A/N: Once again, thank you all for the support and comments you make on this story. I tried not to make Ron the bad guy, I'm not fond of Ron as a character and yes, he can be childish and impulsive but I don't think he deserves to be an evil character. Here's chapter 32, hope you enjoy! :)
A/N: Chapter Warnings - Mentions of sexual assault and bad language
Chapter 32: Arthur, Sleeping at Severus' and Minerva's Near Litter of Kittens
Hermione was summoned to the office of Albus Dumbledore during her morning charms class. She had been slightly frustrated when Harry and Ron hadn't bothered to turn up for class, they were always leaving her out, and going and doing things on their own, and it was beginning to make her feel as though she were invisible to them.
Hermione scampered up the stairs that would lead her to the headmaster's office, she knocked and she waited for permission to enter.
When permission was granted, she stepped into the office and halted upon seeing her head of house, Severus, and various ministry workers all stood around. Every head was turned to stare at her and that was when she realised that something big had happened.
"What's going on?" She asked her head of house.
McGonagall approached her and gently placed her hand on her shoulder, and patted her comfortingly.
"There has been a rather unfortunate accident concerning Arthur Weasley, Miss Granger" Dumbledore informed her.
She froze. Something had happened to Arthur, everything was not alright.
"Is he alright?" Hermione asked, she was dreading that Dumbledore was about to give her some damning news and she held her breath.
"He had been attacked whilst on his guard duty at the Ministry; he is currently in St Mungo's but is expected to make a full recovery in time. The Weasley children have all been excused for the last three weeks of term and have been sent home" Dumbledore explained.
So that's where Ron had been, she felt a little guilty that she had been cursing Ron's name all morning for not showing up to class. But that didn't explain Harry.
"What about Harry?" She asked.
"Harry has also gone with them, he was sent off with Kingsley Shacklebolt about an hour ago to catch up with the rest of the Weasley's. He has also been excused for the rest of term and they've all been given permission to begin their Christmas break early" Dumbledore said.
"May I see Mr Weasley?" Hermione asked, she looked to Arthur as a father figure with her own parents hidden away; she loved him just as much. She had always admired Arthur; she just wanted to see that he was alright.
"No" Dumbledore stated firmly.
Hermione stared at him with a slight look of disbelief, and then she set her face back to neutral as the momentary shock wore off. To be honest, she was expecting that. Why would Dumbledore ever do anything that she asked of him?
Hermione sighed and folded her arms.
"I'm sorry Miss Granger but I feel that you would be in the way. Mr Weasley needs his family around him right now and we wouldn't want you intruding on that. After all you are not a member of the Weasley family are you?" Dumbledore secretly glared at her, letting the girl know that she should stop meddling; she wasn't needed so she should go away.
"Harry's not a family member either" Hermione said, her voice cold.
"Harry is a bit different, the young Master Weasley required that he needed the support of his closest confidant, so in Harry's case I made and exception" Dumbledore told her.
"Can you make an exception for me?" She asked him, practically begging him to let her go.
"No Miss Granger, they didn't request you, nor have they asked for you. If they do then by all means you will have permission but until then. You will have to wait for Christmas" Dumbledore stated firmly.
Hermione nodded and angrily left the room. She blindly walked through the silent corridors of Hogwarts, allowing her feet to take her where they wanted her to go. She finally noticed that she had stopped walking and had begun shaking. She looked up and realised she was stood outside the hidden entrance to Severus' personal rooms. She took a look around making sure that she hadn't been seen and she said the password and was granted access to Severus' rooms.
Hermione made her way to Severus' bedroom and took off her clothes and found one of Severus' old shirts lying on the floor. She put it on and got into Severus' bed.
The shaking had seemed to have subsided, and all that nervous energy was now coming out in the form of tears. Hermione was so worried for Arthur that she had begun sobbing, slowly exhausting herself. She lay for ages thinking about Arthur, and his family, and hoping that they were all being supportive of one another and helping each other. She began to drift off to thoughts of Arthur, praying that he would recover.
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After Hermione had left the headmasters office, Minerva looked at Albus.
"There was no need to be quite so blunt with her Albus" Minerva chastised the older man.
"I don't have time for this Minerva. The girl doesn't have permission to leave the castle, the Weasley's haven't requested a need for her presence, and I dare say that we do not want to overwhelm Arthur or his recovery. I fear Miss Granger would just be in the way. Like I told her" Dumbledore stuck to his views on the matter.
Minerva hated to admit it, but she agreed. The Weasley's were a large clan as it was and there was nothing that Hermione could really do at this point. Minerva also agreed with Hermione in the sense that Harry didn't really need to go either. It was just so dangerous for the boy to be out of the castle by any means.
"Has Molly agreed to look after Potter at the Burrow?" She queried.
"They will be going back to Grimmauld Place, it is safer for Arthur and his family, the house is hidden, they will be staying there for the whole Christmas holidays. They will all be safe staying there" Dumbledore explained.
