Respect and Respectability

A Discussion

Half-an-hour later Hermione was shaken awake as she had arrived at her stop. The dark had truly descended. Acres of black velvet fog swirled around her as she glanced nervously at the house in front of her with it's imposing gates – still warded against her kind. How was... ah, Flake, she hoped it would work. Though she still protested at their treatment she realised that it was rather hard to try and free people that did not want to be freed. What an odd race! Shrugging her shoulders she closed her eyes, drew her now day worn robes around her, and gulped. Before she did anything else, she sent a Patronus to the Potters telling them where exactly she was, as she remembered informing them that she was going home.

"Flake!" she said.

"Misses?" the quivering Elf appeared the other side with a pop.

"Do you mind telling your Master that Miss Hermione Granger is here on a matter of importance."

"Master is entertaining, Misses," Flake said, "but I wills tries to gets him to see you."

A little knot formed in her stomach at the thought of some other fly-by-night flitterbug in Lucius arms. Those strong, powerful, expert... stop there, Hermione. Think of the nasty things he has done to you. That should cool your ardour.

Within moments Lucius Malfoy stood at the gates with a wicked grin on his face: "Missed me already, my letter had an effect?"

"Oh, my life is so unfulfilling I only have to think about you to become a quivering wreck," Hermione rejoined sarcastically.

Chuckling, Lucius poured a tiny bit of blood on the gates and swung them open: "Of course," he purred as she walked through, "as my wife you would be free to come and go as frequently as you wish."

Was that double entendre or innuendo? "I am sure I could but I would take you with me wherever I go."

"That sounds like such a hardship," he had his hand on the curve of her back and slowly meandered up the path. "Of course, I would be proud to be with you."

Think, think Hermione. You cannot lose this battle of words: "Oh I am sure we would not cock up a single thing, Lucius."

"You win," he sighed, "well, so the book worm can manage innuendo without blushing then?"

"I was raised on innuendo."

"Indeed?" Lucius arched an eyebrow, her parents looked staid and boring. "How?"

"You have heard of films and television?"

"Yes," he kept her against his side – their hips swaying as they walked up to the steps where another Elf opened the door for them.

"I watched tv shows like The Two Ronnies, (yes I get the irony!), Allo Allo, and Carry on Films were full of them."

"You must enlighten me further on these entertainments," he whispered in her ear.

Merlin! Who was the competition? Lucius Malfoy wanted to do something Muggle? Good job she still had friends from her pre-Hogwart's existence that could help her if he was serious. "Perhaps I will," she smirked as he removed her robe.

They walked into Lucius main study. What met her sight made Hermione smile so wide she could not contain herself. Recriminations could wait. Here stood her most respected teacher – one she thought had died – in the flesh. Gods did he look sexy standing by the fire with his shirt buttons undone showing how powerful his chest was, and his hair was nicely washed and his smirk as he glanced at her caused her knees to wobble. Without a second thought Hermione ran and jumped on Professor Snape clinging so tightly onto him sobbing her heart out as she refused to let go. To her surprise he returned the passionate hug and let out a sigh over her. She took in a deep breath, and he even smelled good. Wow!

"Professor," she sobbed facing him still in his embrace as she soothed his hair from his face, "oh it's really you," she bumped her forehead against his. "Oh, I was thinking it was a joke but here you are," she patted all over his face and chest with her little hands. His firm, warm chest, her hand lingered over his heartbeat for a second longer than needed but she glanced deeply into his eyes. His playful, mischievous eyes that sparkled intelligence.

Over her shoulder Severus beamed smugly at Lucius. Gauntlet thrown, old boy, he mouthed to Lucius. This is going to be an interesting year after all. Worthwhile being resurrected that's for sure. "Miss Granger," he stroked through her hair down her back. "I wonder what brings you here."

"That stupid law," she sighed, "but," she buried her nose in his neck. "I missed this scent so much."

Lucius arched an eyebrow: Challenge accepted, we will see if she goes for class or knowledge shall we?

"Twice you have come to my home, Hermione," Lucius said handing her a glass of white wine which she had not asked for but shrugged her shoulders and decided to go with it. "Some people may begin to talk?"

"If they do, they would only say that the know-it-all is only interested in your enormous library – I could definitely seed myself in there," this caused a little snigger from her revenant Potions Master.

"Not a little girl anymore," he whispered in her ear, "no, you are definitely a woman now, are you not," he offered a salacious glimpse at her breasts that were now showing signs of arousal.

