Disclaimer: See first chapter

Hello. I have returned. Alan Rickman clones and a big thank you shall be given to the following:

Pathatlon : Thanks much. Nice to know I'm not alone in my messed up sense of humour.

Lisa: How about it replaces that statue. I never liked that statue.

Miss3y: More eh?

angelusdream: Thanks.

Keller789: Wow, you just turn up everywhere don't you? And yes. Yes you may.

Arrgh, the back to school-ness of it all. I'm in my Leaving Cert year, so there might be a bit of a delay between postings and for this I apologise profusely in advance.

It gets a bit more serious from here on in but I hope there's still some laughs to be found.

Italics denote thoughts and memories, which can be construed as thoughts come to think of it.

Chapter Three: Comfort.

Severus Snape lay on his bed praying for sleep to come, but it didn't look like the gods of sleep were going to be obliging him tonight. His mind was preoccupied with the recently un-deceased Hermione Granger, who was currently lying on his couch less than ten meters away.

Her death had been a blow to practically half of the wizarding world. The most promising mind in decades destroyed just as things were getting better.

Potter and all of the Weasley clan were in mourning for months. The staff of Hogwarts (including himself, though he would never admit it) had been deeply saddened by the loss. Minerva had taken it the hardest and had even set up a scholarship fund named after the bushy haired know-it-all.

He sighed and rolled over, trying to get comfortable but it was in vain. The images of the last battle haunted him and he knew that they would not relent...at least not anytime soon. Severus could remember the whole thing with painful clarity.

The battle was over. They had won. The Dark Lord was gone forever. The majority of the death eaters had been killed, including the entire inner circle.

Dumbledore had been killed two days earlier but still they had triumphed without his presence despite Voldemort's prediction of victory for the dark. Potter had collapsed by the body of his foe, weeping with relief, his best friend at his side clutching him tightly. Weasley looked around as people began to rejoice. "Where's Hermione?" Severus had heard the boy mutter as he had stalked through the battlefield. He was in no humour to celebrate with these fools. The only thing he needed to celebrate with was a decent bottle of fire whiskey.

He walked through the forest towards the warmth and privacy of Hogwarts. He could still hear the cheers from the battlefield beyond the forest.

The forest was dark.

There was nothing unusual about that, but tonight the smell of death had permeated every inch of the forest. Severus knew that smell well, and he detested it.

He continued walking, stepping over the bodies of death eaters and aurors alike. Once everyone else had realised the losses on both sides they would come. They would begin searching the forest and other surrounding areas. Then came the task of identifying and clearing away the dead. But Severus knew the area would always have that lingering smell of death and decay. It was inevitable. This would no longer be a peaceful and pristine place.

He was relieved that the battle had never seen the main grounds of Hogwarts where the students would live and learn. They would not have to feel as if they were walking over a mass grave.

Severus could see the lights of the castle through the trees. Only ten more minutes and he would be well on his way to being absolutely smashed. He paused and looked around him. Not much of the battle had reached this far. He could see the bodies of three death eaters, all killed by the Killing Curse. He caught sight of a hand sticking out from behind a bush near where the three death eaters had fallen. He glanced at the hand, noting that it was a woman's hand. Some of her nails had been broken in the struggle and it was partially covered in blood. A sliver claddagh ring was on her ring finger. He walked towards the bush to find out who the dead woman was, Weasley's words echoing in him mind ominously.

He bent down and found himself looking at the body of Hermione Granger. He knelt down by her form covering her nakedness with his cloak. He gently pushed some of her bloody hair away from her face where tears had cut tracks through the blood and dirt. Her eyes were closed and she had a strangely peaceful look on her face. Her wand was clutched in her hand. He grasped it and muttered "Finite Incantatum".

As he suspected, Avada Kedavra had been the last spell cast from her wand. She had obviously disposed of her attackers and then bled to death, unable to move. Severus had taken stock of her wounds. It had been apparent that she had been tortured and raped.

He took her lifeless body into his arms and began towards the castle. The sense of injustice was almost overpowering. What power saw it fit to destroy such a promising life as Hermione Granger's but let him, a man who had done unspeakable things in his short lifetime, survive with only minor injuries? His anger was almost palpable as he entered the deserted entrance hall.

He headed towards the hospital wing cradling Hermione's cold form in his arms.

Severus didn't quite know why he felt sad. The damnnable Gryffindor had plagued and annoyed him for her entire seven years in Hogwarts. Even after she graduated she seemed to be an almost constant presence in his life.

She had turned up in the oddest places during those five years between her graduating and her death. More than once he had found her in the potions lab claiming that she couldn't sleep and that she had had an idea. Those ideas frequently turned out to be strokes of genius.

