August. …

She looked up from her work as an elf brought her breakfast in. The students would be arriving in a week or so, and she very much not ready to face more people. As it was, she had still failed to contact either of her 'best friends,' leaving them to their lives and telling Severus that she would get to it when she had the time. She 'hadn't had the time' yet. Courage was a more appropriate term for what she had nothing of. And her, a lion. That gave her an idea. She knew that Severus was working on lesson plans, so he wouldn't try to interfere, and Albus and Minerva were in Hogsmeade, on their last day off. Most of the other professors were spending their day as thus. Preparations for school would begin in earnest tomorrow. Letters had been sent out to the new students a month before, and there seemed to be no problems there.

So the school was essentially empty. Save her, Severus, and that dreadful divinations teacher. Her lips lifted into a smirk, an expression that appeared more often on her face now than a smile, and she made her way to her office door. She remembered the awe she had over the ragged old sorting hat that sang it's song before sorting the first years. She had come to discover that it was much more than that though, in her second year when Harry told her of what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, and how Fawks had come with the old hat. So, she would see what the hat had to say about her situation – especially these feelings for Severus she thought she had suppressed.

She approached the gargoyle that was the entrance to the Headmaster's office. She whispered the password and watched carefully as the statue slid aside. She didn't know why, but she just felt that she needed to sneak at this. She approached the top of the stairs and heard voices. Two voices talking either back and forth, or to a third party. She couldn't quite make out the words yet. She snuck closer and gasped out loud. The two voices were Harry and Ron's! It seemed that they were talking to Albus. But when had the Headmaster returned? The old man said that he'd take lunch with her if her were back in time.

She got closer to the door. She could now make out words. And the first set she heard were Ron's.

"We are her best friends! We should have been notified as soon as it happened. We should have been there for her! So don't tell us we can't see her now! We came here to you to see if you could help us find her, for she had been missing for most of the summer, and we find she's been here all along, after being RAPED?"

"Mr. Weasley, it was her choice on whether or not to inform the two of you. Severus has been helping her through it…" Albus tried to placate the enraged redhead, but he interrupted.

"Then that's it. He is why she hasn't contacted us yet. He has taken advantage of Hermione in a venerable time, and brain washed her!" with that, Albus stood up, towering over the two men, Harry though it seemed was still in shock. Albus was about to … well tell Ron off but Hermione beat him to the defense of the man who saved her.

"DON'T YOU DARE RONALD WEASLEY!" Her first shout shocked the three men into silence. "Don't you even dare accuse Severus of such things! He has been there for me, in truth he is the only one who could have been! I didn't contact the two of you because I figured that you'd both be too involved in your own lives of Quidditch, switching majors, and women to have the time for someone neither of you had even talked to in over six months! So Don't YOU DARE COME IN HERE CLAIMING TO BE THE ONES WHO COULD OF HELPED ME! YOU STOPPED BEING THERE FOR ME WHEN WE GRADUATED! SO YOU TWO CAN JUST GET OUT OF HERE, OR AT THE VERY LEAST STAY THE BLOODY HELL AWAY FROM ME!" She had tears leaking out of her eyes, her hands fisted at her sides, and her chest was heaving. She spun around on her heel and stomped all the way down the stairs from the Headmasters office, and then took off running to Severus' office, where she knew he'd be.

*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*

And indeed he was, working on the last of his lesson plans. His attention was not on the plans though…they were on Hermione. The girl – no, woman – he may very well have fallen in love with during her time at Hogwarts. Oh, he knew that if he had, he would never be able to pinpoint a moment that he had fallen in love(just the moment he realized it). He knew that if he was, it had happened gradually over six of the years she had been there. He truly had despised that 'know-it-all' attitude, but he saw her potential… the potential he saw didn't compare with the reality of today. She was a strong woman to have survived such an event and still be able to trust anyone, like he knew he trusted Albus and even…even himself. A woman who had just came flying into his office – and on to his lap – in body wracking sobs.

