A/N: Hey there everyone. Here's the new chapter.

casper22:I'm glad you approved with my choice of dance. I also thought the Tango to be too cliché, and I love watching the Paso.

worrywart: I hope you got your internet back, sorry if the cliffhanger bugged you, so I'm dedicating this chap to you. And I did wait to post…:p

So, enjoy reading and please review…kisses everyone.

Chapter 15: Decisions.

Could anything even be compared with what she felt right now? Good- not even close; passionate-yes; heaven- definitely. Soft, warm lips, smooth skin, silky hair…god, it was unlike anything she had felt before. The stirring in her stomach was reaching a level she had never met before.

Hermione knew she risked…it was worth it though. Severus Snape was a unique man, and she knew that if he would reject her, no one else would be good enough.

The loyalty, dedication, passion he possessed was everything anyone could want. She didn't expect love, hell she expected him to shove her away and strip Gryffindor house of all it's points…and yet, here they were…heavily snogging against the cold wall in the middle of a rose garden.

Merlin, either her imagination had found new borders…or Lillith was happily skating trough hell.

Soft kisses soon became needy, desperate, urgent…both sets of hands were searching, exploring, caressing…it should have felt wrong, kissing a teacher, twenty years older, an ex-Death Eater with a temper that matched hers, and rumored to be the most feared in Voldemort's Inner Circle…but by Merlin this felt like heaven. There was nothing else more important…there was only the two of them, no one else existed, nothing else mattered…

Hermione's knees buckled as Severus slowly started planting open mouthed kisses along her jaw…ear…down her neck…it was driving her mad.

She could feel his rough hand trace an invisible line from her collar bone, down her left breast and stopping on her hip, gripping it and pushing himself against her. Instinctively, her leg came up, sliding trough the high slit, to curl around his hip, her right hand slowly opening his buttons one by one…

Severus was lost.

Lost in her scent, lost in her soft curls, lost in her silky skin…her delicious lips…

''Gods Hermione…'' he whispered hoarsely against her neck.

He needed to stop. He knew it the moment her delicate hands reached inside his shirt and started caressing his scared sin. But how? How do you let go of a goddess…a beauty that he'd been dreaming for weeks to hold in his arms…

He could take her right now, right there…

But no…remembering the horrors she'd been trough, he knew she deserved something special. And now he could give her just that.

Severus had been more than glad that Dumbledore hadn't seen who truly was behind the mask. After listening a bit more to that idiotic story of his, he had excused himself and started looking for Hermione.

He had intended to find her and apologize…for something. Honestly, the dance had left him more dazed than a teenager after watching his female neighbor getting undressed, he just needed to find her…and seeing her, still dressed in that sexy outfit, standing amongst rose bushes, in the moonlight…he just snapped.

One kiss…that's all he wanted really. With the way she teased him all the time…the way her hips swayed when she walked, not to mention the way she looked in the hallway…

Weeks…weeks to no end, torturous nights in a row, just imagining how her skin would feel, how her lips would taste…pure torture.

And she had surprised him once again. He'd expected a punch in the face the moment he tried, or a slap at least, instead she'd kissed him.

Reluctantly pushing her back against the wall, and away from himself, Severus groaned and let his head fall in the crook of her neck.

''We need to stop.''

''Why?'' Hermione asked slightly out of breath.

He chuckled. ''Why? Why do you think?''

''I don't care…'' Hermione whined.

''Yes you do and you know it. Come on, Potter should be looking for you.'' Severus tried to step away from her, but her leg was still curled around him. Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth in a mad hope to restrain himself, he let his hand slowly slid from her hip to her thigh. Merlin…so close. Prying her leg away, he took her hand instead, working to close his buttons with the other.

''I forgot about the stupid midnight thing.'' Hermione groaned. ''Do I really need to look for Harry? Can't I stay with you?''

Severus gathered her in his arms again and placed a chaste kiss on her plumb lips. ''As much as I'd like to have you all for myself, you know we can't. Find Potter, have a good time for the rest of the evening, and we'll talk tomorrow. I have to either go change, or return to the dungeons. Dumbledore is bound to look for me, and it wouldn't do for him to find out we almost kissed on the dance floor.''

Hermione smirked and kissed him again. ''Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow.''

For the rest of the evening, Hermione sat with Harry and Luna at their table. She noticed Harry looking at her strangely, but she just gave him a smirk and a wink and continued to talk to Luna.

Of course, seeing as she had practically abandoned Harry for Severus, she had no objection for Harry being Luna's partner. She liked Luna.

Yes, she was strange, and had weird ideas about animals that didn't even exist, but she was smart, brave and loyal. Hermione remembered the disappointment she felt when the only ones to answer their request for help, when the only DA members to show up were Luna and Neville.

