As always, thank you to those who have left reviews. Those who write, you know how good it feels to read kind words of encouragement and to hear someone liked what you took time to create.

I also appreciate those who can point out the discrepancies of my story versus that of Rowling, however, just remember, there are certain bits I've changed just to make my particular story work. And God knows, with the twists and turns and intricacies of her work, there's no way I'd get everything right anyway! LOL

So let's see what transpires this chapter…..


Hermione was beginning to hate the monthly faculty meetings. She sat as close as she could to Albus, making sure to keep her back to Milinda and fighting to keep a mental wall up, not really sure if she was successful or not. She was uncomfortable and nervous but tried her best to hide it.

Holidays were over now and everything was back to normal. She didn't know where Severus and Milinda had been but things had not improved. In fact, it seemed worse. She wanted so badly for him to confide in her and explain what was going on but with the great disdain she already felt for the woman, she thought it better he didn't. She also waited for him to say something about her Christmas gift each time they were together but he never did so she chose not to as well.

NEWTs revisions were nearly finished and she was quite thankful for that. While she enjoyed working with Severus, she couldn't help but feel as if there were eyes everywhere watching her, listening to every word she said, hearing every thought inside her mind even though they'd moved their project to the Shrieking Shack to ensure privacy. It was unnerving and driving her mad. Severus had given her a potion to take that he said would 'help reduce anxiety and assist to block the mind from penetration'. She took it every morning, praying it was effective.

They continued to work on her occlumency each week, again disappearing to the Shack. It was the only place she felt safe and somewhat relaxed. After beginning their lessons there, Hermione found she learned the art much quicker and felt a little better about being able to block Milinda's invasions.

Thursday afternoons she looked forward to her chats with Primrose, unfortunately still in the library as it remained quite cold outside. Hermione enjoyed their friendship but felt somewhat guarded as she couldn't open up about Severus. They discussed their classes and a few unique students, their muggle childhood and a few rumors every once in awhile but Hermione made sure she divulged nothing that would give Primrose any indication of what was happening.

"I heard another rumor," Primrose told Hermione as they sipped tea.

What about Severus this time, she wondered. "What's that?" she asked.

"I heard Pomona is trying to start an underground mandrake potting class," she answered.

Hermione found herself disappointed but didn't let her friend see it. "An underground mandrake potting class?" she repeated. "Whatever for?"

Primrose was shaking her head. "She's determined to keep a potting class for them," she explained. "I don't know why reviewing that in her properties class isn't enough. She's asking for trouble."

Hermione was quiet. She personally didn't see the point but completely understood feeling strong enough about something to be willing to take a chance to pursue it.

"I heard one more," Primrose added.

"Little gossip," Hermione teased.

"I'm harmless," she said with a wave of her hand. "Remember the little lover's spat we witnessed before holiday break?"

Now she had Hermione's full attention. "Yes," she said, glad no names were mentioned.

"Well, story goes that the spat happened because he'd told her that he was taking break alone," Primrose said quietly. "Which apparently was not what she had in mind."

"Very interesting indeed," Hermione said, fighting the real reaction that wanted to release itself. "That would explain a lot."

Primrose glanced at her watch. "Oh dear," she said frowning. "I'm supposed to meet with Miss Clothwick in ten minutes."

"Isn't she something?" Hermione asked with a smile, watching as her friend gathered her belongings.

"Yes but I'm still trying to figure out just what that is," she said with a wave of her hand. "Later dear."

Hermione shook her head, gathering her things, deciding to go back to her office to finish preparing next week's quiz. She left the library and began the walk through the quiet halls to her chamber.

She'd made a couple turns and was instantly aware of a presence behind her, whipping around with wand in hand to find Milinda glaring at her.

"Well, well, well," the woman sneered. "Tell me Professor Granger, how was your holiday?"

Hermione didn't trust her and immediately focused mentally, making sure to keep her blocked. "My holiday was quiet," she answered. "And what concern is it to you?"

"Oh come now," Milinda said, forcing an evil smile. "Certainly it was more…eventful than that."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Hermione snapped in sarcasm, gripping her wand tighter in her hand.