As in her sixth year, his arms went automatically around her, but this time they stayed there as Severus rocked and 'shhh'sed into the sobbing woman's ear. He rubbed circles on her back; something he had discovered calmed her wonderfully. Soon her sobs were down to sniffles and a mere trickling of tears. Her head had been buried against her shoulder, a shoulder that was soaked. But Severus Snape didn't really even notice… all he cared about at that moment was what had set the precious bundle in his arms off. Of course, with the enraged shouting of one Mr. Ron Weasley and the quieter murmurings of one Mr. Harry 'the-one-who-lived' Potter coming down the hall towards his office, he had a pretty good idea. Severus could tell when Hermione noticed, because her whimpers heightened, and her grip on his waist tightened. Hermione started to cry again, so Severus stood and disappeared into his quarters through the hidden door in his office just seconds before an enraged red-head came blazing in.

In his rooms, Severus set Hermione down on the couch and whispered that he was getting her some tea before she would let go. When he came out of his little kitchen he found that Hermione had fallen asleep. Well, there went their plans for dinner. Severus really couldn't fault her; he knew she wasn't ready to really face anyone from her life outside of Hogwarts. Now that the angel on his couch was not awake to see it, he let his rage at the two careless boys out. He threw some dust into the fireplace and called out "Albus Dumbledore" and the Headmaster's head appeared in the green flames.

"Hello Severus. I can only assume that you have discovered Mr.'s Potter and Weasley's presence here?" At the irate Potions Master's nod, the Headmaster continued. "I assure you that I did not inform them of our Hermione's presence here, or the reason's behind it. To be honest I do not know how they tracked her here, as the wards on our school should have stopped any tracing spells. We agreed that her confrontation with these two was to be her choice… I honestly am at a loss for how they knew of her situation." That worry eased from Severus' mind, and some of the rage melted out of him.

"Then what are we going to do about the unwanted guests in my office?"

"Harry had promised to have Ronald out of here by morning. Mr. Potter seems to be much more rational about this whole mess than Mr. Weasley. Harry has promised to inform our Hermione's parents of her whereabouts, but not of her situation. That too must be her decision. I trust you will have no problems with keeping her in your rooms tonight, as her own rooms will be one of the next places the boys look." Severus informed the Headmaster that he had not problems keeping Hermione, and said good night.

Severus picked the sleeping angel and carried her to his own bed. He removed her shoes and outer cloaks and discovered she was wearing a rather short skirt and a thin and tight white shirt leaving her black bra to be seen through the material. Severus bit his lip and covered her up with the quilt, and made his own way back to the tea he had set down. Warming it with a quick charm, he sat in his favorite chair to just think as he sipped from the tea. To think about Hermione, and how beautiful she had looked, and how just the sight of the black material under her shirt and her long pale legs affected him. Although if he wanted that affect to go away, he needed to stop thinking about the cause.

*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*

Later, she woke fitfully to find herself in a strange place. It was pleasant, a bedroom decorated in dark greens and darker wood grains. It felt very comfortable, and smelled like Severus' aftershave. She discovered that the sheets covering her were black silk, and that was the final straw. She knew she was in Severus' room. She didn't know how she got there though. She just remembered running to Severus and sobbing in his lap, then him sitting her down on a couch, going to get her some tea. She just assumed that she had fallen asleep and Severus had moved her here. She was glad he didn't take her back to her own rooms, as she knew that Harry and Ron would look for her there.

She threw the sheets off, and discovered that her shoes and outer robes were missing. She was glad that she had decided to put on something under them today. Usually she just wore her under things and a slip under her robes. Although she wasn't sure what she had put on counted as her bra was plainly visible and the skirt was rather short. She found her robes over a chair nearby and wandered out into the outer rooms. She spotted Severus in his favorite chair, fast asleep, an empty teacup still in his hand. She smiled one of her –now rare- genuine smiled as she removed the cup from his hand, washed it, and put it in the cupboard.

