Severus served breakfast and his eyes darted towards the corridor. The sound of running water came muffled behind the closed door of the bathroom. He pressed his lips in denial. It was hard to accept what had taken place last night. He also had trouble dealing with how quick everything was moving. It was only four days ago that Potter asked him to intervene on behalf of Miss Granger and now he was her host, he had a major argument with Max, he blackmailed a prominent member of the Wizengamot and he had to face the Underworld. He was a man that knew how to handle difficult situations, but having a former student catch him in the act was unexpectedly difficult to overcome. He was not easily embarrassed if ever, yet whenever he remembered what happened last night his cheeks flushed, which didn't go well with his usually pale skin or the graveness of his eyes.

Miss Granger looked shocked to catch him buried between Max's thighs and so was he. Poor girl got ready to run, but he was quick to stop her, which led him to a rather furious argument with his assistant. When he returned he made a conscious effort to be polite and make her forget what happened. He couldn't remember what he told Miss Granger, but she stayed. Reluctantly of course, but that was expected.

He showed her to his guest room and cooked something easy for both of them. They ate in relative silence, mostly avoiding the hot topic and each other's gaze. When they retreated to their rooms he felt relief and lay heavily on his bed. He thought he was going to pass out, but found himself unable to calm down.

Maybe it was because he was still sexually overloaded from his encounter with Max and he never got the release he was promised. Maybe it was because tomorrow he was going to enter the fifth level of the Underworld and he didn't wish for Miss Granger to be there to see the nasty side-effects. Also after those nightmarish treks he yearned to return to the silence of his home, which would be difficult now with his guest occupying his living space.

In the end he slept only a few hours and that made him wake up with a heavy head. He dragged out of bed, took a shower, didn't bother drying his hair, put on some clean clothes and made an effort to fix breakfast. He was really not in the mood to have another awkward encounter with her this morning, but at the same time he wanted to make sure that she rested properly.

…and that she doesn't have any nightmares for what happened here last night…

He pushed that thought away since it was not helping either his mood or his headache. When he finished serving, he leaned his elbows on the counter and rubbed his forehead. Before entering the Underworld he wanted to set things straight with Max, because yesterday her attitude was really belligerent towards his former student.

"Are you alright?" Hermione's voice shook him out of his reverie.

He looked up quickly. "Yes". So drawn he was in these thoughts that he didn't notice her coming over.

You are a mess. How do you expect to manage the Underworld today?

Hermione looked at the plates. "Is this for me?" She asked pointing at one of them.

"By all means, please take a seat." He hoped he sounded like a proper host. The last thing he wanted was to scare this young lady more than he already have.

Hermione sat and began arranging the silverware around her plate.

His lips upturned. "You want coffee?"

"Yes, plain." She smiled.

He filled her a cup and then took a seat.

"I don't see any newspapers." She asked after taking a sip.

"I was not in the mood to read, but I can get you some if you wish." He tasted his brew also.

"I'd like that, especially after learning that I became top story." Her smile waned.

"I'll bring some over when I return."

"You are going to work?" She looked up.

"Obviously." -He forced himself to keep his eyes open. His head was throbbing and he couldn't understand why the potion he took when he woke up didn't work- "Do you have any plans for today?" He added in an afterthought.

"Oh, I will go from the couch to the bedroom, to the bathroom, to the windows and then to the kitchen. When I cross the finish line, I will repeat." She flicked her brow playfully at him.

He was looking at her quietly lost.

She reached out and touched his sleeve. "I am kidding."

He inhaled sharply and pulled his hand away. "Of course." He made an attempt to a smile which didn't work.

She tilted her head and took a large bite from her omelet. "I might try to visit Number 12."

"Again? You know how dangerous this is." His gaze was penetrating.

She swallowed and wiped her mouth. "Kidding again."

He humphed and pinched his nose. "Of course you have. It is admirable that you are finding humor when we are surrounded by literal hell."

"No point wallowing in misery, right?" She held his gaze.

He pursed his lips.

"We've been through hell already Professor, haven't we?" She leaned over.

His nod was half-hearted.

"I won't this break my spirit." Her eyes lit up.

He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Your bravery is admirable. Many men in the Ministry would have killed to own your spirit."

"Men that work for the Keepers?" She smirked.

He raised his finger with a dry smirk. "Maybe Aurors…no further than that."

"Pity. Imagine if my admirable bravery could be used by the Keepers." Her eyes were looking at him with intense attentiveness.

