Chapter 36

Severus sat and pretended to read the articles that were a pile of lies. He was really watching Hermione's face. He watched her absorb the information and he watched a tears spilled from her eyes. His heart clenched in his chest as he felt a very familiar coldness creep inside of him. Guilt.

It was his fault. Had he stayed away from her and kept this relationship a platonic one, her life would not be unraveling before their very eyes. She would have her life that she had worked so hard for and he would have money.

But he wouldn't have her.

His selfishness, usually the driving force behind his decisions, had won again. He knew this sort of thing could happen. He warned her the night at the restaurant that people would look down on her because of her association with him. He could have warned her more. But…he wouldn't have had the past three days with her if he had truly believed what he said to her.

He was afraid to touch her. He didn't want to see her recoil from him, not yet. He wasn't yet prepared for her to turn her back on him after such a short time. So he sat, quietly waiting for her to say something. Listening to the sniffles of Sylvester and her labored breathing.

Hermione was reading everything. Every letter and every article that said the slightest thing about her or Severus. She was mad. More than that, she was ready for a fight. They had run her name through the mud, along with Severus' and attempted to ruin her reputation throughout the entire wizarding world. And why, for Merlin's sake? Because of her 'supposed' involvement with a man that no one understood. No one took the time to understand him. Not the professors at Hogwarts, not his students, and not Harry. Regardless of his actions, they took what was on the outside at face value. Never wondering if there was a person there worth knowing. Worth loving…

Hermione stood and began to pace the room. She knew Severus watched her for a reaction. But she didn't want to give him one yet. She needed a plan. She walked into the other room and closed the door. She stripped her nightclothes off and dressed in jeans and a sweater. She tied her hair back in a long plait that hung down her back. The entire time, her face set in determination and her mind calculating her next move.

Severus watched her go and just knew that she was riddled with pain and embarrassment. He couldn't blame her. He read the article that called her a 'harlot' and it that she had already played with Potter's heart through most of her school career. Now as adults, she was ruthless, it said. He shook his head and tossed the paper on the table.

"Sylvester, would you be so kind as to fetch tea? I think your mistress could use a cup." Sylvester nodded without speaking and dissapparated from the room.

He turned towards the bedroom door and contemplated entering. But he just couldn't face her. She couldn't face him was more like it. He ran a long fingered hand through his silky black locks and contemplated leaving. He could spare her the decision and go now.

He turned again as she exited the room. He frowned at the look of intensity on her face. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He moved his head back form hers and studied her face. He knew that face.

"Severus, it's not your fault."

"Yes, Hermione, it is." she shook her head. Her small hand grazed his cheek and played with a lock of his hair.

"No, it's not. But…I want to find out whose fault it is." her eves met his and he noted how determined she looked. How hard and bitter she had become in moments. He sighed and felt the guilt wash over him.

"Whom do you think created such a spectacle of you?" Severus asked.

Hermione frowned. "Of us Severus. Us. Not just me and not just you this time. I'm not sure…" she sat down and started to read the article about the Irish Ministry giving asylum to Death Eaters. Severus turned as Sylvester apparated back in the room holding a tray.

Severus poured Hermione a cup and then himself.

"Syl? I need you to do something for me." Hermione beckoned the elf to her. "I need you to go to the Ministry and meet with Mr. O'Flagen, do you remember him?" the elf nodded. "Ask him to meet us here in two hours." Sylvester nodded gravely and blinked from the room.

"What will he be able to do?" Severus asked in a tone that suggested he did not approve of the man. Hermione gave him a hard look and spoke.

"He works at the Ministry Severus. He can help us retaliate." Severus set his cup down and leaned forward.

"Retaliate?" she nodded.

"Yes. I refuse to allow this nonsense to go on! We will be making a joint statement with the ministry here in Belfast, then," she grabbed a handful of parchments. "we will send off letters to Harry, Ginny and to Professor McGonagall-"

"Why?" he sneered.

"Because you need to reassure her that you and I were not 'involved' while I was a student Severus! That's why!" Severus almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. But he was stilled by the look on her face. He had forgotten how determined the young woman could be. So he nodded his consent and began to write.

Sean O'Flagen came to Hermione's office exactly two hours later. Severus noted that this time, Sean was much less flirtatious toward Hermione. He decided that Sean O'Flagen wasn't such a dunderhead after all.

Sean briefed them on the death threats that had poured into the Ministry. Most were from English citizens, but some were from Ireland as well. The Ministry was following all leads and offered to station Aurors in MagiCall, which Severus and Hermione brushed off. They had both fought the darkest wizard of their time and were on the side that won. They no more needed Aurors there than they needed the press to find them.

So Sean offered his support in all areas that they expressed, which was mainly their anonymity. They could not fathom the chaos if people found out where they were. He also took notes on the statement that Hermione wanted to make and Severus sat stone faced as she spoke. Sean O'Flagen's eyebrows raised as he felt the venom in her voice.

As they entered Hermione's sitting room again, Hermione said hello to Elmer. He was ignoring her, he said, until the bat wizard was gone. That suited Severus perfectly.

Hermione flopped on the sofa and closed her eyes. Severus came behind her and placed a hand tenderly on her shoulder. Her hand reached up and held his.

"Are you alright?' he asked in a soft voice. She shook her head no.

"I just keep thinking…how terrible this all is. It is bad for us, but poor Harry." Severus jerked his hand from her and stepped back.

"Potter? Why would you pity Potter after everything that has happened?" Hermione turned around on the sofa to face him.

"Because Severus, he has been through so much. He hates this type of publicity." Severus snorted.

"No, your friend Potter enjoys the attention." Hermione leveled her eyes at him.

"No he doesn't Severus. He hates it. I can only imagine how distraught he is over all of this…"

"Or…how happy he is that he got is revenge. Revenge for you not wanting him and wanting me instead." Hermione bit her fingernail.

"Don't flatter yourself Severus, Harry didn't know…even if Ginny said something to him, she didn't know. None of this makes any sense!" she placed her hands over her eyes and leaned back against the sofa.

She had already sent off a letter to both Harry and Ginny. For good measure, she wrote Ron as well, just to let him know she was alright.

Severus and Hermione ate their dinner in silence that night. Neither one wanting to share their thoughts with the other. Too much tension surrounded everything that they felt like a balloon waiting to pop. For some reason, Hermione dreaded the morning. She felt that that was when their balloon would explode. Her deepest fear was that it would take Severus away from her.