With a quiet but sinister laugh, Milinda stepped closer to the younger woman. "You know," she began. "I really dislike when people lie. One lie produces another and another and so forth. Don't you think it's pointless?"

"Do you have any point to this ridiculous conversation?" Hermione asked, eyes narrowing at the witch before her. "Maybe I should visit Albus and let him decipher it?"

It took everything within Milinda not to kill her on the spot. Anger rose and boiled inside her veins like a volcano seconds from erupting. Now is not the time, she told herself. "I highly doubt that will be necessary," she said through clenched teeth. "Give me the pendant."

Forcing herself to remain neutral, Hermione feigned confusion, still focused on her mental walls. "What pendant?" she asked.

"Don't play coy with me," she snarled. "Give it to me."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why must we have lies?"

"Why must we have insistence of truth that doesn't exist?"

"You have that which is mine."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken," Hermione snapped. "I'm sorry you have apparentlylost a piece of your jewelry. Now if you don't mind, I have work to do." She turned and walked away from the woman, knowing she was vulnerable to any curse she might choose to cast on her, but feeling nothing as she rounded the next corner and then sprinted all the way to her office.


Three days later, Severus and Hermione were in the Shack finishing the last of the NEWTs revisions. He'd noticed she'd been exceptionally quiet and distracted and tried to ignore it. But listening to her soft sighs and seeing the emptiness in her eyes wouldn't allow him to continue his indifference.

"Hermione," he said, putting his book down. "Is there something wrong?"

Not looking up from her papers, she answered, "No I'm fine."

He sighed in frustration. He'd already fought asking her about the pendant he'd given her many times, assuming she wasn't interested since she hadn't even bothered to say thank you. He thought that his giving that to her again would say so much more than he was capable of. Apparently it didn't matter to her and that only caused him more confusion. And now she was distancing herself and he didn't like it. It wasn't right.

Reaching out, he covered her hand with his. "Hermione," he said gently.

Her eyes lifted and met his.

"You used to tell me when you were upset," he remembered.

"There's lots of things I used to do," she commented quickly.

He understood her statement. "You can still trust me," he said, losing the internal battle with his own frustration. "I've proven that."

Hermione didn't understand. "You've proven it?" she repeated. "How do you figure?"

"Have I given you reason to doubt me?" he asked, removing is hand from hers.

Her eyes looked away with an answer she didn't want to give.

What was the matter with her? Had she forgotten everything? And why didn't she ever mention that damn pendant? Couldn't she understand the position he was in? Couldn't she realize how difficult this was for him?

Standing up indignant, Severus said loudly but slowly, "If that's the way it is, then I will kindly have you give me back my mother's pendant."

Eyes wide in surprise, Hermione fought the lump that had instantly jumped in her throat. "Give it back?"

"Yes," he said. "Apparently there was no point to it."

As she heard the words, her eyes filled with tears and didn't even try to stop them from falling, trying to cover her face.

Severus watched her, feeling bad for what he'd said but still confused with her reactions. "I don't understand this," he exclaimed, throwing his arms up and walking over to the window. "I don't understand you!"

"And I don't understand you either!" she threw at him, standing up and facing him, wiping tears. "You've got me so confused, Severus. You barely talk to me and then give me that pendant again. You know what that meant to me years ago!"

"Why do you think I gave it to you again?"

"I don't know!"

"Well think about it Hermione!"

"I can't!" she cried. "I can't think about it because it hurts to! And besides after what Milinda said, I don't think she would like it very much!"

Severus spun around to face her then. "I never gave that pendant to her," he said quietly. "You're the only one who has ever worn it." Having just caught what she said, he asked, "Wait…what did she say to you?"

Hermione had turned and was putting her books and papers away. There was just no point to this. The project was close enough to being finished so they wouldn't need to meet anymore and could talk with Albus alone to discuss their findings.

Not liking being ignored, Severus grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face him. "What did Milinda say to you?" he nearly yelled.

"She said it was hers and that I should give it back!" she yelled in alarm to his display of aggression.

Severus let go of her arm as he stood staring at her. Milinda had apparently cornered Hermione again, having known she had the pendant. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, lowering his voice.

Hurt blazing in her eyes, Hermione answered, "Because you choose to stay with her." She turned from him, quickly grabbing her things, and ran from the room.

