Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling is the greatest, this is her world and these her character. I am just borrowing them.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my first story!

Chapter Three

December 31, 1998

Hermione tipped her head back and swallowed a large swig of the burning drink, enjoying the warmth that spread throughout her body as the Firewhiskey settled in her stomach. She set the glass back on the bar top and motioned to Aberforth to refill the glass. The Hogshead was not typically where someone would expect to find any Hogwarts student, especially on New Year's Eve and especially if that student was Hermione Granger, which was exactly why Hermione had made the trip to the bar, with her own clean glass.

Aberforth eyed the young witch but refilled the glass and returned to the corner of the bar where he wiped out glasses with a dirty, old rag. Hermione had spent Christmas with the Weasleys and Harry, as her parents were still in Australia under the memory charm she had placed on them. The Weasleys were welcoming, as always, and reuniting with Ron and Harry for a few days had been heartwarming. However, Ginny still had to wake her up every night due to her night terrors and the others had wondered why Hermione cast a silencing charm on the room they shared every night. In the mornings, though she glamored the dark circles that had become a permanent fixture under her eyes, she still received looks of concern when she came down for breakfast. She had planned to remain at the Burrow through the new year but had overheard Ginny, Harry and Ron discussing her the night before.

"She barely ever sleeps, and when she does, she always ends up screaming until she wakes up or until I wake her up," Ginny had whispered behind the partially closed door of Ron's bedroom. "What is she dreaming about?" Ron asked quietly. "The war of course, you dolt!" Ginny had barked out while swatting the back of her brother's head. Ron exclaimed and dramatically rubbed his head, "I know the war! What I meant was, well… what part? Does she tell you what it is specifically that is giving her nightmares?" Ginny sighed and shook her head. "Maybe I should talk to her," Harry said softly. "I mean, I know what it is like to have dreams and nightmares that you just can't get away from."

"No!" exclaimed Ginny, "She didn't want me to tell you! The only reason I even know is because she forgot to set a silencing spell around her bed one night at the beginning of term and I walked up to the dorm room to see her thrashing around her fourposter and screaming." At that Hermione had turned from Ron's door and quietly made her way back to the kitchen to let Mrs. Weasley know she would be returning to Hogwarts the next day via the Knight Bus. When the matriarch had questioned her early departure, Hermione stressed that she wanted to make sure all her schoolwork was caught up prior to the start of the next term.

So here she was, on New Year's Eve, drinking whiskey alone at a dirty pub. Hermione closed her eyes as she ran her finger around the rim of her glass and glanced at the clock behind the bar that read 11:56. "Four minutes," she muttered to herself and lifted the glass of amber liquid to her lips. Before she could take a sip the door behind her swung open, loudly slamming against the wall as winter wind blew into the pub, swirling snow through the dark, dank space. Hermione had jumped at the loud noise and yanked her wand out of her robes, whipping around to face the intruder out of self-preservative habit. A tall, slim figure in long heavy black robes stood in the doorway, the shadows obscured the individuals face until he stepped inside. Severus Snape, entered the pub and forcefully pushed the door shut, blocking the winter wind. He wore a long, heavy black cloak and a thick black scarf was wrapped around his neck. Without looking about the room Snape strode through the bar and over to the corner where Aberforth was filling two glasses with a bright green liquid from a dusty bottle.

"You're late," Aberforth grunted as Snape seated himself at the far end of the bar. "It's a longer trip this year," Snape muttered in a husky voice, so unlike the voice he had used the last time Hermione had been taught by him. He began to unravel the scarf from around his neck but paused when he noticed Hermione standing by the bar, her wand still drawn. The look earned a glance from the bar keeper in her direction who loudly cleared his throat pointedly. Hermione jumped and quickly stowed her wand and returned to her bar stool, her cheeks flushing bright red, though it was barely visible in the low light of the pub. She heard Snape and Aberforth muttering quietly in the corner for a moment then silence fell. She looked up at the clock again just as the minute hand clicked over to the 12. "Happy New Year Hermione," she whispered to herself and downed the rest of the Firewhiskey in her glass. Lowering the empty cup from her face she glanced over at the two men in the corner, Aberforth was again wiping out a bar glass with the dirty mug and Snape was sipping his green drink. Hermione took a good look at him. Snape was still pale and thin, though he had less of a skeletal look to him as though he had finally had a few decent meals. He still dressed in all black, though he no longer wore his long teaching robes and instead sported a long black frock coat and black trousers. The frock coat buttoned all the way up his chest and throat, covering his Addams apple. Hermione's eyes ran over the edge of his collar and her breath caught. Above the edge of the collar, licking up his neck, under his jaw line and behind his ear were thick, silvery scars. The damage Nagini had caused to the man seated at the other end of the bar was clearly visible from so far away, even in such low light. Hermione unconsciously raised her hand to her mouth in shock and moved her eyes to the face of the man she was scrutinizing. Upon reaching his face her eyes met his narrowed black ones, glaring at her as he held an empty glass. Hermione felt her cheeks redden for a second time and she quickly turned away, leveling her eyes at the wooden bar top.