"That's what you said last time" Severus quipped from the corner of the room.
Both Minerva and Albus looked around sharply at the man they had forgotten all about.
"You forget headmaster that Grimmauld Place has not been up to its full standard of 'safe house', are you sure your golden boy and his surrogate 'family' will be safe there? Can you guarantee it?" Severus said darkly.
"Yes Severus, I can assure you that place is safe" Dumbledore stated.
"And should Miss Granger wish to see her friends for Christmas, and visit Mr Weasley to wish him well?" Severus questioned.
"She is more than welcome to visit them when the school term ends" Albus said.
"And you expect her to just willingly accept that if she wants to have company, and a 'jolly' Christmas that she has to go and stay in the same house, the same room, as she did in the summer" Severus stated nearly in outrage.
"If she wants to have a 'Merry Christmas' Severus, she will have no choice but to do just that" Albus concluded, showing that the case was closed and no more would be said on the matter.
Severus chuckled darkly.
"It seems that whenever Grimmauld Place is involved, Miss Granger will never have a choice" Severus smiled cynically at the headmaster.
Albus and Minerva were silent as they stared at the vexed potions master.
Severus huffed and left the room, he need a good cup of tea before afternoon classes begun.
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Severus walked into his quarters, and went into his lounge, and sat in his chair by the fire. He sat thinking about the previous night and how he had been summoned from his bed to the headmaster's office just after midnight.
He had walked into the headmaster's office and was confronted with an angry Potter, he was shouting at the headmaster, and was pale and covered in sweat. The boy had clearly been having nightmares again.
Albus had told Severus about what had happened, and the Weasley children had been sent off via port key to be by their father's side. Severus had promised that he would help with the potion that would help Arthur recover. Albus had then hinted at the possibility that the boy needed to be able to defend his mind. Severus had almost thrown a fit right there.
Severus could just imagine what occlumency with the boy would be like, Potter would have to be probably dragged down to his dungeons, he was sure the boy would not come willingly, and then the lesson would begin. Severus wouldn't be surprised if the boys mind was like an open book, the teenage emotions and hormones would be running rampant in the boys mind, and he would have no control whatsoever. This process would be tough, but Potter's thoughts needed to be protected, especially if the dark lord could easily access them.
Turning back to the present, Severus was worried about Hermione. She had clearly been upset and distressed upon hearing about Arthur Weasley, Severus knew that Hermione was very fond of the man, and she had clearly been worried at the fact that her two best friends had supposedly disappeared into thin air. Severus had wanted to run after her as she fled the headmaster's office, but he had just about managed to keep his emotions in check.
Severus knew he wouldn't know where to find her anyway. He had wanted to find her but she could have been outside, in the library, the astronomy tower, the-
She was here. Severus froze and, for the first time, sensed something different about his rooms. He stood up and headed towards his bedroom.
He stood in the doorway and relaxed. There she was, asleep amongst his bedcovers, in what was clearly one of his old shirts, and a pile of school uniform next to the bed. Severus could see the dry tear stained cheeks, and went and sat gently on the bed next to her sleeping form. He gently stroked her head, brushing a few pieces of loose hair from her face, and breathed a sigh of relief.
She was alright and he would let her sleep. He would be there when she woke up so that he could talk to her. Hermione was the type to bottle up her emotions, and hide away and let them out all on her own. But Severus wanted to be there for her, to lessen all her burdens. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved.
Severus only had two afternoon classes, thankfully, and he knew he would be finished for the day by 3pm. He decided that Hermione would most likely sleep until then. He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, and slowly got up and quietly left the room.
After two hours of classes, one small explosion, and a near accidental mass murder incident, Severus was ready to go back to his rooms, put his feet up and read a novel however, the angry Scottish woman that was Minerva McGonagall halted him in his tracks.
"Hermione Granger has been unaccounted for since that meeting this morning" she informed him.
Severus nodded.
"She's sleeping" Severus said, not offering up any more information.
Minerva's eyes widened slightly.
"She's in your rooms" the older witch managed to stutter out.
Severus shook his head in the negative and grinned like the Slytherin he was.
"She's in my bed" he smirked at the witch, teasing her, hoping that he would see the older witch produce a litter of kittens.
"WHAT?!" Minerva exclaimed.
"She was upset after this morning; she's clearly gone to my rooms to get some form of comfort. She had the password, and the wards recognise and accept her, and I can only assume that she was already in bed and asleep before I even left the headmasters office" Severus told Minerva.
Minerva just blinked at him and moved towards the classroom entrance to Severus' quarters.
"I'm coming for afternoon tea" Minerva said.
Severus growled at the interfering witch, he just wanted to relax. He picked up all the papers he needed and locked the potions classroom door before allowing Minerva entrance to his rooms.
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Upon entering the room, the first thing Minerva did was look towards the bedroom. She noticed that the bedroom door was open, and could clearly see a sleeping lion cub in the bed.
"Satisfied?" Severus questioned sarcastically.
