Chapter 8:
Minerva woke early, as she always did and found her hand still in the girl's, she smiled to herself and slowly maneuvered her hand away from Hermione's, when she sat up, she simply watched her, barely noticing Poppy's presence enter the room, "Minerva, how did you sleep?"
"Alright actually," She said smiling at the young Gryffindor in front of her.
"You slept well on these old beds?"
"I guess, I was near someone I cared about knowing that she was safe was enough for me."
"It's a shame that you didn't get the chance to have children, Minerva."
"I am a teacher, that is close enough for me," Poppy studied her friend as she continued, "To have the wonderful privilege of being there for students like her, it makes me feel that I am part of their family. Besides, do you think that I could be this stern with my own children?" Both women laughed, and when it died Minerva asked, "What time is it?"
"Seven fourty-eight."
"Severus will be here any moment."
"That is silly, She needs rest."
"She requested him to be her at eight to wake her."
"Oh so I suppose that something happened over the break that neither is sharing."
"You have me Poppy, he called me and Albus old-timers and told us it wasn't any of our business." Both women chuckled until they heard the large doors leading to the hall open. Through them stepped Severus himself.
"Speak of the devil," Minerva said smirking.
"Ha-ha, I am here as requested."
"Did you see my memory."
"yes."
"And?"
"I'm here aren't i?" Minerva nodded before following Poppy into her office.
Severus moved again after the two were behind closed doors; he walked over to the only sleeping figure in the room. There he sat at the foot of her bead and laid a soft hand upon her leg. "Hermione?"
She groaned a bit in response. "Hermione, I am here, it's eight o'clock and it is time for you to rise."Again, she didn't get up, "Miss Granger, if you don't get up, I am going to fail your ten page paper." That did the trick, she removed her hand from her face and looked at him.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh but I would my dear," He smiled at her as she glared in return. She took her hand and patted the open place on the bed in front of her hips. Severus took the hint and sat with his back to her body but he was still able to see her face. She offered him her hand and he took it.
"So how are you feeling?" he asked after taking her hand.
"Better."
"So you wanted to talk to me?"
Hermione nodded, "I think it is best if we were both honest with before this goes any further." Severus nodded before she continued. "I am not going to sugar coat this Severus, I am terrified, I don't trust my own actions. I am not saying that you would hurt me but considering the events that have unfolded this year, I feel that I am in my full right to be scared of the same thing happening with you."
"Ok, well no doubt, NO doubt, Minerva told you of my past." Hermione nodded, "It wasn't pleasant, by any stretch of the imagination. My father was abusive and my mother hid in the corners. I vowed not to hurt anyone that I cared about like that, I vowed to cast the killing curse before I laid a harmful hand upon another."
"But you deserve so much better, an ideal Slytherin with all the positive qualities. I couldn't defend a man that I out ranked all throughout school, a man that was nothing more than Malfoy's sidekick for years beyond my knowledge. I am a kitten trying to survive a dog eat dog world. I am not strong enough, and therefore, not good enough for you." Tears sprang to her eyes, and Severus the fight to keep them from spilling
Severus sighed and took her hand in to his pulling her closer to him, "Hermione, when I look at you, I don't see that kitten that you think you are describing yourself as. When I look at your eyes, I see a lot of pain and a vicious lioness that is nothing more than temporarily wounded. You are a fighter Hermione, you always have been, and you will overcome this, I know you will." Hermione smiled and leaned into his chest and wrapped her arms around his chest ever so lightly, she stayed light until he returned her affections.
"Hermione, that 'other' that I mentioned in my earlier confession means you, mostly you and a few other's that I have befriended over the years, and those other's I can assume you guess as Minerva and Albus. They are my family, and you are about to join them officially at the end of the week, I would jump in front of ANY curse for you, no matter what it is."
"Minerva said you would."
"And maybe you should listen to her, she is old and obnoxious, much like Albus but unlike him, she vocalizes the thoughts that she means when the subject is serious."
"I'll keep that in mind," she said smiling at him, they looked at each other for a moment and they kissed ever so lovingly. Both were so into their moment of openness that neither noticed a set of green, blue and brown eyes watching them.