Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Author's Note: Thank you for the wonderful reviews! Please be safe and healthy!

Apologies if this story is not as detailed as you may like. Still, thank you for the support!

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Who watched Daniel Radcliffe in HarryPotterAtHome, reading the first chapter of the first book? I was emotional, listening to him how it all began.

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Chapter 26:

December 15, 1975

(twenty years ago)

A month had passed since the 'duelling incident', as Hermione called it. Sev healed her quickly, but she had lost a lot of blood, so she stayed in the hospital wing for three days. The headmaster called for Lily and Sev in two separate meetings with their Heads and with the presence of the two professors who witnessed the incident. Her parents also arrived because of Professor Flitwick's insistence that hers and Lily's parents should know.

Hermione was awoken one night by her mother's sobs. When she called her, Mrs. Puckle quickly went to her side.

"My baby... What happened to you? What was Lily Evans thinking?" She hugged her and ran hands on her hair and the small of her back.

"I'm fine now, Mum," she assured her.

"Thanks to Severus, he knew the counter-spell to heal you!" exclaimed Mrs. Puckle.

Hermione's memories were foggy the first time she woke in the hospital wing. Her parents were allowed to stay until she was released. Sev also visited frequently - mostly in his vacant periods.

"Professor Flitwick said that Lily Evans is going to be expelled," her mother told her the night before she was to be released. "Her parents came here earlier, begging me and your father to let their daughter finish her education."

"Mum, what did you tell them?" she asked in a worried tone.

"What she did to you was unforgivable!" Mrs. Puckle replied instead.

"But Mum... Sev and I invented the spell..." she reminded her.

"Yes and Sev told us and the headmaster," her mother informed her. "But Sev said you didn't test it on anyone, just on a Transfigured animal. Headmaster Dumbledore believed him because he was questioned under the Truth Potion, with the consent of his mother, of course..."

"But Mum, Lily's a witch. What will happen to her if she wouldn't be able to finish her studies?"

Her mother's eyes widened. "Sweetheart, she nearly killed you!"

"I know, Mum," she replied rather hesitantly. "And I don't think I will ever forgive her. But remember what you always told me and Mona? Kill people with kindness? I'm a much better person than she is. She's got a bad record already and surely, we can ask Headmaster Dumbledore to ensure my safety..."

Mrs. Puckle sat on the edge of her bed and cupped her face, searching her eyes. After a few moments, she sighed. "Oh, my darling Hermione! Your anger scares me... but your kindness is scarier."

And so Lily Evans remained at Hogwarts and was allowed to finish her magical education. She got a very long and emotional letter from Mrs. Evans, thanking her for what she did. She always liked Mrs. Evans and she was the sole reason why Hermione could tolerate Lily.

The news quickly spread and when she walked to the Great Hall after being released in the hospital wing, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins (and her friends from Gryffindor) applauded her. She ducked her head and pulled Sev to the Ravenclaw table. She did her best not to look at Lily.

Because of what she did (and according to Sev, because of her duelling skills), many students from different houses showed respect to her by greeting her politely with 'Hello, Miss Puckle'. Even some Hufflepuffs like Alice commended her, saying something like 'If it were me, I wouldn't let her stay in school, no matter how kind I am.'

But she shrugged and ignored the unsolicited comments.

"We're alone at last," Sev muttered. They sat under an oak tree by the lake. Sev rested his back on the tree and Hermione was positioned in between his legs, her back to his chest.

She tilted her head to give him a small smile. "Alice and Frank are in the library."

"And Remus is with his gang," added Sev. He pressed a kiss on her temple. "I'm glad you're here with me, safe and healthy. A month ago, I thought I lost you already."

Hermione shifted so that she could face him. He looked pained when he met her eyes. She ran a hand on his face. "You saved me," she said, just like always.

Sev leaned into her touch and closed his eyes as if enjoying the feeling. "I'm scared of losing you."

"Me, too," she admitted. Sev opened his eyes and held her by the waist tighter, then he inched his face closer to give her a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Don't leave me, Hermione," he whispered.

She shook her head. "I'm not planning to."

"Don't die," he said with a plea.

"I'll try my best to avoid dying early," she promised with a smile.

But Sev shook his head, not satisfied with her words. "Don't try. Do. Do your best to get out of trouble. Don't get yourself hurt. I can't lose you. You're the most important person in my life, probably more important than my mother."

"Oh, Sev, don't - "

"I'm not saying she's not important," he cut her off softly. "But she didn't exactly do her best to protect me from my father. The best she could do was send me to you and your family. But what if we never met? Or yeah, we're friends but your family wasn't fond of me. Where would that leave me? In the streets? Hiding in closed factories in Cokeworth? Meeting you was like heaven from hell, Hermione. It's not just because your parents looked after me and fed me, but because you touched my heart. You showed me the care that my mother failed to demonstrate. And you never get tired of me... I guess that's the reason why I love you - because you're such a loving and caring person. You don't give up on people. You don't drop your friends and hell, even your enemy."