Glancing at her empty glass, Hermione decided it was time for her to return to the castle. With a whispered "Tergeo," she cleaned her glass and quickly tucked it into her beaded handbag. Then she donned her winter cloak and pulled on the knitted golden colored hat and gloves the Weasleys had gifted her for Christmas that year. Wrapping her stripped Gryffindor scarf around her neck, she dug two sickles out of her pocket and set them on the bar, then started for the door. She had just wrapped her fingers around the handle when a horse, gravelly voice right next to her said, "You should not be traveling alone so late, Miss Granger."

Hermione turned around to face the person who had spoken, inadvertently swinging her beaded bag and striking them right in the stomach. Snape let out an audible gasp as the handbag struck him and grabbed at Hermione's arm, his long fingers easily encircling her mitten clad wrist. "Merlin's beard, what are you carrying in that bloody bag witch?" Hermione winced as his voice grated out. "Sorry Professor Snape," she whispered. His eyes snapped to hers and he released her hand. "I am no Professor, Miss Granger." Hermione gazed at him but did not respond, just gave him a quick nod before opening the door and stepping out into the blustery winter night.

Hermione made her way through Hogsmead swiftly, the streets were void of people and the snow had not become too deep as to impede her return to the castle. Behind her, she could hear the sound of snow being crushed under Snape's boots, but she chose to ignore him. She walked quickly through the village and came around the corner of the path to the castle by the Shrieking Shack before Snape made any noise. When the shack came into view, illuminated by the large waxing moon filling the night sky he didn't say anything, only made a soft strangling noise in his damaged throat before clearing it and continuing to follow her. Hermione turned and stared at the man behind her. "You don't need to follow me sir," she stated coolly. Snape's head snapped up from where it had been fixed on the snow-covered road. "You should not be traveling alone so late," he repeated in that husky voice. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she retorted, "That's none of your business, as you said, you are no longer my professor and therefore are not responsible for me." Snape's eyes glinted in the moon light as he strode closer to Hermione and looked down at the witch. "You truly are a little know-it-all aren't you," he rasped before grabbing her upper arm in a tight grip and quickly turning on the spot. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the familiar pressure of side-along apparition. The feeling stopped quickly enough, however Hermione could not help but sagging as the world righted itself.

Feeling the witch beside him begin to slump over, Snape quickly pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to keep her upright. "Stubborn girl," he whispered as he pulled out his wand. Hermione's nose was pressed against the buttons of Snape's frock coat and when she breathed in she could smell potion herbs and fresh parchment mixed with the freshness of the snowy night. She tried to right herself but lost her balance as her head continued to spin. Snape grunted and tightened his hold on her while he waved his wand, causing a slivery shape to appear. "Headmistress, I apologize for the late hour, but please send someone to the front gate to retrieve an ill student." After a moment he added, "It is Miss Granger," and then waved his wand, causing the glowing figure to dart through the gate and up the path to the castle. Hermione murmured, "I'm fine, I can walk," into Snape's frockcoat and tried to shrug off his arm again. Snape scoffed and took a short step away from the witch. Hermione swayed where she was standing for a second before dropping to her knees in the snow. Snape sneered, "You are not fine. You are drunk." Hermione shook her head, which caused her to unbalance further and begin to tip over into the snow. However, the retired potions professor was quicker and scooped Hermione up and out of the snow, one arm supporting her shoulders and another underneath her jean clad knees. Hermione moaned from the quick movement and unconsciously buried her head in Snape's chest. "For the love of Merlin, don't you dare get sick on me witch," Snape muttered as he carried the girl closer to the gate.

A moment later he noticed a lantern light exit the castle and begin bobbing down the path, as though the person carrying it was hurrying down to the gate. Snape shifted the witch in his arms, causing her to moan again and place her palm on his chest. Flinching at the contact, Snape looked down at the woman in his arms, her bushy brown hair was damp from the snow and her nose was slightly red from the cold. Snowflakes clung to her eye lashes and her lips were slightly parted, so puffs of her breath warmed his chest. The sound of someone hurrying through the snow grew louder and Snape looked up to see a disheveled woman in a tartan bathrobe, boots, and a heavy winter cloak approach the gate. Professor McGonagall's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. "Severus, I didn't realize…."

