Severus never went down to the dungeons even after being told to by several teachers. Eventually students were allowed to once again have free reign of the castle and the grounds after a nice long lecture about the consequences of unsupervised and even supervised duels. After today's events the staff wanted no more incidents.

Severus instead opted to sit under a tree by the lake and read. This was, of course, after trying to see what was wrong with Hermione and being turned away and told to come back later. He was reading a short story from Hermione's Edgar Allan Poe book that she had lent him, A Cask of Amontillado to be exact. It was cold and he had to regularly reset his warming charms but he enjoyed it. When you live on the British Isles your whole life you begin to disregard some of the weather problems. Though today was not that bad, in fact aside from the chill it would be a perfect day to go flying. 'I could have given Hermione her lessons today,' he mused. If only she had not full out attacked Dolohov, then everything would have went perfectly today. Well that and if he had gotten a shot at Black too. One out of two wasn't that bad though, maybe they would leave him alone.

"Oh Snivellus!" Of course they would not, what was he possibly thinking? "Oi get your greasy ass over here! You didn't think you would get away with that did you?"

"Get away with what, Black? Winning a fair fight? Though it wasn't really fair considering Potter's disregard for the rules, was it? I'm not surprised, years of three on one ambushes prove you don't care much for that sort of thing," Severus said calmly, finally turning to face the Marauders minus Lupin.

"You're too much of a coward to face us all," Black bellowed.

"I've done that quite a few times over the years; it is you who is afraid to take me on one on one."

Black appeared extremely insulted, apparently he didn't pay too much attention to his friend's defeat or that himself better. "I'm not afraid, I can take you right now!"

"Then do it!" someone yelled. Severus looked around to see they had attracted a crowd comparable to the one from that horribly incident in fifth year. But now not everyone was unanimously against Severus, many actually looked as if they wanted him to beat the dog. That dueling club really was a good idea.

"You know Potter," Severus said standing up, "You have done a terrible job as messenger." Severus walked towards the Gryffindors knowing he would get in trouble for this but not caring. He had wished for the opportunity to do this just a few minutes ago, had he not? He stood there defiantly in front of Black as the crowd began to chant, it seemed the staff's speeches had absolutely no impact on the student body. Severus had decided that the best way to get back at Black was to humiliate him with a quick easy win. No need to draw it out and waste time and energy, he had better things to spend them on and it would be a huge blow to the Gryffindor's ego.

Black began with a firing of random hexes and curses at Severus that the Slytherin easily blocked. He had read up about a powerful shield and taught himself how to use it. It came in handy now was he walked over to where Black was, forcing the runaway aristocrat to back up as his spells began rebounding until he couldn't back up anymore. Out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw Pettigrew pull out his wand. "Pettigrew I believe this is supposed to be a one on one fight, you can have a turn later when my back is not turned." Half of the crowd yelled at Pettigrew to put his wand away, mostly Slytherins and Ravenclaws he noted, and the chubby pathetic excuse for a lion obeyed. Potter stood beside his friend and watched with what looked like newfound reluctant respect for Severus. The Slyetherin had decided now was a good time to just end it, he hadn't thrown a single attack yet but he could already tell he had been right all along: individually the Marauders had no chance against him.

He silently cast a babbling curse to end the barrage of spells then used expelliarmus to disarm his opponent. He could have left it there but didn't. No, you see despite the fact that Severus denounced any connections to his filthy muggle father and his world Severus had felt a odd sense of pride showing Potter and every other privileged and pure blooded wizard there what a poverty stricken half blood could do, and he wanted to feel it again. A roundhouse kick to the stomach plus a powerful overhand right punch and Sirius Black was on the ground. Severus threw Black's wand at Potter's feet before going to retrieve Hermione's book.

Severus walked past the crowd, vaguely noticed the scorn and grudging respect he received and the money exchanging hands as bets were won and lost. He ended up walking past Lupin and Lily who he had not noticed in the crowd before. Surprisingly he didn't care how much they saw or what Lily thought happened, he didn't bother to observe their expressions past the fact that they were shocked. Instead he merely spoke to Lupin. "I'll tell Hermione you said hi and wished her well."

