This chapter ended way different than how I started it! But I hope you like it anyway! A very ultra special thanks to the incomparable Trixie Ray for helping me with my writers block! She rocks like nobody else! Check out her stories please! She's awesome!

And I don't own Harry potter blah blah blah…..read on!

Hermione woke to find Severus sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. He looked tired and resigned.

"Severus?" She called softly and she padded into the sitting room. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Only just got in." he muttered in reply pocketing a scrap of paper and photo he had in his hand. She sat down beside him on the sofa and wrapped her arms around him wanting to bring him comfort after what ever he had endured the last couple days. At first he leaned into the embrace, the warmth making him almost forget all he had learned the night before, but then his memories crept back and with a growl he pushed her away.

"I've no time for a silly girl to moon over Me." he said harshly.

"Silly girl?" she repeated, "Tell me Professor Snape Do you often paw all over 'silly girls'"

"A Starving man doesn't turn away a free meal, Miss Granger" he sneered "Especially one that's practically begging for it."

"I am neither mooning nor Begging, professor." She hissed back, his words bringing stinging tears to her eyes. "As you have no time for me, I'll let you be." She rose without looking back at him and left the room.

Severus sighed and ran his fingers through his hair; he heard the shower running in the hall bathroom and knew she was probably crying under the poor water pressure.

"Well shit…" he said to himself how do I manage to muck up these things? Oh, I know by telling a woman who cares about you she's essentially a slag… Severus lost himself in his thoughts, feeling every bit the tortured victim he fancied himself. Running his fingers through has hair once again, a nervous habit that he would never let his students see, he stood and began creating his apology to Hermione. He knew flowers and cheap sweets from the corner store wouldn't do it this time.

As for Hermione, she stood under the hot spray trying to rinse away the sting of his words. She knew his callous attitude was how he coped with the horrible things he had to do, but it didn't do much to ease the sting. Sighing she Stepped out of the shower and dried of determined to put this morning behind her. If he wanted to apologize she would accept, but she would not hold his nature against him. After all it wasn't as though it was a completely different side of him she as seeing.

SsSsSsSsSsSsSs

The Wedding party had been broken up five hours ago, and Harry's pollyjuiced disguise had long since worn off. The wedding had been lovely, a sedate affair, Fleur radiated happiness, but in Harry's opinion she was overshadowed by Ginny's beauty. He had acquired an answer to a question that had plagued him since a dream he had, where he had seen from Voldermort's own eyes. The Dark Wizard had been on the hunt for a wizard named Gregorovitch, who as Harry learned from Victor Krum was a wandmaker.

Harry had also gained some rather skewed insight on Dumbledore's youth from Aunt Muriel. A woman he could live the rest of his days without meeting again.

Ron Seemed rather melancholy especially after the arrival of Krum who expressed his sorrow to Ron," Herm-I-ow-ninny vas a vonderful vitch, I am lucky to have known her." But he managed to keep his black mood in check through out the wedding, spending a good portion of the night alternating dancing with Cho and Luna, as to keep away from the Bulgarian superstar.

The end of the night was not heralded when the Newlyweds slunk off to enjoy their honeymoon however, but when a patronus burst into the scene speaking in Kingsley's voice and warning that "The Ministry has fallen, Skrimgour is dead. They are coming!" no sooner had the patronus disappeared than the wards fell and black robed figures were apperating into the middle of the wedding party. Harry quickly found Ron who had at that moment been dancing with Cho. Knowing he had to get out of there quickly he grabbed Ron's hand and apperated away accidentally Pulling Cho with them.

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She wandered out of the bathroom after her shower hoping Severus's mood had improved enough for him to relay any important news she expected to see him brooding by the fire with his fire whiskey and was surprised when she came upon his empty seat.

She found him in the kitchen, muttering swears and fanning a slightly smoking pan of what she assumed were cat's head rolls.

"You cooked?" she questioned as she crossed the room and opened the window above the sink. "You're a bachelor, you don't cook." she quoted his words back to his with a smile.

"Yes, well takeaway curry, while probably more appetizing is hardly a decent gesture of apology. "He grumbled as he tried to pry the biscuits from the pan only succeeding in pulling up the top halves. "I acted like a child today, and you don't deserve to bear my temper for things out of your control." he said looking at the floor.

"Severus," she said gently lifting the pan from his hands and setting it on the counter behind him. "You act as though I didn't know you were a temperamental brooding man with the weight of the world on your shoulders. "

"I don't brood." he responded sullenly, earning a giggle from Hermione, he did like it when she giggled for him.

Severus's ill temper was soon forgotten and soon he was relaying the events from the last few days. "Now that Scrimgour is out of the way he has the ministry under his thumb, and upon bestowing the Headmastership upon me," he said sarcastically "he also has Hogwarts."

"Do you think the students are in any danger?" Hermione asked while toying with her watery stew, pushing it back and forth in the bowl.

"He wishes to groom a new generation of followers, those who fail to comply will be severely punished. Muggleborns shan't be allowed in and those who are already within the wizarding world will be forced to register. The ministry is pushing some tripe about muggleborns 'stealing magic' from witches and wizards." He ran his hand through his black hair and sighed heavily. "I sincerely hope your friends both in school and out know the magnitude of the forces at work here. Any shenanigans inside Hogwarts this year could result in very painful consequences for them."

"And what shall happen to me? If you're going back to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked chewing her lip nervously.

