As the sky was breaking dawn, Severus' eyelids fluttered. The pain in his back made him wince and he attempted to shift his body in the armchair in order to alleviate the discomfort. It was not the best place to sleep, but last night when he finished healing Granger he found the idea of moving her to his bedroom both inappropriate and inconvenient. Besides she seemed well settled on his large over-worn couch, buried under that heavy blanket. She was sleeping quietly and his own comfort was no reason to arouse her. He also didn't feel at ease to leave her alone in the living-room and go in his bedroom, because he wanted to be close by in case she needed him.

Therefore the next best choice was to settle in that uncomfortable armchair and break his back. Needless to say that his sleep was no more than a couple of disturbed hours that didn't allow him to rest. He turned his head towards the window and closed his eyes again.

The previous evening Miss Granger's healing was time-consuming and also rather unsettling to him. As he brought the towels and the water next to the couch he couldn't stop wondering how he managed to get so involved in such a messy situation. As if he didn't have enough on his mind already, he had to look after the golden trio once again.

He stood above Granger like a statue for the longest of time, trying to find ground in order to slither out of this, but found none he could use without feeling remorseful. Even though he was the least qualified person to take care of this girl, he still ended up taking her in…and he didn't understand why.

Why did he agree to hide her even though his reputation was already hanging by a thread after blackmailing one of the most prominent members of the Wizengamot for her?

Why did he agree to help Potter?

Twice….

He cringed and kneeled down in order to check her pulse. Then he slowly lifted her arm above her head and an unspoken spell made her shirt and pants disappear at the places of impact. The rest of her body remained covered as he didn't want to compromise a former student's dignity. He had been accused for many nasty things in the past and he didn't want to add –old pervert- on that list.

His fingers pushed her burned skin gently in order to determine the damage. Once his course of action was decided, the rest of his moves were well calculated and thoroughly efficient. He cleaned both wounds with the wet towels and send complex silent spells straight from his hands into the depths of her skin. The heat that was eating her from the inside out was quickly extinguished. When he was certain that the curses upon the wounds were inactive and that she had no reminders of Dark Magic upon her body he felt much calmer.

When the disinfectant touched her wounded skin, the girl hissed and tried to push his hands away. He allowed her a few seconds to settle down and then touched her brow with his palm softly. His magic slid inside her body like a balm, numbing all the pain. That allowed him to clean the wounds thoroughly, before dressing them up. After he was finished with the dark spells, it was only a matter of a few easy casts to heal the bruises upon her face and help all the swelling go down.

Then he stood up and looked at her mutely. Her breathing was calmer and deeper than before. Unbidden his gaze got trapped by the rhythmic undulation of her chest and it unexpectedly took a lot of effort to avert his eyes from her. He gathered the dirty towels and went to the kitchen in order to clean them.

When he came back he noticed that Granger had moved in her sleep and now her thin arm was hanging off the edge of the couch. Well she was not in danger anymore and she didn't seem to be in pain, but that was not a good way to spend the night. Her clothes were wet and torn, not to mention that she didn't seem comfortable in that position.

His frustration returned as he went to his bedroom. Another quiet spell dried and mend her clothes, while he was grumbling stubbornly under his breath.

When he came back, he placed the pillows under her head and straightened her legs. Then he covered her with the blanket up to the neck and looked at her mutely for several seconds. Hermione probably felt the new comforts all around her and she moved languorously. Then she cocooned herself inside the blanket and contrary to all expectation she began snoring.

The brow of Severus arched slowly and a vague smile made an attempt to form on his lips. He was as satisfied as he could be with this unorthodox situation. A gleam in his black eyes ignited a warm fire under the hearth and all of the candles but one were extinguished. A lonely old lantern spread its soft orange hue upon the kitchen counter. Severus sat at the armchair next to her intending to calm down while he watched the fire.

He never expected to sleep upright ….and yet her snoring managed to lull him into a very disturbed sleep.

Now Severus was blinking towards the sky which was getting brighter slowly. He knew he had a lot of things to take care of today and there was no point trying to get anymore sleep. He drew a deep breath and turned his head towards Granger. She was wrapped in the heavy blanket and her wild chestnut mane was covering most of her face. Her lips were parted…letting out soft exhalations of content. Her snoring had finally stopped after she made sure that he took all the doses of snoring-induced insomnia that he deserved. Annoying girl…exactly as he remembered her…..maddening even in her sleep.