"So, they say, Sir," she said. Then she felt fingers hold onto her shoulder, clenching making her turn around.

"Shall we take a seat," he said. "Each."

If she had not known Lucius better, she would have thought the man was jealous. He gestured to three seats. Hermione decided on the middle of the two men. Noting with a touch of embarrassment that Severus was sitting in the seat she and Lucius had almost... No, focus.

"I take it you all received your lists?" she said.

The men nodded.

"I shall show you mine if you show me yours," Lucius twinkled.

Back to that game, are we? "Ah, but you may not be able to handle my particulars, Mr Malfoy."

"Do not trouble yourself, Hermione," Severus smiled. She whipped her head around and only noticed how soft and mussed his hair was, then she turned to Lucius who was smirking beside the fire, his elbow resting casually against the mantlepiece he had loosened his emerald green cravat revealing the throat she could nip and kiss forever – what did the Gods have against her? "When Lucius starts playing with words he has other things in mind and I would be remiss if I did not wish to protect your reputation."

Closing her eyes gulping Hermione brought her list out of her case. Lucius reached around his back pocket to get his. Severus whipped his out – seemingly out of thin air – and they put their envelopes on the table. Placing her hand on her own list she muttered something and lifted to two perfectly produced copies.

"Wandless?" gasped Lucius.

Nodding Hermione repeated the action on their envelopes – Lucius handed his copy to Severus as he swapped one for Lucius. Hermione handed them both a copy and the three sat back to compare.

"MARCUS FLINT!" shouted Severus spittle flying from his mouth. "That troglodyte who had to work an extra year because he failed his N.E.W.T.S first time around."

"At least he got to take his," Hermione muttered sadly.

Leaning over Severus placed a hand over hers: "Does not make you a failure," he said gently, "I think what you accomplished took a great deal of courage. You were the one who stood by Harry through thick and thin – you have my complete admiration, Hermione."

Wow, it was warm in here all of a sudden and it had nothing to do with the fire blazing in the room: "Well," she laughed, "I guess I would have aced D.A.D.A."

This caused both men to giggle: "You most certainly did that," Lucius sighed, "I wish..."

Now Hermione turned her head to this man: "What is done is done, Lucius," she said truthfully, "Scorpius is your second chance, make the most of it."

"I do," he grinned, "you want to know what the sprite said before he finally went to sleep?"

"Tell me?"

"Gonna dweam of Gandma!"

"I do hope I am not going to be his patronus."

"The thought of you in a silver shimmer with your hair flying behind you – well, I think almost every Wizard would wish for that," he sighed wishing he could just kiss those plump juicy lips again.

"I suppose," Severus sat back languidly but still kept his hand in hers, "we had best make a decision," he sighed. Her name was on both their lists and both theirs was on hers. This was going to prove a conundrum, "as you know, Hermione, marriage is not a lightly taken step. Before now there was only one other Witch, I would have considered marrying."

"I know," she murmured, "Who could blame you?" her eyelids lowered, "I suppose the reason why I was so eager as a child – I did not want to feel like I was letting Lily down. She was my own. My kin through kind and house. I admired her a hell of a lot more than Sirius I will have you know," she said. "He was all right, but I felt he saw Harry as another James and I hated the thought of the trouble they could get into."

"I believe you were the one who reported the broomstick?" Snape tilted his head.

Nodding her head and looking at her lap Hermione mumbled: "I sure was unpopular that day, I can tell you – all of Gryffindor turned against me because I was more concerned about Harry than they were!"

"Tut tut," Lucius sighed, "in Slytherin we would have called that being sensible."

A little blush happened: "Do you think that... well, muggleborns may end up in Slytherin now the final line is gone, and the Bloody Baron is off in a sulk because he completely failed?"

"There was a time," Severus said leaning forward, "when half-bloods were not allowed in Slytherin."

"Do not fret," Lucius sighed getting up to sit on the arm of her chair stroking her hair. Perhaps he does have a hair fetish, Hermione mused. "I have come to realise that sands shift with time and maybe Godric, Helga and Rowena had a point," she felt him close to her – hot, smoky breath from the fire whisky fell on her skin and she quivered where she sat. "I think Slytherin missed a trick when it came to Witches as clever as you."

Not to be outdone so early in the game Severus sat the other side of her stroking her skin at the side of her arm, his light feathery touch formed goosebumps. It was a bad idea that she came here. She should have listened to Han Solo a lot more. Keep calm, Granger. "Severus," she said trying not let her heart pick up the pace, "if I was in Slytherin would you have been nicer to me?"

