The pair said goodbye to the small cottage as they walked away, preparing to apparate back to Severus' home. Hermione cast back a final lingering glance upon the house that had revealed so much in the past few days. Despite the worry that creased her brow for the times ahead and the revelations left to be made, she could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for what they had shared here.

"Ready?" His eyes bore into her, he knew full well she was not, but she nodded anyway, gripping his hand in such a way that he knuckles lightened in response. With that he apparated, pulling her back to his home.

Normally, Severus would marvel in the way that Hermione occupied his home, her quiet confidence, the sense that she belonged between those four walls had always surprised him, he who had loathed sharing his confines with anyone. Yet here she fit. Today however, she seemed hunched, her brow had continued its furrow, and he became increasingly concerned with her state. He had noticed flickers of this in the past, brief moments where it seemed as though a shadow crossed over her face, yet there was something that lingered now, and she was keeping her cards close to her chest.

"Hermione?" He questioned, leaving it open-ended in an attempt to coax her out of her shell.

Hermione just gave him a weak smile before quietly replying.

"I best be off, plenty of work to do and too little time to do it."

Before Severus had a chance to protest, she had whisked herself out of the door and apparated away.

What the hell is going on?

"Do you have it?" The voice was gruff, a blunt harshness.

"Yes, as per usual, but you can wait five seconds for me to get it." Hermione's voice supressed the anxiety she was feeling in this moment. Despite the many times these meetings had occurred each one was preceded with her loathing and fear.

Hermione fumbled with files as she quickly scanned the ones, she was looking her, aiming to keep the key to accessing them hidden from the beady eyes burning holes into her back.

"Quickly Witch, I haven't got all day." The man began pacing, the clack of his heels on her hardwood floor mimicked her heartbeat, and she wondered how much longer, how many more years she would have to do this for.

"Here, take them and leave." She thrust the papers into his hand, ripping herself away and pointing to the door.

"Huh" he tutted, "as always, I'll be in touch" and with that the invader of her peace left the house.

Severus was confused. That was the simplest word that could be attributed to his fingers incessantly tapping as he stared at a blank wall, trying to comprehend the swiftness with which Hermione had exited his presence and the reasons for her sudden reservedness. Was it him, was it their forwardness? Did she regret all the things she had said, all the things he had said? It had all seemed perfect that previous morning. Waking up to strands of hair tickling his face had been but a dream. What if his dream had become her nightmare? Only nothingness stood in the face of his many questions, and currently he felt powerless to stop them.

"Enough". He said aloud, more for himself to force his thinking pattern to stop.

"You're a grown man, an ex-death eater, a spy for gods sake, there is more to life than that witch" Although even his commanding tone was not enough to thoroughly convince him of that fact.

Determined to do something other than fret over that with which he had no control he strode to his closet, threw on old tattered clothes and then made his way to the garden with a shovel in hand, and began to upturn the earth, displaced worms wriggling in the damp dirt as he went.

Hermione's first days at the ministry had been met with fame and an incessantly large number of people wanting to meet her. Nowadays she was met with smiles and brief nods, but no more overwhelming crowds, which was much to her liking, especially today. Today she had a favour to ask.

"Percy, its good to see you again"

"As it is you Hermione, it has been some time." Percy came from behind his desk to shake her hand. The Head of the Department for International Magical Cooperation seemed happier than in his younger days working under Barty Crouch Senior. The role had allowed him the space he needed to rise and fall on his own merits, and flounder less under the scrutinising expectation of authority. Whilst he had seemed a drag during their time at Hogwarts, Hermione had appreciated his respect for rules, and his dedication to the research and tasks he had been assigned, and it was this appreciation that had allowed her to keep a fledgling familiarity with him since her split from Ron.

"So what brings you up from the third floor? An international muggle crisis?" Her smirked, both knowing full well he would have heard about such a thing far in advance of her.

"Actually I was wondering if I could ask you about the silver dealings coming out of Norway? There may be some relations issues with the muggles working up there, and potentially price listings coming out to the wrong groups. Muggles getting prices in galleons and such, a total PR nightmare. I just need a quick look at the files to verify that everything is going ok."

"Ah yes, Kongsberg, I know the one, we're about to launch a new set of trade deals I believe throughout Europe from that silver mine. I can give you a brief look, but they cannot leave this office. We've had these workings between several silver productions with Germany and Sweden for months now, and it is crucial that things go to plan."

"Of course, it shall be for my eyes only". Which in that moment was only a half truth, as overlaid on one eye was a contact lens that Percy had not seen, and he had certainly not noticed the enchantment on them snapping away images for her to peruse later.

"Thanks again Percy."

"Anytime."

So I know I keep saying im back and then keep disappearing but I guess that's just life, but ive been so inspired by the emails I keep getting of kudos and such on this story so ive written another chapter, starting to lay the plot more now so things get interesting. Thank you again for all the responses to this fic. Its been awesome