Hey everyone thanks for the reviews as always. With everything going on right now I'm not sure how long this will be but I hope you will enjoy just the same.

Chapter six Living with Snape

Severus Snape sat heavily in his favorite black leather arm chair in his private chambers. He had just finished conjuring up his guest quarters to look more feminine and in Gryffindor gold and maroons.

In a very short time he would be going back up to the hospital wing to collect Miss Granger who seemed reluctant about her holiday residence. His thoughts wandered deep into his memories as he remembered all of those times that he was hurting and that his behavior was much like Miss Granger's at the present time.

The memories of the past continued to play in his mind on his way up to the hospital wing. Snape didn't like where they were going and stopped right outside the large doors. Leaning against the stone wall he pressed his palms to his temples trying to rid his mind of the memories that were trying to plague him. When he had finally composed himself Severus opened the door striding quickly into the room.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed her legs swinging slightly in the air. Thoughts running wild she hadn't heard the professor come in until he stood not two feet from her. She looked up in dark expressionless eyes scowling at the man.

When the girl had felt his presence and had finally looked up at him Severus couldn't help but smirk at the look on her face. Pure hatred lay in her eyes unprotected and he knew once she was feeling up to it she would let him know of her discomfort.

"Come." He spoke at last.

Hermione regarded him a moment before slowly slipping off the bed and followed him silently to the door many questions in her mind.

"Your belongings and feline have been moved to the spare room in my chambers where you will be staying for the rest of the holiday." Severus said walking out the door.

Pausing slightly Hermione stared after her professor wondering if he knew what she was going to ask. At the ridiculousness she shook the thought out of her mind picking up her pace so she could catch up to the dark man.

She followed Snape down the corridor at a trot barely keeping up with the long strides. He was rattling off rules that she would have to follow when she was in his private chambers, but she wasn't really listening. Her eyes never strayed from the floor as she struggled to keep up.

Once they reached Snape's door Hermione nearly ran into him not noticing that he had stopped. Hermione glanced up seeing the portrait of Salazar Slytherin. Snape had stepped forward and whispered the password. Salazar nodded as the portrait swung open.

"Come Miss Granger." Severus drawled stepping into his chambers.

Hermione stepped through the portrait looking around in quiet awe. The chambers were spacious but by no means enormous. Elegant tapestries adorned the walls, black leather couch and chairs sat close to the fireplace. Four doors led off from the common room, all but one closed.

"You will be staying here Miss Granger." Snape said stepping over to the opened door on the left.

Stepping into the room Hermione gave it a quick glance before turning to Snape. "Thank you professor." She whispered.

"Very well." He said. "I will let you get settled." With that said he left her closing the door behind him.

The room she was to occupy was nice. The four poster bed was made up of red bedding facing the door. On either side of the bed were mahogany nightstands. By the door stood a large bookcase which held thick old books most likely potions books.

Hermione gave the room another once over satisfied with what she found. Slowly she made her way to the bed exhausted. With a small sigh she fell onto the bed. She was asleep before her head it the pillow.

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Sinking into the armchair closest to the fireplace Severus let out a heavy sigh. Memories flooded back to into his mind.

Hey Snivelus."

Dread filled Severus' heart as he turned around to face the voices. Standing there were his most dreaded enemy at school, the ones that bullied him to no end. The Marauders stood there with evil grins upon their faces. James Potter stood in front of his three friends arms crossed.

"There you are Snivelus. We've been looking for you." James said.

Severus glared at the four slowly backing away from them. They stepped forward closing the gap between them.

"What's this? Are you afraid of us Snivelus?" Sirius Black asked.

Producing their wands the four boys came closer; James whispering a charm under is breath.

Severus was thrown backwards onto the floor. Not sure what charm was thrown at him he carefully sat up and looked up confused. The four boys only grinned more evilly. All of a sudden Severus felt rather itchy; in fact he was itched rather badly.

"What did you do to me?" He screamed frantically standing up quickly trying to relieve the itching.

The Marauders were laughing hysterically doubling over in the effort to breathe. Severus was becoming more and more frantic as he scratched everywhere. He barely made out the words lice as the four laughed walking away.

He had gotten treated from the lice but he never forgot what the Marauders did that day.

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Pushing up his sleeve Severus looked down at his arm where he could barely see the light scars marking his wrists. He remembered that after the lice attack he had locked himself into a bathroom and cried for a long time. When his hands had finally stopped shaking he had slashed at his wrists.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts his mind began to wonder how Miss Granger had gotten herself into the position she was in now. He stood and walked to the guest bedroom door knocking softly getting no response from within.

Silently he opened the door and peered inside. Sprawled on the bed sleeping was one Hermione Granger. Striding across the room he pulled his wand from his robes and levitated the girl off the bed pulling the sheets and quilt down.

Carefully he placed her on the unmade bed. He then noticed she was still wearing her shoes so he quickly untied them and levitated them to the floor before carefully covering the girl's thin body with the blankets and tucking them around her with great care.

"Sleep well Miss Granger." He whispered closing the door behind him.

I hope you liked another short chapter. I'm sorry that it was another shorter one but its almost time to head back to college and combined with my slight writer's block its difficult to concentrate. R&R!