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Gorgegirl - I have some other H/S stories in the pipeline, never fear!

Marston Chicklet - It looks like there will be few chapters yet, heh.

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Part 23

Hermione's eyes widened. She turned around as quickly as she could given that she was slightly tangled in the linen sheets and there was a (familiar) arm clasping her around the waist. A dim dawn light shone through the sole diamond-paned window in the bedroom, enough for her to see the self-aware glitter in the eyes of Severus as he looked at her. Looking at her alert features, beloved though they were, Severus had the sudden suspicion that she was a morning person, an evil entity to be avoided by night owls such as himself..

"I didn't mean to hit you," she said contritely, raising a hand to touch his face. "Are you all right?" There was a double meaning to her words - she was also asking about his general well-being as well - had the effects of the Veritaserum worn off?

Severus seized her hand, kissing the palm roughly, which sent a tingling sensation through her. "Yes," he said tersely, and then touched her forehead gently, pushing back strands of her hair. "But you..you gave me grey hairs when I found you at the bottom of my stairs."

"Draco was there in the corridor - he picked a fight and when I told him what I thought of him..he pushed me," Hermione explained grimly.

"What?!" Severus breathed, his body tensing and rage rising up inside of him. She could have broken her neck and it was because of Malfoy? "There will be a new word for 'punishment' when I am through with him," he growled in his patented 'you're in trouble now!" voice.

Hermione almost felt pity for Draco. "Dumbledore knows about it," she said soberly.

"Mmphf!" Severus snorted, implying that Dumbledore's punishments were too soft in his opinion.

"Has the Veritaserum worn off completely?" Hermione asked quietly, her eyes searching his face.

His mouth twisting slightly Severus said, "I believe so. But to make sure, ask me a personal question. But not too personal, please."

Hermione thought about it and then there was a deceptively innocent look in her cinnamon eyes. "How old are you?"

"None of your business!" he growled automatically. Hermione nodded. "You're back to normal, I think," she said wryly. Severus raised his eyebrows. "I see you're back to your impertinent self as well!" he said and Hermione smiled and moved her head slightly so she could kiss him. So much had happened since the last time they had kissed yesterday, but she was relieved to see he had recovered.

His arms tightened around her as he returned the kiss, feeling as though he was a thirsty man who had just found water. When they paused for breath Hermione propped herself on an elbow, looking at him soberly.

"Why were you given Veritaserum - surely Dumbledore would have trusted you? How aware were you?"

He looked grim and a hand of his that had found its way underneath the shirt she was wearing clenched into a fist before stroking her spine restlessly. "I was told it was to ensure it would be the best way to make Sirius (he fairly spat the word) believe I hadn't coerced you in some depraved way, but I wonder if Dumbledore does trust me that well." He was silent and for a moment his face was shuttered.

"He should. I trust you," Hermione said quietly, dropping a kiss on his high forehead.

"My one and only," he said softly. It was strange to feel that he was holding the one person in the world that actually gave a damn if he lived or died, who would make an effort to cheer him up if he was in one of his foul moods.

He continued in a flat voice. "I was only partially aware of what was going - I had no control over what I said, though probably Sirius was disappointed at not hearing what he wanted to hear. I couldn't move by myself - and I assume you're the reason I woke up here still clothed?"

Hermione looked sheepish. "You looked so tired - I thought it wouldn't be the end of the world if you still had some clothes on. You have enough spare clothes in your wardrobe anyway."

His mood changing, Severus looked meaningfully at the white shirt of his that she was wearing, his hand wandering playfully over the buttons. "Yes, I can see you have been looking in my wardrobe. More than looking as well."

"Well, I didn't have any nightgowns to wear, and I wasn't going to sleep in my uniform," she mumbled.

"You did not think of the 'no clothes' option?" he murmured wickedly and his caressing hand moved downwards, his desire for her demanding an outlet as soon as possible. Hermione rolled her eyes. "I knew you were going to say that!" She moved an arm slightly and a gleam from the bracelet on it caught his eye. He didn't remember seeing it before. There were rules about wearing jewellery..but wait. It did not look like an ordinary bracelet she was wearing. There was something about it and then he froze, desire fading. If it was what he thought it was..

"Hermione, how did you come by that bracelet?" he said urgently.

"Um, that may be difficult to explain," she said slowly.

