Chapter 3:

As she walked through the corridors she realized she didn't feel unsafe in the school as she had felt so soon after the battle. Harry and Minerva had put together a team and began renovations as soon as possible. They wanted everything to go back to the way it was before the battle. Minerva, acting as head mistress, decided to begin the term as soon as everything was fixed. Mentally, it would be a long time before anyone felt completely comfortable to let their guards down but for now, it seemed, things were starting to feel more bearable.

Hermione tickled the pear and stepped into the kitchen, the house-elves were hard at work and didn't want to disturb them, so she laid the trays on the counter and left. She wandered around some more and decided to go see the Headmaster's portrait. Hermione walked up to the gargoyle and muttered the password to gain entry. She walked up the stairs and opened the door to see Minerva working away at her desk. Hermione cleared her throat, softly. Minerva looked up at her.

"Hello, Hermione, how are you today."

"Fine," she replied.

Minerva knew what she came for, so she quietly rose from her desk and said something about checking in with Harry. Hermione sighed with relief and sat down in the chair opposite the portrait. Dumbledore looked at her with that twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips.

"Lemon drop, Ms. Granger," the portrait asked her. She looked up at him her eyes glistening.

"What's the matter, my dear," he inquired. Hermione started to speak, closed her mouth, and then opened it again.

"What is wrong with me, Professor," she asked, ever so quietly.

Dumbledore searched her face and asked "whatever do you mean?"

She began talking with the professor about Severus and wondering if telling him that looking inside her mind was the right thing to do.

"And what would he find, Ms. Granger, may I ask?"

"… The same thing he feels or felt, I don't know it is all confusing. He's been in a coma for two months. He was bitten by Nagini and almost died. I saved him, I looked into his mind. I saw how he felt about me, everything he went through… all of it. I never thought he would feel that way for me. What if being in a coma for two months brought him to his senses? What if he doesn't feel the same for me? All these questions but no answers and do I even want the answers?" Hermione rattled on a bit more and the professor seemed slightly amused.

"Answers will come, Ms. Granger, in their own time, things like this, people like Severus cannot be rushed. He loved before and was deeply hurt. Besides you know he could not tell you while you were still his student. He couldn't tell you how deeply he felt for you, because of how you all felt when I died. While no one's fault, everyone blamed him and felt that he betrayed me and all of you. That is why he still couldn't tell you. And he still very well may not be able to convey his feelings for you, now. However, I do know that he feels the same as he did before."

Shocked, Hermione looked up at the portrait, "How do you know, Sir?"

"Simply because Severus is Severus, his heart is tortured but wants to feel loved and he wants to love in return. Severus is loyal and protective. If you give him your patience then all of it will be returned, in time," Dumbledore responded. "However, Ms. Granger, because I love Severus as my own, I must warn you that if you do not return his feelings do not pretend to do so. He deserves to be loved and for you to be honest with him."

She smiled. Feeling better than when she walked in, she thanked the former headmaster and retreated down the stairs. She passed Minerva in the hall and Minerva stopped her.

"Hermione, we need to speak when you have a moment."

Promising the new Headmistresses that she would come back later, after she checked on her patient, and with that she continued down the hall, lost in thought.

Minerva walked into her office and looked up at a smiling Albus.

"What are you smiling about you old coot!?" Minerva said as she eyed the portrait.

"Just pondering, my dear, just pondering," he replied. Minerva knew better, the meddling old fool. Even in death, the old man was still meddling.

"Anything that I should concern myself with," Minerva asked. Albus slowly shook his head and snickered to himself.

Minerva looked at him and shook her head and proceeded with her next thought, "so do you think that Severus will maintain his position here as Potions Master?"

Albus replied, "It depends."

"On what," Minerva inquired.

"We shall see" was all the portrait could say.

"And what about Hermione, do you think she is ready to take her NEWTS early and become the new Charms professor?"

