"Miss Granger?" Severus walked back to the living room after having checked all the back rooms. He looked lost towards the couch where the heavy blanket was a tangled mess. He remembered falling asleep without it, so she must have covered him during the night. An act of consideration which unexpectedly created small fissures in his usually unbending nature. However caring she had acted towards him last night though, this morning she was nowhere to be seen. Her things were gone also.

-Where is she?-

"Miss Granger I am not in the mood to play games! Where are you?" His deep voice boomed inside the silence of his house. -What kind of stupid question is that?- Why would she be hiding from him in the first place? "Miss Gran…" He began and then paused in frustration. He gritted his teeth and his voice thundered. "Hermione!"

Only the crackling wood under the hearth answered him.

His eyes darted around the living room as his mind tried to decide what was the best course of action when suddenly he noticed a newspaper clipping that was on the counter next to his magical lantern. His brow clouded. He never brought newspapers in the house since he became Granger's host and that was done on purpose. He wanted to keep her away from all those nasty mind games of the Press.

He walked over and picked it up quickly. His eyes darted upon it and his already pale face broke with new lines of worry. When he read the last sentence and he looked up, he was livid. His jawline flexed and he crashed the newspaper in the palm of his hand, wanting to vent his anger somewhere.

He turned to the lantern and silently summoned the last connection which unsurprisingly was Number 12. He saw the face of Potter's wife forming on the orange flame and her lips speaking words he couldn't hear. His brows wrinkled for a brief confused moment before he felt even more mad at himself this time for missing the obvious silencing charm. When he released it in exasperation Ginny's nervous voice filled the kitchen. "Hermione?!"

"Do I look like Hermione?" He snapped.

"Professor?" Ginny inhaled sharply.

"What happened? Where is your friend?" He thrust his chin up demandingly.

"I was trying to wake you up last night, but it was impossible! She left!" Ginny rejoined.

"There was a silencing charm, silly girl!" He barked.

Embarrassed silence came from the lantern and the flame turned blue.

"When did the newspapers print this?" He threw the crumbled paper on the counter.

"Yesterday. You haven't been informed by the Ministry yet?" Ginny frowned.

"I spend the whole day in a parallel world Mrs. Potter. Newspapers couldn't reach me in there." He snarled.

"Forgive me Professor. When I saw the news I communicated with Hermione in order to prepare her for what was to come. Instead of listening to the voice of reason she picked up all her staff and left." -Ginny said quickly.

"Was she upset because of this damned article?" He glared at the flame.

Ginny hesitated for several moments. "She was upset about you. She didn't want to expose you more than she has already done. She tried to protect you when she realised that your reputation and job are probably on the line because of her."

He inhaled sharply and felt his fur rippling in anger.

"I know you have done enough for her already what with the Wizengamot and her trace….and I am aware that your integrity is at stake at the moment, but I beg you….don't leave her alone in this. She needs someone to help her."

Without answering he waved at the flame, severing the connection. "You silly girl….I am breaking my neck to save you and now that everything is at stake you run away…as if that is going to fix your problems or mine for that matter." He spat under his breath.

-.-

When he apparated in the main plaza of the Ministry, more than a dozen journalists were harassing several Aurors who were led by Potter. When they noticed him, all their unwanted attention turned to him with unprecedented menace.

"Professor Snape, do you have anything to say about the Army Nurse?"

"Have you been hiding your former student in your house?"

"Were you following ministerial orders or acting on your own accord?"

"Did Mister Potter know of your plans for his best friend?"

"Did he condone your actions?"

The questions followed one another with the speed of an automatic riffle and anyone else would have felt daunted. Instead of backing away, he wordlessly released a slightly illegal but very powerful spell that pushed the crowd away and muted their voices. Then he marched up to the Auror lines, grabbed Harry from the bicep and dragged him towards the elevator. The doors closed behind them and Zenobia, the secretary of the Minister of Defence, found herself stuck at the back of the elevator looking at them nervously.

