A/N: I'm so sorry this is so short but I have so much to say next chapter I thought I'd just give you a little segue!

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - UNLIKELY

The months sped by for Hermione. January was gone before she could blink and February went just as fast. She had moved all of her stuff into the Room of Requirement and slept there with a handful of other students who didn't feel safe in their dorms. She avoided being alone at all costs, aware of the Carrows increasing efforts to catch her unawares, but she had the map and she had Severus' warning. She urged Neville to make their resistance tactics even more on the defence than before, which had been a difficult win without her being able to explain why, that and Neville had found his fight. That was really only the true marker of the passage of time, watching the dramatic growth of Neville, who seemed to change week to week. She was massively proud of him, finding herself stepping back so that he could take on the leadership role. It took a few eyes off of her, so she was able to escape to the headmaster's office on occasion.

Severus always seemed surprised to see her, although regardless of the hour she showed up, he was awake and pacing. Except on those nights when she was fairly certain he had been summoned. She wondered if he ever slept. And she wondered if he ever considered putting restrictions on when she showed up, since she usually came without warning in the middle of the night. But it felt like one of those things that had been built between them, just another unspoken routine. The only difference from last term, was that this term she had no way to give him warning, and the one time she had brought it up, he had told her not to, just in case.

It was one of those nights, two in the morning on the first day of March. Hermione hadn't been able to sleep and when she had checked the map at one, the Carrows were in their quarters and Severus was once again pacing. So, she made her way to the office and when the door opened for her, Severus was sitting at the desk, going through papers and she wondered if he did this so she didn't know he had been pacing. He looked up, raised his eyebrows like usual, and stood up, abandoning the papers to lead her into the nook. A fire blazed warmly in the little fireplace and Hermione pulled her jumper over her head as she sat on the couch. The idea that she had reached this level of casual companionship with Severus Snape seemed completely ridiculous, almost as much as being in love with him.

Hermione watched as he summoned Mory for tea and the friendly way he thanked the elf who returned with a rather full plate of mixed biscuits. Severus filled both their cups, adding the cream to hers and the sugar to his. Once again, their fingers lingered and overlapped a breath too long. Hermione watched as he took the first sip of his tea, black eyelashes fluttering shut then open. He was beautiful, a black and white photo constantly in motion. She craved to be a part of that, to find her way into his world or maybe pull him out into hers. But there was nothing to help her, no pull to urge him to cross the formal lines he drew around himself, and she couldn't do it herself. Hermione didn't think she could bear it if Severus openly rejected her. Hermione took a shaky breath and turned her head to look down at her tea. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed Severus thoughtlessly run his thumb over the ring a few times as she did it as well to see if she was missing something. It was kind of a soothing action, but she didn't think that was why he had started to do it.

They didn't speak much the rest of the time she was there, taking solace in each other's quiet company and Hermione found herself studying him more than usual. Simply absorbing his appearance and presence. She wasn't sure why, but she had the feeling that it would be a while before they could do this again and it made her spine crawl. When it came time for her to leave, Severus walked her to the office door and held it open while she pulled out the map. He looked at her long and hard, his eyes boring into hers in a way he hadn't done in ages. Hermione took a shaky breath.

"Good night."

"Good night, Hermione. Be safe."

Hermione nodded at him and stepped into the dark hallways, glancing at the map to make sure the first part of her journey was clear.

…

"I am glad the castle thinks you are a bloody nuisance as well."

"Now, now, Severus," Albus' portrait admonished him, "I'm simply curious."

"That is one word for it. Do you not have better places to be?"

"None of my other portraits are quite so interesting this time of night."

"There is nothing interesting here either."

Albus ignored him. "It's rather remarkable how the two of you feel about each other and yet the bond hasn't been completed."

"She is important to me Albus, nothing more, and we both know there is nothing more on her side of this either."

"Are you sure?"

"Completely."

Severus wasn't really all that sure though. Sometimes Hermione stared at him like he was the only thing in the world. He recognised the singularly focused look from others, like the way Miss Tonks looked at Lupin, and sometimes vice versa. As far as Severus was aware, from the moment Hermione had clasped the peridot necklace on at Christmas, she had never taken it off. She always came to him; when she escaped capture she went to Spinner's End, after he had murdered Albus she had found him at Wilmet Gardens, and now as often as she could she was here. And that spoke nothing of himself, grateful for her presence at every turn, welcoming her back any night at all ungodly hours, that squeeze in his chest when he knew she had taken the time and effort to make him that scarf, the worry-turned-fury when she had been kidnapped.

These thoughts had been on his mind almost constantly for months, fidgeting with the ouroboros ring with every moment of consideration, as if it might have all the answers hidden somewhere inside the revolutionary potion they had made together. Severus thought of Hermione often, and actively, she was not just a passive thought that existed in his headspace anymore. And he had to acknowledge that, that over time they had grown and changed and suffered together and at this point they were so intertwined, he couldn't imagine a month, a week, a day, that she was not a part of. He had thought it friendship - or something of the like - because surely this was how actual friends behaved? But he had no comparison, and a terrifying, unlikely thought struck Severus as he stood there staring into Albus' painted, knowing eyes: had he confused the boundaries between friendship and something more once again? Had he begun to fall for Hermione Granger?

