Author's notes:

Thank you to everyone who has read my story. I can not get over having nearly a thousand views! This chapter is all HG/SS and a bit longer. If anyone has any suggestions on anything that could use improvement please feel free to let me know! I'm open to constructive criticism. Enjoy your reading!

I do not own any characters or the world of Harry Potter…

Chapter 2: A New Leaf

Hermione could not believe he was leaving without a word. The nerve of that man was absolutely appalling! She did not stay by his side, after saving his life, for four months just to let him turn and leave without even a thank you. After a moment of hesitation she began to forcefully walk after him down the hall. He was almost at the exit. She took off in a dead sprint down the hallway. Feverishly trying to catch up with him she had to speak to him before he left. She seen him looking around he was about to apparate she opened the door and caught hold of his shoulder an felt the horrid pull behind her navel.

She landed with a loud thump behind him on the hard concrete. Dazed she looked up at him and he was furiously looking down at her on the sidewalk. She wondered why she had to be so stubborn all the time. He was obviously not happy to see her lying at his feet.

Severus was free he stopped for a moment before apparating to Spinner's End to smell the fresh air. He was ready to go home. He apparated and felt something touch his shoulder. He didn't recall anyone standing near him when he apparated. He reached the sidewalk in front of his home and turned to look at what hit the ground at the back of his feet. That infuriating witch! Who did she think she was, his mother?

"Miss Granger, are you lost?"

She gave him no response with a blank stare.

"Miss Granger, I asked you a question." Anger was boiling his blood.

"I…I'm not sure…" Her intentions was not to apparate along side him to wherever this location maybe. "I…I…I just wanted to speak to you before you left. I did not mean to follow nor did I know you were about to apparate." She wasn't fearful but she could understand him being upset. She felt something warm dribble down her forehead. She grabbed her head where she had hit the ground dear Merlin she was bleeding.

Merlin's beard there was new words being invented to describe this impossible witch. And now she was stuttering about and bleeding right near his front steps. He placed his hand under her arm, jerked her up off the sidewalk and led her into his home without another word. Furiously mumbling under his breath the entire time, "Insufferable, intolerable little knows it all." He directed her to a dusty old arm chair beside the fireplace and waved his wand over her to clean the blood from her face and hair. "Why are you tailing me like a lost puppy? Have you no sense of decency or privacy?"

Hermione was a bit taken back from him thrusting her up from the pavement and heaving her into an armchair and cleaning her blood from her wounds. She wasn't for certain how to answer his question. She thought perhaps what she had done was a bit much. How should she explain to him without causing an uprising in his already flustered mood.

"I just wished to ask you a few questions when you awoke. I am truly sorry to impose. I will leave if you wish."

He stood over her, staring at her determinedly, surely she wasn't attempting to leave without an explanation now. He was curious to learn her intentions. "Perhaps you should leave." She got up and was walking towards the door. "However, I need you to explain your intentions first."

She turned back to look at him curiously. "I will explain but I must ask that you take a seat professor. This may take awhile." She returned to her seat and waited while Severus used a few cleaning spells around the room. This house was close to being condemned so she was not for certain why he was bothering to clean anything. Seemed to her it would be quicker to tear it down and build another house. She had to prepare for what she was about to say to him. He had to know what had happen but maybe he already remembered. She could start there and wing the rest. She watched as he sat across from her on the sofa. He used his wand to start a fire, a tea pot appeared and he poured each of them a cup of tea. He was ready for her to begin.

"Can you tell me the last thing you remember professor?"

"I died looking at Potter in the Shrieking Shack. At least…I thought I was dying."

"So you remember nothing past that point?"

"Obviously….." He drawled it out in typical Snape fashion. If he remembered more he would have most certainly said so to avoid the redundant questioning.

"Well then I will begin with when you nearly died in the Shrieking Shack." She proceeded to tell him the events that unfolded at the Shrieking Shack. She explained the Battle of Hogwarts, how Harry defeated Lord Voldemort, and how Harry had seen his memories and shared his bravery with the wizarding world. Harry had saved him from a life in Azkaban or worse a dreaded dementor's kiss. They awarded him as a hero should be awarded.

