A/N: Oh dear god, I have not updated in so long. So sorry for the long wait! I started school and things have just been crazy and I had some trouble getting past this point in the story. I promise it won't be this long again. Hopefully I'll even get two up today.

This is not mine. The characters, world, and backbone of this story belong to JKR. Thanks for reading and the kind reviews :]

CHAPTER FIVE

Hermione couldn't remember the last time she was this full. She popped into her parents' home feeling like she might explode and very ready for a full night of sleep. She shuffled down the hall and into her parents' room. The lights were off, but she could see the outline of Snape's body on the bed. Her heart stilled for a second while she was uncertain if he was breathing. But she heard him hiss lumos, and then there was light and his wand was pointed straight at her throat.

She shrieked and recognition dawned in his eyes.

"Miss Granger," he hissed, lowering his wand. "I would recommend you not try to sneak up on me in the future."

She placed her hands on her hips, glaring across the room at him. "I was making sure you were alive! I live here for Circe's sake!"

He glared, slumping gracelessly against the pillows. Hermione walked over to his side, opening the small bottle of dittany by his bed.

"Has Perry put this on you recently?"

"No," Snape croaked, looking like a dead man already. The adrenaline had almost made him look himself, but already he was back to his weakened state. She tsked and pushed his lank hair aside to peel back the bandage. She knew he was holding his breath, but said nothing. The dittany had made the wounds a bit smaller, but they were still angry and seeping blood. She really didn't know how he had any energy at all (though he did mostly sleep). She dipped her finger in the bottle and gently rubbed it onto his skin. He hissed in pain, but it was his turn to say nothing.

When she was finished, she summoned new bandages and re-wrapped his throat.

"In the morning, we'll brew the potion," but she was fairly certain that Snape was already asleep. She softly shut the door and went to her own room to do the same.

***

Snape woke to the smell of tea near him. He groggily opened his eyes, staring around the room. Hermione was in the process of perching a tea tray on his bedside table. However, next to his teacup there was a vial with what he could only assume the potion in it. It was crystal blue and beautiful.

"You've already made it?" He asked, holding out his hand for it.

"Yes, you can take it as soon as you like," she handed it to him. She looked drained.

Snape arched his brow and studied it closely.

"It doesn't seem to be contaminated. What will you do if you brewed it incorrectly?"

"Well, you have told me numerous times that you wanted to die, and what better way for you to go than to by proving wrong the Gryffindor Know-It-All?" She said tersely, putting her hands on her hips.

Snape tilted his head in acceptance, the corner of his mouth tugging up to barely more than a smirk. Very interesting, this new Hermione Granger.

He set down the potion, took a sip of the Darjeeling (just incase she did end up killing him), then uncorked the potion and downed it in a giant gulp. Snape watched the world spin and his head swam. He knew he was about to pass out and his body started tingling like it had just woken up. Then, everything was black again.

***

Snape was unsure of how long he had been unconscious, but Hermione Granger was crying over him again. Maybe he had just imagined the past … who knew how long.

"Miss Granger, please extricate yourself from my side. You're soaking me through," he snapped. His voice sounded different.

Her eyes went wide and she showed a watery smile as his hand shot up to his throat. No bandages. There was something there, just sticky pieces of plastic over where the puncture holes should be. He looked at her, she sniffled.

"You passed out and then all this awful stuff started pouring out of your neck. It was green and awful looking and it just kept pouring out of the bite. But it wasn't blood, so I just kept cleaning it off and keeping it away from you. Then it stopped and you didn't look as bad. So, I put dittany on them and they just started healing and closing up. They're barely cuts now!"

Snape had to concentrate very hard to get everything she said, as it came out in a giant woosh of relief and excitement from the young woman. He said nothing, merely stood and walked to the mirror hanging in front of the fireplace in the room. He was so determined he barely took the time to marvel at standing after so long. He didn't go dizzy, just was able to walk across the room. He didn't miss Hermione's squeal of joy, however.

He stood in front of the mirror, pushed his hair back and stared at what should have been a mangled mess of flesh and blood by his jugular. Two Elmo (though he didn't know exactly what the smiling red creature on it was) band-aids were covering up the scabbing indentations in his neck. He turned toward Hermione, unsure of how to thank her.

"I am … impressed, Miss Granger. And thankful," he said, quietly, bowing his head. Which was good, because her smile could have blinded him.

***

They had supper together, which wasn't as awkward an affair as both would have believed it would be. They were even able to make very small talk as they ate. After they had both put their silverware down and Perry had whisked everything away to be cleaned, did she say what had been on her mind since she realized he wasn't going to die.

"Professor, what are you going to do, now that you are alive?" She looked slightly sheepish, but held her chin high.

"I suppose you won't be willing to just let me slip into the shadows."