XXXXXXX

Severus snuck in to the infirmary to find two patients on cots on opposite sides of the large white room. Madame Pomfrey was tending to Dolohov's ailments as Hermione sat alone in her cot observing her nails. Severus walked up to his friend and placed her book on her bedside table before he sat down on her bed.

"How are you?" he whispered.

Hermione hesitated before whispering back, "Fine all things considered." She looked up the wizard, "Aren't you scared of me? Everyone who has seen me since has been, even Madame Pomfrey is wary. She won't let me have my wand."

Severus frowned at that. "I'm not scared of you. AS for your wand I'm afraid we must leave it. Won't be long before Dumbledore comes looking me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Be quiet, I'm going to place a notice me not charm on the two of us then we'll leave. I'll explain outside." Severus checked to make sure the nurse was not looking their way before casting the charm. The two slipped out undetected and did not realize that Madame Pomfrey had already noticed Severus come in and when she saw Hermione's bed empty she was in no hurry to find the pair.

Severus rushed towards the broom shed with Hermione falling behind with her much shorter legs eventually to the point where Severus grabbed Hermione's wrist to drag her along. When they stopped in front of the shed Hermione finally asked one of the many questions going through her head. "Why are you running from Dumbledore?"

"Fight with Black, ended up kicking his ass. Nothing all that unusual but I want to get some flying in before my punishment."

"Flying?"

"Yes, you wanted lessons."

"But after today I don't think it's really a good idea."

"You didn't freak out last time besides you'll ride with me the first couple times." Severus unlocked the doors and once again pulled out his old broom. This time Hermione got onto the broom voluntarily after pulling her hair into a ponytail, straddling the handle and grasping tightly. Severus followed close behind and reached around her to take control, a little more cautious of their positions this time around.

"Okay I'm going to fly first then slowly let you take control, okay?" he said in his most patient, reassuring voice. It was obviously underused.

"Yeah okay," Hermione gulped.

Severus kicked off and rose steadily through the air before leveling off at an acceptable altitude. They could see the entirety of the lake side of Hogwarts and the grounds from up here. They were a lot of people outside including many still at the scene of the fight. He took in the majesty of his home, his true home and looked down to see if Hermione was as well. Instead he found her trying to hide her fear and failing. It looked odd on her after what he had seen her do today. The stance, her skill, efficiency, everything about her on that staged screamed experience. Where ever she was before Hogwarts she had been fighting, probably for her life. Not completely unlike he did at home but somehow he thought that what she went through may have been worse.

One could always tell a true fighter just by how they carry themselves and today that side of Hermione was finally revealed for all to see. It was hidden before with shyness and insecurity but it was out on display in that duel. A piece of the puzzle that was Hermione's past had been placed and yet it made it all seem much more complicated.

"You aren't going to fall, calm down," Severus said a little rudely.

"Sorry," her tone showed that she had found his rude.

"Look, I'm right here and I'm not going to let us crash. I don't want to spend any time in the Hospital wing." Hermione laughed, of course it would be about him or actually he would pretend it was all about him. "I'm going to bank to the right now. Just lean your weight with mine." Hermione nodded and did as she was told but ended up leaning just a little too much then tried to over correct. "Stop jerking around, you need smoother movements," her tutor instructed as he corrected her mistakes. "Now let's try again." She barely improved the second time and he had to grab her hands and tighten his arms around her before she flipped them. "How about we just get you comfortable on the broom first?"

Hermione—who had become acutely aware of his arms and torso and how he had muscles despite his lean frame—asked, "How are we going to do that?"

"By spending time on one I guess. We'll just float and… I don't know, talk." His suggestion had really no merit to it in his opinion but Hermione agreed and Severus loosened his grip on her.

They floated in silence before Hermione broke the silence. "Tell me about your family."

Severus paused for a moment from her nerve to ask him that but she didn't actually know anything about his background. She would assume it was a safe question like it was with most of their peers. "Let's not talk about them," he said with unmistakable finality in his voice.

"Okay then what should we talk about?"

Severus hesitated before asking, knowing she might react the wrong way. "What happened with Dolohov?"

