AN: I am surprised I was able to get this written this afternoon given that I started work today! I tried to get my husband to help with this a bit and he thought I was crazy lol. Anyhow, I have not become JK Rowling overnight so all of the characters belong to her...I just twist them to fit my own mind...

Read and Review! THe more you review, the faster I update!

Hermione had barely curled up in her bed when she heard a constant tapping at her window. Glancing out, she did not recognize the owl, so she tentatively opened the window to let it in. The scrawny brown owl flew in with a huff, ignoring Hermione other than to drop a red, smoking envelope at her feet before zooming out again. Knowing it wouldn't do any good to ignore it, she gingerly picked it up and flipped up the flap, only to have Harry's angry voice fill the room:

How could you betray us like this? I trusted you! You were my best friend! I can't believe you would be this much of a backstabbing bitch! How could you hurt Ron like this so close to your wedding? You've ruined a wonderful relationship and ruined Ron's life. I hope you're happy with yourself knowing Ron is devastated. I mean, what the hell were you thinking? SNAPE? Just because he was a hero doesn't mean that you had to fuck over your fiancée for someone who will never love you! I never want to speak to you again…

With that, the howler burst into flames and burned itself out at the feet of an astonished Hermione. She had never considered that Harry would turn against her. What had started out as a disagreement between her and Ron had turned ugly, and Hermione didn't know how to react. The three of them had always been best friends and while they had had their disagreements, had never disowned each other. And now she had not only lost her former fiancé, but her best friends as well…all because she had dared question Ron about a meeting with Lavender. She didn't know whether to shake her head in sadness or confusion, or cry out in anger against Ron for being such an ass. Hermione didn't have much of a chance to react or soak up the true meaning of the previous howler when the second one flew through her window…apparently this owl didn't want to be bothered to even be in her presence. Before she could even reach for it with trepidation, the enraged voice of Molly Weasely rang out:

I never in a million years would have thought you capable of this kind of deceit! Your selfishness has brought shame to our family. You were another daughter to us! We loved you like you were our own and this is how you throw that back at us? Well, you can think twice before showing your face around this family ever again.

The howler tore itself to shreds as quickly as it had come in…just as another one flew through her window.

For half an hour the howlers and letters poured through her window, defying Hermione's locking charm on both the door and window. It seemed like Ron had quickly spread his version of the day's events to nearly everyone Hermione knew. The most succinct version of Ron's story came from Ginny, who thankfully didn't send a Howler, but still expressed dismay and sadness at Hermione's actions:

Hermione-

I didn't know what to think when my brother came to me today totally distraught out of his mind. I know you two had been having issues, but I never thought it was because you had been seeing Snape on the side. Hermione, how could you do that? I suppose that could have been forgiven if you had just put those fantasies aside and concentrated on your wedding. But to deny my brother, who has loved you as long as I have known you, when he came to you ready to forgive you and make you his bride. Hermione, I thought you loved him! I guess that shows you can't trust people…not even your best friends. I thought I knew you…I guess not.

P.S. I hope I can get a refund on my bridesmaid robes…you know I had to save for two years to get the ones you wanted?

Even Neville, sweet Neville, weighed in on the matter…calling her actions shocking and telling her he was rearranging his schedule to come back to Hogwarts on time so she didn't have to be "trusted" as Head of House. He even told her "I thought you were a Gryffindor…even I know bravery does not equal stupidity.

Hermione looked at the letters and broke down. Ron indeed had gotten the last word…she now was an outcast…with no one but her "precious books for company" as Percy Weasley put it to her. Scared to be alone in her apartment for fear of another round of letters, she blindly threw on a robe and stormed out the door, not knowing or caring where she was going

Meanwhile, Severus's mind was occupied with the visions of what happened that afternoon from Hermione's perspective. He mentally kicked himself for infiltrating her mind when she was in such a vulnerable state but found he couldn't stop. He saw Ron coming at her, heard the words hurled at her, and felt the pain she felt. Severus never fancied himself an emotional man, but he couldn't help but be affected by her plight. He just wished he knew what to do or say to her to make things better. Her life would not be easy and the ensuing days would tell just how strong she was.

As Severus wandered the grounds pondering these thoughts, a movement on the edge of the grounds caught his eye. The sun had long since gone down and the full moon was shimmering off the Black Lake. Had the moon not been so bright, he might not have noticed the figure wandering in t\ almost aimlessly from the castle towards the lake. At first, his Death Eater instincts kicked in, making him want to hide in the shadows and spy from afar. But the first sob he heard echo over the grounds changed his mind as he realized who the figure was. He didn't question his reaction as he changed course and headed towards the cloak-wrapped woman who had found a rock on the edge of the lake and had curled into a ball, staring out at the rippling water.