Severus stretched as much as his pained body allowed him and leaned his elbows upon his knees. The pain on his shoulder-blades was so sharp that when he stood up an unbidden groan escaped from his chest.

He was too old and too worn out for this…..for all of this.

He decided to alleviate the night's lingering discomfort with a warm bath instead of using magic. By the time he finished and wore clean clothes the sun was already up. He went to the kitchen and conjured a cup of coffee. Then he looked from afar at Granger who hadn't moved at all. He rubbed his face and leaned his elbows upon the counter in order to enjoy his brew in silence.

He had barely swallowed the first sip when a sharp voice came from the lantern and made him flinch.

"Are you there boss?!"

Severus closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. "No."

The face of Conroy, one of his men, formed on the weak flame. "Did I wake you up?"

"Do I look like I have slept at all?" Severus rebuked.

Conroy didn't answer.

Severus winced annoyed. "Close your gaping mouth and tell me why you are here."

"We failed to reactivate the portal. Apparently it was operating with archaic Dark Runes, far too specialized to be used by untrained wizards. That's your area of expertise. You have to come and look at them." Conroy rejoined.

"Was it traced back to the Underworld?" Severus asked without opening his eyes.

"Yes, the fifth level." Came the blunt answer.

A shiver of apprehension rushed through his spine. "Will you be able to go in?"

"I came back from that damn nightmare two days ago …I need to recuperate." Conroy's voice was honestly regretful.

Severus nodded softly. "Tell Maxine to go in. Is she there?"

"Yes, she came early to finish the report you asked from her last night."

"Do we have a trace on the assailants?" Severus rejoined.

"Nothing. It is as if they never existed." Conroy replied.

"What about the woman who was attacked?" Severus asked.

"She is hospitalized with minor injuries, but her psychological condition is rather perilous."

"What about her identity? Was she Muggleborn?" Severus asked.

Conroy hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes."

"Does she remember anything about the attack?" Severus resumed.

"She couldn't recall the faces of the men, but she remembers that they were trying to force her through the portal. She also remembered the presence of a woman who came out of nowhere in order to assist her."

Severus tensed. "The Aurors?"

"Have no proof of the woman's existence, much less that she was the Army Nurse. Potter is handling that part of the investigation. They only have the girl's word, but that will be easily manipulated. You know the drill. The press will come to the conclusion that the girl's mental condition is very unstable after that brutal attack. Her memories are…confused…muddled…you know? They cannot be trusted…."

Severus' lips turned down. "Has anyone talked to Kingsley yet? Yesterday's incident had all the indications of being another Muggleborn attack. A possible abduction, which we can now connect to the Underworld."

"Max waits for you to review the report before she speaks with the Minister." Conroy replied.

"I will be there shortly. Tell her to prepare for the fifth level." Severus looked at the flame.

"Will you not go in with her?" Conroy frowned.

Severus remained silent. He didn't want to chance such a perilous trip with Granger passed out on his couch. On the other hand he didn't want to risk Maxine going in alone.

"Boss?" Conroy rejoined.

Severus scowled and got ready to answer when suddenly….

"Where am I? Harry? Ginny?" Hermione's voice came muffled from under the covers.

Severus flinched and braced for the impact. "No. Take another guess Miss Granger."

She sat up quickly and her confused face appeared behind her wild mane. "Professor?"

"Is she awake boss?" the flame intervened.

"Be silent for a moment Conroy." -Severus chastised and then turned to Granger who seemed frozen from the shock- "I am not your Professor anymore Miss Granger."

She inhaled sharply and looked around her in dread. "Where am I?"

"My home." Came the taciturn answer.

"What am I doing here?" She asked quickly.

"You went straight for the million pound question, didn't you?" He drawled.

Hermione scowled and she drew the blanket under her chin.

"Boss I know you need to catch up with the Army Nurse and all, but what about Max?" Conroy reminded him of his annoying presence.

Hermione's surprised eyes darted towards the lantern.

Severus turned to the bothersome flame. "Tell her to go in alone." He said dryly.

Conroy's silence showed his disagreement, but Severus didn't care.

"Was there anything else?" His brow arched.

The flame shook slightly. "No boss. All clear."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go…just go!" Severus dismissed him.

The flame lost its human form, but Severus kept his eyes on it for several silent moments. "How are you feeling Miss Granger?"

"Why am I here?" She scowled.