He raised his eyes to her silently.

"Or my brains which are known to be brilliant. I have a knack for saving boys from trouble, remember?" Her brow arched lightheartedly.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Don't go there again Miss Granger."

"Why not?" She rejoined quickly.

"We had that discussion already. I do not wish to repeat it." He pushed himself up and picked up the dishes.

"Well, I think we should." She rebuked.

He placed the dishes in the sink and turned around with a scowl.

"You have been my teacher for seven years. You have admitted, albeit begrudgingly that I am a very adept witch. You helped me thoroughly when the boys and I were hiding in the wilderness. You knew I was willing to accept help and learn from it, even if I didn't know at first that it was coming from you." She looked at him steadily.

"So?" He frowned deeper.

"I suppose you enjoyed teaching me at Hogwarts also, right?" She pushed.

He pressed his lips and didn't honor her with an answer. Her self-assurance was enough to tell him that she knew. She was possibly the only student who was not afraid to be challenged by him.

She took his silence for an agreement. "So become my teacher again." She offered.

Something tagged his midsection so hard that he gasped. "And teach you what?"

"To be a Keeper." Her clever brown eyes shown.

He exhaled hard. "Miss Granger…"

She interrupted him, probably because she knew he was going to deny again. "I want to help you. I know I am not qualified, therefore I am asking you to teach me."

"I must admire your persistence, but you are not thinking prudently."

"Why not?" She frowned.

"Don't you already have a job for which you have toiled?"

"I love helping people by being a nurse, but in this case my skills are useless." It was hard not to hide her dissapointment.

He raised his brow. "Training to enter the Underworld will take time."

"I have all the time in the world." She rejoined quickly.

"The problem at hand doesn't have time to waste and I don't either." His rebuke was hard.

She crossed her arms quietly. "Waste?"

He ignored that. "Also it is very dangerous."

"Well, it is well known that I love danger…" She smiled cunningly.

"You were hardly ever able to cast an unforgivable. You have no inclination in the Dark Arts. How do you expect to handle the Underworld?" He glowered.

"Hmm…So does Max have an inclination in the Dark Arts?" She pressed her lips.

He flinched. "What?"

"Your cute assistant…the one you…" –She cleared her throat- "…handled so sensually on this counter…yesterday, remember?" Her brow rose provocatively.

He quickly sobered up. "Is this a reproach?"

Her features remained stern for several moments, before melting into a smile. "No, it's a tease."

He was speechless.

She didn't mind him at all. "So, if Max knows dark magic, I am sure I can learn also." She continued nonchalantly.

He crossed his arms. "Since you are so decided to volunteer for the Keepers, I must inform you that this position is only reserved for registered witches."

It was her turn to assume a look of confusion. "I am a witch."

"Not fugitives." His lips curled up in a dry smile.

Her face became livid and she averted her eyes from him. "Well you are right about that." She stood up and walked towards the living room.

He instantly regretted the distance without understanding why. "You declare you are ready to do everything in order to defeat the Marriage law and yet by running away you are distancing yourself from the problem. How are you going to fight when you are already in flight?"

"By becoming a symbol for resistance." She replied dryly.

"You won't be part of the resistance...you will be a run-away who is hiding. Someone who is letting others fight for the cause." His heart twitched sadly when he reproached her so.

She closed her eyes. "Very well, I see your point. What do you suggest I do then?"

"You want to fight for the cause? Fight it from the inside…"

"Meaning?" Her upper lip twitched.

"Accept the Marriage Law…" He said solemnly.

"Never…" she hissed.

"Have a deal with your friends. Ask them to apply for you. You won't be the first or the last one to try such a thing. Do you think you will be doing something innovative? Many Muggleborns will try this solution in order to slip away from the clutches of the Wizengamot until a miracle takes place."

She begun pacing nervously. "Accept Longbottom as my husband?"

"Anyone Miss Granger. It matters not who it is as long as he offers you a way out of this. You need to stop running if you are going to help us fight this. I am sure someone is out there willing to save you." He waved her away annoyed.

It took her several moments to reply. "I am sure there is."

"Then ask him for the love Gods and let him make himself useful to you." He spat dryly.

"Fine then, apply for me Professor." She smiled at him proudly.

He looked at her so sharply that he felt the world spinning for a few seconds. His headache exploded behind his eyes. "WHAT?" He thundered.

