'

'The frown, the head shake, the contradictory smiling eyes.' She bit the corner of her lower lip at the look he shot at her.

'I do not have smiling eyes.' His narrowed as if to prove the point.

'Yes you do.' She ignored his expression. 'When it counts. You do.'

He sighed then, sitting on the couch. He crossed one leg other the other at the knee, leaning back against the cushions, his arms, his shirtsleeves now rolled to the elbows, resting along the back, his positioning pulling the neck of his shirt open now that he had undone the top two buttons. 'You Gryffindor.' He smiled fully now as he shook his head again. 'Minerva thinks she can convert me you know.'

'You?' She dropped her chin and looked at him through her lashes. 'The ultimate Slytherin?'

'She thinks she can make me into one of…' he waved his wrist lazily in her general direction. 'You.'

'There is nothing wrong with me.' Hermione's eyes widened, her tone slightly offended.

'Gryffindor.' He emphasized, shifting the focus from her person to the House as a whole.

'There is nothing wrong with Gryffindor.' She shook her head. She watched him smile again then.

'Perhaps not.' He bounced his eyebrows. 'But let it be said, I do not want to be anything like that crazy Scotswoman.' He grinned wider as Onyx chose that moment to land on his abandoned frock coat, spin twice before rolling to present her backside, her leg extended over her head as she gave two perfunctory licks before pausing, lifting her head and eyeballing them both. 'As you can see, one cat in here is enough.'

She giggled again, unable to contain the mirth at his expression at the turn of events; the cat's rear-end perilously close to his head, her white fur dotting his previously pristine black frock coat. 'I'm sure you'd make a very cute cat Severus.' She managed to deliver as she reigned in her laughter.

'I see.' His brow raised again as he locked his dark gaze on hers.

'All sleek and black and stealthy.' She continued to tease him.

'And I'm sure you'd make a perfectly fine, ridiculously fluffy Persian.' He grinned again, his eyes teasing, their corners creased. 'I do seem to recall a beast of such description in your possession.'

Instantly her smile fell from her face. 'Crookshanks. He died.' She whispered. 'At the burrow. At Bill's wedding.'

'I'm sorry Hermione.' His voice and expression solemn now.

'It's okay.' She shook her head, stopping the tears before they could truly well. 'It's not like it happened yesterday.'

'No.' He nodded once. 'But it is still sad. I don't know how I would feel if Onyx or LyuBlyu were taken from me so suddenly.'

'It's awful.' She caught her lower lip between her teeth and held it for a moment, her eyes closing briefly before she looked back at him. 'I didn't even get to say goodbye.' She swallowed. 'To anyone.'

'I know Little One.' He nodded again. 'And again I'm sorry.'

'Severus?' Her eyes fell to where her hands lay twined in her lap as she attempted to change the topic, but unsure of his reaction she avoided eye contact.

'Yes?' He coaxed softly. 'What is it?'

'What am I supposed to do when you're not here?' She swallowed again before lifting her eyes to his. 'I mean, you have books and I have my study, but…' her voice trailed off as her eyes darted to the fireplace behind him.

'But?'

'Your chambers are nice. Nothing as I expected. But they're small. I will eventually read all of the books on the shelves in here and my studies will be finished and you can't always be here to talk to and Onyx and Lyblyu are cute and all but I just don't know what I'm going to do here. By myself.' Her words were delivered rapid fire, all running together on one long exhale. She took a deep stuttering breath at the end of her delivery and then she waited.

'Well,' he paused waiting for her to look at him once more. When her eyes found his he relaxed his pose even further; his legs shifting to cross at the ankle, his arms falling from the back of the couch to rest his hands on his thighs. 'Obviously you will read, and study and as I previously offered, if it is of interest to you, I will put you through a potions apprenticeship.' He pushed on his hands, using the action, its leverage to help him stand. 'But as for when the rooms become claustrophobic,' he shifted to hover in front of where she sat on the opposite couch. He held out a hand and waited for her to take it, watching her lift her hand, pause for a second, her eyes darting between his offered appendage and his gaze before accepting. 'I have something to show you. Come on.' As he felt her fingers curl into his he dragged her gently to her feet and pulled her carefully across the room to the corner. He guided her to stand in front of him, one of his hands coming to rest on her shoulder, the other lifting her trapped hand and pressing her open palm onto the stone wall.

She glanced up as she felt the wash of magic rush through her. She saw his eyes close for a second as she felt his chest brush against her back with his deep breath. Instinctively she took a matching breath and let her eyes close too. She felt the magic swell, a warm pulse throbbing gently, rhythmically through her entire body, a feeling of immense calm filling her. 'What is that?'

'That is the castle responding.' He matched his volume to hers. 'To us. Look.' He whispered then.

She felt his breath across her cheek as he spoke so very quietly. She opened her eyes following his command to see the castle wall warping from view, vanishing to reveal a doorway opening into the most beautiful garden she had ever seen before. She felt her eyes widen as she darted her gaze around the immense space trying to take it all in; the lush gardens full of flowering blooms and garden herbs. Shrubbery and trees were strategically dotted about the space. Pathways edged around them, concrete seating between, in alcoves and under sprawling branches, giving places to stop and simply enjoy the ambience. The rose bushes flowering in all colors in a bed of their own. The giant purple jacaranda tree, shading the far corner, the Forbidden Forest towering behind it. The crystal clear waterfall that seemed to come from the very castle wall itself. It filled the large pond-like pool at its base, edged in rock. The calming sound of water, of birds filled the air. The garden, though surrounded on three sides by the castle, the forth being closed in by the encroaching forest was open to the sky, the sun shining down, glinting off the water and basking the entire place in its golden rays. 'It's beautiful.' She breathed.

