Hermione went to bed that night feeling slightly happier if that is what she could have called it. Perhaps more at ease was the feeling she was currently dealing with right now after the chat she and Severus had shared. Obviously from now on, she would be a little more understanding of his situation, but at the same time, she wanted to help set him on the right path.

Knowing what she knew now, that he too had night terrors, made it feel as if they were on the same level and she could sympathise with him a little more than previously. Changing swiftly into her grey winter pyjamas, she slid between the blankets and the sheet, staring at the ceiling and wondering if she would ever be invited into his bed. Not that she had a desire to crawl in beside him and cuddle up to him, not that he would be into that anyway, but as his wife, she thought it would be nice to have that option.

Hermione had decided she would no longer let being married to him control her emotions. She couldn't change what had happened, not right now, anyway, so moving forward she would accept the fact she was his wife and whatever come hand in hand with that.

If he was surly towards her, so be it. If he wanted to open up to her about his problems, she would be there to lend a listening ear. And if he no longer wanted to talk to her, she would respect his wishes.

Sighing haughtily, she rolled overlooking at the cold, grey stone wall of her room in the belly of the castle and she wondered what Harry and Ron were up to, she wished she could go back to the times with them before this shit-show happened.

Eyes growing blurry she tried in vain to focus on the stones of the wall as they come in and out of focus, bleary eyes burning with the need of sleep she fought all she could, not wanting to be lulled into a slumber for fear of the nightmares that played deep below the surface and being asleep meant she couldn't control those clawing their way to the surface. When she was asleep, she lacked all the control to push them back down before they reared their ugly head and she loathed not being in control.

Minute after minute ticked by, and with each breath she exhaled, her eyes grew heavier and heavier until eventually, her body felt heavy and still as she drifted off to sleep, fighting every step until she couldn't fight anymore.

o-o-o-o-o-o

Severus lay in bed, staring at the ceiling in vain. The sleep that he craved eluded him as images of the kiss he had shared with Hermione played on repeat in his mind. Repeatedly he analysed the kiss, wondering if it was as good as he really thought, even though he wanted to really hate it.

Sighing deeply he kicked the blankets off because they felt as if they were choking him right now as he tried to make heads and tails of what his life had now become. Being forced to become someone's husband was something he had never thought of, assuming he would die alone and not want the company of others. It was still so foreign to him.

Growling in frustration, he turned angrily on his side, staring at the cold stone wall of the dungeon, wondering what his life would entail once they had a child together. Of course, he didn't want a child, not being very fond of the snivelling little brats. He pondered if it were different when you had your own as opposed to having to teach someone else's and put up with their shit.

He still couldn't sleep. The walls felt as if they were closing in on him as he navigated the uncertainty that was currently his life. It was easier being a spy for both Dumbledore and Voldemort than it was to walk this journey that was marriage. What was he meant to do as a husband? How was he meant to treat her? What was expected of him now? He wanted to try to make this work. Honestly, he did, for her, not for him. If the poor chit had to be saddled with him, he at least wanted to make the experience somewhat pleasant.

Punching the pillow in frustration, an ear-splitting scream emanated from the direction of Hermione's room. Breath caught in his throat, he sat bolt upright in bed. His bare chest was illuminated by the orange glow of the fireplace and grey sweatpants clung to his lithe frame. He jumped from the bed, grabbing his wand off the bedside table as he did so.

Bare feet touching the ice-cold stone ground, he jumped slightly from the assault on his feet. Striding from the room, he walked a few feet down the hallway, stopping at her closed door. A hand reached out to the door handle and halted as he inclined his left ear toward the door for a moment just as another blood-curdling scream rent the air.

Wand held high in his right hand he flung the door open with lightning speed, only to see Hermione thrashing around on the bed, tangled in the blankets as she flung her arms around haphazardly.

Lowering his wand he watched as she tossed and turned feverishly for a few moments before walking over to the bed and catching her wrists in his hands, pinning her tightly to the mattress he held her until her breathing became shallow and she stopped thrashing as if she were being murdered.

Opening her eyes, she inhaled sharply, a small scream forcing itself from her mouth as she stared right into his eyes, trying to get her bearings.

"What happened?" She whispered, eyes trailing to her wrists, hands still wrapped tightly around them.

"You were having a nightmare," he whispered, releasing the tension on her wrists but not fully letting go. "I assume you forgot to put up your muffalito charm before you fell asleep."

"Sorry," a gentle whisper emitted from her pink lips as she tore her gaze from his.

"Quite alright," he replied tersely, releasing her wrists and pulling himself back to his full height. "I heard you down the hall and thought I'd check just in case…" He trailed off, turning on his heel he strode to the door, grabbing the edge of the door with his right hand he stopped, turning his head just so to look back at her in the dimmed light of the dying fire, "if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear, my bedroom door is always open to you."

She opened her mouth to say something, closing it just as abruptly as he closed the door behind him, not even allowing her to answer back.

She watched as the embers of the fire in her room twinkled like burning orange stars in the sky, unable to lull herself back into a slumber, scared to close her eyes again for fear of the images of Bellatrix haunting her relentlessly.