Severus stood still and in silence, hearing her words echo inside his head.

"Because you choose to stay with her."

He didn't consider himself with Milinda, not in the way Hermione thought. But she also didn't understand how things had been the past few years and he wasn't sure he wanted to tell her.

After Hermione graduated, he'd fought depression for two years, Albus meeting with him often to inquire of his well being. Severus suspected he'd known what had been going on but said nothing of it for which he was grateful.

Severus had not been looking for a 'girlfriend', as Hermione was assuming she was. He'd never had a girlfriend and never intended to. He thought the term silly and childish and saw no point to its existence. There had been women, yes, but no girlfriends. The few women he'd been with physically had not been looking for anything serious which, along with their intellectual prowess, was the reason they'd been together briefly.

Milinda's situation had been slightly different. When she arrived at Hogwarts, Severus had been vulnerable although he hid it well. When conversations began between the two, he did genuinely like her, as they shared many things in common, and became attracted to her as well. She was understanding with him and secretive with everyone else and he liked that. She gained his trust and soon he found himself spending many nights with her.

As months passed, he didn't mind when she acted protective of him and almost proud when she was possessive. It felt rather good for the displays to be out in the open instead of hidden. Everyone thought they were 'dating', as many liked to call it, but in his mind they were not. They spent time together, part of which was intimate, but he did not grant it a name or title.

Even though she was an Ancient Runes teacher, her strongest gifts were that of Occlumency and Legilimency, same as him. It was another fact that made him quite comfortable with her. Comfortable enough that one evening, after a rather heated sexual exchange, he revealed to her who his father was.

Severus never would have told her if he'd thought she would try to use it against him. But over the months that followed, Milinda began to be short with him, acting rather jealous, accusing him of things he'd never even thought of doing. He tried to brush everything off, tried to ignore her rants, hoping they'd simply go away. But one evening during another of their numerous arguments, she'd threatened to reveal his true father if he ever thought of being with anyone but her.

This only led to more arguments and more fighting and more animosity. The fact they worked together threw another hitch in the system as he didn't want his personal business spread about the school. He tried to keep things as civil as he could, agreeing to spend time with her only so she would not tell the truth she now knew. Albus often questioned him after faculty meetings or in the halls, asking if everything was all right, but Severus couldn't bring himself to tell him what was going on. It was his mistake and he would pay for it.

He'd resigned himself to the fact he was stuck. She was his equal in nearly every way so anything he thought of to attempt to 'deal with her' would not work and would only end up far worse for him in the end.

Then Hermione Granger had to show up. He'd been furious with Albus for not telling him sooner of her acceptance of the Dark Arts position, refusing to be at the pre feast faculty meeting. As he'd retreated to his room to sulk, he tried to put her out of his mind. It had been seven years since he'd seen her last and wasn't ready to see her now. Pain resurfaced that he didn't want to acknowledge much less deal with.

So he tried to stay away from her.

He tried not to remember what they'd shared for three years, how his scorn for her and her contempt for him had twisted and turned, cocooning itself up, eventually revealing a transformation that neither had expected or knew how to handle.

Then Albus assigned them on a project together. Damn that man sometimes! Once he'd started hearing her reminisce, it caused him to think maybe she still felt for him as she did when she graduated. Maybe something still remained.

And then Milinda had to be in the middle of it all again. He was thankful he'd never told her of their times together but she had obviously been reading Hermione's mind because she began to berate him with questions.

"A student huh?"

"Did you love her?"

"Did you sleep with her?"

"What's it like being with someone so much younger than you?"

"What would Albus think of this?"

On and on the arguments went between them on different occasions until Albus had approached him about teaching Hermione Occlumency. He'd been outraged at what Milinda had said and at the fact Hermione hadn't come to him and chose to take his rage out on Milinda, thus another heated fight.

He still felt stuck as Milinda now had two things to use against him; one could get him banished from Hogwarts and barred from ever teaching again while the other could get him killed. None were options he particularly liked.

