Authors Notes:

Sorry for the delay! Had a hard time finishing this chapter with the weather delays kids not being in school and all that what not. Hope everyone enjoys! Thank you everyone for the reviews! They mean so much!

I own nothing these characters are not mine!

Chapter 3

Severus sat and watched Hermione sleep for quite awhile. Realizing how exhausted he felt he decided to make his way up the stairs and to his bedroom. Each step felt like his feet were made of cinder blocks. As he went into his room he cast a few cleaning spells to remove the dust and clean the bed. He lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling thinking about his future.

Teaching was no longer his career nor would he be headmaster but he already knew what he wanted to do with the remainder of his life. He had always dreamed of opening an apothecary. He was known worldwide now and he had no doubt that this dream could become a reality. Staying in England was no longer an option now either. He was ready to sale his home and move on to somewhere new. He smiled at the thought of moving far away. Somewhere quite would be preferable. After all he could make potions anywhere. With a small hope filled smile crossing his face Severus drifted off to sleep.

Hermione awoke the next morning to find herself on the sofa covered with a very warm blanket and a small fire keeping her warm. She could smell a wonderful aroma coming from somewhere off in the kitchen that smelled similar to bacon and eggs. Her stomach growled and she realized how hungry she was so she pulled herself up off the couch and headed off towards the tantalizing smell. As she came into the kitchen she saw Severus leaning against the counter drinking a cup of tea and glaring at the Daily Prophet laying in front of him on the kitchen table. He was dressed quite unlike the Severus she knew and remembered from school. Black pants and a white long sleeve button up shirt. He almost looked uncomfortably normal.

"Good morning sir." She startled him she hadn't meant to do that but it was quite funny watching him nearly spill his tea down the front of his shirt.

"Yes it was a good morning." After waking early to take a walk and get some groceries he was rather surprised upon his return to see a daily prophet pinned to his door. That vile woman Rita Skeeter didn't know the truth if it hit her in the face. How in the world did she get those pictures of Hermione and him without either of them seeing a camera anywhere near them.

"Oh. I apologize sir, I will gather my things and leave. Thank You for allowing me to sleep on your sofa last night I guess I was a bit tired and I didn't mean to overstay my welcome." SHIT SHIT SHIT she knew she should have left last night what was she thinking! She turned and quickly walked out of the kitchen to gather her purse and head for the door.

"Hermione wait!" Well he didn't mean for that to be taken the wrong way. He had a lot of work to do on this whole friend thing he was trying. He was angry with Rita not Hermione. He had even made her breakfast. He grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to face him. SHIT he made her cry without any effort at all. "I didn't mean that it was a good morning until you came to the kitchen. The morning was already ruined by Rita Skeeter." He gave a small smile of triumph.

Hermione began to cry more deeply sobbing. So she hadn't ruined his morning first but she certainly didn't make it any better. Did he mean it was ruined by Rita and her she was confused! "I'm sorry, I was just leaving." She stepped away from Severus and walked to the door still crying deep heavy tears. She couldn't understand what was so horrid about her that no one wanted her around.

Rolling his eyes at what he now called a drama queen he grabbed Hermione yet again and turned her back towards him this was infuriating. One he wasn't sure how to handle a crying woman, two he didn't know how to make her understand without causing her to cry more and three he didn't understand why she was crying harder now that he had already explained…..absolutely frustrating maybe this was a bad idea. Solitary life was starting to look extremely good to him right about now.

"Hermione you must stop crying and pay attention to what I said. Now if you would, come back to the kitchen and eat your breakfast." There she'll stop crying now. Severus turned still holding onto Hermione's elbow and walked her back to the kitchen and sat her in a chair at the table. He walked over to the kitchen counter, made her a plate of food and carried it back to the table placing it in front of Hermione. He made her tea and scooted down the daily prophet pointing at the front page, nonverbally explaining his morning frustrations.

Hermione was horrified. She was completely embarrassed. He was being nice to her and she took it all the wrong way. He made her breakfast and tea. How could she have been so overly emotional in front of Severus Snape! This brought on more questions than it answered for her though. Why was he being so nice to her…last she checked he hated her, called her names, and made fun of her at every chance he could find.