"Most assuredly," he murmured against the shell of her ear flicking his tongue in and out of her shell. Hermione tried not to squeak.

Unaware of Lucius piercing Severus with a filthy look he began lazily to draw lines and circles down and around her other arm. No, she had to put a stop to this. Otherwise, it could lead to something far more – something she most certainly did not want. Well, not right now…

"I have to go," she said getting up causing the two men to fall inelegantly on her chair.

"All right," Lucius said, "we apologise, that was most unfair of us."

"Do you two realise how dangerous... of course you do...!" she muttered. Good grief when Harry is told she was almost seduced in a passion play between these two he'd go spare – or laugh. Hermione was not sure if she was prepared for either. "Look," she sighed, "we must discuss this. Seriously," rolling her eyes she wondered if she behaved like she did in school it would shrink down their now growing erections. Both men really were attracted to her. Snape was att- think of Neville's boggart and how he counteracted that. Nope, she couldn't. This was no longer Professor Snape the feared bat dungeon dwelling git. But Master Potioneer Severus Snape a man. One who survived against all the odds. One who was standing in a dark green shirt with four buttons undone flashing scarred but beautiful flesh. "You two have to give at least one of the other girls on your list a try."

"Do you plan on keeping your options open, Hermione?" Severus asked, he was the first to recover and picked up her list.

That was better. The business tone was back, and Hermione felt more at ease: "Yes," she said. "We have time to sort things out. Perhaps we can fall in love in that time frame, but I highly doubt it."

"Why?" Lucius tilted his head.

"I was in love with Ronald for years then this shows up, he gets the jitters, instead of arranging a date to marry he leaves me," Hermione almost sobbed, "so forgive me about being cynical, Mr Malfoy."

"Lucius," he sighed.

"Mr Malfoy," Hermione laid particular emphasis on the Mr. If they strayed into the familiar territory more difficulties would arise.

"Miss Granger," Severus said, catching on to her meaning a little more than Lucius and he admired how she could restrain herself. No longer the eager beaver. Not many young women could in the bad old days. "Can you enlighten me on your plan of action?"

Smiling a little at finally being acknowledged by Snape she paced but only two or three steps and posed as if she was chairing a board meeting. Hand on her hip, she stopped by the mantelpiece and levitated her glass of wine to her and caught it smoothly taking a sip before she continued. Wow, Lucius blinked, where did that style come from? Not since Narcissa had he seen someone manage that with the same effortless suave panache.

"I suggest we pick at least two other people or, in my case, one more person. The announcement must be made by September the 1st – which means a Christmas wedding. Now," she then flicked her wand with a fast movement as she fluttered all her copies of the lists: "I presume Eleanor Youngblood is the other Muggleborn that is chosen to partake in this ludicrously ridiculous twisted game the Ministry is playing," the men nodded allowing her to speak. Lucius wondered how dark her fantasies were. "Though I do not remember her?"

"She left the year before you came," Snape answered, "quiet and studious passed all – was quite intelligent – one of the few Gryffindors I had little to no trouble with."

"You admire her?" Hermione asked. "Maybe she could be one of your other choices," Severus scowled. Unperturbed Hermione continued. "Now Lucius I know Penelope Clearwater – aside from her unfortunate connection to Percy Weasley – she is kind, clever and has some influence. Tall, with legs up to expectations, as my dad used to say, and long blonde hair," now it was Lucius turn to frown. This time she did look up to see the scowling men. "You cannot honestly expect me to be the only one to go on multiple dates with someone I may not even like, can you?" Their frustration deepened. "Look, I have already chosen to date you two so you can stop being petulant and think logically about this. Someone must."

Yikes, she had just called two of the most seductively powerful Wizards petulant. "Fine," Severus said stiffly though his jaw was tight. Woman, this was Hermione Granger the woman, and he did like her a great deal.

"Who is your third choice?" Lucius said though his voice came out as a little whingey at being put straight by a sexy woman whom he just wanted to bed – tonight preferably.

"Hmm, well Marcus is out of the question – Gods that one can make me vomit when he smiles."

A little laugh left Severus mouth. He was pleased she was not asking those questions – maybe she wanted to tie him up and deliver him to Harry. "So, it is either Theodore or Blaise who were in my year so we can at least reminisce."

"Not Blaise," Lucius said immediately, "those were not rumours, you understand that do you not?"