"You said I should ask someone who is willing to save me. You've been doing that consistently for several days now…not to mention in the past. Why not keep up the good work?" She smirked slyly.

"You must be jesting." He lowered his chin.

She exhaled and rubbed her temples. "I suppose I am…and yet I am not. If I am to go through this nightmare, I prefer to do it with someone I trust. I don't know the other applicants apart from Longbottom…and he is truly unfitting to my cause."

"You are not searching for the most fitting partner, but the best possible man to offer you safety, freedom and assistance to your troubles." He retorted annoyed that he was talking about partners with her in the first place.

She raised both brows. "Well that sounds like you."

That one hushed him.

"Wow I've never been able to silence you before. Today I am managing pretty well." She murmured truly surprised.

He frowned.

She pointed at him. "You really thought about applying for a moment, didn't you?"

He lowered his head, unable to hide his vexation. "I really want to curse you right now, but my upbringing forbids me." His head was throbbing in sync with his heart.

Her lips twisted, but there was a playful gleam in her eyes that he didn't notice.

"You wish to fight? Fight by accepting a suitor that can cover up your tracks and preferably won't touch you in any manner that you won't desire. You will have more chances on helping us this way." He said quietly trying to calm down.

"You are still describing yourself and I am dead serious." She rejoined.

He turned around. "Fine then Miss Granger. You want to play serious, let's see if you are up for it. I might consider applying for you, if you prove to me that you are not utterly self-destructive. If you appear before the Wizengamot to ask back for your rights and your wand, you might find my application waiting for you there."

Her face lit up. "Really. Then you have a deal."

He flinched as if he was not prepared for her to accept so easily. "I am here to fight against this Law Miss Granger. Not procure myself a wife in this unethical manner."

"You are backing up from this challenge Professor quicker than I blinked my eyes." She smiled.

His lips thinned angrily.

"Also you won't be procuring yourself a wife. You will be helping a friend. Considering we are friends…." She let that thought trail off.

"Deciding to intervene with the Wizengamot on your behalf is turning out the worst idea of my life." He mumbled under his breath.

"I will take that as a yes?" She walked over and touched his shoulder.

"I have to leave Miss Granger…I have to go to work." He muttered wryly and felt as if his head was going to explode.

"How will you ever manage to get out of the door? Have you seen yourself? You have a headache?" She asked.

"No." He dismissed her and pulled away from her.

"Please spare me, I am a nurse remember? Your face is pale and you keep rubbing your temples." She clasped his forearm hard, keeping him there.

He looked at her and his eyes watered from the intense migraine. "I took a potion, but it didn't work."

"Allow me to check. Where is it? Here?" Her hand slipped under his hair and touched the base of his skull. The shudder that galloped up his spine was not expected.

"Here, it's here!" He pointed at his temples.

Her palms came up and covered the side of his face. Then whispered a few words and her magic slid inside his head like a balm, warming up all the nerve connections. Slowly the pain begun dispersing, allowing him to think clearly once more. When she finished she drew back and looked at him. "Better?" She asked.

He opened his eyes and saw her clearly for the first time since breakfast. He didn't even realize how bad his pain had been. "Yes, thank you. I didn't know you could perform undetectable magic." He said with half a smile.

She shrugged. "A few low grade medical spells. Nothing special."

His eyes burned through her.

She cleared her throat and took a step back. "You have helped me so many times, that was the least I could do for you. If you feel any other discomforts, please don't hesitate to tell me. It is the job I toiled for, after all." She said cleverly.

"Your offer is deeply appreciated." He rejoined seriously.

"You look much better already." The smile was earnest in her youthful lips.

He suddenly felt that all this was too inappropriate and too difficult to handle. He shouldn't be here. "As I found our conversation extremely challenging, you will excuse me now Miss Granger. I am running late."

"You can use my name. We are not in Hogwarts anymore." She offered calmly.

He swallowed heavily, but remained quiet.

"Can I call you Severus?" She continued with a composure that really shook him.

He felt his whole body freezing up and found that his mouth was not working properly. He was only able to give her a soft nod.

"Perfect." –She rubbed her hands- "What time do you usually return?"

"Late in the evening, but tonight I will probably run late." His tongue felt heavy.

"Why so?" She smiled.

"I am going to enter the Underworld. Whenever I return from such explorations I am rather exhausted and need some time to recuperate. Just let me get my rest and I will be back to my charming self the next morning." He tried to sound casual even if he was nervous for some reason.

