AN: I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

Severus woke up the next morning, his back killing him, since he was sitting on a chair but his head was resting next to Hermione's on the bed. Hermione was still sleeping.

He took her hand and rubbed small circles on it whispering, "Hermione, my girl you need to wake up. Please!"

He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sure she will, Severus. But her body needs the rest. That was a severe attack. Look I brought you some breakfast," Poppy said.

"Thanks Poppy!"

The door to the Hospital wing opened and Neville came in, "How is she doing?"

"She is still sleeping," Severus sighed, leaning back and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"She will be fine I'm sure. I actually need to get down to the green-house. I just wanted to check how she has been doing. Oh and Mister Bell wants to give this to Hermione, but he doesn't dare coming in," Neville said handing him a gift with a single pink rose tied to it.

"I talk to him. Thanks for stopping by, Neville."

"See you later Severus."

Severus gently brushed over Hermione's cheek and went to look outside for John.

"Mister Bell shouldn't you be studying for your N.E.W.T.s?" Severus asked approaching the boy.

"I can't concentrate. I keep reliving the events of last night. She saved me, throwing herself between me and the attackers. Shouldn't I have saved her, Sir?"

"No John. She was never yours to save. She is the teacher and you are the student, she had to save you. I just don't get why she didn't use her wand?" "Mulciber disarmed her."

"WHAT?"

"Well she hesitated only for a split second. I'm not sure why though?"

"I know why. She hesitated because they are students."

"But that's just stupid isn't it?"

"Actually no. It's what every good teacher should do. Think before striking down a student. I'm proud of her. My brave Gryffindor girl. She didn't do anything wrong."

"Except that now she is in the hospital wing," John growled.

"She'll be fine Mister Bell. I tell you what, you get back to your studies and as soon as she wakes up I let you know."

"Promise me you will take good care of her," John said.

Severus chuckled, causing John to realise what he just said.

"I'm sorry Sir, that was a bit inappropriate."

"Don't worry. And I promise to take care of her," Severus smiled.

In the afternoon a couple of teachers where standing in the middle of the infirmary quietly discussing, how to deal with the four troublemakers, Severus being one of them.

"They should be expelled immediately," Severus growled.

"Severus I want to talk to Hermione first, before we make any rash decisions," Minerva said carefully.

"Severus," came a small voice from Hermione's bed.

Severus spun around.

"Hermione you're awake," he said and rushed to her side, peppering her face with small kisses.

"I'm so glad, I thought I had lost you," he said in a choked up voice, tears running down his face.

"Don't cry my love. I'm still here," she said, her voice sounding weak, wiping away his tears.

"I'm so tired," she whispered and closed her eyes again.

"Then sleep my girl," he replied softly caressing her cheek.

He got up, turned around and looked at Minerva. Feeling the knot in his stomach untie he rushed to her, hugged her tightly and suddenly started sobbing violently. The other teachers quietly left the room, not wanting to disturb this private moment.

"Shh Severus my dear. She is going to be fine. And you need some rest. Come on!"

She ushered him to the bed next to Hermione, pulled back the covers and shooed him into bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow, tiredness was overpowering him.

"Can I adopt you as a mum," he mumbled.

"Certainly son," she whispered, brushing a strand of his hair out of his face and softly kissing his cheek.

"Severus! Severus! What happened? Are you alright?" Hermione's fearful voice startled him out of his sleep.

"What's wrong? Why are you yelling at me?" Severus slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Why are you in a hospital bed? Are you alright?"

"Minerva wanted me to rest, and put me into this bed," he said his voice still hoarse from sleeping.

"Minerva put you to bed?"

"Oh shut up! You seem already better than yesterday."

"I feel quite good, still a bit weak though," she replied.

"Good, then look at your presents and let me sleep some more," he grumbled and pulled the covers over his head.

"You might want to start with the one with the rose," came Severus muffled voice from under his blanket.

"Is it from you?"

"No. Mister Bell," Severus grumbled. Hermione took the present from her nightstand and read the card that was attached to it.