"I suppose I shall have to smuggle you in, it won't be safe for you here alone." he said rising from his chair "but thankfully we have two weeks before I have to be there, plenty of time to conceive a brilliant plan." He smirked.

He helped her clear the table, and couldn't help but smile at the domesticity of the scene, he was captivated by her movements, the way she hummed as she washed dishes the muggle way. She handed each dish to him to be dried and place back on its proper shelf.

"You're smiling Severus, "Hermione smirked as she handed him a glass. "Be careful I might think you're bewitched."

"Maybe I Am." he said as he closed the cabinet and walked back to the table.

"I would think the stoic potions master too formidable to be bewitched by any wizard." she leaned against the counter as he matched her movements by leaning against the table.

"Wizard no, a witch however," he inclined his head towards her, "a certain witch happens to be very bewitching."

"If I didn't know any better I would say you were flirting with me Professor."

"Indeed I am, Hermione." He smirked.

She blushed; pink tinting her cheeks slightly, but still crossed the room to him. She ran her hands up his chest and into his hair, but when her lips only grazed his he growled and took control, capturing her rosy lips in a fierce kiss.

He knew; he just knew he would wake any moment. So as she drew back to gasp for air he muttered, "don't want to wake up…" before kissing her neck.

"what?" she gasped out, from the sensation and the shock.

"Hmm, If we stop I'll wake up." he muttered between kisses and nibbles, earning sharp gasps and sighs from Hermione. "I don't want to wake up."

"Severus this isn't a dream. You're not going to wake up if you stop kissing me." He drew back and looked her in the eye.

"How can I think it's not? Out side of this place I live in a nightmare, a puppet for a mad man's amusement, but in here….with you…" he looked away, "this is the life I never had. It's calm and so domestic. It's surreal, to say the least. Like a dream you don't want to wake up from."

SsSsSsSsSsSsSsS

Harry found himself covered in sweat, lying on the cool tile floor if the upstairs bathroom of grimwauld place. Another glimpse into the mind of Voldermort, had shown Harry a family suffering at the hands of the mad man for not supplying Gregorovitch.

"Harry? You all right mate?" Ron called through the door. He furrowed his brow at seeing his friends pale face through the now opened door. "what did you see?"

"See?" Cho came up the stairs behind Ron, "what do you mean see? Harry, are you a seer?"

"No, I didn't see anything." Harry said backing back into the bathroom. "Look I'm going to just take a shower before we turn in alright." he said closing the door on what ever questions were forming in their minds.

"This place is creepy." Cho said shuddering as she saw the old elf heads on the wall. "Where are we?"

"The former Headquarters of the Order." Ron said swishing his arm around grandly. "This is Harry's house, Grimwauld place."

"It looks like it belongs to a dark wizard." she said as they made their way back downstairs. "How on earth did Harry come to own it?"

Ron answered all of Cho's questions as they set up three sleeping bags in front of the fire, intending on kipping downstairs until they could sort out the ransacked house, it just felt safer that way. Eventually Harry came downstairs too noticing the other two were already asleep, he crept over to his spot. With a final glance at his companions is heart sank a little, recalling it should have been Hermione sleeping where she was. He put the thought out of his mind and fell asleep with the vow that Snape would pay running through his mind.

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Reluctantly the pair split and retreated to their respective rooms, both struggling to maintain control of their emotions. Severus slept rather fitfully, but for once he had not been plagued by nightmares. Although the nature of his dreams left him cursing his lecherous subconscious and needing a rather cold shower.

Having no intention of leaving the house at all today, the only clothing Severus carried with him to the bathroom was his green flannel bottoms. So after a quick shower he tied his wet hair back threw a towel across his still wet shoulders and left the bathroom.

He found Hermione in the kitchen clutching a steaming mug of tea, and staring out the slightly dingy window.

"Good morning." he whispered into her ear, then after pressing a kiss to her temple he retrieved a mug to pour himself some tea as well. Hermione watched his preparation of his tea, thinking how funny it was the usually dour potions professor liked his tea ridiculously sweet, with lots of cream.

"you look comfortable this morning." she commented when he raised his eyebrow at her, she had been staring.

"yes, I fully intend to be useless today." he smiled finding a seat at the kitchen table. "Maybe I'll even cave and watch that movie you wanted."

"oh, aren't we feeling benevolent." she chuckled. "Do I not have good taste in films?"

"I suppose your tastes are not completely with out merit."

"I think you should quit enjoy the Princess bride," she smiled, "its quit funny in places."

By night fall, after many movies, takeaway and wine and much roaming of hands, by both parties Severus looked down to see Hermione had fallen asleep towards the end of the last film. He brushed her hair off her face before scooped her up and carried her towards her room. As gently as he tried to be she still awoke and reached up to kiss him as he set her on her bed. When their lips parted her small voice rang out with one word, "Stay."

Not a command, not a question, but just one word that shook him to his very core. Leaning down to kiss her once more he gave her his answer.

But what was that answer kiddos? Will he stay or will he say its to soon? Ooooh! I'll try not to make you wait six monthes this time! Lol

I am sooo very sorry about that btw. The world caught up with me I suppose. I have been soooooo busy, My baby is one! Omgsh! 1 freaking year old! And walking! It's crazy and she says mama and dada and nana. It's so cute.

And ermmmm…..yeah, still doing that surrogacy, the paperwork and insurance is a bitch. I lost my copy of deathly hallows…which means I am writing the harry and ron scenes based on memory…so yeah, I have 97 people who put this on alert so…that means 97 reviews yeah? Lol please review! It means a lot to me.