She smiled genuinely and cupped his face, not minding if there were tears in her eyes. "I will never get tired of you, so you better get used to me being around. Because I don't want to see you with anyone else, ever. I want you to myself. Alone."

Severus chuckled. "Then, we're on the same boat." And he kissed her again, but it wasn't chaste. It was hard - hard enough for Hermione's toes to curl and she felt a warm sensation in her whole body. He urged her to open her mouth by running his tongue on her lips. She parted his lips and allowed him to dominate her by letting his tongue caress hers. He tasted sweet - still like cayenne pepper tea, but with honey. Yes, he tasted like honey and she liked it. She moaned when she felt his hands lowered from his waist to her arse cheeks. Each of his hand cupped a cheek. In return, Hermione's hand ran on his robe-covered chest down to his crotch. The moment she touched him down there, she felt the hardness. He was hard.

But Sev yanked her hand. They broke the kiss. "I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, thinking she hurt him.

Sev ran a hand on his forehead. "No. Not your fault. I'm sorry," he whispered.

Hermione nodded, feeling relieved. So, she didn't hurt him. What did she do?

"It's just that... I might not be able to control myself if we..." Sev trailed off, probably searching for the right words to say.

But she smiled in understanding. "Yes. We don't want to be the subject of gossips." She stood up, knowing that he was still hard and he probably needed to 'take care of it', like what she had read in a trashy romance novel her friends lent her.

"I... need to go to the loo," she lied.

Sev was still sitting on the grass and nodded. "All right. I'll meet you at the Great Hall for lunch?"

She nodded and with one last smile, she walked away.

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December 19, 1975

(twenty years ago)

"Come with me tomorrow."

Hermione looked up from her Ancient Runes book to Sev who was sitting beside her in the Ancient Runes class. She cocked an eyebrow. "Hogsmeade? Sure," she replied with a smile, but Sev's smile did not reach his eyes. He'd been quiet this morning since they met outside the Ravenclaw common room.

He shook his head. "No, not Hogsmeade."

She gave him a questioning look and waited patiently for his reply.

"Grandma Prince wants to meet me."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, Sev! That's - "

"Grandfather passed away five days ago," he whispered.

"Oh. I'm sorry," she replied sincerely and took his hand.

"How do you mourn for someone whom you never met?" he asked.

"I... I don't know," she admitted. Her mum's father passed away a long time ago; before Mona was born. Her maternal grandmother was still living happily miles away from Cokeworth and they would visit her twice a year. Her dad's mum passed away when he was just a boy and Grandpa Puckle died when Hermione was seven. She and Mona were very close to him and they both cried so hard during his funeral.

"Never mind that," Sev said quietly. "So, will you come with me tomorrow? To meet Grandma?" He caressed her hand.

"Of course, if you want me to," she replied affectionately, even if deep in her heart, she was nervous.

"I want you to, and I told her that I won't be coming alone. Told her I'm bringing my beloved."

Her heart warmed at his words. "Thank you."

"Oh, god! I'm so tired!"

Hermione turned around upon hearing the voice beside her. James slumped tiredly on the other seat beside her.

"What's happened to you, Potter? You look like you've been trashing in your bed last night," commented Severus.

James rested his head on his desk, using a book as a pillow. He closed his eyes. "We finally did it. I'm a stag," he whispered. "Sirius is a dog."

"Of course, he is," Sev commented again and Hermione elbowed him.

"And Peter?" she asked with concern.

"A rat," he replied sleepily.

Hermione clapped her hands and beamed. "Excellent!"

James smiled tiredly. "Thanks, Mione."

"So, how come you didn't get any sleep while Remus was dozing off?" she inquired.

"We just couldn't," he replied. "'T was our first time, you know." He yawned rather loudly, causing their other classmates to turn to them. Alona and Amelia raised eyebrows at them.

"James, do you know you're in the wrong class?" she asked with a frown.

But James Potter's reply was loud snores and Hermione had to cast Silencing and Disillusionment Charms on him.

"Let's leave him here, after class," Sev whispered with mirth in his eyes.

She giggled. "I would love to, but Remus - ."

"He wouldn't mind. Remus likes me more than Potter," he replied confidently.

"Still, he's our friend now," she replied.

Sev rolled his eyes. "You're no fun."

"Oh, but you still love me!" she chuckled.

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A/N II: And sorry, because Hermione is just too forgiving. I know someone who's exactly like her: my friend. She's a Ravenclaw, too. And she's scary when she's pushed to her limits.

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Chapter 27 sneak peak:

"Hey, Hermy!"

"Hey, Siri."

"Thanks for the Sleeping Draught! I slept well!"

She grinned. "Really? Great. But you can thank Reggie for that. You know, Regulus."