Dear Professor Granger,

I'm sorry about what happened. I wish I could have saved you from them, but instead you saved me. Thank you! I hope you will be better soon. I wish you all the best for your teaching carrier because I personally think you are brilliant teacher. I hope we can stay in touch after I have graduated.

Love,

John

PS: You said you wished you had the real picture, so I was able to pull some strings.

When she opened his present, she had to smile. Somehow he had managed to get the picture of Severus and herself, which had been taken on their first date and published on the Prophet. He had framed it in a simple black wooden frame.

After she looked through all the 'Get well!' cards, opened the presents and ate some sweets, she felt so tired, she had to close her eyes again. When Severus woke after half an hour, he looked at a sleeping Hermione. He sighed and got up. Knowing that he had to look after his daughter, since Hermione was obviously doing better, gathering from the sweet wrappers littered around her bed. He approached her quietly, bent over and gently kissed her forehead.

"Hi," she mumbled.

"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you up," he whispered.

"Can you hold onto me," she asked scooting over to make some room in her bed.

"Always," he mumbled and sat on her bed and pulled her close to him.

"So what's going to happen to them?" she whispered.

"We don't know yet. Minerva wanted to talk to you first. What do you think?"

"I don't know. What's your opinion?" Hermione asked.

"I would expel them," he growled.

"I knew you would say that, but…"

"But what Hermione? They nearly killed you."

"But they didn't intend to."

"But Mister Bell, that's much better," he replied sarcastically.

"Harry used that spell and he didn't get expelled," Hermione said quietly.

"Potter didn't know what it did," he said angrily.

"They are off age and they were very well aware, what would happen. And two of them cast the spell, which made it a really severe attack. It's just inexcusable. They can call themselves lucky if this doesn't come in front of the Wizengamot," he huffed. "I can't believe that you are so hesitant when it comes to their punishment. You didn't have a problem with Jones' being punished so hard, when his crime was less severe than this attack."

Hermione felt anger bubbling up, "You really think his attack was less severe. You listen to me. Jones has been grown up in wealth and safety, he has not been through a war. He is just a spoilt brat and he is about 10 years older than our four troublemakers, so he should know better. They are merely off age, confused and misled. They have been through a war, some of their parents were killed or ended up in Azkaban. So I'm not surprised something like that happened. They need somebody who they can look up to, who teaches them the right stuff. And don't you think they deserve a second chance, just like you got one?"

"I can't believe how stupid they are. They have done so many idiotic things, it makes Potter and Weasley look like saints."

"And I can't believe you just defended Harry and Ron."

"Me neither."

"Can we postpone this discussion?"

"Sure. I'm just glad I didn't lose you," he buried his face in her curls, "I don't know what I would do without you. I love you."

All of a sudden the door opened and Minerva came in with Elena in her arm, "Look Elena, it's your dad. She misses you Severus."

When Elena caught sight of Severus she stretched her arms out and said, "Dada!"

"Did she just say … Did you just say daddy! That's right I'm your daddy!" He gathered her in his arms and kissed her.

"Have you already talked about, what's supposed to happen to our four troublemakers?" The headmistress asked.

"Can we maybe talk about it in the evening? I don't know yet."

"Sure. I'll see you three later." Minerva left them.

"Wow she just said her first word, she has grown up so much," Hermione said stroking over Elena's hair, when the door opened again and John Bell peeked inside the room.

"By all means, come in Mister Bell before you dislocate your neck," Severus grumbled.

"Professor Snape! Professor Granger!" he slightly bowed his head.

"Hello Mister Bell. How are you doing?"

"Better now, that I see you are up and well," he gave her a small smile.

"Thank you for the photo. That's very sweet of you."

"You're welcome and thank you for saving me. I actually have to go, I just wanted to say thank you. Will I see you two at the party?"

"What party?"

"My sister just got engaged and they're having a party in a couple of days," he said.

"Why would your sister invite us to her engagement party?"

"Didn't you know she got engaged to your best friend?"

"Oh … Bell …. Katie. I didn't know Katie is your sister. Ron must be so happy," she smiled.

