Five weeks had passed since their encounter on the couch. She had spent all her days revising for the next school term, all her evenings with the Snape brothers, and all her nights in Severus's bed. He had insisted that they share a bedroom because of his brother. So every night he retired to his room she followed him. He would let her use the bathroom first. She would ready herself for the night and when she emerged she would go straight to the bed and slip under the soft covers. He would soon follow her, wearing his black silk trousers. Because of the possibility that his brother would question the house-elves about their sleeping habits, they couldn't use two separate beds. Every night they lay down with almost two meters room between them and every morning Severus would wake up to the smell of jasmine and a soft female body attached to his, in the middle of the bed. Of course, he would move to his side again but not before he enjoyed her softness for a few moments and the feeling of what could be his.

Hermione had lost all her prejudices against Severus. After spending so much time in each other's company she found herself fearless of her Potions master. Sometimes during their conversations, she found herself reaching out and touching him.

He soon discovered that his fiancée was more than just the annoying know it all that he knew from Hogwarts. He was quite surprised that she could have a decent conversation with him and was quite bearable. He had noticed the small changes in her behavior and it surprised him, over and over again, how easily she seemed to accept the situation. The times they had kissed or he had touched her, she hadn't hesitated at all. She seemed to be quite eager to explore this special subject. He could tell that she was attracted to him, although he didn't know why. He had had enough females to know the signs when he saw them. Sometimes he wondered what her intentions were but as soon as these thoughts entered his mind he dismissed them, not allowing himself to dig further into the subject.

Although Hermione couldn't explain why she felt herself drawn to Severus Snape, she really enjoyed his company. She caught herself looking forward to their talks and every fiber of her being longed for his next touch, his next gesture, and his company. She never started anything herself, so great was her fear of being rejected. She also discovered that her professor was even more complex than she had thought. Every time she thought she could tell how he would react or what he would do next, he would surprise her. She even discovered that he had a wicked sense of humor. Over the weeks she had to admit to herself that she found him quite entertaining- in more ways than one. She also had to admit -just to herself, of course- that she was falling for him. She didn't like that fact at all but it was a fact. One she couldn't easily ignore. She was falling for him. Falling for his intelligence and strength, for his humor and his sarcasm. And moreover, for the feelings he was able to stir deep inside of her.

"Hermione?" His silky voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked up from the book she was reading. He was lying on his side, supporting his head with his arm. Strands of his dark hair were falling into his face and she longed to reach out and tuck them behind his ear.

"Yes?"

"The school term is going to start soon."

"I know."

Severus sighed. "What I meant, silly girl, is that we have to talk about what we are going to do."

It hurt her that he still thought of her as a silly girl. She broke their eye contact and looked back at her book. "Well, since I'm a silly girl, maybe you should tell me what to do, Professor!"

"You should watch your tongue, Miss Granger. I will not tolerate you speaking to me in such a manner!" He stood up and she followed him.

"So, what would you like me to say? I have been very generous to all your behavior. I spent my entire holiday in your presence and in your brother's! Without my friends and without my family I could talk with no one except you and your raping brother. I have a life, you know. Responsibilities. I have things to do for myself but I did what was best for the Order, what was best for your cover. The least you could do is pay me a little bit of respect!" she nearly screamed at him. Once more he was glad for the silencing charms around his rooms.

"Do you think I enjoyed this any more than you? I am trapped with the little Gryffindor princess. One of Potter's best friends. Always in trouble. An unbearable know-it-all." They were staring at each other, standing mere feet apart. He had his arms crossed while hers were at her hips.

"You overgrown grumpy bat!"

"Insufferable little witch!"

"Bloody heartless bastard!"

"Insolent little girl!"

"Death Eater!"

"That I am, Miss Granger!" They were staring at each other, both filled with unresolved tensions and a lot of anger. She opened her mouth to throw the next insult when he suddenly raised his arm and pulled his sleeve up. The Dark Mark was glowing.

"You stay here! Don't leave the room!" he said while he turned around and walked over to his dressing room. Seconds later he emerged dressed in his Death Eater robes.

Hermione swallowed. Never before had she seen him fully dressed as a Death Eater. He even wore his gloves and had the mask in his hand. To her he had never looked more frightening than now.

She wanted to tell him to be careful, to come back to her. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was. She wanted to throw her arms around him and never let him go. But Hermione did nothing like that. She went over and took the mask out of his hand. The smooth leather felt cool against her skin as she let her fingers travel over the surface. She went behind him and placed the mask on his face before she closed the bands.

When she was finished she stepped back. "I will wait for you," she simply whispered.

Severus nodded before he Apparated, never looking back at the woman who slowly had started to steal herself into his thoughts and into his heart without him noticing it.

-

And she waited. Hermione waited for three days. The house-elves brought her food but she barely touched it. She wasn't hungry at all. Every noise made her spin around hoping to see him and every time she was disappointed.

Severus Snape Apparated into Dumbledore's office. Albus looked shocked to see him. "Severus! My dear boy, what has happened to you?"

Snape let himself sink into a nearby chair. Every nerve and every fiber of his being was screaming out in pain at the very movement. "A gathering. Three days ago. Ernestus told Voldemort about Miss Granger and my betrothal to her. Let's just say that the Dark Lord wasn't pleased at all. He questioned me almost the whole time before he finally was satisfied."

Dumbledore closed his eyes in pain. He knew enough of the art Voldemort used to question his people. It contained not only curses but also a lot of Muggle weaponry. At that moment, he didn't want to know what had exactly happened to his double agent. But he wondered briefly which kind of weapons had been used on him. He didn't dare tell Severus how sorry he was or ask him if he could be helped in anyway. He knew better than that. The Potions master was a proud man.

"Where is your brother, now?"

Snape snorted. "He decided to stay with an old friend until he's certain that I am not going to kill him on the spot for going behind my back!"

Albus nodded but Snape's next words caught him unguarded. "He wants me to carry on with my plan. He even wants us to perform a handfasting."

"What? Why?" Dumbledore asked in horror.

"It will make sure that she belongs to me. In that way, she will be under my control. You know how he thinks. I get to control her and he is a few steps nearer to Potter!"

Dumbledore was quiet for a few seconds. "The Order won't be pleased."

"Well, I am not pleased!" he interrupted him shortly.

Dumbledore ignored him and continued. "Her parents? What about her parents? And a handfasting isn't really a marriage. Oh my god! You do realize that you will have to sleep with the girl? She still has one term left. A student bound to a professor? How am I going to explain that to the Ministry?"

Severus shrugged his shoulders as if the details weren't his concern. "That is your area. I will make sure that she isn't killed. The rest is up to you." Severus looked up again and it was then, for the first time, that he noticed how old Dumbledore really was, but not only old. The man was tired. Tired of two generations of war.

"Why are you doing this, Severus?"

"I don't understand the question. She is a student and if I don't do it she won't live through the night and you know it." He stood up and closed his eyes for a moment as pure pain washed through his already tense body.

"Thank you for risking this. I know how hard this must be for you."

Severus waved him off. "Just make sure that neither I nor the girl will have to face any snide remarks from the Order or Hogwarts' staff! I won't tolerate it and she will be punished enough by being with me."

Albus nodded in agreement. "Of course, my dear boy. Maybe you should go and see Poppy," he quietly suggested.

But Severus shook his head. The last thing he needed was Poppy and her habit of making everything twenty times worse than it really was.

"No. All I need is a warm bath and sleep. And solitude."

-

Thanks again to all my reviewrs...sorry that the last update took so long...