She marveled at the man in front of her as she sat on the couch, her feet curled up beneath her. She absentmindedly waved her wand and muttered a charm, bringing a teacup, tea bag, and the teakettle to her. Suspending the kettle and putting a fire under it, she waited for the water to warm as she stared at Severus. She was still having a hard time understanding why the man cared for her so much, but she enjoyed having a friend who understood her situation, even though he had experienced the 'situation' from the other end.

The things Severus had done when he was a Deatheater were none of her business; even so, she forgave him for it all. He knew it too; at least she was pretty sure he did. Either way, she knew that he was a good man, and didn't fault him for the mistakes made during youth. After all, she had been there. Perhaps not to that extreme, but during her seventh year she certainly had rebelled. Rebelled against her perfect parents, her perfect friends, her perfectly innocent life. Mostly it was because she finally realized she had fallen for the most hated professor, and couldn't have him. For two reasons – one being that he was a professor and she a student, and two being that he would never want her. Interestingly enough, she and Draco had ended up being fuck buddies. They were still friends. After 6th year everyone knew that Draco wasn't a deatheater to be…as he and the Golden Trio brought down Voldemort while protecting an injured Minerva McGonagall and Poppy Pomfry. Draco had become tentative friends with the trio after that. Seventh year Harry and Ron turned into worse pricks than Draco had ever been. She and him just sort of naturally turned to each other, as there really was no one else, even for two of the heroes of their world. Of course, now they knew better, as Voldemort had once again survived and was once again terrorizing their world.

The two of them had had some fun though, and they stirred up the social structure of Hogwarts, and the ripples were felt through out the 'pure-blood' families. That had been fun, and the two were still friends. They had gotten into some dark stuff though. Almost got kicked out of Hogwarts, and they both got their Head Girl and Head Boy badges taken away. And that was the only time they had gotten caught.

That was in between Severus making her student life a living hell. She still didn't know why he hated her so much during her seventh year, while she wanted him more and more. Draco knew, of course, though she had never actually told him. She was thankful, because he never told anyone else. Draco was one person she didn't need to tell. He always seemed to know where she was. She had received an owl two weeks after she had gotten here, telling her that he would be there as soon as his job let him, but as an auror he didn't get much time off. She wasn't worried about Draco, she just didn't want to face Harry or Ron, especially after what Ron had been saying.

The whistle of the teakettle snapped her out of her memories and she put out the fire and poured the hot water into her cup so the tea could seep. Banishing the teakettle to the counter top, she sipped at her tea as she watched Severus sleep. Halfway through her tea, Ron bursts into Severus' room, surprising him awake, and causing her to spill her hot tea on herself.

Severus was up on his feet, his wand in Ron's face within seconds. She hissed as the hot tea hit her skin, and quickly cast a drying charm. She then rose and made her way to behind Severus. Severus who was growling at the red-headed furious gorilla in front of them, and the exasperated hero still in the doorway.

"Bloody Hell Ron are you trying to get killed? You should have figured out that Hermione didn't want to be found when she wasn't in her rooms! Lets go! When she wants to talk to us, she'll find us!" Harry was trying to coax the redhead out of the Potion Master's quarters. It wasn't really working.

"You bastard! You've brainwashed her! I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one that raped her!" and that was as far as the red head got before she exploded.

Her voice was low and dangerous, icier than any of the three men had ever heard. Harry immediately stepped back at the plain rage he heard from her, Ron just stared at her, and Severus looked at her with concern. "Ronald Weasley. If you must know, three muggle men raped me. I have warned you about talking about Severus like that. If you think I am going to let you get away with talking about the man who has saved my life, it is you who are insane. I told you to leave, that does NOT mean come looking for me because little Hermione can't take care of herself. Where was Ronald Weasley when I was being raped? Probably fucking one of your girlfriends. Where was Harry? Playing Quidditch. You cannot come in here claiming that you would have been better for me. Obviously you weren't there… Severus has been. I now suggest that you leave – and do not come looking for me again. I don't want to see you right now, and when and if I do, I will contact you." Ron just couldn't accept this as an answer.