"I doubt multiple homicide is in the genes, Mr Malfoy," Hermione muttered. "I did have a little crush on him once. I thought he was hot."

That was a surprise to Severus. If he had have picked up on that he would used that to drive the wedge between the trio. Now he was close to being the third wheel on a bike made for two: "I concur with Lucius," he sighed, "do you really want to keep looking over your shoulder when mother-in-law comes to visit?"

"All right, good point, so that leaves Theodore Nott," she smiled. "Hmm, well – as there are only four of us in this game I suppose I have to ask him out. Good job I went in Gryffindor," taking another sip of her wine she then looked down the men's lists. "Who is going to be your third wheel?" she asked casually.

Gods, all Lucius wanted to do was to make love to her right then and there. Her cool calculating manner was Slytherin-esque: "Two is enough for me," Severus said. One actually and you're it. "You and Eleanor will do me fine."

"Mr Snape," Hermione sighed, "again, I reiterate, that I am not doing this on my own. So, please, pick another."

"Fine who are the other three again?"

"Josie Clutterbuck, Hannah Abbott, and Cho Chang."

"No thank you to Miss Chang!" Snape spat. "I would rather not have Potter's leftovers…"

That earned a rather amused smirk from Hermione. "So, a Hufflepuff then?"

"Hannah Abbott," Snape said. "She was constantly by Justin's side when he was..." they both offered Lucius awkward looks and he flushed with shame.

"I am deeply sorry for that," he said.

"Ginny said by doing what you did you ended up doing the Wizarding world a favour."

What was it with these lionesses? "I deserve her forgiveness less than I deserve to be living right now," Lucius mumbled. Only to have Hermione storm right up to him and gave him a resounding slap on the jaw. It rang around the room. A red mark had imprinted on his otherwise marble complexion: "What was..."

"Do not dare say that to me," she said all fire and magic crackling around her hair. "You have everything to live for. A son who has always been devoted to you – a wife who loved you – a grandson who worships the very ground you tread," her delectable breasts were heaving, straining against that beautifully simple blouse: "Not only that but you have all this," she circled around the room, "then there are all those charities you have created since. You have reformed Mr Malfoy, I can see that," her voice softened now. "You had to put up with that maniac under your roof – you had to put up with that simpering idiot of a sister-in-law who was two sandwiches short of a picnic," now her breathing had calmed, and the energy settled around her. "You have paid repeatedly for your bad choices. I learned from four past Gryffindor's and a certain Slytherin," here she offered a telling glance at Severus, arching an eyebrow that made him almost blush and his trousers suddenly became smaller, "that grudges are not easy things to wear and I certainly do not want you to die. Got that? Do you think Narcissa would want you to feel sorry for yourself, what would she say to you right now?"

"Am I interrupting something?" another voice asked. Hermione turned around and Draco stood in the door frame. Thankfully Severus had shrunk into the shadows. "Hello, Hermione," he smirked. "See father, I told you she had a mean punch, did I not?"

Blinking and staggering Lucius could not believe what had just occurred. Allowing Draco not to pull her out of her stride Hermione turned back to the elder stunned blond: "Well?" she arched her eyebrow.

"Probably the same thing you just said now," he muttered. "Thank you, Miss Granger, you really are stronger than you seem are you not?"

"I had to fight from an early age, being muggleborn in a muggle area and taught by muggles for the first ten years of my life I had to be tough," her hand was on her hip. "When the teachers suggested we learn about Witch trials one girl put her hand up and said and I quote: Perhaps we can put Granger on a stake and burn her – she's got to be a witch with her ugly looks!" That earned a gasp from Draco and Lucius could see over Hermione's shoulder how Severus was barely containing himself. "I did not have friends until Harry and Ron," she finished. "I cannot understand why you want to seduce me, Mr Malfoy, you're wife was the epitome of beauty and elegance, she was even kind towards the end."

"You also managed to do all that and still keep the wine in place," Draco was shaking with rage at what she had just confessed, "How are you so composed and so angry at the same time?"

"Trust me, with Harry and Ron, you learn how to be."

"What did you want, Draco?" Lucius sighed impatiently. His son had interrupted a moment, he wanted to sweep her up into his arms and kiss her senseless.

"I heard voices – funny really?" he furrowed his brow.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"I was sure I heard the voice of our once illustrious Potions Master but," he shook his head, "that has to be an impossibility."

"Charles Lutwidge Dodgson taught me to believe in six impossible things before breakfast which," she looked at her watch and was shocked at the lateness of the hour. "It technically is."

