Hermione was filthy from her time spent working for the reconstruction of the castle. They had been forced to cut into the school year a bit but it looked like they would be ready to accept students soon.
Perhaps by spring.
Minerva had invited her for tea with herself, Harry, and Ron. She had politely declined, preferring to go bathe and then settle into the sofa with a book. Severus was working on restoring Poppy's supplies and had been shut up in his personal lab for the last several days. She took him food, tea, and drug him out for bed but otherwise she didn't see him.
She almost felt like he was avoiding her.
And perhaps he was, she'd held him too tight maybe? Made him feel stifled.
She tried to back off, was trying, ignoring the pain that coursed through her when he just gave her short answers and left her.
Alone.
She was alone all of the time, and it was terrible.
She'd been the member of a three-man circus for the better part of her life and now. Now she had herself.
She sighed and brought her arms around herself before she made a split second decision. Instead of going to the dungeons she made her way up, to the half destroyed astronomy tower and settled there, her head leaned against the stone as she drifted off staring out at Hogwarts' grounds.
SSHG
"Hermione?" Severus had stepped from his lab, it was after midnight and the witch had not come to pester him.
His stomach clenched, where had she gone?
Surely she couldn't have gone far.
He checked his library first, no sign of her. Soon he'd scoured the entire castle top to bottom.
He felt himself growing worried. Surely she was somewhere, she couldn't have just disappeared.
He strutted into Minerva's office a few minutes later, a disturbed look on his face.
"Severus, what is going on?" It was rare he even left his dungeon chambers now he had Hermione down there with him and no students to worry about, as well as his new extra workload.
It worried her that he would be up pacing in her office.
"I can't find her, have you seen her since this afternoon, Minerva?" His head whipped toward her, black eyes narrowed.
"Who? Miss Granger? No I haven't seen her since around three. She said she didn't want to have tea with us and would rather go read." Minerva paused, "She did look a bit down now I think about it though."
Severus sneered, this one directed at himself.
He'd been ignoring her, of course she would wander off. He just hoped she hadn't gotten herself into trouble in the process.
"Have you checked the libraries Severus, I'm sure she's here somewhere."
"I have scoured every inch of the castle I can think of. It's as if she's disappeared." He grunted, fell into one of her wingback chairs and massaged the bridge of his nose.
"I'm sure she's fine, I'll floo call Potter and see if he's seen her or knows where she may be." She stood and made her way to the hearth. Severus ignored her and Potter as they spoke and simply sat, eyes closed.
To say he felt terrible was an understatement.
He couldn't believe he'd driven the witch away from him.
His stomach turned.
What if she was with someone else? Another wizard.
His jaw clenched.
No, no, he was overreacting.
He was worrying himself for nothing.
But then, hadn't Lily chosen another seemingly overnight?
Gods, he'd screwed up again, withdrawn because he thought she'd needed time, even when she'd clung so tightly to him.
"Severus?" Minerva cut into his thoughts and his eyes cut to her, irritated.
"Well?"
"She's not with Potter or Weasley." At least he had that relief, she hadn't gone crying back to Weasley.
"Did he have any idea where she may be?"
"Yes, he was very helpful. He said she liked to go to the astronomy tower when she was upset, and to be careful, if she's there, she's not pleased." Minerva pursed her lips to stop the smiling spreading on her face.
Severus ignored her, could feel the hope grip his stomach in place of the fear.
She could be as angry at him as she needed, so long as she was okay, and safe.
With death eaters still on the loose he'd immediately thought the worst.
"Thank you, Minerva." She nodded and watched with glistening eyes as he strode from her office, his stride determined.
"It is about time that man found something to care about again." Albus commented from his painting and Minerva turned to look at him.
"I was thinking the exact same thing, Albus."
SSHG
"Hermione?" His eyes found her immediately upon entering destroyed room at the top of the astronomy tower.
She was there, curled into a corner with her head on her knees fast asleep. His face softened at the sight and he took a deep breath.
No other wizards, no bodily harm. She was intact, and okay, and alone.
His throat clenched.
Of course, she was alone. She'd been alone since he'd made himself unavailable.
Gods, how could he be such an incredible git?
She'd spent all of her time at Hogwarts with companions. He'd just expected her to survive on her own.
No one to turn to because of Weasley's stupidity.
He felt like the biggest cad.
Severus knelt quietly beside the witch and brushed her hair back from her face. She looked so peaceful, it was rare, she always looked so pained when she slept.
With a deep breath he gathered her in his arms and marveled at how light she actually was. He'd never actually had to carry the witch.
She stirred and he moved his mouth close to her ear.
"You're okay, and I won't ever leave you alone again." He muttered, his lips brushed her cheek and she curled into him more.
Never again. He'd had the best of intentions, giving her space, time to think. He'd been wrong.
He brought her to their chambers and warred with himself for a long moment on where to take her.
Finally, with his stomach still reeling from his worry, his fear at her being gone he clutched her tighter to him and took her to his bed.
Her eyes fluttered open when he laid her down and he stared down at her, her brow furrowed.
"Severus?" She looked dazed, confused, and so very adorable.
"You're fine, go back to sleep, we can speak in the morning." He pulled his own robes off and kicked off his boots.
"No, I'm dirty! Your bed!" She tried to sit up but he pushed her back down.
"Sheets can be changed in the morning, I will even run you a bath then." He climbed over her into the bed and pulled her to her chest. She ceased to struggle and lay back against him.
"I thought you didn't want me around anymore." She blinked into the darkness of his room and he groaned behind her.
"I was stupid, sleep, we will speak in the morning, I swear it witch."