Breaking Point

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"Harry, drop it. I'm not going to stop the lessons because I don't want to first of all. Second of all, I really like potions, as much as you two hate it. Third, I love to learn and these potions are going to be helpful to me later in my life when I decide on a career. So no, I will not drop them." She was angry at Harry. He'd been begging her to ask Snape to get rid of some detentions. He missed his friend. Severus could see that Hermione was getting fed up with Potter and Weasley. Though, Weasley was more interested in the poor excuse of a potion in front of him.

"Potter," Severus sneered at the young man. War Hero or not, he was not going to mess up his personal time with Granger. That was not tolerated. He had spent years in solitary, but never again. He found himself enjoying personal company of Hermione Granger, and intended to see that they got time together, since she obviously found it just as comforting.

He turned to Severus with an angry look. "Yes, professor?" he asked with sass.

"Unless your argument with Granger is about potions, which by the sound of it, it most certainly isn't, get back to your work. Granger, move away from Potter and Weasley. I'd rather not deal with the three of you talking all throughout the class and annoying me more," Severus instructed.

Hermione gave a tiny relieved smile to Severus, which he twitched his mouth in a satisfied sneer, hoping Hermione understood. She evidently did. She worked hard on her potion, and finished before anyone else. Severus had previously said that anyone who finished early could leave for lunch early. He dismissed her after he got a vial of her potion. She went to the great hall to start lunch early, so she could get as much work done early. He'd given her essay on advanced potions back with a note on it. It was his conversation with the Healer at St Mungo's. She tore it open happily.

Dear Severus Snape,

I have received your owl stating that you have a potion that is in need of testing in the permanent spell damage department. Due to the war, we are in need of it, and it will be tested most highly, as requested by the maker, Hermione Jean Granger. We will send an owl to her keeping her informed of the potion's progress. Please let Miss Granger know of our thanks for the copy of the ingredients and instructions for medicinal purposes. She is quiet right. Some patients develop immunity to ingredients and even allergies. It will be tested to see if the potion does what Miss Granger wants, or if it is helpful for something else. Thank you for your effort to help.

Gladys Jones

Head Healer

St Mungo's

Her potion was being tested? She could hardly believe it. She had to talk to Severus about it. A second parchment, not from St Mungo's, fell out. Severus must have put it in there.

Miss Granger,

We need to talk about this letter, and more tonight. I have a proposition for you that I think you will appreciate. Tonight, early,

Severus Snape

AKA the Bat of the Dungeons.

She couldn't help but laugh at the last bit. He often poked fun at himself at odd times, making her laugh. He knew how to make her smile. She decided to skip dinner tonight. Not only would it be best to avoid Harry and Ron for a while, but after learning that her potion was going to be tested for healing properties, she wasn't hungry any longer.

It was almost an hour before Harry and Ron came in the hall and caught her eye. She sighed and started to pack up. If they were here, than the potions classroom was empty except for Severus now. She wanted to talk to him now. She couldn't wait. Harry and Ron ran over as soon as they saw her start packing up.

"Hermione, where are you going?" Harry asked, blocking her path.

"Somewhere you're not. I've got to study for NEWTS." It wasn't a lie. She did have to study, but she was already ahead in her studying. Almost a month ahead actually.

Ron scoffed. "Come on, Hermione, don't abandon us for something we didn't do," he said, sitting down to eat.

That set her off. "Something you didn't do?! You started arguing in the middle of class, stating that Severus was a annoying batty git when I told you that he was tutoring me advanced potions not in our curriculum. Is that something "you didn't do"?" She asked harshly.

"Yes," Harry said simply. "Hermione, you spend every waking moment with him. What's going on?"

"None of your bloody business, Potter!" she shouted, running out of the hall. They stared after her, confused and worried.

