Severus heard a distant stirring outside of his bedroom door, but as much as he racked his brain for a reason for it, he could find none. Had somebody been in his chambers last night? If so, it seemed as if they were still here. He remembered that McGonagall had come in and she had talked with him, and then he supposed that he had fallen asleep in his bed.

A familiar smell enveloped him, he suddenly noticed. Alcohol. He must have reeked of it. Severus hoped that he not behaved or done anything too foolish when he had been drunk the previous night. Gods, he could not even recall the last time he had passed out drunk. Years and years ago, certainly.

Feeling a distinct sickness in his stomach, he groaned loudly. Then he attempted to sit up, propping himself up on his elbows, but he suddenly became aware of the hammering ache in his head and lay back down immediately. He placed a hand on his forehead, but found that it was soft and damp; somebody had placed a moist cloth on his brow. Again, he groaned, furious with himself. Why had he allowed someone to coddle him this way? Of course, at the time, he had probably been much too intoxicated to be bothered by it.

Suddenly, he looked up and spotted Hermione Granger's familiar, petite body standing there, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest. She was glaring at him heatedly.

"I'm sorry," Severus muttered to her, lying back down and resting his head on his pillow.

"McGonagall came to my chambers last night and spoke with me," Hermione said, completely ignoring his statement. She was in no mood for thoughtful sayings from Severus now.

"What did you say to her?" he asked, afraid of the answer.

She replied maliciously, "Calm down; I didn't tell her anything. I didn't explain that I was upset, sobbing, because you had thrown me out of your office." Pausing, she continued, with full force, "And I didn't show her the bruises that you left on my arm, either."

He moaned and repeated, "I'm sorry."

"Hm," Hermione responded, still glaring at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Someone had to put you to bed, didn't they? I couldn't tell anyone else what had happened, of course, so I came up to see if you were all right."

"Why not?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why couldn't you inform anyone else what had happened?"

"You are a talented Potions Master, and I would not be able to stand it if you lost your job simply because of me and one mistake that you made, however hurtful it may have been."

"Oh."

"That is why I did not report you immediately to Professor Dumbledore. Had it been anyone else… Therefore, I was practically obligated to visit your chambers and ensure that you were all right."

"Oh Gods, I didn't say anything last night, did I?"

A smile flickered momentarily across Hermione's lips, but it vanished in a mere second. "Nothing that I was not already aware of."

"Like what?"

"We don't need to discuss the details, Professor Snape." She walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She pushed him down roughly, so that he was lying flat once more. "And lie down, or you'll have your head to throbbing even worse."

Moving away from his bed, she looked down at him. "You know, you're really quite amusing when you're drunk."

His eyes closed, he raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

She sniggered.

"I am so very glad that you find my situation humorous, Hermione."

At this, her face instantly snapped back to glaring at him. "Do not call me that. Not now."

"What?"

"After what you did, you do not yet have the right to refer to me by my first name."

"Yet?"

She nodded. "That's right."

"What exactly took place after you arrived here?" he asked.

"Nothing of too much importance. I knocked on your door, and after I heard a great crash and numerous curses, you opened it. Your black hair was plastered to your clammy face, and all you were wearing were your black trousers and white shirt. I entered and observed that you had seen fit to finish off the rest of the brandy once Minerva had gone. You broke your glass, by the way- the goblet with the stones in it- but I repaired it for you."

"It would have been no loss," Severus mumbled.

"Then I helped you to your bed and covered you with your sheets. By the way, when I say 'helped,' I mean that I nearly had to carry you, because you could barely walk. You were staggering alongside me so badly, I expected you to, at any moment, collapse into my arms. Once I had got you lying down, you passed out almost instantly. After that, I cleaned your office, which you had entirely trashed in your drunken rampage, and then simply went to sleep on your sofa."

Severus propped himself up on his elbows, but Hermione was at his side in an instant, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off and looked up at her.

"I am truly sorry for my behavior last night. I lost my temper, and I apologize. I shouldn't have done it, I should never have touched you, and I regret it most deeply," he told her. She could see the utmost sincerity in his eyes as he spoke these words, but ignored it for now.

She simply nodded at him and walked toward the door. "Will you be fine to care for yourself until you are all right to join those of us who are completely sober?" she asked.

When he nodded, she replied, "Very well. By the way, you missed breakfast and lunch. I informed Professor Dumbledore that you were simply not feeling well. He asked why you hadn't gone to see Poppy, and I explained that you did not feel as if you had the strength just yet. I believe that you will need to visit the Hospital Wing soon, however, to replenish your supply of the potions to relieve migraines."

"My cabinet is fully stocked with them," he replied instantly.

Hermione grinned. "Have you checked them lately? Because, for the life of me, I cannot figure out where they all must have gone. Good day, Professor Snape."

At that, she walked out of his bedroom door, and he wondered, for a fleeting second, if it was out of his life, as well.

Wow! Over 150 reviews already! You are all so awesome!

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Chapter 18 should be up the day after tomorrow, I think. So probably sometime on Wednesday.

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