o0o

Harry was pulled out of a light doze by insistent knocking on his door. He put on his glasses and opened the door a crack.

"Harry," whispered Hermione, "I really need to talk to you."

"Sure," he said, not quite certain why he was whispering, too. He ushered her into his room and closed the door. He raised an eyebrow when she cast a locking charm on the door and Muffilatio in rapid succession before she sat down next to him on the bed.

"So- er- what's going on?" Harry was surprised to see tears in his friend's eyes.

"I'm really confused." She gave a pitiful sniffle that somehow seemed to steel her resolve. "Tell me everything you know about Snape. And I mean everything you know, everything you've heard from anyone else, especially Dumbledore, and everything you suspect, even vaguely, about what he did for our side during the war."

"Whoa, Hermione, you do realise it's late and we have class tomorrow?"

"I know. I'm so sorry Harry, but I need to know."

"Why?"

"It's a long story, but I think I may fancy him and I want to know if I'm delusional or not."

Harry nearly fell off the bed. "WHAT? ARE YOU MAD?"

Hermione lowered her head miserably. "You're the one who made me think that he might not have murdered the Headmaster," she said. "And something he said to me tonight made me wonder."

"Just the other night you wanted to get rid of him, and now you fancy him?"

"There's an awful lot in between that night and now."

"Then start talking," said Harry.

"It all started in Runes today. I think Lucius figured out that I'm not really cursed, because he was trying to have it off with me like you wouldn't believe. He kept referring to my extra-curricular activities, by which I think he meant what Susan, Hannah, and Justin claimed we were doing."

"Pervy git. He didn't touch you, did he?" Harry asked hopefully. "I could justify hexing his bollocks off, then."

"No, he didn't touch me," said Hermione in an odd voice. "The annoying part is that it was still really effective."

Harry stared at her. "You didn't."

"No, I jolly well didn't!" Hermione said, irritated. "Give me some credit for control over my hormones!"

"So, then what?"

"Well, that's when I went to Snape. Something Lucius said about him having a soft spot for Muggle-borns got me thinking about what you saw in Snape's Pensieve."

It didn't take Harry long to cotton on to what she was hinting at. "Eugh, Hermione! That's disgusting! My mum never would have had anything to do with Snape!"

"Certainly not after the episode you witnessed," said Hermione. "But then I went to Snape and kissed him, and he threw me out because he thought it was another tactic to get him sacked."

"You did WHAT?"

"I kissed him. And it was brilliant. But there's no way he's going to believe that I want him now when I tried so hard to get rid of him. And I'm trying to decide if I should just leave it and consider myself lucky to have got away. But then I wonder if there's a chance that he's the kind of man I want to believe he is, and therefore worth convincing of the truth."

Harry pulled his face from the pillow he'd buried it in. "You KISSED him?"

"I'd expect this kind of response from Ron," said Hermione, a bit put out.

"It's not the idea of you kissing another bloke that I don't like," said Harry. "It's the fact that he's a teacher."

"That certainly hasn't stopped Lucius Malfoy from pursuing me as a replacement for Narcissa," retorted Hermione. "Would you rather I ended up married to him and popping out little Malfoys?"

"I'd rather you didn't get married to anyone if they're your only choices! And they're not, you know. Ron'd have you in a heartbeat. So would Neville, now that I think about it. I'd certainly be in trouble if you ever set your sights on me. You're an amazing girl, Hermione, a hero. You could be with anyone you want."

"That's just it," said Hermione in a small voice. "I think I want Snape, and I need you to talk me out of it."

"Easy. He's about as good looking as a troll's bum."

"He's not bad, especially when snogging."

Harry wrinkled his nose. "Yeah, because you've got your eyes closed. How about this: he's an utter git."

"He's trainable, and it's not as if he can't be charming when he bothers. Besides, I've rather got used to the snark."

"He's old."

"If we live past a hundred, what's twenty years' difference?"

"He was a Death Eater."

