A/N: Hey hey hey! Omg, I'm surprised I found the time to do this! Also, it sucks so much to have writers block, then when an idea hits you, it's the most inconvenient time, and there's no paper so I was forced to write on my arm… lol People looked at me like I'm insane… (well, I am…) I had this chapter's and next chapter's plot written all up my arm, so when I've finished chapter 3, I get to do it all over again.

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. So don't sue me.

CHAPTER 2

The war went on for hours, but finally, Voldemort was the one to fall at the hands of Harry and Albus. When the Death Eaters saw their master succumb to death, they retreated quickly in fear of suffering the same fate.

The battlefield was full rejoicing voices; there were hugs and congratulations going around. Hermione stood alone looking at what everyone seemed to be ignoring for the moment. The bodies of the Order, the Ministry, and Death Eaters littered the ground and their blood soaked the earth. Many of the Death Eaters still had their hoods on, and Hermione knew that later they would be identified as Ministry workers, friends and family members people once thought they knew.

She looked down at her hands and saw that they were covered in drying blood and mud, but, to her own surprise she didn't care, the war was over and she never had to live in fear anymore. She would never have to live in hiding again.

Just then she felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Severus. He seemed to be smiling in a relieved way. "It's over…" he said it as though he couldn't believe it. Tears welled up in her eyes in happiness for him; he would never have to risk his life being a spy anymore. Now he could live his life the way he wanted.

Hermione was overcome in conflicting emotions and broke down crying, then flung herself into his arms hugging him tightly. She felt him tense up at the sudden contact but then she felt his arms hold her tightly, stroking her hair soothingly. Hermione couldn't tell how long they stood there for but she loved every moment of it. When they broke apart his eyes seemed to be glistening. She smiled up at him, "Thank you." She said quietly.

"For what, Ms. Granger?"

"You saved my life."

"You saved mine as well, I suppose I owe you a thank you as well."

Severus stood there looking at her, she looked absolutely filthy, her clothes were torn and covered in god knows what, she had cuts all over her body, and he couldn't see a spot of clean skin because it was all covered in the same substance that was on her clothes. Yet, at the same time he thought she looked the most attractive he had ever seen her before. She had grown physically, emotionally, and mentally in such a short period of time. He wished to get to know all three in the near future. A breeze blew in and Hermione shivered, Severus didn't feel it, but he was wearing more layers than her, she was just wearing jeans and a blue sweater, at least, he thought it was blue.

"Ms. Granger why don't we go inside so you can get cleaned up and changed. You'll catch a cold out here wearing that."

She nodded and followed him towards the castle. "Could you do me a favor?" she asked him.

"What is it?" he was curious about what she ha do ask him.

"Well, first of all, please stop calling me that. I'm not a student anymore and I haven't been for two years. You make it seem like I'm a first year all over again. Also, could you please slow down? How can you walk so fast, are you not exhausted?" she puffed as she jugged lightly to keep up.

"Of course, I'm sorry. It's all just habit, calling you that and walking so fast. I apologize if I've made you feel like a first year, I know that's a time nobody wants to relive." He said as he slowed his pace.

"Thank you. And you don't have to apologize, as you said its just habit." She replied. She couldn't get over the fact that he was apologizing and thanking her all in the same day.

He led them to the dungeons, where his living quarters were. He said the password and heard the locks click open; he opened the door and signaled for her to come in as well.

"Shouldn't we go to the hospital wing? You have some injuries that should be looked after." Hermione asked as she stepped into his rooms.

"No, these are mild injuries, nothing I haven't had before. Poppy will be swamped with patients that need more attention. I can take care of these myself, I can heal yours as well if you'd like." He just shrugged. Hermione had some nasty cuts on her body, one across her chest just above her breasts, two zigzagging along her right arm, one on her back just below her left shoulder blade, and scrapes on her knees, hands and face.

She just smiled and nodded.

"After I've healed you, you can use my shower, then call the house elves to get some clean closes for you."

"But what about you? You need to shower too. I really don't want to impose."

"Do not worry about it, I will simply go after you."

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Professor." She hugged him again, and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Now I must ask you not to call me that, you said it before, I am no longer your professor. Please call me Severus." He said smiling slightly.

"Thank you Severus." She repeated, this time putting an emphasis on his name with a smile.

"Will you let me heal your cuts now that we've been properly introduced?" he said with amusement and sarcasm in his voice. He motioned for her to sit on the couch. As she did he realized that she would have to take off her shirt for him to heal properly. He wondered how he was going to tell her this without sounding like a letch.

"Um… You might have to, um…" he started, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot and waving at her shirt. She looked at him for a second and realized what he was saying, and laughed that he was uncomfortable. She removed her sweater, wincing slightly as the fabric was dragged over her wounds.

"I would have thought that it take much more than that to make you uneasy." She said laughing again, because he averted his eyes, looking at the ceiling.

"Well, it wouldn't do well to have you run screaming from my private quarters, ranting about what a nasty old pervert I am." He waved his wand at the cut on her chest and it started healing, he did the same for the cuts on her arm as she continued to laugh at him. He told her to lay face down on the couch so he could heal the one on her back. When she did he could see that this one needed a disinfecting ointment before he healed it.

"I'll be right back. I must get something from my lab."

She mumbled something into the cushions that he took as an acknowledgment. She heard a door open and close and the room was silent. Hermione never thought she would feel so relaxed in the feared Potion Master's presence. But the more she thought about it, she knew there was nothing to fear about him. All he did was put her at ease. The door opened again and there were footsteps, she wasn't prepared for the feeling of the cold ointment on her bare back. She gasped and tried to sit up but he pushed her down. He rubbed it in and she almost melted into the couch. She continued to mumble something happily into the cushions and she heard him chuckle, she wished she could see his face. He was so good with his hands. Before she knew it, it was over. She sighed and sat up. Her back tingled from a combination of his touch and the ointment.

"The bathroom is through the bedroom." He pointed to another door. She nodded and went into the room, when she entered, she stopped. The walls were a dark green and the bed and dressers were made from a dark wood, with black leather plush chairs by the fireplace. There were artworks hanging on the walls and it brought the whole room together. She looked at the chairs and over the arm of one, there was a open book waiting for him.

"Severus, you could be an interior designer. Could you do my apartment?" she called from the bedroom. She heard him laugh.

"I'm afraid it's taken me years to make it look like this," He smiled and walked over to the chair, where he picked up the book and closed it, he placed it on the table beside it. "in fact I had always been to busy to actually sit and enjoy it." There was a pained look that crossed his features, but he shook his head and continued to smile. "So, what about your shower, he went to the bathroom door and held it open for her.

Hermione was about to walk by, but she stopped and looked at him, smiling warmly. "Well, now you have all the time you want." She said softly.

He smiled back. "Enjoy your shower." He turned and closed the door behind him.

A/N: There you have it, hope you enjoyed it… If it entices you to read the next chapters, you might like to know there's a lemon coming soon! Please review, I need feedback!