"Why not just call him Lewis Carroll," Snape said stepping out of the shadows.

Before anyone could reply they heard a thump on the floor. Draco fainted. Rolling his eyes Lucius decided to get his son back in the arms of his loving wife. Hesitating long enough to give Severus a warning glare that no seduction should take place in his absence. A warning Severus was going to ignore.

Once alone Severus walked close to Hermione and started stroking down her neck again: "I said I'd make a woman and succeed I did," he murmured.

Shivering with the reference Hermione turned and countered one of her own: "Words, words, words, so sick of words I get words all day through first from him now from you," she arched an eyebrow.

"If you're in love, show me?" he twinkled as his arms encircled her waist. "I could take you to my place," he used his arms to press into her already fluttering belly. She was tempted, boy was she tempted! Snape's hands spread up towards her breasts cupping them as he left a trail of hot kisses down her neck. "Please," he sighed, as he ruffled his nose in her hair pressing his lips on her crown before making her snuggle into him. "I can apparate out of here but not in," she was beginning to wilt. "Disadvantages of pretending to be dead – I do not have beautiful Witches around."

Somehow, she was still holding onto the glass of wine and sipping it: "I do not fit that description and well you know it," she moaned, he bit and tugged at her earlobe at that.

"Stop selling yourself short, you have worth and intelligence, you are pure woman!" he growled as his lips nibbled the top of her ear.

"Oh crap," she felt herself lean into him and felt his definite desire for her pressing against her backside. "You used to hate me." She reached up and started threading her hand through his now silky strands of hair. She gasped as his hands cupped her breasts. "That feels so good," she moaned.

"Fine line between hate and love," he whispered. "It was part of my act," now his hands were massaging her breasts and she rolled her head back exposing her neck but still managing to hold the glass upright, her knuckles were white with how tightly she was gripping onto the stem. "I was never the child catcher despite looking like him."

Unngk, she was sure that was the sound she made. Twice, in this room, she had allowed herself to be brought to the brink of seduction by men. Real men. Strong. Determined. Selfish. Sexy. Men! Her free hand reached over to grab the back of his head he continued kissing along her jawline, cheeks, and down her neck again. Unngk, yes, that sound. Suddenly, she found herself wanting his hands elsewhere and she curled her leg around his knee pressing herself against him – rubbing on his burgeoning erection.

"Ahem?" a distinguished cough interrupted them, immediately Hermione felt the need to run off again but Mr Malfoy had blocked the entrance.

"Is that keeping strictly to business, Miss Granger?"

"He um he," she tried not to shake. "Well," she sighed as she sipped more of her wine. "I take it we have discussed what we need to?" she said passing looks between them. "I will start with Theodore Nott, I think I would feel safer somehow," she mumbled as she rearranged her clothes and picked up her briefcase and the three copies of her letters. Pulling the rest of the wine down her throat she walked up to the door and tried to face Lucius with defiance.

"Let me escort you to the apparition point," Lucius offered her his arm. Not knowing what else to do she accepted it. Hoping, against hope, that either of the two men would be more enthralled with one of their other choices than they were with her. Hoping also that Theodore Nott would be the only voice of sanity in this awful mess.

Once the cold crisp February night air hit her cheeks, she felt sober. Obviously, Lucius had not, and he whirled her in his arms and crushed her lips to his making sure she knew exactly who had the last taste of passion between the two of them. Slytherins, she sighed, and would have rolled her eyes if she could. For all his Winter King image, Lucius certainly knew how to set a summer blaze inside her. Who knew?

"You have amazing tenacity, Miss Granger," he moaned into her mouth as his hands wandered up and down, mapping her body through her clothes. Parting finally and panting Lucius stroked hair away from her face: "Not many young women could withstand our attentions the way you have."

With a little squeeze he finally let her go as he walked her to the gates and let her out but not before admiring the curve of her back through her robes. "This idea you mentioned?" he asked.

"We best discuss that in the cold light of day and after some sobering up," she said, "I had three glasses of wine before I came here."

That made Lucius almost pull her inside and never letting her go: "You are incredible," he breathed. "Totally marvellous."

"I can drink Harry under the table," she smirked.

"I believe it."

"Right well," she held her hand out to which he grazed the back of her fingers against his lips, "I best be going," she said but he was not letting her hand go. "I have a half-kneazle waiting to be fed," she said.

"Hmm?"

