I DON'T OWN ANYTHING TO DO WITH HARRY POTTER!!A/N Hello! Just a quick thanks to everyone who is following and favoriting (if thats a word, sorry if it isn't) this fict! I really hope you are enjoying it and please keep reviewing, I love to read them and they do inspire me, also I do take what you write into consideration!So! Here is, I think, the longest chapter yet! enjoy! Hope its ok!!

Chapter 10

It was about 6:00 a.m. when Severus started to regain consciousness, from what had been the deepest slumber he had experienced in months. He could feel the slight warmness of the sun, which had leaked through the tatty curtain that resided in the living room of his childhood home. It made him feel like his face was glowing with a soothing warmth, which distracted him from the lingering smell of old ash from the previous evenings fire.

It was indeed that musty, stale, old burnt scent that bought Severus to his senses. That, and the fact he had lost feeling in his right arm, from apparently deciding that it would be a splendid, wise idea to sleep on a rather scratchy, and not to mention dusty, old carpet by the fire.

With a strained groan, he started to stretch what felt like an ancient body, with all the clicks and pops that came from him.

Severus lay there silently and still as he stared at the ceiling, only when he heard a huff of breath beside him, all the memories from the night before came flooding back into his head. Dumbledore. Death. Murder...

Followed by, Hermione and Kiss.

Severus, feeling slightly panicked, rushed up swiftly to his feet to observe the sleeping woman.

She looked so small and fragile, all curled up on the floor. She reminded him of a baby bird laying helplessly, waiting for its mother to rescue them.

Severus shocked himself as he had the sudden urge to pick her up and press his lips to her soft cheek. He had the opportunity to... Yet why would he do such a ludacris thing as that?!

It was refreshing to feel the cold morning breeze, as Severus stalked along the stone cobbled street of Spinners End. He wasn't used to walking outside the street without a cause, but yet he needed to. He needed to think without any distractions, and of course a beautiful sleeping witch on his living room floor was a big distraction.

It was a moment of weakness, a lapse of judgement. Nothing more. She was just there at a time I needed comfort. I had just killed, more like stone cold murdered, one of the greatest wizards that had ever lived. My emotions were not in control. It was a mistake...

And yet, she responded back. Why on earth would she do that? Silly girl. Stupid girl. Why would she feel anything for me? I'm twice her age! And not to mention... HER BLOODY TEACHER!

It was hopeless, Severus couldn't understand why he did it, and it annoyed him. Greatly.

By the time Hermione had woken up, the sun had risen and the day had begun. What caught her eye, when she had sat up from the floor, was the black mass of robes that was Severus snape sitting in the armchair. He wasn't looking at her, but in her direction. With the look of deep thought plastered on his face.

When he finally spoke to her, he refused to give her eye contact. Which sprung a pang of sadness over her, it felt like she was back to her first interaction with him, all those months ago when she revealed her identity with him. She thought they had connected more than that. Obviously she was wrong.

"Go back to Hogwarts Granger. Your presence is no longer necessary here. I have briefly opened my floo. Use it. And get out."

5 Weeks later

A new school year was approaching. Hermione knew what was coming, and so did the castle apparently.

It had happened a few days ago when Hermione had been sleeping, she was deep in slumber when she felt the walls and the ground under her shift. As quick as a flash she was out of her bed and eagerly investigating what had happened. Of course! She berated herself for being so naive. How could I forget that?

She opened her door, which used to open to Severus's quarters, however now it lead to a different private room.

"Headmasters room." Hermione breathed.

He would be back soon.

After being coldly sent back to Hogwarts, Hermione felt like she had just been grounded. Freedom of the castle was not really an option, she knew that most of the teachers spent their summers in the castle, although some of the order knew of her presence, they didn't know the whole truth and reasoning to why she was there.

Which was ultimately to be a confidant and support for Snape.

Hermione spent the first couple of days festering her fury in her confinement, her imprisonment. How dare he turn around and be so frosty to her, and discard her away like an old toy a child had out grown. She would pace furiously across her room contemplating if she should just use her time turner to go forward the final battle and be done with it.

Save him and get on with her life.

He didn't really mean anything to her, if anything he was being burden, regardless if he deserved to live or not, she had her own healing to do.

Although every time Hermione would go towards her time turner (which had been adapted by herself and Dumbledore during her training, to enable her to travel forward back to her original time.), there would always be that niggling feeling, at the back of her mind that would stop her. The feeling and memories would overcome her anger and remind her of the Snape that she had become familiar with. Also not to mention the sensation of his soft lips on hers, and the way her stomach flipped as they gently held each other.

After a while Hermione became accustomed to the waiting. As she knew, even if he didn't, that he would be back. As the Headmaster.

