Disclaimer: Angel and his people belong to Joss Whedon and his people. Hermione, Severus, Remus, and their people belong to JK Rowling and her people. Thanks! Now no one can sue!

"Snape seems more irritable this morning that I've ever seen him, and I've been his student," Ginny said, softly.

"Hermione put him under house arrest until she deems him healthy. I guess these are the beginnings for a very diplomatic system. Snape is in charge, but we have to agree with what he does before we do it, and Hermione has power over any of us, because she's our assigned healer. We signed contracts," Remus smirked. I heard them arguing in the entrance hall."

"Lobby, Mr. Lupin. This is America, you'll have to start using the real names for things and no matter how much you British people think that lobby is an entrance hall, it's not, it's a lobby," Cordy said, matter-of-factly.

Oz walked in, silently and sat at the table, which was much larger than it had been. The entire room was larger, thanks to a few quick spells from Remus.

"Cordelia didn't make this, did she?" Oz said as Remus put a plate in front of Oz.

"No, she's not the one with the apron," Remus laughed, pointing at Sirius, who scowled at him.

"It's extremely good," Wes said, as he finished off his plate. "My compliments to the chef. I think we can get used to them being here," Wes stated.

"Just wait until the children start running around," a tired voice said. Hermione walked in, looking completely exhausted, still covered in mud and blood head-to-toe.

"Have you slept yet, Hermione? You look utterly spent," Remus commented.

"A few of the students woke up and were screaming. They woke up a few of the rooms. I've been trying to calm them for almost two hours and Snape just decided to walk by and not help me. He is the most frustrating man I have ever met in my life. He doesn't understand me at all and he doesn't understand the students, or anything else in the bloody world most likely," Hermione said, crossly.

"You really should get some sleep," Remus said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, and muttering a cleansing charm to clean her robes.

"What I need is everyone to stop treating me like I'm a bloody first year at Hogwarts. I am a full-fledged witch and healer and I won't be treated like a child," Hermione pushed Remus' arm away. "I have to stand on my own, don't you get that? I can't rely on you all when you're all relying on me," she whispered the last part.

"For someone who doesn't want to be treated like a child, you sure are acting like a child," Snape's cool voice came from the doorway.

"Don't you even get it Snape? You…" Hermione broke off, with a soft sob. Tears began streaming down her face. She stormed out, her face in her hands, bumping into his shoulder on the way out.

"I told you Severus. I see it, even Angel sees it. Why can't you?" Remus said.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Remus," Snape growled.

"You really are clueless then," Ginny muttered, darkly. "My best friend would have fallen apart in the last year if it weren't for you, Pomphrey, and McGonagall. She didn't need people to comfort her, to tell her to keep healthy, get enough sleep. She needed people to push her, but now she's about to fall apart. You're the only of those three people she has left and she can't be pushed any further. She needs comfort now. I'm her best friend; I know her, but she doesn't need my comfort. She would turn anything to be about me. She needs someone who she trusts wholly to just listen to her, and you, as much as you don't want to see it, are the only one of those three people left that can give her that. Her best friends are gone, professor. Have you even stopped to think of that? Those were the two people she grew up with. You may not know what Gryffendor friendship is, but I know you have had friends before. Times that loyalty by ten, then think of the grief of losing that," Ginny said, fighting her own tears.

"Miss Granger I can't comfort people. I never have had need to and never thought I would," Snape said, in a soft tone that no one there had ever heard him use.

"Just listen to her," Ginny urged, her eyes pleading with him to at least try.

"Very well, but she will not want to talk to me," Snape said. He turned and walked out of the dining room towards the stairs.

"You really think…" Bill trailed off.

"I can hear her heartbeat and whenever he is near is skips a beat, literally, when he says something, her heartbeat quickens, and when he touches her, her heart beats mile-a-minute," Angel said.

"Really?" Bill frowned.

"I confirm. Pitter-patter pitter-patter pitter pitter pitter-patter," Remus said, nodding.

"Dutdut dutdut dutdutdutdutdut," Oz put in.

"Werewolf senses?" Ginny giggled a little, through her misty eyes.

"What else," Oz gave her a rare smile, squeezing her shoulder slightly.