Well, no matter, she was a good girl, and if Hermione wasn't mistaken, Luna cared very much about Harry.

Falling back on her soft pillows, Hermione's thoughts immediately went to the one person that would change her life.

Was she doing the right thing though? Severus deserved someone to love him properly, to be by his side at all times…could she do that? Would she survive this ordeal in order to do that?

Yes, she did have powers beyond any witch or wizard, but she was fighting demons…demons with similar powers, even stronger. Not to mention that one of them was big as a house and brandished a huge hammer like it was a toothpick. Hermione wasn't afraid, no, not anymore, she'd come to terms with her fate long ago. Wasn't it a bit selfish though, wanting to be with Severus, and maybe walking straight to her death?

Well, she'd just have to talk to him. Tell him what she expected of the war…the fact that she may die…and let him decide…

Meanwhile…

Sitting in his winged leather armchair, whiskey glass in hand, eyes closed and a grin on his face…Severus Snape considered himself a very lucky bastard. This night couldn't have ended any better. To finally be able to hold her, to smell her scent, to kiss her soft lips…was a heaven-sent gift.

But, of course, Dumbledore always had something to add to his thoughts…and it wasn't always good.

It was almost two in the morning when the green flames sprung in the fireplace, revealing the headmaster in person. It bugged the hell out of Severus that the old man never asked for permission to come trough and just did it, but he had to hold his tongue.

''Headmaster, to what do I owe this…pleasure?''

''Severus my boy, I didn't see you at the feast…''

''As you know headmaster, I don't quite enjoy these…celebrations. I was there, but that doesn't mean that everyone needed to see me…'' Severus drawled.

''Yes, yes…always sulking in the shadows…'' Severus scowled.

''Was there something you needed headmaster?'' he asked, taking a sip of Firewhiskey.

''As I've told you, you'll take over the DADA position when the term starts. I need you to put together a syllabus that will teach the students a bit more than the usual defense. I'm sure Tom will wait, but I don't know how long. We need the students prepared for the worse. We will have to protect Hogwarts at all costs.''

''So…you're saying they won't have a choice in the matter…''

''Severus, you know Tom can't get inside Hogwarts. If he does, we have no chance in defeating him. Harry has to face him, but the others must protect Hogwarts…we need everyone we can find.''

''Albus, they're children. You ask them to protect the school instead of caring for their families. Are you sure you're doing the right thing?''

''Do not question my judgment, Severus. Tom isn't that different from Grindewald, just harder to get.''

Severus nodded, but he was fuming on the inside. If Dumbledore was planning in using all students in battle, then he was truly insane. What exactly did he expect a first, or second year to manage in a duel with a Death Eater was beyond him…but sure as hell he wouldn't allow it.

''Of course headmaster. You know best.''

''Of course I do. Now, any news on what Harry and Miss Granger are doing?''

''Hold your ground, find your center, keep your feet at the proper width. And most important…don't hesitate. None of them will, why should you?'' Hermione's amplified voice bounced off the walls in the Room of Requirement as she was supervising the students' progress in sword fighting. Well, the boys progress. Seeing as the swords were a tad heavy, the girls had decided to practice with daggers, and of course the Room had granted them the necessary equipment and space. Not even in the previous year with the 'late' DA had the room been so large.

It was necessary really, seeing as after Harry's outburst a lot of students had started searching for them, offering their support and help in anything they needed. That's how in two weeks time the 'Death Avengers' had gained quite a number of supporters.

Both Ravenclaw and Huflepuff houses had joined in large numbers, meaning all of fifth, sixth and seventh years, the Slytherins remained at twenty five, as for the Gryffindors, fifth, sixth and seventh years…except for Ron and Ginny. How they had managed not to see that everyone was suddenly busy after dinner was beyond them really, but if it worked, why ask?

The important thing was that they all understood what was coming, and the fact that Voldemort had been quiet for the last month was slightly alarming, but they were learning.

Daphne and Astoria Greengrass had become deadly accurate with the daggers, and it seemed it also helped with the accuracy of their curses, Harry and Draco were becoming the hardest to defeat in a one-on-one match with any other student, Dean and Seamus were busy creating as many explosives as they could, while Angelina and Alicia were in charge in teaching them flying techniques.

It was with great satisfaction that Hermione registered everything that was going on. They were becoming a small army in no time. They had separated in groups to focus on certain skills.

They had the flying team, that would desillusion themselves and attack from the air, there was the ground team that was practically the front line, with magically powered shields, swords and two sets of wands, then there was the forest team, basically all the girls. They would hide in the trees in the Forbidden Forest and aim at anyone in their range.

