AN: So apparently some of you liked the Albus-Poppy bit. Interesting! Maybe I will make something with it. I don't know yet. By the way I'm thinking of writing more than I had actually planned for this story. If you would like that? Who am I kidding, I will be writing it if you like it or not, since I somehow developed a writing addiction! ;-) Driving my family crazy with it by the way. But there will be a longer pause, probably after chapter 26.

I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any money with my writing.

Hermione was standing in front of the dungeons classroom, took a deep breath and opened the door, thinking 'You have to strike first, don't let them see you weak'. She walked in slamming the door.

"Right. Professor Snape is sick so I'll be your teacher for today. I've been filled in that you are presently working on the Patronus Charm. Mister Mulciber tell me something about that charm," she demanded harshly.

"Er … um…," stammered the beefy boy.

"I wouldn't have thought so," she said sarcastically, "Ten points from Slytherin."

"That's unfair," Rowle grumbled under his breath.

"Excuse me? Mister … Rowle, as I recall it. We'll make a deal, if you can tell me something about that charm you own your house twenty points, so you can correct your friend's ignorance. Well?"

"This Charm is to help someone … um …er…," Rowle stuttered.

"That's all! I hope you aware that that's not worth twenty points. Quite the contrary, another ten points from Slytherin. Can anybody in this class tell me something about that charm?" Hermione asked looking around.

There were a few raised hands.

"Miss Bradley?"

"The Patronus Charm is also called spiritual guardian it is a charm that will keep you safe from dementors and lethifolds. Once the charm is cast there appears a silver mist, that can turn into, what we call, a corporeal patronus in form of an animal. Headmaster Dumbeldore's Patronus for example used to be a phoenix and Harry Potter's Patronus is a deer."

"Well done Miss Bradley. Ten points for Gryffindor. Now Mister Bell can you tell me what is essential to cast the Patronus Charm."

"Happiness. To think about something happy, Professor Granger," John Bell beamed at her.

"Well done, five points for Gryffindor."

"Teacher's pet," somebody hissed from the last row. Hermione just raised an eyebrow, but didn't react otherwise.

"Professor Snape tells me you haven't really practised yet. So that's what we are going to do today. I award twenty points to each of you who is able to conjure a corporeal Patronus and five points to everyone who manages an incorporeal one. The incantation is 'Expecto Patronum', let me write it down for you."

"Can we maybe see your Patronus," Mister Bell asked.

"Certainly," Hermione replied raising her wand.

A mental image of a dark haired wizard, with a dark haired baby on his arm flickering through her mind, she yelled, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" and her otter swam merrily through the room.

"Wow! It's beautiful," a petite blonde girl said.

"It's your turn now. I know it's very advanced magic, but I'm sure you can do it," she smiled encouragingly.

By the end of the lesson most of the Gryffindors and a couple of Slytherins were able to conjure a non-corporeal Patronus. A wiry and quiet Slytherin even conjured a cheetah.

"Well done Mister Streets and well done Mister Bell," Hermione laughed at John's beagle running in circles around her.

"Well we all know who Bell is thinking about," Jugson sneered. John blushed and his Patronus died away. Hermione ignoring the comment moved to help a student with the exact wand movement.

"But poor Bell doesn't stand a chance, because the traitor is doing the mudblood bitch," Mulciber hissed, loud enough for everybody to hear, his friends laughing loudly.

The rest of the class gasped. Hermione turned around slowly, her eyes burning with fury.

"Mister Mulciber, Mister Jugson, Mister Travers, Mister Rowle I thought your last detention taught you a lesson, but obviously it hasn't. You will serve detention every weekday until the rest of the school year. The headmistress is going to decide with whom you serve detention and how many hours every day. The Hogsmeade weekends are cancelled for you as well. And you just lost thirty-five points. Mister Mulciber that's twenty for you and five points for each of your friends. Since none of you could conjure even the slightest silver mist and I'm sure none of you will practise it I'd like a summary of the chapters on the Patronus, one foot per chapter and half a foot with your own opinion. From the rest of the class I want you to practise. Don't forget to think about something happy. You've done well today. Class dismissed."

