When Severus awoke the next morning, he could feel a presence in the room. He opened his eyes slowly and turned his head carefully so as not to make any noise. His eyes landed almost immediately on the all too familiar figure seated in the chair by the fireplace and his heart suddenly dropped to the bottom of his stomach.
Severus sat up, his eyes never leaving the man in the chair. The blue eyes turned towards him, this time cold and angry.
"Albus," Severus said in a strained voice. "I can explain."
"I don't think you can, Severus," Dumbledore replied quietly, standing.
"How long have you been here?"
"About fifteen minutes. Please wake Miss Granger."
Feeling an awful churning in his stomach, Severus turned and gently shook Hermione awake. She opened her eyes and looked at him sleepily, a smile touching her lips.
"Wake up," Severus said quietly, glancing back over at Dumbledore. Hermione followed his gaze and was suddenly wide awake, clutching the covers to her chest, all color drained from her face.
"Please get dressed and meet me in my office immediately," Dumbledore said softly and disappeared into the Floo.
Hermione and Severus dressed silently, not even daring to look at each other.
They Flooed to Dumbledore's office, Hermione first and then Severus.
Dumbledore gestured for them to sit and they did so, Hermione perched on the edge of her chair, wringing her hands.
"I don't know which I'm more angry about," Dumbledore began, "the situation of an affair between a student and a teacher or the fact that it had to be brought to my attention before I noticed it."
Severus glanced at Hermione, who looked as though she were about to cry. Severus himself felt the lowest he'd ever felt and had trouble meeting Dumbledore's eyes.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Since November," Severus said quietly.
Dumbledore nodded. "Well then. You leave me no choice." He looked up at Severus. "Severus, you're fired."
Severus felt as if he'd just been punched in the stomach. He'd known he wouldn't have gotten away with it, but Dumbledore actually speaking the words made it hit home. Hermione began to cry and Severus wanted to comfort her and tell her it wasn't her fault, but he didn't dare to even fully look at her.
"As for you, Miss Granger. I can't quite justify expelling you when you've only got two more months left here at Hogwarts. However, from this moment until you graduate, you are confined to your room. You may leave only for meals and classes. Is that understood?"
Hermione nodded, wiping her cheeks with her hands.
"Sir," Severus began carefully, "where will I go? I obviously can't stay here, but beyond these walls, I'm vulnerable."
"Which is why you will go into hiding. We'll arrange it in just a bit, but now I think Miss Granger should go down to her room."
"Sir, if I'm to have a Secret Keeper, it's to be Hermione," Severus stated firmly but quietly.
"Severus," Dumbledore began warningly.
"She's the only one I trust enough. Her or no one."
Hermione was gazing at Severus, her face a mix of love and wonderment at his apparent lapse in sanity.
"Severus, I don't think that's wise," Dumbledore said, glancing at Hermione, who now looked mildly ill.
"I don't care. Just give me that. Let Hermione be my Secret Keeper."
Dumbledore looked ready to protest again, but instead he sighed.
"Alright. Alright." Dumbledore stood. "I'll be back shortly. Just stay here."
Dumbledore left the room, closing the door behind him.
Hermione and Severus sat silently, avoiding each other's eyes.
"Why do you want me to be your Secret Keeper?" Hermione asked softly after a moment, staring down at her hands.
"Because I love you. And I trust you."
Hermione looked up at Severus, meeting his eyes, and smiled slightly. He reached over and she gave him her hand.
They sat silently, holding hands, until the door opened and Dumbledore entered with Professor Flitwick.
"I've already garnered your residence, Severus. You've got your wand?" Dumbledore asked. Severus nodded.
Dumbledore picked up a small paper weight from his desk and tapped it with his wand, turning it into a Portkey. The four of them touched it and were soon whisked away.
Seconds later they were deposited into a wooded area, Severus grasping Hermione's arm to hold her up.
Professor Flitwick, Severus and Hermione gazed around, looking mildly confused.
"Albus," Flitwick squeaked, "where are we?"
"Georgia," Dumbledore replied calmly.
