A/N- Here we are, just in time for the weekend! Hope you all won't hate for the slight cliffy. A few things about Severus are finally realised next chapter, never fear! Thank you all for the reviews, they mean so much to me! Enjoy :)

Hermione awoke, her head comfortably nestled against something slightly hard. Opening her eyes, she noticed she was laying on something black. A soft snore could be heard, and she gasped as the thing she was laying on shuddered slightly with the snore. Jerking herself up, she stared at the body beside her.

Severus had changed from his animagus to his human form in the middle of the night. Hermione grinned, that was why it had been so comfortable to sleep next time him this time; when he was in his cat form, his fluffy tail occasionally caused her to nearly suffocate. Slowly she laid back down on his chest, reveling in how right it felt to be pressed up against him, listening to his even breathing.

Severus awoke slowly, keeping his breathing at the same rate. It was something he had learned from his years of a spy, and whenever his instinct told him that something wasn't quite right, he employed that method of feigning sleep whilst he gathered his senses. Cracking open an eye, all he saw was a mass of bushy chestnut hair. Realization of what had happened hit him hard, and he groaned inwardly.

Somehow, during the night, he had changed out of his animagus form. Hermione would know now that he was the cat that she had grown so close to, and she would hate him. Severus knew she would, as that was how he would feel. He would feel betrayed by something like that, as Hermione had grown used to talking to him in his animagus form, and she said things he knew she wouldn't say to him in person. It was the lowest form of betrayal, and Severus felt an instant flood of regret at losing the witch he had come to care for so greatly in recent months.

Sighing softly, he froze as Hermione draped her arm across his chest and sighed as she nuzzled her face closer. Severus was surprised he wasn't jumping up at this, he hated to be close to people for an extended amount of time, and he had never slept with a woman in the literal sense. All of his trysts had ended in either him or the woman leaving almost immediately afterwards. Here though; here he was allowing it, and finding himself actually enjoying the feel of the witch pressed up against him.

"Good morning, Severus."

Severus froze again.

Hermione lifted her head and smiled sweetly at him. "Did you sleep well?"

Severus stared at the witch, keeping his face impassive as his thoughts swirled around madly. She was awake, and she wasn't hexing him with one of her perfectly done spells. She was...smiling at him. Severus blankly tried to register the fact that Hermione wasn't running away as quickly as she could. "Hermione," he stated quietly as he watched her expression carefully.

"You are much more comfortable to sleep next to in this form than you animagus. Your tail often nearly suffocates me," Hermione said amicably as she rolled over and stretched with a groan.

Severus stayed perfectly still. She mentioned his animagus form, without a note of surprise in her voice. It was almost as if...he frowned slightly. "How long have you known?"

Hermione propped herself up on her elbows to look at him, and Severus found himself momentarily distracted by how lovely her breasts looked pushed together. "I've known since that evening in Hogwarts, when you walked off and then changed into your animagus. I put the pieces together that night, and that was part of the reason why I wanted your help in becoming one myself."

Severus couldn't restrain the look of surprise on his face this time. "You have known nearly a month, and you're perfectly alright with my duplicity? Did your brains get addled from the fumes of brewing?"

Hermione chuckled slightly. "No, Severus, my mental capacities are the same as they ever were. I just didn't see the need to tell you I knew, as I was sure you probably would have preferred to tell me yourself, and well–," Hermione ducked her head as a blush suffused her face. "Well, I was rather touched by how you kept keeping me company in your animagus form, and I knew that if I told you I had put the pieces together, you wouldn't anymore, and I didn't want that."

Severus eyed the bushy haired witch in absolute shock as he slowly realized she wasn't upset at him for what he had done. "You've said things to me," he stated quietly as he looked down at her, his dark eyes burning intently.

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "I did, and I meant every word of whatever I said. I never said them to your face because, well, you know. You're a ridiculously snarky bastard, and I figured as long as our friendship was there, there was no need to demand you make it plain in words."

Severus felt an inexplicable urge come over him, and he didn't pause to think; he was elated that Hermione didn't hate him for his deceit. Smoothly rolling Hermione over, he covered her body with his and he kissed her before she could squeak in surprise.

The words Hermione had been about to say died instantly as her eyes fluttered closed at the feel of his lips against hers; she returned the kiss eagerly, her hands snaking around Severus's neck to run through his hair.

