5. [ Explanations ]

Albus Dumbledore was a patient man, a man with plenty of experience in all kinds of different situations but this was something he had to admit in which he couldn't rely on his expertise. Too much was at stake here, too many things had to be balanced in this case to take this decision easy or to judge the matter without seriously considering all possible consequences.

Leaning back in the big chair her tried to chase the exhaustion away but in times like these he felt all of his 152 years in all their gravity. He wanted to close his eyes and rest a bit but just one look at the parchment on the table made him resume his line of thoughts.

Sighing he tried to figure out a way to alter the way things had proceeded but once again he was harshly reminded why the prophecies were so important for the ministry; because each and every one was destined to happen and did in the end. In this he had hoped that fate would spare him to watch this and being forced to remain detached and under no circumstances was he to interfere. He had never been so tempted to use his magic to alter the way things would happen but his reasonable self held him back.

He had to watch even if he knew that it would lead to hurt and fear and the possibility of loosing one or two of the brightest people at Hogwarts but it had to happen. It was the way it was done and it was never his decision how things turned out. Time would tell and until then all he could do was lean back and watch.

Sighing again for the hundredth time he popped a lemon drop in hope it would make things easier to watch. As he had dreaded it didn't.

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When the clicking of the huge wooden clock pronounced that it was after midnight Hermione sighed and placed the book she had been reading for the last three hours on the small side table next to the heavy bookshelf. It was time to go upstairs and get some sleep- only that she had no idea what the sleeping arrangements were. She figured she could just check the kitchen if maybe somebody was still awake and if not she might be forced to do the unthinkable- ask Severus Snape where she was to sleep.

In the last hours she had avoided thinking about the potions Master but now she realized that it had not served her well. She still wasn't clear what she felt in regards for him, nor had she any idea how to confront him the next time and somewhere inside she couldn't fight a feeling of apprehension about the whole situation. Not that it was something she liked to think about but somewhere deep inside a part of her was glad that it was Snape who owned that necklace- not that it helped the predicament any. But there would have been harsher choices- she shuddered thinking about maybe being married to Moody. Not that she disliked him but he gave her a feeling of unease every time she was around him and with Snape at least she had a vague idea how to deal with since she had known him for five years.

And at least he is quite handsome.

Where had that thought come from? Snape wasn't handsome. At least not in the usual sense but he had something about him that made him intriguing and she sensed that he was a man of many layers. But honestly it wasn't as if she fancied him, was it?

Suppressing a giggle she raised herself from the arm chair and tried to calm her hair. Professor Snape was a teacher, an authority figure for her and more than two decades older than she was; a former Death Eater and now spy for Dumbledore's Order and one of the best potions Masters in Europe- you couldn't fancy a man like him. And she knew that she wasn't ready for anything else.

Making her way into the kitchen she mused about this some more and so it took a while until she realized who was sitting at the dark kitchen table, alone over a steaming cup of tea.

Snape.

She halted and met his eyes in the semi-darkness with determination and as much dignity as she could muster somehow realizing his look was a challenge. He kept her eyes for a moment and then averted his gaze chuckling to himself.

The sound alone was silken and unusual for her ears so she simply stared at him wondering shortly what had gotten into him.

He motioned for her to sit down opposite from him and as she did a cup of tea appeared in front of her. Gratefully gripping the hot steaming cup she raised it to her lips and carefully took a small sip. It was boiling hot but at least it warmed her in the chilly darkness.

For a second they remained silent until Snape raised his eyes again and bored them into her.

"Slytherins love to stare others down. A Slytherin never averts the eyes first if he is not forced to. Keep that in mind when dealing with them in school."

She nodded mutely silently wondering why he told her that and what they were doing in the deserted, dark kitchen at this time of the night. After some more minutes of silence as she had just decided to break it he continued his voice not showing any emotion.