"Now come on 'Mione. You don't really mean that. You know that we'd have been there had you just owled. Besides, since we are on the subject of who was there and who wasn't… where was Malfoy during all this?" Ron's voice got cocky, until a new voice shot him down in a tone just as cold as Hermione's had been.

"Doing my job Weasley. Hunting down those muggles and dealing with them. Setting the other 16 women that they held captive free, and obliterating their memories so that they may go on with their lives and not have to live through what those pigs put them through everyday. What was that you were doing? Shagging? And you Potter? You had a broomstick between your legs. The lady asked – no, told you to leave. I suggest you do so, because if she does not force you out, Severus or myself will." She edged towards the voice, staying mostly behind Severus, until she was sure the voice had belonged to who she thought. Then she ran to the platinum blond and threw her arms around him.

"Draco!" Then she backed up and glared at him. He chuckled.

"You've been taking lessons from Severus Hermi. I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner. The Ministry wanted me to finish one last assignment before transferring." She narrowed her eyes at her blond devil and then at her potions professor before realizing that the two men were still there.

"You two have been told to leave. I suggest you do so before I call Albus to kick you out. Do not doubt that he will at my request." She had called back that cold tone that told of the coldest of hearts. Harry grabbed Ron's arm and some Floo powder off of Serverus' mantel and called out 'The Burrow' before Ron had recovered from the shock he had gotten when Draco had answered his question. It was up for debate on whether he was shocked by Draco just being there, or the implications of what he had said, or the fact that she had ran to him. She turned back to Draco. "What do you mean about being transferred?"

*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*

Unconsciously, she had moved back behind Serverus. Draco saw, and was not bothered by it…much. He knew that his own godfather had been her salvage in such times, and didn't let the fact that she took shelter in the professor now, instead of him as it used to be.

"Dare I suggest that we all sit down and have a cup of tea?" Severus broke into the little conversation. Hermione sighed with relief, and Draco knew that Severus was the only man she truly trusted. That was alright though, because he knew that his Hermi would come to trust him again with time. Time was something he had.

"Certainly Severus. I'm earlier than was expected, and I did want to tell the two of you this personally." Hermione sat down on the couch where she was before, her feet curled under her. Severus sat next to her and she shifted so that she was snuggled against his side. Draco knew it wasn't sexual, Hermi wasn't ready for that yet, but he also knew the hearts of his best friend and his godfather. The love was there; time would work its will, no doubt. The only question on his mind was where would that leave him?

*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*

Severus was shaken awake by a large figure with atrocious red hair bursting into his living quarters. He was up on his feet, his wand in Weasley's face within seconds. He heard Hermione hiss and then cast a drying charm. She then rose and made her way behind him. He was growling at the men that had burst into his quarters.

"Bloody Hell Ron are you trying to get killed? You should have figured out that Hermione didn't want to be found when she wasn't in her rooms! Lets go! When she wants to talk to us, she'll find us!" Mr. Potter was trying to coax the comically furious redhead out of his quarters. It wasn't really working.

"You bastard! You've brainwashed her! I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one that raped her!" and that was as far as the furious gorilla got before his Hermione exploded.

Her voice was low and dangerous, icier than he had ever heard. Mr. Potter immediately stepped back at the plain rage he heard from her, the gorilla just stared at her, and he glanced at her with concern. "Ronald Weasley. If you must know, three muggle men raped me. I have warned you about talking about Severus like that. If you think I am going to let you get away with talking about the man who has saved my life, it is you who are insane. I told you to leave, that does NOT mean come looking for me because little Hermione can't take care of herself. Well Ronald Weasley when I was being raped? Probably fucking one of your girlfriends. Where was Harry? Playing Quidditch. You cannot come in here claiming that you would have been better for me. Obviously you weren't there… Severus has been. I now suggest that you leave – and do not come looking for me again. I don't want to see you right now, and when and if I do, I will contact you." The gorilla just couldn't accept this as an answer.