"What in the name of hell was that menagerie for, Mister Potter?" Snape barked.

"For me and you." Harry glared at him in disbelief.

"And you were incapable of keeping those ghouls away from the Ministry?" Snape retorted.

"I refrain from using Dark Magic inside these walls Professor, unlike yourself." Harry's nose flared as he tried to remain composed in front of a chastising that easily send him back to his school days in Hogwarts.

"You are not qualified to use the Dark Arts inside or outside these walls Mister Potter, but that is not what I asked." Snape scorned.

"The Minister ordered us to allow them to pass. He wants to appease them. Your inability to keep the arrangement between you and Hermione under locks has really backfired upon us all." Harry cringed.

"Use your mind Potter. Do you think I was the one who leaked to the Press?" Snape snarled.

That gave pause to Harry. "Who was it then? Not many persons knew."

Severus looked back at the woman. "We will discuss this when we have more privacy."

Harry turned to her also and forced a smile. "How are you darling?"

"Fine…I am fine." -She grinned uncomfortably- "You guys do your thing, I don't mind." She hurried to add.

"Alright Professor I acknowledge that I hurried too much to conclude that the Press leak was your fault. Can you at least admit that it is hard to control these freaks without using illegal means especially when I have orders from the Minister himself? Can we at least reach that agreement? We don't want to start new conflicts between us." Harry tried to reason, seeing that the older man was trying to control a wave of destructive wrath behind his controlled exterior.

"At this moment I want to start war with the whole world." Snape barked.

"And you think I don't? The integrity of the Magical Police force is at stake, because we both messed up in one way or another." Harry looked at him intensely.

Severus pursed his lips without answering. When the elevator door opened they both walked out wordlessly.

"Did you speak with Ginny?" Harry hurried to catch up with him.

Severus nodded.

"She told you exactly what happened…." Harry deducted.

Severus raised his brow slowly. "The newspapers did so before she had the chance."

"I cannot trace Hermione." Harry was unable to hide his worry.

"No one can." Severus' heavy voice reverberated upon the dark marble that adorned the walls.

Harry swallowed heavily. "Apart from you."

Severus' stopped in front of the Minster's door. He didn't say anything.

Harry closed his eyes briefly. "Kingsley is pissed off with both of us. Both our jobs are on the line. How are we going to dig ourselves out of this mess?"

"By getting on the offensive Potter." Snape retorted and threw the doors open.

"Gentlemen?" The secretary lifted her eyes at them, ready to question their visit, but Snape didn't allow her the luxury. He walked past her and opened Kingsley's inner doors.

Kingsley stood up the moment they entered. "Well….the nightmare duo of our Police force is here. Thank you Ellian darling. That will be all."

The secretary bowed respectfully and closed the door behind her.

Kingsley offered them a seat. "Gentlemen I am glad you are here because we have a serious problem with the management of the Magical Law Enforcement which we need to discuss."

"Do we?" Severus asked coldly.

Harry lowered his eyes and avoided to answer.

Kingsley raised his brows. "Only one of the management speaks I see."

"I am the one who should be addressed about this mess, not Mister Potter. He had nothing to do with all this." Severus rejoined.

Harry gave him a quick side-glance and his brow clouded, but Snape's authoritarian regard, muted him.

"Very well Master. Since you are the orchestrator behind this nightmare tell me what where you thinking exactly when you decided to hide so skilfully, not to mention illegally the magical trace of a fugitive, who has also been convicted in the past!"

"Convicted of which crimes?" Snape frowned.

"Resisting arrest, vandalism and disturbing the peace."

"Those are terrible…dangerous crimes." Severus sneered.

That gave pause to Kingsley. "You don't have to sound sarcastic Master. Even if you don't think her convictions are important you are a Commander of the Ministry's Law Enforcement. By hiding her in your home and covering her trace you are allowing the press to drag the whole Ministry through the mud especially since your past hasn't been painted in the brightest colours."

