Chapter 3

Severus lost track of time as subject after subject was brought up to be discussed, it was the same every meeting just people drowning on and on. Even though Hermione's problems were what had lead him to be there some how they got pushed aside. The meeting was always at the order they could not risk someone breaking through wards at the school. The meeting was called to order all the kids were there except Hermione. But suddenly the door opened and she walked through, she quickly sat saying a silent sorry. She looked tired and her clothes were in a slight disarray and she quickly fixed them.

Hermione had gotten carried away once she had gotten back to her room, everything had basically been unpacked for her but being tired she slipped into the cool sheets. Being woken by her usual nightmares she realized that she was almost late for her meeting. She had mentally slapped herself as she raced to the meeting. She could not use the fire in her rooms for they were not connected for her protection.

"This meeting has been called to discuss movements of the other side," Dumbledore announced," We have had news from Severus with his last calling."

Everyone was on the edge of his or her seat except Hermione who sat back slumped, as if she didn't care, she saw the sneer that he gave her. She didn't care for this tonight. They had to all know that she was really tired and the last thing she wanted to know about was the movement. Glancing at her friends they were always excited to hear about the next plan their curiosity to be involved would one day get them killed. Leave it to those that could get the job done and don't half ass a plan that probably won't work. Thinking about Ron and Harry and how they would plan these concoctions that would never work, but she would just sit there doing her homework.

Severus studied her, with a scrutinizing eye, as she twirled her thumbs. She looked as if she couldn't care, a spoiled little brat. Anger filled him as he looked at her. She had been through a lot yes that was for sure but she was apart of this order and had a responsibility to them to participate and give 110 percent like she did on her homework.

"Some of the officials are death eaters at the school, do not let yourself walk alone in the hallway unless you are prepared for the punishment," Minerva intervened letting them now; everyone looked around at each other. Hermione slightly nodded she knew what a man would try to do and she was prepared her wand was always with her, at all times no matter what.

"Hermione, we don't want you doing your rounds every night alone so you will be accompanied by Severus," Dumbledore announced, she didn't even recognize his words as she just nodded her head. Snape was outraged but him with that silly little know it all. The the girls head shot up as she just let the words sink in glaring at Severus. Sitting back this was going to suck indeed she would be stuck with Mr. Dick head for a couple hours every night.

The meeting went on and on Hermione thought it would never end she just wanted to get back to the school do her rounds then go to bed. The bed that looked oh so tempting to just curl into and sleep.

When she had finally found the portrait after leaving the great hall, to go to her room she tried to pay no attention to the painting. A girl with long brown hair and a man older than her but his long black hair hung around his head but he was in the shadow and she could not see him. He looked so menacing but familiar.

Her rooms were green and the smooth Egyptian cotton sheets were a sage green. Green had always been her favorite color and indeed Dumbeldore had been surprised when she had said green for her room colors she knew he expected her to get Gryffindor red. She set up her books by her bed by her notebooks, ready for a night of notes, it had always been a yearly ritual well almost nightly ritual. She remembered all the little details that she had taken in when she had arrived to her rooms. But now realizing that she was not there she directed herself back to the meeting.

Finally, as everyone was getting up, she was held back by Dumbledore. He sat there his fingertips together looking at her from behind those spectacles.

"Hermione how are you feeling," Minerva asked, turning her head she glared at Dumbeldore. He just mouthed sorry to her and she nodded. He couldn't help it she knew that he and Minerva were very close, and had always stayed that way.

"Okay," she said not daring to look at any of them in case they could see the truth. Instead she turned to Dumbeldore there was no hiding her feelings from him as she spoke up on matters that had been plaguing her for awhile. She saw the sympathy and his eyes and for once wished his eyes were angry it would make it so much easier.

"Dumbledore," she started," I was wondering if I could do anything around the castle you know for."

Cut off Dumbledore spoke up," yes I was looking to fill a position in the library putting books away, and for filling up our potions in the hospital wing, you would be paid of course."