"Well, Professor, the Order needs to know that you're alive. The public needs to be aware of all you have done to save them."

"I don't think either of those parties need to know anything about me," he snapped, standing up from the table. Hermione follows his lead, walking towards him. She wishes now more than ever that she was a bit taller – her head barely reaches his shoulders and it isn't too intimidating to be looking up at someone when you're about to have a row.

"What if someone finds you? You need to at least tell the Order that you're alive. You owe it to them!"

"I owe them?" His voice is dark and silkier and more dangerous than ever. How can Snape do a complete turnaround from tolerable dying man to ferocious potions bat in so short a time? Hermione thinks as she glares up angrily at him. "I don't believe I owe them anything, Granger."

"Oh yes you do, Severus Snape," her fury making her forget the formalities she holds so important. He did just call her Granger, though. "You owe those who were your friends an explanation," Snape gave her a disgusted sneer.

"They abandoned me so easily. No one fought to defend me! They were just waiting for an excuse to call me traitor!" He started to turn away, but Hermione grabbed his arm.

"JUST like you would have done to them! They are mourning you, Snape! They have to mourn so many loved ones already, let them be spared you!"

"MAYBE I WANT THEM TO FEEL BAD!" He screeched at her, ripping his arm out of her grip.

"Would you want Lily to feel bad? Dumbledore? Don't you want to see the Malfoys?" She said, suddenly so quiet and earnest, Snape paused. He looked like he might hit her as his whole body inflamed, but then he crumpled into the chair and put his head in his hands.

Hermione was immediately by his side, uncertain of whether she could touch him. She finally went with her instincts and gingerly placed a hand on his back.

"I know it won't be easy," she said, just to fill the sudden silence that was ringing in both their ears. "But Harry has told everyone he can find about your innocence. He admires you a lot now, you know." She weakly smiled at his withering look at her. Somehow, after seeing him nearly die and arguing (winning?) with him, he wasn't so ferocious anymore. "There'll be a trial," she added quietly, "I'm sorry."

Snape nodded his head, breathing deeply, "as could be expected. Dumbledore has left some evidence of my loyalties and our agreement. That should help."

They both looked bone tired and said little more for a long time. Hermione simply leaned against the arm of his chair, and Snape silently sat with steepled fingers staring at something that Hermione could not see.

***

Neither was sure how much time had passed until Hermione finally broke the silence.

"I'm going to floo Harry. We'll arrange for an Order meeting tomorrow where I'll bring you in. I'll let you know the time…" she cast her gaze around so that she was looking anywhere but at him for a moment. "Will you be staying here again tonight? Or will you be going back to Spinner's End?"

Snape shrugged, "I suppose I can't keep transfiguring your parents sheets into clothing. I will be returning… home." He did not pay any attention to whether she noticed his pause as to what to call his house.

"Well, will you wait till I know the time of the meeting? I think we should apparate there together."

He nodded and then she stood and went into another room. He could faintly hear the sound of the floo after a few moments, then muffled talking. Snape wondered briefly if she had cast a muffliato, but decided it was probably just the walls. She wouldn't be discussing anything that he couldn't hear.

Snape stood and began pacing around the dining room. It was connected to the living room and he stepped into the softly light space and examined the pictures on the closest table. None of them were moving, but he wasn't surprised; it would certainly be a challenge to try to explain why the people in the pictures waved to company.

His eye was first drawn toward a very young looking Hermione Granger. Her hair looked like even more of a rat's nest than now and she was a bit tubbier. She was standing by her mother, holding her hand in front of a library. Unsurprising, his brain offered. As he continued to search through the sea of pictures, there were ones with the Golden Trio and finally – he assumed just before last year – a picture of her looking much more like the woman he knew right now. She was sitting under a tree with a book, smiling up at the camera. There was really nothing spectacular about it, but Snape was drawn to it. He reached out a hand so slowly and held his breath as he touched the glass of the frame.

Snape jumped back instantly, like he'd be burned, when he heard her light footsteps coming down the hall and shoved his hands in his pockets, glaring moodily at the floorboards as if they knew why he had been so compelled.

"The meeting will be at seven. So, best we meet at six-thirty? Should I go to you, or will you meet me here?" She worried her lip and Snape sighed.

"I will meet you here at six-thirty tomorrow," he said, looking like a man resigned to his fate. "Thank you, Miss Granger."

Snape turned toward the front door, taking out his wand. Hermione took a step forward.

"Call me Hermione," she blurted out, looking as shocked as Snape did when he turned around. His expression instantly cooled into an unreadable mask and he inclined his head slightly.

"Miss Granger," without acid or saying it the same as he would 'dunderhead,' merely what he was going to call her. He saw her nod (a little sadly?) and turned on his heal and was gone with a pop.