Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story well maybe one or two but the rest belong to the very talented J.K. Rowling.

In this chapter you really do find out who the letter writer is, you find out who/what she saw and maybe some new characters; you'll have to read and find out.

Chapter IV

'Do you really think they could have gotten into the castle?'

'I think they may have been able to, but if they really wanted her they would have just taken her.'

'But why were they here? We know that they want her and I don't understand how a snake could have gotten into the castle,' said Snape.

'I think I do,' came a small voice from one of the beds in the hospital wing.

'Hermione! Are you alright? I've been so worried about you.'

'Everything is fine. Sit down or you might get hurt,' Snape sat down.

'So you said you might know how they got in. Would you care to enlighten us?'

'Well you see, when I was talking to Draco this morning, we were talking about my letter and who the writer might be. We never thought that maybe this person was from the school or related to one of the students. If we weren't so interested in finding out who this person was, we might have noticed that we were being followed - by someone/something that we couldn't see - as we left the great hall. Once we got out of the great hall I saw something move out of the corner of my eye but never gave it a second thought. I said good-bye to Draco and started down to the dungeons. That was when I heard something so I turned around to find out what the noise was, screamed, and that was when I heard someone shout "Stupefy!" and that's all I remember. I think the thing that yelled stupefy was a death eater because I saw a glimpse of sliver and that was why I screamed.' Hermione let out a breath and continued, 'I think that they came in from the third floor. It had to have been someone that attended this school around the same years as Harry.'

'Why do you say that Hermione?' asked Albus curiously, trying to figure it out.

'Well Albus, I am one of Harry's best friends and one of the few who know - but I'm sure you do too - about the secrets of this school.'

'What do you know of these secrets?'

'The map,' was all she said with a slight smile on her face.

'Potter, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Black?' mumbled Snape to no one.

'That's right, but I'm sure that Albus knew about the map, didn't you?'

'Yes I would have to say that I did. But I must ask you, where it is now?'

'Harry has it Sir. I could go and get it for you but Draco won't be happy. Why do you think he's so good at finding students out of bed after hours!'

'That's how he does it, I never would thought that Draco Malfoy would cheat.'

'Severus, he doesn't cheat, you're just not very good at it. You never were. There were so many times that you never caught me out after hours.' She quickly brought her hand up to her mouth, 'Oops, did I say that out loud?'

'I'm afraid you did Hermione,' said Albus, 'but it's really alright. You can't get into any trouble as you are no longer a student but I must ask you not to go anywhere without someone with you from now on. Do you understand?'

'Yes Albus, can I go now? I feel fine. All I need really is to get out of here, it's too stuffy.' Albus chuckled and nodded. She left rather fast for someone that didn't have somewhere to go, so Albus had Severus follow her. Severus had been following her for the last ten minutes when she finally stopped like she wasn't sure where she was and sat down on the floor. About a minute later someone came down the hallway. They leaned down, whispered something to her, and then helped her up. They were walking back the same way the other person came and then turned a corner. Severus knew who it was or rather, he was sure he knew. But what are they doing here? I have to stop her from going with him, but how? He thought. I need to talk to Draco, he might know how to stop her, but how do I get to him before she leaves? Oh I know how. He walked to an empty classroom and floo'd Draco.

'Malfoy, you need to send somebody to the entrance hall and stop Hermione from leaving with Malcolm Baddock.'

'Why is Malcolm Baddock talking to Hermione?'

'I think he's M, so send Harry to the entrance hall right now. They were on their way down there now and if you hurry you can still catch them. Please, you have to hurry. He'll kill them, I know he will.'

'Okay fine, HARRY!' he yelled.

'What is it Malfoy?'

'It's Hermione, go to the entrance hall now and hurry. We found out who was sending the letters and they're with her right now. GO!' Harry was out the door in a matter of minutes.

*

'Hermione? Is that you? Oh thank gods, you need to come with me right now.'

'And why would I do that?'

'Because you have to.'

'Has something happened that you can't fix?'

'No nothing has happened that I can't fix, but you need to come with me.'

'No, I'm having a lovely conversation with a friend if you don't mind. Now excuse us, we're going for a walk on the grounds.' Damn what am I going to do? She's going to go and we're never going to see her again, he thought. I got it!

'Something has happened to Severus and we need you to come to the hospital wing right now.'

'Oh gods what happened to him? Is he alright?'

'He'll be fine I think, but you might want to come and see if he won't.' I'm a good liar Harry thought.

'Well come on, lets go. I hope he's alright, I would hate to lose him.' She turned around to her friend - if you have been paying attention you would now know that it is Malcolm Baddock - 'I'm sorry, I have to go. Maybe you should come too.'