"The weeks following the battle were truly the worst. Rounding up the fleeing Death Eater's that were still determined to follow through with Lord Voldemorts orders. It was more terrifying than before he had fallen. It was quite chaotic. The Order and their families experienced many more deaths. Including my parents, Ron and Arthur Weasley, Luna and her father, Neville was tortured and is now with his parents at St. Mungos. I could go on for days with the list of deaths. Draco was found dead by his own hand. There were several attempts on your life, after the news hit the papers and it was discovered you were responsible for the down fall of Lord Voldemort. At least twenty or more muggleborns were murdered before all the Death Eater's were finally captured or killed. I know this is quite a bit to process at one time Professor. Do you wish for me to continue?"

Severus sat on the sofa looking paler than normal. No wonder she sat by his bedside every night. Draco took his own life and he was fairly certain she said her parents and been murdered.

"How did your parents die?"

"Before what should have been my seventh year at Hogwarts I oblivated my parents to protect them; I am not sure how but apparently the spell had worn off and my parents returned to London in search of me and found the wrong set of wizards in Diagon Alley for assistance. They were tortured and murdered at the hands of McNair, Crabbe and Goyle. That was nearly three and a half months ago. I haven't dealt with it very well."

"I'm sorry Miss Granger." He poured her more tea and prepared himself for the remainder of the story.

Fighting back tears Hermione could barely focus now on the events that Severus would need to know. She had to maintain her composure. She wasn't weak and she would not give him the pleasure of seeing her weakness. Now he was apologizing. This was a new development. She hadn't expected any sympathy from him….ever.

"Please call me Hermione sir."

"Continue, Miss Granger." Why would he want to call her Hermione? She just needed to get on with what happen so she can leave.

Taken back a bit by his dismissal she continued with the events that took place.

"After the death eater round up had taken place they proceeded to stand trial for there crimes. It took nearly three weeks. I wouldn't say that they were trials; they were more or less brought in and sentenced. A majority received the dementors kiss. A handful at most were pardoned but put under several years of house arrest. Including the Malfoy's, after you were taken to St. Mungo's Ms. Malfoy saved Harry's life and their family left the battle. Lucius is spending a year in Azkaban and will return home after a year to begin his house arrest." She stopped for a moment to sip her tea. Looking at Severus she could not judge any concern on his face.

"Miss Granger, why did you stay at the hospital?" He could process everything else she said later right now this was his main concern.

She had to answer but didn't want him to know her selfish reasons. She had lost her parents and Ron. She needed someone to care for since Harry was busy with rounding up death eaters and the trials. He didn't have time to baby sit her and she honestly didn't think he wanted to be around her while she was crying. He was also busy with his Auror training and planning the wedding with Ginny. She came up with the most honorable intentions and once again hoped he didn't call her out on not a complete lie but a partial lie.

"I stayed by your side sir so I would know that you were safe. I respect you more for you bravery and courage than I dislike you for your somewhat malicious behavior towards me over the years. After saving your life I felt a need to take care of you and try to give you what no one else would. I'm not even sure if you have ever had anything of that nature in your life before either."

"And what was that exactly?"

"Unconditional love, gentle caring, and the kindness of true friendship." Did she just say that out loud? Dear Merlin she did not want to say that! She really needed to read a book about blurting and how to refrain from doing so!

What did she just say? Surely she doesn't think that I am going to befriend her she has surely lost her mind! She does however have a point. There weren't exactly twenty people standing by his side when he awoke. Hero or not it didn't seem to have the appreciation effect he had desired. Besides run of the mill gossip in the daily prophet did anyone appreciate what he had done for nearly twenty years? Hermione seemed to appreciate it at least.

Did he even have any friends left besides Lucius? He wasn't exactly fond of the death eater but everyone else he knew or associated with was dead. Either he was desperate for friendship or he suddenly felt a kinship with Hermione.

"Thank You…..Hermione."

Holy shit he called me Hermione and thanked me in the same sentence. She didn't know what to say so she for once said nothing.

