A/N - Having heard today the sad news about the space shuttle, my sympathies go out to America.

A/N 2 - I certainly never thought I would get up to 26 chapters but as my plot bunnies are still whispering to me there will be a few chapters yet. Big thanks to those who have hung in so far (and haven't wandered away in boredom!). Your reviews mean a lot to me.

Anyanka, PhoenixFeather7, Troesnaja - Thanks!

Beth Ann - Thanks, you sweet talker, you.

E + F, Geniuses Extraordinaire, hasapi, Luna Writer, Marston Chicklet, Ryoki, Snipe-950 - A humiliating punishment is the best one, heh.

Hpz26 - If you lost track of time while reading this story I must have done something right.

Lollylips3 - You'll see.

Strega Brava - I'm glad to hear that you've recovered enough to be able to use a computer and thanks for your kind comments as always.

Zoe - Thanks - I didn't think it would be realistic if everyone immediately accepted the fact that Severus and Hermione were going out with each other..



Part 26

Having no choice but to obey Professor McGonagall, Hermione quickly said goodbye to the others and followed the tight-lipped teacher. What was this going to be about?

When they were both in her office, the professor sat behind her desk and brusquely indicated Hermione to sit down as well. There was agitation on the older woman's face and her voice was stiff.

"Miss Granger, Dumbledore has told me everything and while I am pleased to note your rapid recovery from your fall, I must say I am quite disappointed that a Head Girl like you is seeing Professor Snape. I am very surprised, to say the least."

Hermione began to feel upset inside despite her stoic demeanour. It was never a good idea to be on the receiving end of Professor McGonagall's disapproval. While the verbal, disciplinary malice of Severus set out to wound, Minerva's style was as blunt as a sledgehammer.

Professor McGonagall went on, not giving Hermione a chance to reply. "Have you considered the consequences? You have a promising career ahead of you but this will never come to pass if you continue with this..liaison. You could be banned from inner Gryffindor circles in our wizarding world, and if there are any children they could end up in Slytherin!" Her voice was heavy with disapproval.

Hermione, who had managed to stay impassive against the verbal dressing- down lifted her head at that last remark, an unexpected vision of raven- haired children with bright brown eyes in her mind.

"If we ever decided to have children I would be happy for them no matter what house they went into," Hermione said quietly. To be honest, children was the last thing on her mind right now, and as recent events had shown and were showing, there were obstacles to overcome before she and Severus could have a stable relationship in the eyes of the world without censure.

"As for my career, I will be Professor Snape's potions apprentice after I graduate."

Professor McGonagall momentarily gaped at her then closed her mouth with a snap when Dumbledore's voice was heard from the doorway.

"There is no cause for concern, professor," Dumbledore said calmly as he walked into the office, a mild smile on his face.

"I believe Hermione and Severus will do well by each other. Tell me, young Hermione, how is Severus this morning?"

Hermione saw in her mind how shuttered the face of Severus had been to disguise humiliation and anger he had felt from being obliged to take Veritaserum.

"He's recovered," Hermione said neutrally. "He has gone to reprimand Draco."

"Good, good," Dumbledore said, nodding. "Last night Remus and Harry were in favour of meting out their own punishment but in the end it was decided that this was a duty best suited for the Head of Slytherin."

Professor McGonagall spoke up. "Albus, I cannot believe that you would condone this..relationship. They are from opposing houses for heavens sake!"

The headmaster peered down at her over his glasses. "A suitable partner is not always found from ones own house as Severus discovered to his detriment with Clara Thistledark - she was a Slytherin like him but one who had been easily corrupted by Voldemort. Bear in mind too that in the future there will be new perils and new dangers. Perhaps it would be well for them to be faced by wizards bred from both Gryffindor and Slytherin blood, with the best qualities from both."

Hermione couldn't help but have the uneasy feeling that she was being discussed as if she was a broodmare for some Hogwarts breeding programme, that the headmaster was more interested in their potential children than either her or Severus. Then she inwardly rebuked herself. That was nonsense, of course. Besides, many wizards, not just ones from Hogwarts, had died in the fight against Voldemort so naturally the senior wizards such as Dumbledore would be eager to see a new generation of wizards. She unconsciously shifted the bracelet on her wrist and light from the lanterns flashed from the links, drawing the attention of the older wizards.

Predictably, Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "Miss Granger, although you are Head Girl you should be aware of the rules governing jewellery."

Dumbledore held up a hand and the professor stopped talking (although there was a vexed look on her face). There was a question in his eyes as he approached Hermione and peered down at her bracelet.

"It would appear that you have been granted a gift from the Snake of Slytherin, have you not?" he rumbled softly.

Professor McGonagall put a hand up to her mouth, her eyes wide.

"Yes, headmaster," Hermione said, hesitant at the thought of telling what the bracelet could do. The ability of being able to Apparate anywhere, even in Hogwarts, was not an ability that she felt that the faculty would appreciate.

"Fascinating," Dumbledore said with a faint frown on his face. "The ability to be immune to all curses, and Apparating abilities that disregard the no- Apparating ban in Hogwarts. I should not have to say that these are gifts that should not be abused, Miss Granger."