On a few occasions he had found her asleep in the library at insane hours of the morning.

Twice he had woken up in the infirmary to see her sitting by his bedside face buried in a book. On both occasions he had bellowed at her to leave his sight.

But now, as he placed her broken body on a bed in the infirmary, he felt as if a part of his soul had been torn out. Poppy was obviously still tending to the wounded on the battlefield. Severus looked down on Hermione Granger for what he thought was the last time. He slipped the silver ring of her finger, clenching it in his fist and left the room.

Severus shook his head, attempting to banish the memories that had haunted him for five years.

But she's back now. He thought feeling an unfamiliar joy welling up in the void she had left in his soul. He drifted into a light sleep, thoughts not leaving the young woman in the room down the hall.

Hermione tossed on the couch that was serving as her bed, tying to get to sleep for the first time in five years.

Her thoughts wandered to the man who owned the couch. "No." She said aloud to herself. "Crush or no crush, we will not go there!!"

She nodded and buried herself further under the duvet, slowly falling into a fretful sleep.

Severus grabbed his wand, as he was forced awake for the third time that night. He could hear screaming coming from the sitting room. He resigned himself to the fact that he was never going to get any sleep as he hurried towards the screams. . He entered the room to see Hermione thrashing around on the couch, clearly still asleep.

He put his wand away and knelt beside the couch. If she kept up like this she'd awaken the whole castle as well as Hogsmeade. He caught her hand just before it made painful contact with his face and pulled her up. Grabbing her by the shoulders he shook her.

"Miss Granger!"

When she failed to awaken he shook her again. "Hermione."

Her eyes snapped open.

He started at the look of fear and pain as she attempted to remember where she was. Her eyes darted around the room and finally landed on his face.

"Oh...I...shit."

She suddenly dissolved into tears, sobs wracking her body. Her arms were flung around Severus and her face was buried in his chest. Severus was surprised but his arms tentatively went around her in return. He moved up onto the couch where Hermione ended up cradled in his lap, her head on his shoulder. It took a long time for the tears to stop and dry sobs still shook her body. He listened as her breathing levelled out and looked down at her prone form in his arms. Nope, he definitely wasn't getting any sleep tonight.

But despite all that he did sleep, falling into slumber shortly after Hermione did. And he slept quite well, come to that.

Both Severus and Hermione awoke several hours later to a loud banging on Severus' door. Hermione groaned not wanting to be disturbed from her comfortable position in Severus' arms. Severus had similar thoughts but they both jumped when they heard Minerva McGonagall's voice shout from beyond said door.

"Severus? Severus, I know you're in there! Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Shit," he muttered groggily.

Hermione nodded. "Right. You answer that. I'll be under the bed if you need me." With that she disappeared in to his bedroom.

"Right," he muttered, stalking towards the door.

He opened the door to a rather angry Minerva. "Head Mistress, what can I do for you this morning?"

McGonagall glared at him. "Yes you could say that Severus, except that it is nearly afternoon!" She gestured towards the clock on his mantle.

"Ahh. I see. I apologise. I had a rather unsettling night and did not get much sleep."

She looked at him closely. "Hmm, yes. You do look a little peaked Severus. Maybe you should get Madame Lovegood to take a look at you."

"I would not that crazy medi-witch near me with a spoon let alone a wand," said Severus, glaring at Minerva.

Minerva scowled. "Really Severus. She is a fully qualified medi-witch."

"Doesn't stop her from being completely crackers."

"Well, you've missed your only classes of the day so you might as well go back to bed Severus. But see this doesn't happen again. Although, Severus, I must say that you did make the students' day," she said with a smirk.

"Thank you Minerva. It won't happen again," he muttered through clenched teeth.

He closed the door and headed for the bedroom but Hermione met him at the door.

"So, Luna's the new medi-witch? That must be interesting," she said.

"She's an incompetent and crazy wench."

"Such kind words you use," Hermione stated as he brushed past her.

"If you'll excuse me I'm going to have a shower."

'Do you want company?' she thought, then shook her head"Severus?" He turned to her. "I...I just wanted to thank you for last night. For keeping me company. It meant a lot."

'It was a pleasure I've longed for, for years,' he thought, but stated, "Yes, well don't expect it to happen again. It was all I could do to get some sleep."

He turned and shut the bathroom door.

As she leaned against the doorframe she heard the water begin to run.

"Right. Not again."

End Chap.

Well? Whattcha think? ...I need more coffee.

Bit of a fluff attack at the end there, I know. You will come to find that I am prone to that and melodrama. Sorry.

Please review, for I shall sure ly succumb to the mind numbing Irish education system if you don't. Please don't leave me to that fate. I don't want a desk job.

Slán lads.