Hey! Sorry this is late, but I was exhausted from doing 5 1/2 hours of homework today. Keep the reviews coming! Still looking for that 500 and I know you all can do it!

Enjoy!


Another few weeks passed in much of the same way, though Hermione began to take less of a work load and catching up on sleep. They were making progress; nearly the entire first two floors were completely restored. Those who were helping at the start of the process began going home and very few remained. People had lives outside of Hogwarts, and Minerva was well aware of that fact. Soon, the two groups were combined and working together.

Severus enjoyed resting outside in the courtyard after dinner, and Hermione often joined him. He watched each passing day as she became increasingly nervous around him, and he didn't know what to do about it. One night, Hermione returned to the school and Severus began his usual pondering the possible things that could be wrong with her. Tapping his foot on the ground and lifting his eyes upward, his thought process was suddenly interrupted by footsteps.

Turning his head, Severus found Hermione, standing in the entrance to the courtyard, her hair frizzy and her face clearly panicked. Her hands were clenched at her side and her eyes were flashing wildly.

"Ronald kissed me," she blurted out, clearly shocked at the words that had left her lips.

The two stared at one another, Severus withholding his reaction and Hermione anxiously waiting for it. Severus processed the information, over and over…and over again in his head. He had kissed her. He had kissed her. He touched her. She was not his to touch. Severus swallowed and leaned back, pulling his eyes away from her.

"When?" he asked in the most casual voice he could manage.

"In the Chamber of Secrets…during the final battle," she mumbled.

Severus turned his eyes back to her, forcing his emotions back. She was ashamed, he could tell by her watering eyes. Scared – her hands were clenched and her eyes were wide. The only thing that could be heard was her heavy breathing.

"Is this what's been bothering you?"

And just like that, she cracked. With a sob she covered her face with her hands, taking deep sharp breaths. Severus panicked. He didn't know what to do with a hysterical woman. She lifted her head, allowing his to see the tears streaming down her face.

"It was my fault and I knew you'd be angry with me, then, he started threatening to tell you about it if I didn't end things with you! I don't want to and I kept telling him that it wasn't going to happen, and he keeps pushing and pushing. I don't want you to hate me,"

She ended with another wave of silent sobbing.

"Oh for heaven's sake," Severus said harshly while standing. "Did you willingly participate?"

Hermione raised her bloodshot eyes to his, her crying suddenly halted as she stared at him shocked.

"Of course not!" she snapped with a stuffy nose, appalled at the thought.

"Then I don't see the problem,"

Her shoulders sunk and her mouth hung open slightly.

"You're not…you're not angry at me?"

"I don't have a reason to be,"

"Oh," she whispered breathlessly.

"This is what you've been so skittish about?"

"I didn't think you noticed,"

"How could I not? It was like you were constantly walking on eggshells,"

She gave a deep sigh, appearing to have a weight physically taken off of her shoulders. Hermione walked forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, and he pulled her gently against his body. He felt her shaking against him.

"Were you really scared to tell me?"

"You're still somewhat intimidating, even after all this time,"

Severus smiled against the side of her head and tightened his hold on her. After a few moments her shivering stopped and he felt her head turn up towards him. Her lips pressed against his jaw, and his eyes closed as a sudden peacefulness washed over him. He felt her smile against his skin.

"You need to shave,"

"I've been a little busy," he volleyed back easily, turning his face towards hers.

Severus was struck with the tender smile on her face, suddenly so calm and peaceful. The smile slowly diminished until her eyes were suddenly looking for something in his own.

"When are we going to tell people?" she whispered quietly.

"I don't think now is the time," he replied, looking away from her eyes.

"Why not?"

"Things are still up in the air," he murmured, pulling away from her and turning his back to her gaze.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I don't want you involved…in things that do not concern you,"

"What…what do you mean?"

"The Ministry will, no doubt, learn of my…doings, and I don't want them to drag you into it,"

"But you didn't do anything wrong,"

He turned around and raised an eyebrow at her.

"I killed Albus Dumbledore, that alone is enough,"

"Then I'll tell them you didn't, we'll fight them. I'm not going to let them win, not after everything you've done for the entire wizarding world,"

"And then the Daily Prophet will drag your name through the mud,"

"I don't care; I'm not going to leave you by yourself to deal with all of this,"

"And what do you think people will say when they find out the previous Potions Master has a relationship with a previous student? Especially a student who was on the run with her two best friends and just happen to help defeat the most powerful wizard this world has ever seen,"

She crossed her arms over her chest, raising her eyebrows at him.

"Your point?"

He stared at her, seeing the confidence basically pouring off of her. She was going to be stubborn, and he knew that.

"I want you to stay out of this," Severus said in a warning tone.

"If I need to, I will get involved,"

Severus turned fully to stare at her. The confidence she was displaying made her radiant…and Severus didn't know how to handle her.

"You were just half scared to death because of some adolescent problem, and now you're willing to throw yourself in the middle of this scandal,"

She grinned at him, her arms lowering to her sides.

"I know; I feel great now," she said seeming full of life and happier than she had been since the battle. "I think I'm going to go to bed now,"

"Okay," Severus mumbled, failing to come up with a better response.

She turned away with a smile and strode toward the doors before coming to a quick stop. Turning around, she walked immediately up to him, grabbed his robes and pulled him down to her. Her lips coved his for a moment, not moving, simply feeling. Hermione pulled away with a small graceful smile.

"I'll see you inside," she said gently, patting his chest before turning away and walking to the school.

Severus remained outside a moment longer, until the lights went out in the Great Hall. Slowly, he made his way into the dark room, over to their usual spot. Settling down for the night, Severus turned to see Hermione on her side, her back facing him. Silently he rolled over and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. She sighed deeply and snuggled closer to him.