A/N: So it's been a few months, I apologize. I'm not promising regular posting but I'm off work and school the rest of this week so I thought I'd crank something out. Happy New Year!

Seventeen:

Vertiserum, vertiserum. The name of the potion flooded all of Hermione's brain. She couldn't understand how Severus could be so stupid. How he could put himself at risk. Put his position at risk. She could honestly scream at him. She read over his notes having done this particular brew over the summer with him she had already received marks for her performance. Severus noted that her job was to keep her classmates from blowing them up, because of how volatile the brew was.

She winced sliding off the stool, she looked over at Severus who was patrolling the aisle way, assisting when it was vital. There was no room for accidents in a NEWT level classroom. Accidents at the lower levels could lead to serious injuries. At the NEWT level they were critical or fatal. Severus appeared at her side helping her regain her balance, worry flooded the bond.

"Are you alright?" Severus whispered, the action would be noticed, but the whole school had heard of Hermione's injuries. It was all over the Daily Prophet. Snape taking care of a student was unheard of, him taking care of an apprentice wouldn't be out of character.

She nodded, "Yes sir, sorry sir, I stood too fast." She straightened her posture, gaining her full height once her head stopped spinning.

He nodded, letting go of her elbow. "Be more careful next Apprentice Granger."

"Yes sir," Hermione replied, as she started to walk down the aisles between lab tables. She would occasionally instruct one of her peers, leading them to the conclusions themselves. Severus marveled at her ability.

At the end of the lab every student put their cauldron under a stasis charm, to freeze their work until the next lab. Hermione would be tasked with labeling the cauldrons and putting them on the shelves until next time. Her peers filed out, and Severus came up behind her, as she finished labeling her classmates work. She sent the cauldrons to their places for NEWT level coursework. She sealed the cauldrons with her wards. Protecting the younger students from the potions.

"Hermione."

Her head snapped up, "Yes sir."

"Do you need to rest?" He could tell she was worn out. She was moving slow calculating every movement. As much as she had recovered her stamina wasn't what it once was. That would take time to rebuild and she couldn't take a mild energy potion. It could prove catastrophic with her other potions.

She shook her head, "I'll be fine. I'll see you at lunch." She smiled at him brilliantly. "I was worried."

He took her hand and kissed it, "We will discuss it this evening."

"Honesty."

He nodded curtly, "Honesty."

Hermione winked at him before leaving the dungeons, she needed to make it all the way to the charms classroom. Harry was waiting outside the door, "Are you okay?" He put his arm around her shoulders, falling into step with her.

"I'm tired. I'm not completely healed and my strength isn't one hundred percent," Hermione replied, "Thank you for waiting on me."

Harry shrugged it off, "You've been everything for me. A friend, a sister, a soundboard, and a million other things. It's the least I can do for you."

She smiled, leaning against him as they made it to charms. The pair slid into seats quietly. Professor Flitwick started to climb onto his stage, so that he was eye level with the bottom row of students. "We will begin this year reviewing more complex charms. Then build to NEWT level material."

She smiled at the high pitched voice of Flitwick. Some things never changed. And currently she was thankful for that continuity.

…

Hermione settled into their quarters. Severus was doing after dinner rounds, something she was grateful he had to do last minute. As much as she enjoyed his presence. She needed a bit to process, well life. Severus was proving to be a supportive and genuine partner. More than she ever could have asked for. Particularly considering the circumstances. She enjoyed him deeply, most likely the pull of their bond.

The questions haunted her. Would we have gotten here on our own? Would we still have these feelings if it weren't for the bond? What did it mean that their magic was compatible? The thoughts that had been bothering her for the past several weeks circled around her mind. She was afraid the moment she spoke them and they were out in the air, she shuddered. She card about him, in many ways he had became a huge part of her. She pulled her textbook closer to her, burying herself in it. Willing the thoughts that had plagued her away with subjects and spells she already knew the theory of.

That was how Severus found her buried in homework. He smiled, she looked beautiful, her hair was pulled from her face in an elegant twist held still by the pencil she had shoved through it. Her tie was draped over the couch beside her, the first three buttons on her Oxford unbuttoned. He could see the swell of her breasts as she leaned over the text. He stool there watching her for several moments, arms crossed just marveling in her presence. He was rarely able to just observe her.

She looked up from the text, and smiled at him, "Welcome home." She put her text on the coffee table and went to him. "Hi."

He bent his head to hers brushing his lips against hers lightly. "That's the first time anyone has ever said that to me."

Her heart broke. That simple statement had been so ingrained into the culture of her home. Her mum had always been the first one home. Leaving the practice to greet Hermione when she arrived home from school. Welcome home. Then they would greet her father the same way when he arrive home before dinner. Welcome home. He would greet her mother the same way Severus just had her. A simple brush of his lips against hers. Home. "Severus I"-

He cut her off with another simple kiss. "I enjoyed it, Hermione. Don't worry."

"My mum would leave the practice early. To be home when I got there. She would greet me with a hug and a welcome home. Then she would say the same thing to daddy. And he'd kiss her. Much like you did me. Just then. It was just so engrained in my life," she said, sharing an intimate part of her with him. "It just came out."

He pulled her to him, holding her tightly. He was… grateful she had shared that with him. Something that he knew she probably had never shared with anyone else. The differences between her childhood and his were black and white. He could easily see Hermione being a fiercely loving and nurturing mother, she'd had that model for a strong loving family. The thought if children made him mentally stiffen. He could see it easily fir Hermione. But for himself? He didn't know. Home is where she is.

Hermione breathed him in, "I needed to remember them like that." She wasn't ready to break contact with him yet. So she held on tighter, letting her worries melt into him. "Severus," she whispered after several minutes.

"Yes."

The silence between the two of them felt oppressive, as she built up the courage to ask one of the questions that had plagued her earlier that evening. "What does it mean that our magic is compatible? Is that a different type of bond than the one we already share?" The words came out quickly.

"Hermione it means," he faltered, "it means."

"What Sev?" Her eyes met his.

He let her go, taking several steps back. Putting physical distance between them, because he knew that his next statement would put emotional distance between them. He'd earned her trust and this knowledge would surely make her angry. "When two magical cores are compatible it typically means that the couple also has a soul bond. It's not a common occurrence but it is documented. The muggle world calls it a soul mate. Take Arthur and Molly their magics are compatible. Our magical cores are very much a part of us like our souls, most argue they're one in the same. Most couples have a level of compatibility, but it's not extremely high. You and I"-

"It's extremely high. That's why I can feel you." Hermione's hand covered her mouth. "I never believed in soul mates, it seemed to frivolous. Nonsensical. A fairytale. How long have you known?"

"Since the bond was sealed," he answered, waiting for her wrath. He pinched the bridge of his nose, waiting. Then her arms slipped around him. She stood on her tip toes.

"I'm not upset. I'm glad you waited to tell me that. I don't know if I could have handled it earlier. So we would have ended up here anyways?" She kissed his cheek.

"Yes. We would have ended up here."