"Now come on 'Mione. You don't really mean that. You know that we'd have been there had you just owled. Besides, since we are on the subject of who was there and who wasn't… where was Malfoy during all this?" the ignoramus gorilla's voice got cocky, until a new voice shot him down in a tone just as cold as Hermione's had been. Severus recognized the voice immediately and his smirk only grew.

"Doing my job Weasley. Hunting down those muggles and dealing with them. Setting the other 16 women that they held captive free, and obliterating their memories so that they may go on with their lives and not have to live through what those pigs put them through everyday. What was that you were doing? Shagging? And you Potter? You had a broomstick between your legs. The lady asked – no, told – you to leave. I suggest you do so, because if she does not force you out, Severus or myself will." Severus could feel Hermione edging towards the voice, staying mostly behind him before running to the platinum blond and throwing her arms around him. Severus could only assume that the other man came by Floo.

"Draco!" Severus heard her exclamation and then Draco's chuckle.

"You've been taking lessons from Severus Hermi. I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner. The Ministry wanted me to finish one last assignment before transferring." Severus could tell Hermione was reacting, but he wasn't about to remove his attention away from the irate Weasley in front of him.

"You two have been told to leave. I suggest you do so before I call Albus to kick you out. Do not doubt that he will at my request." Hermione had returned to using that cold tone. Harry grabbed Ron's arm and some Floo powder off of his mantel and called out 'The Burrow' before the idiot gorilla had recovered from the shock he had gotten when his godson had answered his question. Severs turned around and was wondering about Draco's comment about a transfer when his Hermione beat him to it. "What do you mean about being transfered?"

Hermione moved back to Severus' side, and he saw the look on his godson's face, the one that said 'I don't mind but I really do.'

"Dare I suggest that we all sit down and have a cup of tea?" Severus finally got tired of it and broke the silence. Hermione sighed with relief and he laid a hand on her shoulder to lead her to the couch.

"Certainly Severus. I'm earlier than was expected, and I did want to tell the two of you this personally." Hermione sat down on the couch where she was before, her feet curled under her. Severus sat next to her and she shifted so that she was snuggled against his side. After the view he had been afforded when he put her to bed earlier in mind, he tried not to squirm.

"So what is this piece of news you have for us Draco?" Hermione said as he summoned the tea. Draco smiled at them.

"Well, Severus you won't be happy to know that I am the new DADA professor, but I do hope that you aren't as angered as normal as you know you can trust me to be competent in this job. Hermi, I know you will just be happy that I am here." His godson chuckled as he growled at him, but he was right. At least this time a competent party would be teaching the class. Hermione was half asleep beside him and he smiled at her words.

"Mm hum Draco. Glad you're here. Have both my Slytherin men with me now."

"I will be back in a moment Draco." Severus distractedly mentioned to his godson as he shifted to pick up the angel next to him. He repeated his actions from earlier, taking her to his bed and removing her outer cloak, doing his best not to become distracted by her skimpy clothing. He covered her and returned to his godson.

"You love her don't you Severus." Severus was rather cut off guard by the question carelessly thrown at him as he stepped out of his bedchamber. He hesitated and then sat back down to his cuppa. He looked up at his godson with a shake of his head.

"Am I that obvious?" Severus asked Draco, unable to keep the plea from his voice. The boy had the nerve to chuckle.

"Only to me, it seems. No one else has noticed. Not even her. But then again, she is still scared. However, you happen to be the only man she trusts." Severus shook his head.

"Surely she must trust you." Draco smiled at Severus' denial.

"Oh, she will trust me again, but not right now. You have been the one that has been there for her Sev. I was out capturing the men and obliterating 16 muggle women's memories." Severus looked at his godson and shook his head as a realization hit him.

"I could ask the same question of you my boy. You have loved her since your repertoire in seventh year." Severus stated the fact, more than asked the question. It was Draco's turn to look surprised. Then he lowered his head to look at his tea.

"When she has recovered enough, at least we know that who ever she chooses will take good care of her Severus. Because we've been over for a long time."