"The country?"
"No, the state. We're in America."
Severus arched an eyebrow and Dumbledore looked over at him.
"Southern Georgia to be exact."
Severus paused, glancing at Hermione. "Why?" he asked after a moment.
"I've always had a fondness for it. And I doubt anyone will think to look for you here."
Severus had to agree with this logic and nodded.
"Right. Well, here's some money, taken from your vault." Dumbledore handed Severus a small envelope. "I've had it changed to Muggle money, of course. You'll find everything you need in the house there."
Severus and Hermione both looked up at the small house, Severus almost doubtfully, but he had no room to argue.
"We'll leave you to say your goodbyes," Dumbledore murmured and he and Flitwick turned away, walking towards the woods.
Severus stepped away from Hermione, gazing at the house. She followed him, standing beside him, and looked up at her.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
"It feels like I'm giving up," Severus replied bitterly, his eyes slitted against the sun.
"You're not," Hermione said as gently as she could. Severus sighed and Hermione reached for his hand, feeling the tough skin of his palm as she intertwined her fingers with his. He squeezed her hand and finally looked down at her.
"I'm sorry," he began, but Hermione shook her head.
"There's no time for that. I don't blame you for anything that's happened." Severus looked doubtful at this. "And that's the truth. All that matters is I love you and I want you to be safe."
"And what about you?"
"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. I know you can too, but you don't have enough people on your side."
Severus smirked and Hermione grinned.
"I love you," Hermione said quietly, tears rising.
"I love you, too." Severus touched her cheek with his free hand, his thumb moving to brush away the tear that trickled from her eye.
"It's not goodbye forever," Severus said. "It'll all work out."
Hermione smiled. "Optimism really doesn't suit you."
"I know, but even I don't want to think of the alternative."
Hermione closed her eyes against the thought and a moment later felt Severus's lips on hers. Her surprise lasted only a second before she returned the kiss.
The sound of a throat clearing broke the moment and Hermione and Severus pulled apart.
"It's time," Dumbledore said softly.
Flitwick stepped forward and wordlessly raised their still joined hands, pushing them slightly away from each other.
"As a Legilimens, Severus, you can make this easier. Place yourself inside Miss Granger's head and recall the memories you've already made of this place, its address. Miss Granger will also need to think of this place. This may cause a bit of a headache for you both, but it'll fade. You'll probably feel some general discomfort when I perform the charm, but that too will pass."
Hermione and Severus both nodded.
"Let's begin then."
Hermione and Severus looked at each other, Severus's gaze boring into Hermione.
Hermione began to visualize the house, the woods surrounding, the address. And then suddenly Severus's own memory of the place appeared in Hermione's head, so strongly that she gasped and almost looked away. Severus blinked and the memory went away.
"Don't stop," Flitwick murmured. "Either of you."
Hermione took a deep breath and Severus squeezed her hand.
She began visualizing and when Severus entered again she flinched but kept thinking, kept remembering.
She felt, dimly, Flitwick touching her hand with his wand and warmth began to flow up her arm and all throughout her body.
She could feel a sense of being full, and then of being too full, as if something were being forced inside her where there was no room and her body jerked as she fought the urge to throw up.
And then the warmth and discomfort faded and the world around came back into focus as Severus removed himself from her mind.
The tears came fast, without warning, and Hermione uttered a gasping sob, the enormity of the situation hitting her full force. Flitwick turned away as Severus pulled Hermione into his arms, holding her tightly and stroking her hair.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered, his lips moving against her ear. "I'll be fine. You'll be fine. We'll be together again soon."
Hermione nodded and reluctantly pulled away. Severus kissed her gently, then turned and walked up to his new home.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore called. "We need to go."
Hermione nodded, wiping her eyes. "I'm coming," she called back as she turned and began walking to where Professors Flitwick and Dumbledore stood.
The Portkey delivered them back to Dumbledore's office, where Hermione Obliviated both Dumbledore and Flitwick so they would have no memory of Severus's location.
Dumbledore dismissed her and Hermione left wordlessly.