From what Hermione remembered, from the memories he gave Harry and from the informative conversations with his painting, Snape loathed being headmaster. He hated punishing and torturing innocent children. Although Snape would consider himself a bad man, he would never lower himself to harm an innocent child under his care, even if it was Longbottom, he would never let that happen. Hermione could remember the hatred in his voice as he talked from his painting about the Carrows, and the disturbing acts they performed on the students, and also the sorrow in his eyes that he felt utterly hopeless, and utterly alone.

This is what spurred her on, no one deserved to feel like that... Even if he did act like an utter twat, Hermione would not act childish, she would be mature about it.

Severus Snape was an idiot, and he knew it. As soon as she looked at him, just as she disappeared in green flames. He saw the hurt in her hazel eyes. Severus made a mistake and overreacted but he was too proud to do anything about it. He couldn't take anything back, let alone running back to Hogwarts after her like a little puppy, he would be shunned away, it would be obvious he wouldn't be welcome. Hogwarts was not his home anymore.

The weeks came and went one after the other, and after each day his heart ached for Hermiones company, although at the time he may have seemed to be annoyed by her presence that was not the case. He cherished the moments she would sit with him and have intellectual debates with her, even just knowing she was in the next room kept him going.

Severus contemplated many times over the weeks, that maybe if he opened up to Hermione instead of pushing her away, even after that kiss. The whole situation would of been much more tolerable. Mainly because he wouldn't have to be alone.

His heart would sink. His house and life became darker and bleaker, and each time he was summoned, keeping up his death eater charade was becoming increasingly more difficult.

He wanted to give up. Severus also found himself falling into the habit of drinking and crying himself to sleep.

This was not what he wanted anymore. He wanted it to end.

He ruined the only thing that was giving him hope in this shit storm of a war...

That was until he received an unexpected letter, from an unknown owl. Announcing him, Severus Snape, as the new headmaster of Hogwarts.

A whole week he waited.

A whole week she knew.

They both knew it was going to happen at some point. Neither knew who was going to make the first move.

Severus hated it, he wanted to get it over with. She was like a drug to him, he craved her, he craved her light to snuff out the darkness that dwelled inside.

Knowing that she was just behind one enchanted door was doing his head in. He had enough.

The first staff meeting had just finished and Severus felt drained, he felt dirty. He acted like he could see their looks, but he could. He just wanted to scream, "It's all an act! This is what he ordered me to do!" But he knew he couldn't do that.

The evening had fallen and night was upon the castle. The glass in Severus hand was suddenly thrown across the room.

The glass resembled Severus's true emotions.

Broken.

Fire filled his body, shame filled his lungs as he cried from the top of his voice, "I GIVE UP!"

Hot tears trailed down his cheeks.

Before Severus knew it his fists where pounding against ancient stone of the castle. The more he threw his fists at the stone, the redder it was becoming, he marveled at the sight, the pain was so refreshing and he craved it.

"SEVERUS! STOP."

His breath caught in his throat.

"Severus please..." It was softer this time.

The words caressed his ears, hearing his name on her lips made his mouth go dry.

Snapes forehead rested on the bloody stone.

"I... I cant..." he pleaded.

The words wanted to come out but they just refused.

"Please... Please don't push me away again. This isn't healthy... Severus... Please."

He petit body was pressed against his back, her warm arms wrapped around him, squeezing him, and reassuring him that she wasn't going to let go any time soon.

After what felt like hours of being held by Hermione, Severus stepped away from her saying nothing, hoping she would follow. She did.

He sat down. When he felt her sit next to him he turned his body to face her.

His eyes searched her face, then her body, then her face again. Just knowing she was next to him soothed him.

"Hermione..." He breathed.

"I was foolish. I overreacted..."

"You were, and you did." She spoke frankly.

"I could of left you know..."

Slight shock and confusion showed on his face. "Then why didn't you?" He whispered so softly that she almost didn't hear him.

"That would of been selfish Severus."

He turned and grabbed her hands firmly.

"No! Hermione. Why? I deserve none of this... None of you! I dont deserve the light that you have become! I dont deserve your kindness, nor your beauty... I should die. Why change what I deserve."

He went to drop her hands but she then held on.

"I know you are not an easy man Severus Snape, but to leave after just one act of coldness, compared to EVERYTHING you have done for us?! That would be foolish. Besides if I had gone back to find out that this had caused you more pain... It would have... Broken my heart..."

"Severus... You mean too much to me now."

"You don't mean that."

"I do. More than I care to admit." She said clearing her throat.

"Right..." She smiled at him warmly,

"No more punching the castle please, it has feelings you know."

Silence.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't know what I would do without you."

"Probably something stupid." She teased lightly.

"Probably..."