"Where is Potter?"

"I…I don't know at the moment possibly Grimmauld Place or the ministry. Do you wish for me to owl him here?"

"NO!" He shouted at a very unreasonable level. Potter was the last person he wanted to see.

"Please there is no need to shout. He and I barely speak anymore these days. I would be shocked if he even responded to my owl."

"Really? And why is it that he would not reply?" He found this hard to believe. She and the potter brat were attached at the hip since first year.

"He doesn't have time for me sir." How embarrassing it is to admit something such as Harry her best friend not having time for her anymore. It seemed nearly pathetic. It suddenly dawned on her that she didn't have any real friends anymore.

He noticed her solemn expression turn to what seemed to him a mournful expression. She did say that Ron had died and now Potter has abandoned her for other things. Everything was suddenly becoming clear as to why she had stayed with him at the hospital. She had nowhere else to go and became clingy over someone she barely knew and she knew quite well there was a chance he wouldn't accept her upon his awakening. He didn't know what was wrong with him but an overwhelming urge to give her a hug was consuming him and it made him a bit uncomfortable. He couldn't stand this little chit. She got on his nerves more in one day than most people did their entire miserable lives. Yet he couldn't help but pity her because he knew exactly how she felt at this moment. He however had a lot of work to do to get his house warded and back in order. Her silence was making him a bit uncomfortable.

"Hermione I have some cleaning to do and some warding to do." He stood and left the room heading towards the kitchen. He hoped she took the hint and left him alone. He had a peculiar thought she would start cleaning without direction on the assumption it was an invitation to stay not to leave.

Hermione was confused she didn't know if his abruptness was an indication to leave or to stay and clean. Puzzled at her current situation she decided to stay in her seat. Surely if he wanted her to leave he would have asked her and if he wanted her to clean he would have directed her to do so. She was afraid if she got up and asks him it would make him mad and she would never admit to anyone besides herself, but she desperately needed his friendship. He had no idea just exactly how many people lost their lives in the last four months. Everyone that was dear to her was gone and the ones that remained were mere shells of their former selves.

After an hour or so of cleaning he thought surely she was gone so he ventured back to his sitting room and with a great shock of surprise that nearly knocked him back a step or two she was still here but asleep in his arm chair. He didn't know if it was the near death experience or if it was the fact that he was getting soft in his old age but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to wake her. She probably didn't get much sleep at the hospital and he was fairly certain she said she worked during the day. How was it that the brightest witch of her age turned into a desperate clingy chit.

He was trying to clear his mind. He was done cleaning there was only so much he could do to this cesspool he called a home. Perhaps he could sell the house and move. There was no need for him here nor did he want to return to teaching or being the headmaster. He had no desire to be around children. He never had nor will he ever enjoy the profession he was forced to choose.

There was so much death he had to deal with as well. True he never was what you would say "close" to anyone that passed. He did respect quit a few that had passed. Luckily all the maruadars were gone now but that was quite unfortunate for Nymphadora's family. He felt a pain in his heart for Molly. He truly respected Arthur and knew he was a good man. He also knew how it felt to lose Lily. Someday to share that love with someone again would be his happiest moment in life. Tomorrow he would pay his respects to Molly. He was fairly certain she would not want to see him no one ever got excited to see him just fearful.

He pulled up his left sleeve and stared at the faded black mark on his arm. It was over….finally over. He breathed a sigh of relief. No more double agent, no more dual life, he can finally be what he wanted to be do what he wanted to do. NO more my lord or Dumbledore. His decisions and his alone will dictate the rest of his days. This was the most carefree moment of his life. He fell back on the sofa across from Hermione. His carefree moment ended when he realized she was still here in his sitting room. Staring at her and studying her intensely he decided then that a friendship couldn't hurt now that there were no chances in her dying just for speaking to him. He wasn't exactly sure how to become friends with someone but he was certain that he would have to be nice occasionally for them to become friends. For now he would let her sleep. He found a blanket in the hall closet, levitated her to the sofa and covered her up after carefully removing her shoes. She could sleep here till morning and maybe she would join him in his journey to see Molly.