A/N:

Hey guys did any of you see Deathly Hallows? I loved it! My favorite for sure!

Sorry this took so long to get out. Honestly Im not too proud of this chapter I had so

much school work to do all I have been doing is writing papers so my creativity

source was a tad depleted this week. But if I didn't publish today you guys

would have had to wait another week so I decided to publish it today.

Sorry if there are any mistakes I didn't have the time or energy to edit it.

Hope you all enjoy it!

Read/Review

Chapter 15

WonWon & LavLav

SPOV

"Crap! They won, Gryffindor won! How on earth had they won Weasley blocked every single one!" Snape thought to himself as he was walking back to his classroom after today's match.

And the worst part was that he was going to have to see her smug face this evening. He really wasn't looking forward to that. Then it really hit him, what this meant he was going to have to do. He had to be nice to Longbottom in front of everybody! Crap!

He was sitting at his desk when the door opened and slammed shut. He looked up to see an angry red-faced Hermione walking towards him.

"Hermione what's wrong?"

"Nothing! Why would think anything was wrong!" She said tersely reminding Severus very much of himself.

"Obviously something is the matter otherwise you would not have slammed my door and then proceeded to snap at me." He said in a dangerous tone.

Hermione then sighed and sat down in a chair on the opposite side of his desk.

"It's Ron. I just couldn't stand to be near him for another moment. Sorry about the door and everything I didn't mean to be rude."

"It is quite alright just try not to let your lovers quarrels interfere with our work."

Hermione snorted. "Lovers quarrels? Severus, Ron and I are nowhere near lovers. Nor will we ever be anything close to it."

"I'm confused I thought that you and Weasley were going to Slughorn's party together?"

"Well we were, but even then it was just as friends, I haven't liked Ron in that way for ages. But that is beside the point. Ron is with Lavender Brown now. So I don't think that she would be pleased to hear that we were still planning on going to Slughorn's party together. Besides after the way he has treated me these past couple of days I wouldn't want to go with him even if he didn't have a girlfriend."

"Lavender Brown? That twit? Well I suppose they do suit each other."

"Don't say that! Ron is a lovely and intelligent person. Just because I am mad at him doesn't mean that you are allowed to speak ill of him. Lavender is completely daft Ron could do much better than her!"

"If you think so." Snape said unbelievingly.

"I know so!"

"Well look on the bright side of things."

"What are you talking about?"

"Have you completely forgotten? You won the bet." Hermione's eyes instantly lit up at this realization.

"Severus! I completely forgot! With Ron and everything I got distracted! Oh I can't wait for Monday!" She said barely keeping herself in her seat.

"Yes I don't know which I am more excited for class on Monday or finishing these first year papers." He said sarcastically gesturing to the stack of papers he was currently grading. Instead of gloating some more about her win she did something that Severus found to be completely unexpected. "What are you doing?"

"I'm helping you grade your papers what does it look like I'm doing?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Severus I'm your friend I was never going to make you grade these papers alone I just really wanted you to be nice to Neville for once. Plus I thought it would be good for you to see the effect of being nice to people. Do you have a quill I could borrow?"

He silently handed her one of his spare quills and moved his ink well holding his favorite red ink closer to her. He then watched as she cast the spell on her quill so that it would write in his handwriting.

"Sometimes you are such a Gryffindor it sickens me." He said shaking his head.

"I know." She said smiling at him.

They sat in silence with only the sound of quills writing across parchment disturbing the peace.

"I have to admit I find this whole experience quite liberating!"

"What do you mean? How can grading poorly written papers be liberating?"

"Well I am pretending to be you so I have to be harsh when writing comments. Whenever I would help my friends edit their papers they would always make these huge mistakes and I could never say anything in fear that I might hurt their feelings. But being you I can say whatever I want! I mean this girl for example! Has she even opened a book? Who in their right mind would think that it is safe to approach a Snarkle, which is a level five creature with a potted plant that likes to sing! That doesn't make any sense!"

"Now you see what I go through."

"Yes I am beginning to understand why you are the way you are."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" he said with false outrage.

"Oh you know what I mean." She said letting out a huff of breath. "How many more do we have to do?"

"Only three. You don't have to do anymore you have already done quite a lot."

