The next morning

My plan was ready to be implemented, I was determined to make Severus see how unfair and un-just he had been towards Hermione, and normally he would ignore me or argue his way out of such accusations. Not this time. I raised my head as I heard him stir in his bed, I was well rested (finally), and he was not, another advantage. There was a lot of groaning and cursing, peeking out from the bookcase where I had slept (usually I slept in the living room in my own bed but I needed to know when he first awoke) I saw him struggle with the bedclothes while trying to shield his eyes from the dim light that barely lit the room, the drapes were thick and kept the light from the room, that of course was about to change. Scuttling towards one of the curtain pulls I took one last look at my Master before giving it a firm yank, the result was instantaneous. Bright light flooded the room and Severus let out a rather colourful curse before clapping both hands over his eyes, hangovers always made him more sensitive to light, giggling now I rushed out of the room to watch the rest of my scheme pan out. After a few minutes he stumbled into the potions lab, I was hidden by various books piled on top of Severus' personal potions cabinet, not that he would have noticed me in his hung-over state but I was taking no chances. I stifled my laughter as he stubbed a toe on a workbench, understand that normally I would be the ever concerned familiar but Severus needed to see that Hermione was good for him and I would do whatever it took to make him happy, even if I had to drag him kicking and screaming. Though even I with my newly hardened heart found it difficult not to rush to comfort him at his scream of disbelief and pain when he opened the cabinet.

I had smashed every hangover relief potion that he possessed. Moaning and clutching his no doubt aching head he sank to the floor, conjuring up my resolve once again I began my attack.

"SEVERUS!" I screamed at him, leaping down onto the workbench nearest to him. He groaned in pain, it must have been one hell of a hangover.

"Please Sophie," he begged "not so loud"

"Not so loud!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in indignation "well I learned from the best, what is this I hear about you and Hermione having a screaming match in the hospital wing!"

"You know nothing about that Sophia" he growled, glaring at me through blood-shot eyes.

"I know plenty," I hissed back, hackles rising "I know that you had a go at Hermione for no apparent reason."

"She had no right to be there"

"She had every right Severus, the girl cares for you is that so hard to believe? That she would want to take care of you, to make sure you were alright? That she might love you?"

"She's only a child she knows nothing of love."

"Eighteen is of legal age you know that; she is no longer a child."

"Granger is not in love with me if anything it's an infatuation, a childlike crush"

"Then how come I was with her half the night while she cried her heart out, she feels something for you, why try to deny it? I know you feel something for her too."

He sent me his killer glare; I had never seen him so angry or upset all at once, I dared not even touch our bond to see what his emotions were; I would lose my nerve if I did.

"What I feel for the girl?" he hissed "she is the most annoying, obnoxious young woman I have ever come across, the only way I can bare to withstand her company is the knowledge that she will soon be leaving Hogwarts and I hope to never see her again, for why would I want to waste my time with a silly, know-it-all Gryffindor?" I had seen him employ this tactic so many times before, outright denial, pushing his emotions away, because if he did not acknowledge them, then they did not exist because love of the scale I knew that he felt for Hermione scared him. I knew he did not mean it, it is a pity that not everyone would realise this.

A choked gasp cut through the silence that followed Severus' outburst, both our heads whipped round at the person standing at the slightly open door (a door Severus must have left open last night in his drunken state) hand raised to knock. Of all the bitter irony in the world, this must have been the greatest example, it was her. Although she was on the other side of the room to us I could see her eyes well up and she began making strange gasping sounds. I briefly glanced at Severus, his mouth was open wide, I had never seen him look so shocked or so horrified.

He made as though to move towards her but before he could complete the movement she had spun on her heel and raced down the corridor, her sobs echoing off the stone walls. I was still standing on the table, mouth open in shock as I watched Severus crumple to the floor once again, I could practically taste my guilt and nearly choked on it when I saw tears fill his eyes. Severus never showed emotion to anyone, that was why he pushed Hermione away so harshly, to have him break down in front of was perhaps one of the most horrifying experiences of my life. Not really sure what to do I watched as his shoulders shook with silent sobs, before reaching behind a pile of books to the item I had hidden behind it. Gently I placed the last vial of hangover relief potion in front of him, being a Slytherin meant that I was willing to deprive Severus to get what I wanted; being his familiar meant me caring enough to not deprive him for too long.

"I'm so sorry Severus" I whispered as he downed the vial of potion, his eyes still streaming with tears ready to be shed.

"It is not your fault Sophie" he murmured brokenly, before reaching for me but I dodged his hands and raced out of the room, I could hear him calling after me but I did not look back, I had caused this and I had to put things to rights.

It was strangely reminiscent of the previous night, however this time the hallways were packed with students and teachers alike, laughing and celebrating the end of the Dark Lord. Dodging and leaping, I hurriedly made my way down the corridors, having no clue as to where I was going until my journey was cut short by a wall of orange.

"Where is he?" demanded a rather irate Crookshanks.

"Where is who?" I asked, attempting to placate the hissing and spitting ball of fur in front of me.