"Then try, Hermione," he said softly. "It's very important that you do, do you understand?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes - though I will need some questions answered about it as well, I think. When I woke up in the sickbay Harry was there - he said that Dumbledore had taken you back to his office for questioning about us. He was more tolerant than I thought he would be," she added thoughtfully.

"I have to admit I was surprised by his attitude as well," Severus said grudgingly, for it did not come naturally to him to say anything favourable about Potter. But he had to admit to himself that he was relieved about Potter's attitude - but only because it meant that Hermione would not face accusations from her friend, of course.

Hermione continued. "I wanted to go to Dumbledore to explain my side of the story but I was still to weak to move, even after the potion Madame Pomfrey gave to help me. I had asked Harry to go and explain on my behalf, when suddenly there was a large green snake that I didn't recognise coming towards us on the floor."

Professor Snape's obsidian eyes looked alert. "When you say 'suddenly' do you mean it had apparated into the sickbay?"

"I'm not sure - I hadn't seen it do that," Hermione admitted. "It talked to us - I could understand it even though I don't have Parseltongue like Harry. We found out it was the Snake of Slytherin and that I could understand its language because I was your partner and was loyal to you - and then the snake said you were in danger."

"The Snake of Slytherin!" Severus whispered, looking at her with an almost wary respect, which was unusual for him. "Only a few times in the history of Hogwarts has it appeared to grant its favour to those it deems worthy - and never to anyone outside of Slytherin. It is a secret we rarely share. Voldemort sought its recognition - but failed. After this your name will be put in the annals of Slytherin for future generations to know your name.."

Hermione blinked. "Thank you," she said cautiously. "When I said I wasn't able to get out of bed it um, shrank and then came up onto the bed and coiled around my arm. Somehow it transferred strength to me - I felt I could do anything. It urged me to hurry, so Harry and I went as fast as we could to Dumbledore's office. Madam Pomfrey didn't have much choice about letting us go."

"No - not if she knew what was good for her," Severus said dryly.

Hermione continued. "But when we got to his office I saw - I could see - there was something wrong with you," she said quietly. "I couldn't believe when I was told you had been given Veritaserum. I told them about Draco; and Dumbledore said he would be punished. Dumbledore recognised the Snake of Slytherin and then said that it had been established that you did not have 'evil intent' towards me. However, Sirius practically went berserk, asking me whether I was a true Gryffindor anymore (here she swallowed and Severus gently kissed her, feeling a cold rage towards Sirius), saying that you were a snake at heart just like every other Slytherin."

She went on. "Then Sirius went for his wand - I think he was going to turn you into a snake, but before he could the Snake of Slytherin hissed something I couldn't understand."

"What happened then?" Severus asked, his eyes gleaming in cold anticipation, though he was furious at the thought of Sirius daring to attempt to transform him into a snake while he was as helpless as an infant (perhaps Sirius had been placed in the wrong house, something he had often suspected).

"Sirius was transformed into his Animagus form and told by the snake that he would be staying that way for the next five months! Dumbledore reprimanded him as well for turning his wand on you," Hermione said soberly.

There was a smile of dark satisfaction on the face of Severus. True, this punishment was not the same as the pleasing revenge fantasies he had of Sirius hauled back to Azkaban in chains, but the thought of Black dealing with fleas for months on end had its own charm.

Hermione continued. "Dumbledore asked me to take you back here, and that he hoped you would one day forgive him for putting you through your ordeal."

Professor Snape's eyes narrowed at that but he did not reply.

"I was wondering how I would be able to bring you here, then the Snake of Slytherin somehow apparated us here and then vanished. When I looked at my arm I saw the bracelet - I couldn't take it off," she said warily, tugging at the bracelet as a demonstration. "Do you know why it's there?"

He nodded. "It signifies that you will be under protection and will also grant certain gifts to you."

Hermione looked intrigued. "Really? What kind of gifts?" Would it be something like the ability of Parseltongue, she wondered.

Severus looked thoughtful. "In the records each bracelet that was granted by the Snake of Slytherin had different abilities. I will try and ascertain the ones contained within this one..."

His pale hand hovered carefully over the bracelet and he closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating. Then he opened his eyes. "Interesting!" he murmured. "A protection from all curses and the ability to apparate anywhere - even here in Hogwarts."

A/N: To be continued..