A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #7 Mythology Task #5: Mula sem Cabeça: The Mula was a woman that has been cursed for having sexual relations with a priest, and condemned to turn into a fire-spewing headless mule from Thursday's sundown to Friday's sunrise.

Prompt: Write about a forbidden relationship.

Word Count: 1393

He could never admit he was the one she cried to. He knew some people suspected. There were some glances in the Great Hall, some whispers, but he pretended he didn't hear. He knew she did the same. He knew she lied about where she was at night, about who she was with. They'd never done anything more than seek comfort in each others arms. There were rules, rules both of them tried to follow. They weren't allowed to be together, she'd been his student for Merlin's sake. He could never tell anyone how most nights, she appeared in his doorway, sleepy and headed straight to his bed.

He had never touched her naked form, never seen her in anything revealing, just the pair of pyjamas she favorered, long pants with a matching short sleeve button down top. She was always wearing her school robe over them, dropping it the moment his door closed. There was technically nothing wrong with what they were doing, but it wasn't entirely above board and he knew exactly what people would think if they found out.

She'd come back for her eighth year, something about wanting to prove to everyone she could do it. He'd never really questioned that. She'd always seemed to have something to prove since the first day of school. He remembered her waving her small hand in the air, wanting to show off the knowledge she'd learned about this new world.

He smiled slightly. That wonder, that enthusiasm had vanished later in the year. He'd heard people were bullying her, he was one of them. Severus regretted it, slightly. He knew by adding to her torment, he was securing his place at his Lord's side. He hated the role he'd been forced to play. Now, he was finally free of his masters, free to be himself without the threat of death hanging over his head at every moment.

"Sir?" she'd asked that first night he'd found her outside his chamber. He wasn't surprised. He'd spent nearly a month in the hospital wing. She'd been there too. She'd been the victim of a wayward spell, something that had damaged her nerves. She walked with a hint of a limp now, and sometimes he could see her hands shaking. She never seemed to complain about it, but he could see the pained look on her face.

"Miss Granger? What brings you down here at this hour?" he'd asked, remembering how she'd slept in the hospital bed next to him for several weeks. He'd grown used to her soft breathing. They'd been dismissed after receiving clean bills of health. He'd stayed at the castle, she'd gone... somewhere. He hadn't been sure where until she'd turned up the start of the next term.

"I couldn't sleep, sir," she'd answered. He'd only nodded and stepped aside to allow her entry. This was highly improper. She was a student, although he used the word loosely at this point. He knew she'd already taken some of her N.E. . He knew she'd passed them with flying colors.

Often he'd catch himself wondering what she was actually doing here. There were rumors about her seeking a mastery at something, arthimancy was the most common, although charms was not out of the running.

"If you're looking for dreamless, I'm afraid I can not help you, Miss Granger," he'd stated. He knew that wasn't what she wanted, but what she wanted wasn't possible. No one would ever come seeking anything from him that wasn't some potion or another. Had she been able to sleep where ever she'd been for the summer? He hadn't, but she'd been out of the castle. Had coming back here triggered something? He was sure it had.

"I'm not looking for that, sir. I miss your snoring, if you can believe that. I can't sleep without it apparently," she'd laughed, looking embarrassed. Severus hadn't wanted to admit he found it difficult to sleep without her noises also. It was inappropriate at the very least.

"You can not sleep here," he said simply. He watched her expression fall from one of hope to one of despair.

"Why?"

That one word sliced through everything logical in Severus' mind. He wanted nothing more than to sweep Hermione into his arms, to curl against her as they both fell asleep.

"You're a student."

One excuse was as good as another. This one was truish at least. He knew she'd have an argument for it. She had an argument for everything, and the worst part was, they were all logical and effectively shut down the argument. He couldn't help but admit the beauty in her logic, her reasoning. He knew she was brilliant when it came to classwork,but seeing her use that intellect outside of the classroom only made him see her as so much more.

"I'm not. I tested out of the main subjects, yours included. I'm sure you've heard the rumors, sir?"

"I don't put any stock in any such idle chitchat."

"They're true, I am here to pursue a mastery in arthrimancy. Professor Vector believes I will be ready to take over in a year or two's time."

"Then we'd be colleagues, that doesn't make it any better."

"But I am neither a student nor a professor at the moment, merely a witch who hasn't slept in nearly a week."

Severus tried not to look in to her eyes, tried to deny seeing the determination in them. He found he couldn't help himself and caught his reflection in her brown orbs. There was determination there, but something else, something deeper. Fear. She was afraid to sleep.

"One night, until we figure something else out," he'd finally relented. She'd let out a girly squeal before throwing her arms around him and hugging him. He found he did not dislike the gesture as much as he'd anticipated.

Slowly, he'd wrapped his arms around her, ushering her to his bedroom. There was a king sized bed, big enough for both of them. She'd curled up on one side, him on the other. With her little noises, Severus was asleep in moments. That sleep did not last as he was awaken by Hermione thrashing wildly, as if fighting off an invisible opponent. Severus grabbed her, pulling her to him. She calmed slightly at his touch, finally managing to escape from her nightmare. She blinked her eyes open slowly, looking around in confusion.

"You're safe, Miss Granger," he whispered. She nodded, laying her head against his chest. He could feel the tears falling down her face. Gently he wiped them away.

"Thank you, I'm sorry. I..I've been having nightmares since... well, since we left the infirmary. I thought, maybe they'd stop if... but apparently I was wrong."

"Do you wish to talk about them?" he asked, despite the fact he'd never been one to care about feelings. The idea of Hermione confiding in him, telling him her darkest fears, the trust she'd have to place in him rocking his core. He wanted nothing more than that.

"I keep seeing you, dead. Blood gushing from your form. I know it's part memory, part dream, that you lived, but in my nightmares, suddenly Bellatrix is there, standing over you, over me, and then...it's all green. We're both dead," she whispered. Severus tightened his arms around her.

"It's going to take time, Miss Granger, to get through the trauma we've both suffered."

"Hermione, please, call me Hermione. I'm not a student and I want you to call me Hermione."

"Hermione," he whispered, letting her name linger on his tongue, on his lips.

That had been the first night they'd shared. Now, he expected her around eleven every night. He'd simply started leaving the door unlocked. She'd walk in as if she owned the place. That confidence, the fact she'd returned to herself, only made Severus wonder if there was some way, a way neither of them had thought of, some way to be together. He knew between the two of them, once they'd started working it out, figuring out that maybe it was more than just the nights in each others arms that they wanted, they would find the solution and maybe, just maybe, they'd find a way to be right proper couple. Yes, he could hope for that, and he hoped beyond all reason, that she felt the same.