"Four weeks ago we were owled form the ministry about Lucius Malfoy. As you know he had been arrested after the events in the Ministry of Magic last year and had been imprisoned into Azkaban to serve a life sentence there?" Checking for confirmation he nodded and continued. "At first we were concerned but not as much as we probably should have been since I know what Lucius Malfoy is capable of. Then I was owled by an old friend of mine who turned his back on the Dark Arts shortly before did. He confirmed a suspicion of mine that Malfoy's escape was planned to get revenge and obviously the target was not Harry but you Ms Granger."

"M-me?" Her voice quivered and she tried to still the shaking of her hands.

"Yes, you. My friend couldn't name any reason only a guess that it was probably because you were a muggle born witch and had helped Harry in defeating the Dark Lord at the end of last year as well as before. When Dumbledore heard about these events he decided that you should be protected by a potent wizard with enough power to keep you safe from Malfoy and his decision in the end was that it was to be me."

As he paused Hermione dared to ask a question. "But why you? No offence but since I am not in Slytherin and you are not my Head of house?"

Snape nodded and silently chuckled. "I told Dumbledore that Minerva was your Head of house and she was more suited for the task but he insisted. Basically he told me to come up with a way to not only watch you while you were at home but also for a way to protect you with my magic even if I wasn't around. I remembered the necklace and showed it to Albus. Now, you have to believe me Ms Granger that I had no idea what happens once the necklace was properly applied; it is a family inheritance, actually one of the few I still value and it has been given always to the first born son. I assumed since all their wives had carried the necklace as a kind of protection charm I could use it for this purpose. You know the rest of the story and I want to apologize for the course events have taken and hope you trust me enough to believe that I only had your best interest in mind."

Hermione gulped as she heard the words. Severus Snape had just apologized to her. It was unheard of that he ever admitted he was wrong but here they were and he just expressed his remorse over the whole debacle. Not trusting her voice at the moment she tentatively moved her fingers to his arm and gripped it shortly and simply nodded.

Again silence stretched until her curiosity won the inner battle of wills.

"Professor Snape, may I ask you a question?"

Raising one elegant brow he nodded almost hesitantly. You never knew what Hermione came up with in the end.

"What are we doing now that we are married? How are things going to be like once we are back in school?"

The potions Master turned his gaze to the window and almost looked pained.

"I have contacted Albus this evening and asked for his advice. He expressed the view that it would be best to move your things into the dungeons so that I can be with you in a moment if need arises." As he saw the disappointment in her eyes he raised a hand. "However, I insisted that you stay in Gryffindor house and you can still use the common room and during the day you are quite safe in the castle so you don't have to be around me all the time. You only have to return in the evening and other than that I think you can resume your normal life."

Relieved Hermione let out a breath and as she looked up from the table she smiled at the man sitting at the other end of the table.

"Thank you Professor. Not that I don't want to… not that I do- well not really but also I don't want to imply that-"

Snape grimaced and again raised a pale hand as if in defence.

"Please spare me more of your babbling, Ms Granger. I understand completely. I didn't really look forward to live with you either so let's drop the pleasantries. I am still the same evil sneering bastard as always just if you thought I had been magically transformed into a gentleman- I am not."

To his surprise she smiled and her hand rested on his lower arm again- the rosy flesh nicely contrasted by the black sleeve.

"You are still Professor Snape and I am aware of that. But I refuse to share your low opinion about yourself. You have been nothing but caring and helpful in the last hours and you have giving me not one moment to question you being a gentleman." For a moment their eyes locked and hazel brown met opal black. Then she pulled her hand back and got up. "So, now that that's settled there really is just one more question I want to have answered tonight."

Joining her in getting up he offered his arm to her. Surprised she accepted it and together they walked into the dark hallway.

"Where am I sleeping?"

Snape paused in the dark space at the stairs and looked up into the darkened hallway.

"I am sure Albus would suggest the safest would be in my room but I also understand if you resist. I am sure we can figure out a spell to ward your room if you want to."

Hermione heard the challenge in the words- a Gryffindor would probably be courageous and stay alone tonight but a Slytherin would maybe be more cautious. Smiling she nodded as she reached her conclusion.

"I think I trust Professor Dumbledore in this. So, will you lead the way, Professor Snape?"

For a moment Snape looked stunned but then he began to climb the stairs without another word.