As good as that felt, she somehow felt guilty. She walked back to the dungeons, running into Severus as she tuned the corner to his door. "Granger, what are you doing?" he asked lightly, as he usually did when they were alone. There wasn't a hint of remorse, anger, hatred, or anything that she had come to recognize in her early years in his voice now. Something had changed between them, besides the friendship they now shared.

"Sorry, but I wanted to talk to about the letter now. I won't be able to focus all day,"she stated, holding her books close to her.

Severus nodded, taking her to a passage that would lead her to his private chamber. It was a longer way, and not used much except for when he had to think on the way back to his chambers. He opened the door and Hermione went in. She knew where they were, but it took a little getting used to coming in from a different way.

"Mrs. Jones will keep us both informed, and she is really hoping that the potion works. There are several wards filled from the war on spell damage. It would help a lot." He said, sitting down in his chair. He wasn't really hungry anyway. He fumbled about for a moment, until he growled and stood up again. He then took off his cloak and outer shirt, leaving his inner black shirt and trousers on. He never could sit in the cloak in his own chair. Nothing he did could make it comfortable.

Hermione dropped her books beside the door. "Yes, I read the letter. I'm so nervous. What if they don't work?"

"Then, they won't use it. But they are hoping it will. I'm sure it will. After all, you are a bright witch," he said, watching her expression.

"Really?"

He nodded to her, pleased that she was happy. She sat on the couch opposite Severus and they stared at each other. For several minutes. Neither knew why, nor did they care. It was peaceful, away from the problems outside. They often left the problems at the door. Only wanting to focus on the potions they made and each others company. They never verbally agreed to it, but they sort of just fell into it. Like everything else they've done.

A knock came at the door when Severus was just about to doze off. He watched as the door tried to open, but wouldn't. He smiled to himself. His lock spell had worked, even with the magic unlock spell of Alohamora.

"Severus, your class is waiting!" Minerva called through the door. He'd taken to locking the door with a spell so that they wouldn't be interrupted like they had been last week. He was also tired of people coming into his room without knocking. The staff here could be really rude.

"Minerva, I will be there in a moment," Severus called out after her.

There was a silence from the other end of the door. Somehow he knew that she was still out there angry at him. Though he wished that she wasn't still there. It made him nervous. He groaned as Minerva called through the door again. "Severus Snape get out here right now!"

Blasted woman. Couldn't relax for even five minutes. He swung on his outer cloak and shirt as he headed for the door. Hermione wasn't sure if she should hide or not. She wasn't supposed to be in here. She didn't need to be told that. However, since Severus never told her to stay out, in fact he seemed almost wanting of her company, she kept coming back. Every night. Severus took one look at Hermione, confused and scared, and gave a nasty grin. He took off his cloak and shirts, once more. This time, baring his chest.

Hermione was quiet used to it by now, but still found his chest rather breathtaking. He had some scars, probably by a venom filled knife she read about somewhere. Most of them had faded to pink blemishes against his pale skin. However, the ones that remained dark and brooding over him was the ones round his neck, where Nagini struck him. She didn't know how he survived, and wasn't sure if she wanted to know. It didn't seem to bother him anymore, but she could tell by the way that he put on his cloak that he was aware that it was there. And wanted to keep it hidden from everyone, except her. She truly felt special and heart warmed by that.

He then tossed his shirts on the floor. Something that surprised her because she always had to hang her robe on the chair by the desk. He was a very pristine man. He slowly unbuttoned his trousers and she blushed furiously. He gave a light chuckle. Minerva was almost shouting at him through the door to open up. Something about Potter and Weasley following Hermione here. If they thought that Hermione and him were having an affair, then they will get an affair. He was a fairly good actor. And he knew that she would do anything to help him, simply because she thought him as a good man. Which they still argued about.

He shimmied out of his trousers and threw them somewhere that Minerva would see when he opened the door. He liked the older witch. Thought highly of her, but she was the biggest nuisance of all. "Granger, if you won't mind playing along please," he muttered loud enough for her to hear.

