Next thing she knew she was back in the potions room, a pained expression on Snape's face as she broke down into another fit of tears. He mumbled the necessary spells to make sure was okay, while trying to sooth her by rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. Thank God he had left no permanent physical damage, but something like that leaves scars that you can't always see "Your safe now, no one can hurt you" Finally she calmed down slightly

"Let me see your wrists" ordered Severus fury in his eyes, he took her hands gently in his own sliding her shirt sleeves up slightly seeing she wanted to pull away "Your okay, trust me"

Hermione nodded "Sorry"

"Don't be, it's completely understandable" he pulled her sleeves up to see rather nasty bruises, muttering a healing spell the disappeared "They might still be a little bit sore but that's the best I can do"

He realised how tired she looked for the first time "You haven't been sleeping have you?" His hand still clasped tightly in hers as if it was her only life line left.

"No" voice hoarse from all the crying

"Nightmares?" 'of course it was nightmares, what else would it be, Bedbugs?' he snapped at himself inwardly, she nodded

"Dreamless sleep potions?"

"They don't help" Snape raised an eyebrow quizzically "You're not best friends with Harry Potter without learning some helpful tricks"

"Hmm, I suppose so" Snape frowned "Well I'm sorry but the only thing that can help you is time and being with the ones you feel safest around"

"I feel safest when…"

"When what?"

"It doesn't matter professor" she blushed

"Miss Granger, I want to help you but how am I suppose to do that with you giving me half sentences?"

"I feel safest when I'm with you professor, I always have ever since you protected us gains Remus as a werewolf in 3rd year"

"That is all you needed to say, I'm sure something can be arranged" he smirked as she blushed

"Thank you professor" she mumbled staring at their hands which were still entwined,

He just nodded "It is not a problem"

Snape wrote the whole story out to Dumbledore and got a reply shortly afterwards it red "You know it would not usually be aloud but the circumstance are not normal and because I trust you both I have already gave you a spare room" entering the storage cupboard Severus pressed the hidden button 'Senile old man, what is he on about?" thought Snape but to his surprise there was a extra room next to his Hermione's belongings already inside.

Returning to fetch her he showed her the newt's tails box which when pressed opened the door to his quarters. Pointing to the rooms "Your room, My room bathrooms are on suites, kitchen, study, personal potions rooms and duelling area and the living room here" to her surprise it was quite light and open for a dungeon and not the dark dingy hole she thought it would be.

"Thank you, but I'm really tired is it alright if I head to bed?"

"Yes, you don't have to ask, but do inform me"

"Yes sir" she smiled

"Severus"

"Excuse me?"

"My names Severus" he smirked

"Goodnight Severus" she smiled

"Goodnight Miss Granger"

"Hermione" she called over her shoulder as she closed the door. Making Severus smirk and chuckle quietly. She leant against the door and had a genuine smile on her face for the first time in a long while. Pulling off her uniform she slid on her shirt she slept in crawling into bed and sinking into sleep almost immediately.

'Oh no please' she begged to herself as the nightmare of that day came flooding back, parents falling at her feet, Lucius eyes taunting, rough hands roaming, bruising, how dirty she felt, how scared she was.

"Hermione… Hermione" came a soft worried voice as the uncontrollable sobs wracked through her body, struggling for breath she was gasping but couldn't do anything

"Hey, calm down, your safe, your okay" curling up into a ball she wept into his chest as he lied next to her giving her a hug 'of course he would deny doing it in the morning, how unsnapeish it would be if he didn't" calming down she managed to choke out "Stay with me… please… I'm scared" in a very small voice, she felt weird seeking comfort in Snape the one who had made people's life's hell, but it also seemed strangely right, him of all people would understand.

"I'm not going anywhere, try to sleep, remember, you control your own dreams, don't let him beat you, that's what he wants, don't give it to him, fight, you're a strong girl, I know you can do this, I have faith in you, faith that will never die" he would deny saying that to even though it was true. He never thought he would be laid next to Hermione Granger comforting her because of Lucius Malfoy but then again he never thought he'd be a spy. She had always seemed different from all of the other Gryffindors 'yeah she was an insufferable know it all, but that could lead to some rather intelligent conversations' She drifted to sleep and he found himself following, because they were laid on their sides one off her legs was on top of his but he couldn't bring himself to slid his away and fell asleep a hand entwined with hers.