This chapter is dedicated to Elliemay Duncan whose review gave me the Idea for the end of the chapter.

I hope this is a good one! I've had soo many awesome reviews that I'm really feeling the preasure to make this good! It took me almost a week to write and revise this chapter a couple times! Lol I've never worked this hard on a story before!

As usual I don't even own emotion so owning harry potter is kinda out of the question! Lol

Harry stood in the kitchen of Number four privet drive with his heart both swelling and breaking at the sight before him. Ron was there, tall and lanky as always. Fred and George stood side by side leaning against the counter in an identical manor. There was Tonks and Lupin, and Bill and Fleur, the latter giving Bill a soppy look. Mr. Weasley, Hagrid and Kingsley all looking at him kindly and even Mundungus was there looking slightly shifty but under the watchful eye of MadEye moody. Finally in place of where Hermione would have stood was Cho Chang, Harry Guessed she must have joined the order after matriculating.

They all shared similar looks of pain at the loss of their fallen friend, and after sharing a tearful hug with Ron, Harry turned to the group and asked tightly, "Do we have any information?" It was Kingsley who answered.

"The guard we had stationed outside her home says he was hit from behind and doesn't remember anything until he woke up and saw the house in ruins and the Dark Mark. None of the Muggles saw anything which tells us there was a notice-me-not charm on the house during the attack." He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath and Ron who knew what was coming tightened his grip across Harry's shoulders. "Preliminary magical testing on the Dark Mark showed that it was cast by Snape."

"What!" Harry thundered, struggling against Ron's grip. "I'll kill him! That bastard!"

"The best course of action is to focus on taking He-who-must-not-be-named down Harry," Lupin said softly. "You know as well as I that Hermione wouldn't want you to jeopardize the plan for a revenge mission." Harry nodded grimly.

"Hey, Remember in fourth year?" Ron said suddenly, "How beautiful she looked?" Harry responded with a small smile.

"Or in your third year, "Remus added, "she ran herself ragged with her time turner trying to take as many lessons as possible."

"And she still managed to figure out your secret." Harry added with a chuckle.

"Or your Fifth year," Fred added "when she was prefect and kept confiscating our merchandise." He laughed louder as George said, "she even threatened us with owling Mum if we kept testing on the firsties."

"The witch had some Pluck" Tonks said with a smile.

Soon they were all reminiscing and smiling fondly remembering Hermione at her best.

SsSsSsSsSsSsSsS

She had been waiting for what felt like days. The sun had long since set and she was still pacing the floor when Snape apperated back in and dove for the liquor cabinet, not stopping to look at Hermione until he had successfully drained a good measure from the bottle. When he did lift his face to meet hers she gasped, he looked as though he had been attacked by an owl. There were angry red nips and claw marks around his face.

"Did He do this?" she said lightly grazing the side of his face with her fingertips. "No," he said sternly catching her hand and pulling it away from his face. He dropped himself into his armchair and sighed. "The Dark Lord while not pleased with the night felt It was not without its merits."

"What does that mean?" She whispered sinking down onto the ottoman. "Everyone got away didn't they?" she said trying to bite back the worry. He shook his head weakly taking another long drink of the amber liquid.

"I cut off someone's ear and the Dark Lord killed MadEye." He whispered so low she could barely hear him. He took another drink and buried his head in his hands before mumbling, "I cut off someone's ear and then I had to laugh about it later with the Death eaters like it was intentional, and congratulate the Dark Lord on finally killing the best Auror that ever lived."

Hermione recoiled slightly in horror and tears rolled down her face, "I just can't believe Moody's dead, he was always the survivor. "She whispered allowing herself a moment to grieve before turning her thoughts to the other matter "whose ear Severus? "She asked timidly.

"I don't know, it was one of the Decoy Potters, possibly one of the Weasleys, " he leaned back, and looked at her, his eyes slightly glazed over from the Firewhiskey, "I took aim on a deatheater who was dueling with him but missed and hit the boy. My mask came off about that time and another one caught sight of me. "He chuckled a bit there. "He yelled, 'For Hermione'" Severus raised his bottle when he said that before taking another drink. "Then he conjured a mess of birds and directed them at my face, nearly fell off my broom." He finished blithely

Hermione was stunned for a moment before finding herself laughing. "It was Ronald! I did that to him in sixth year after he took up with Lavender." She smiled softly at the thought. Snape found this more than a little strange and asked. "Might I ask why you're smiling about your boyfriend attacking me with canaries?

"He's not my boyfriend, and it's the idea." She said accioing the dittany from her bag and pulling the ottoman closer to Severus. "That he remembered and sought revenge, even if it was at your expense."