"So, Oz, when exactly did you settle here?" Remus asked. I mean, you told me in your letter that you had moved here a while ago, but before that you hadn't owled me in at least four months."

"I don't have an owl," Oz shrugged.

"The owl post office...?" Remus suggested.

"We've been busy. Vampire and demon activity has been through the roof," Angel cut in.

"Well, when did you move in then?" Remus pressed.

"About three months ago. I guess I wasn't as cured as I thought, and I needed a place with a cage," Oz muttered. He ran a hand through his orange hair, eating the last of his egg and toast.

"You have a cage?" Sirius frowned.

"Long story, not as kinky as one would hope," Cordy said.

"Damn," Sirius said, jokingly.

"So, is there any chance you have two?" Remus asked.

"Only the one, you two boys will just have to not fight," Cordy said.

"No, we've been bitten by different werewolf breeds. We would fight until the death," Remus said. "I hope Severus can find the ingredients for the Wolfsbane Potion."

"Don't we all," Bill sighed.

"You ask a lot of those two. Have you realized that? You expect an eighteen year old girl to be your healer and to take care of everyone, and you expect him to take charge and make sure you all stay together. You may have to, at some point take responsibility," Wes said.

"Maybe, but until then," Sirius joked again, taking a swig of orange juice as if it were fire-whisky, gaining a half-hearted giggle from Ginny, a fit of them from Parvati and Lavender and a broad grin from Cordy.

Severus slowly walked up the stairs, taking as much time as he could before talking to the girl. He stopped when, at the top of the flight of stairs he heard a soft voice singing.

I'll see you again
Whenever Spring breaks through again
Time may lay heavy between
But what is mean
Is past forgetting
This sweet memory

He slowly crept closer to the beautiful, sad voice. It was breaking every few words but it was still amazing as it rung through it the sad song.

Across the years
Will come to me
Though my world may go awry
In my heart will ever lie
Just the echo of a sigh
Goodbye

He reached a door, which was slightly ajar and was only half-surprised to see Hermione laying across one of the beds, a girl on each of her shoulders, crying. She had her arms around them, gently brushing their hair with her fingers in a soothing way.


I'll see you again
Whenever Spring breaks through again
Time has lain heavy between
But what is mean
Can leave me never
Your dear memory
Throughout my life

Will come to me

He couldn't help but stare at her. She sounded and looked so sad, yet she found it somewhere in her to take care of the two blonde girls, the first year twins Jennifer and Natasha Goodman; he recognized them from classes. They were not the best in potions but he had heard that Jennifer was amazing at Herbology and Natasha excelled in Transfiguration. The two girls were dozing off, their tears slowing, as Hermione came to the ending of the song


Though my world has gone awry
Through the years my tears may dry
I shall love you 'til I die
Goodbye

He watched her disentangle herself from the two girls, who latched onto each other, in their sleep. She covered them with a comforter and looked up as she felt Snape's presence. She tried to hide the tears still streaming down her face, as she glared at him, but she couldn't keep the glare long as he just stared blankly at her.

"What do you want, professor?" she asked, tiredly.

"I want to talk," he stated.

"Thanks for sharing," Hermione muttered. She made up the other bed, straightening out all the creases and wrinkles.

"Hermione, please," he said, softly. Hermione's head shot up at the use of her given name. He had never called her Hermione before. She stared at him, for a moment, before nodding and walking to the door. He walked them to the room across the hall. All the students' rooms fit on one level, one side of the hall, with a room for each of the remaining order members across the hall from them.

"I don't pretend to be any good at sharing feelings," he muttered as he sat in a very stiff chair, facing the bed. She sat, slumped on the bed and looked at her feet. "I am, however, willing to listen to anything you have to confess to me." He said this in a curt manner, knowing that it was the best to get her to respond if she would at all. He waited, listening carefully, as she kept her head down, gravely, as if it were too heavy to hold up any more. She pulled her legs up and tucked them underneath herself, leaning sideways against the headboard. Slowly, she raised her head. She looked him directly in the eye and murmured, "Well, Severus…"

Thanks and I couldn't help but give you a cliff. She's using his first name because he gave her permission at the end of chapter four remember. Okay, so no complaining about that, good. I hope you like this new chapter. And oh, to my reviewers. I love you! I can't reply, but I will next time. I know, promises promises, but I will!