"Nonsense! I will help you finish." She said brushing off his offer.

Finally they had finished. It was only half past ten so Hermione instead of making her way back upstairs suggested that they retire to his library. "I find it very worrying that you are comfortable enough to invite me to join you in my library." He said with a smirk.

She laughed at this observation. "I'm sorry I hadn't even thought about it. I'm just down here so much I sometimes forget I don't actually live here."

They both laughed and settled into their usual spots and started reading.

About half an hour later Severus looked up to see Hermione as usual engrossed in a book. Curious about what she was reading he inspected the spine of the book where in large gold lettering it said The History of the House Elf: Years 1600-Present.

"Why are you reading that?"

"Do you have any idea what house elves have been subjected to over the years? Severus it's just terrible. I am always telling Harry and Ron about the injustice but they don't seem to understand."

"Oh Merlin please don't tell me that S.P.E.W. is still going." He said with a groan.

"Of course it's still going! Severus this is important!"

"While I think that your cause is quite noble I really don't think that they want to be rescued."

"I'm not going to have this argument with you we will simply have to agree to disagree."

"Fine by me." He said with a smirk.

HPOV

Hermione woke up extra early on Monday morning not wanting to miss a moment of watching Severus be nice to Neville. When she walked into the classroom she walked swiftly up to the front row smiling at the very grumpy looking Professor. Even though she was the only one in the room neither of them were willing to take the chance and break character. After she had settled herself in her seat and put her bag down she looked over at him to find him staring at her. He was giving her a look that was clearly saying please don't make me do this. She in return gave him a look that clearly stated she would do no such thing. Eventually more and more people started to file in, Neville among them sat down completely unaware that there were two people completely focused on him at that very moment.

Snape then proceeded to give out the instructions for the day each student would receive a dirty rag and have to use the cleaning spell scourgify but using the nonverbal incantation only. Everyone quickly got to work. While Hermione wanted to get started she also didn't want to miss anything between Snape and Neville. But to her disappointment Snape went to go sit behind his desk and said nothing more. She was going to have to have a word with him if all he was planning to do was ignore Neville until the end of the week. But after about half an hour of everybody silently trying to clean his or her own rag Neville's rag caught on fire. Normally Hermione would have been terrified of what was to come next. But at the moment she could barely keep from laughing.

Snape quickly ran over put out the fire. Hermione looked at Neville who looked truly petrified as he waited for Snape to say something.

"Here you are Longbottom," Severs said, handing him another dirty rag, "are you alright?"

The look on Neville's face was pushing Hermione's self control to the limit! She had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing as she looked around at everyone's faces.

Neville in a tiny voice said, "Ummm…. Ummm I fine…. Sir umm…. Thank you for—"

"No need to thank me Mr. Longbottom, I am your teacher it is my job to assist you." He said cutting Neville off.

"I would suggest that you not flick your wand so much next time I think that may have been what caused the impromptu bonfire upon your desk." He turned away, and as he strode up the isle he gave Hermione a quick look. She knew what he was saying Are you happy now Hermione! Everyone thinks I have gone mad! She smiled a little only so he could see that she was getting a total kick out of this new kind streak of his. After she had cleaned her dirty rag not three but four times the bell finally rang. As she was packing up her things she heard Severus calling her name and asking her to stay after class. She nodded and went to stand in front of his desk as the rest of the students filed out. "Yes Professor what did you want to speak to me about?" she said with a falsely innocent look on her face.

"I hope you enjoyed that Granger." He said with a wry smile on his face.

"Ohhh I did very much. But you should have enjoyed it too! It always feels good to be nice to people doesn't it?" she said.

"While I did enjoy it I have to admit that it wasn't for those particular reasons." He said with his classic smirk. "It was seeing Longbottom's face after I had asked him if he was alright that really did it for me." He said while chuckling.

Hermione smiled at hearing him laugh. It was a very rare thing and to know that it was happening because of her made her feel as if she had accomplished something. "I'm glad to see that you are least getting something out of it." She said smiling back at him. "So I guess I will see you tonight?"

"Why do you say that as if it was a question you practically live in the dungeons these days. It would be hard to not see me!"

"I know but I was just making sure that it was still okay for me to come down tonight. I feel that with everything going on you might like some privacy now and then."