"To be offered assistance. Do you remember anything about last night?" He turned to her with a grave face.

The original shock upon her features begun dispersing as the memories of the previous evening started returning slowly in her mind. She raised her hand to touch her temple. "They punched me …" Her voice was barely heard.

Severus stood up quietly and walked to her.

Hermione's fingers lingered upon her cheek. "They tried to kill me….they didn't stop….I couldn't stop them…." She muttered as if in disbelief.

Severus came around the couch and sat on the arm. "You are safe now Miss Granger." He made an attempt to sound soothing, even though he knew he was not equipped for this. He could heal physical trauma, but not an emotional one.

Her brow clouded. "There were fire-bolts…"

Severus crossed his hands over his knee. "They are gone…You are healed."

"Dark Magic…I felt it….it was burning me from the inside out. I couldn't parry it." She whispered and her eyes welled.

He looked at her carefully. "Fire-bolts are very painful and rather tricky. Difficult to deactivate, but you need not worry. You are safe now. I assure you." He tried to sound professional…his safety zone.

Hermione's eyes held his for a few tense moments and then a twinkle of clarity formed upon her face. "I wasn't alone! There was a girl. I heard the struggle. Two men…they were trying to abduct her. She was trying to get away… I tried to help her!"

Severus scowled. "Do you remember their faces?"

Hermione looked at him. "No….I remember nothing apart from the spells. The girl was badly hurt….Is she alive?"

Severus pressed his lips calmly. "She is okay."

Hermione pushed the covers away from her body and shuffled to him. She grabbed his arm tightly and he flinched. Her eyes were full of dread. "No you don't understand! She was in grave danger! I don't know what they did to her! I tried to help her, but I couldn't!"

Severus fought against the urge to disentangle her fingers from the edge of his sleeve. "Miss Granger, the assault was intercepted. The victim was send to the hospital and she is recovering. You need to calm down, because your body maybe healed, but the Dark spells have weakened you."

Hermione pulled his sleeve. "Was it you who stopped the assault?"

"Mister Potter. He arrived just in time." Severus was gazing at her thin fingers, which were twisted around his sleeve stubbornly.

She swallowed heavily and tried to find her bearings. "So the girl is safe?" She insisted.

"Safe under the care of the Ministry." He reassured her.

Hermione released his sleeve with a dry smirk. "That doesn't comfort me."

"I see you have great trust in the Ministry." He humphed.

"Do you blame me after what they did to me?" Her gaze held an undertone of anger at that moment.

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Not really, no."

That caught her unprepared. She winced. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have spoken like that. You work for them."

"I work for myself and they just happen to rip the benefits sometimes." He corrected with a sly smirk.

"Do they know that?" Her lips formed a small smile.

His answer was a raised brow and silence.

Her lips twitched knowingly. Then her hand slid down her ribs and ended up on her hip. "I feel no pain at all and so well rested. What did you do to me?"

"Magic." Came the quiet reply.

She pressed her lips. "Thank you for all your help…" Her tone was sincere.

"Consider it a recompense for the time I made your life hard at Hogwarts Miss Granger and we are even." He replied formally.

"Why didn't you take me to the hospital?" She frowned.

"You are considered a fugitive, correct?" He looked at her pointedly.

Hermione averted her eyes.

"Since you decided to blow the second chance the Wizengamot gave you so bravely, we are obliged to hide you."

"Obliged?" She looked up abruptly.

"You want to play with words?" He offered dryly.

She didn't speak.

"Using unlawful ways to release you from the claws of the Wizengamot was not in my immediate plans when the week began. Neither was shielding a fugitive for whom I now am obligated to answer for. Does that answer your question?" He resumed calmly.

Hermione felt her cheeks burning and made an attempt to stand up. "In that case I should leave immediately Sir. I don't want to put you in any more danger than you already are."

This time it was he who grasped her shoulder and pushed back down. "Pride is a great folly Miss Granger…and I talk from experience. Too late now to change what has already happened. I am deeply involved and you ending up in the streets without shelter will help neither of us." He reasoned.

Hermione looked at him mutely.

"Now can we stop playing with words?" He tilted his head assertively.

Hermione closed her eyes and exhaled. "Yes…"

He removed his hand from her shoulder. "Good."

She felt her body shuddering and pulled the blanket on her again. She remained in thoughtful silence for several moments, before speaking again. "Thank you for what you did with the Wizengamot…and for helping me now. I messed up by running away. I really don't know how to repay you."