"Actually, I think that is just what she needs, once term begins again."

Minerva smiled. She knew Hermione would say yes. It had been a year and a half since the death eaters had killed her parents and during that time she had grieved the loss of her parents. She had been through battles, been through the war, and still remained the best in her classes. Minerva knew her cubs' love of learning would never subside and would be perfect for the position.

Later that evening, Hermione looked up from her book to see Severus breathing become agitated.

Another nightmare, she thought to herself.

She reached over and tenderly placed her hand on his forehead. He moaned slightly and slowly began to breathe normally, again. She traced the worry lines with her finger before trailing her finger down to his cheek. He moaned once more before rolling over to face the wall. Hermione retreated back to her chair and her mind began to wander back to earlier that day.

She had gone to see Minerva after lunch and they discussed her future. Hermione was informed that if she accepted she could study for her NEWTS and if she passed she could become the next Charms professor, being the brightest witch of her age not to mention her position in the war, it would be enough. Hermione was thrilled and relieved at the same time. She accepted with very little hesitance and hugged the headmistresses thanking her profusely. She turned and walked out of the office and back to the hospital wing. She couldn't wait to share the news with the profess-…. er - Snape.

She thought some more about how she would share the news with him. Would that give him cause to stay, if she did too? She was so excited about her news that she got straight to work. She had apparated shortly after her meeting with Minerva and went and retrieved all the books she would need to study for the NEWTS.

Hermione picked up the book she was reading and started where she left off.

Severus turned over to face away from Hermione. Opened his eyes, and thought to himself,

She touched me, she didn't shy away and she actually touched me. What are her motives? What is she playing at?

He knew there was no hidden agenda, but he couldn't help but question things,

"old habits, I suppose."

She wouldn't still be there if she didn't want to be. She owed him nothing. Her touch did calm him down and he was beginning to feel thankful that she was there for him. He didn't really feel guilty any longer that she stayed day after day with him. He smiled to himself before drifting back off to sleep.

Hours later Hermione had fallen asleep and the book lay open in her lap. She started to struggle, her breathing became strained and she began to speak. Severus opened his eyes to sounds from the chair. He sat up and listened for a moment to see if she had woken herself up from the nightmare yet or not.

"No!" she gasped, feeling as if the nightmare was real and she saw herself watching as Snape was being continually attacked by the snake, she had to wake up. She hated how this nightmare constantly replayed itself.

She rushed over after Voldermort and Nagini apparated back to the castle, Harry and Ron looking at her, surprisingly, trying to save his life.

Harry was the first to speak, "we have to go and we have to go now."

As he pulled her arm, she pulled it away. Severus looked up at Harry and asked him to take his memories. He didn't want too, but he did anyways. Hermione gave Harry a vial as a tear slipped down Snape's cheek. She was crying, hard, and she didn't understand why. She went to move as Snape looked up to her eyes. The boys left and Hermione stayed, trying to help her potions master. She was screaming at him as he went to close his eyes, and accio'd everything she could think of using for him.

Her screams got louder, "Professor please, stay awake. Please, stay alive. Please don't die." That was when he opened them and let her look.

Hermione screamed once more and opened her eyes.

Snape looking at her, his eyes glistening and he put his hand on her arm.

"Why, Hermione?"

In the haze between dream and sleep, she whispered, "Because I care… deeply, for you."

"Even then," he asked.

"Yes, even then," she said shakily just above a whisper. They both sat in silence for a time, not taking their eyes off of each other. Hermione was losing her battle to stay awake and her eyelids dropped and she was asleep again. He watched her for a long time before he drifted off again, too.

A/N: I apologize I believe there is a slight discrepancy between the 3 chapters about when Hermione may have fallen in love with Severus but, honestly, I am just to tired to search for it and update it. Please disregard the discrepancy and, as always, Hermione is OF AGE in all of my fics.

One more thing: I will try to update every Saturday.