He'd followed Hermione to Hogsmeade, knowing with certainty she would return to the Shack, and had planned on telling her everything, explain to her what was happening, choosing instead to allow his anger towards her choice to go to Albus for help control the conversation. He'd opened his mind briefly, recognizing a scene that played over in her mind, that spring day during her sixth year. It was the day that started what they couldn't stop. It was the first time he'd held her and held her close, admitting to each other physically what they hadn't been able to say verbally.

All he could do in response to her memory was touch her hand. He couldn't hold her, couldn't pull her to him and tell her how much he'd missed her and how happy he was she was back. He could do nothing but hope that she would read into what he could do and understand.

Giving her his mother's pendant at Christmas seemed the perfect solution to his lack of communication. Knowing what it had stood for between them, knowing how she felt towards it, knowing she knew how he felt about her wearing it, it seemed the perfect way to silently express to her what he couldn't say.

And then she never mentioned it, never said a word about it. He was hurt and confused. What more could he do? He'd never felt so trapped in his life. One wrong move or thought or word on his part and not only could his job be gone but so could his life. He didn't know what to do with Milinda and couldn't do what he wanted with Hermione. A voice inside told him to tell her everything but knew with her fiery and protective way, having witnessed it many times with Potter and Weasley, that only more pain would be inflicted, not only on him but now on her too.

Severus couldn't handle that. If he had to shield her by taking on the brunt of Milinda's hatred and manipulations all by himself, that's what he would do. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Hermione because of him.


"I must insist that I be there as well!"

"I don't need you there!"

"Hermione," Albus said quietly. "I must agree with Severus on this one."

"Why?" she wailed. "It's just a practice class."

"Because the only class that can spar with your class is Milinda's class!" Severus exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"Please," Albus said gently to his frustrated Potions teacher. "Hermione, understand our natural reaction to being concerned, after all, you did have to learn Occlumency because of her."

"I didn't think this type situation with students present would allow anything to happen," Hermione said. "I don't need to be watched like a child."

"Severus knows spells and curses that you do not yet," Albus pointed out. "I would feel much better knowing he was in the room."

Knowing she would not win this argument, Hermione relented. "Fine," she snapped and left his office in a rush.

Severus was still fuming. "What is she thinking?" he exclaimed. "Why can't she wait until another time when another class will be available? Why can't she…"

"Severus," Albus said with a small smile. "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"

The question silenced him. Was he being obvious?

"No, Headmaster," he answered and quickly left Albus' office.


"All right everyone!" Hermione said as she stood atop a line of tables that had been temporarily fused together with a spell. "You have been learning of negative curses and how to counter them but today we will finally practice disarming. There will be no improvising, as I don't want to have to take two classes of students to Madam Pomfrey. Professor Myer has agreed to allow her class to participate also so you will get to practice with some students that maybe you don't know. Only two spells will be used today. The first is 'expelliarmus' which should make the opponent's wand fly from their hand. The other is 'relashio' which will produce sparks from the end of your opponent's wand. These are not spells which will hurt but will allow you to practice should you ever find yourself in this type of situation." She paused, aware that Severus and Milinda were on opposite sides of the room. "If everyone will form two lines please; my class here and Professor Myer's class there. Each of you will come up, spar and then allow the next two."

Hermione was pleased as she watched the students disarm each other. See this is harmless, she thought to herself. Two simple spells that hurt no one but at least gives an idea of how it would be. I could always teach them more, if I'm here long enough.

"No, no, Miss Clothwick," she corrected. "Hold your wand higher; there you go."

"Mr. Wheelen, put your other foot forward."

"Mr. Peterson, stand a little further back."

She was actually impressed with everyone, thinking she must not betoo bad ofateacher. They didn't have any problems as she was afraid they would have. She knew Severus was watching but refused to acknowledge his presence.

An hour passed as all students had taken their turn. Hermione was getting ready to tell them what a good job they'd done and dismiss them when one of the students called out, "Professor Granger, we haven't seen you do this yet!"

She looked and it was Malachi Malish, a Slytherin student.

Surprised at his comment, Hermione said, "Well I don't think that's necessary, Mr. Malish. You all are the ones learning this and have done very well with it."

"Well how do we know you really know how to do it?" he asked with a smirk, glancing over at Professor Myer.

"Mr. Malish," Severus stepped in, emerging from the darkness in the back of the classroom. "That will be enough. You do not question the abilities of your teachers."

