Hermione took a slow walk to her chambers, which were down in the dungeons. She found that she actually enjoyed being down in the dungeons as it was blissfully quiet, which meant she could indulge in her favourite pastime of reading, without the noise she had to endure when he stayed in the Griffindor shared rooms.

Suddenly she became aware of the sound of footsteps behind her. She stopped walking and reached for her wand, old habits die hard as she was still constantly on edge and felt threatened by any unknown noise she heard.

She backed up against the wall, hidden by shadows, as she heard the footsteps get closer and closer. When she knew the hidden assailant was close to her, she jumped out of the shadows and held her wand up defensively "STOP WHERE YOU ARE" she demanded.

"Well that's a little rude Miss Granger" she heard the unknown threat say as he stepped from the shadows.

"Professor Snape, I am so sorry I didn't realise it was you. I'm still a little edgy when I'm on my own" She explained as she returned her wand to the pocket in her robes.

"What are you doing down here Sir? If you don't mind me asking" She said to the tall gentleman in front of her.

"Trying to get to my quarters, Harry seems adamant I am still an invalid and I only just managed to persuade him that I am fully capable of getting myself back to my room" he replied as he rubbed his throat.

"Is it still sore?" Hermione asked, motioning to his throat.

"Yes very, thank Merlin I still have my voice though as how else will I strike fear into the hearts of my students" he replied with a smirk.

"Indeed" Hermione replied giggling.

"May I inquire as to why you are down here Miss Granger?" He asked.

"My chambers are also down here" She replied with a smile.

"Ah, I see well in that case allow me to escort you to your room" He motioned for her to walk with him.

As they started to walk to their rooms in silence, Hermione couldn't help but admire the man walking with her. He was as tall and as handsome as she remembered although now his once greasy hair looked soft and silky, his face seemed to have less stress lines and looked fuller, he still wore the same clothes black of course but the colour suited him.

Before long they had reached Hermione's room, she turned to face him "Thank you for walking me to my door Sir"

"Your welcome Miss Granger, my room is down the hall" he replied, motioning to the direction of his room.

"Well, I will see you in the morning. I am looking forward to your lessons" She replied trying so hard not to blush.

"Indeed, Well good night Miss Granger"

"Please, call me Hermione" She replied shyly

"Good night Hermione" he said and with that he walked down the hall to his room his black robe billowing behind him.

As she saw him close the door to his room, she lent with her back against the wall.

I cannot be near the man without my heart beating like a drum! He's my mentor, for Merlin's sake, nothing could happen between us but those eyes. oh his eyes are so enchanting they are like obsidean black windows to his soul, I could look into his eyes forever.

She let out a sigh before she opened her door and walked through her living room to her bedroom. She changed into blue sweat pants and a white vest before getting into bed and drifting off to sleep with the image on her Potions Master in her mind.

She had been asleep for a few hours when she was awoke by the sound of screaming, it was quiet but she was always a light sleeper. She sat up in her bed and tried to work out where the screams were coming from, she then realised they were coming from Professor Snape's room, so without hesitation she jumped out of bed, grabbed her wand and ran to his room. I HAVE TO HELP HIM.

When she reached his room, she opened the door using a spell and tried to find him. He wasn't in his living room so she ran to his bedroom, she opened the door and stood defensively ready to attack what ever was hurting him but found no one in the room, she put her wand down and rushed to his bed.

He was laying on his back, writhing about. He looked like he was in so much pain, he was sweating and he had pushed all his covers away from him.

He's having a nightmare what should I do? She thought to herself trying not to panic. He let out another scream and instinctively, she scrambled into his bed and wrapped her arms around his neck trying not to hurt his still healing neck wound and gently pulled him close to her and just held him as his nightmare played out.

After a few minutes, he let out a final scream which caused him to wake up. He looked around disorientated and saw Hermione next to him, holding him and before he could figure out why she was in his room, the memories of the nightmare came back to him and he turned his head into her chest, clutched onto her vest with one hand and he just wept.