She gave a slight nod of her head. She had no idea what he was going to have her do, though. She certainly wasn't going to strip for him. Though, he had already seen more than even Harry and Ron had and they were best friends. Not to mention Ginny.

"Good, then, if you please, either take off some of your clothing, or look ruffled up, please. I'm going to have a little fun," he hissed happily. Him, fun? This should be good. Hermione couldn't help but think.

She quickly took off her robe. It was bothering her anyway. And they ruffled up her hair, more, and threw her vest off. She loosened the buttons on her shirt and took off her tie. She was not going to get as bare as him, but she somehow knew he wouldn't want that either. As Severus watched her untuck her shirt and shrug. He shook his head. There was something missing. He strolled over to her and watched her take in a breath, holding it as he slowly unbuttoned her shirt and took it off.

"Forgive me, Granger," he muttered as he saw her face go angry. "But that won't do."

Her eyes softened a little when he apologized. And she headed over to the bed and laid back on it. He stared at her for a moment, wishing that he could join her. But he pushed it out of his mind. Friends is all he needed. Just her and her friendship. He strolled over to open the door, a smirk on his face that made Hermione want to laugh. She never saw this sly, playful side of him. Really she thought that this side of him had been buried in his backyard somewhere when he was a child. He was either serious, angry, or bored. Sometimes all three.

He opened the door and met a very shocked Minerva. Shocked and angry. Though that didn't seem to bother him. "Minerva, I am quiet busy at this time, what do you need?" he asked fluidly. She raked her eyes over him, then went to the bed where Hermione was faced towards the wall. She wouldn't pull this off if she looked at Minerva. Her face was pulled back in a silent laugh already.

"SEVERUS SNAPE! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" She shouted.

"My, my, Minerva, don't know you know what sex is?" he asked slyly, with a grin on his face. He was a despicable man. Really. But this was really fun. Watching her face go from anger to shock then back to anger at the thought of Hermione and him locked in a passionate embrace. His mind started to wonder for a moment, then he once more pushed that feeling out of his way. It was not allowed in his life.

"Severus, you have a class of first years that need teaching. And Miss Granger has classes to prepare for if she is going to pass her N.E.W.T.S. Not in here getting ravaged by you, Severus Snape," she hissed at him.

Ravaged? That might have been too much. "Ravaged? That's the same as rape. I can assure you Minerva, it was not ravage. It was quiet pleasing." He responded a little harsher. That insulted him. He would never rape a woman. He had pride, and knew how to treat a woman.

"While she is a student here, it is ravage, Sir. And quiet against the rules." Minerva said sharply.

That broke him. He hissed angrily at her. This was supposed to be a happy joke to him. To see her face. While it started out fun and in his favor, it quickly got heated. Something he didn't predict very well. He sneered, just inches from Minerva's unwavering face. "Minvera McGonagll, I have spent most of my adult life protecting a child bore by my love Lily, and enemy, Potter. I have broken rules my whole life, spied for both parties. You really think that I care about the rules that insolent Headmaster makes. All I want is someone to be there with me at the end of the day. Not care about my scars or what I did in the past. Not try to pass me off as a hero when I clearly am not. All I want is someone to be with and leave all the problems at the door. Be happy with as a companion. And as shocking as it is to you, Potter, Weasley, and even Dumbledore himself, I do care for her, and I do enjoy her company. Whether that will grow to love or not is not up to you, nor is it any of your business. If we find love in the future, then you, Potter, Weasley, and Albus will be informed promptly. I ask you to stop hovering over us like a leech on a little child. We are not children, we are both adults capable of making our own choices in life without your interfering. Now if you don't mind I have to get ready for my dunderhead first years, excuse me, Madame!" He then slammed the door in her face.

Things that he had not meant to say had spilled out. However, they were done and said. He had even felt a little better after saying them. Now, he had to deal with what she had obviously heard, and get to his first years, which he wasn't happy about.

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Long chapter? Couldn't stop.

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sEvTF

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