Author's Note: Hi, everyone. I'm back! I'm sorry for the long gap. Thank you to everyone who has been patient in waiting for me! Life has calmed down a bit, but will quickly pick back up again. I leave for an away rotation for two months on Monday, and get back just in time for my wedding. I'm also doing NaNoWriMo next month, so I'm not sure if I'll have time to update. But I promise I'll try. Enjoy!

Here's a synopsis up to this point since it's been awhile:

Hermione's parents died the summer after her first year and Snape was assigned as her legal guardian. Hermione is quite upset about this fact, and decides to try to have the Muggle courts declare him an inept guardian. She decides to make them think that she is abusing her, and brews a Blood Replenishing Potion in his private lab (which she is not allowed in). However, although the potion makes the necessary bruises, she takes too much of it and passes out near Hagrid's house. She needed to take a Blood Clotting Potion to keep her blood from becoming too thin. Snape finds her outside Hagrid's and rushes her to the Hospital Wing. After administering the necessary potions, Madame Pomfrey sends them back to Snape's quarters. The next day, after receiving a clean bill of health from Madame Pomfrey, she and Snape discuss what happened. The discussion does not go well, and he finds himself outside Professor McGonagall's door. It is revealed that she was his guardian while he was a student, and that she still has much of a parental role in his life. Snape and Hermione discuss her recent behavior and their changing roles before Snape assigns her a punishment; she is grounded for two weeks without books, she will perform the charm to make books unreadable to her, and she is assigned to write an essay detailing why she was wrong. After writing the essay, she successfully performs the charm, but is still greatly upset. After Professor McGonagall speaks with her, Professor McGonagall realizes it is because Snape did not tell her she was forgiven. The final chapter ends with Snape and Hermione bonding further, and him inviting her to have hot chocolate before bed. Start current chapter,

"Thank you, Ms. Salk," Snape said into the telephone coming out of the. "We'll see you in two days time at the magistrate's office in Kent…Yes, ten o'clock…Thank you very much. Good-bye." He pulled the telephone base out of the fire.

Hermione looked on, intrigued. "What was that?" she asked.

"Floo Phone. It's a way to connect to the Muggle world."

"Oh. How does it work?"

"Have you heard of the Floo Network?"

She tilted her head to the side a bit, her curiosity piqued. "It's a kind of wizard travel that uses fires?"

"Yes, you use Floo Powder and can travel anywhere that has a Floo Network connection. It can also be used to talk to people, similarly to a muggle telephone, but you can see the other person's face."

"Is that how you've been calling Madame Pomfrey?"

He nodded. "Yes. The Floo Phone works on the same principle, except it makes telephone calls. Muggleborn witches and wizards use them to speak to their families once they begin living in the Wizarding world."

"So you can call anyone in the Muggle world?"

"Yes." He paused for a moment. "That was Ms. Salk. She called to remind me that the final custody hearing over you will be in two days in Kent."

Hermione nodded, and forced herself to focus on this new magical wonder instead of her changing life. "You have a phone number?"

"Not that the muggle telephone companies know about. It only works if I give it to someone. It redirects them from the muggle with the same number to me."

"What if they want to call the muggle?"

"Then they call the muggle. Part of magic is the intent behind it."

"Oh." She paused. "Are there anymore in the castle?"

"I presume Madame Pomfrey has one. She contacts parents know when a student is hurt or sick."

Hermione swallowed, remembering the crushing, frantic hugs, her mum's crying, and her dad's bright eyes when she had gotten off the train less than a month earlier. She blinked quickly. "Is…is that how my mum and dad knew about the stone and Harry, Ron, and me?"

"I believe so." He paused, waiting to see if she had any more questions. "Come. Let's have hot chocolate and biscuits before bed." Hermione nodded, and gave him a hint of a smile as she followed him into the kitchen.

Snape magically heated the milk and stirred in the cocoa powder while Hermione put the remaining shortbread cookies on the table and sat down. He placed a mug in front of her. She blew gently on her hot chocolate before taking a tentative sip, and wincing after drinking it.

"Too hot?" he said.

She shook her head. "No. It's good. But I usually like my hot chocolate sweet. It's as if you don't want me having any sugar. Maybe next time I should make it."

"Cheeky brat," he murmured, taking a sip of his own. She smiled sweetly at him, and he caught a flash of something odd. He set his mug down harshly. "Open your mouth," he ordered sharply.