…

"Only cowards kill someone when they aren't looking."

Hermione spun around at the voice and found herself looking at the back of someone dressed in black standing rather close to her. Her first thought would have been that it was Severus, but the figure was wrong and the voice even more so. She glanced passed them and her eyes widened at the sight of Alecto Carrow poised with her wand raised.

"I have orders, boy."

"Yes I'm sure, and I'm sure they involve maiming, capturing, or killing Granger, but do you really want to go about it like a coward?"

"What's it matter if I get the job done?"

"Such low ambitions. One would think you'd want to put a little pride in your work."

"You're interfering." Alecto snarled, but her wand was aimed more at knee-height than chest-height now.

"Yes, I suppose I am."

There was a moment of silence, and then a muttered threat Hermione understood was for her, before Alecto ambled away. Hermione waited until the monstrous woman was out of sight and the sound of her footfalls faded before she opened her mouth to try to figure out who exactly had saved her and why. But before she could, the figure dropped their hood and turned to face her. Hermione had to control her features to keep her jaw from dropping.

"Zabini?"

"Granger."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "One might think you just saved my life."

"So it would seem."

"Thanks then, good night."

Hermione moved forward, silently cursing herself. She had gotten too comfortable wandering the castle at night and had forgotten to check the map to see if she was being followed, focusing so much on what was ahead. This time, she was aware of the swift stride that followed her.

"Your common room is not this way."

"Nor is yours."

"Touché. Is there something I can do for you?"

Zabini halted and Hermione stopped with him.

"I know you're protecting the students," his voice dropped low, "even Slytherins. I think that's an honourable thing."

Hermione stared at him blankly.

"If you're willing, there are more Slytherins, older ones who are more scared to speak up, afraid of admitting change."

"I'm sorry, are you asking me to protect more Slytherins?"

"Yes."

Hermione stared at him for a long moment. Nothing suggested he was lying. "They'll have to be vetted."

"However you see fit."

"Are you a part of this group?"

"Yes and no. I admit I have faults and that my ideals were corrupt, but I can still protect myself."

"I see."

"So where shall I bring them?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'll contact you. I'll need a couple days to prepare."

Hermione was behaving strangely. Or maybe Severus was behaving strangely since he had had that terrifying thought that maybe he was confusing friendship for something else again. It was even more terrifying because although it had been a long time since it had seemed that way, Hermione was still a student under his care. He wasn't sure exactly what kind of man that made him but certainly not a good one. He was also uncomfortable with the idea that the feelings were not his own, perhaps just a part of the bond. Hermione took a breath, opening and closing her mouth for the umpteenth time since they had sat down.

"Is there something you wish to say?"

"Well, yes I have a favour to ask but it puts you in a rather strange position."

Severus raised an eyebrow at her.

"Would you happen to have any veritaserum on hand? There's some older Slytherins who apparently want protection…"

"And you want to vet them before they join your little group."

"Yes."

"As headmaster I say that is a terrible use for the potion and I should not allow you to interrogate other students while they are under the influence." He watched her face fall. "As a spy I say be careful."

Severus lifted his hand and summoned the tiny vials from where they were stored and handed them to Hermione, who cradled them cautiously before looking up into his face with a conspiratorial glint in her eye. He watched her cast a few protection charms on the delicate crystal before storing them in the bag she carried with her. He noted it wasn't his old one and wondered why she had made the change.

"Two or three drops should suffice."

"Thank you."

Severus nodded. "How did you hear about these Slytherins?"

"It seems we may have an unlikely ally. Blaise Zabini."

"Well, now, that is interesting though not entirely shocking."

"Why not?"

"Despite the family's well-known hatred of muggles and blood-traitors, they have always been decidedly neutral in every conflict. It does not surprise me that at some point one of them would choose a side."

"Do you think I should question him too?"

"I think you should do everything in your power to keep you and your group safe."

Severus sucked in a deep breath. Sometimes sentences like this would escape him where he felt like he was saying too much, offering up something more than he should have and now it felt twice as problematic. But Hermione just smiled, maybe even blushed, and nodded. She fidgeted with the sleeves of her thin jumper and then looked back up at him, her expression full of warmth.

"I appreciate all you're doing. I'm sorry no one can see it."

Severus shrugged a shoulder. "I am more useful this way."

"I know."

"Speaking of, the Carrows and I are supposed to be summoned tonight. I would suggest heading back before that happens."

Hermione nodded and gathered her things, walking with him to the office door. He watched her disappear into the dark hallway before he closed the door and took a deep breath. He was going to have to be very particular with his occlumency tonight.

By the end of the month, all of the new Slytherins and even Blaise had been interviewed under veritaserum. The students had been moved into the room of requirement and Hermione was impressed with how well they melded in with the rest of the group, everyone else being surprisingly welcoming. What was perhaps most impressive were the apologies some of the older Slytherins made to other students. The training schedule she and Neville had set up evolved, their new additions wanting to learn or to teach. Hermione thought that maybe, just maybe, this group would be slightly more ready for whenever the worst of it came.