Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
Author's Note: Hey everybody, thank you very much for your response to the last chapter, I hope you enjoy this one too!
Albus Dumbledore stared at the sobbing girl before his eyes. During her story, fresh tears had begun to descend, and she had sought comfort in the arms of normally the least likely candidate. Severus was now knelt before her again, his face expressionless, but his eyes betrayed the sorrow he felt. Albus quietly cleared his throat and spoke.
"Well, Miss Granger, I must apologise once again for making you relay that to me, and I offer you my most sincerest sympathies on the loss of your parents." She simply nodded and hung her head, snivelling.
"Now, I think we should get you tucked up in bed, Miss Granger; you need a decent night's sleep. I believe that since it is the first day of the holidays, the house elves will have stripped your bed in Gryffindor down. However, you are most welcome to use my guest room." She mumbled her thanks, and stood, her eyes glazed over.
"Excellent. Severus would you be so kind as to escort Miss Granger?" he nodded mutely, and stood also. He placed a hand in the small of her back, and began to guide her back towards the door, which he had come through earlier. "Thank you. Have pleasant dreams, Miss Granger," Albus said softly to their retreating backs, the ghost of a smile playing around his lips.
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Once back out in the waiting room of Dumbledore's quarters, Severus relaxed slightly. He removed his hand from her back, and in a rare moment of emotion; felt for her hand, and grasped her fingers in his. She froze, and looked up at him, clearly confused. For a moment, he wondered if he had done the wrong thing, but before he dropped her hand, hermione's expression cleared, and she softly enquired if they could carry on up to Dumbledore's guest room.
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Stepping lightly onto Dumbledore's revolving staircase, Hermione felt glad of Professor Snape's comforting grasp and calming presence as her head began to spin.
*Funny,* she thought, *people usually feel on edge around Professor Snape.*
They finally stepped off the blasted contraption, and Snape led her to a large oak door with a grotesque brass knocker on it.
"Well, here we are Miss Granger," said Snape awkwardly. "Sleep well." He turned to leave before hermione stopped him.
"Professor snape, can I ask you something?" Hermione asked, raising her head to stare into his obsidian black eyes. He regarded her for a moment, one thick eyebrow cocked, before nodding his head slowly.
"How did you know? How did you know where I was and that I needed you?" Stumped by her unexpected question, Severus thought of the circumstances surrounding his discovery of her predicament. Being summoned to a dark revel, Voldemort taunting him as always, finally unable to keep his latest conquest to himself any longer. Waiting in desperate agony until the time eventually came when he could apparate away and rush to Hermione's aid.
Raising one hand to cup her soft, tear-stained cheek, Severus spoke in a low whisper. "I just knew." Smiling slightly, hermione slipped away, leaving Severus alone in the drafty corridor with a soft click of the heavy door.
A/N: sorry about the length of this, I know it's short! The next chapter is quite a bit longer, and stuff will really start happening! Thanks to all reviewers, it means a lot to me.
Big hugz and kisses to kaira (by the way, I love ur fic!) and silvermoon who added me to their favourites list – that was so sweet of u guys!
Hi to gemma who is on hols at the mo – hope ur havin a great time hun!
Mysticjedi, glad u liked it! I was kinda hoping for the 'wow' effect, lol! Also, many thanks for being the first reviewer of chapter 5!
Tracy, well here it is, hope you enjoy it, and please keep reviewing! (I love ur comments!)
Darkfire, lol, u have finally got me sussed! Glad ur enjoying it so for, hope u liked this chapter.
Maddy, whooo, people understand! Glad u like it, thanks for the remark about originalism (I do try!)
Calbee, lol, well here it is! Thanks for reviewing again!
LV02, thanks for reviewing, so is your story! Glad u like it, please keep reviewing!
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