Last evening was a rough one for Hermione, she held Severus until his shaking stopped then tucked him into bed and crept out into the living room.
Since then she'd been sitting on the couch staring at the still glowing embers in the fireplace. When Severus had been about to embrace her last night Hermione had thought fleetingly that he was going to kiss her.
Ridiculous she thought now, why would he do such a thing? It would be so very out of character for him.
Another thought that haunted her was that when she thought he was going to kiss her, she wanted him to. Now thinking back she realized that she desperately wanted it. That thought scared her.
Hermione wasn't attracted to Severus, she didn't want something intimate with him. These things were facts, Hermione knew, but then why did she want him to kiss her so badly.
These thoughts chased themselves around Hermione's brain until the sun started to glimmer into the room, and Hermione heard Severus stirring in his room.
Hermione got off the couch silently and crept into her room for the first time that morning.
She heard Severus's door creak open, and she could imagine his confused expression when he realized Hermione hadn't left her room yet.
Hermione hurried to throw on a new set of clothes and tame her hair, while getting her face to cooperate and not give away her sleepless night.
"Ready for breakfast?" Hermione asked as she emerged from her room, her robes were crooked and slightly rumpled, she couldn't remember her wrinkle release charm, her hair was, well, being it's usually self and the bags under her eyes were fairly prominent.
"Are you feeling alright?" Severus asked, looking confused and slightly worried.
"I'm fine, just didn't sleep well last night," Hermione said waving away his concern.
"It looks like you didn't sleep at all," Severus remarked as they left the room to head to breakfast.
The day went smoothly from there, Hermione did encounter some minor hiccups in the library due to her lack of sleep, but nothing too bad.
It was almost eight in the evening when Hermione and Severus closed the library early for the night, they had a meeting with the headmistress that couldn't be put off any longer.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Hermione asked.
Severus looked down at her with a slight sneer, "Of course it is, why would you even question telling Minerva, she has a right to know that this new employee of hers is a potential threat."
"True, I guess you're right," Hermione sighed following Severus onto the moving staircase that lead up to the headmistress's office.
"Of course I am," Severus smirked slightly down at her.
"Come in," Minerva called from her desk, she looked up surprised as Severus followed closely by Hermione entered her office.
"Well, this is unexpected," Minerva said warily watching the pair, something was wrong she could see anxiety on both of their faces, Hermione's was rather obvious and Severus's more difficult to discern.
"Minerva we would like to bring something to your attention, if I may?" Severus asked gesturing to the over stuffed seats that faced the headmistress's desk.
Minerva nodded to the two who sat down immediately.
"Minerva Professor Mils is a dangerous man, and something needs to be done," Hermione said quickly as soon as her backside had hit the seat.
Severus sighed, so much for stealthily approaching the topic.
"What? Hermione what on are earth do you mean?" Minerva asked thoroughly confused.
"Minerva," Severus broke in. "Professor Mils is an old acquaintance of mine, and as such he is a threat to Miss Granger and myself."
Minerva looked confused for a moment, then her face cleared. "Yes, he did mention that the two of you have met before and that it wasn't pleasant. But he assured me it wouldn't be a problem."
Severus leaned forward in his chair, "He has shown that his intentions are not, in fact benevolent, he accosted Miss Granger."
"He did come to me to let me know that there had been an incident, he apologized for acting in an unprofessional way. Nothing actually happened," Minerva said looking calmly at Severus, "I don't see a problem, it's not as though you're an innocent in this situation Severus."
Hermione's mouth popped open on it's own.
"If name calling and some slander is all he's done that is hardly grounds for reprimanding," Minerva continued oblivious to Hermione's aghast expression.
"Minerva, this man is dangerous he could do some real harm," Hermione said.
"Hermione dear I think you are over reacting," Minerva said calmly. " I think by now you should realize that Severus has quite a few enemies and if I chose to not allow any of the many people he has crossed wrong, the defense position would still be unfilled."
"That isn't fair." Hermione growled getting up out of her seat.
"Hermione calm down," Severus growled quietly.
Hermione was much too tired and sick of Severus never being defended that she didn't hear him.
"I know dear that Severus has gotten the short end of the stick, but we have to be realistic," Minerva started.
Severus saw Hermione's face turn red, saw her hands clenched tight at her sides, and decided the meeting was over.
"Thank you headmistress, Miss Granger hasn't been sleeping well, and I understand you are in a rough position we will see you tomorrow at breakfast. Good evening." Severus said very calmly as he put his hands on Hermione's shoulders and turned her directing her out of the headmistress's office and out of hexing the headmistress out the window.