Chapter fifteen - 'Back to Life, Back to Reality':

Severus awoke early hours that following morning, he had to blink a few times to recall what had happened that previous night; he was still in total shock.

As he watched the beautiful young woman sleeping in his arms, he thought about how lucky he was to have her. Oh, how she was beautiful.
He knew now for sure that this would definitely change everything between them, and his whole life. He was going to do everything he could to get them both through this war, so that they could have a future together after it.

He certainly hadn't planned to kiss her while she was still his student, he knew something was forming between the two of them, but then when Hermione had found those old photos, he thought that was it for them but her intelligence had surprised him yet again, and she had managed to work it all out on her own.

He brushed the hair back from her face, to reveal those perfect features of hers, his hand running over her cheek as he leaned in to kiss it gently.

With the sudden contact, Hermione's eyes flickered open, as graceful as butterflies wings glided through the open blue skies. Hermione lazily stretched her arms out in front of her curled position.

"Morning..." She mumbled to staring into his eyes, a large grin greeted him after her words. She was glad to see him and did not regret last nigh, at all.

"Good morning," Severus' silky voice spoke quietly to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his fingers brushing over her cheek slowly. Hermione smiled up at him, before shifting to sit in between his lap. She rested her head on his shoulder and stared into his dark eyes.

"Very, very good. How are you?" She spoke softly; she loved the sound of his voice in the morning - husky and silky.

'Hmm...' Hermione thought as her lips came in contact with his throat.
"How can your voice sound so good..." She whispered. Severus closed his eyes as her soft, warm lips kissed his neck he could've moaned out loud right there.

"I'm very well, thank you," he replied.
"I have to say, I will definitely miss this…" he mumbled. Hermione sighed softly to him, as a response she said:

"I will miss it too, you know. It is so nice to just - well, to just be this close with you finally." She whispered against his gently patted her bum, chuckling softly as he met her eyes.

"Right, we better start getting ready!" He suggested, not sounding too enthusiastic about it. He would much rather just spend the rest of his time in bed with Hermione, but they had a war to get climbed out of bed and started to get dressed, leaving Hermione laying on the bed, gazing at his body.

"You should try blinking sometime," Severus smirked at her, making her jump - she didn't think he had noticed her staring at him. Hermione's eyes stopped glazing over, in awe. She stood up herself and began to get dressed - not looking forward to reality; she would rather have stayed snuggled up with Severus.

"Do we have to go back?" She whispered with a pouted lips and a mischievous look wrote within her eyes. Severus grinned at her, as if he could read her mind.

"Unfortunately, we do," he confirmed.

They were both soon ready and fully packed when they made their way back to Hogwarts.

XXX

Hermione was sat with Harry in the Great Hall. They were talking about what had happened over Christmas with Ron's Father, Arthur, and how Harry had a dream about the real advent.

Hermione sat back feeling sorry for Arthur.
'Poor man. Evil; vicious; vile snake.'
Hermione knew Severus would be incredibly busy brewing a potion, or antidote - him being the most capable brewist, or Potions' Master - for Arthur.

Ron was not back at school for the first week, but soon after that he was back - this was when Dumbledore's Army's meetings began to start up again. Umbridge had caught wind of this and began to send people around on patrol (this included people like: Malfoy and his gang).

One night, all of Dumbledore's Army were wondering into their meeting room, The Room of Requirement. They had a wonderful less; Harry had taught them all new spells. Even Neville had mastered the spell 'Stupidfy'.

As they were coming out of The Room of Requirement Malfoy and his gang spotted them all. Malfoy drew his wand out and stuck it into Hermione's neck.

"Do not move, Granger. Dirty-Mudblood! Finally caught you." He maniacally laughed and dragged her along to Umbridge's office. Harry and Ron followed suit, by Crabbe and Goyle dragging them through the door.

"Ah, now we are aware of what's been going on, and whom are the masterminds behind it. Detention for you all!" Umbridge stated evilly to them. Hermione kept quiet in fear; she had recover a 'detention' from Umbridge previously.

XXX

Strolling down the hall was Malfoy; he was boasting to his two cronies about capturing Hermione, Harry and Ron. And that Dumbledore was going to be taken off as Headmaster. They were close to The Dungeons, they had walked passed Professor Snape, whom had heard all about it...
Severus raced out of his room, and legged it towards Umbridge's office.

'If that toad faced bitch has laid a single finger on her!' Severus cursed in his head.

He stopped dead outside her door and straightened himself out - drawing his usual scowl on his face as he calmed down and burst open the door of Umbridge's office.

"Dolores, I have come to take Miss Granger out of your hands on request of Minerva McGonagall," Severus lied.

The toad in pink turned around - revealing Hermione tied up on a chair with a gag in her mouth, her eyes swollen red from crying.

Severus felt as if someone had just stabbed him in the chest when he saw the condition Hermione was in.

Umbridge on the other hand screwed her face;

"I will call Professor McGonagall to my office, you, Snape, can make us all a cup of tea, well excusing Miss Granger, she has her mouth -" she giggled, "rather full."

Severus clenched his fist behind his back.

'I'll give you a mouthful.'

"Certainly," he gave her a very false and sarcastic smile and went into her kitchen where he made tea. He checked over his shoulder and pulled out a potion tube from his pocket, smirking at the red and sickly looking liquid labeled: 'For Enemies.'

'I'm certainly going to give you a mouthful,' he grinned mischeviously and added the liquid into one of the mugs, stirring it senseless so that it dissolved and wasn't visible anymore.

He gave that mug a quick sniff, feeling fully satisfied he used occlumency to wipe the mischevious grin off his face and returned to hand the mug of tea to Umbridge who snatched it out of his hands and sipped it straight away.

She was just about to start speaking again when Minerva entered and Umbridge almost fell over, clenching her stomach.

"Ugh, I feel terrible..." was all she could say, before stumbling out of the room and into the bathroom.

Severus turned to face Hermione and winked at her, she responded by laughing and Minerva stood with her hand on her hips, giving him a mockingly disappointed look. Severus bent down to untie Hermione. He hated seeing her like that.

"Are you alright?" He asked very softly, showing his concern for a brief moment. Hermione smiled at Severus, and nodded:
"Yes, I am fine... Thank you."
She wiped her eyes and wanting nothing more than to wrap her arms round Severus - but she resisted the urge to do so.

"Do you want to come have a chat with me about anything, Hermione?" Minerva asked with her eyebrow arched.

"No... I am okay..." Hermione stated in response, she just wanted turned around to face his employee,

"Don't look at me like that, Minerva, I just saved your precious little Gryffindor," Severus stated with a smirk.

"Well, I appreciate this. I see you have the situation under control, now I would leave before she gets out of that bathroom." Minerva suggested, and they all agreed.

Severus went back to his Dungeons, leaving Hermione with Minerva. Hermione and Minerva began to walk to Gryffindor Tower together.

"Professor Snape seemed a little concerned... He is either losing his reputation, or the man has a soft spot for a certain Gryffindor student; I have never seen him run so fast down the halls." Minerva gave Hermione an approving nod.

"I had not noticed..." Hermione played stupid, "Goodnight Professor..."Minerva chuckled in an amused tone,

"Goodnight indeed," she replied and watched Hermione enter the passageway before heading to her office.

XXX

Severus got back to his dungeons feeling rather satisfied with himself before a familiar itchy, burn tingled in his arm.

The time he had been and he was being summoned.

"Can I not be happy for just one day?" Severus mumbled to his empty room before picking up his cloak and mask and heading somewhere discreet to answer his summons.