"He was also a spy for the Order. And for some reason that I don't even know, you seem to think he's alright."

"He's friends with Malfoy!" said Harry triumphantly.

"Just because Snape's friends with him doesn't mean that I have to be. And besides, he's good for a laugh."

"Nobody will believe you really like him. Hell, Hermione, I'm having a hard time of it myself. It'll make all the papers, and Rita Skeeter's not around anymore to blackmail into telling your side. There'd be all sorts of speculation about you, and it'll make life hell for both of you."

"Anybody whose opinion I really care about will come around once they see I'm in earnest," she said, stubbornly. "Besides, it's not as if Snape would care what anyone else thinks. Harry, you're going to have to try a bit harder to talk me out of this."

Harry thought for a moment. "That's all I have right now. If you like, I can send Hedwig with more if I think of any. I can also ask her to peck you both if you're snogging Snape when she delivers the letter."

Hermione giggled. "That's fine. To write me with more questions if you think of them, I mean, not sending your owl to attack me. However, I wonder what made you strike 'Snape is evil' from the list of objections. Unless you just hadn't thought of it?"

"No, I just don't think it's fair to make you think something that I know isn't true."

She looked up at him. "Go on."

"Well, part of it is that the Wizengamot cleared him. Part of it has to do with the fact that McGonagall yelled at me when I insulted him. But a lot of it has to do with the fact that Snape brought you back from being a statue."

"Snape brought me back? I thought I was in St. Mungo's!"

"You were. I was in the next room, and when I was well enough, Ron and I would visit you. It was just like second year with the basilisk, except Mandrake Draught didn't work. Nothing did. Well, I was in your room one night that I was supposed to be resting up to give my story of facing Voldemort for the Daily Prophet, and I heard someone unlocking your door. I knew if it was a nurse, I'd get scolded, so I jumped behind a screen, where I could watch through a crack."

"Go on."

"The door opened, and a vague sort of shape appeared. I knew it was someone Disillusioned, and I had out my wand ready to disarm whoever it was if they tried to hurt you. I nearly did when I saw it was Snape."

"Why didn't you?"

"He looked awful- skinnier than usual, bruised, scraped, and really filthy. But what stopped me was the way he looked at you. He looked so sad, Hermione. And when he pulled a bottle of potion out of his pocket, I knew he'd come to help you."

Hermione's eyes were wide, and she gestured for him to continue.

"He sort of bent over you, tapping your arm to make sure you were really stone. And then he poured the potion all over you. You sort of glowed when it was absorbed. Then, he pulled the sheet up over you, said something funny- I don't think it was a spell."

"'Hastily lead away,'" said Hermione, eyes on her lap.

Harry stared at her. "You heard him!"

"I didn't remember the voice, just the words, and barely. I'd forgotten until just now. Then I opened my eyes and you were there yelling, and everything started happening. I'm sorry for interrupting. What happened next?"

"He left," said Harry simply. "The Aurors found him on the same floor a few minutes later."

"You're saying that Snape cured me and then gave himself up for the Aurors?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "It's like he knew he had to help you before going to Azkaban."

"But why?" asked Hermione, confused.

"Because," explained Harry patiently. "It was the right thing to do. And for all that he's a nasty, greasy, horrible arse, I really think he's always been on our side."

"Then how do you reconcile his murdering Dumbledore?" asked Hermione, finally voicing the question that she'd been itching to ask.

"I don't think Dumbledore was long for this world after taking that Horcrux potion," said Harry quietly. "I think maybe Snape was doing him a favour."

"Oh, Harry!" breathed Hermione.

"You said you wanted to know what I suspected, and that's it," said Harry.

"But if that's so, then why wouldn't he be shouting his innocence from the rooftops?"

"For the same reason I haven't told anybody else about his Pensieve memory. Because some things are private, and nobody on the outside has any right to know. They were close, Snape and Dumbledore, and now that I've seen what Snape's capable of, good and bad, I think I understand why Dumbledore believed in him until the last."