"Yes, headmaster," Hermione said, looking nothing but the obedient Head Girl from Gryffindor. The headmaster gazed at her thoughtfully, and then nodded as if satisfied.

"Good," he said benignly. "Now I do believe it is breakfast time - I think some scrambled eggs might be suitable for my stomach, don't you think?"

So Hermione found herself in the company of them both on her way to breakfast, perhaps to counter a backlash against her for there were many furtive and dark looks cast her way on the way to the Great Hall. Hermione merely lifted her chin and ignored them, determined not to be cowed.

Severus was grimly satisfied after dishing out punishment to Draco. He could have easily expelled him, but this way Draco would be facing taunts and jeers from other Slytherins when he cleaned the toilets, for Slytherins were quick to turn on those they perceived to have lost status. The Head of Slytherin was aware that he might be perceived as having lost status as well by making a Gryffindor his partner, for it was highly possible his colleagues would not look kindly on him (but Severus did not feel overly concerned about this - let them pick a fight if they dared!). On his way to the Great Hall for breakfast Severus ran into Remus, who was on his way outside to take dog-Sirius who was with him for a walk.

"Good morning, Severus," Remus said in his quiet way, looking at him intently. "How are you feeling?"

Severus was about to say something suitably sarcastic but reconsidered when he saw that Lupin genuinely meant it. There was none of the 'you filthy, perverted bastard' look that had been in Black's eyes last night, and indeed, was still there in the flat gaze that dog-Sirius was giving him.

"Tolerable, thank you," he said shortly. At Lupin's side dog-Sirius growled low in his throat but made no hostile move towards Severus.

Sometimes the best revenge was the subtle one, Severus thought. He smiled with rare benevolence down at the dog. "The fleas are bad at this time of year, I hear," he said smoothly. "Good day," he nodded at Remus and swept away, feeling as if he had accomplished much this day already, smirking when he heard Remus behind him say in answer to the growl from dog-Sirius, "No, biting his leg would not be a good idea. What if the Snake of Slytherin is watching you?"

When Hermione sat down to breakfast she was aware of being the focus of covert stares, some of disbelief and much of disgust. 'How low could you go?' these last looks implied, for although it had been perceived by many that Professor Snape was not as randomly nasty as he used to be, he was still loathed by many of the students. The very notion that one of the brightest Gryffindors in years was getting it on with the malevolent Professor Snape was abhorrent to quite a few minds.

There were some smirks from Slytherins, who felt that their professor was no doubt keeping a firm hand on the uppity Gryffindor. Some Hufflepuffs concluded they would run off into the Dark Forest if Professor Snape looked at *them* with come-hither eyes, but many Ravenclaws took it in their stride, shrugging and pointing out that since they both had brains they might not be mismatched after all.

Many Gryffindors though regarded Hermione as some sort of traitor, including Ron, but to Hermione's surprise (and secret relief) Harry, Lavender and Neville sat nearby in unspoken support.

When Professor Snape arrived slightly late for breakfast in his usual sinuous, overgrown-bat-like way there were more stares than usual furtively cast in his direction, but he looked at them in a way that suggested that if they had a problem he was more than happy to dose them with a nasty- tasting potion (the stares quickly dropped).

What were they expecting him to do, Severus silently growled, go over to Hermione and drag her off to his quarters by her hair? Idiots. Some of the other teachers at the High Table were casting the occasional disbelieving look his way as if they secretly wondered why Hermione would want to go out with him, with Minerva looking as if she had been sucking lemons.

Albus looked his way and briskly asked him how he was this morning. Severus stared at him levelly for a moment then curtly said he was fine. One day he might be able to forgive the headmaster, but he certainly would not forget it.

Meanwhile, Lavender was making a low-voiced but forthright attempt to make Hermione see that perhaps she had made a mistake.

"Hermione, look at the way Snape scowls. You can't tell me you like a man who scowls all the time."

Hermione sighed. "He doesn't scowl all the time," she pointed out. "Sometimes he smiles."

Lavender snorted. "Yeah, I know his smiles. There's the smile of 'It's Multiple Detentions For You, Girl', the smile of 'I Know Something And You Don't, You Imbecile', well I could go on all morning. He doesn't have a sense of humour."

Perversely, Hermione decided to shake up her well-meaning friend a bit. "Well, he did think it was funny when he found out I was ticklish," she mused.

"I didn't hear that," Lavender moaned, and then coughed. "Then there's the 'you know what'. You can't say that you really enjoy that with him, surely," she whispered.

Seeing the cheeks of a suddenly silent Hermione turn a bashful pink and her eyes taking on an unfocussed look for a second, Lavender threw up her hands in resignation. "I don't think I want to know," she sighed. However, she was determined to make one last try. "How do you know he really cares for you?" she asked. "He isn't exactly the 'send-flowers-and-chocolate' type.

Harry, who had been listening, spoke up quietly. "When Hermione was unconscious, I think he would have stayed by her in the sickbay all night if he had to. I had never seen Snape as upset as he had been."

At that, Lavender backed down and she sighed. "Well, it's your life. But listen, if there's wedding bells and I'm not a bridesmaid, you'll be in a whole heap of trouble, girl."



TBC