"If I recall the Ministry distanced itself from my actions. It has nothing to fear from relating to me in any way." Snape raised his brow.

Shacklebolt tensed. "Careful Master..."

"I will speak my mind and you shall listen! Miss Granger is a war hero who deserves better treatment from the Ministry and the Wizengamot. She sacrificed everything she held sacred in the war to assist the fall of the Dark Lord and the Wizengamot pays her back by dragging her like a petty criminal in front of a bunch of commoners? They had the audacity to present her the application of Malfoy senior? This is a bloody circus and you are pretending not to see it!" Snape snapped.

"Malfoy's application crossed many lines Minister. It was a straight ridicule for all those who fought so bravely during the second wizarding war! It is offending to many people, including me!" Harry agreed with zest.

Kingsley drew back surprised, but he was quick enough to answer. "I understand you Gentlemen and I cannot agree more on that. However as much as I hate to admit it, Malfoy is not accused anymore. Under the law, for good or bad he was atoned of his crimes, much like a few other Death Eaters we both know." The Minister looked at Snape pointedly.

Severus took the jab without flinching. "And that allows him to acquire a wife under the new Marriage Law? A girl he prosecuted like a demon during the war? A girl he'd kill without second thoughts?"

"I hate to admit it, but he is allowed to apply for any Muggle-born he wishes. As are you." Kingsley pushed.

Severus' nose flared. "You won't see me satisfying my ego by ridiculing one of the biggest war heroes of the last age."

Kingsley's jawline flexed. "Enough word games Master. You won't draw my attention from what is most important here. You, a commander of the Keepers, are sheltering a fugitive who is wanted for questioning! She was recently part of a heavy exchange of curses, which ended in one death. Surprisingly so…the only witnesses apart from the girl who escaped death's grip was Mister Potter and you."

"And Max." Severus looked at him coldly.

Kingsley paled.

"Was she the leak?" Snape's voice dropped really low.

Kingsley's silence was the answer Severus was looking for. The muscles of his forearm flexed.

Kingsley's shoulders deflated and he took a step back. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. After a few moments he spoke slowly. "We are on the same page gentlemen. I am aware the Wizengamot is trying to make an example out of Miss Granger. However when one of my Commanders intervenes by breaking the Law that he is supposed to protect he weakens our integrity. Your actions allowed the Press to bring us to our knees. What answers should I give them Master? How can you expect me to explain this holly mess to them?"

"Miss Granger saved the girl in the alley. She stopped a new abduction. Instead of hunting the hero, use your Aurors to hunt down the criminals…." Severus rebuked.

"Don't give me orders Master!" -Kingsley warned vehemently- "Miss Granger is a known trouble maker for several years now. I am flat out tired of covering up her mishaps for Harry's sake. Now you come along and ask me to do the same! I don't want to hear her name anymore! I want her out of the picture, do you understand? Both of you!"

"Hermione is the last person who is at fault here Minister. See reason, please." Harry intervened solemnly.

"What are you going to gain by capturing Granger? You are going to make her face the Wizengamot and force a husband upon her. Then you are going to question her about the incident in the alley. The girl who was saved has already named Hermione her hero. Mister Potter and I will attest the same. Are you willing to crucify that hero?" Snape raised his brow.

Kingsley paled.

"You are adamant for me to give you a reason for covering Granger's trace in order to pacify the press and keep you out of the problem? Fine I'll give you one…" He trailed off.

The Minister frowned and Potter looked at Snape lost.

"I care for her on a deep personal level." Severus said calmly.

Harry turned to him sharply.

"What?" Kingsley sounded lost upon those words.

"We are romantically involved. Let the press feast on that one. I didn't hide a fugitive or a convicted criminal. I hid the woman I care for." Severus continued coldly.

Harry was looking like a fish out of water. He couldn't tell if Severus was being serious or not.

"Are you jesting?"