"Thank you," Hermione said smiling for the first time there went the financial trouble for now. It was indeed embarrassing needing to do this, but it had to be done. She had to put aside her embarrassment she was an adult now and had to worry about the things that her parents had taken care of for her

"Hermione if you ever want to talk to someone we are always here for you," Minerva spoke up again, Hermione nodded again. She would never talk to the woman she kept everything inside were it belonged.

"Well back to your dorm with you remember your round is at eleven sharp," Dumbledore spoke to her as she walked away. He glanced at Severus as he looked at the mans eyes follow her out.

"Keep her safe," he stated and before the man could look back at him he was gone.

Putting on her muggle clothes, she pulled on a sweater to fight against the fall chill, and slipped her wand in her pocket. Glancing at herself in the mirror a habit that she had just started she looked tired and well plain tired. The bags under her eyes were evident and her hair was well the only thing beautiful about her. God what an awful site she must be to him no matter why he sneered at her all the time she indeed looked like a hag. Exiting her rooms, she leaped in fright as she saw who was waiting for her. His dark robes draped around him and his cold black eyes riveted on her. He was leaning against the wall as the portrait swung shut. If one man had leaned to lean against a wall looking completely sexy and completely comfortable he had it down to a fine tuned art.

"Professor you scared me," she said clutching her chest; her wand was in her other hand in an instant. She put it away trying to relax. But still her hand still shook a little.

"Jumpy Gryffindor aren't' you," he sneered. He knew he was being mean but that was who he was. He couldn't show his indifference to his students. He pushed himself off the wall and waited for her to proceed.

They walked through the fourth floor, silent not a word passed between them as they searched for people out of their bed. They didn't find anyone, they didn't' expect to all the students were full from the feast and would be passed out till morning. But still an unspoken silence hung as they headed down into the dungeons. She was still shocked after all these years it was still freezing, she now had wished she had put on a winter coat to fight against the strong draft that seemed to be going through the hallway.

They heard a whisper of a cloak and both turned to see a man standing there. Hermione swallowed a yelp as she grabbed for her wand. Hermione hadn't even felt that he was there, and by the look of him not scencing him was a very bad thing.

"Ah Severus, just looking around to see if there are any students out of bed," the man said he looked older around 45, tall big and a scar was on his right cheek making him look evil and mean, and staring at her. His eyes racked up and down her body making her shift more behind Severus than she ever would. She felt the need to run and hide to get as far away from him as possible. With Snape half covering her she glanced back at the man, she clutched Snapes robe in her hand, and she felt Snapes hand come back on her side just lightly he probably didn't even notice it.

"Yes Theodore nice to see you again, but leave the searching for us," Snape reprimanded, the man just smiled giving another glance at her then turning and leaving. Severus waited till the man was out of his sites then turned. He bumped right into her as his hands came around to grab her so he wouldn't knock her over. She had been cowering behind him. Retracting his hands he snorted then he watched as she looked up with tears in her eyes.

"Sorry professor I was just." she didn't know what to say that went through her brain memories of that night he had been there she remembered. The little tears that had escaped she wiped away she didn't expect him to understand he was just her teacher nothing else.

"Little know it all doesn't know how to act around rapist now does she," Snape said in a deathly tone, sending shivers up her spine," take a mental note since you do them all the time stay away from them if you know any better."

She flinched from his rough words. He had always had a rough tongue with her all the time she thought she was use to it, she must have been wrong because even now she flinched from his tone. But still even though he treated her terribly she still highly respected him.

As they headed back to her room, silence hung again. Hermione tried counting how many steps it took to get to her room to keep her mind off the man, but by the time she got to ten she thought of him yet again.

Back at the portrait, Snape smirked at it again.

"Laghaphil," she spoke, and the portrait swung open. The dark man just stood in the shadows watching, as if he was waiting for something.

"Invite him in silly girl," a portrait said on the wall.

"Would you like to come in for a drink," she asked blushing, she didn't know how to ask a man for a drink that was for sure she just hoped he didn't make fun of her. She now remembered what Bill and Charlie had got her for an end of sixth year gift two bottles of Ogden's fire whiskey she hoped if he agreed he would like that.

"Yes I would love to spend more of my time with you than I already have to," he sneered then looked at her face and gave up," sure why not as long as you have some good fire whiskey."

