Author's Note: First let me thank everyone who had reviewed, alerted, or put this story on their favorites it means a lot to me and keeps me writing.

Enjoy!

Hermione would be lying if she said she wasn't a little put out by him stopping them from going any further than that kiss, but she also knew that until she forgave him about the remarks he made about her and sex they couldn't do more.

She sat down to bacon, eggs, and toast. He had kept it all warm with a charm, she smiled as he refilled her coffee mug handing it back to her before taking his seat as she asked,

"So what is this surprise?"

"The nature of a surprise is that it be kept secret until the right time."

"Now you can't blame a girl for trying."

He grinned at her, he really wanted to do this for her. Finally he said,

"Just dress warmly."

"Please tell me it was nothing to do with the woods."

"No it doesn't." he furrowed his brows wondering what brought that on when she said,

"Good, I had enough of that when I spent months in a tent with the boys."

"So no camping over the holidays then?"

When she looked up at him he couldn't help but laugh at the look on her face which brought her to say,

"Well I was thinking maybe we could…." She had to think of something he would not like in the least. "Play Mr. and Mrs. Clause for the kids at the school." She couldn't help but laugh before she got it all out at the look that came across his face, yes she got him.

"Very funny, what would you have done if I agreed?"

"Died of shock."

"Well we can't have that now can we."

Hermione's attention was drawn to the roses, they were green this time with silver glitter. She didn't care, it was a grand gesture coming from him and she appreciated it.

"Thank you for the flowers."

"You're welcome, though I expected you to make a comment about the colors."

"No, and anyway when I add the red and gold one you left me they will set each other off."

She heard his fork hit the plate drawing her attention away from the flowers.

"Hermione, I've never left you anything."

"Yes you did, a charmed rose last week when you left and I stayed here."

"No I didn't."

"But it was sitting on the table after you left when I came when I came down for breakfast on Monday….." she trailed off at the look on his face, someone had been in her house. They made it past his wards, his wards. Suddenly she was scared, someone came into her house uninvited but what frightened her more was that they broke through Severus' wards.

"You're not staying here alone again." He stated calmly, and frankly she didn't want to. Suddenly her safe haven, the place where no evil was suppose to touch her became anything but.

"No I'm not." She said flatly

"I'm sorry, but this changes the plans for today."

"Don't worry about it, what am I going to do?"

"We."

"What?"

"What are we going to do, you're not in this alone. You'll never be alone again if I have my way."

Hermione found that his statement filled her with warmth and a longing she didn't know she desired.

"First we are going to pack anything you need, then you're coming back to Hogwarts with me. It's still the safest place in the wizarding world."

"But whoever it was broke your wards, there's no reason to….."

"I know, but it's much safer than here. Yes it's concerning that someone broke my wards."

"Okay then what?" Hermione asked, not wanting Severus to dwell on doubting himself.

"We talk to Minerva, though I am sure there will be no problem she's not going to let you out with someone after you."

"But I have to go back to work next week, I at least owe it to my friends there that I caused to worry to see that I'm fine and have just decided to move on with my life."

"I know, and I understand that it is important to you. We'll figure out a way." He didn't want her to give up her chance to say goodbye to these people.

"Okay." She said taking her dish to the sink, she looked out the window as she heated the water to see an owl laying on the walk way, she gasped drawing Severus' attention. She knew it was Morgan, Severus came up looking out the window to see what drew her attention and caused her to start crying.

He pulled her to him when he saw the dead owl, the one he bought for them. He shut the water off leading her to the sofa in the living room before saying,

"I'm calling Potter, then I'll take care….."

"Please bury her." He looked down at Hermione, he saw that it was important to her.

"Yes, I will."

He went to the floo calling Harry to come through.

Harry stepped in followed by Draco, Severus didn't want to know and Hermione looked at them both before saying,

"I will deal with you two later." Still upset with them for setting her up and upsetting her life, but she also wanted to hug them for giving her the life she didn't know she craved back.

Severus explained what happen, then about the owl outside.

"Harry, remember where we buried Crooks." Hermione said

"Yes."

"Next to him." Morgan was more than just a postal owl, she had reminded Hermione of Crookshanks so much that she always wondered if the owl was a familiar.

"We'll take care of it, why don't you go pack." Severus said.

Hermione went upstairs followed by Draco, she pulled a bag out of the closet before she noticed Draco standing in the door way, he finally said.

"You know I keep waiting for the punch in the face."

"You'll be waiting quite a while, hell would probably freeze over first."

He cocked his head to the side, something happen that he didn't know about he was sure of it.

"Oh why not? Old times and all of that."

She threw some shirts and jeans into the bag then grabbed a few things from the bathroom before saying,

"I punched Severus." She told him as she zipped the bag closed.

"You what?"

"You heard me, funny thing is I don't even know why I did it. He hasn't forgiven me for it either. No, my days of punching are over. Unless it's to save my own skin."

Draco walked toward her saying,

"Granger, he will forgive you in time."

She nodded when he reached her laying a hand on her shoulder she turned stepping into his arms crying.

Severus and Potter came back inside going upstairs to find Draco with a crying Hermione in his arms. Draco looked up motioning Severus over, he moved transferring Hermione to him before leaving with Potter to go back down stairs.

When they were in the kitchen Harry said,

"Someone Avarda'd the owl."

"Why?"

"I don't know, but remember the hearing last month."

"Yes."

"They let Redding out."

"You have got to be joking, when did you find out?"

"Last night, but he's been out for a week now."

~~^~~SSHG~~^~~

Severus stood there holding a very upset Hermione who kept trying to talk but he couldn't understand her.

"Shh, tell me later." He whispered to her as he rubbed her back.

Finally she pulled back saying,

"Sorry for sobbing all over you." She whispered lowering her head.

Severus sighed, he wished he could take those words back. He lifted her chin so she would look at him before he said,

"Don't be, I'm sorry I ever said that to you. I didn't mean it, I was just…. It was just…. Hell I still don't know what happen that time. But I swear to you that I never meant a word of it, I want to be here to comfort you."

"Okay." She said, not sure if she really believe him or not but just didn't have the strength to deal with it right now.

Severus leaned down kissing her forehead before asking,

"You all packed?"

"Yes, let's go."

Author's Note: Comments really do make me smile and brighten my day.

Also I wanted to let you know that I have a couple of Severus/Hermione videos on youtube, the link is in my profile.

On another note for anyone who doesn't know, there is a link in my profile to a video that I made for this story. The song is Far Away by Nickleback and when I heard it I knew it was meant for this story, if you listen to the lyrics it's almost as if they go together. It was unintentional, I hadn't heard the song in a while and if I had this story would have a different title;)