Hermione's eyes widened and she shrunk back in her seat. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"Open your mouth." She just looked at him fearfully. He slammed his hand down. "Open your mouth now!" She opened her mouth slightly. He grabbed her chin in his hand and gently pushed her lower lip down with his thumb. "Your gums are bleeding."

He stood up and pulled a vial out of a cabinet. "Drink half of this now," he said, handing it to her. "I'm going to call Madame Pomfrey."

A few minutes later, Madame Pomfrey bustled into the kitchen. "Hello, dear," she said kindly to Hermione. "Professor Snape has told me what's happening. Could you open your mouth for me, please?"

Hermione obediently opened her mouth as Madame Pomfrey lit her wand to examine it, gently moving her lips away from her teeth. Bright red blood oozed out of her gums, staining her teeth. "All right then. Professor Snape has told me that you've taken half of a Blood Clotting Potion?" Hermione nodded. "All right. Finish that potion now. Severus?" Her tone became business-like.

"Yes, Madame?" he replied from behind Hermione.

"Do you have any Vitamin K?"

"I believe there is some in the Potions classroom."

"Very well. Give her a vial now and then another in the morning. If you don't have any, there's plenty on the third shelf in the Hospital Wing. It should be labeled." He nodded. "Any questions?"

He started to shake his head, but stopped. "Yes. We have to be in Kent in two days for the final custody hearing. I'd planned to side-along apparate with her. Is that all right or should I make other travel arrangements?"

"Make other travel arrangements. I don't want to cause any undue stress to her blood vessels. I believe that the Wizarding Rail Lines has a train that runs from Hogsmeade to King's Cross Station that leaves at eight in the morning."

"Then portkeys are out of the question as well?"

"Yes, and Floo travel as well. Any other questions?"

"No, ma'am. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Floo me if you have any other questions."

"I will. Thank you."

"I'll see myself out. You go get that Vitamin K."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good night, Hermione."

"Good night," she replied softly as they left the room.

Snape came back a few minutes later with a large green vial. "Drink this as quickly as you can, then drink your hot chocolate." She looked at him suspiciously. "Just do it."

Hermione uncorked the vial and drank the potion, gagged, and immediately gulped down her hot chocolate. "How did you know?" she asked him, her eyes watering.

He colored slightly. "That's a story for another day." He took a sip of his hot chocolate, looking embarrassed.

"So I should ask, Aunt Min?" She smiled sweetly at him.

He glanced at the clock. "Uh…I believe it's past your bedtime. Go brush your teeth and get to bed. We'll be leaving the castle by seven fifteen tomorrow."

"Good night, Uncle Sev," she said sweetly, putting her mug in the sink. "I'll be sure to ask Aunt Min about that as soon as we get back."

"Good night, brat!"

The next morning at eight o'clock, the Wizarding Rail Lines train from Hogsmeade to King's Cross Station left the Hogsmeade station with Snape and Hermione on board.

"In here, Hermione," Snape said. She followed him in, put her bag above the seats, sat down, and stared out the window forlornly. He sat down across from her and pulled two oranges out of his bag. "Are you hungry?"

"No," she replied shortly.

"Did you take your Vitamin K?"

"No."

"Do you have it with you?"

"Yes."

He frowned; her one-word answers were starting to bother him. "Where is it?"

"In my bag."

He waited a moment, then seeing that she was making no move to get it, stood up and unzipped her purple backpack. I'm certain I told her no books, he thought, pulling out a thick book. "Hermione, what's this?"

She turned to look at him, her cheeks immediately growing hot. "That was in my bag! What are you doing in my bag?" Her voice got louder with every word.

"Lower your voice, young lady!" he snapped. He took a deep breath, regaining his calm. "I was getting your Vitamin K, as you made no move to do so. And I would like you to explain why you have a book in your bag when I know you were told no books for two weeks."

Hermione didn't seem to hear what he had said. She jumped out of her seat, hands balled into fists and a furious expression on her face. "You had no right to go through my stuff!" she yelled. "It's mine! How would you like it if I went through your stuff?"

Snape looked at her, appalled at—and somewhat fearful of—her rage. "Hermione Granger!" he scolded sternly. "You will calm yourself this instant!"

But Hermione was beyond calming herself down. All of the rage she had been feeling since the accident erupted. "You had no right!" she screamed. "None!" She tried to slam her fists into his stomach, but he caught her arms.

He leaned over into her face. "Calm yourself," he hissed dangerously, holding her forearms. "Now!"

She wrenched herself away from him. "It's my bag! You had no right to go through my bag! It's not fair!" Ah, so that's what this is about, Snape thought, trying to grab her arms again. She dodged him, her fist connecting with his abdomen.

