Chapter Ten:

Hermione stepped out of the fire into her own room. She got some clean clothes and headed for the shower. The steamy water helped to drown away the embarrassment of Dumbledore seeing her in Snape's room, let alone his bed. When she got out, she walked into her office just as Oliver came bursting through the door on the other side.

"Hermione! Where were you?"

"Well, I was--" Hermione stopped. Snape had just entered the room, he nodded from behind Oliver and Hermione continued, "With Severus."

"Why?"

"We…um…" Hermione shifted nervously on the bottoms of her feet.

"You slept with him, didn't you?" Oliver hissed.

"Yes." Snape said.

Oliver turned and saw him at the door. He slowly turned back to Hermione. He shook his head disbelievingly.

"What were you thinking?"

"Well, um…there's not much thought in the process, you know…"

"Oh, god!" Oliver moaned.

"Things changed. I found out some things I didn't know before." Hermione said.

"Like what?" Oliver seemed to be calming down.

"I can't tell you that, it's private.," she muttered.

"What are you going to tell people?" Oliver asked.

"Well, I don't really know…" Hermione looked at Snape. He came around Wood and held her hand.

"We'll figure that out later."

Oliver nodded and Hermione smiled at him. She mouthed, "Thank You" and he smiled weakly before leaving the office. Hermione turned and rested her head against Snape's chest. H put his arms around her and murmured in her ear.

"Don't worry, he was the hardest to handle. Everyone else will understand.

"Harry and Ron won't"

"They love you, they won't like it, but they'll accept."

===============================================================

Hermione had written to both Harry and Ron, explaining what had happened and begging them to understand. The next morning at breakfast, she stiffened when the hundreds of post owls flew through the Great Hall. Snape watched her carefully from the head of the table as she read the letter.

Hermione,
I don't understand, but I support you. It sounds crazy, but as long as you're happy…Ron is….confused. He thinks one or both of you have gone insane. (I think he might be right). He needs some time, but he supports you. (Big surprise).
-Harry

Hermione laughed with relief. They weren't mad! They thought she was crazy, but at least they were supportive. She glanced at the head of the table to see Snape watching her and smiled. He nodded slightly and continued eating.

===============================================================

Hermione paced her room. She was frantic. Her best friend, Ginny, had come to visit and was just in time. She watched from in front of the fireplace as Hermione paced up and down the room, muttering wildly to herself.

"Hermione, are you going to tell him?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I wont exactly be able to hide it, will I?" Hermione snapped. "I …just need to do this alone, ok?"

"Alright, but if you need me…"Ginny disappeared into the fire.

Hermione took a deep breath, and left he room. She walked slowly but surely all the way to Snape's office, and knocked on his bedroom door. He smiled when he saw her, but it vanished when he noticed the look on her face.