A/N:

Hey Guys, here is a really short chapter, it just seemed like a good place to end the it. I have to admit I like writing a shorter chapter it certainly takes the pressure off, let me know what you think about having shorter chapters but more frequent updates!

As always, Read/Review/Enjoy!

A Bathroom Tète-à-Tète

Chapter 28

"Hermione!" Severus snapped. "Stop reading those books, you've already apparated three times," he said, summoning his books on apparition that he'd lent her.

"Hey! I was reading those, I need to study, the exam is on Saturday!" Hermione practically screamed at him. "Honestly how could they think that two weeks notice is enough time?" She said outraged.

"I've seen you, you will pass. That is all I have to say on the matter, so drop it." Severus said leaving no room for discussion, and Hermione to pout over the lost argument. "Thank Merlin Draco isn't able to get his license, that's all I'd need to make my job harder. A Draco that can apparate away from me. I still haven't figured out what he's up to or where he's going, honestly it's like he is already apparating." he said angrily.

"I know where he's going." Hermione said meekly.

Severus' eyes widened at this news, his face turning to one of suspicion, "What do you mean you know?" He said dangerously.

"Don't be ridiculous Severus, there's no reason to get so cross, I mean that I know where he's going. I should have told you, but with everything that's been going on, it just slipped my mind." Hermione said, bracing herself for what was to come.

"It slipped your mind?" Severus said, his body now towering over hers.

"I'm sorry all right, I've just been so busy and I should have told you, I should have come straight down here and told you, but I just didn't think." Hermione said tearing up a little.

At seeing her tear up, all the anger seemed to seep out of Severus, taking a deep breath to regain his composure, "So where exactly is the boy going?"

"He's doing something in the Room of Requirement. I'm not sure what though." Hermione said, relieved to see that the argument was short lived.

"Should I even ask how you found out?" Severus said raising a brow.

"It's probably better that you don't."

"That's what I thought." Severus snorted, "If you want to continue reading your apparition books down here you may." Severus said nodding to the pile of books on the coffee table.

"Really? You don't mind?" Hermione asked, already tempted to go grab one.

"As long as you stop that infernal nail biting. You always do it when your anxious about something and it drives me mad." Severus said grumpily.

"Thank you Severus!" Hermione said grabbing the first book on top and settling herself into her chair by the fire. Too engrossed was she to see the small smile that made it's way slowly across the Potion Master's face.

An hour later found Hermione and Severus in the same place, Hermione, sitting in her chair reading, and Severus in his chair doing the very same. It was then that they were interrupted, when Severus let in a sharp intake of breath, his left hand flexing, a sure sign that he had been summoned. Hermione kept silent as he left to gather his cloak and mask. "I must go," he said not quite meeting her eye as he fastened his robe.

"All right." Hermione whispered. "It's still early, I might wait up." Severus nodded, indicating that he had heard her and that he didn't mind if she did, a rare occurrence for him. Without another word he left her there, where she was no longer thinking about her apparition exam.

…...

Hermione had honestly tried to stay up, really she had, but after two in the morning she decided to lay on the couch and just rest her eyes. The next thing she knew she was being woken up by the familiar voice of Severus Snape. "Hermione, Hermione," he said in a low voice, shaking her shoulder slightly, as he crouched on his knees by her side.

"Wha- Severus? What time is it?" Hermione said groggily sitting up, trying to fix her hair which she was sure resembled a birds nest. Her hair was the last thing she was thinking about when she saw his face. "Severus what's wrong!" she said her voice going up an octave or two. He looked dreadful, he wasn't hurt, not physically at least. His skin was paler than usual and his eyes- his eyes which were usually so controlled, were full of sorrow, remorse, and guilt? "What happened?"

She reached out with her right hand to cradle his face, but he wouldn't allow it, moving his face out of her grasp, "Don't!"

"Severus you're starting to scare me, what's happened?"

"There was a raid tonight. He called us to Malfoy Manor and said that he had been slighted and that it was time for retribution." Severus said spitting out the last word. "Myself and five other Death Eaters, including Greyback, were assigned to teach the blood traitors what happens when you defy the Dark Lord. When we got to the house, Greyback lost no time in making the boy his prey, it was not even a full moon, not that he seemed to care. The boy couldn't have been more than five." Severus said letting out a sigh.

"You know that there's nothing that you could have done." Hermione said consolingly.

"Yes, there is always something, I could have at least made the boys death painless, but now he's dying in St. Mungo's. And now the Montgomery sisters are being woken up as we speak, to be informed that their brother is dying."

"The Montgomery sisters, I know them, their first and third years right? What could have a five year old done to offend the Dark Lord?" Hermione said bemused.

"Nothing. The boy was faultless, his parents are the one's who defied him and that was their punishment." Severus said, he looked down to realize that he still had his Death Eater robes on, he started frantically trying to pull them off.

"Severus calm down! Calm down. Here, let me help you," Hermione said trying to sooth him. He stopped moving, letting Hermione take over. "At least this one has less buttons than your teaching robes," she said pulling his cloak off of him, banishing it back onto it's hook in his bedroom.

"Ah finally, the silver lining I've been looking for." Severus said half-heartedly, collapsing on the couch.

"You must be exhausted, you certainly look it," Hermione quipped. "Why don't you go take a shower, while I make you some of my tea, hmm?" It was a testament to just how tired Severus was that he didn't argue. Hermione watched as he walked into his room, while she went to go make him some tea.

Five minutes later Hermione walked, tea in hand over to Severus' bedroom door and knocked, "Severus, I have you're tea." There was no answer, knocking again she said, "Severus?" At hearing no answer again, she decided that he must still be in the bathroom, five minutes wasn't that long after all. Her thoughts were confirmed when she entered his room and heard the shower running in the adjoining bathroom. She walked over to his bedside table and placed the tea there, after placing a charm on the mug to keep it's contents warm she turned and walked over to the bathroom door, closed her eyes and opened it. "Severus, I-" there was a sudden spluttering followed by what sounded to be a few shampoo bottles falling onto a tile floor.

"What on earth do you think your doing woman!" Severus yelled.

"Don't get so upset, my eyes are closed and I don't intend to open them until I'm safely on the other side of this door." Hermione said bossily.

"Get out! You are my student, this is highly inappropriate!"

"All right don't get your knickers in a twist, though I guess you aren't wearing knickers at the moment."

"Hermione!"

"Sorry I just couldn't resist. I just wanted to tell you that I left you your cup of tea on your bedside table, I'll see you tomorrow."

"And that really couldn't have waited another five minutes?" Severus demanded.

"What can I say, I'm tired." Hermione replied cheekily, shrugging her shoulders, though she wasn't quite sure that he could see her. "Any ways I'll be off now, goodnight Severus!" she called.

"Impertinent little-" Hermione heard as she closed the door. Smiling to herself she walked back to her dormitory. Normally Hermione wouldn't have done anything so brash. She knew doing something like walking into his bathroom while he was showering for example would help get his mind off what had happened this evening, and judging by his reaction it had worked.