"So to you it becomes a grand gesture of love?" he sneered halfheartedly "I suppose when this is over you'll fall right into his arms."

"I had thought at one time that I would marry Ronald, "she admitted and he scoffed. "Which is why I reacted as I did when he dated Lavender, but I realize that we are too different, I need someone who enjoys scholarly pursuits as much as I do. "She began dabbing the dittany over the marks on his face watching them heal themselves as her fingers ghosted across his pale skin. "I need someone who is mature. I assume since He wasn't pleased, that Harry got away just fine?"

"Yes, He caught up with the real Potter, but the boy escaped" He closed his eyes as she worked applying the dittany. "Is that why you dated Krum? He was mature but far from highly educated" He asked trying to ignore her cool hands, the firewhiskey pushing him to keep asking questions, to keep talking about benign things, anything to keep his thoughts off of cursing off that boy's ear.

"He wasn't the smartest person in the world but he had a certain charm." She said looking away and blushing.

"Bollocks." Snape said bluntly. "I heard him at the Yule ball, the boy couldn't even say your name properly, if that's charm then I'm a Hufflepuff." Hermione's laughter floated around the room and into his ears like bells. The back of his mind mused how lovely the sound of a woman's laughter was, especially when he caused it.

"Alright, you caught me, "She said holding her hands up. He felt a fleeting moment of disappointment as the contact was lost but dismissed it quickly. "I found him to be very attractive, his dark eyes and black Hair, not to mention the whole brooding loner thing," He raised an eyebrow at her, "but when he couldn't talk about anything but Quidditch I knew it wouldn't last." She pulled the bottle out of his hands and smiled. "Feel better?"

His eyes darted down to the bottle and back to her face, to her smile, and he nodded. "Good." She stood up and put the bottle back into the liquor cabinet. "I'm going to fix up some supper then, care to join me?" she didn't wait for an answer and instead walked into the small kitchen, where he followed.

"How about some Welsh Rarebit?" she said leaning against the counter. "My Mum always made it for me when I had a bad day."

"Mine too." He said smiling slightly at the memory. Hermione was reaching up to take a saucepan down from the shelf but her fingertips barely touched it. Snape took pity on her and laying a warm hand on her hip he pushed her gently to the side to take the saucepan down himself.

"Thank you" she mumbled blushing pink at the close proximity. Severus found himself staring at her for a moment before realizing his hand still lay across her hip. He cleared his throat and stepped back, turning away so she wouldn't see the tinge of rose that crossed his face.

SsSsSsSsSsSsSsS

As they sat down at the table with their meal Severus surprised her, "This isn't right." He stood up with his plate and motioned for her. She followed with a curious expression on her face. He set his plate down on the ottoman and reached into the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of red wine. "From my experience this is a dish best enjoyed with a warm fire and a bottle of Cabernet."

Hermione took a seat on the sofa and accepted a glass of wine from Snape, "Sounds like a lovely way to end a dreadful day." To her slight surprise Severus sat on the end of the sofa instead of his usual armchair. There was silence for a bit until Hermione asked him his opinion on an article she had read in the Potions Master quarterly.

The conversation continued and the wine flowed. Soon they were draining the dregs from the bottle, Severus leaned back with one arm draped casually over the arm of the sofa and his now bare feet propped up on the ottoman next to their empty plates, and Hermione lying across the sofa with her own bare feet perched on Snape's lap her wine glass held by the tips of her fingers dangling just inches above the ground.

"Ooh! I know!" Hermione exclaimed as she sat up quickly and tucking her legs under so she was facing Snape.

"You are Drunk." He said chuckling and sitting up a little straighter. "What is it you know that is so important?"

"I'm not drunk!" she gasped indignantly poking him in the chest. "Your drunk and I am touching your chest." She giggled and blushed but left her hand on his chest, as she continued talking, "I know what it is I wanted to ask you."

He inclined his head signaling her to continue a bemused plastered across his face. "When was the last time you went on a date?"

"I beg your pardon?" he said furrowing his brow trying to look affronted.

"I am only asking because…" she paused and wrinkled her forehead. "I forgot why I thought of it but now I'm curious, so answer the damn question." She poked him again before smoothing his white oxford shirt down absent mindedly.

He sighed and mumbled something, she leaned closer, "What?" She whispered her face a mere inches from his. "Some five years ago Albus thought He would send me on a blind date with Madam Puddifoot."

Hermione bite her lip to keep from laughing but found herself laughing madly anyway much to Severus's displeasure. "Madam Puddifoot? The tea shop owner?"

"The very same." This sent her into peals of laughter once again. "What is so funny about that?" he growled gripping the small hand across his chest, his intention to pull it away but forgetting once he feels the warmth of her skin.