She was aware of other students staring at her as she passed them, but she ignored them, not caring.
She looked up as she rounded the corner to the corridor where her room was and slowed as she noticed Ginny on the floor, waiting for her.
THe younger girl stood as Hermione approached and waited silently while Hermione opened the door.
Ginny followed Hermione into the room, waiting for her to speak.
Hermione stared at her desk, trying to speak, wanting to speak, but when she looked up at Ginny, she began to cry.
Silently Ginny led Hermione over to the couch and sat her down, taking her into her arms.
The next month passed in a blur. Hermione saw Harry and Ron only during classes and at meals and even then she hardly spoke.
Dumbledore had allowed Ginny to be Hermione's only visitor and so many nights the two girls sat in Hermione's room, doing homework and not talking much.
The worst part of it was the entire school seemed to know and it only took a day after Severus's departure for it to spread. Hermione figured it had started int he Slytherins; Draco still had friends at the school and she definitely wouldn't put it past him to start the cycle.
Ginny's splended hexing abilities had stopped most of the students from approaching Hermione to taunt her after about a week, but Hermione was still grateful for Dumbledore's punishment, if only for the chance to avoid the eyes and whispers of the other students.
The worst of it all though was that when Hermione did see Ron and Harry, they almost completely ignored her. She couldn't decide who was angrier, Ron or Harry, but she felt terribly lonely without their friendship.
So it came as a surprise to her when, almost two weeks after Severus's departure, there was a knock on her door and she opened it to see both Harry and Ron standing there.
"What're you doing here?" she asked.
"We wanted to talk to you," Harry said, his green eyes showing discomfort but at the same time, resolve.
Hermione shook her head. "We could all get in trouble."
"We asked Dumbledore. He said it was okay."
Hermione shrugged and stepped aside, allowing them to enter.
Harry turned to face Hermione, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
"Hermione... I'm sorry."
Hermione started. This was not what she had expected.
"My hatred of Snape... I should know by now that I can trust your judgment, but my feelings overshadowed that." Harry sighed. "What I'm trying to say is if you love him, then that's all that matters."
Hermione felt tears in her eyes as she looked at Harry for a moment, then at Ron, whose face reflected Harry's statement.
"We're sorry," Ron said softly. Hermione smiled tearfully.
"Thank you." She pulled both of them into a hug, one of many huge weights lifted from her shoulders.
Life was slightly more bearable after their apology. Her protection had tripled and she now had her other friends to talk to. Ginny was still Hermione's only allowed visitor, but their time together was slightly happier than before.
Hermione had never thought she'd be so happy to leave Hogwarts but she felt no loss as the train pulled away in the middle of June, the castle receding from view; there was only a dull pang at the memories of her time with Severus.
Her uneasiness grew as they approached London. She had forgotten during the ride that she would be staying with the Weasleys and now she wondered if they knew about her and Severus.
Ginny noticed her unease and scooted closer to her.
"Mum and Dad know," she whispered. Hermione looked over at her, her eyes concerned.
"And?"
Ginny shrugged. "They were upset at first. I think it was more the age difference and the fact that he was a teacher than the fact that it was Snape that upset them." Ginny smiled slightly. "You'll be fine."
Hermione returned the smile, feeling a little better.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley acted no different towards Hermione; Mrs. Weasley even hugged her a beat longer than the others and then, smiling wide, ushered Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny through the platform and home to the Burrow.
As Hermione and Ginny unpacked in Ginny's room, Ginny reassured Hermione.
"My brothers don't know. I've told Ron that if he tells them, he'll regret it the rest of his life." Ginny grinned and Hermione smiled, knowing who Ginny meant when she said "brothers": Fred and George.
There was a knock on the door and it was pushed open. Molly Weasley entered holding a stack of clean clothes.
"Here's the rest of your clothes, Hermione."
"How-"
"The Order went to your house and gathered your clothes and some of your personal effects."
Mrs. Weasley pointed to a box at the foot of Hermione's bed.