'Thank you.' He pushed her gently through the stone archway then and into the sunlight. 'It has taken my twenty years to get it to look like this.'

'You made this?' She turned to face him, her eyes wide in her awe.

'I did.' He nodded, the movement so small that had she not been looking she would have missed it entirely.

'How?' Her head tilted as she searched his face for the answer.

'I'm a wizard Hermione.' He touched his finger against the very tip of her nose, smirking as she blinked in surprise at his action. 'I took the poor excuse for the potions garden off the dungeons and I added a few extension charms. A couple of notice-me-not charms and some strong wards render this place completely invisible from everywhere in the castle.' He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her back to face into his garden. 'The entire garden is impenetrable unless I have granted you access.'

'And I can come here?' She whispered once more, her eyes greedily drinking in everything he had accomplished.

'Anytime you like. You just have to ask the castle.' He straightened, letting his hands drop from her shoulders as he stepped out from behind her. 'Lyublyu and Onyx are often out here too.' He gestured into the vast space. 'In fact…' he let his voice trail off as he emitted a low, single, sharp whistle. He took hold of her hand and pulled her forward into the space, leading her down one of the winding paths, through the gardens towards the pool as he waited to see if his whistle would have a summoning effect. He squeezed her hand, dragging her to a halt as a small white ball of fur came hurtling out of the Forbidden Forest, a flurry of wagging tail and lolling tongue as his dog bounded up to them, dancing about their legs, her excitement palpable. 'There she is.' He reached his free hand down to scruff the dog on the top of her head before straightening to face Hermione once more. He let his eyes roam over her features, enjoying the way the sun picked up the highlights in her hair, her eyes, the way her smile grew as she took in his garden, the antics of his ever-amusing canine friend. 'You are perfectly safe in here Hermione.'

'I may never leave.' She looked up at him, her eyes dancing in her happiness at this latest development, the answer to her cloistered concerns.

'I have a fully stocked private potions lab and a separate double story library to the other side of my rooms.' He smirked then as her head whipped back to him, her eyes widening even more.

'I stand corrected.' She smiled up at him. 'I just may never sleep again.'

'I will hex you.' He let his voice show his teasing.

'I don't believe you.' She giggled softly before stepping backwards as she watched his eyes narrow in mock annoyance.

'I will…' he let the threat drip as he continued to shoot a glare in her direction.

'You're gonna have to catch me first.' She took another step backwards, her smile taunting as she wiggled her eyebrows at him.

He tightened his grip on her fingers, as he straightened even more, making himself appear the very essence of the evil Death Eater Headmaster. 'That can be arranged.' He pursed his lips as her fingers slipped from his, as she took a few more steps backwards before spinning on her heel and sprinting away, Lyublyu chasing after her. 'You can run Little One.' He drawled as he followed her retreat, his larger steps closing the distance quickly. He grinned then as she ducked behind a gardenia bush. He stepped around the other side of the shrub and watched with amusement as she stumbled blindly backwards her head, her eyes directed to where she thought he was. 'But you can't hide.' He delivered his words as he caught her gently by the shoulders. He chuckled then at her surprised gasp, at the way she spun in his loose grip to face him. He let his façade fall as he looked down at her flushed face, her smiling eyes. He let his lips pulling into a smile to match hers.

'Are you going to hex me?' She spoke so softly as she looked up at him.

He was about to answer her when movement at the edge of the garden caught his eye. 'No.' He whispered, his eyes still locked on something over her head. 'I am going to do something better.

'Something better?' She felt her brow furrow as he watched him observe something else. She turned slowly, his hands still on her, in an attempt to see what had captured his attention. She felt her breath catch in her throat as her eyes found the source of his distraction. 'Oh my god.' The words, though barely spoken with volume caused their uninvited guest to pause, its head upright, its neck stretched fully, its ears pricked as it assessed the danger. 'Is that…' her voice trailed off as he gave her shoulders a squeeze.

'Stay here.' He stepped beside her. 'Stay still.' He waited until she nodded her agreement before he began to edge his way down the garden.

She stood very still as she watched him move closer, his hand stretched out towards the large white unicorn standing on the edge of the forest. She watched as the unicorn took a tentative step towards him, its muzzle stretched, allowing it to rub against his upturned hand.

'That's a girl.' Severus coaxed the mare further into the garden, his hand coming to stroke her neck, his fingers wrapping into her mane. He continued to pat the animal, a huge smile gracing his face as the mare nuzzled against him for a few moments before turning slightly to nicker behind her.

Hermione felt her head tilt as she caught the corner of her lower lip between her teeth. Everything she had read about unicorns had indicated they were incredibly shy creatures, rarely seen by humans. That only the purest of heart had been able to see the creature. Yet here she stood watching Severus not only stroke one of the majestic beasts, but cuddle a tiny foal into his lap, the baby having stepping timidly into the clearing upon hearing its mother's call.

'Hermione.' Severus called as loudly as he dared, not wanting to startle the foal in his lap nor the mother grazing happily beside him. He turned enough to lock eyes on hers. 'Do you want to…'

'To?' she interrupted.

'Meet my friends?' He smiled as she took a few steps forward. 'It's ok.' He nodded then. 'They know you're here. They know who you are.'

'How?'

'I told them.' He spoke as though it was the most reasonable answer. Logical in its simplicity.

'And you just happen to speak unicorn.' She shook her head slowly as she rolled her eyes.

'No Little One,' he motioned for her to come closer, reaching for her hand, taking it in his and guiding it towards the foal's muzzle. 'They're empathic. They read hearts and intentions.' He smirked then as the mother gave Hermione a gentle nudge causing her to stagger slightly towards him before dropping to her knees beside him. 'I just had to vouch for you.'