Hermione had been lay in bed, staring at the ceiling anxiously for the past 35 minutes. Today was the day of the funeral, where they would remember those who had died in The Battle of Hogwarts, almost 5 days ago. It was sure to be a highly publicized event. Which did not fill Hermione with the greatest of hope, as having cameras and journalists at a funeral seemed wrong.

She and Severus had been getting on with their lives quite peacefully, in his home in Cokeworth. No one had called upon them, and they lived media free, in the spirit of getting some time to collect themselves. Living with Severus had been easy, almost like a fairy tale. Now she was to be thrown into the public eye again, no doubt.

Severus could be heard making breakfast, in the kitchen downstairs. She supposed she should get up. Although she wasn't feeling very hungry. Today was going to be heavy. Many of her friends had passed and she had yet to acknowledge that.

On the other hand, Severus was anxious because he didn't know how to act. If he appeared stoic and unhinged by the atrocities then it would likely be argued that he was remorseless. But if he broke down and sobbed at the loss of his students, then he would no longer be a man with the pristine reputation of being a cold-hearted bastard. He would be forced to find a middle ground.

The stairs creaked and Hermione entered the room, looking timid. Severus raked his eyes over her from where he sat at the small kitchen table. There was a large pot of tea with mismatched mugs and milk and sugar, as well as a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. Hermione looked pale.

"You look awful." Severus commented, sipping his black coffee.

Hermione took a seat opposite Severus. "Ever the charmer." She said, not meeting the man's eye. She was dressed in a long sleeved black v-neck top and plain black jeans, her hair was tied loosely into a messy bun on her neck.

"At least you don't ever have to worry about me sweet-talking other women." Severus pointed out. He wore his usual black robes, with his hair tied into a meager pony tail with a black ribbon. Hermione would have melted if she had the emotional capacity.

"You raise a fair point." She said, not at all interested in the conversation. She prepared herself a mug of tea, just to do something with her hands.

Severus watched her, his curiosity was getting out of hand. "I can practically hear your over-thinking. What is it?" He said gruffly.

Hermione looked down at her tea. Perhaps she should have taken divination, with all of the tea searching she had done lately. "Is it really a good idea for me to be escorted to the funeral by the Headmaster? What will people think?"

"Are you really that embarrassed to be seen with me?" Severus snorted.

"No! No! Of course not." Hermione stared at the table. "Its just, we've managed to keep our - closeness - a secret for this long and have been fairly successful in avoiding adverse reactions. But now, I don't think we can hide it anymore."

"I think we ought to establish what "It" is before we have this discussion." said Severus plainly.

"You know very well what my feelings are towards you." Hermione defended. "It is time for you to tell me what it is, Severus."

He sighed. His heart was thumping through his chest but his face remained expressionless. "I'm not ready to say those three words." He said after a long time of silence. "But I can admit that I care for you, and that I lust for you." Severus spoke slowly and carefully, treading on eggshells.

Hermione looked up at him for the first time that morning. "I don't expect you to love me back. I had naively hoped that we could form some kind of romantic relationship "

Severus met her eyes "Are you prepared to be in a relationship with someone who does not easily give affection? Someone who might never tell you how he truly feels?" Most teenage girls wanted happily ever after. He had apparently underestimated Hermione again.

"yes, I think I am." She smiled. "I don't expect you to change for me, Severus."

Severus wore a smirk, it was as close as Hermione was going to get to a real smile. "Then it is settled. First things first-" Severus stood and scooted around the table so that his legs were flush against Hermione's knees. She looked up at him with a grin. Rather gently, Severus cupped Hermione's cheek, and bent to bring his lips softly to hers. There was no desperation, only patience and acceptance. It was agonizingly slow. Hermione balled her hands into the material of his cloak and encouraged Severus to explore deeper.

The kiss became more intense as Severus tugged at her bottom lip with his teeth, sneaking his tongue past the barrier and into the sweetness of her mouth. Hermione groaned and flinched a little in her seat. Severus ran his right hand over her tummy and clutched firmly at her hip, his other hand still held her face close to his. What was initially intended to be a soft confirming kiss had turned into a make out session, Severus and Hermione continued to drink each other in until they had to stop for breath.

Severus returned to his seat, wearing a cat-got-the-cream expression on his face. "My tea is cold now." Hermione pouted, after taking a sip from her mug.

"I believe we were discussing going public with our relationship?" Severus reminded her, casting a warming charm on the tea pot and filling her mug with a fresh brew.

"Yes. I just know that Rita Skeeter and those pricks at The Daily Prophet will certainly have a thing or two to say when we arrive together." She admitted.