Hermione stiffened and ignored him. She had told Madame Pomfrey the truth, if only because she was a medical professional that could help, she told the nurse that Dolohov would attack her in the future and told Dumbledore and McGonagall more vaguely that it was a war flashback. But she couldn't tell Severus that, in fact the only other person she could tell would be Remus tonight in the common room. How would she explain herself? And would anyone believe her lies?

"Let's not talk about that," she paraphrased his earlier words.

"It has to do with your secret? Hermione you need to tell me…"

"Why? I thought you said you would wait until I was ready. Well guess what? I'm not ready."

"I just want to help."

"You are being nosey," she accused.

"I'll admit that I'm curious," she tried scooting away from him, "but I'm mostly worried. Who hurt you?"

Hermione turned and glared, "What makes you think someone hurt me?"

"Well aside from your manner of arrival at this school," he sneered, "your behavior as of late shows that it is true and I've seen the scar on your arm. If you're having flashbacks, obviously traumatic ones, then you need help!"

"I don't need help, I need answers!" At this point they were shouting and Severus pulled them up higher to avoid being over heard.

"I can help find those answers!" Damn it, this witch needed to trust him if he was going to help her survive You-Know-Who. "I know you feel like you're prepared for this but how can you be when you don't know what's happening? What if the dark man comes to get you or…" Shit.

Hermione narrowed her eyes as it all clicked, "You were eavesdropping."

Severus didn't respond. 'Bugger this won't end well for me.'

"You were listening to us, before the students came in." She sounded really pissed but Severus didn't think he did anything wrong except slip up.

"I was making sure Dumbledore wasn't threatening you about Lupin again." Partially true. "I was worried." Also part… no it was just true.

Hermione turned away from him. "Take me down."

"I will, later, look I'm sorry I pissed you off-"

"Take me down now."

"I don't want you mad at me; I just want to help-"

"You just wanted to know what was going on even though it wasn't your business."

"I'm not going to lie; maybe I was a little curious." She wasn't listening and he was not going to let her march off and prove Lily right. He had forced her to talk about something she didn't want to and he knew he'd react the same way if not worse. Suddenly an idea, a stupid idea, popped into his head. 'It's worth a shot.'

"I have a pretty shitty life at home. A Muggle dad that's unemployed and an alcoholic and a pureblooded mother who won't stand up to him. Hell I've never even seen her use magic aside from healing major wounds after he left. I hate that place and when I graduate I'm never going back."

He waited for her to react, if she was still pissed then too bad because he wasn't saying anymore. Finally she asked, "Why are telling me this?"

"An eye for an eye?"

"I didn't invade your privacy though, I backed off."

"I know," he hung his head hiding behind his black curtain of hair, "and I'm sorry."

"Take me down now," she sighed.

"You don't have to forgive me now but will you…"

"I will, Severus, but I don't want to talk to you right now."

Severus conceded and took them down. His day was completed with the sight of the Marauders, Lily, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Slughorn waiting for them. Severus hovered above the ground and addressed the headmaster. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"As if you don't know," Black snarled, "Trying to run away and kidnap this poor misguided girl I see."

Hermione surprisingly spoke up, "I'm not being kidnapped and he was giving me flying lessons." Severus stared incredulously as the girl who was very angry with him still defended him.

"Mr. Snape and Mr. Black, would you come to my office please?" Dumbledore asked. Severus landed and went to put his broom up before following his Head of House to the Headmaster's office. James, Lily, and Pettigrew stood there awkwardly obviously wanting to say something but not.

'Perhaps they're scared of me too.' Hermione walked up to Remus and told him that they had a lot to talk about in the common room tonight.

"Okay but you'll have to tell me about your flying lessons," he said with a teasing glint in his eye. It was then that Hermione realized they had a real bond. They were two people with apparently deadly secrets.

I was expecting to have the Slug Club happen in this chapter but the flying scene was longer than expected and the fight with Sirius just kind of happened, not at all planned. But Slug Club will come next I promise

So my lovely readers please review, fav, and alert (hint hint reviews make me smile a little brighter but it's not like you can only choose one of them)