"I have a pet to feed," she said evenly. "And I have to be up early tomorrow."

The blond wizard seemed to not hear her – lost in a fantasy – how was she going to get out of this? "Lucius," she murmured.

That did it, he blinked and noticed what he was doing: "My apologies again," he dropped her hand slowly. "Good night to you, Hermione."

"One question?" she asked.

"Yes," he said arching an eyebrow.

"I am a cat person though I do love dogs, but I feel more akin to cats and otters," she shrugged her shoulders, "but you cannot have otters for pets. Cats would have to feature in my home life."

There he had the edge. Scorpius has been begging for a pet Kneazle. "There is a magical bond to the animals we choose, Hermione, I most certainly would not expect you to surrender yours regardless of my feelings," she nodded, "however it is not a problem. Seems Scorpius shares your love so I may have to introduce cats into the manor at some point."

"Thank you," she answered. "I won't press you to free Elves it is a lost cause, so I won't press that."

"I have a clothed Elf," Lucius knew he had her now. "Ducky, he is also the most learned. He is the one who tends to the Owls and fields which correspondence is important or not. I gave him a cravat which he fashioned into a suit."

"Oh, let me meet him!" Hermione was like a little schoolgirl.

"Certainly," he smiled, folding his arms across his chest leaning at a rakish angle. Clicking his fingers, he said Ducky and there the Elf stood, unlike other Elves she had met he had drawn himself to his full height, was confident and did not quake in her presence. She was somewhat reminded of Dobby. "Ducky, this is Miss Hermione Granger – she may be your new Mistress."

"Hello Ducky," Hermione smiled and offered her hand to shake. Ducky took it. "Do you like your clothes?"

"Very much, Mistress," the Elf said surprising Hermione with his perfect cut glass diction, "I am a secretary to Mr Malfoy," he bowed, "I mayhap still be in servitude to the aforementioned human but I do feel a sense of wellbeing and pride when I put my tie on and then my trousers, also – Mistress," he took in a deep sigh, "the importance of my post requires I have some level of education. I have a money box where Master places spare sickles and knuts in – I am extremely happy in my position and," he took her hand and kissed it the way he had observed Lucius do to female dignitaries and guests: "if I may make bold, Mistress, you are perhaps the most gracious, fair, and enchanting of females I have seen with my eyes, Mistress."

Circe, even the only paid Elf has inherited the Malfoy charm: "I am pleased you are content in your position and, if I may make so bold, you are indeed the handsomest Elf I have ever seen."

"Affirmative, Mistress!" the Elf bowed. "Is there anything else, Sir?"

"Just escort Mistress to the Apparition point, Ducky, my wife's murderer is still loose, and I would offer you another old cravat I do not need any more for this duty."

"No need, I shall protect Mistress," Ducky said.

Now Lucius looked up to see if Hermione had stumbled. Blinking a little, Hermione nodded: "Sleep well, Mr Malfoy."

"We are beyond formalities now, Hermione."

"Come, Mistress."

Hermione happily followed Ducky, and they were in deep conversations over the books they read and Lucius watched until they were out of sight: "Malfoy 1: Snape: 0!" he smirked as he walked leisurely back to his house.

Snape was no longer there. Hmm, he wondered if he should worry about that or not?

Turns out he should because Hermione was confronted with Severus Snape at the Apparition point where Ducky was happy to leave them be.

"Want to finish what we started?" he asked, offering his hand to Hermione.

Fiddlesticks, Hermione thought, what now?

Just as Hermione was about to decide, a flash of blue light hit her forearm causing her to drop her briefcase and in Severus arms. Shock written all over her face in sonnets as there was on his – blood poured out from her arm. His curse? His own awful – disgusting curse – back out to haunt him.

Thinking quickly Severus picked her case up and Apparated them to 12 Grimmauld Place where, he hoped, Harry was living. There should have been a third person – the elf, he should have asked the elf to stay.

Blinking, he realised the wards had changed and he recognised not one signature in them.

"Wha?" she mumbled in his arms as he stood cradling the bleeding young Witch in his arms. His shirt sporting huge stains of her blood. No, he was not going to lose another. Freezing, she was turning cold in his arms. "Stay awake!" he ordered, gently shaking her. It was lucky he, Severus, could see it.

"Where we?" she sighed quivering in his hold from cold and the loss of blood, her head drooped against his shoulder, her eyes blinking open and closed.

"Home," he sighed. Just please, stay awake!

This was the first, and last time, he wished Black was alive!