Severus had been considering this himself. "There is no sense in hiding it. In fact, hiding it is probably our least beneficial option. What is to happen when we both go back to Hogwarts, you to study your NEWTS and I as headmaster? It would definitely be worse if people were to find out then, that I am dating my student."

Hermione groaned and rubbed her eyes, regardless of the fact that she was wearing makeup.

"I think that we should get it over and done with. We are both likely to be in the papers frequently in the future, it may be fruitful for us to be seen as star-crossed lovers-"

The young witch snorted indelicately. "But should be really make our debut at a funeral?" Hermione was surprised that it was Severus trying to talk her into this and not the other way around. He truly was more cunning than she had ever given him credit for.

"I suppose not." He added. "But neither of us have ever been partial to doing things by the book." He eyed her carefully.

_____

The ground twisted and warped as Severus and Hermione apparated onto the great drive that lead up to the school. She was getting better at aparation. She no longer wished to puke her guts up. Severus held her steady for a moment and then they began to walk, this hand still at her elbow.

It was a dry, mild day. The sky was a stunning pale blue, and was littered with little wispy clouds. The ground of Hogwarts, while crumbling and smoking, stood out stubbornly in the distance. Beyond, the sprawling grounds of the school were decorated with felled trees, giant-sized craters and chunks of crumbled infrastructure that had been blow several hundred yards from the castle itself.

There were 'pops' of apparation from every corner as guests began to materialise. Severus groaned seeing Potter and the two youngest Weasleys not far ahead from them. He aimed a side glance at Hermione who had clocked the group and was looking at them with wide eyes.

"Potter and Weasley are inconsequential." He muttered, so that none of the surround groups could hear. "They have no idea of what you have been through, not even a fraction of the pain that you have experienced. Therefore you cannot allow them to dictate your life."

Hermione pulled her grey travelling cloak closer. "They're my friends, I want their approval."

"You should seek no ones approval but your own." Snape said, internally cursing at how much he sounded like Dumbledore.

"This coming from the guy who sought approval from his Masters for years." Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Touchè" Snape replied, speechless. His further comment was interrupted by a firm shout from in front.

"Oi. 'Mione." Ron's voice carried down the dirt road. The three in front of them had stopped, clearly waiting until Hermione and Severus had caught up.

Hermione looked at Ron and then back at Severus, who was scowling. "Be nice." She warned him. He mumbled under his breath but Hermione didn't catch the response.

"Hermione!" Harry sounded nauseatingly elated, and enveloped Hermione in a large hug. Ginny eyed her suspiciously, Severus assumed that she was knocking boots with the Potter boy. Hermione awkwardly accepted a hug from Ron.

Harry nodded towards Snape. "Its good to see you Professor." He said curtly.

"I wish I could extend the same formality." Sneered Severus. Hermione promptly elbowed him in the gut to prevent him from making further comment. 

Ron sniggered. "I see that our 'Mione already has you on a leash" Only making Snape angrier.

"Might I remind you that you were begging her to be your girlfriend only 5 days ago." Said Ginny, taking Harry's hand, beginning to walk again.

That had shut the odious child up. Severus was amused. 10 points to Miss Weasley.

"So Ginny, how has everything been at home?" Hermione stepped ahead, Severus was very happy to fall to the back of the group and watch as they chatted.

He fell into his mind, wondering when the next time he would be able to walk up the drive to Hogwarts. There was already stirrings in the newly appointed Ministry and Snape was sure to find out sooner or later what his fate would be.

If things were different, Severus would have been happy to spend the rest of his life rotting in a cell. He had done everything Dumbledore had asked of him. He had no reason to continue. He had no place in this world.

When he looked at Hermione, her bright eyes and her smile, he would fight tooth and nail just get a few more years with her. For the first time in his life, normalcy seemed a possibility. Even since childhood, Severus had known that he would never be like others. He was too different for his father. He was simply too smart to fit in at school. He had never fallen in love (in a reciprocated manner at least), never seen the need to get married or to have children.

With Hermione he craved the mundane. He wanted to allow himself to fall in love with her. For the first time in his existence, Severus wanted to be there to provide for her. So no matter what the Ministry and the press would throw at him, he would fight.

The witch in question turned her head, to check he was still there no doubt. She caught his eye and smiled. It was a smile that said many words.

_____

The service was beautiful. A white silken tent had been erected on the Hogwart's grounds, and the guests were seated on wooden benches on either side of an aisle. Beautiful flowers decorated the area, filling it with bright colors and sweet smells. The family of the deceased sat at the front section. The members of the Hogwarts faculty sat just behind them, in front of the other various guests and students of Hogwarts who had obliged to attend. People were crowded around the edges of the tent, some even paying their respects outside, the service being amplified for them all to hear.