Severus pulled back, looking down at the witch in wonderment. "That was a very Slytherin thing to do, Miss Granger." He slid off her, and stood up quickly.

Hermione giggled at Severus's words, and got up with him. Unable to think of a proper retort, as her head was still spinning from the kiss, she simply nodded at him. "I – er, have to go get dressed."

Severus looked her up and down, noting the delectable amount of thigh that was visible below the nightshirt. "That would be in everyone's greatest interest," he replied dryly.

Smirking slightly as she noticed where his gaze went, she grabbed a few things from the desser and disappeared into the bathroom. Hermione returned quickly, clad in a pair of dark blue trousers and a black tee. "Didn't you have something you needed my help on?"

Severus nodded briskly. "Yes. Go downstairs and ask Frannel to prepare breakfast. I'll meet you shortly, I need to gather my notes and change into something less...binding," he said with a hint of amusement as he looked down at the layers of robes he usually wore.

Hermione looked at him in surprise. He never changed from his usual attire. "Where exactly are we going?"

Severus shrugged nonchalantly. "I am not entirely sure if it even exists, but if it does, and if we find what I am hoping we will, it will tie the potion together completely. After that, all we would need to do was find some additives for taste and to remedy the aftereffects."

Hermione nodded, wondering what Severus had been researching. Something to tie the potion together was great indeed, and she had learned that the dour wizard's haunches were usually fruitful. Walking downstairs she asked Frannel to prepare breakfast, and she sat down, pulling that morning's Daily Prophet towards her.

Quickly she flipped through it, not really paying attention to anything in particular. On the front page there were the warnings that had been put out during the Second Wizarding War to stop people from being Imperiused, as the Minister had finally decided the public needed to be made aware of the curse. Hermione nodded in satisfaction, it was about time.

Frannel appeared by her side with a folded piece of paper in his hands. "Miss, an owl appeared for Miss. Frannel sent it off as it did not wait for a reply."

Hermione thanked the elf and took the note, wondering who could be sending her something that early in the day. Opening it, she began to read. It was from Harry;

Hermione,

Luna has been cursed.

Come to St. Mungo's as soon

as you are able.

-Harry

Hermione stared at the note blankly as she tried to register the fact that her friend was now laying in the hospital. Dropping the note on the table, she grabbed her cloak from the rack in front of the door, and rushed out, apparating as soon as she was out of the house.

Severus arrived downstairs half an hour later, wearing a black jeans and a black jumper. Walking into the kitchen, he stopped short when he couldn't see Hermione. Unable to ignore the rising hint of panic he felt at her sudden disappearance; she usually told when and where she was going. This time she did not, and Severus didn't pause to question why he was worried. "Frannel!"

Frannel appeared quickly with a bow. "Sir?"

"Where is Miss Granger?"

"She left, sir."

Severus glared at the elf. "That much is indeed apparent, Frannel. Do you know why she left?"

Frannel shrugged and pointed at the seat Hermione had been in earlier. "She received an owl this morning, and left as soon as she had read the note. It is on the table, sir."

Severus nodded, and thanked Frannel. Striding over to the place the elf had indicated, he grabbed the note from the table and read it through quickly.

Potter's girlfriend had been cursed? Severus stared at the note curiously. He had no particular feelings towards the matter, the Lovegood girl was just another victim at this point. But she was close to Hermione, and it was obvious now that Hermione had gone to St. Mungo's. Exhaling softly as he realized she hadn't, in fact, run from him, he breathed deeply for a moment as he calmed himself.

Severus took a seat as considered this new piece of evidence. He would follow Hermione to St. Mungo's shortly, but he was sure that Potter and her would like a bit of privacy for now.

Potter's witch had been cursed, and Severus had the nagging feeling that it was planned. Someone was targeting the boy and who was important to him; the person who was casting the curse obviously had some sort of vendetta against him.

Severus instantly ran through all the Death Eaters he knew were still alive. All of them were in Azkaban, though, and Severus knew there wasn't a chance of them being the cause. He had been asked to help oversee the rebuilding of magical enchantments over the wizarding prison after the war, and it was stronger than it had ever been.

Scowling slightly, he looked at the time, and stood up. Walking quickly, he went to the fireplace. The Minister and Healer Elfred had granted him access to the healer's floo in his office should Severus ever have a need for it. Calling out the appropriate location, Severus stepped out once he had stopped spinning.

