He had heard the scream while he was working on some papers and it alerted him immediately. This was a scream borne out of sheer fear. Severus recognized the voice immediately and somehow knew he would have, even if she hadn't been his only overnight guest. It was the voice of constant interruptions in his class. The voice that always asked the most questions. It was Miss Granger's voice.

He hurried out of his room and towards hers, immediately. Whatever had crossed his mind after her scream hadn't been what he discovered on entering the room. Someone was trying to rape the girl - his student- in his own home? Without hesitation he pointed his wand at his intruder and, with a spell, the body of the aggressor immediately collided with the stone wall before remaining motionless on the floor.

As soon as the body was lifted from hers, Hermione sprang from the bed and ran towards her rescuer. Professor Snape. She didn't care that she hated him and that he hated her. It didn't matter that he was her professor, a Death Eater, or a spy. At that very moment, he was her savior. The only safe haven within her reach.

-----

Before Severus could go to the intruder to see who it was and to question him on how he had been able to get past the wards, Miss Granger threw herself against his body. She didn't even seem to notice that she was completely naked. Her arms were desperately clenched around his waist while tears of relief were flowing down her cheeks.

Severus rolled his eyes. He cast a Petrificus Totalus at the intruder and placed his other arm awkwardly around his shivering student. Her head was placed under his chin and the smell of jasmine entered his nostrils.

"It is over now, Miss Granger. Please calm yourself!" Without his notice, he had started to stroke her back calmingly up and down. Despite his own feelings and intentions, he noticed how creamy her skin felt against his own and that her hair, which seemed to be very bushy earlier, now actually felt rather silky against his skin. He suddenly became very aware of the fact that she still was completely naked. Severus could feel her breast pressed against his muscular chest and his thoughts started to move onto dangerous ground. After all, he was just a wizard!

"Accio blanket!" The blanket flew towards him and he caught it. He gently laid it around her shoulders and tried to loosen her grip on him. It was then he noticed that she wasn't making any sounds.

He covered her completely with the blanket and raised her chin up so he would be able to look into her eyes. "I suppose it was a silencing spell?" he asked and she nodded in assent. Her crying had finally stopped but her eyes were still filled with tears.

Severus muttered a counter spell. "I can't believe I am saying this, but please say something, Miss Granger."

"Oh, Professor! I didn't do anything. I stayed in the room like you told me and then… then… I screamed but he placed a charm on me and… Oh Professor I am so glad you heard me. I was afraid. If it weren't for you he… he would have… Oh God!! You saved me. Thank you so much. Oh, Professor. I…"

Severus started to regret that he had lifted the charm. He honestly was afraid that she would never shut up again. He let her go on, almost non-stop rambling crossed with attacks of tears. He listened patiently and continued to absently stroke her back, while thinking about the man lying on his floor mere feet away from him. How had he been able to enter the manor? Who was he? Why had he attacked the girl? He was so absorbed in his thoughts, he didn't notice that Hermione had stopped crying.

---

As the remaining fear and shock ebbed away, Hermione began to feel calmer. It was then that she noticed the human bat of Hogwarts was holding her in his arms and that he was stroking her back in a calming manner.

After a few minutes, Severus noticed that Hermione had finally stopped crying. He looked down and caught her staring at him. "Are you feeling better, now?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Good. Follow me!" He stepped out of the embrace and turned around.

Hermione followed him down the corridor. He opened a door for her. "You will wait here. I will put extra wards around the room for your safety. Don't worry, Miss Granger, these are my private rooms. You will hardly find a safer place in the Wizarding world. You will wait here while I speak with this foolish intruder."

Without waiting, he pushed her through the entrance and closed the door

-----

He reentered his brother's former room just as the figure on the floor started to awaken.

"I see that your sense of hospitality hasn't improved since we last saw each other, brother!" Ernestus said harshly.

For the first time in years, Severus Snape was speechless. Well nearly. "Ernestus?" he asked, unsure. He released his brother with a muttered "Incantatem Finite".

Ernestus raised himself from the floor and sat down, leaning his body against the stone wall. "Who else calls you brother?"

"How did you escape?"

"The newfound power of our Lord helped me. I immediately came here. I didn't want to disturb you; all I searched for was a hot bath and a good night's sleep. But then I was… let's say…'distracted' by your little toy," he smirked at his older brother.

"She isn't my toy!" Severus snarled back.

"Then what is she?" Ernestus asked curiously.

Severus's mind raced. His younger brother had escaped from Azkaban. His younger Death Eater brother! Ernestus had always been loyal towards Voldemort. Severus couldn't tell him the truth about Miss Granger. That would blow his cover. And he also would never believe that he was just tutoring her. Severus needed a believable excuse for her presence.

"She is…" Albus would kill him. "Hermione Granger is…" Molly Weasley would go ballistic before suffering from a heart attack. Severus nearly smiled. Maybe this wasn't his worst idea at all. "She is my fiancée!"

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So? What do you think so far?