"Quiet woman! You will be late for your classes, I will see you tonight."

Hermione smiled at how easily he admitted to wanting her company. "Okay then see you tonight!" She said and then turned to go to Transfiguration. Severus was right, she would be late for her next class if she didn't hurry!

SPOV

It was only Tuesday, which meant that he still had four more days to go of being nice to Longbottom. His reputation had not yet been ruined but it was definitely under scrutiny. He was now having lunch in the Great Hall it was obvious that he was one of the main points of today's conversations, he had at least half of the student population staring at him.

"So Severus I have heard some interesting things in the past two days. Care to explain?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about Minerva."

"I have heard rumors about you being nice to Mr. Longbottom, is that true?"

"I have done no such thing! Just because I haven't yelled at him recently doesn't mean that I am being nice! I am a fair teacher Minerva despite what you may believe I do not yell at my students unless they deserve it."

"Oh come off it Severus you know as well as I do that that isn't true. Now what's really going on?"

"I assure you Minerva there is nothing going on!" He said standing up. He would eat in his rooms until the end of the week, he refused to put up with anymore questions or looks while he was eating.

It was Wednesday evening and Hermione and Severus had just finished up for the evening. They had had a reasonably productive evening and had figured out the next step of the antidote. They were now sitting in their respective chairs reading when suddenly Hermione looked up at Severus and said, "Severus"

"Hmm." He said not really paying attention due to the fact that he was in the middle of a very interesting article written by his favorite potioneer Bartholomew Wattlebee.

"Why did Gryffindor go down seventy points today?"

At hearing her question he turned all of his focus onto her.

"I witnessed some students acting inappropriately in public this evening." He said defensively.

"Who did you see?" She asked but already knowing the answer.

"If you must know it was Mr. Weasley and Miss Brown."

Hermione smiled watching her friend feign innocence. "Thank you Severus."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"That was your way of defending me. I know it was so don't deny it." She said cutting him off. "Maybe next time you can give them detention instead so Gryffindor will actually have a chance of winning the house cup." She said with a grin.

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind." He said with an evil glint in his eye. He was probably thinking of what he could get away with assigning Ron to do during the detention she thought amusedly. As she was entertaining herself with a few of her own ideas, her thoughts were broken by a sharp intake of breath. In an instant Severus was on his feet and making his way over to his bedroom where Hermione knew he kept his cloak and mask. This wasn't right, it was a Wednesday, the middle of the week. The Dark Lord knew that it was risky to have Severus leave the castle at times like these. "Severus don't go! This isn't right! He never asks you to go on Wednesdays!"

"Hermione this isn't the first time that I have been summoned during the week."

"Please don't go! Severus what if-"

"Hermione I cannot argue with you right now! I have to go. When I come back you better not be here. Go back to your dormitory in an hour or so, I will see you tomorrow. Now I must go." At this point Hermione was barely holding back her tears it was crazy how she was still reacting like this after all the times she had witnessed this exact event.

"Now promise me that you won't be waiting around for me to return."

"Severus I can't-"

"Hermione I don't have time for this! Now just promise me!"

"Okay, okay I promise." He nodded and then turned away from her and was gone. She waited until she heard the door to the secret passage close until she broke down in tears. She didn't ever want him to see her like this. She knew he had a hard enough time making himself go without knowing what it put her through.

Hermione was beside herself with nerves, what if Severus was able to get back in one piece but unable to get back to the dungeon. As soon as she thought of it an image of a very weak Severus struggling to stand up came into her mind. No she wasn't going to let that become a reality! She thought to herself determinedly. She ran back to Gryffindor tower being careful that nobody saw her coming out of the portrait hole it was after all still quite early.

When she walked into the common room her eyes instantly went to the couch by the fire where she saw Ron and Lavender sucking face. She rolled her eyes. This is why I never come back early otherwise I'd have to see that all the time. When nobody was looking she snuck up to the boys dormitory. Luckily Harry was at a lesson with Dumbledore so she knew that he wouldn't be up there. She quickly went over to Harry's trunk and started rifling through it. When finally she found the two things she was looking for. She picked up the cloak and the map and put everything back in the trunk. Then to make sure no one saw her coming down from the boys' dormitory she wrapped herself in the cloak and went to her room to wait for Severus' return. If he was, in fact fine and not in need of assistance then she wouldn't go help him. At least she could fall asleep knowing he was all right. But if for some reason he did need help then Hermione would be there for him.