Everything was well organized, well prepared, and everyone was following the orders they were given. Week after week they were becoming better, and with the training, Hermione also started noticing the change in their character. The boys were more serious, more cautious, and more aware of their surroundings, especially since Draco had told them who exactly was already a Death Eater in Slytherin house, and who was one in training. It was concerning to see that Voldemort didn't care anymore who his followers were, seeing as he was willing to have marked students right under Dumbledore's nose…not that he knew, mind. But nonetheless, they were still too young.

The girls, or Death Angels, how they'd call themselves, were always walking in pairs, and always armed. If any word of what they were doing were to get out to Voldemort, they were very well in danger, and not being alone gave them the chance to defend themselves. The biggest change, Hermione noted, was in Lavender Brown. Her father went missing about a week prior, and all her crazy and slightly ignorant behavior took a 180 turn. She was finally letting the Gryffindor out.

It saddened her to see them struggling to learn something that should have remained in books, and not in the knowledge of a fifteen-year-old student, but they needed it.

Both Harry and Draco were beyond angry with Dumbledore ever since Severus had told them of the old man's plans, but there wasn't anything they could do. Three Ravenclaws were given the task to come up with a plan to evacuate any student lower than fifth year, so when Dumbledore expected them to just start following his orders, every student would be safe and away from harm's way.

Hermione smiled as she remembered the next day after the ball. She couldn't say she knew Severus well enough to know what his answer would be, so it was with a thumping heart that she descended the stairs towards his private chambers.

He didn't even wait for her to enter properly before gathering her in his arms and kissing her. She allowed it, not knowing if maybe it would be the last time.

''We need to talk.'' Hermione said as soon as he released her.

''I know. Tea?''

Hermione nodded and sat in the same spot she had occupied that first night in his sitting room.

''So…what did you want to tell me?'' Severus asked as he placed the tray on the coffee table.

Hermione sighed. ''Us, mostly. Look…I…I like you, very much, and I would be blind if I didn't see that you like me too…but, this war…there's a very small chance that I might be still alive when it ends.'' she sighed again and looked at him.

He just sat there staring at her. His mind was never closed to her, but she didn't want to see the answer in his mind, she wanted to hear it. A small part of her wanted him to reject her, to tell her he wanted a normal witch, a normal relationship…a normal love.

Her other part though, was screaming in anger, telling her to take advantage of it, to spent whatever time she had left with him…but she couldn't take that away from him. No, it needed to be his decision.

''Say something, please…'' she whispered pleadingly. Her eyes were locked on his, but she wouldn't cry. No, he had to make his decision without her emotional push.

Severus stood from his armchair and sat beside her. When he spoke, his voice was dangerously low, and if she didn't know any better, she'd think he was furious with her.

''Have you got any idea how long I've wished for someone to stay by my side? Have you got any idea how long I've been dreaming about you? Hermione, I never dreamt I'd survive this war, sometimes I even thought I'd die before it even started. I was starting to lose hope. I'm not saying I'm sure I'll survive now…but you've given me hope again. And don't you dare think I'll let you fight on your own. If you go down, I go down. There's no way in hell, or heaven, that you'll die and I'll live. I'm going to be there all the way.''

Hermione's eyes were starting to sting, but she couldn't cry. Not now. This was too important. ''Think about it. I'm bound to die…you will live no matter what…I know you could pick any witch you want…I know I'm young…but if I survive this…will you, I mean…would you…''

Severus promptly cut her off with a bruising kiss. ''There is no one I'd be more delighted to have by my side.''

His words still rang trough her ears, sending shivers trough her body. She was rapidly falling in love with him, and she vowed to do the impossible and stay alive. For him. For them…

''Naughty thoughts?''

Hermione jumped at the sound of the voice behind her and quickly turned around. ''Lavender, don't do that. You want me to have a heart attack?''

She giggled. ''You know, you'd make a good couple…''

''What?''

''Hermione, any idiot that sees the way you look at him, or the way he looks at you could see it. Professor Snape is a good man, no matter what we used to think about him, now we know we were wrong. You're both strong, brave, powerful…should I go on? You've always been the smartest of us all, you're bound to be with an older man. Why not him? He also does look kind of sexy too you know…''

Hermione laughed. ''Do you really think so?'' she asked, knowing already that Lavender was sincere. Her decision was already made, but it was nice to hear things like that from other's point of view.

''Of course I think so. He's still our professor, but why should you wait? There's a war out there…take your chances. You won't regret it.''

''Thanks Lav.''

''No problem.'' Lavender said and walked away.

Well, if even Lavender thought so, why should she hold back? War or no war, she was falling in love with Severus Snape and she would hold on to it. Lavender was right, no teenager boy was going to ever reach her level, and Severus was already there.

She smiled again as her eyes went back to where he was trying to teach a fifth year the slicing curse.

Yes, Severus Snape was more than worth her time.

A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Leave me your thoughts, or any idea you might have. Thank you all.