Most of the Professor's reacted as Snape had expected them to. Total disbelief. That was fine by him, they did not yet know of his decision. That was how he wanted it to remain for now. He had a lot of things to do and make up for. This would be a good place to start.

Slowly the others started to stir. He was glad when Tonks piped up, it prevented them from yelling at him because he had not told them and he had not exactly been kind to Hermione in the past.

"Yes I do believe Severus is right. It might be best if we talk in private." It was said quickly and shocked the other Professors enough that all of them left Headmaster included. Jaws dragging on the floor as they went. Inside his head he smiled at the thought of how they would look when the whole truth came out.

As soon as they had left both Snape and Tonks set about putting up spells to keep people out and stop them from being overheard. They didn't know it at the time but Hogwarts aided them in their efforts. As soon as they were done they drew up chairs facing Hermione leaving them in a strange triangle shape. When Hermione's head remained bowed and Tonks looked too uncomfortable to speak Snape cleared his throat and started to speak.

"We all know the unfortunate reason that we are here. I am sorry for your loss Miss..."

Snape's voice was sombre as he spoke but faltered when he went to address Hermione. This caught Both Hermione and Tonks attention. They studied his face and noted that he was waging some sort of internal was over something to do with Hermione. Privately Hermione was thinking that this was not going to go well; she had managed to upset him without even speaking. She was startled from her thoughts when he spoke directly to her. If it had not been for her, Hermione would have been convinced that Snape was under some sort of spell.

"Seeing as we will be seeing more of each other than in class, I feel that it is not appropriate for me to call you 'Miss Granger' all the time or for you to call me 'Professor Snape'. From now on when we are in private or with people we trust, I wish you to call me Severus and I would like to call you Hermione. If that is alright with you."

It was not phrased as a question but Hermione who had thought he would spend time grumbling about being saddled with a 'Bloody, Know-it-all Gryffindor' was so shocked that she thought it was and promptly nodded her assent.

Severus, as he now was, seemed to over look this and continued though Hermione noticed that he sounded happier. She thought the looks on the faces of the other students would be priceless if they could see this situation now.

"Good." Severus felt more confident as he spoke. "Now I don't believe that you and Nymphadora Tonks have met but she is your other guardian. Now we both need to discuss several things with you but first I think Tonks would like to introduce herself."

Both Snape and Hermione turned to look at Tonks who had been quiet until then. Her only real interaction had been to glare at Severus when he said her full name. She looked nervous, excited and sad. All these things shone through in her voice as she spoke.

"Hello Hermione. Please just call me Tonks. That goes for you too." She once again glared at Snape who looked towards the floor in a decidedly innocent manner. Hermione thought she was going insane or had been warped to an alternate dimension or that Severus had been poisoned or cursed and would he be pissed when he came to his senses. She was just about to bring this up when Tonks started to speak again.

"The most important things about me you need to know are that I am an auror and a metamorphagus. That means that I -"

Hermione cut her off mid-sentence, "Can change your appearance at will simply by concentrating, though sometimes the transformation can be affected by the emotions of the person."

Hermione realised what she had done looked at the floor and went to apologise when Severus laughed. It was more of a chuckle actually but the whole idea of Severus Snape laughing was strange. Hermione was now leaning towards the idea of an alternate world. It made more sense then what was occurring.

Sna-wait Severus interrupted her thoughts. "Meet Hermione the know-it-all, book swallower and brightest witch of her age." He looked thoughtful for a moment before adding with a grin, "Also the only reason I haven't gone crazy due to the incompetence of some of her classmates."

Tonks let out a chuckle of her own before adding, "Yeah Sarah mentioned that once."

This comment sobered everyone up pretty quickly all of them looking in directions away from each other. The silence gave Hermione a second to comprehend the last few seconds. Not only had Severus complimented her he had grinned. If this wasn't an alternate reality she was sure the world would have imploded. She respected him as a teacher but this was just way weird. She knew that she had to ask. If she didn't she might go crazy.

"Excuse me," her voice was smaller than normal but both of them turned back to her even though Hermione was staring at the floor. "Are both of you okay, I'm not imaging things or have been sucked into an alternate reality? This is real, isn't it?"

Her question was full of worry, desperation and fear. If it was one of the above that might mean her parents were alive, if not...

"What do you mean Hermione?" It was Tonks who spoke sounding concerned for her. Then she heard Severus sigh. Before he muttered and then spoke to them both.

"This is my fault." It was quiet but his words sounded sad. He then spoke to them both.

"Hermione, the person I have been for the two years, you have known me is not who I really am. I have had to act and behave a certain way to maintain certain people's perception of me. During the war against Voldemort I acted as a spy for those opposed to him. This meant that while there was a chance he could return I had to maintain my cover if it was needed again. With confirmation of his destruction I am free to be myself. The way I acted towards you and your friends before was not how I wanted too, though Potter is an exception. Unfortunately I could not be seen taking an interest in the-boy-who-lived or his muggleborn friend who was proving all the purebloods wrong by, not only beating them at school but not bowing down to the prejudice and teasing that they and others heaped on you because you showed how smart you were. I know it can never make up for the last two years but I am sorry for how I treated you."

Hermione looked up at Severus and could see he was telling the truth. That coupled with her promise to her it was an easy decision.

"It's alright I understand... Severus." She was unsure about using his name but it had the desired effect he smiled and then spoke.

"Also thank you for never showing off when I gave you full marks, it was greatly appreciated."

"You're welcome."

It was the first conversation they had ever had. Severus hoped that it would not be their last.

"Now that that is over shouldn't we get down to business." Tonks did not want to disturb them but they needed to talk about several things.

"That's right we do," Severus said before launching into speech again. "Hermione the two wills you heard about one is a muggle will to deal with that part of the process, the other is magical. The muggle one we will hear when we go to your house, the magical one is held at Gringotts and will be read at your next visit. They mainly concern your guardianship and the muggle one in particular, your parent's funeral. Tonks and I will take care of these matters during our stay at your parent's house. You will then be moving in to my home ... our home. Tonks will be able to visit whenever she wants as will any friends you want to visit. Any questions." Severus stopped and looked at Hermione who seemed to be processing these words before she spoke.

"Not about that, however I was wondering why Sarah chose you, both of you?" She looked at them both hoping that she hadn't crossed a line. She did not think that she had but was still surprised when Tonks answered.

"Well both of us met Sarah at different times but through differing means we became her friends and earnt her complete trust. When your parents asked her and she knew she could not be your guardian she sought us out. She decided that if she couldn't take care of you she would leave you with two people whom she trusted above all others. That was us. She told us if we didn't accept that she wouldn't leave us alone until we accepted. Needless to say we did. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes. Thank you for being honest." Hermione responded.

She then promptly collapsed forward into their arms. Neither was surprised by this action. It had taken all of Hermione's energy to stay conscious for this long since hearing the news. She was exhausted in every way possible and what she had learned tonight had been too much.

After steadying Hermione's unconscious form Severus swung her into his arms before addressing Tonks.

"Are you right to pick her up tomorrow morning by yourself?" Tonks nodded her ascent and opened the doors, whilst removing the wards. Both of them shushed the others as the left only quietly speaking to inform them of their destination-

"Hospital wing."

They then proceeded silently, knowing that this was just the beginning.