Severus grimaced as he stepped heavily into a puddle, spraying muddy colored water up his trouser leg and along the hem of his cloak. Bloody brilliant. The rain was fine but constant and left a layer of filth along the winding driveway of Malfoy Manor. The wind was beginning to pick up, biting viciously at the brave souls who challenged the weather. Severus pulled his cloak closer to him as the house came into view.

The windows were not flooded with light as they once had been. Instead, the flickering candle light provided a dim glow behind the window panes. Severus had been seventeen when he had first been invited to a Malfoy Ball, and seen for himself the magnificent house that his friend had boasted about on many occasion. Of course, it had been Mr and Mrs Malfoy senior, who had been hosting the event. Their son, Lucius was the most eligible bachelor in the pureblood circles. Yet he only had eyes for one girl.

There had been many girls gallivanting around the ballroom that night. They all wore traditional dresses, corsets and their family's finest jewelry. Severus was so overwhelmed by the bright colors and the strong perfumes that he had become something of a wallflower. He had quite literally stood against a wall and watched the festivities in silence. There was an enchanted orchestra and the use of dance cards were employed in order to match potential suitors.

Severus had neglected to sign any of the cards. Instead he watched as his best friend stole a young woman away. Cissy had looked beautiful. Her dark hair cascaded in free curls along her back, held with an ivory hairpiece. She was young and supple, her small waist was squeezed into an even smaller lavender ballroom gown. Severus had watched as Narcissa's mother and father eyed Lucius as they danced.

The younger Malfoy had upset many young ladies that evening, refusing to dance with anyone but Miss Black.

It was not long after, that Lucius had told Severus he planned to ask Cissy to marry him. It seemed like a whirlwind romance to Severus, but they were already 19 and the senior Malfoys were getting impatient. They wanted an heir. Lucius proposed at a dinner party, between the two families. Of course Narcissa was over joyed. Her sister was not so thrilled.

Severus had seen Andromeda Black at Hogwarts, although they had never been formally introduced. Bellatrix had been a complete wild card, having passed through school before Severus had begun. It was the eldest sister, Bella, who had been unenthusiastic about the marriage. As was traditional in wizarding families, the eldest daughter (Bellatrix in this case) was to be married off to a rich husband. The second and third children were often expected to stay closer to home, to look after their parents in old age.

Bellatrix had yet to find her husband, and was jealous of Lucius's affection for her sister. She had often been rather spoiled by mummy and daddy, according to Narcissa.

Lucius and Narcissa had wed, shortly before the first wizarding war. To say they were desperate for children had been an understatement. Cissy had miscarried 3 harrowing times before she had fell pregnant with Draco. Understandably, Lucius refused to let her out of the mansion when she finally managed to maintain her pregnancy. This further angered the Black family.

Severus had to admit, they were a wonderful family unit (Minus the pureblood mania of the first wizarding war). After realizing the error of their chosen path, Lucius and Narcissa had pledged allegiance to Dumbledore. However Lucius could not shake off his history of being The Dark Lord's main bitch.

Malfoy Manor was currently the under the occupancy of The Dark Lord. Lucius, Narcissa and Draco were lodgers in their own home. Blood stained the marble floors and prisoners could be heard wailing from the cellars. Otherwise, Severus might have suggested that Hermione stay with the Malfoy's whilst he took up the position of headmaster at Hogwarts. No doubt, it was the reason he was being summoned that evening.

A bloody house elf cowered as he opened the door. One eye was swollen shut and the elves feet were dressed with barbed wire. Severus wanted to vomit. He should help him. Hermione would. Yes, he had heard about her SPEW campaign.

Control

He chastised himself, wondering how he could be so impudent as to think of her openly in such close presence of The Dark Lord.

"Severus." A familiar gut-churning voice hissed. "Come into the parlor."

It suddenly became apparent that this was not a group meeting. Severus would be alone. Should he die, no one would know. He entered a shadowed room, lit only by a handful of floating candles and the fireplace. It had once been a parlor room for gatherings but the plush chairs were currently only being used to host the occasional revel. If the harlot was so lucky.

"Good evening, My Lord." Severus bowed towards the ghoulish figure that was sat bolt upright on a beautifully upholstered armchair.

"Let us forget the necessary pleasantries. I wonder, are you aware of the current situation at the place of your former employment, Severus?" The Dark Lord poised.