Hermione was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't hear him approach. She jumped up and gave a little frightened scream as she heard Severus step onto a twig. She stood, wand in hand, ready to defend herself against the unseen attacker. Severus looked at her with a sense of pity and concern as he saw her scared and shaken, and stepped into the light, revealing to Hermione that she was safe. Her shoulders relaxed as she saw who the "threat was."

"You're not okay." It was a statement, not a question. Hermione sighed and started to speak before Severus cut her off as he continued, "don't try to fool me Hermione. Given the day you've had and the state you're in now, you are not fine no matter what you might try to tell me." They held each other's gazes for a moment before he asked, "What happened?"

Knowing it was no use to hide the truth from him, Hermione realized she trusted him as she moved over on the rock, giving Severus a place to sit down. He took a moment to adjust himself next to her, barely touching her, before she recapped the letters and Howlers. She spoke almost without emotion, as if she were a balloon deflated after a birthday party that was just barely holding itself up. Her voice broke when she looked out over the lake and told him, "I guess tomorrow I will have to hand my resignation to Minerva and maybe find work overseas."

"Why in the bloody Hell would you do that?"

"Why shouldn't I? Percy, Angelina, even Draco, threatened to pull their students out of Hogwarts rather than have me teach them Potions. All of my friends have deserted me, I have no apartment to go back to…I might as well just go somewhere and start over."

Suddenly, the thought of her leaving pained Severus in a way he hadn't felt since the day Lily married James. He couldn't let Hermione leave…although he wasn't clear on his motives. He carefully schooled his face to reflect minor anger as he began, "I thought you were a Gryffindor…"

"ARGH! You sound like Neville and Ginny!"

Severus sighed and began again with a forced patience, "what I meant was, a Gryffindor would never let anything defeat them. You helped defeat Voldemort, even when all hope seemed lost. Don't tell me you are going to let a bunch of annoying prats drive you away from everything you love…"

"Well what else am I supposed to do?" Hermione's voice broke as her eyes filled with tears once again. Dammit, am I ever going to stop crying? Severus edged closer to her on the stone as he said, "You stay here of course."

"Why would I want to do that? Why would I want to stay in a place where now every time I walk out of my apartment I wonder when he is going to show up or wonder if every owl that comes my way is bringing news of another destroyed friendship?"

"You stay because Hogwarts is your home, Hermione. I know you think I was a prime jerk when you were my pupil, but I know how much this place means to you. Now that I have seen you teach, it's obvious you are where you belong. Don't let a bunch of idiodic, gullible dunderheads drive you away from that."

"No one is going to believe me…everyone will hate me."

At the rare display of self-conscious worry, Severus gently laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "I believe you. And I certainly don't hate you. Minerva believes you. And when the time is right and everyone else hears about this, everyone here will believe you. Honestly, I don't think many here thought as highly of Ron as he did of himself. You have proven yourself over and over." When he saw that Hermione didn't believe him, he pulled her close to him and whispered what he realized was in his heart, "I'm always on your side. You always have me."

Hermione didn't fight the arms going around her. In the back of her mind, she figured she would want to recoil and reject the arms in the same way she avoided Ron. But quickly, she realized that these arms didn't bring hurt, shame, or judgment, but instead they provided comfort and shelter. In these arms, she realized she felt safe and whole. Without thinking too hard about what she was doing, Hermione wrapped her arms back around Severus, pressed her face into his strong shoulder, and let him hold her. Her inquisitive mind told her she should feel some sense of shame or guilt at what she was doing but her heart told her mind to shut up for once and just let herself be held. Severus didn't judge her, didn't look on her in shame or contempt. He was willing to stand with her, as a true friend…and that was exactly what she needed.

She couldn't say how long they sat on that rock overlooking the full moon glowing over the lake. Hermione felt safe and secure wrapped in Severus' arms, occasionally feeling his hand attempt to knead the stress out of her neck. At some point, they realized they should get back to the castle to get some sleep. Severus stood first and helped Hermione up. They walked back to the castle side by side, not touching nor speaking except for Severus' insistence that he walk her to her door and see she got into her apartment alright. Hermione didn't question this, in fact, she was grateful she wouldn't have to face the apartment alone. However, that didn't stop her from shaking as she undid the enchantments on the doorway. As the apartment came into view, Severus noted how Hermione's eyes darted nervously from corner to corner but avoided the pile of ashes and letters on the floor. It didn't take him too long to make up his mind…

"You're staying with me tonight." With that, he pulled Hermione out of the apartment and headed down the stairs.