Why isn't he waking up?! Hermione was doing her best not to panic, but at this point that was really all she was able to do. She had administered her remedy to Severus Snape, and yet he hadn't shown any signs of waking up after nearly five minutes.

I couldn't even possibly go and get help- it'd look horrible if someone else saw me in his private rooms! Think Hermione- think! She stopped the pacing that she had begun subconsciously, and knelt on the floor next to the man. She began to stroke his face softly.

'Sir? Professor Snape? Can you hear me? Please wake up- I'm begging you. You promised you would never leave me! You promised!' Her worst fear was happening right in front of her- and by her hands too. Stupid! Hermione, you should have paid more attention to your stirring techniques. Completely deflated, Hermione remembered how certain Snape was that her remedy would work, and decided to calm herself. She peered at a clock set on a side table near the couch, and decided if he didn't wake up in another ten minutes, then she'd have to go get help. She laid down on the floor next to the couch, with her face towards his, and monitored his slow breathing.

Up. Down. Up. Down. She could get lost in that rhythm forever. If only he really understood how deeply she cared for him. She placed a hand on his chest, and closed her eyes- enjoying the feel of his breathing.

Well, that was interesting, Severus thought, I knew I could trust her.

Ten minutes exactly had passed since Hermione administered the remedy, and Severus was feeling a bit groggy, but altogether quite well. He didn't attempt to stand yet and instead surveyed the couch where he had been put. His movement, however, was inhibited by skin that was not his own. Hermione's arm was draped protectively over the man while she slept peacefully on the floor next to the couch. Oh gods, he thought, she's even beautiful when she sleeps. He found himself in a predicament: to move her or not to move her. As much as he could lay there, watching her sleep all night, she had to be moved for security reasons. If anyone knew that she was here sleeping now, boy would I never hear the end of it.

He gently placed his hand on her arm, and was about to move it off him when he suddenly found himself underneath the witch, being gripped tightly, with a wand at his neck.

'Miss Granger, I suggest you lower your wand at once.' The infamous snarl immediately spat.

Hermione blinked furiously and then realized the situation she was currently in.

Her eyes widened, 'Oh my gods, sir, I am so sorry! I- I must have fallen asleep and then when you touched me- well old habits die hard sir, and I'm afraid I thought I was being attacked.' Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence, and Severus found it hard to remain irritated at the fact that he was just jumped on by an armed student. She lowered her wand.

'Well, let's just be grateful that your remedy was as successful as I predicted it to be. I highly doubt you would have woken up in time to try something else before I suffered permanent damage.' Severus glared at her, which caused Hermione to blush.

'Actually sir, you had another five minutes before an alarm I had set went off.' She moved off her Headmaster, and back on the floor below him. 'After that, I was going to go seek professional help. I was nervous because I didn't think that it'd look good for someone else to see me here with you- but I couldn't just let you die. I'd rather risk everything than have that happen.'

Severus looked at the girl carefully, his anger slowly subsiding, and realized that she was being genuine. She really would rather risk any future relationship they might have just to keep him alive.

'Miss Granger, I'm sure, being the bright people we are, that we could have come up with a story to detract from anything seeming inappropriate to an outside person. Thank you for your concern. Once again, I feel as if my life is constantly being held under your protection.' He smirked at her, which cause Hermione to let out a small chuckle.

'Then it's a good thing I'm relatively bright, or you'd have been dead months ago!' She smiled and the dark clothed man.

Severus finally sat up and glanced over at his clock.

'Miss Granger, I do believe it is well past your lesson time. You should really get back to your rooms now before someone does suspect something. Thank you for not being a dunderhead, however, we should work on building the patience that you clearly lack.' He raised one eyebrow at her and continued, 'We shall continue lessons tomorrow at the same time. I assure you they will not always end up like this one.'

Hermione stood and faced Severus. 'Thank you, sir. I'm sorry I fell asleep, but I'm glad you finally woke up. I will see you tomorrow.' She walked to the door that led out of his private rooms and into the classroom, and stopped. She turned around to look at him, still sitting on the couch, 'Goodnight Headmaster Snape. I hope you sleep well.' With that, she opened the door and walked out.

What am I going to do with her? Severus thought to himself. He didn't exactly know what he was going to do with her, but he certainly knew what he wanted to do and the first thing was to help locate her parents. He was positive that she didn't think he'd remember that conversation due to the Dreamless Sleep, but he remembered every word.

She felt guilty for her role in the war, and therefore was punishing herself by forgetting about her parents. At first, he felt bad for sending her the lemon cake that reminded her of her parents and home, but perhaps it prompted her to actually tell him the truth about their absence. She obviously wasn't going to be receptive to finding them, so he was going to have to do it secretly. After everything she had done for him, it was the absolute least he could do in return, but he wondered why she just didn't wish for them. He knew that the bond hadn't been broken yet, so it seemed strange that she wasn't taking advantage of that situation. Because it's Hermione Granger. Whatever she puts her mind to, it's hard to get her off that path. This was exactly why the bird bonded to her: her desires really were the purest there could be. By not wishing for her parents, she was putting their happiness before her own- truly the definition of selflessness.

Hermione Granger was perfection. Severus Snape was imperfection. She was the sun. He was the moon. She was everything positive, while he seemed to be the negative, but like two magnets they were drawn to one another. With their minds, their spirits, their inherent need to do what's best for everyone but themselves- they were the perfect match. Hermione's pureness was salvation for Severus, and with her he felt that his past no longer dictated what his future would be because she accepted him for who he truly was. He no longer questioned his future, though, because he knew it was with her.

Knowing that his stint with the Dreamless Sleep was going to hamper his ability to sleep any time soon, he finally got up from the couch and proceeded through the door that led to his bedroom. He sat down at the lavish black stained wooden desk stationed in one of the corners, and pulled out some parchment and a quill.

Finding people who didn't want to be found, or in this case didn't know they were being looked for, was a common occurrence that he took part in while a Death Eater. Hermione's parents were going to take some time to locate, but then again he knew the right person to contact. William Tagher could locate a needle in a haystack, he was that good, and held no prejudice against muggles. If anyone was going to find them, it would be him. Severus dipped his quill in a pot of dark green ink and began to write.

'Miss Granger, I do hope you like surprises,' he muttered quietly to himself.