She glanced down at the daily prophet he had scooted in front of her…she could not believe her eyes. There was Severus and Hermione in his hospital room staring at each other just before he left to leave the room, both with placid looks on their faces. Her eyes widened as she seen the headline. Do we hear Wedding Bells! "WEDDING BELLS!" She shouted loud enough for the whole city block to hear. "That stupid, ignorant, infuriating, vile woman!" She would make her pay…she needed parchment now and something to write with and she needed it now.

She stood up quickly and walked to the desk in Severus's sitting room. She found parchment an ink well and a quill and began to write a letter to Kingsley at the ministry. Mumbling under breath, "Unregistered animagus no more…"

Severus' ears were ringing from Hermione's high pitched shrill voice. He hadn't expected her to become this angry. And now she was storming through his house and rummaging through his desk. What did she say? Animagus?

"Hermione what did you say?"

"I said unregistered animagus."

"And who exactly are you referring too Hermione?"

"I am referring to that bitch Rita Skeeter. How else do you think she got these pictures of us that are being scattered all over the daily prophet?"

"Ahh..I see. And what are you doing with the parchment?"

"I'm telling the ministry that she's an unregistered animagus."

"That's brilliantly evil! She won't be writing very many more stories for awhile at least." Well there's hope for her yet. Severus turned and walked back to the kitchen while Hermione finished her love note to the ministry. How should he ask her to go to Molly's with him? Would he even be welcome at Molly's home? Perhaps after Hermione has calmed down a bit he will bring it up. As she walked back into the kitchen with a triumphant smile glaring on her face he noticed just how beautiful she had become since the first time he saw her, the annoying eleven year could not even be seen in her face anymore. How old was she now 18, 19, somewhere in that area. He was twenty years older than her old enough to be her father.

"Sir, are you ok?" He was staring at her in a daze like manner.

Startled, "Yes I'm quite alright." Was he staring at her? Merlin, he was staring at her and who knows where those thoughts could have went if she hadn't interrupted that train of thought. She is quite beautiful though. Shaking his head! Might as well not even go there! Back to Molly!

"Hermione, do you have any plans for the remainder of the day?"

"No sir not today. I only work on Monday's and Tuesdays. Occasionally I will work Fridays and Saturdays but not this week."

"Well seeing as it is that you have no plans do you think it wise if I were to visit Molly today?" He honestly hopes that she will think this an unwise decision.

"Well. I don't see what that has to do with me; however, I believe Molly would be delighted to have company. I must warn you though the boys may not be thrilled to see you." Molly needed any and all company willing to go over there she was a total disaster without Arthur.

"It has quite a lot to do with you actually I was hoping you would accompany me in seeing her today."

Did he just invite me to go to Molly's with him? She hadn't seen Molly or any of the Weasley clan since Ron and Arthur had died. She attended there funeral and left to go straight to the hospital to be with Severus. She sobbed for days into his shoulder and he never even knew she was doing so. Could she handle going to see the Weasley's? Would they even want to see her?

"I haven't seen any of them since the funerals of Ron and Arthur. I think we should owl first to make sure I am welcome before I join you in your trip to Molly's home. Or do you think we should just show up and knock on the door?"

"I think we should just show up and knock on the door. The worst they could do is pretend to not be home." This has sadly happen to him on more than one occasion in his life. He was certain it would happen again but this time he won't be alone. She will come with him to Molly's!

"Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt." She needed closure. She just hoped Severus understood what he was asking her to do. "You do realize the gravity of what you are asking me to do…don't you? If I cry it will be on your shoulder." Unless George or Harry was there then she would cry on their shoulders.

"I apparently hadn't thought this out thoroughly enough." He walked over to her and looked her up and down shaking his head. "Let's leave before I change my mind on being your personal handkerchief." He grabbed her hand and walked towards the front door. He glanced down at her as they reached the sidewalk, smiled and wrapped his arm around her and apparated to the Burrow.

The Burrow was now about a hundred feet or so away. They both stood there with Hermione still wrapped up in Severus' arms. The realization came that Severus was holding her and she pushed herself away. Severus found he was rather comforted by holding her and didn't really want to let her go but reluctantly he released her and turned to face the Burrow with Hermione near his side.