Elfred looked up from where he was sitting at his desk. "Ah, Professor Snape. I figured you would come. They are in ward six."

Severus nodded and strode out. Approaching the ward, he prepared himself for the scene. Entering the ward, he cringed slightly as he saw Lovegood's normally serene expression twisted into one of extreme terror. "Miss Granger, Mister Potter," he said with a curt nod as he approached the table, standing behind Hermione.

Hermione quickly wiped her eyes as she noticed Severus's appearance, and had to choke back a sob. Seeing Luna in anything but perfect serenity was absolute agony. Standing quickly she turned and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest as she broke down into muffled sobs.

Harry had his head against Luna's hand as the cursed girl whimpered frantically as the curse ravaged her mind. He didn't see or hear Snape walk in, and he looked up when he saw Hermione stand. His grief was too much to register the shock of seeing Hermione turn to Severus Snape for comfort, and he just stared blankly at the two.

Severus let the witch cry into his shirt, he knew she need to let her grief out. He rubbed her shoulder stiffly, unable to bring himself to wrap his arms completely around her with Potter staring at him. Shooting a glare in the boys direction, he focused on the Lovegood girl, checking to make sure if all her symptoms remained the same as the others. "Is she stable?"

The Healer standing by the bed nodded. "Dreamless Sleep, along with magical bonds that cannot be broken so she cannot hurt herself."

Severus thanked her curtly, and gently nudged Hermione so she sat down. Bending down, he whispered in her ear. "The potion is nearly finished, Hermione."

Hermione nodded shakily, Severus's calm words giving her a bit of strength. Severus stood up and was shoved to the wall by a body.

Harry stood there, pressing his wand against Severus's neck, a look of fury on his face. "You're supposed to be making a cure, Snape," he hissed, his wand digging into the flesh. "Where is it?"

Severus sneered down at Harry. "Potter, control your temper. If you had bothered to pay attention to my classes, you would know the creation of an entirely new potion is a lengthy process. Granger and I are working on it."

Harry glared at Severus, and back away slightly, his wand still pointed at Severus. "Why isn't it done yet? Do you enjoy seeing all these people in endless pain? Does it give you pleasure, huh?" As soon as he said it, Harry regretted the words. He hadn't meant them, and he quickly realized his mistake as he looked at Snape's eyes, the look of barely controlled rage burning in their depths. "Snape, I –"

Severus glared down at Harry as he took a step forward menacingly. "You know nothing, Potter." Eyes snapping with his fury, he glanced at Hermione. Hermione was glaring at Harry with look of surprised anger.

"Harry, how dare you say something like that? Severus and I work endlessly on this potion, he has given all of his time and effort towards this, you of all people should know how hard he's working!" Hermione stepped closer to her friend. "That was low, Harry. You will have to apologise one day. I understand your grief at seeing Luna like this, but it isn't in your best interest to alienate the only person who can help Luna right now," she said quietly, looking at her friend sympathetically, the anger at his remark still clear on her face, though.

Harry stared pleadingly at Hermione. "I proposed," he said raggedly, the pain evident in his eyes. "Two nights ago, 'Mione. We didn't even have time to tell anyone and now this happened, who could do this?"

Severus stood behind Hermione, listening to Harry's low words as he tried to control his anger at the words the boy had spat at him. He knew, more than most, of the irrational feelings that grief makes one feel, but the words had stung nonetheless, and he felt a stab of revulsion as the faces of those he had harmed in the name of good sprang up before his eyes.

Hermione looked up at her friend and felt tears prick her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I am. We will have it soon, I'm sure of it," she whispered encouragingly as she grabbed his hands. "I have to go now, we were about to leave to find a new addition to the potion when you owled. Keep her safe, Harry. Don't leave her side."

Harry nodded frantically, and gave Hermione a quick hug. Turning he tried to look at Snape, his apology on his tongue, but Severus was pointedly looking away from Harry, his hands trembling with the effort of restraining his anger.

Hermione glanced towards Severus, and almost instantly realized what he was holding back. Quickly, she grabbed his arm and walked him swiftly to the floo. Nodding a goodbye to Healer Elfred, she called out Spinner's End, and they disappeared in a flash of green flames

Hmm...I'm pretty sure our deviously bossy know-it-all has far more control over the entirely confusing 'relationship' business than any one, especially Severus. Not that surprising, when you think about it ;)