"That greasy master of yours" he spat arching his back, I arched mine in return, no-one called my human greasy! "Because of him" he continued "the Mistress has been crying in the room of requirement, no-one hurts my human!"

I could understand his anger, I would feel the same if anyone had dared hurt Severus, but now was really not the time, I had learnt where Hermione was, and I needed to explain to her why Severus would do this, why he would push her away.

"I completely agree with you" I replied, which caused the cat to calm down immediately.

"Really?"

"Yes of course, in fact I think you should go and claw his legs right now"

"Well if you think so." And with that he began to turn towards the dungeons but I quickly interrupted him.

"Oh no, he isn't down there, he went up to the north tower, he needed some fresh air"

"Oh, thanks Sophia" said Crookshanks with a grin, turning towards the North Tower and off he went, determined to punish my Master. Shaking my head I made my way up the main staircase, stupid cat.

Again I found myself running up several staircases of Hogwarts, when this was resolved I definitely need some serious rest and relaxation. Finally I found myself on the seventh floor, panting in an effort to receive more oxygen. Cautiously I made my way towards the door to the room of requirement, although Hermione had been glad of my comfort last night, I was not so sure that she would welcome it now, my Master had after all just verbally degraded her and probably broken her heart. Touching the door with my nose I waited a few moments for the cat flap to appear. When it did I slinked through, easing my tail through slowly so as to prevent it banging shut.

The room I found myself in was filled with cushions and littered between them were several bars of what seemed to be chocolate, however it was a brand I had never seen before, with purple wrapping and "Cadbury Dairy Milk" written on the side. I crept slowly around piles of squishy cushions, my ears quirking as I heard a sniffing sound. Sticking my head around one large pile of pillows, I finally spotted her. If I had thought she had looked bad yesterday I was in for a shock now. Her nose was red from the increasingly large collection of used tissues surrounding her, her eyes were once again bloodshot and her hair looked like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards, forwards, and once around the lake. As quiet as I was being, she quickly spotted me, my fur a stark contrast to the pastel coloured cushions surrounding us. She moaned once and buried her head into the pile of cushions she was sprawled across. I couldn't help but shake my head in disdain, this girl was supposed to be a Gryffindor for heavens sake. Quickly I scaled the mountain of cushions upon which she was lying and paused suddenly. What could I possibly do? I could certainly attract her attention, but then what? There was no way she could understand me, and my explanation of Severus' behaviour could not be pointed out in a text book, it was too complex.

I admit I felt like sinking into the cushions myself and having a cry, until the room of requirement demonstrated how amazing magic can be. I needed to communicate with the girl, and the room of requirement had just the method to do that. Strangely marked tiles suddenly appeared around the area that myself and the girl were situated, cautiously I made my way towards them, only to stop in complete amazement as I realised that on each of the white tiles was a word. My determination returned full force, if the girl couldn't hear me, then she could read what I had to say, and if that didn't work, I could always drug her and drag her down to the dungeons (as a last resort).

It took longer than I expected to compile my speech, the constant running to and fro, moving a word here and one there tired me out. Finally though I completed it the explanation that could possibly allow my Master happiness at last with the woman he loved, he deserved nothing less. Chest heaving I clambered up the pile of cushions, only to see that the girl had not moved since she had seen me, for one scary moment I imagined that she may have stopped breathing, only to breathe a sigh of relief as I noticed that her shoulders were shaking with silent sobs. Seeing this my resolve hardened, enough was enough. Too long I had watched these sensible, intelligent and well suited people dance around each other; I had been with Severus since he was a boy and I would see to it that he received the happiness I knew Hermione could give him. I was also desperately tired of running around after the two of them and needed a very good scratching behind my ears as soon as possible. Gently I nudged her shoulder, no response, I dooked quietly, no response, I batted at her with my paws, she moaned slightly and buried her head deeper, my eyes narrowed, I bit her (hard), she responded.

I had to leap out of the way as she made a grab for me, clearly angry that her shoulder now bore the mark of my impatience, but it had made her look up.

"Why you annoying..." she mumbled pushing herself up into a seating position and glaring daggers at me, at least I had her attention. Before I lost her concentration I scampered over to the paragraph I had constructed, desperately hoping she would read what I had to say. I should not have really worried; I was dealing with a know-it-all who practically devoured every piece of reading material that came within 10 metres of her, this was no exception. I watched with anxiety as her eyes widened as she read my work.

"He didn't mean what he said. He feels threatened by the love he feels for you so he denies it, he sees emotions as a weakness. He has had a hard life, never experiencing love for another, don't give up on him, I know he loves you."

She looked a little shocked when she finished reading, but at least she had stopped crying. I waited, praying that the gods would not be so cruel as to deny my Master this happiness. She looked at me through bloodshot eyes and I could practically see the dawning understanding in her eyes, she placed a hand at her mouth and began to giggle slightly. My ears rose at that, what was there to laugh about.

"He loves me" she murmured to herself before focussing her gaze on me once again, "He loves me?"

I nodded.

"You're sure"

More nodding.

"Where is he?"