'No, I don't think that's a good idea. I think I should go on,' said Malcolm Baddock.

'Okay well, bye.' and with that Malcolm Baddock walked out of the school. Harry thought he heard him whisper that he was in so much trouble as he left. Then he heard Hermione ask 'What am I doing in the entrance hall?' That's strange, maybe I should tell Severus about this, thought Harry.

'We were on our way to the hospital wing to see Severus,' answered Harry, saying the hospital wing just in case Malcolm Baddock was still listening.

'What happened to him?'

'Not sure, but we better go.'

Upstairs she turned to go to the hospital as Harry led her down the hallway to his rooms where he knew that Draco and Severus were waiting for them to return.

'I thought we needed to see Severus in the hospital wing. Where are you talking me?'

'My rooms, so you can see your stupid husband.'

'But you said he was in the hospi-'

'I lied, I was sent to go retrieve you and bring you to see him.'

'But why is he in your rooms?'

'Because if you had taken any notice to whom you were talking to, you would have noticed that his name starts with an "M".' He opened the door to his rooms just as she said:

'Oh gods but how did you know?'

'Albus had me follow you when you left the hospital room,' said Severus.

'But why would he have you follow me?' she said as she gave him a hug and kiss.

'Well you did leave rather fast for someone who wasn't going anyplace,' he smiled, 'so he had me follow you. If he didn't then we probably would have never seen you again,' he said in a serious voice.

'I'm so sorry.' She started to cry.

'Hermione, please don't cry, it wasn't your fault. He used the Imperio curse on you.'

'I was wondering why I couldn't remember why I was downstairs. All I remember was leaving the hospital and going to see you after Harry told me you were hurt, in the entrance hall.' Severus looked over to Harry.

'You told her I was hurt?'

'Yeah well I had to say something; she was being very stubborn.'

'I am not stubborn!'

'Well yeah, yeah you are,' said Draco.

'Yeah well who asked you Malfoy? If I recall that would probably be the little voice inside your head that if it told you to touch Severus' ass you more then likely, would,' snapped Hermione.

'Eww, I would never touch his ass.'

'Why? There is nothing wrong with his ass. I'd touch it,' said Hermione smiling.

'Can we please stop discussing my ass?'

'Why? I really like it,' she said innocently.

'Is that the only thing you like on me?'

'That and other things.' She looked down and smiled. He smiled too.

'Do you two mind not doing that in my rooms please. That is very sick to see, my best friend and ex-teacher ogling each other in my presence,' said Harry.

'Fine, well then. If things go the way that I like them to we won't be seeing you until tomorrow, but then again you might just see be seeing me because he doesn't always have enough energy to get up after I'm finished with him.' She smiled and he glared at her 'Well you don't, but that's what I like to see. That way I know you've had fun.'

'Oh gods, please stop. This is too nasty. If you don't care to have this conversation repeated for the whole school tomorrow, stop right now.' This time Hermione glared.

'Fine. We're going,' said Hermione.

'Thank gods. That's not really the visual I need to think about right now or ever,' said Draco earning a smack from Hermione before she and Severus left.

*

On their way back to the classroom for afternoon classes, they stopped.

'What is it Hermione?' asked Severus. She didn't say anything but grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled him into the shadows. 'Hermione what are you doi -' He never got to finish what he was saying because Hermione kissed him. Lets just say it was a snog-fest in the hallway where anybody could see them and somebody did. It was none other then Jacob Snape, Severus' nephew.

'Excuse me, but I thought this was a school. Displays like this should be kept in the privacy of your own rooms, not in the hallway, Professor.'

'Fifty points from Gryffindor, and a letter to your parents telling them that you have been disrespecting of your teachers.'

'But Uncle Severus, you can't do that. You know what they'll say.'

'I can do anything I want to. I'm a Hogwarts teacher, and it is my decision what your punishment will be. Now go or I will give you a detention with Aunt Hermione, and she is meaner then me.'

'Fine I'm going. Aunt Hermione, how are you?'

'Fine, thank you Jacob. Now you'd better go before he hurts himself,' Hermione smiled.

'Bye Aunt Hermione, bye Uncle Severus, have a nice afternoon.'

'Detention Mr. Snape, right after dinner; you may decide where, Hermione. Jacob make sure to walk Hermione down to the classroom when you are finished talking please. I'm going down now,' and with a quick kiss to Hermione, he was gone.

'Well Mr. Snape, I think we should talk about your detention, don't you think?'

'Sure but why did he give me one anyways?'

'I don't know, but that's just the way he is. So how about you come up to the staff table and get me after dinner. Then we can go to your detention from there?'

