Hermione stood silently, unable to look up at Snape. She felt weak. Ron's assault on her person scared her more than anything. It was one thing being attacked by an enemy, but this was someone who had been her friend. He had put his hands on her and hurt her. She willed herself not to cry.

Snape was trying to bottle his anger and focus on the poor girl in front of him. What Ronald Weasley had done was not excusable. He approached her cautiously and began to check her for injuries. His eyes burned with anger when he saw the bruises on her arms and the cut on her head. He lifted her chin so she would look at him. "Hermione, I'm going to treat you head injury. Is this agreeable to you?" She nodded but didn't say a word. He used his wand to seal the wound. Very gently, he applied the necessary potions to promote healing and bandaged the area. He noticed Hermione rubbing the bruises on her wrist. "Do they hurt? I can provide you a pain potion if you would like."

"No, thank you. They don't hurt terribly. I just can't believe Ronald would grab me like that! I can't believe he would propose to me like that and expect me to say yes to giving up my dreams! He is so infuriating and self-centered!" She ranted and then started to cry. "We used to be friends. I don't know where it went wrong."

Severus embraced her. He knew that action was risky considering his unresolved feelings, but seeing her cry stirred something in him. "Perhaps he is still having trouble adjusting to life after the war and the loss he suffered. He's not handling grief well. Instead he is grasping at things that are familiar to him. Believe me when I say that does not excuse his behavior at all."

"Am I being selfish, Severus? Am I not taking into account how my friends will feel about this change?" Hermione asked with a small voice.

Severus pulled back. "Look at me. Never think of your decision as being selfish. The only one who thinks you are being selfish is Weasley. Potter and Malfoy are on your side. Even the Professors think this is a good move for you. Don't let one person change your mind."

Hermione smirked. "I knew it."

Severus looked confused. "You knew what exactly?"

Hermione giggled. "You do have a heart when you want to. You can be a big softie."

Severus gave a small smile. "Don't share that with anyone. Do you understand? No apprentice of mine will ruin my reputation as a greasy dungeon bat."

Hermione saluted. "Yes, Sir!"

"Now, run along. I do believe you have a Potions exam in a couple hours. You would not want to miss out on cramming with Mr. Potter." Snape said.

Hermione hugged him quickly on her way out the door and said, "Thank you, Severus."

After a quick cramming session for Draco and Harry's benefit, they took their final potions exam. Hermione gave Snape her completed potions and her written work. He gave her a soft smile that no other student except Malfoy and Potter saw. "Miss Granger, I will meet with you in my office at the end of the hour. Take your seat."

"Yes, Sir." Hermione walked back to her seat and began to write out a timetable for the next few days after graduation before her apprenticeship. Moving to her new rooms, tea with Draco, lunch with Harry, and plenty of meetings with Professor Snape. Draco returned to the seat next to her after completing his exam. He rolled his eyes at the timetable. He leaned over and whispered to her. "Really, Granger? Color-coded time tables? Schoolwork is finished."

Hermione smirked. "Yes, but I'm going to be a teacher and an apprentice. It requires just as much organization as school. If you like, I'll help you develop notes for you Charms apprenticeship."

"I would appreciate it, but does that mean I can't tease you about it?" Draco asked.

Hermione sighed. "You wouldn't really be Malfoy if you weren't teasing me so I guess not."

"Quiet you two. I can still take House Points until graduation." Snape's monotone voice said without looking up. Both students murmured a 'sorry, sir'.

The class dismissed after thirty more minutes. Hermione met up with Severus in his office once the last student left. He already had tea sitting out the way she liked it. "You wished to see me, Sir?"

"Take a seat, Miss Granger." He offered her the cup of tea which she took gratefully. "How are your injuries feeling?"

Hermione instinctively rubbed the bruises on her wrist and arm. "They feel fine."

"If you need anything for pain, I will provide it. I am pleased to inform you that Mr. Weasley was removed from the premises by his father and will be thoroughly punished by his mother. His ability to graduate has been revoked for his behavior and his eligibility to become an Auror has been revoked as well. He won't touch you again."

"Thank you, Sir." Hermione said. She was relieved to not have to worry anymore. IT still made her sad that it was her friend that did this.

"I do believe I promised to help you move your things once your NEWTS were finished." Snape said.

"Shouldn't we wait until my results are in?" Hermione asked. "To make it official."

Snape made a hrmph noise. "Obviously you got top marks in everything. We don't need the formality of seeing the results. I will help you move your things so you may begin to settle in to your new room."

Hermione smiled at his confidence in her grades. "So you are telling me I got top marks on my potions exam?"

"You did exceptionally well. Just enough to be deemed the highest grade in the class. Surprisingly, Potter did adequate as well. NO doubt thanks to you."

"Thank you, Severus." She said, using his name. She finished her tea and stood to go to her Head Girl's room. "You're sure you don't mind going to the lions den with me?"

"I'm sure I can still strike fear into any onlookers. Lead the way, Hermione." Severus said.

They made it to her room and it made him want to laugh at the sight of books strewn all over the room. Everything else was neat and in order. The room seemed so her. He fought back the image of these books strewn across his quarters and her robes hanging by his. Tea for two sitting on the table. These thoughts about her were bordering on inappropriate.

"I'm sorry its such a mess in here. I can pack everything up quickly." Hermione promised. She began to shrink her small wardrobe of clothes and her other possessions, and true to her word, she got her stuff packed up and into her little beaded bag, leaving only her books to be sorted out. "I need to sort through the books because some of them have enchantments that are not compatible with shrinking charms."

"I can assist with that." Snape said.

Hermione threw all of her books on the bed. She gestured to the bed. "Take a seat. This may take a bit." She tried to ignore the thrill she felt at Severus sitting on the edge of her bed. She hid her blush at the inappropriate thoughts flooding her mind. This was her potions professor. Her soon to be master. Yet another thrill at that thought. She cleared her throat. "I guess we can just start with a pile and go from there." Little did she know that Severus was struggling with the same types of thoughts.

He was sat on the edge of her bed trying to ignore the thoughts of what could be done in this bed. The feeling of her lips on his cheek once before came back to him and he imagined what it would feel like to have her lips on his. Whenever they touched there was an electrical feel. A feeling he had never felt before. Draco's words about his being fond of her came back to him. Was he really fond of her? She was his student. This was wrong but felt very right. How did she feel?

"Severus? May I ask you something?" Hermione asked. He could not decipher the look in her eyes.

"Of course, Hermione. Ask anything you wish." Severus said.

"Do you ever feel different when we are together?" She blushed. "I mean, its hard to put into words how I feel. It's not a terrible feeling, but it may be slightly inappropriate—"

She was cut off with a bruising kiss and fireworks exploded in her mind.