"Does it matter?" Severus rejoined coldly.

"You are just saying that in order to offer yourself a valid excuse for breaking the law, correct? Love is blind. The Press can excuse such a major slip up if it was created by the aches of a broken heart who has suffered in the past greatly. A Professor having feelings for a former student who is now in a dire situation….hmmm…." Kingsley sounded spiteful.

"The end justifies the means." Came the hard rebuke.

Kingsley's eyes remained thoughtful on Snape."Assuming we present you as a love struck fool who has feelings for your former student….that could explain the hastiness of your decision. It could possibly work with the Press…So we might be able to save face. However saving your job is another thing. You've become too exposed, which combined with your past is creating very damaging circumstances for you and the whole law enforcement."

"Find a way to reverse that…." Severus drawled.

"How?"

"I don't know, but if I am going down for acting nobly towards a woman in need…. Then I am going to take you down with me." Snape's voice was coldly calculative.

"That sounds like a threat." The Minister's brow clouded.

Snape's eyes became even darker if possible. "You are the one who ordered me to enter the Underworld and find a link between Dark Magic, the increasing birth defects and the Muggle-born abductions. Publicly you support the Marriage Law, while you are plotting its fall behind the scenes and I am your most valuable player. How would your supporters feel if they knew the truth? Support me informally and I shall support you. Allow me to go down and I will bring you down so hard you won't be able to get back up again….ever." Severus said solemnly.

Kingsley features plunged, but he remained composed. However a few droplets of sweat that appeared on his brow were enough to attest to his nervousness.

"You want to become the hero who protects the public from morally corrupt Ministry officials? Fine. I want to be the one to stop this insidious Marriage Law. Therefore I will make this easy on you. If I fail to deliver results and reverse this bloody nightmare, then I will resign from my position and you can vent all your frustrations towards me publicly and without any restraints. Afterwards you will have the freedom to choose someone more ethically balanced to take over the Underworld. However I will not allow you to pull me out before I get the chance to find out what is going on. As for Miss Granger, I will make sure she appears when the Wizengamot calls on her again. She will be present to clear up this big misunderstanding." Severus snarled.

Kingsley looked at him stonily. "You have a nerve calling it just a misunderstanding."

"That is what it is and the Ministry will see it as such also." Severus rejoined.

Kingsley froze.

"I will take this silence for an agreement." Severus said dryly and without anymore words he walked out of the office. Leaving behind a moonstruck Minister and a very thoughtful Potter.

-.-

Severus looked up at the door of his office which opened slowly. "Boss is everything alright? What happened with the press? It is a circus out there." Conroy said.

"Is Max in?" Severus' voice was full of dark undertones.

"She hadn't been in today."

"Force apparate her into my office…" Came the low command, which was much more terrifying than any elevated tone would have ever been.

Severus closed his eyes, crossed his arms and took a deep breath. He made a solemn effort to keep his wrath under locks for several moments, but in the end it was for naught. The loud crack of her apparition rattled his already bruised nerves. He looked up and his eyes blazed.

Before she had the time to address him he grasped her arm and pinned her to the wall. "What did you do, you silly trollop!?"

"Get the hell away from me!" She yelled and tried to get released from his steely grip in vain.

His dark eyes bore down on her. "Did you speak to the press?"

"Let me go or I shall call the Aurors!" She barked and managed to free her hand for a split second, which was enough to bury her nails in his cheek.

He dropped her gracelessly to the floor. "I am the law you bloody whore…"

"You won't be part of the Ministry for long. Didn't Kingsley talk to you yet?" -Max wiped her mouth with the back of her hand- "You are being sacked."

"Someone misinformed you." Severus rejoined dryly.

"You are all over the news Severus…you hid a convicted fugitive. Who knew the Commander of the Keepers, the former second hand of Voldemort and Dumbledore was such a naughty boy. Isn't that a surprise?" She smirked.

"Whom did you tip first?" He spat dismissively.

