Chapter 14

On the next Saturday morning when Severus reordered the glasses on the shelf in his office, a sudden knock on the door destroyed the silence. He wondered who that could be, for it wasn't even time for breakfast yet, but replied "Enter" anyway.

In came an extremely worried Hermione who started apologising at once without even saying Hello. "I am so sorry I didn't come yesterday. And I am sorry I fell asleep and that you had to bring me to my room because I was so tired and –"

Severus stopped her by raising his hand and went to her. "There is nothing to apologise for, Hermione," he told her calmly.

When she grinned slyly, he noticed his mistake at once. He sighed heavily. "Alright, why don't we call each other by our first names when we're alone?" Then he muttered: "I'll do it anyway…"

"Very well… Severus," she replied, smiling.

Hearing her say his first name was for both of them strange but they both knew that they would get used to it – and that they wanted to.

"So, please tell me why you were so extremely tired," Severus then wanted to know, gesturing her to sit down and did the same on the other side of the desk.

"I had a nightmare," Hermione answered.

"What about?"

"Voldemort…," she whispered.

There was a grave silent for a few seconds before she continued: "Lately, I often dream of him or the war in general. I'm afraid that a friend could die… or the person I love…" There she looked him firmly in the eye.

He had to swallow before he could answer. "Dumbledore once said to me: it doesn't do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

"I realise that," she smiled. "I just wanted you to know."

"Would you like some tea?" Severus quickly asked to get out of this awkward situation. Yes, he liked her. He liked her very much indeed – but he still wasn't used to her honest and open love for him. No one had been so comfortable around him, not since Lily.

"Yes," she replied warmly. "Thank you."

When he came back with the tea they drank a sip before Hermione asked: "Oh, by the way, how could you get into my room yesterday evening?"

"Easy," he answered, smirking.

She just raised an eyebrow.

He sighed and then chuckled: "There is a central password for all the doors in Hogwarts. Only the teachers know it and it is only for emergencies."

"And yesterday was such an emergency?" Hermione asked laughing.

"Well, you couldn't even walk because of your tiredness, so I didn't even try getting a useful word out of you."

She snorted but smiled. "So," she said in a playful innocent voice. "You could just come into my room whenever you want to?"

"Theoretically yes."

"Well, you're always welcome," she told him, smirking.

He cleared his throat. "Thanks…"

They drank the rest of their tea in silence, both captured in their own thoughts, when a clock on the shelf suddenly announced that it was eight o'clock – time for breakfast.

"So," Hermione stated getting up. "I better go upstairs before Harry and Ron start looking for me." Then she realised what she had just said and her face fell.

Severus stood up as well and escorted her in silence to the door. "You need your friends," he there told her in a soft voice. "You're not the person who can be alone all the time."

"I know," she sighed and blinked away her tears. "But I can't just forget what happened. And besides," she quickly continued, for Severus already wanted to interrupt her, "you also shouldn't be so alone all the time."

"Well, I have you now," he murmured mindlessly.

"That's true," she whispered back meaningfully.

They looked each other in the eye, for the first time completely realising that they had become friends and now depended on each other's presence.

Then Hermione leaned forward and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for bringing me to bed yesterday," she spoke gently and quickly vanished out of his office.

Severus was so shocked that it took him several minutes before he could close the door and sit down at his desk.

This girl would be his ruin – his lovely, heart-warming ruin.

AN: Next chapter we'll finally find out who betrayed Hermione – any last guesses? Little hint: be creative!