She just held him tighter as he cried. She held back the tears that were forming in her own eyes, she had never seen him so vulnerable. "It's ok I'm here" She said softly and rocked him gently. After a few minutes she felt his grip on her vest loosen and she felt his body relax. He sat up and dried his eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that, Hermione. I would never have wanted you to see me in such a state it's just …." He couldn't finish the sentence as tears started to slowly run down his cheek and dropped his head to look into his lap.

Hermione cupped his chin with her hand and lifted his head before wiping the tears away with her thumb. She smiled gently at him as she looked into his eyes, she saw only pain.

"It's ok Sir, you have nothing to be sorry about. I know that your strict, moody persona is your defence mechanism" she whispered before pulling him back into her embrace and she felt him slowly wrap his arms around her waist "You can let your guard down with me, I wont tell anyone"

"Thank you Hermione" he whispered.

They stayed like that for a while before she gently pushed him from her and looked at him.

"Would you like to talk about it?" She asked him as she took one of his hands and entwined her fingers with his to comfort him.

"I don't wish to burden you with my nightmares Hermione, I'm sure I am the cause of enough of your own" he replied sadly.

"Never Sir. I always had faith in you, even when others didn't" She replied honestly "Now please, talk it over with me. It may make you feel better" She encouraged him by softly squeezing his hand.

He nodded and laid back down motioning for her to join him. She shuffled under the blanket and pulled it over him.

"This is so improper Hermione. You're my student, you shouldn't be in my bed" He said with a sigh.

"Sir I have known you long enough to know that you wouldn't do anything improper. I like to think we are friends now, seeing as we have been through so much together over the last few years, so there is nothing wrong with it. Please, don't worry yourself" She replied as she laid down, resting her head on one of his pillows.

"Well if we are friends, you may call me Severus" He said with a faint smile.

"Thank you Severus, now please tell me what you were dreaming about" she replied taking his hand in hers again.

"I was reliving the night I was nearly killed. The pain was indescribable, I have never been so fearful in my life" he whispered his voice breaking with emotion.

"I didn't deserve to live"

Hermione gasped in shock "Of course you deserve to live Severus, you of all people deserve to live"

"Oh Hermione, I don't. I've seen so many bad things, I caused so much hurt which I could never forgive myself for. I'm not the evil person people thought I was but I had to act like I was. It took a great toll on me being a spy I just wanted to be a teacher for Merlin sake" he said his voice straining with pain.

"Severus, you did a great deed by putting yourself in harms way to protect Harry, I know for a fact he will never forget that"

"Don't I know it. He's been fussing over me ever since Minerva told him I was alive" he replied with a hint of a smile.

"How am I suppose to live with the deeds I have done, Hermione? I feel like I should be rejoicing at the fact the war is over, I have completed my task and normality can return but I seem to still live in darkness, plagued by nightmares, haunted by my deeds" he said tears again falling down his face.

"You will learn to let go of the past Severus, you are no longer in the palm of evil. You are surrounded by people who admire you, respect you and want to help you. I can't pretend to know how you truly feel as I didn't experience the horrors that you endured however I can tell you that it does get easier. I am still haunted by the memories of being tortured and I still bear the scars" she showed him her arm with the word 'mudblood' still etched into her flesh, the wound was not healing properly "but I choose to accept that those bad times are in the past and that good triumphed over evil, I will wear these scars as a badge of honour because I survived when so many others didn't"

"You are a wise woman, Hermione. I am truly sorry I couldn't do anything to stop you from getting hurt" he said holding her wounded arm and running his fingers very lightly over the offending word.

"You have no need to be sorry Severus, you completed your task to the best of your ability and I was proud to be a part of the downfall of evil" she smiled sincerely at him.

"Thank you Hermione. I am sorry I woke you, you should get yourself off to bed and back to sleep" he said.

"Are you sure you will be ok on your own?" She asked worried.

"I will be fine Hermione" He lied.

"Ok but if you need me, please come get me" she replied moving closer to him and placing a kiss on his forehead. She then got out of his bed and walking back to her room.

As his bedroom door closed he rolled onto his back, his body aching from his wounds that were still healing. He sighed and closed his eyes. I told you she would look after you Severus he heard in his mind. He smiled as he slowly drifted off to sleep, his old mentor Dumbledore's words acting like a lullaby and the warmth of Hermione's kiss still on his forehead.