They began to walk towards the house as Hermione stopped. Hermione couldn't go into the house. She couldn't face the Weasley's. She dropped to her knees and pulled her arms up around her body. Her eyes were closed tight, tears were streaming down her face. She couldn't do this not today maybe…maybe she could tomorrow. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders that pulled her into a tight embrace. She rested her head on Severus's chest. After a few moments of non stop crying she opened her eyes. She leaned back out of his tenderness and looked up at his face. "Thank You."

Still holding her and not ready to let go, "Are you ok…" She gave a small nod and wiped away her tears. He stood and helped her to her feet. "Are you ready to go now? Or do we need to stop again in a few more feet and repeat the process?" He rather hoped they repeated the process.

What an insensitive prick! How could he be so gentle and then turn into…to…to…that! She gave him an evil look and began walking towards the burrow without him. She could hear him trying to catch up and felt him grab her arm to slow her down. She stopped and turned to look at him fighting tears from forming again. "What is it? Isn't this what you wanted? To go the Burrow and see Molly?"

Dear Merlin this girl was going to be the death of him she misunderstood everything he said. "Hermione…I….I'm sorry. Please calm yourself." He leaned his arm out for her to take so that she may join him in walking to the burrow. He doubted the gesture would be taken but he hoped at least she would take his arm.

Did he just apologize to me? This has never happen before nor did I ever expect this to happen. She couldn't decide if she should take his arm. After a moment of hesitation she took his arm and accepted his apology. She didn't feel she would ever receive another one again so she might as well enjoy this one.

As they made there way to the door at the burrow they both noticed the eerie silence that loomed over the house. The cozy warm feeling that the home use to emanate was no longer there, in its place was dread and despair. Severus knocked on the door. It seemed as if they both waited for days as the door finally crept open and an unnaturally thin Molly was standing behind the door.

"Severus? Hermione? What are you doing here?" Molly showed no emotion but just a blank stare. Clearly Authur was the glue that held her together.

Hermione was the first to speak up. She reached out and embraced Molly. The hug was not returned and Hermione pulled back quickly. "Severus came to visit you he was discharged from the hospital and ask me to accompany him." She looked over at Severus with his blank stare and no emotion on his face waiting for him to speak to Molly. He just stood there staring at her with no sympathy. How could he be so cold when it was obvious Molly was distraught?

Severus was a bit taken back at Molly's appearance and lack of children running about in the house. "Molly I came to pay my respects for Arthur. I did not mean to show up unannounced; however, I have been a bit out of the scene for several months. We will be going. Do know that I am back now and if you need…anything…please let me know."

Molly simply closed the door in their faces. She was clearly in no mood for company. As they stood there staring at the door they nonchalantly looked at each other clearly both were thinking they should have owled first before making the trip to the Burrow. They both turned and walked down the steps and back to the point were they could apparate. As they rounded the corner of the house they heard a loud crack. It was George and Ginny that showed up walking towards them at quite a rapid pace.

"What are you two doing here?!" Ginny yelled

"Mother isn't well she can't handle company right now Mione." George spoke calmly and wrapped his arms around Hermione. "Where have you been hiding?" Ginny ran off towards the house leaving, glaring at Severus as she went by him.

Still holding George, "I have been caring for Professor Snape and grieving in my own way. What's wrong with your mum?"

George let her go and pushed the hair off of her face behind her ear. "You look beautiful Mione. Don't worry about mum. She's going to be fine just a lot of loss all at one time is hard for anyone to handle. Ginny and I have been taking care of her and Ginny keeps her distracted most days with the wedding plans." He hugged Hermione one more time and turned his focus to Severus who was giving him an evil glare. "Professor Snape, you seem to be doing well."

Severus was furious but he wasn't sure why he was feeling such animosity towards George. He couldn't help but give him a scowl and a surly smirk. "Yes…I seem to be."

He glared at Hermione and back to George, "We were just leaving….Hermione." He held out his arm for her to take. She gave George one last hug a sad smile and a promise to write him tomorrow and took Severus' arm.

Hermione was ready to leave the burrow it was to depressing and she was fearful that she couldn't handle anymore. They reached the point of apparition and Severus wrapped his arms around Hermione apparating them both back to Spinners End.