She turned her back on the students while they left.

"Sadistic bitch,"Mulciber mumbled.

"That's another ten points Mister Mulciber," she said still having her back turned to them.

"And that's another five points for the rude gesture," she said grimly.

"How did she even see that," Mulciber hissed towards his friends.

"Mirror! Next time make sure there isn't a mirror I can see you in," Hermione said and when they had left she added a very quiet, "you idiot."

After dining in the Great Hall she went back to Severus' quarters.

"Good evening, Severus!"

"Hi, how was your day," he whispered his voice still strained. It was Thursday and his voice hadn't returned fully.

"Interesting," she grumbled.

"Is Elena sleeping already?"

"Yes, she has worn herself out, because she started crawling like a seal today."

"Wow Severus, that's amazing. She is so cute," Hermione said looking at the sleeping baby in the cot.

"I would love to steal a kiss from you, but I think I might still be contagious" he whispered.

"I don't care," she said crawling onto the bed, where he was sitting bare chested leaning to the headboard. She sat next to him and gently kissed him.

"By the way Minerva says you needn't bother coming back this week," she kissed his nose.

"So tell me about your day," he said.

"I had to deduct points from your house."

"How many?"

"Hang on first ten, then another ten, both for not being able to tell me anything about Patronuses, than thirty-five for being rude to you and me and then another ten for being rude to me again and then another five for a rude gesture towards me, I wasn't supposed to see, but there was a mirror. Blundering idiot," she huffed.

"Mulciber?" he asked.

She nodded.

"So seventy points. You docked off seventy points from my house," he said and she nodded a bit insecure about how he would react. His laugh started deep and rumbling and he wouldn't stop until he laughed himself to tears.

"I'm sure they deserved it. Tell me all about the lesson," he wiped his eyes.

So she did.

"I'm glad Streets earned some points. He is smart and sensible. I don't know how he ended up in Slytherin?" Severus mused.

"You are smart and sensible and a Slytherin. You give your own house far too little credit," she caressed his chin. By now they were lying on the bed side by side facing each other.

"By the way I have to say how Bell is looking at you drives me up the wall," Severus growled.

"Don't be jealous. I don't fancy him. He is nice. But that's it. You're the one I chose and who I want to be with," she said, scooted closer and kissed him passionately.

"That was nice," he smiled playing with one of her curls. She trailed her hand up and down his bare chest and belly, causing a small moan to escape his mouth. He closed his eyes and his hand travelled to her waist, holding on to it. Severus' thumb found a way sneaking under her teacher's robes and finally caressing some bare skin, prompting her to gasp and shutter.

"Are you okay," he asked a bit worried.

"I am, actually, more than fine. That feels really nice," she smiled and kissed him softly, when suddenly Elena started screaming.

"Great timing," Severus growled in disappointment. He went over to the cot and gently lifted the screaming baby up, cradling her to his chest.

"What's wrong. Have you had a bad dream," Severus cooed and sat on the bed with her, gently rocking her. Finally after about five minutes she calmed down, but was wide awake. Severus rolled his eyes and placed her on the bed between Hermione and himself.

"Let me just put on a t-shirt," he grumbled. Hermione grinned.

"Next time young lady you choose a better time to wake up," he scolded, but kissed Elena affectionately on the cheek. Elena smiled at her dad and then turned her gaze to Hermione, who kissed her on top of her head.

"Hermione I actually wanted to ask you something, " Severus said.

"What?"

"You were right I am exhausted and I need a break, so I wanted to ask you if you would want to come away for a couple days with us during the Easter holidays? It would be my treat, if you don't mind. "

"Really? You want me to come on holiday with you? I would love to. Did you decide where to?" she asked excitedly.

"Not yet. Somewhere warm. I was thinking about Crete. What do you think?"

"Sounds perfect. I've never been. It will already be warm, but not hot and it has such an interesting and early culture. I would learn so much," she said eagerly, making Severus chuckle.

"So it's settled. We are going to Crete, my little know-it-all," he said affectionately.