Hermione was sat between Severus and Minerva, who had smiled kindly but said nothing. She could feel eyes on her, but Severus took her hand in his own. He began to trace circles on the soft skin on the back of her hand as he had done before when she was upset. Hermione often wondered whether Severus himself derived some comfort in the act.

Truthfully, Hermione had wept throughout the service, as had the majority of the room. She even caught Severus wiping his eyes twice, but decided not to acknowledge it. She could feel the presence of the press, even if she could not see them. She wondered what tomorrows paper would say.

Would they be on the front page? Or would the service itself be commented upon? Hermione gritted her teeth and turned to the speaker, who was a relative of a student who had passed. There were eulogies and speeches from several others, including the Minister for Magic and some of the school governors.

The service lasted two and a half hours, with house elves appearing with trays of drinks and light snacks once it had terminated.

Hermione turned to Severus as the noise of the crowd began to bubble as people chatted. "Are you okay?"

He nodded and she wiped her face resolutely. "I have some business to attend to, but you may go home if you do not wish to be here any longer than necessary." He said, gazing around the room. His hand was still clutched in hers.

Home. A shared comfort zone. A place to start families and make memories. It was funny how Severus was beginning to consider it as their home, rather than just his.

"Its okay. I'm going to go and find the Weasleys. Ill see you in a bit?" She surveyed him with a skeptical eye, before turning off in the direction of flaming red hair.

_____

Hermione was exhausted from the pure amount of social interaction she had done today. She had kicked off her heeled boots and fell into the sofa, sticking her feet out on one of the arms. She shut her eyes for a millisecond.

Shortly after she had left Severus to give her condolences to the Weasley's, she had been cornered by Harry and Ginny, who took advantage of getting her alone.

"We wanted to talk to you 'Mione." said Harry pushing up his glasses. He and Ginny had formed a human blockade to prevent Hermione from running.

She knew it wasn't going to be good. Perhaps a lecture on her life choices now that they were out of ear shot of Severus. Hermione scanned the crowd for her knight in black armor but she couldn't find him.

"Really? because this feels more like an interrogation." She crossed her arms and stood tall. Her solo saving grace was that Ron wasn't present.

"Look." Said Ginny. "We just wanted to talk to you. You're a very kind girl, Hermione. If Snape is making you feel guilty or responsible then you can just tell us. He shouldn't be forcing you to stay somewhere you don't want to."

Hermione was outraged. "What exactly do you think we do when were at home?" She laughed without humor. "Do you think he makes me clean up after him and cook for him, like Cinderella? Do you think he banishes me to my room whenever I speak out of turn? Or are you entertaining the idea that he shackles me to the bed and has his way with me every night?"

Ginny and Harry stared at her open mouthed. "We didn't mean it like that!" Harry interjected.

"What did you mean by this, then?"

"Well, I just wanted to ask you whether you wanted to come and live with us at Grimmauld Place, you know. There's always a room for you if you need to escape from Snape." Harry was clearly trying to diffuse the tension.

Hermione resisted the urge to scowl at them. "Harry, you know I am grateful of you, for offering me a place to live. But I have to repeat myself, I want to stay with Severus."

Ginny stepped closer to her. "We all know how rotten he can be, we were just saying that you shouldn't feel like you have no other option than to live with that."

"and i'm just saying. He treats me differently."

Hermione opened her eyes and rubbed her temples. She had a splitting headache and fancied a pain relief potion and a hot cup of tea. Perks of living with a Potion Master, both of those were stocked in large supply in the house. Severus could be heard in the kitchen, as Hermione climbed the stairs to the bathroom, were she retrieved the potion.

She swiftly changed into her pajamas and returned to the front room, where Severus had already prepared a tea tray. He was sat in his arm chair reading a letter. Hermione un-stoppered the vial and downed its contents in one, grimacing at the taste. She chased the potion with a mouthful of tea.

Severus was looking rather serious as he read and re-read the letter.

"Dear Mr Severus Tobias Snape,

"We regret to inform you that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that you have committed the following crimes against the Ministry, over a time period of the last 20 years; Performing the illicit unforgivable curses on 343 occasions, Unlawful murder of the first degree, - and the list goes on.

"Hereby, it is the duty of The Department of Magical Law Enforcement to invite you to a trial, on June 1st, in order to determine the degree of punishment which may be dealt.

Hoping you are well, Malfalda Hopkirk." Severus read aloud.

Hermione took a definitive sip of her tea. "Your middle name is Tobias?" She smirked.

The man looked royally pissed. "That is what you take away from the letter?" Hermione grinned annoyingly causing Severus to frown further. "I suppose we had better get started then?"

"I'm pretty confident that it can get the charge down from first to second degree murder." Hermione said, already running through potential arguments in her mind.

"Oh good." Severus commented, sarcasm overwhelming his voice.