Sorry..

Chapter 1 – I've seen your face a thousand times, have all your stories memorized

"Silence! So here we are again. I guess you suppose this year will be quite easy, because your N.E.W.T:s aren't coming up before next year, that's why I tell you now once for all that it won't. Your N.E.W.T:s are coming up next year so you better pay good attention this year. I hope that at least some of you have been studying during the long break." Severus took a deep breath and continued while he saw that Granger-girl was nodding in agreement. She seemed quite normal today. "Today and the following lessons are we going to revise some of the most important potions from your fifth year." This was surely the millionth time he told the students of the sixth year that. He didn't even have to think about what he was talking about. Instead his thoughts were far away from the lesson, thinking about how mature the Granger-girl was. She looks so much… older after the summer. So grown up, but she looked kind of sad. But that wasn't strange at all, after what he'd been attesting last night. "Mr Weasley, Mr Potter, could you please pay any attention?" He added sharply. Draco Malfoy laughed as always when Potter and Weasley got scolded.

"Yes Sir."

"Sorry, Professor." Potter mumbled and continued talking with Weasley, but now he was whispering.

"Back to the lesson. Today are we going to do the potion we were doing last term, some of you won't remember it though, I suppose." Severus added, gazing on the Gryffindors.

Thirty minutes later, Severus was watching the students while they were doing their potions.

"Um. Miss Granger, I'd like you to concentrate more. Your standard use to be a lot better than this." Severus said sharply. "But you're still pretty good, though." He hissed while blinking at her. Her potion was perfect, as always, but her mood wasn't in that shape it used to. Maybe she'd just changed over the summer.

"Yes, Professor." Hermione mumbled and wondered why that greasy git was nice to her. Okay, he wasn't a greasy git, but he was still on the top of her disliking-list.

"Mr Finnigan. How many times do I have to tell you to look at the board for the recipe? Do not look on anything else when making this complicated potion! Normally, it would have been blue at this moment, like Miss Granger's, but your potion seems to be purple. I'll take 15 points from Gryffindor 'cause of you." Severus sighed; some of these students were so in-competent. He had such a bad luck to have to teach them. There were just like three good students in this class of sixth-graders.

Fifteen minutes later, Severus finished the lesson. "Those of you who didn't do very well today, like Mr Finnigan and Miss Parkinson, will have to write an essay about this potion to next class. Miss Granger, I'd like to have a talk to you now please. Class dismissed!" Severus glanced on the students who were on their way out of the dungeons, very happy the class was finished. Too bad he had to have these stupid students another year. He waited 'till the last person had stepped out of the room, except Hermione, and then he locked the door.

"Miss Granger."

"Yes, Professor? You wanted to tell me something." Hermione said nervously. She just wanted to leave and go to her next lesson. Although her Professor looked very charming, sorry, ugly she wanted to leave as fast as possible. The classroom wasn't such welcoming, with the dark walls and no windows.

"The Headmaster asked us to his office as soon as possible. I guess we'll leave now. He's expecting us probably. I have no clue at all what he wants us both, though. And, I blew off our little meeting later." Severus explained fast, with a very reserved voice.

"Okay, Professor. Let's go then."

"Oh. Hello Severus, hello Hermione. I've been waiting for you. Thanks for coming this soon. Have a seat." Albus gestured welcoming on two chairs next to his desk.

All the portraits on the walls stared at them, curious of what Albus was going to tell Severus and Hermione.

"Hi Albus." Severus nodded and sat down on the left of the chairs.

"Hi, Professor." Hermione greeted and sat down next to Severus. She hadn't been to the headmaster's office many times, although she was a prefect. The room was very interesting and charming, and Hermione had done anything to read some of those books in the bookcases. The sun sent a very welcoming light over the room and made it look very comfortable, which it truly would have been, if one just replaced some of the magic stuff.

"So… I guess you wonder why I wanted you two to come. The thing is that you, Hermione, are in great danger. Some reasons have made me think the Death-eaters are going to capture you if they'll get a chance. Thanks to Severus here I know their plans. They want Harry to come looking for you. You're more like bait. So we've to do something to be sure you're safe." Albus explained slowly, looking for Hermione's reaction, which wasn't big.

"So why am I involved in this little meeting?" Severus demanded, rolling his thumbs. He hadn't time for this at all.

"Because, I need a guardian for Hermione. Someone who has great magic-crafts, like you."

"You don't want me to be her guardian, do you?" Severus scowled and his face turned even whiter than it already was. No way was he going to be her guardian. He grabbed the arm rests harder and his knuckles became white.

"That's exactly what I want, Severus." Albus said, chuckling. Maybe Severus was a stubborn, but he knew he would take good care of Hermione.

"I can tell you once for all, I'm not going to be her guardian. No way!" Severus protested. His face tensed of the anger he felt against Albus. How the hell could that old fool think he would agree to his little suggestion?

"What do you have against her, Severus? Go on, tell me and Hermione." Albus raised his eyebrows, surprised how childlike Severus could be sometimes.

"I… um. Damn it, I don't wanna take care of a little child, for God's sake!" He blushed.

"I'm not a little child!" Hermione protested angrily. "And what exactly does this mean? Do I have to have him around me all the time? You're kidding headmaster, aren't you? Please say you are." Hermione blushed. "I didn't mean it was something wrong with him.. I just."
"I'm here you know." Severus raised his eye-brows. "Just to your knowledge, it's not a chance I'm going to be your guard. No chance at all. You can calm down."

"Hermione, to answer your question. This only means you have to um. live in Severus' quarters. You can still go to your lessons, and be in the Common room with all your friends, 'till like 9 pm. You have to be down there after 9 pm, otherwise I wouldn't be sure you're safe. Oh, and, you're not allowed to be outside the castle without Severus or me. That's the only way that could make me sure you're safe. Severus, nothing you say can change the situation. She's got to live with you, and that's it." Albus explained, quite amused.

Hermione didn't see the amusing in this situation, nor did Severus. They both were thinking of how awful their lives were going to be with the other one around.

"What makes you think that I'll accept to have her in my private rooms?" Severus snapped.

"I'm sure this will be alright to you. You just have to give it a chance. It's for Hermione's best."

"What makes you think that I'm going to live with that greasy git?" As fast she'd pronounced those words, she regretted them. "Sorry. Um. I do want to live up in the Gryffindor tower you know, with my friends."
"Meeting finished. I'll get your stuff moved down before the evening, Hermione. See you two at lunch." With that Albus declared the discussion concluded.