Yeah, I know. It's so late, but here it is. Also, I'm going to be Au Pairing in Barcelona for a month tomorrow (28th July). So, any updates, if any, will be made via my phone until I get back to the UK. Let me know what you think of this one, sorry it's a bit short!

AN: I own nothing

Severus POV

His black cloak billowed around him as he saw Hogwarts' newest professor sprint from the Black Lake and into the castle. Her hair had fallen out of the hairstyle she had attempted to pin it into earlier and her robes were falling off one of her shoulders. She looked a mess if he was being brutally honest.

He had been about to go and help fight off her assailants and had made his way to the Headmaster's apparition point to do so. However, by the time he had marched over in two long strides, she had made it back through the wards. He had remained standing there watching the terrified witch, gripping her wand so tight he could see her white knuckles from up high. He was only broken from his fixation upon her when she disappeared inside.

She fascinated him. He had always seen as the Insufferable Know-it-all and had placed her far back into his mind. However, after observing her work over the years, he couldn't help but respect her. In hindsight, it had become more than just respect when he had seen her at the Victory Ball a few weeks ago. He had almost stopped in his tracks as her figure drew his gaze. He hadn't expected to see that the once bushy-haired, buck-toothed child had morphed into a rather attractive woman.

He was unsure about his feelings towards her now, and although she was now a member of staff, his protectiveness towards her went beyond that. His reaction to her passing through the wards was a testament to that. His wand had flown so fast into his hand; he had barely registered doing it. In this dash to ensure her safety, he had forgotten what a formidable witch she was. From the distance, he saw at least three attackers, who she escaped from in less than a minute. It was no small feat and if he wasn't furious at her for disobeying his orders albeit inadvertently, he would have had offered her his congratulations.

Telling her really wasn't an option for him. He had been sworn to secrecy in the form of a Wizarding Vow. He had put his foot down when they suggested an Unbreakable Vow, citing that he had no desire to live under the strain it put him under, leading up to Dumbledore's … demise.

He had hoped that she would have heeded his advice and stayed within the wards but, of course, her rebelliousness would never be kept in check. He had heard first hand about the upheaval during her first few months at the ministry. She had been determined to overhaul the entire ministry herself and had caused nothing but chaos. Eventually, people saw what she was trying to do and helped and now the ministry wasn't nearly as bureaucratic as it was before. Her desire to make everything better was obviously still very much present and despite the war it hadn't ebbed. He admired her a bit for that as well.

Sitting himself back into his chair, he decided to wait until tomorrow to discuss the incident with her, as she most certainly needed time to calm down and realise the error of her ways. If it had been any of the other members of the Golden Trio, he wouldn't have hesitated to march down and give them a piece of his mind. Fortunately, her intelligence gave him some reprieve.

For now, he would wait.