A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the 30 days of music challenge, prompt: 16. Stand In The Rain – Superchick

and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #10 Oceanography 2. The Mariana Trench is deeper, by about half a mile, than the highest point of Mt. Everest. Task Two: Write about someone feeling "in too deep" about something.

word count: 630

Drowning, she was drowning in the rain of their words, the whispers and rumors, the lies and accusations. Hermione knew the truth, knew none of what they said was true. That was her life raft, the thing that kept her afloat. She schooled her face to expressionless. No one could see how their words were affecting her, how she wanted to lash out, to burst into tears because everything good had become overwhelming.

"I can't," she whispered, sliding up next to him in the hallway.

"Can't, or don't want to?" he asked, slowing his steps so she could keep up.

"I want to, I love you," she whispered. "I can't stop loving you, but these rumors, what they're saying about us."

"I understand. I, too, grow weary of hearing them, of being accused of things I would never do, things I find so repulsive," he replied, shuddering as he thought about what they'd been saying about him.

"I feel better here though, with you, standing with you, knowing I'm not alone," she said softly. Her hand slid into his for a moment.

"You are not alone, Hermione. I am here, I will stand by you no matter what you chose."

Hermione nodded. She'd planned to throw it away, to let them drown her, to let their words pull her down. Now, with Severus by her side, she knew she couldn't. To throw it all away, to let them win, no. She was fighter, she loved Severus, she'd almost lost him once and she refused to lose him again, not to these gossips.

"I'm here too, for you, I'm not going anywhere, let's show them that, show them that we don't care what they say, that we're together and in love and it's going to stay that way, no matter what they think," she stated, standing on her toes and kissing his lips in the hallway outside the transfiguration classroom. He held her a minute, their lips touching, not breaking apart until they heard a soft sound coming from the classroom. They broke apart to see Professor McGonagall standing there.

"While I am glad you've sorted your personal lives, Miss Granger, I believe you are supposed to be in the combined eighth and seventh year herbology class, and Severus, aren't you supposed to be teaching something?" she asked, looking at the couple. Hermione and Severus pulled apart from each other, but Hermione reached out and took Severus' hand in hers. If they were going to start being public, going to start not listening, then it was going to start now.

"Sorry, Professor!" Hermione exclaimed. She released Severus' hand and gave Severus a lingering look before darting off down the hallway. Severus watched her turn the corner and disappear.

"Honestly, Severus, in the middle of the hallway? I thought the pair of you had more sense than that. You're acting like a couple of students."

"I am acting nothing like a student," he retorted causing Minerva to smile slightly. "We are both done with listening to the nonsense those dunderheads keep spilling. It is high time we stop sneaking around the corridors and take a more active roll in dispelling their lies. Now, I have a planning period this hour and I do need to go over my notes on things," he continued, giving Minerva a nod before walking away, his robes billowing around him. She couldn't help but shake her head. It had been so long since he'd found someone who loved him, who cared about him, and she knew Hermione was a good match for him in both intellect and temperament.

"About time you two finally stood up for yourselves," she muttered, turning back to her classroom, knowing they'd need an ally in this, and she would be just that.