"She's just not your type."Hermione gasped through the laughter. "She's just so old!"

"Yes well Albus thought her 'romantic nature' might rub off on me," he said distractedly watching the young woman fall into his chest in more laughter.

"I'm sorry" she said breathlessly, "It's just the thought of a romantic Severus Snape is too funny." This time he did look affronted.

"I could be romantic if I wanted to." He sniffed, "What's so funny about me be being romantic?"

"Are you really that offended that I just don't see you as the romantic type?" Hermione asked looking into his obsidian eyes.

"No." he answered curtly turning away and staring unseeing into the fire. "Besides I could be Romantic if I so choose, not that you'd recognize it seeing as you thought listening to the blundering Bulgarian was charming."

Hermione Chuckled, "I'm sorry Severus; I suppose I'm just so used to you lurking around the dungeons as my Potions professor." She said pulling her hand away and trying to stand up as she spoke, "I mean in retrospect this evening was very romantic, and you rescuing me was like something from a muggle novel." She giggled, "I think I have had too much wine, I'm just rambling." She had finally succeeded in standing when she tripped over her own feet and fell into his lap with a gasp. "See? You're so romantic women are just falling into your lap!" she giggled and to her surprise He chuckled as well before scooping her up and, staggering slightly, carried her to her room.

"You are much too inebriated to walk on your own." He admonished playfully as he deposited her on her feet outside of her door.

"Your one to talk" Hermione giggled, "You can't even walk a straight line!"

He leaned down close to her and whispered, "Well maybe you should carry me to my room then." He smirked but instead of Hermione trying to run away she giggled, and said "Goodnight Severus." before closing her bedroom door. I must have had far too much to drink, I'm losing my touch, he thought as he crossed the hall into his own room.

SsSsSsSsSsSs

The Order stood in the Living room of the Burrow raising their glasses to the consummate survivor, and George's lost ear. Molly was sending everyone off to their rooms and chatting with some of the order about the wedding when she saw that Cho was making her way to the door , so she called out to her, "Cho dear, we would like to see you at the wedding too." The Ravenclaw gave a radiant smile, the first all evening.

"I'd love to attend Mrs. Weasley thank you." She said softly before ducking out the door to the apparition point.

SssSsSsSsSsSss

Snape wandered into the kitchen and was greeted by the sight of Hermione and her wonderful shorts preparing breakfast. It's going to be a good day, he thought to himself with a smile.

"Good morning Severus." She said smiling brightly at him. "I want to apologize for last night," she said shuffling her feet and looking at the floor. "I woke up this morning and realized that I had been pawing all over you."

"We both had more than enough to drink." He said leaning back against the kitchen table, "I believe neither of us are accountable for our actions, after all I didn't try to stop your pawing." She blushed and stepped closer to him.

"Would you stop me now?" she asked taking the final step between them and sliding her hand up his torso and over his chest.

"Please Ms. Granger," he said taking hold of her hands and stopping them from exploring further. "Might be kicking myself for this later but I have to stop you."

"It's Hermione." She said pushing him back onto the table and climbing on top of him. "And you know you don't want to stop me. I'm what you need, and for that matter you're what I need. You're mature, intelligent, dark and sexy." She leaned close to him and murmured in his ear, "It's going to happen no matter what Severus, I know you want me."

"Yes I do. "He whispered allowing his hands to graze across her back and up to her neck. He ran his thumb across the line of her jaw and her lips parted and her eyes fluttered shut. He felt her breath on his lips moved to close the gap and taste her inviting lips when he lost his balance and tumbled down to the floor. Peeling his eyes open he realized he had fallen of the edge of his bed when he moved to kiss her in his dream.

Damn .He thought to himself as he detangled himself from the sheets, Damn, damn, god mother fucking damn! What a way to wake up. He sat back down on the edge of his bed and ran his hands through his hair. If she's wearing those shorts this morning I'm going to avadra myself. He mused to himself as he made his way down the hall to start his day with a nice cold shower before she woke up.

Some dream huh! LOL I thought that was a nice funny way to end a darker chapter. Now on to the bits I feel like discussing, (and I don't mean severus's LOL)

Ok, first just so there's no confusion Hermione Refers to HWMNBN as He, it's just easier.

And I realize alcohol plays a major role in this fic, but I feel like it's the best venue for not only snape to let his guard down around her but also for Hermione, and Snape, like It was said earlier, finds it the best way to forget his life.

Adding Cho was a lark and I hope it works out.

Oh and Because I know you're going to ask Bea, Welsh Rarebit is a bit like French toast but it's a cheese sauce instead of egg mix. Yumm! LOL

Please review and tell me how you liked it!