"I think getting Miss Granger up to the castle is a bit more pressing Headmistress," he quickly said, stepping up to the gate. McGonagall's eyes narrowed on the wizard, but she nodded and waved her wand at the gate, causing it to creak open. "Of course, are you able to carry her the rest of the way Severus?" Snape hesitated and flicked his eyes over the castle, pausing at the astronomy tower before clearing his throat and muttering, "Of course."

Stepping through the gate and onto the school grounds, Snape followed McGonagall along the path, his back ramrod straight and the knuckles of his clenched hands white. They had almost made it to the door when Hermione shifted in his grip and snaked her hand up and around his neck. "It's ok," she muttered, softly squeezing his neck for a moment before dropping her hand back down to his chest. Snape stopped in the snow and stared down at the witch in his arms, stunned that in her unconscious stupor she had sensed his distress and had offered him a kindness. "Severus?" he heard McGonagall call from the doorway a few meters away. He tore his gaze from Hermione and quickly crossed space to the threshold of the school.

Standing in the entry hall Snape suppressed a shudder, as he looked around the space. The last time he had seen the inside of the castle it had been in ruins, right before the Dark Lord had called him to the Shrieking Shack. The girl in his arms murmured as the candlelight from the sconces hit her face, and she turned into his chest, trying to avoid the light. "The hospital wing would be best I think," McGonagall whispered before she swept down the hall. Snape sighed and followed the woman through the castle. As they got closer, Hermione began twitching and murmuring more. Snape glanced down and noticed that her eyes were moving erratically beneath her eyelids as though she were watching something. By the time they entered the hallway that lead to the hospital wing Snape was finding it difficult to hold the witch, as she was obviously trapped in the thralls of a nightmare. Hermione began muttering in a panicked whisper, "No. No! Leave him alone! Stop! No!" Her hands clutched at Snape's clothes and she was breathing heavily. He gently shook the witch in his arms and when that didn't help, he shook her harder. She continued to thrash and whisper hoarsely, "No. No. No." Not knowing what to do, Snape tightened his grip and bent his head low towards the witch in his arms and buried his nose in her bushy hair until his mouth was right next to her ear. "It's ok," he whispered, "It's ok." Hermione stiffened in his arms and then began to slowly relax, her legs once again dangled over his arm and her hands rested against his chest again. "It's ok Hermione, you're ok," he murmured as she quieted and let out a contented sigh. He breathed in, she smelled of cold winter air, lavender and something familiarly sweet and spicy. 'Tonka maybe?' Snape considered. When she once again rested in his arms Snape looked up and saw McGonagall staring at them, slack jawed. "What?" he barked as he swiftly walked past her and into the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was bustling around a bed at the far end of the room but stopped as Snape neared. "Severus. As I live an breathe, you look well," she exclaimed. He stopped, surprised at the witch's appraisal, before replying, "As do you Poppy." McGonagall entered the room behind Snape and called to the mediwitch." Madam Pomfrey, made her way around the bed as she instructed the wizard in front of her, "You can just lay her down there," before hurrying across the room to the Headmistress.

Snape glanced at the women by the hospital wing door before striding over to the empty bed that Madam Pomfrey had prepared. He gently lowered the witch he was holding down onto the crisp white sheets and slid his arms from beneath her. Glancing down at her his gazed narrowed on her wet cloak and boots and then turned to the women whispering at the opposite side of the room. 'It won't do to leave her in these wet things,' Snape thought to himself. He sighed and moved to the end of the bed. He quickly untied and pulled off both of Hermione's boots, setting them quietly on the floor, before moving up to the clasp of her cloak. He unhooked the heavy fabric and then carefully lifted her legs to tug it out from under them. He then gently lifted her by the shoulders and pulled the rest of the cloak out from under her. As he lowered her back to the mattress he heard her softly whisper, "Thank you sir." His eyes darted to hers, which were barely open but were focused on his face. He softly removed his arm and said, "Sleep Miss Granger." She nodded but still tried to sit up. He placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down, "Sleep." She struggled and gasped, "My wand. I need my wand." Snape pushed the witch back down again, "You are at Hogwarts. You are safe." The news did not deter Hermione who again tried to sit up. "I need my wand," she exclaimed. Snape sighed and searched the cloak he had removed from the witch, pulling an intricately carved vine wood wand from one of the pockets. He glanced up to see Hermione sitting up in the hospital bed, watching him with apprehension. With a huff he rose and returned to the bedside, thrusting the wand toward the witch. "Thank you sir," she quietly breathed as she plucked the wand from his hand and looked up to meet his dark gaze. "Thank you for everything." Snape regarded the witch for a moment before giving her a quick nod and sweeping away, between the rows of beds and quickly out the doors of the hospital wing.