'Umbridge Escaped, Ministry, Order Defeat Attack'

The headline scrolled over the page of The Daily Prophet. Severus read the article, fingers strangling the parchment between them as the article turned the potentially dangerous situation into something that shouldn't be worried over. The article had been Minerva's doing, insisting the public should be aware of the problem, especially those she had listed while under the spell to kill. Kingsley on the other hand, worried about pandemonium in the Wizarding World, insisted on being as discreet as possible, only telling the bare minimum. Severus could understand his side, knowing very well there were extremists that would go to the full extent to turn this into a painful situation, but at the same time had to side with Minerva. There were people that had a threat against them, and through some Veritaserum and trial had found that her intentions were not to kill, had concluded that had been an afterthought most likely added by Selwyn. Umbridge could only be forced to speak of the things she knew, not of any other plans that Selwyn may have been plotting on the side. This left many witches and wizards with death threats and knowing very well that not all Death Eaters had been accounted for, needed to press on those who's lives had been compromised to know. Kingsley had settled on only letting those selected know with a personalized message straight from the Ministry, not seeing a need to worry those who were destined to continue living.

When the article mentioned Ron, his lip twitched, stating he had suffered a mental collapse was quite offsetting. His mental stress was not his doing, but of dark magic. Worse than dark magic even. This was house elf magic, from a house elf that served and worshipped Umbridge, the effects were nasty and lasting. Hermione was unaware that in killing Twinkle before he had removed his curse, had left Ron under the powerful imperious, sanity potions bringing only a breath of normality to the boy, giving an hour or two of his own life back to him before the curse would devour him whole again with no sign of fading on its own. The article failed to mention this, though it did list his residency as St. Mungo's.

Hermione had been nearly ruined when this was explained to her, and the guilt she had felt and often showed on the daily since had torn at Severus. He still didn't care for the Weasley, preferring Hermione to just forget him altogether so they could continue a future together, but knew very well she couldn't. She still loved him, a fact Severus had to allow, and would subject him to stories of his good traits when he least wanted to hear it, and on a weekly basis had sat in a bare waiting room as she visited him in St. Mungo's. She would wait for the potion to take effect, enter the room, then leave just before the effects of the potion would run out.

Severus rolled his eyes from the article to the clock on the wall, abruptly folding the paper and tossed it onto the table in front of him. He rose to his feet, leaving the waiting room with intent.

...

Hermione tore a tissue between her fingers, the only thing she could do to keep herself in control. She had watched Ron lie on his bed, emotionless and vacant. His back was turned to her, and the last word spoken between them was over an hour before. Hermione wanted so much to reach over and rub his back, even hold his hand, but a protective barrier had been placed between them; a safe guard put up after he had managed to break free from his restraints and bite an attendants finger almost off. Even if she tried, her hand would press against an unseen surface and wouldn't budge no matter how hard she pushed. He had shown this attitude for a few weeks now, ever since Hermione had told him about Severus and her decision to stay with him. This only hurt her heart more, causing her to tear at the tissue faster. Maybe she should have just kept it secret from him, and had she of known this silent treatment would be given, she would have, but she felt he still deserved to know.

Upon entering the room, she first thought he had adjusted to the thought, greeting her warmly as if everything had been in the past, now forgotten. It remained that way as she spoke of her work, then listened to him gripe about his last roommate and how the food was bland. It wasn't until she delicately asked him to agree to a separation did he turn his back, ending the pleasantries. She had spent ten minutes begging him to speak with her, and explaining why she wanted it, reminding him that she still loved him, but needed this. She had since given up, tore her tissue, and stewed in self guilt in bringing up such a matter.

"Five minutes."

Severus had poked his head around the door giving the warning that her visitation was coming to a close. Normally, she'd milk those five minutes, remaining with Ron for as long as she could, but she couldn't. Not right then. Before he had the chance to pull his head back around the door, Hermione stood, her head bowed down as she tried to hide her face, and squeezed past Severus. He watched as she stormed down the hallway, past rooms of other patients and through some double doors. He had half a mind to go into Ron's room and give him a lecture, but thought otherwise and briskly took off after Hermione. He found her standing outside, her face lifted toward the sun that was warm, her eyes closed. She was breathing heavily.

"You don't have to keep doing this to yourself." He reminded her. She breathed a few more times then opened her eyes, letting them fall upon Severus. She looked composed, though he still frowned at her and Hermione turned, shoving her arms through his and around his back. He tensed at the hug, looked around uncomfortably, but did nothing to stop it. He didn't enjoy these public acts of affection and had learned that trying to stop them was no use. It was better to let her go about it and ignore the admiring glances of anyone around.

"All he does is put you in a right mood when you leave." He spoke softly, trying his hardest to not let annoyance show through. She squeezed him tighter.

"He's still my friend." She spoke into his chest. "I just can't abandon him."

"I doubt he'd notice."

Hermione pulled her head back, glancing at him questioningly.

"They only use that potion on him for your visits. Mr. Hyde in there probably doesn't realize you've visited and, if I have to remind you, holds nothing but contempt for you. If I had a say in this, you woul-."

She melted into a sweet smile.

"You're cute when you're jealous, you know." The interruption stopped Severus.

"Cute?" He asked, his eyes narrowing. She raised up to her tiptoes and pecked a kiss on his lips, one he returned rigidly, but only just.

"Cute." She said, pulling away and walking to the point of apparation.

"I'm neither cute, nor jealous Miss Granger and you'd be wise to never use either in my presence again." He was hiding a smirk, holding his arm out for her to take. She bit her lip, studying him.

"Dishy and odious then." She said, placing her hand on his arm. Her choice of words were not that much better, but he accepted them as he rearranged her hand so their arms were linked, and apparated her home to the safety of his arms.

The end.