"I no longer have any responsibilities at Hogwarts, My Lord. Therefore I do not think it pertinent to keep up with the current gossip. Is there something I should be aware of?" Severus tried to steer the conversation to his favor early, so that he may have at least a fighting chance.

The Dark Lord chuckled. "Of course, I did not expect you to have heard of Mcgonagall's plight as headmistress. It seems that she does not have the grasp on the school that the infernal coot thought she might. It is evident that she will not last much longer. We must consider her replacement." 

The Dark Lord looked directly at Severus and entered his mind.

"Are y-you suggesting that I, become headm-master. M-my Lord?" Severus stuttered as white hot pain flooded his mind.

"You are my most loyal servant, Severus. Does it not honor you, for me to choose you to take over the school?" The Dark Lord's suspicion was clear. One didn't need to be a master of legilimency to understand.

His brain felt like it was expanding and trying to escape his skull as the tyrant pillaged through his thoughts. "You misunderstand me, My Lord. I am grateful to be placed so high in the ranks, however I had wished to be relieved of the school for good." Severus was talking out of his arse. His heart was racing and sweat beaded at his temple.

"Your time will come." The Dark Lord stood, removing himself for Severus' mind. "For now, you will return to Hogwarts."

_______

His home was a light house in a storm. It was a warm broth during a raging fever. Judging by the lack of presence in his front room, Severus assumed that Hermione was in bed. He removed his cloak and reclined back onto the sofa - without taking off his shoes. Today had felt as though it had been about two years long.

Debating it in his head, Severus stood and took out the necessary items to pour himself a glass of firewhiskey. It was not often that he drank, but he felt like he deserved it. It was a heavy burden, having the weight of the world resting on your shoulders. Perhaps it was time for him to retire. He could move to some remote corner of the UK and buy a house. At least he would finally be able to get out of this shitty industrial town.

It was suffocating, living in the same house that he had grew up in. In the corner of the living room, facing the door, was where Severus had cowered when his father had unleashed himself on his mother. The woman had taken her beatings without a scream or a cry for help. There had been multiple stains on the carpets before Severus had used magic to remove or conceal them. Blood. Alcohol. Vomit. It was awful to think about.

It was awful to consider that, Hermione, found solace in this place. Severus asked himself; Would she still be here if she knew of the memories that these walls held? He dared not tell her the truth. Emotional connections were not really his thing. Much less, ones with past students who he thought highly of.

Did he think highly of Granger, or was there more too it? It was a question he had pushed far into the darkness to prevent himself from having to think about it.

The Fire whiskey burnt Severus's throat and warmed his insides. He felt a little more human. The clock on the mantel chimed one, and Severus decided that he had procrastinated for long enough. He would ready himself for bed and try to sleep. Emphasis on the word "try". Sleep was as unnatural as one of those muggle telephonic devices, to Severus.

Climbing the stairs as quietly as he could, Severus considered checking on the sleeping young lady who occupied his bed. He knew better. What if she was scantily clothed? Or not clothed at all? It would be improper. For him to be discovered watching her as she slept would be scandalous. He would be no better than those members of his bretheren who had taken advantage of her. No. Even though he wanted to, Severus would not peer into his master bedroom.  A brief waving of his wand illuminated the bathroom.

Exiting the bathroom, feeling cleansed and dressed only in a white t-shirt and grey pajama bottoms, Severus heard a faint voice calling his name from the bedroom. He didn't particularly want his house guest to see him in his lounge wear, especially since the majority of their relationship had been in a formal setting. Nonetheless, he entered the room, against his better judgement.

Looking inches away from sleep, Hermione sat up in the bed. Her hair was adorably ruffled from sleep and her right cheek was rosy from having lay on that side. Severus remained in the doorway.

"Oh thank goodness! I am so glad you are okay. I tried to stay up for you but then I had a herbal tea and felt drowsy and-" She spewed.

"Cease your excuses. There is no need for you to have waited up for me." Severus said in his velvet voice. He did not seem angry, which Hermione was pleased about.

She had tried her hardest to stay awake, wanting to ensure that her host didn't return and bleed out on his living room carpet. After sampling some of Severus's herbal tea bags, as he had suggested earlier that morning, she had felt relaxed. Apparently sedated enough to drift off upstairs and settle herself into bed without her better judgement getting in the way.

"What is it you wanted of me at this ungodly hour, Hermione?" Severus folded his arms across his chest, feeling oddly exposed. Even though Hermione was only wearing night clothes herself, he felt under dressed in front of his former pupil.