'That sounds good. Are you sure you're alright?'

'Well now that you mention it, I do have this little problem. There's this really annoying sound of everyone asking me "are you alright" do you think you can help me?' she said with sarcasm in her voice.

'Very funny, how are the twins? Have you picked names yet? Do you need help with picking them because I could help you know.'

'Are YOU alright?'

'Yes I'm fine'

'Ok as long as you're ok. The twins are fine and yes we have picked names but you will find out, just like the rest of the world, when they get here.'

'Oh alright, oh before I forget, mum sent you these,' and he handed her a bag full of chocolates and chocolate lollipops.

'I will have to thank her the next time I talk to her won't I?'

'And give these to Uncle Severus. I know he won't like me to give them to him so you can. Well we must be going, I have a potions class with one of my favourite people and I don't mean Uncle Severus. I wouldn't want you to be anymore late then we already are. What do you say we go?'

'That sounds great and don't even think of being nice. I didn't give you the detention, Severus did, so suck up to him, not me.' They both laughed and were still laughing when they walked into class.

'Mr. Snape, please take your seat or you will get another detention. And what are you laughing about that you need to disturb my classroom with that noise?'

'Professor Snape, you don't need to be so rude. Now I won't ask you to apologize to him because I know you won't, but do not and I mean do not, insult my students in front of me,' snapped Hermione.

'Hermione, please don't yell at me in front of my students.'

'I wouldn't yell, if you didn't make me. Mr. Snape please sit down and try not to be so loud.'

'Yes An- Hermione.' Hermione smiled at his almost slip-up of her name.

'Ok class back to your potions please.' He looked over to Hermione and gave her the look that she hated so much, the what did I do to deserve this look, and she walked over to talk to him.

'Severus what's wrong?'

'You yelled at me again, and in front of the class none the less, and what were you laughing about?'

'Is that all you care about? Your reputation? Well fine then, you just wait till later on in the year when you have to sleep all by yourself because you can't stand a little attention from other people when the babies get here, because people always want to see new babies. Wait till Ron finds out about us, then all the Weasley's will know about us. What then? Are you going to continue to be the ass you are being right now or are you going to grow up anytime soon?' she whispered

'I'm sorry Hermione, I never thought...'

'That's right, you didn't did you?'

'I am really very sorry. Now would you at least let me finish talking before you interrupt me please?'

'Fine, continue with what you were saying.'

'Ok what I was saying was that, I never thought about after they're born. I just didn't think it was what was important right now that's all. I'm sorry, I love you Hermione.'

'I love you too, and we were laughing at you.'

'You were what?!?!?' he yelled as Hermione AND Jacob started laughing again.

'Jacob Snape, what did I tell you about laughing in my classroom?'

'Don't do it sir. I'm sorry,' he then sarcastically added 'please don't tell my parents I don't think I'll ever forgive myself if you did.' That made Hermione laugh more then she should have. She was starting to get a little light headed and almost fell but was caught by Jacob Snape.

'Are you alright Aunt Hermione?' asked Jacob quietly enough that the class didn't hear it.

'I think I'll be ok. Thank you for catching me,' she smiled.

'Are you sure you're alright to teach? I can walk you to your rooms if you'd like.'

'No I'm really ok. Now go back and sit down, your uncle doesn't look too happy with us right now,' Hermione smiled as he helped her to her feet.

'Are you going to be ok?' asked Severus.

'Yes I'll be fine, now go back to teaching. I'm going to sit down,' she went, sat down, brought out some chocolate and started to eat it.

'Hermione, where did you get that chocolate?' She looked at Jacob and answered the question.

'Some guy gave it to me. Why do you ask?'

'Some guy? Are you sure you should be eating that?'

'Yes it's fine. It really came from your sister, Jacob gave it to me.'

'Ok but why did she give it to you?'

'I asked for some since I can't leave the school for anything and had her send it to me.'

'But why all the chocolate? You know I don't eat it.'

'I know. That's why I had her send something else for you but you can't have it now, you have to wait.'

'What is it?'

'Nope you find out later.'

'Fine I have to go check Jacob's potion to see how bad it is.'

'Mr. Snape what is that?' Snape yelled pointing at his potion.

'This is a Sleeping Potion why?'

'Because that is not what we are making. Ten points from Gryffindor and you can make a Shrinking Solution tonight in your detention.'

'But I already have a detention tonight.'

'Well then you can make it after that. I'm sure Hermione won't be keeping you for long.'

'Yes sir. Would you like to see if I have my potion correct?'

'No thank you Mr. Snape. Everybody get back to work.'

A/N: Thank you to my beta Aurora, and to you people that reviewed.