He waved her off. "There is no need."

She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. "Does the Ministry know where I am?"

"Your location cannot be traced by anyone. Now, I'd suggest you rest until you resume your strength and then you can decide on your next moves with a clear head."

She cringed. "I don't even know what I was trying to do last night. What was I doing at that part of the city in that darkness?"

"Looking for trouble as always." He murmured.

She looked at him openly. "I heard a violent struggle. A girl was in need of help. What would you have done Professor?"

"I would have called the authorities Miss Granger. I wouldn't have tried my strength against the unknown. You trust too much in your abilities, it seems." He raised his brow.

Hermione felt those words prickling her. "I really thought I could help."

"Well, obviously you couldn't." He rejoined wryly.

She felt her eyes burning. "You are not helping me…."

"Because I am not stroking your ego?" He smirked.

She remained silent.

"You have managed to get yourself into a lot of trouble young lady. Your ego almost cost you your life." He continued coldly.

She felt her stomach dropping. "Stop…"

"It is not bad to admit that you need help from time to time." He slanted his head and his eyes burned through her.

She felt her heart stopping at the honest cruelty of his words, but she didn't want to admit that to him.

He kept her eyes for several seconds before pulling back and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I am not the best man to take care of your emotional needs, but I am doing the best I can in view of the circumstances. I won't lie to you. What you did was highly dangerous and foolish. Our arrival at that particular moment was by chance. One minute later and you could have been dead."

Hermione pushed away the cold feeling that was abounding in her stomach. "Maybe it was my stupid intervention that saved this woman's life. Did you ever think of that? Hadn't I appeared out of the blue they would have taken her. She would have been added to the rest of the missing Muggleborns. One of these men talked about an experiment." Her brows creased.

He scowled. "Experiment? What kind?"

"He didn't say anything more. Only that I would be better for their experiments. Do you think they are using Muggleborn girls in order to experiment inside the Underworld?" Hermione asked.

"Thank you for the information Miss Granger. I will keep it in mind." He replied.

Hermione sighed deeply and looked at him. "Is Harry helping you?"

"As much as he can….he doesn't have the proper qualifications I am afraid." Severus rejoined.

"Not dark enough?" Hermione made an attempt at something more lighthearted.

He pursed his lips. "Not even close."

"Can I talk to him?" She asked eagerly.

"I will establish a direct non-traceable line to Mister Potter's home when I go to work. You may speak to him, but not pass through it." He said.

"Thank you." Hermione's lips curled up to a grateful smile.

He sighed and stood up. "Very well, rest and I shall see you later Miss Granger."

Suddenly she felt a cold hand squeezing her heart and panic threatened to return. "Where are you going?" She cringed at how needy her voice sounded.

"At work." He sulked.

"No, no you can't go." She tried to stop herself from sounding terrified. She hated being like that, but she couldn't help it at that moment.

"I need to go the Ministry young lady. No one is going to bother you here. The house is protected by Dark Wards that Kingsley would pay mountains of gold in order to acquire." He smirked.

She didn't feel reassured. "No…no." She muttered.

"Use the time to rest more. Go back to sleep." He resumed.

Hermione closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. She would kill to keep him there at that moment. "I know I sound silly, but I don't want to be left alone." She opted for honesty.

The lines at the side of his mouth deepened as he came close to the couch. He really didn't know what to say to that plead….it found him totally unprepared.

Her lips became thin from the tension. "Please…Don't go."

Something in the tone of her voice made him exhale in defeat. "Very well Miss Granger. I shall remain. Lay back down and try to rest."

Hermione gaze was penetrating. She was trying to make sure that he was not lying to her.

He understood. "I am not going anywhere. Now lay back down."

She hesitantly did what she was told.

He approached and covered her up. "I will be in my office in order to catch up on some work. If you need anything call me."

She nodded and closed her eyes. "Okay…thank you."

He gazed at her deeply, trying to understand why she asked him to stay. Even though he was standing above her like a huge black nuisance she didn't tell him to bugger off. Instead her hand emerged from under the blanket to grasp his sleeve again. He felt his spine tensing. Her eyes remained closed when she whispered another "Thank you."

He looked at her hand that released him and rubbed his forearm bothered beyond reason. Then he turned around and walked quickly towards his study, in desperate need to gain back his personal space.

-.-