Hermione Granger lay in Snape's bed pretending to be unconscious, which she hadn't been for the last ten minutes. She was trying to process the information that had made her incapacitated in the first place and she was doing fairly well, accepting that sev-professor Snape wasn't dead, and that she was now laying in the very bed that she fantasized about (albeit not doing what she imagined doing in such a place).
"Why is it, Miss Granger, that you are conscious, and yet still preside in my bed?"
She tried even harder to keep appearances, trying to breath slower for one.
"Come now Granger, you've been caught, now why don't you open those pretty little saucer-balls and GET THE HELL OUT." He paused "Or is it such a shock to you that your professor owns silk sheets that you just can't seem to get up?"
Oooo she hadn't notice that, it'll be good material for the next fant-
"MISS GRANGER!" It wasn't Snape's deep timbre, but a high pitched squeal, outraged apparently. At this she did get up, so quickly in fact that she fell to the floor with a loud THUMP! The sheets followed her, tangling around her.
She looked up to see Professor McGonagall staring down at her, how her face looked shocked and pinched at the same time she would never know.
Snape looked at her lazily.
"Ah, Minerva, would you please tell me why, when I'm finally released from the infirmary and looking forward to relaxing for the first time in years I find one of your Gryffindor's cozying up in my chambers?"
For a second McGonagall looked flabbergasted, but soon composed herself, back straight, chin up.
"I have no idea why Miss Granger is in your chambers, she's been locked in her room for the past four days and then, this morning we found her gone. I came down here to see if you would kindly offer your help." She stopped a second and glared at him.
"But obviously you have already found her, I will bring her with me, Misers Potter and Weasley have been very worried."
Hermione already had her hand on the door knob by the time they stopped talking and was trying to make a quick and quiet exit, but of course things never go as planned.
"Where are you going Miss Granger?"
Her back hunched and she turned her head, he was staring at her intensely.
"Gryffindor Tower."
"Indeed." He drawled, eyebrow lifting. She nodded and quickly opened the door, sprinting to the Tower.
***
Severus Snape hated wasting time, so when Granger and Minerva left he took off his teaching robes and put on a fresh button down dress shirt, black slacks, and the new pair of dragon hide boots that he'd gotten himself as an early Christmas present.
Although Severus never cared much for his appearance he also didn't want to come off as an old pervy teacher who wanted his twice younger student. He checked himself in the mirror on the way out, teeth (a little crooked, but white and not too terrible), hair (greasiness gone, looked normal), nose (nothing to do about that). All in all he didn't look so bad. He mentally prepared himself for a second and left.
He was going to meet Albus in regards to his 'reward'.
***
Two voices assaulted her ears when she came through the portrait hole.
" 'Mione!"
She was then enveloped in a hug from both sides.
"I'm fine, I'm OK, now shove off." She said playfully. Harry and Ron both smiled warily.
Harry spoke first. "We thought maybe a rouge Death Eater caught you." She sighed.
"There are only two rouge Death Eaters left, and I doubt they are anywhere near here and therefore unable to kidnap me." That didn't placate them enough so she hugged them both.
"Its fine He's dead and we're still alive, nothing could keep me away from you guys."
They had a quiet moment before Ron's stomach rumbling broke it.
"I'm hungry."
They all laughed and headed toward the kitchens
***
"Ah, Severus, come in my boy." Albus waved his hand, motioning him to come in and take a seat. He sat down in a very cushiony chair in front of the desk, waiting for Albus to finish whatever it was he was writing.
He finally put his quill down and spoke, eyes mischievous.
"Have you ever played a crossword before Severus?" God, the old man was turning senile.
"Can't say that I have Headmaster." He tried to keep it blunt, without being rude, he was after all nervous (For once in his life) and wanted to get it over with.
"Hmmm" he said absently, nodding his head.
"I'll give you one before you leave, one should always try everything once."
"Of course Headmaster."
Albus studied him, taking in his clean appearance.
"Is there something wrong Severus you haven't spoken to me so formally since your school days, usually by this point in the conversation you've at least called me 'old man' twice or at least 'senile'?"
Severus decided to be blunt.
"Remember our conversation in the infirmary Albus?" he drawled, smirking. Albus was a little taken aback by that smirk.
"Of course I do, so is there something that you want Severus, a raise in pay, or maybe a new lab?" he asked, guessing, he had no idea what was coming.
He scowled "You know I have no need for pay and would rather not be if you had not been so insistent upon it, and my lab is fine, I have no need for a new one." He paused, deciding to play with him a little bit. "No, What I want is something living."
Albus looked confused "What do you want a cat, dog, mayhap something a little more illegal?"
Severus smirked and lifted his eyebrow. "No, What I want resides in this very castle, and is not an animal" he looked thoughtful for a second "Well, depending if she brushes her hair that day."
It finally dawned on Albus what he wanted; his eyes lost his twinkle and narrowed behind his glasses.
"Who?" he asked quickly.
"I'll give you a hint; she's very bossy and constantly has her head in the books."
"Minerva!" Albus looked outraged.
"No! Hermione Granger." Severus looked sick.
The room was quiet and just a little tense. Albus put his head on his folded hands.
"And what do you plan to do with her?"
Severus smirked and scowled at the same time.
"That does not matter."
Albus took that in and considered the whole thing. Standing up and pacing the back of his desk, he finally came to a decision.
"You will have to be discrete, if you are found out; I cannot help you, nor her. I also want your promise that she will be safe in your hands." At this he stared straight at Severus.
He bowed his head "You have my word as a wizard that no knowingly harm will come to her at my hands." Magic swirled around them, he had invoked a wizard oath, if broken, will not kill, but terribly hurt.
Albus came around and shook his hand.
"It is settled then, the debt wizarding kind has to you is repaid."