"Matters not. I used her and your name. You are both famous or rather infamous…The Press was certain to have a party at your expense." Max's face twisted with malicious pleasure at her small victory.

"I cannot believe how disillusioned I was about you…" He frowned.

"Don't play innocent with me Severus. You loved the thrill and the indignity of our situation. You are as much of a degenerate as I am and you know it. It was only when this woman found herself in your path that everything changed and you tried to act all virtuous. I suppose you didn't want that precious innocent girl to learn the extend of the filth you hide inside, right? It's better to act like a hero around her. I warned you not to underestimate me. You threw me out of your house because of her." She hissed.

"You attacked an innocent woman just because your ego got wounded." His eyes tore through her.

"I attacked your next whore!" Came the cold rebuke.

He pushed her against the wall again with the sheer force of his tall stature. "Shut your filthy mouth!"

"You think you can make me?!" She kicked him in the loins and that freed her hand long enough to aim a rather hefty punch on his chin.

He took a step back and his regard fell on her heavy. "You are solely lucky that my upbringing does not allow me to hit women. Take your sleazy manners and walk out of my office."

"Your office? For how long will it be so?" Her lopsided smile was full of hatred.

"I would advice you to leave with as much dignity as you have left. Go to your office and pack your things. You are forthwith dismissed from your position due to unethical conduct towards innocent members of the public." He raised his head haughtily even though his chin was throbbing and his cheek was burning.

"Does the Minister know about this?" She glared.

"Kingsley has no authority over the internal affairs of my office." Came the hard rebuke.

"You cannot fire me." Her face lost all it's angry certainty.

"I already did." He raised his brow.

Her eyes thinned on him. "I will get you for this…" Her whisper was terrifying.

"Many people volunteer for that job. Join them and let us see who will get the job done first." He tilted his head coldly.

She humphed and took a step towards the door. "You have no idea how much I am going to make you pay for this. You and that little whore of yours."

The unspoken magic that exploded from his mind pushed her so violently out of the door that hadn't Conroy steadied her she would have toppled over his desk. The door crashed upon it's hinges and the silence fell heavy around him.

The urgency to find Miss Granger barely won over the uncontrolled fury that Max had awoken with her words and her actions. He always had a dormant demon hiding inside the dark corridors of his mind. It only needed a good excuse to wake up and create chaos. It was the first time after the war that he found himself close to loosing the grip on his inner monsters.

He wiped his cheek and looked at his bloody fingers.

He gritted his teeth and leaned against his desk. The need to concentrate in order to gain back his inner silence was the only thing that managed to mute the screams of fury that resounded inside his mind. He counted inwards, calming down his breath as the ugliness inside him began retreating.

It was several quiet moments later that he managed to see that insidious darkness filling up slowly with colourful threads of magic that were coming from all around him. They were slipping through the walls, falling from the ceiling and rising from the floor. They were twisting and twirling through the windows and then getting lost in the distance of the foggy city of London. They were coming from as far away as the four corners of the horizon, mingling with each other to create a rainbow of confusion that only he knew how to traverse through with such ease. The potency of their brightness was a singular testament to the power of the magical person they belonged. His mind got overflowed by myriads of whispers that created a chaotic traffic that didn't bother him at all.

He was deeply concentrated in his quest.

He was searching only for Miss Granger's trace which was so bright in it's golden hue that it could make all the rest seem mundane. He wondered if she knew how powerful she truly was….and he searched and searched endlessly. When finally he saw her trace from afar, his mind brought him close to it in the blink of an eye. He reached out and wrapped his incorporeal fingers around it.

The powerful golden thread of the purest magic tagged him hard and his body dissolved behind a black veil, letting his black magical threads fall on the carpet of his office.