There was a dull roar from the gathering of students, some telling her she should do itand others defending that she didn't have to.

"But Professor Snape," Milinda interrupted. "It isn't necessarily a bad thing to prove our capabilities now is it?"

The daggers of hatred thrown between their glances was unmistakable and alarmed Hermione. She had not planned on this at all and couldn't help but wonder if Malachi had been put up to it. It would figure Milinda would stoop that low. Well if a fight was what she wanted, Hermione was more than ready to give it.

Stepping up on the table, Hermione said, "Very well then. I have no problem proving myself. Mr. Malish, would you care to spar with me since you were nice enough to start this?"

He glanced at Professor Myer again. "I don't think that would be wise," she said, joining her on the table. "Teachers should not spar with students."

When Hermione saw her raised eyebrow with the statement, she couldn't help but catch the double meaning behind it. They stood nearly toe-to-toe, wands in front of their faces.

"Think you can handle me?" she hissed, flicking her wand to the side.

"And then some," Hermione told her, flicking her wand away as they both walked to opposite ends of the tables.

Severus didn't like what he was seeing but was not in a position to do much about it except keep his hand on his wand. His heart pounded as he watched them prepare in stance.

"Incendio!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing her wand as three fireballs shot from the end, missing Milinda by inches. She hadn't meant to hit her, just get her attention, as some students scattered from the tables.

"Flagrate!" Milinda yelled, pointing her wand at the young girl, tracing circles of fire around her feet, allowing one flick to rip into her ankle.

Hermione fell to the table, grabbing her burned skin, glaring at the woman with eyes that could kill quicker than any spell. "Conjunctivitis!" she yelled, pointing her wand at Milinda, happy to see her grab for her eyes, knowing she couldn't open them.

Assuming the girl couldn't have gone far having purposely burned her, Milinda pointed straight ahead where she thought her to be and screamed, "Immobulus!"

Hermione froze.

Students had scrambled to get away from the women as Severus pointed his wand at Milinda and exclaimed, "Immobulus!"

With both women frozen and most of the students cowering from what they'd seen, he knew he needed to do something fast.

"If everyone will follow me," he announced, taking the group to the classroom next door. "Hurry!"

No one argued with him, glad to be away from the sparring that had scared most of them.

"If everyone will look at me," Severus continued, waving his wand in a large half circle in front of him. "Obliviate!"

"You did very well in your sparring today," he said calmly, now that no one remembered seeing the women and their outbursts. "You are dismissed. Please return to your dormitories at once."

He rushed back to the other classroom, wishing he could leave one of the women as she was. "Ennervate!" he said, pointing to Hermione first, knowing she was hurt.

The pain was intense as she was helped down from the table.

"Go see Madam Pomfrey right away," he told her. "Go quickly."

"But I should stay," she protested. "What if she tries to hurt you?"

"Go!"

Once Hermione was safely out of the room, he pointed his wand at Milinda. "Ennervate!" he said again.

"How dare you!" she hissed, still not able to see.

"Me?" he questioned. "What was that display I just witnessed? I just had to obliviate the memories of all those students because of what they saw. I should turn you in."

"And I'll have your job as well," she reminded him. "Maybe more."

He stood in the classroom and for the first time raised his wand, ready to perform and except all consequences from the 'avada kedavra' curse. What did he have to lose? At this point, he was doomed regardless of what happened. At least she wouldn't be able to hurt Hermione anymore.

As the words formed on his tongue, he heard from the door, "Severus, I trust the class went well?"

Dropping his head and wand,he knew he'd been caught andturned to faceAlbus with guilty black eyes.

"I passed Professor Granger on the way to see the nurse," he continued. "Does Professor Myer need to see her as well?"

"He can fix this!" Milinda yelled. "I don't need the nurse!"

Albus walked over, took the teacher by the hand helpingher down from the tableand told her, "No, I think this will require the nurse's attention. Professor Snape will be waiting in my office."

In silence, Severus slowly began the journey to the Headmaster's office to await his return from the hospital, thinking he probably wasn't going to like what he would hear but would willingly accept whatever fate Albus had in store for him.

He'd been so close to freedom and yet so far.