"So I hope to see the two of you there," he said and was about to leave.

"Good luck with your test."

"Thank you," he said, when the door opened once again and all three of them grabbed their wands, seeing Thorben Rowle come in.

Rowle took his wand out of his sleeve, prompting all three of them to raise their wand. But he only put it on the floor.

"May I speak to Professor Granger, please," he asked.

The head boy and Severus both stepped in front of Hermione, standing shoulder to shoulder with their arms crossed over their chests and their legs apart.

Hermione had to grin about their sweet protective behaviour.

"Mister Rowle what do you want from me? Guys you have to move, he can't even see me."

"That was the general idea," Severus grumbled but they both stepped aside. Thorben Rowle slowly approached the bed.

"Professor Granger I'm really sorry about what happened. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said quietly staring at the floor.

"Look at me Mister Rowle," she said harshly," Did you know what would happen, when you cast it?"

He swallowed hard and whispered, "I did."

"YOU COULD HAVE KILLED MISTER BELL AND YOU NEARLY KILLED PROFESSOR GRANGER," Severus yelled furiously, making Elena cry.

"Shh sweetie, I'm just so … so…," his voice trailed off.

"What were you thinking Mister Rowle?" Hermione asked calmly.

"I don't know. I didn't think it would be that bad. My dad taught me that curse and now he is in Azkaban. I wanted him to be proud of me."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. "And I thought his father that curse."

"WHAT?" John yelled.

"I invented that curse in the first place. I was just as insecure and misled as Mister Rowle here."

"Professor Granger, John, I'm really sorry about what I did. Can you forgive me?"

"Mister Rowle you need to sort out your priorities. You need to see for yourself if pleasing your father is more important than the wellbeing of other people. If that's the case I don't see much hope for your future. Otherwise I suggest you quickly make some new friends and renounce the Dark Arts. I will accept your apology, because I get the feeling you really mean it."

"I do."

"I'm not sure what will happen to you but something you'd better understand: It was a severe attack and there will be consequences. You may go now. Mister Bell, please lead him to the library. I'm sure Mister Rowle has some studying to do, so close to the test," Hermione said with a stern voice.

When they left, Hermione fell back in her bed and said, "I'm tired again."

"You need to rest my girl," he stroked over her cheek.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Do I have to go to that party?" Severus whined.

"What? How can you still think about the party after what just happened?"

"I just don't want to think about him. He reminds me so much of myself. I hope he will find a way out of this mess," Severus sighed.

"So about the party. I would love if you would come with me. There's gonna be alcohol, I'm sure. And we could find some hidden corner and throw a party of our own," she winked at him.

"I still need a little convincing though," he grinned mischievously.

"Well you have to bend down a little, because my hip and my thigh still hurt a bit."

"As you wish," he said bowing his head.

She pulled him yet a little further down until their lips touched and she kissed him heatedly, leaving him breathless.

"Convinced!" he smiled.

It was the same evening, when Severus came back to the hospital from having dinner at the Great Hall. He found Hermione reading a book, while carelessly shovelling some sheperd's pie in her mouth.

"Enjoy your meal," he said, while sitting down on her bed. "Thanks," she replied with her mouth full.

"So I gather, by your happily eating and reading you haven't heard what happened?"

"No. What happened?"

"Mister Rowle turned himself in!"

"WHAT?"

"You heard me correctly. So that means, that he will have to appear before the Wizengamot and so will the other three. The good news is he made a step into the right direction. The bad news he has the others and half of Slytherin house turned against him."

"So I have to turn up at court the third time in a year. That's just ridiculous," she whined, but suddenly she grabbed the front of Severus' robes, looked into his eyes and said desperately, "Promise me something Severus. Make sure Thorben isn't going to Azkaban. He desperately is looking for somebody to look up to and we don't want him to find that person in Azkaban. Promise me!"

Severus took her hands in his and said, "I'll see what I can do."

AN: Looking forward to your reviews! ;-) Thanks for your support! Next chapter might take a little bit longer than normally!