The hours passed painfully slow though she didn't really expect him to back until well-passed midnight, but she still couldn't help worrying. It was now half past two in the morning, and still there had been no sign of him. It wasn't uncommon for Severus to get back even later than this but considering he had class in a few hours Hermione was really starting to think the worst.

Suddenly she saw the dot that she had been waiting for appear. Severus Snape had just come through the gates and was now slowly making his way up the long path to the school. But after only a minute the dot stopped again. Hermione held her breath as she waited for the dot to move again. But it didn't. She quietly jumped off her bed and threw the invisibility cloak on. Thankfully the girls in her dorm had gone to sleep long ago and it would have taken much more to wake them. When she went downstairs she quickly checked the map to make sure no one happened to be outside the Gryffindor entrance. Luckily it looked like everyone was asleep and peeves seem to be making trouble for the elves near the Hufflepuff quarters. She ran as fast as she could checking the map every couple of minutes to make sure the coast was clear. Still under the cloak she made her way down the dirt path to the gates. "Severus!" she screamed upon seeing his deformed body lying on the ground. She ran over taking the cloak off so he could see it was her, and knelt beside him cradling his head in her lap.

"Hermione? What are you doing here?" His voice was so weak he could barely finish the sentence. Hermione tried to hold back the pain in her eyes.

"I had to make sure you were alright."

He mumbled something that sounded close to "Stupid Gryffindor."

Hermione let out a laugh. It was so like him to bring up house stereotypes at a time like this. "So do you think you can get up?"

"Just let me sleep…."

"Severus! No! No! Don't go to sleep you must stay awake! Please!"

Thinking fast Hermione levitated him and decided to bring him back to his quarters. If she had brought him to Madame Pomfrey it would be hard to explain why she had been out of bed so late and she knew for a fact that Severus didn't like to go to the hospital wing.

When she had finally made it to his bedroom she carefully put his body down on the bed. She did a charm that would tell her all of his injuries. She winced at seeing the long list appear in front of her. He was in a lot of pain from an extensive amount of time under the cruciatus curse he also had three cracked ribs, a broken finger, five severe lacerations and a few bruises. Thankfully she knew how to heal all of these wounds. She ran into his bathroom and gathered all the supplies that she would need. She started pouring potion after potion down his throat. She sat there patiently waiting for the potions to take effect. After five painfully slow minutes later his eye fluttered open.

"Severus! You're awake! Thank Merlin I was so worried!" Hermione said clutching one of his hands.

"How did I get here?" he said looking around his room bemusedly.

"I levitated your body here after you fainted outside the gates. Don't worry nobody saw us I was very careful. How are you feeling?"

"Considerably better than I was half an hour ago. What did you give me?"

"Well lets see I gave you blood replenishing, skele-gro, invigoration draught, a pepperup potion, a revive potion, and a strengthening solution. Of course I haven't used the salves yet I was about to do that but I thought it best to wake you first and see how you were feeling."

"There will be no need for the salves I can do that myself tomorrow."

"Are you sure I don't mind-"

"Hermione." He said with a warning growl.

"Right sorry I'll just go then. Sleep well Professor."

"Wait before you go would you mind getting me the dreamless sleep."

"Oh! Yes of course no problem I should have brought it out with me before but I guess since you were unconscious at the time I didn't-"

"Hermione please stop babbling it's giving me a headache." He said as she walked over and handed him the vile.

"I'm sorry it's just that…. Oh Severus I was so worried!"

"Don't be ridiculous woman I was perfectly fine!"

"Fine? Fine? Severus you were not fine! You couldn't even move when I found you, you weren't even conscious!"

"I would have woken up and been able to get back I just needed to rest, I have done this before you know."

"So what did he want? Can you tell me?"

"He was just being impatient and reminding me that he doesn't like waiting. I think he thought it would have more of an effect because he doesn't usually summon me in the middle of the week."

"Hmmm." Hermione said deep in thought. "I'm just glad you are alright." She said with a weak smile. "Goodnight Severus."

"Goodnight Hermione." He said right before he downed the dreamless sleep.