To Harry's surprise, Hermione enfolded him in a fierce hug. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry blushed. "For what?"

"For trying to talk me out of it and failing miserably."

Harry's response was drowned in a loud crow. Harry and Hermione sprang apart to find the poultrygeist floating over their heads.

"Malfoy could use your attention this evening," said Hermione, giving it a wink.

"Not so fast, young lady," said the poultrygeist. "I no longer pester by simple command. I've been given a higher calling."

"Now we get to find out what your boyfriend did to it the other night," whispered Harry. Hermione elbowed him.

"What have we done to incur your wrath, oh spirit?" asked Hermione respectfully.

"You were holding each other," said the poultrygeist. "And that's exactly the sort of thing I am supposed to interfere with! Well, that and whatever happens after you hold each other for a bit."

"Where were you earlier today when Malfoy was manhandling me?" asked Hermione, stung.

"Or when she was snogging Snape?" asked Harry. Hermione elbowed him again.

The poultrygeist gave them superior looks. "I'm only one spirit," it said haughtily. "And there are an awful lot of people to protect from vice."

"Then why don't you take my advice," said Hermione. "I'm done talking to Harry here. Why don't I see you down to the dungeons? I guarantee you'll find more to offend your sensibilities in Malfoy's presence than anywhere else in the castle."

The spectre's eyes gleamed. "He does have the most salacious underthings."

o0o

The next morning, Severus found that a note had been pushed under his door. He immediately recognised his friend's script.

Severus Old Thing-

As you have not been down to my room threatening to do irreparable damage to my nether regions, I can only assume that you made proper use of the gift I sent your way yesterday. Did you enjoy yourself? If so, I do hope you'll share your notes, especially if your marking quill was involved. Alas, I was less pleasantly occupied, as the feathered fiend believes it is now to safeguard the school from rampant sexuality and heresy. Fortunately, I have enough suspicious items that it will be busy cataloguing for weeks. Thus, I anticipate a goodly number of free evenings, which I intend to put to good use.

I've extended the bride-to-be an invitation for tonight after she's finished off the Herbology teacher. That naughty girl does so enjoy her mischief. You are most welcome to join us, preferably after making a dramatic entrance in which you accuse me of horrid things before allowing us to persuade you to be silent. I've always loved that scenario, especially when you wear the cape with the silver trim. It billows so authoritatively.

You and I always did make a marvellous team. Is it in vain that I hope you will still consider joining my wife and I after entering the bonds of matrimony? Believe me, dear friend; you haven't lived until you've cuckolded a man to his face, especially when he's there to bugger you in retribution. Shame about the girl's hair, but nobody's perfect. Well, apart from me, that is.

Love and kisses,

Lucius

Severus glared at the parchment. Here was corroboration of nearly everything Miss Granger had said, but for the motivation involved. Was Lucius using her to win their bet? Or was Miss Granger trying to play him and Lucius against one another to get rid of them both? And since when did he nearly feel sorry for Miss Granger to have to play the Game against someone as experienced in it as Lucius? Since it was entirely too early to sort out the tangle, including the reason behind the sudden stirring in his loins, Severus crumpled the note and threw it into the fire. He had Defence to prepare for.

o0o

When Severus Snape entered his Defence classroom with his wand raised, he was disappointed to find all the members of his class seated, with textbooks open at their desks. He frowned and sent a silent Impedimenta toward Hannah Abbot, who blocked it nonverbally with the wand she'd hidden in her lap.

He nodded at them before beginning his lecture on Sirens and Veela. Snape avoided looking at Hermione Granger, who, for her part, seemed content to be looking at the wall behind him with polite interest. The students answered his questions and all of them had the hang of the obscure and difficult charm that could force Veela to assume their true shapes. Neville Longbottom even had the gall to thank him for an interesting class when it was over.

He discreetly watched her walk out of his classroom without a single backward glance, her head held high. What on earth was the girl up to?

o0o