-.-

When he appeared in the midst of the forest he knew exactly were he was and why she had chosen to hide here. He walked carefully towards a small clearing were a column of fire betrayed her location. He saw her sitting close to her magical tent, with a blanket around her knees and a book on her lap. A wave of relief warmed his usually cold heart and he frowned at the unknown feeling. He took a few more steps closer and then stopped. The need to respect her privacy confused him, but he decided to listen to it. He sat down on his shins and observed her quietly for a long time.

She raised her eyes from her book only when the fire seemed to die down. She pushed her overused blanket aside and went over to it. Her efforts to revive it without magic warmed his cold heart. The desolation of her situation, the sadness on her features and the loneliness she had abandoned herself in, hit too close to home. Wordlessly, without the use of a wand, or even a whisper his patronus appeared and brightened up the forest with it's silver glow. The doe, the eternal reminder of the love of his life, came to assist this special girl without reserves. It hopped between the trees effortlessly and rounded the fire.

She inhaled sharply and drew back unable to hide her surprise when she saw it.

The doe replenished her fire with its beautifully strong glow. Then it bounced away and got lost in the forest. Hermione turned around and their eyes met.

"How long have you been standing there?" She whispered lost.

"Long enough to see that you were in danger of freezing to death." He stood up and approached.

She averted her eyes and rubbed her hands. "Without magic it is difficult to get warm."

"I know." He came next to her and observed the frozen woods around him thoughtfully.

She looked at his face and frowned. "What in the name of Merlin happened to you?" She reached up to touch the scratches on his cheek and the purple bruise on his chin.

He humphed. "Got into a small skirmish."

Her lips toyed with a smile. "With a wild cat?"

He pursed his lips. "More or less."

Her fingers touched the dried blood gently and she begun whispering.

He felt the warmth entering his skin and cupped her hand. Then he lowered it. "I didn't come here in order for you to heal these trivialities."

She felt her throat drying out. "How did you find me?"

He released her hand and crossed his hands behind his back.

"My trace?" She raised her brows.

"Is brighter than the sun…" His face filled with shadows.

Her lips parted, but she remained quiet.

He sighed. "I should have thought you'd choose this place to hide….again."

"The forest of Dean…it always meant a lot to me." Her voice was barely heard.

"Tis a place that offered you shelter when total blackness veiled the lives of everyone you knew. Why shouldn't it become a shelter for you during these perilous times as well, correct?" He said quietly.

She nodded and wiped a stray tear.

"You feel you can hide away from your demons in this forest." He said quietly.

"Yes."

"I wish I had such a potent hiding place as well." He sighed wistfully.

She tried to find his eyes. "I didn't think that a man such as yourself would need a hiding place."

"Everyone does." He rejoined quietly.

Her smile was honest. "You can share mine if you wish."

His regard was soft. "A noble offer, but we cannot do that."

"Why not?" She rejoined quickly.

"Running away won't solve your problems, nor mine either."

She crossed her arms protectively in front of her chest. Then she gave him a cautious side-glance. "It is one thing to endanger myself and another to put your job and integrity on the line. I don't know if you've read …."

"I have." He said sternly.

She closed her eyes. "I never meant to destroy you….I never thought that by accepting your help I would expose you so bad."

"I offered you the help knowing full well of the repercussions." He responded matter-of-factly.

She swallowed heavily. "Still I should have been more careful…"

"What happened was hardly your fault. Is that why you run away?" He looked at her.

She felt the intensity of his regard and shivered. "I caused enough problems already. It's better to hide alone. I don't want to take anyone else down with me. Especially not you."

He humphed. "I am not that fragile Miss Granger."

Her eyes were searching.

He took a deep breath. "For whatever the reason we are in this together now. Things cannot change."

"If I hide here no one will find me in your home. You can deny helping me. I am sure the Minister will back you up…" She hurried to say….wanting to find for the blackness of his eyes.

"I already admitted to assisting you." He said flatly.

"Why?!" -She grasped his bicep- "Why would you ever do something so stupid?"

"I cannot let a former comrade fall. Despite what people may think of me, I am not that dishonourable Miss Granger."

"Hermione." She said softly.