"Nurse will be ready to take care of you." She grinned.

He glared.

She huffed. "I am just kidding. Who'd knew it was so easy to throw you off track."

He opened his mouth ready to hurl snarky remarks back to her, but his heart was not in it. So he just said. "Do you need anything else from me before I go?"

"Just be careful out there Severus." She replied quietly.

His stomach tensed. "Thank you for helping me with the headache."

"As your skills are at my disposal, so are mine at your disposal." Her smile was honest.

Another strong tag pulled his stomach and without warning he disappeared from his home in a veil of misty darkness.

-.-

When he reappeared at the entrance of his office he barked "Call in Max!" and slammed the door shut with such force, it shook upon its hinges. Hot and bothered as he was by the interaction with his old student he was itching to face Max and clear up the murky waters around their relationship once and for all. He started pacing in front of his desk like a caged animal ready to pounce.

When the door opened, he inhaled slowly and looked at her. His hooded eyes were hiding behind several black tendrils.

Max closed the door. "What's up boss?"

"Your attitude." He spat vehemently.

She immediately went on the offensive. "Is this about our fuck being so rudely interrupted last night? What did you expect me to do? Ask her forgiveness like you did? I never thought you could sound as weak as you did last night. That woman had no right barging into your home uninvited and you did nothing to punish her!"

"Who gave you the right to address anyone in this manner inside my home?" His eyes thinned.

Max raised her brow and smirked. "Well, I think someone is getting hot under the collar for that precious little dove…"

His features were frozen in total apathy despite her nasty poke. "If I catch you addressing my guests so rudely again, I shall make sure you be removed from your position. Such gossipy squabbles are not fit for this team. Fix your attitude or get the hell out of my sight. "

"You are firing me?" She asked abhorred. Her face was livid.

"Not yet." He rejoined darkly.

"You think you will find someone of my skills so easily?" Her lips curled up in hatred.

"No one is irreplaceable." Came the hard rebuke.

"Is this all happening for that useless witch, who has been causing problems left and right ever since the Law was voted?" She rebuked in disbelief.

His brow arched warningly.

"You used me in the Wizengamot as a leverage in order to get her off the hook." –She came up to his face - "Don't think that I will ever forget that major slip-up from you."

"I am not known to respond well to threats." He continued coldly.

"In contrast to that poor judge." She smirked maliciously.

His cold silence and calculated stance made her take a step back.

"How about what we have together?" She asked.

"We are nothing more than a safety valve for each other, in order to blow steam. You knew that from the beginning." He snarled.

"Just a safety valve, even though you shagged my brains out in this very office more times than I can count!" She barked.

"That was the deal." Came the icy response.

"You didn't sound so aggressive when I was giving you a blow job under this desk. What happened Severus? Found a new plaything to entertain you? Maybe I should warn the little dove about you."

"If you approach her you shall regret the day you met me." Came the steely retort.

She humphed. "Oh dear, you seem to harbor such strong feelings for that old student of yours. I wonder if they are only protective or if you hide something stronger. Something you cannot even allow yourself to think. I will not leave that bitch alone…mark my words Severus."

"Go to back to your husband Max. We are done."

She swallowed heavily and raised her finger at him. "I will not forget this…"

He didn't respond.

She placed her hand on the door handle and turned around. "There is nothing more dangerous than a woman in scorn master….you'd do well to remember this. You and your little Mud-blood bitch..." She hurled furiously.

"Get the fuck out…" he hissed in disgust.

When the door crashed, his headache returned with a sudden flare up that made him go blind. He felt disgusted with himself for several reasons he didn't want to contemplate at that moment. Mutely he summoned the dark portal that led to the Underworld and saw the black whirlpool manifesting ominously in front of him.

"Conroy!" He thundered and the door opened up almost instantly.

His colleague came in holding a paper in his hand. A pen lodged above his ear. He was chewing a gum and his shirt was out of his trousers. His boyish brown hair was messy and his eyes looked interestingly at the gateway.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Severus' gaze was as penetrative as his headache allowed.

"Of course not." –Conroy waved him off- "Are you ready for the fifth level boss?"

"Yes. Take care of the office whilst I am gone, and keep an eye on Max."

Conroy recoiled. "I was not listening in on you, but it was hard not to hear. Is everything okay?"

"Couldn't be better." Severus muttered and stepped into the portal.

-.-