Enough

J. K. Rowling owns absolutely everything. I am just writing the story.

Chapter 6

When Snape awoke a few hours later to prepare for his day of classes he passes Hermione's room and heard faint whimpering. He slowly opened the door and called her name. He looked over to her bed to see the duvet and sheets all in disarray with a sheen of sweat on her forehead. He moved silently over to the side of the bed and shook her shoulders lightly.

"Ms. Granger you must wake up you are having a nightmare"

Hermione shot up out of the bed with a wild and frantic look in her eye, almost like a deer caught in headlights. She grabbed onto Snapes arms and looked at him as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Fear gripped Snape, he had never been comfortable around crying women and was at a complete loss for what to do. Hermione put her arms around Snape and cried into his chest. Snape did not know what froze him in place or what caused him to put his arms around the girl in an attempt to comfort her, but he did it anyway.

"Ms. Granger I am just about to call for breakfast is there anything in particular you would like?"

"I am not very hungry professor"

"Granger I am afraid I must insist you need to keep your strength up. Now I will leave you to get ready."

He rose from the bed and left the room leaving out a huge breath. He was usually never that tender towards anyone. What was going on with him? This girl no woman made him act so differently.

Just as he reached his living room and was about to call for a house elf Dumbledores head appeared in his fireplace.

"Severus my boy, I've had to inform Harry and Ron where Hermione is and they are not happy but have agreed to keep quiet if they can be allowed to visit her and before you argue it is already agreed upon no matter how upset you may be that they are in your chambers."

"Yes Albus, now if you'll excuse me, I must get breakfast"

Severus practically had steam coming out of his ears by the time the breakfast came. How dare Albus subject him to the presence of Potter and Weasly in his own chambers. Hermione appeared in the room a few minutes later. They both sat down at his table and tucked into the breakfast.

"Are you ready to talk about what's going on Ms. Granger"

Hermione did not even look up from her plate and it caused Snapes anger to go over the edge.

"Goddammit, why won't you just tell me, so you do not have to suffer this pain any longer!"

Hermione's arms flew over her head and she whimpered

"Please don't hurt me I'm sorry."

Snapes anger seeped out of him and he went over to Hermione and crouched in front of her, gently removing her arms from her head

"I will never physically harm you Ms. Granger, I promise."

Hermione nodded her head and seemed to relax. Snape moved away from her and put on his outer coat.

"I will be back at lunch and when classes are over. You are free to use my library if you wish but you are not permitted to leave my chambers."

He swept out of the room but just before he shut the door, he heard a faint "Goodbye Professor."

When he returned that evening after a particularly difficult day of classes, he found Hermione curled up in an armchair with a book nursing a cup of tea. He gazed at her from afar taking in her form. He was quite beautiful. Wait. Where did that come from? She is his student what was he thinking? He shook the idea out of his head and cleared his throat to get her attention

"Would you care to join me for dinner?"

She nodded and rose from her chair following him into the kitchen where a dinner provided by the house elves awaited them.

That night Severus placed detection charms all over her rooms and her without her knowing. They would alert him if she was in distress or if she tried to do anything out of the ordinary.

They had both settled into armchairs in the library, both reading in complete silence. He thought about Hermione and about how he was going to convince her to tell him what was happening to her. Hold on, when did he start thinking of her as Hermione? He was shaken out of his thoughts by a bang. He looked over to see Hermione asleep draped over the chair and the book she was reading laying on the floor. He gave a rare slight smile and rose from his chair. He returned his and her book to their rightful places. He gently lifted Hermione from the armchair and carried her to her room, placing her into her bed and pulling the duvet up to her chin. Placing a hesitant kiss to her forehead he strode out of the room and closed the door behind him.