His piercing stare darkened.

"So we are both exposed then and the situation is beyond repair… this is a tragedy." She murmured in defeat.

He smiled indignantly. "It is not a tragedy, but an irreversible decision I made. You have no other choice but to follow me home now."

"You want me to come back with you after what happened?" She scowled in disbelief.

"Unless you choose another hiding place which is safe…until you appear in front of the Wizengamot in order to clear up all the misunderstandings." He raised his brow in a quiet warning.

She felt her blood freezing and crossed her arms again. She took a step away from him. "No, I don't want to go back to them."

His long fingers wrapped around her forearm, pulling her closer. "The brave Granger who fought next to us in the war wouldn't have run away."

"I am sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot face that trial alone." Her eyes teared up.

"You won't be alone." He frowned.

"Who will be there with me?"

"I will." He said solemnly.

Hermione froze. After a moment She reached out and cupped his hand gently. "Does that mean that you have decided to apply for me?" Her voice was a mere whisper.

He drew his hand away and cleared his throat, looking rather uncomfortable for a few seconds. "I don't know yet, but I will be there with you when you speak to them."

"And then what? What about your job?" She looked at her frozen boots.

"We shall deal with each day as it comes. Calm down this brilliant mind of yours Hermione. If you stop running away I will be able to help you. Just give me the chance to do it properly." His eyes burned through her.

She smiled bitterly. "Stop running you say…"

"Yes stop." He scowled.

"How can I come back with you now that I know that I endangered your job and your reputation?"

"My reputation was tainted long before you came to Hogwarts. You need not worry." His smile was sad. He walked over and picked up her book.

She hesitated before speaking. "What did you tell them exactly?"

"That I offered you a hiding place willingly." He shrugged.

She felt her heart dropping. "You want their wrath to turn towards you as well then?"

"They might find it in their hearts to excuse my foolish actions in the end…. You never know." He said mysteriously.

"Why would they?" She frowned.

"People tend to romanticise over the most improbable love stories." He said cooly and his eyes fell on hers.

Hermione's heart missed a beat. She walked over to him. "Love stories?"

His brow arched.

"That is the excuse you used?" She felt the words stumbling in her mouth.

"You looked shocked." He noticed.

She was speechless.

"Yet you asked me to apply for you….several times over." He continued calmly.

She felt shaken. "That would have been a mutual arrangement and nothing more….I wouldn't ever intrude your privacy."

"Me neither." His smile was captivating and that shocked her even more.

"Uhm…" She seemed lost for words.

"It is not rocket science Hermione. You are a clever girl. You ask me to apply for you in order to escape the claws of the Wizengamot. I use a possible secret love affair between us to appease the press about my hurried actions towards you. None would be the wiser and they might allow me to keep my job and perchance manage to find out what is happening in the Underworld. You on the other hand have the opportunity to get back your wand and your peace of mind. You will be able to stop running….and help us fight." He rejoined.

"I'd like that." She felt her heart beating out of control even at the prospect.

"Good…then we agree that our…" -He stumbled- "….lies can only be helpful to us. Therefore we use them plentiful without any fear or remorse."

Why did her stomach complain when he used the word lies? "This is what it feels like to be inside the mind of a spy?"

His smiled was faded. "Indubitably."

Her smile was less reserved.

He tilted his head and offered her the book. "Were you studying forbidden literature about Dark Runes? You surprise me Hermione." The tease was clear in his voice.

She felt her cheeks flushing. "I wanted to learn more about the Eleventh Key."

He offered his hand to her. "Get your things and follow me home. I will explain everything you need to know about the Eleventh Key and all its predecessors over a warm cup of tea."

Her face lit up. "That is an offer I cannot deny." She held his hand tightly.

His eyes bore into her for a few silent moments before a ghostly smile softened his features. "No more running away?"

She sighed. "No more Professor. I promise."

"Severus." He corrected.

She pressed his hand and smiled.