Sighing, she wondered if Severus was awake or if he had managed to fall asleep. If he was awake, she would at least have someone to talk to, but at the same time, did she want to bridge that gap that was currently between them and find herself in his bed? Obviously, it was going to be purely platonic, but would it fundamentally change between them and push the relationship from basically platonic to something else?

Tossing the blankets off herself, she stood on shaky legs, her heartbeat viciously out of her chest and she was certain she would have a heart attack. She was never this forward, instead preferring to sit back and see if he wanted to make the next move, but she realised if she didn't take the reins, perhaps they wouldn't ever move forward. Yes, she knew this would be a loveless marriage. She had come to terms with that, but it didn't mean it had to be a lonely one. Her friends would move on and start their own lives and she would ultimately be left with just Severus in her life and if that is how it was to be, she at least wanted to build a decent foundation on which to lay their marriage.

She walked the short length of the hall from her room to his own. The walk seemed to take five times as long as it should have, as her legs shook and threatened to give way. The dryness in her mouth made her feel uneasy, and she was certain an invisible cotton ball was wedged on her tongue.

Resting her hand on the door handle, she took in a deep, steadying breath and pushed the heavy door open. Shadows danced on the wall as the fire licked the logs with ferocity. The man lay in the bed, arms propped under his head as his attention was focused solely on the ceiling.

He barely even turned his head to acknowledge her when she walked in and closed the door gently behind herself.

"I can't sleep," she stated, taking the two steps to his bedside. "Do you mind if I stay in here with you?" her voice dropped a few octaves as she spoke, the uncertainty crept forcefully into her tone as she talked.

Shoulders shrugged softly, "do what you like," he spoke almost coldly. "That side of the bed is free." he inclined his head slightly to his right.

He swallowed hard as she meandered about to the opposite side of the bed and pulled the covers back, sliding in gently beside him she lay, unmoving and barely breathing for fear of upsetting him, she knew he was surly at best and didn't want to awake the dragon with a sore head within.

On the outside Severus was calm, his expression stoic as she clambered in beside him, but the truth was, deep in the depths of his charcoal soul, a quiver of worry tore through him. It had been many a revolution around the sun since a woman had warmed his bed.

The first thing he noticed was the scent of her shampoo as it wafted airily to his side of the bed, jasmine and rosewater mingled with berry and the warmth of her leg as it ghosted his own, the gentle breathing was almost melodic to him, and he wondered if sharing a bed would put them both at ease.

"I can give you a dreamless sleep potion if you like?" He asked in a curious, upward inflection, trying to get something flowing between them instead of the awkwardness that palpated the room.

"No. Thanks. I try not to medicate my problems away. I will get through this one day without becoming dependent on potions to lull myself asleep."

"Fine. I just thought you might have liked to have a peaceful night's sleep."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Severus. Thank you."

The awkward silence that followed consumed both fully. Hermione wondered what she was doing here, and Severus wondered the same, to be honest. He wondered if he should just roll over and kiss her and see where that led, or if he should roll the opposite way, end all conversations and try to get a few hours sleep before he had to rise and spend another day of eternity teaching the knuckle-dragging troglodytes that were his students.

He rolled over in one swift motion, now facing the wall, his back turned to her. She wondered why she bothered trying to bridge the gap between them. It was evident he wanted nothing or little to do with her, and that was fine by her. She knew he tolerated her at best and he wasn't her biggest fan, but she really did try to be the bigger person here. Instead of leaving like she probably should have, she rolled also, her back facing his back, and looked at the wall. The grey stones of the wall were the last thing she remembered seeing that night.

o-o-o-o-o-o

Severus gently opened his eyes, and the warmth of the girl radiated against his chest. A hand rested on her hip, the other lay under her shoulder pressing against the mattress, her butt pressing firmly against his cock he was thankful he learned to control that years ago. Stopping for a moment, he inhaled deeply, taking in the intoxicating scent and enjoying the closeness of another human. It had been many a year since he felt the warmth of a woman pressed against him. He dare not move, for he would wake her and this moment that he was enjoying slightly too much would be over.

He noticed she stirred, her fingers twitched and her breathing deepened she tilted her head just so glimpsing him behind her. "Severus?" She asked groggily, eyes blinking once, twice, thrice in the now darkened room, the fire long going out through the night.

"Mmm?" He hummed.

She felt the rumble of his chest against his back. "What time is it?"

"Time to get up," he said simply, not moving. Neither was going to broach the subject of the position they were in right now and that was fine by both of them, they would take it at face value for what it was- two people who, in their sleep, innocently crossed paths and ended up where they were now.

"I haven't had that good of a sleep in, well, a long time," she stated, relishing in the embrace of the man.

"Honestly, me either," he admitted.

"I suppose I best be going and getting ready." She made a move. Rolling from his clutches, she stood much to his disappointment.

"Will you be in my class today?" He asked with a curious upward inflection, stopping her as she was about to walk through the threshold of his door.

"I suppose I will come back; I assume there is much to catch up on."

"Indeed." Was all he could manage as she left the room, leaving him wondering where their relationship would head from here on in. He was lonely and being near her filled the void for some part.