Chapter 4: The Cleaning Party

Severus woke at 5 o'clock the next morning feeling nauseous. He glanced at the empty bottle of Firewhiskey on his bedside table and groaned. "I don't know why I continue to drink that stuff, I always drink too much." He heard a light tap on his door. In his present state it sounded more like a thunderclap.

Hermione tiptoed into the room. She had been coming in and out since around midnight, so she was prepared for his condition. "Want me to help you to the loo?" He grimaced, so she lowered her voice to a whisper. "As much as you drank you surely must have a hangover. I'll go get you some hot coffee, then help you to the shower."

He suddenly noticed that he was no loner wearing his dress robes from last night. "Herm-" he croaked.

She hurried back in and saw him staring at his shirtless chest. "Oh, I had to take off your robes when you puked on them. The house-elves are scrubbing them now." She colored slightly. "By the way, nice bod. Do you work out?" He shook his head no. "Well, your muscles put on quite a show last night when you were flailing around. It took me a while, but I got you to quiet down."

He was starting to sober up. Firewhiskey never lasted that long. "I didn't hurt you, did I? In any way? Please, don't hate me." All he could think about was that he might have hit her in a drunken rage. Hopefully she wouldn't abandon him just because she'd seen him drunk.

"Hurt me? On the contrary. I think I may have bruised you from the means I used to subdue you. I'm sorry, but there was no other way."

He started, then looked around quizzically. He spotted the ropes tied to each corner of his bed. "I take it you tied me down?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is that all you did?" He knew her well enough to know that she would never do anything to hurt herself or anyone else, or to take advantage of him when he was in such a sorry state.

"Men! And their damn hormones! All I did was tie you down so you didn't hurt yourself, and this - "

"Hermione, I-"

"is the thanks I get! Fine! Wallow in you own puke and don't expect me to come help next time you decide to get wasted!"

"Hermione! I was just teasing. I know you wouldn't do anything like that. I just find it odd that you would choose to come and help me. How did you find out I was drinking?"

"You don't remember?" He shook his head. "Anything?" Again, no. "Well, I heard a knock on my door, and when I opened it you stumbled inside. Then you . . . tried to corner me, and . . . you kissed me. I used the Petrificus Totalus charm on you, levitated you back to your bed, then conjured those ropes to restrain you when you fell out of the bed." He was mortified that he had given in when he was drunk, while he fought it when he was sober. "And, might I add, you managed to work your way our of your bonds which were charmed to prevent your escape." She was puzzled over that one. None of her charms or spells had ever failed.

"Which charm did you use?"

"Unifying Bonds. Why?"

She doesn't know. "Because all I had to do to be free of them was to say incinerate and they would release me. It is a little known fact. My subconscious probably remembered that and used it to free me." He smiled at her confused look. "I was good friends with the man who invented that charm." His mood suddenly darkened. "That was before he was tortured and killed by deatheaters."

Hermione swallowed, hard. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring unhappy memories to the surface."

He grimaced. "Did I happen to hit my side when I fell? It's feeling a little sore."

"It's a possibility. Let me look at it. Turn over." She tried to turn him to his other side, but instead found herself suddenly sprawled on the bed next to him. "Severus Snape! An injured, and drunken, man should not behave so! You'll hurt yourself!"

"Hermione, I'm not hurt, I just wanted you lying here next to me." He pulled her against him and nuzzled her neck. "I like the way you feel in my arms. And I love the way you smell like flowers." He took a steadying breath. "Will you stay here with me? I promise I won't try anything. It's been killing me, having to work so close to you this past week without being able to touch you."

She couldn't believe it! She had been going to ask him is she could sleep on his couch at night in case he needed her! I didn't think he'd get this bold so soon! "I will stay. But of course there are some stipulations. I will come in at night after everyone else is in bed, and I will leave before they wake. Only the house-elves need know that I am no longer sleeping in my own room. And, while I'm here, nothing will happen! Understood?" She waited. She hated this feeling of vulnerability.

Severus sighed. She made sure all her bases were covered. He should have remembered that. "Agreed. Although there is the little matter of where you'll sleep. Have you any suggestions?"

"The couch?" she said, readying herself for what she thought would come. She was wrong.

"Nonsense, Hermione. Why don't you . . . sleep here? With me? Of course, it is your choice." He scooted back so that she would have room to lie comfortably next to him.

She cuddled up next to him. When he put his arms around her, she nestled her head at the base of his throat and whispered. He strained to hear what she was saying. "I want to, with no restrictions, but I know if I do I'll not be up in time." She stopped and turned to face him. "To hell with it. I'll sleep here, as long as we both agree nothing will happen." She looked at him expectantly. "Severus?" She asked when he didn't reply. He was looking at something over her shoulder. She slowly followed his gaze. When she found what he was staring at she flushed.

Bloody hell! Severus couldn't believe this. He hadn't heard anyone knock, and he sure as hell wasn't expecting anyone, which was why he was surprised to see Minerva standing in the door to his bedroom. "Hello, Minerva." He sat up and Hermione followed, moving to a chair near him. "I trust you had a good reason to enter my chambers without permission." He went and stood behind Hermione's chair, resting his hands on her shoulders.

McGonagall smiled, a rarety for her. "You have been invited to a party. Both of you." She chuckled at their disbelieving stares. "Yes, we know about the two of you . . . even though you tried to hide it. Honestly, Severus, you could have chosen someone closer to your age. But . . . she is a keeper. You have my best wishes." She turned to leave.

"Professor McGonagall, wait! What party? I know it isn't you or Trelawny, so who is it? When is it? You haven't told us anything other than we were invited!" Hermione was getting annoyed.

Minerva was losing patience. "I don't know! I found a note in my chambers when I awoke that said to tell you you're invited to a party. And that you will receive further instructions later. Now, if you don't mind, I shall go and have breakfast in the Great Hall." Once again she turned to leave, and once again she was stopped. This time by Severus.

"Just a moment, Minerva. We shall join you." He tapped his wand against his still-bare chest and watched, satisfied, as his normal black slacks, white muscle-shirt, and black cloak appeared. He waited for his black loafers to magically appear before he turned to Hermione to offer her his arm, but stopped short when he noticed what she was wearing.

When she figured out what he was doing she copied it. Now she was wearing a soft blue chemise, a lavender floor-length skirt, and baby-blue slippers. She took a moment to magically fix her hair into a soft bun with a few tendrils hanging loose to frame her face. She smiled at Severus, taking his arm she turned to McGonagall. "We're ready. Lead the way."

As they followed her out the door, Severus turned and shut off the lights, then closed the door and started down the corridor.