She woke in the middle of the night crying her eyes out into Severus' chest he wrapped his arms round her. As her body recognised the warmth from his body and his familiar scent she slowly calmed down, until she was silently sobbing into his chest. "Do you want to talk about it?" he whispered softly

She nodded her head "I don't think I can though"

"You let me know when you can no matter when or where" kissing her hair

"Severus I'm not going to be able to sleep so I'll leave you so you can sleep" she said getting up and grabbing a blanket which she wrapped around herself, leaving she curled up on the sofa in front of the smouldering fire. Staring into the depths she was surprised when strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her in tight so her head was resting on his legs.

"You are a silly girl if you think I'm going to ever leave you alone especially when you are upset" running his hand through her hair soothing her

"Severus…"

"Yes"

"Never leave me" she whispered

"I won't" he whispered he would only say the 3 words she wanted to hear when he knew it was the right then and only then would he give her his whole heart. "Now try to sleep, even if you feel you cannot" She laid there listening to his breathing and heart beat, it says a lot when you can sit in silence for someone for mere minutes it says even more when you can embrace someone silently for the rest of the night.

The sun rose slowly casting a soft light across them. Hermione woke from a very uneasy sleep that she had drifted into an hour before, several times Severus had awoken her because she was screaming, and he was worried, very worried. After breakfast he confronted her

"Hermione, you can't keep on like this, you have to tell Dumbledore he can help you"

"No, I am not telling him anything, what you choose to tell him is your chose, but what I choose to tell him is mine" she could see the pain in his eyes "Severus, I'm sorry, it will just drag up the memories and I don't want to and can't do that. You are all I need and you always will be all I need"

"You scream out there names, you cry, you beg and that's just in your sleep, the light in your eyes is gone Hermione and I am worried, I feel so helpless"

"You're doing enough by just staying with me, Severus I promise you are doing more than you know; I don't feel so empty when I'm with you. Anyway Dumbledore knows"

"What makes you think that?"

"The way he looks at me I felt him in my mind, he… pities me" Severus got up and walked over to her leaning down he pecked her on the lips "He's just worried"

Hermione was determined to make him drop the subject, distract him somehow. She slid her hands up his bare chest and kissed him while standing up, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting them at the small of her back he pulled her close but separated their lips "Hermione, don't try and distract me it won't work"

"I won't try I will" she smirked and kissed him deeply

"I refuse to take your virginity because you are trying to distract me" he growled and she sighed defeated and collapsed onto the armchair. "Hermione…"

"Severus No"

"You don't even know what I was going to say"

"No I don't but I have a rough idea" she growled and went into her room pulling on her school skirt. Pulling off her night shirt as Severus approached the door he let out a small sigh and wrapped his arms around her waist smirking to himself as he saw the goose bumps appear on her neck even though his breath was hot. "Severus…"

"Yes"

"I… I need to get ready" She chuckled as he kissed her neck and pulled away handing her, her shirt

"I never thought you would be helping me get dressed, but then again I never thought…"

"Never thought what?"

"It doesn't matter" she blushed, 'oh my God I just nearly told him I loved him'

"Tie" he said dangling it in front of her

"Thank you" she smiled and pecked him on the lips she pulled away but got pulled back in by her tie

"You know, I've never really like these things" smirked Severus "But I think I'm beginning to"

"I agree" she smirked as he pecked her on the lips and his lips travelled along her jaw and down her neck, breathe making goose bumps wherever it touched her skin and she sighed in contentment.

"Today try to concentrate in my lesson" he smirked

"I do usually"

"Sometimes you day dream" he smirked

"Oh God…" she whispered 'hoping he hadn't looked in her mind, knowing full well what he would have seen

"Next time, think rougher, now go to breakfast" she began to protest "You'll be fine; I'll be at the staff table and will step in if things start to get out of hand"

"…Okay, don't be surprised if I'm sat by myself though" his hand came up and caressed her cheek "Trust me on this one" kissed her lips and she turned away hands dropping to his side

"See you in potions Professor"

"Goodbye Miss Granger"

Hermione entered the dinner hall keeping her head down and sat in the first empty space she saw on the Gryffindor bench, grabbing a piece of toast and placed it on her plate, pulling out Hogwarts: A History. 'Keep your head down Hermione, don't make eye contact'

"Where's Potter and Weasley Granger?" leered Malfoy's voice 'ignore him'

"Oi Mudblood Im talking to you" he growled and Hermione slid her wand out

"Sorry Malfoy but you're mistaking me for someone who gives a damn if you're talking to me or not because I couldn't care less about you or your sick deranged family" she growled her eyes deadly and he shrunk back slightly as she stood before returning to his full height

Malfoy pulled his wand out "HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT MY FAMILY LIKE THAT YOU FILTHY LITTLE"

"Mudblood" finished Hermione "Get a new line"

"Leave her alone Malfoy" boomed Harry's voice causing a few heads to turn

"Ah Potter come to join the fun and how lovely you brought Weasley along to"

"Stupefy" thought Hermione and Malfoy flew across the Slytherin table and into the wall sliding to the floor

"Miss Granger my office now" growled Snape who turned to examine Malfoy

"Hermione we just wanted to say we are sorry about the other day we just miss you, we want you back" said Harry

"Okay"

"Is that it okay?" questioned Ron looking warily at Snape who was examining Malfoy still

"You can't expect me to forgive you straight away, how could you even think that Harry"

"What do you expect; you turned your back on us"

"I WOULD NEVER TURN MY BACK ON YOU NO MATTER WHAT, I PROMISED YOU THAT, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT LOST FAITH IN ME, ALL BECAUSE YOU WERE SCARED" she yelled feeling the tears coming

"I'M SORRY FOR NOT WANTING TO DIE HERMIONE"

"YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE HARRY, DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER CEDRIC, MY PARENTS, YOUR PARENTS, DO YOU EVEN CARE?"

"MISS GRANGER I SAID MY OFFICE NOW" Yelled Snape from behind her

"Next time, don't even bother" she growled and grabbed her bag, flinging it over her shoulder she pushed past them.

please R&R constructive criticism is welcome but no done right hating please