"Oof!" he groaned, the punch knocking the wind out of him. Another one landed before he realized it was coming. He groaned again, but didn't waste time when he saw the next one coming. He caught her arm before she could make contact, turned her to the side, and smacked her bottom, effectively stunning her.

She suddenly realized what she was doing, and stopped swinging her arms. The color drained from her face as rapidly as it had appeared.

"Sit down now," he growled, his tone suggesting that the consequences would be too great to imagine if she disobeyed. She sat. "Stay there and calm down. I am going to take a walk. We will talk in a little while." She stared at him, her expression of anger replaced by one of fear.

He stepped out of the cabin, closed the door, and ran a hand through his hair.

"Is everything all right, Professor?" a cheery voice asked from the next compartment. A golden haired man wearing flamboyant blue robes and grinning rakishly stepped into the hallway.

"Everything is fine, Mr. Lockhart," Snape replied with forced coolness. "I apologize for the disturbance."

"Oh, no need, no need. I have quite a bit of experience with children. I know they can be quite trying at times. I remember in A Year with a Yeti…"

Snape nodded in agreement. And so can some adults, he thought irritably, ignoring the other man giving him his opinion on what he would have done if he were in the same situation, and getting lost in his own thoughts. The girl's got a temper! he thought. She reminds me of Lily. He cringed, remembering Lily's formidable temper.

"…and then I'm sure the child would have calmed down," Lockhart finished grandly.

"I'll consider that in the future," Snape placated Lockhart. "However, children are best handled calmly, and I feel I must calm myself now. Good day, Mr. Lockhart." Snape turned and started walking down the corridor of the train, wondering what to do.

A half hour later, Snape re-entered the compartment he shared with Hermione. She was sitting in the corner of the compartment with her knees drawn up to her chest and her face buried in them. He sat down on the edge of the seat across from her. "Have you calmed down now?" he asked her, still a slight edge to his voice. She nodded into her knees. "Hermione?" He forced his voice gentler.

"Yes, sir," she said softly, not looking up.

"Are you ready to talk?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Please look at me." She raised her head. Tear tracks coursed down her face, a few tears still dripping off her chin. "Hermione, what happened there?" She shrugged her shoulders again, dropping her face back to her knees. He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand, pulling her face up so she would look at him. "Hermione?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to hit you."

"Then why did you do it?"

She paused for a moment. I can't tell him the truth, she thought. That'll make it real. "I was angry that you went in my bag without asking me first," she said quickly.

He let go of her chin, crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow at her. He didn't believe her for a minute, but turned his voice steely nonetheless. "You mean for me to believe that your entire temper tantrum was because you were angry about me going into your bag for your potion?"

"Yes," she spat, her anger starting to quickly rise again. Why should I tell him my private thoughts? she thought furiously. They're none of his business!

He conjured a roll of parchment and a quill. Shoving them into her hands, he said, "Then you can sit here and write lines."

"What will I be writing, sir?" she snapped, her temper beginning to get the best of her again.

Snape thought for a moment before waving his wand. Words appeared at the top of the parchment: I will act my age. I will not throw temper tantrums that would make a two-year-old blush or hit my guardian when I am angry.

"How many times, sir?" she snarled.

"Change your tone!" he hissed.

"How many times, sir?" she said with mock sweetness.

"Until I tell you that you are finished."

Stony faced, she began writing.

A half hour later, Snape interrupted her by dangling a vial in front of her. "You need to take this," he said, pressing the vial of Vitamin K into her hand.

Hermione sighed, and uncorked the vial. She looked at him, then at the vial, and then back again, as if she was having an internal debate. Finally, she tipped the vial back, trying to get it down as quickly as possible. Gagging and eyes watering, she recorked the vial and handed it back to him.

He took pity on her. "Would you like some juice?" he sneered.

She shot him a glare to rival his own, but bit her lip and nodded. He handed her a bottle of pumpkin juice. She drank it as quickly as she could.

"Thank you," she said, after finished.

He took the bottle from her and banished it. He nodded at her. "Go ahead and continue with your lines." She sighed, but continued writing.

An hour later, Hermione's hand felt as if it would fall off. She had to have written at least 300 lines. She bit her lip, wondering if he would take pity on her poor hand. She sighed. "Sir?"

Snape put his copy of The Daily Prophet aside. "Yes, Hermione?"

"May I stop writing now, sir?"

"That depends. Are you ready to talk about earlier?" Probably not, he thought, as you're still calling me "sir."

She shook her head, some of her anger returning. "No, sir."