"Nothing... I...." Hermione avoided his gaze, her cheeks were beginning to burn.

Unable to hold back his sarcasm, Severus snorted. "Nothing? I find it hard to be believe that you truly called for me because you were concerned for my well being. If that is all, I would certainty like to go to bed now."

Hermione would later blame her snappish behavior for the late hour and her lack of uninterrupted sleep. Severus could argue that the witch was out of her mind, and clearly a know-it-all who lacked the proper awareness of social boundaries.

"Severus Snape! Don't you dare pretend that there isn't a single person who doesn't care about your well-being." Hermione felt a Molly-Weasley-like lecture bubbling inside her. It was what she imagined a Howler to feel like, before it exploded into a torrent of verbal abuse.

"I fear you give me far too much credit." Snape growled, a migraine cracking his skull like a walnut. "Why must you insist on being so naive and stupid, when you are clearly so intelligent?"

Hermione was seething. "You think I am stupid for believing in you? At least I am not too dense to see past my own arrogance."

"Severus Snape. The youngest head of house Hogwarts had seen. The most successful Potions Master of the century. How it is a shame that your brains are wasted on crafting sarcastic remarks and being an overall arse!"

Biting his lip and fought the urge to lay into Hermione with every insult in his book. After all, it would only prove her point. "You act like you know it all, and yet you know nothing! You have been babied and molly coddled, in comparison to what I have been through. Is it a wonder that I am so harsh and volatile? I doubt you would be as charming as you are had you found yourself in my situation."

"It is not like I can just walk away, as easy as walking out of a classroom. The moment I step out of line there will be a death-wish on my head from both The Ministry and The Dark Lord. I have made vows that are unbreakable to protect people who are frankly suicidal. I have been pushed and pulled and passed around like a whore. Is it a surprise that I am a foul person to be around?" Severus shouted, his ebony eyes reflecting in the light. 

"I know nothing because you reveal nothing!" Hermione yelled back. She was panting heavily. "Outside of the classroom, I barely know you, and yet I am expected to live with you. I am forced to deal with your temper and say nothing. I watch you be summoned with no idea when or if you will return?" 

Snape gave a dark laugh. "You are too trusting, girl. What am I supposed to do? Open my heart to you like a teenager at a slumber party and expect you to coo and feel sorry for me? I do not seek that sort of attention. Not from you." 

Hermione was frustrated. She hated the fact that when she was angry her body's single response was to cry. Tears invaded her vision as she fought the on coming spillage. She would not show him her weakness. Severus wanted to seep into the witch's mind but he didn't want to risk being discovered. Instead, he came and sat down in a huff on the end of the bed. He tried to perch as far away as possibly from the irate teenager.

"Why must you be so difficult?" Hermione raged.

Severus responded before realizing he had opened his mouth. "Have you ever considered that you are the one who is difficult? Miss Hermione Granger. The only person who can ever play the victim card. The damsel in distress. Woe is her. Sometimes I think that you and the boy wonder crave the attention."

She couldn't help the sob that ripped through her throat as Severus tore her apart. "Okay. You win." She whispered.

"Hermione.... I-" Severus started. He reached towards the witch on the bed but she pulled away from his grasp. Was he really about to apologize to someone?

"No. Please leave." Hermione squeaked after a poorly stifled sob. "I cant look at you anymore, sir."

Severus knew he had hurt her. The words he had said had dug deep and exploded an internal landmine that she had forgotten was there. Gods, he was remorseful. There was a time when Snape would have latched on to an easy target and verbally abused them until their ears fell off, without a second thought. Who was he kidding? He probably would have done that yesterday.  But he actually felt sorrowful. The only thing to be said, was that Severus was not leaving the girl alone. There was no chance. 

"I don't want to leave you." Severus said, and Hermione had to check she had heard him correctly. "I don't want to leave you tonight. I don't want to leave you and go to Hogwarts. I want to be able to protect you."

Hermione bit back another sob as she held her face in her hands. "Please just go." Her voice came out muffled.

The sinking feeling in his chest made him feel sick. "Okay."

Standing silently, Severus walked towards his wardrobe, which held mostly clothing that belonged to Granger now. He reached the top shelf and pulled down a grey mass. His weighted blanket, that he had promised Hermione that morning. He placed it at the end of the bed.

"Goodnight, Miss Granger. Pleasant dreams."

Hermione wept that night, until her head was sore. It was only after the movement had ceased downstairs that she grabbed her blanket and burrowed herself into it. She hated how it smelt like him.