"She seems awfully familiar with your rooms" Minerva stated whilst sipping the tea that Severus had poured them both.
Severus and Minerva sat down and Severus just nodded at the older witch.
"Whenever she's upset, or just wants an escape, she comes here and I take full responsibility, I let her in and allow this to happen" Severus told the witch.
Minerva chuckled.
"I'm not condemning you Severus, I was just making a statement" Minerva grinned at him.
Severus gulped.
"Like I said, sometimes she just needs to be alone. At least I know she's safe in here" Severus said.
"Are you sure she doesn't come down here just to see you or be in your pleasant company?" Minerva asked him.
Severus snorted as if she had told him a really funny joke.
"Very funny Minerva! What next? Will pigs fly?" He asked.
"I was being serious" Minerva stated.
Severus was about to reply but a small whimper suddenly sounded throughout the room.
"No, no, no, no, no" a third voice cried out.
Severus was immediately on his feet, knowing that this was the sound of Hermione Granger suffering a nightmare, and made his way to the bedroom.
Hermione was clearly having a nightmare, and she was tossing and turning between the sheets. Like Severus had done many months before, he removed the sheet that was obviously making her feel constricted and tried to get her to snap out of it.
Minerva stood in the doorway of the room assessing the scene.
Hermione was crying in her nightmare, whatever it was obviously felt very real to her.
Severus repeated her name over and over and eventually, Hermione started to snap out of it. Without warning, she shot into an upright position and immediately locked her eyes with Severus.
That was enough for Hermione because she flung herself at his lap. She wrapped both her arms around his neck locking them in place as she sat on his lap and locked her legs around his hips and lower back. Her breathing was uneven and she was shaking.
"Hush, you're alright dear, sweet girl. Everything's alright" Severus tried to calm her.
He placed one hand on the centre of her back to support her, and placed the other hand on the back of her head, and he pulled her to him so that her head was tucked under his chin and he squeezed her tightly in reassurance.
Hermione's sniffling stopped shortly after, and she felt Severus press a light kiss to her forehead. She moved back so that she could look into his eyes and she smiled at him.
"Thank you" she whispered.
"What have I said about thanking me? There is no need" he told her gently.
Hermione giggled and then blushed, she seemed to have finally realised that she was in just an oversized shirt and her knickers, and was sat in a compromising position on Severus lap. She grinned devilishly up at him and teasingly rocked her hips against him.
Severus immediately gripped her hips and shook his head at her. She frowned at him; he never normally stopped her when she did this.
There was a clearing of a throat behind her, and Hermione twisted her head towards the door to see her head of house looking at the compromising scene before her.
Hermione flushed and immediately shot off of Severus' lap and stood facing her head of house, as if she were a child who had got caught stealing a biscuit before dinner.
Minerva looked at the pair sternly for a few moments before her face turned into one of amusement.
"So this is what you call making her feel safe" Minerva remarked trying not to laugh.
Hermione looked down at the floor secretly relieved that Minerva wasn't really mad at them. Hermione twisted her head to look at Severus' expression but found him staring at her, more specifically at her arse.
Hermione looked down and noticed that the back of the shirt had risen up whilst she had been restless during her nightmare, it meant that her arse was practically on full display to Severus.
All Hermione could think about was how thankful she was that it was only the back of the shirt that had risen, and not the front. Had she been standing there fully showing off her knickers to her head of house, she would have been humiliated. But with it just being Severus, it was quite the turn on.
Severus was feeling the heat too; he had noticed Hermione's knicker covered rear on display as soon as she stood up. How could he not? It was right in front of his face.
It was taking all his self-control not to lean forward and kiss a bum cheek or even worse, lightly bite it. Severus snapped out of it, and noticed that both the witches in the room were staring at him.
The older witch was shaking her head but didn't appear to be mad. And the younger witch was staring at him with daring eyes and sexily chewing her bottom lip.
Severus almost groaned, and knew he had to stand up or he didn't know what he would do. As it was, he was thankful for his voluminous robes as a certain appendage had been extremely intrigued by the young woman's lacy, black and Slytherin, coloured backside. He cleared his throat.
Hermione knew that look, and almost grinned mischievously at her love interest.
"You two need to be careful. You're lucky that I love the both of you, and know that neither of you are out to hurt the other. I don't agree with this, but you have my approval so long as it's discreet" Minerva stated.
The pair nodded at her and she knew then to make her leave. Minerva knew that Hermione would most likely need to talk about the nightmare, and that she would only open up to Severus.
Minerva let herself out of Severus' rooms, leaving the two forbidden, star-crossed lovers to talk.
As she made her way towards her own rooms, she found Albus Dumbledore walking near the great hall.
"Minerva, I understand Miss Granger hasn't been seen since this morning" Albus stated.
"Its fine Albus, she is in her dormitory sleeping. The emotions of this morning exhausted her, she will be fine" Minerva lied.
Albus looked at her for a moment before accepting what the older witch had told him and he headed towards his office.