"Then keep writing." He picked up his paper again. Hermione sighed, shook out her wrist, and began writing again.

Another hour passed, and someone knocked on the compartment door. A woman wearing a Wizarding Rail Lines uniform poked her head into the compartment. "May I offer you some lunch from the trolley?"

"I'll have a boxed lunch with turkey," Snape replied. "Hermione, what would you like?"

"Nothing, thank you," she replied. "I'm not hungry."

Stubborn brat! He turned back to the woman. "I'll take a ham and cheese boxed lunch in case she gets hungry later. And two pumpkin juices and two bottled waters." He glanced at the girl as a surprised look flitted across her face.

"Yes, sir," the woman replied. "That'll be one galleon and four sickles." She handed him the lunches, and took his payment.

"Thank you," Snape said.

"Have a nice day, sir, miss." She left the compartment.

Snape opened his box lunch noisily, and began eating his turkey sandwich. He made a big show of opening one of the bottles of pumpkin juice, and drinking it. Hermione ignored him, but kept glancing over. At one point, he thought he saw a flicker of longing wash across her face. Ah, so she is hungry! he thought to himself. That'll wear her pride down soon enough. He finished his lunch, performing the banishment of his trash with great embellishment. Hermione sighed resignedly, but continued writing.

After the next hour, the growling in Hermione's stomach started to distract her, and she knew she shouldn't be skipping meals after the few days. I guess I should ask him for lunch, she thought begrudgingly. "Uncle Sev?" she asked timidly.

He looked at her over his nameless book. "Yes?"

"May I have my lunch now?"

"Of course." A flicker of triumph passed through his eyes. He passed the boxed lunch and a bottle of pumpkin juice to her. She opened the box, unwrapped her sandwich, and took a large bite.

"Thank you for buying me lunch even though I wasn't hungry before," she said after swallowing.

He snorted internally. Not hungry before. She was as not hungry as a condemned man wants to die. "You're welcome," he replied.

He went back to his book as Hermione finished her lunch.

"Are you finished?" he asked as she gathered up her trash.

"Yes, sir."

He banished her wrappers. "You can go back to writing lines now," he said evenly, returning to his book. Her face fell. He raised an eyebrow. "Unless you're ready to talk about earlier."

Hermione looked at the quill and parchment. Her hand ached horribly already, and she was more bored than she had thought possible. She didn't really want to talk, but it was better than the alternative. She pulled her legs into her chest again and rested her chin on her knees. "I think I'm ready to talk," she said softly.

He marked his place in his book. "All right then." He looked at her. "Please sit normally in the seat." She lowered her legs and stared at her hands in her lap. "So, tell me, what really upset you this morning?" She shrugged, not saying anything. He reached for his book again. "All right. We can talk when you're ready. You can continue writing lines for now."

"No, please!" she whined. "Uncle Sev, I'm ready now!"

Ignoring her whining, he put his book aside again. "Tell me what happened."

She took a deep breath. "We're going back to Kent."

"I'm aware of that. I made the train reservations." He couldn't help the sarcastic reflex.

"That's not what I mean!" Her chin wobbled slightly, but she took another deep breath, and blew it out slowly. "Hogwarts keeps my mind off of everything. But I won't be able to think about anything else in Kent. And this hearing makes them really gone." He was barely able to hear the last part of her sentence.

"Hermione," he began, but stopped. There was nothing he could say. Nothing would make this any better or easier for her. What do I say? he wondered, feeling spectacularly inadequate.

A tear slipped down her cheek. "It's not fair!" she choked out angrily. "It's just not fair!" She scrubbed at her eyes, trying to stop crying.

"You're right," he agreed, shocking himself. He crossed the compartment, and sat down next to her. He awkwardly put an arm around her shoulders, surprising her for a moment before she leaned into him. "It's not fair. It's not fair that your parents died. And it never will be. And I can't promise you that anything will ever be normal again." He paused. "In fact, it probably won't be." He felt her body shudder with a sob. He hesitated, thinking. "But we can find a new normal. And we will."

He felt her nod against him, and snuggle in a bit closer. She sobbed into his shoulder, letting as much of it out as she could.

"Uncle Sev?" she said sleepily, after she had worn herself out from crying.

"Yes?"

"I really am sorry for hitting you." Her eyes drooped.

"I know, child. Now go to sleep." But Hermione didn't hear him; she had already drifted off. He pulled her closer, leaned down and kissed the top of her head, thinking, Since when did I become a source of comfort?

Please review! They make me smile when I have to be away from my fiancee and cat!