He walked in and sat down looking at the books already piled on the table. That girl definitely didn't waste anytime getting ready for school that was for sure. But she had always been known for her efficiency. He still remembered in first year when he had pushed that Potter he hadn't read a single book before coming and her hand shot up at every question she had probably read every book twice or more.

"Getting a head start don't you think," he said as she handed him his drink.

"It pays to be prepared don't it," she said coldly," and well there is a reason why I'm a silly little know it all, and the golden child no, I mean I'm Hogwarts pride and joy no, true Gryffindor."

"Sissy Gryffindor," he breathed and immediately regretted it as she walked toward him.

"Let me tell you something," she said poking him in the chest, so hard he fell back onto the couch to sit there and look up at her. She was being forceful abrupt and he was aroused. What was wrong with him she was demeaning him and he liked it.

"I can be just as slick and smooth as any Slytherin, I don't like being a know it all but that's what I'm good at and if you don't like it then screw you," she said snidely. He looked at her shocked he'd never seen this side of her before such dominance, and power, it was well turning him on, indeed under all the Gryffindor grooming could there be a little Slytherin temptress that was waiting to be freed. Her hair was wavy around her and her eyes were like fire so passionate.

"I am sorry," he said slowly, he watched her look at him in shock.

"What did you say," she asked she couldn't believe her ears did he just say what she thought he said.

"I'm sorry I was out of line," he said again, standing up to hand back his now empty glass," my classroom will be open to you tomorrow night after supper, good night."

He left like that; she stared after him and mentally slapped herself for being so blunt and open. How could she be that rude to him he probably thinks you are a complete bitch?

"Idiot Hermione, you scared him away," she said to herself. When she heard the portrait shut, she threw the glass at the wall and watched it shatter. God what had she just done she had never been so abrupt and rude in her whole life. Running her hand through her hair she looked at her books she didn't want to stay up and read at all. Walking up to her room she stripped all her clothes, sneered at the thought of staying up all night to do notes, and climbed into her cool sheets. Falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, she would have to apologize tomorrow, that was for sure she should of never been so rude to him.

In his rooms Severus sat on his bed, taking his shoes off slowly, it was evident that he no longer had trouble getting his shoes off. Before it took him forever because his limbs just didn't move as fast as they once did and before he had cursed himself but now the hardest things were the easiest. He stopped and looked at the wall. She was right; even though she hadn't said it, he was an asshole and a big one at it to. He had indeed heard the glass shatter and heard her mutter that she had scared him away. Yes she had scared him away he had to retreat before he did something stupid that he was going to regret. One thing was for sure he could not let himself get to careless around the girl. He was indeed certain she was an innocent as innocent as they came and he was anything but innocent. He had done things in life that well haunted a person for the rest of their life.

Rubbing the back of his neck he laid down onto his bed and looked at the ceiling. The warmth of a womans skin as he thought now was not foreign to him at all, but skin like hers so smooth and beautiful, she was to delicate and innocent much unlike the women he knew.

She woke in the early morning in a deep sweat as the pictures of the bodies plagued her mind. Breathing heavily she looked around at her room the morning sun was filtering through the blind. Reminding herself that she was at hogwarts she laid back down. She was safe here, but hadn't Snape said that the one man had been a rapist. Everything was so confusing. Why would Hogwarts allow a rapist to come to the school where they're are many girls walking around all the time that was probably why they didn't want her to patrol alone.

Reaching for her wand she used a spell to ease the headache from her head. NO sleep would come for her so she just flung the covers off and headed to have a shower. That morning she did not cry but as the warm water pelted her memories of laughter and happiness filled her thoughts. Remembering the little things that had made her family so happy and content.

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Just to let everyone know I've added on more than five hundred words for each chapter. Having left this and written other stories i came back to this one and realized it wasn't as well written to i completely went through it all and fixed things. I hope there is enough description and if you have any complaints don't be afraid to tell me.

This chapter I wrote pretty quick didn't take me very long. Hope you like it.

Review and tell me if there's something wrong that you don't' like I always love the input, and also tell me what you like. The more reviews there are the more updates there will be.

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