"Thank you," Hermione murmured, placing the clothes on the bed and picking up the box. Mrs. Weasley smiled gently at her.
"The Order knows, Hermione."
Hermione looked up sharply.
"They had to be told. They needed to know all the reasons why Severus went into hiding, and they needed to know why you have to be protected."
Hermione looked down, blushing.
"Were they... how did they react?" she asked quietly.
"Many were angry. At Severus. And many expressed disbelief." Mrs. Weasley stepped over to Hermione and placed a kind hand on her shoulder. "But those that know you have moved past it." Mrs. Weasley kissed the top of Hermione's head and left the room.
Ginny silently began to unpack her trunk as Hermione removed the lid from the box. All of her framed pictures, magical and non-magical, were inside, along with what looked like everything that had been on her desk and bedside table.
She removed a picture of her parents and placed it on her dresser, then moved to unpack her own trunk.
Hermione enjoyed her vacation even though she was constantly being watched. She was safer inside, and even though she was allowed to go outside, she had to have at least one Order member with her at all times. It quickly became a hassle and she hated bothering the Order members on something so trivial, so much of her time was spent indoors.
She didn't mind though, for the most part. She had plenty of people and things to distract herself with. It all kept her from thinking about Severus too much and how much she missed him.
After a month or so though, cabin fever began to set in and Hermione was fast growing tired of stale indoor air and not being able to sit close to any windows.
Remus Lupin, a frequent visitor to the Burrow, took notice and approached Hermione one day in mid-July.
"I'm gonna walk into town. Care to join me?"
Hermione glanced towards the kitchen where Mrs. Weasly and Tonks were.
"Molly knows. She wasn't overly happy, but she agreed. Come on."
Hermione smiled and stood, following Remus outside. His hand was in his pocket, holding wand, Hermione knew. She clutched her own as well.
"How are you?" Remus asked as they began their walk down the dirt road. Hermione shrugged, enjoying the breeze.
"Okay, I guess. Bored a lot."
"Do you miss him?"
Hermione looked up at Remus. He looked back at her, but Hermione saw no ill feelings, just care and concern. She nodded.
"I do. A lot. It's really bad at night."
Remus looked away and Hermione took a breath.
"I know you and Severus-"
Remus shook his head. "I don't judge you, Hermione. Different people can see the same person in different ways. I know you well enough to trust your judgment."
Hermione smiled and Remus placed an arm around her shoulders, squeezing her in a half hug.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while until Remus slowed.
"Maybe we should turn back," he said suddenly. Hermione looked up at him and saw worry on his face, his eyes darting anxiously.
"Why? What is it?"
Remus grabbed Hermione's arm, pulling her closer to him. Hermione felt a shiver of fear run down her back, her pulse quickening.
"Come on," Remus said, turning to walk back to the Burrow. They had only taken a few steps when Remus was blasted away from Hermione. She gasped, stumbling, and watched as he landed hard on his back a few yards away. She started towards him but he was already getting to his feet, wand out.
"Hermione, stay there."
Hermione stopped, her own wand out, and then jumped, startled, as a series of loud pops announced the arrival of several wizards.
Hermione raised her wand, but the new arrivals were too quick for her, knocking her off her feet. She heard two cries of pain as she fell, one she didn't recognize, the other from Remus.
Hearing footsteps, Hermione sat up quickly, scrambling to her feet. She Stupefied the wizard coming towards her and turned to Remus. He blasted two more wizards, calling over his shoulder to Hermione.
"Apparate back to the Burrow! Now!"
Hermione nodded and tried to collect herself quickly, but Remus called her attention again. Hermione ducked in time to avoid a Stunning spell. She fired at her attacker but missed.
Remus was involved in a physical struggle with one of the wizards, but there were still three others, watching her. They had obviously been sent for her and probably given orders not to harm her; otherwise they would've taken her by now.
She started to try and Apparate again but was suddenly blasted off her feet, with far more force than Remus had been. Her landing knocked the wind out of her and she lay dazed, trying to catch her breath.
Remus called her name and Hermione could see two of the wizards approaching her fast, but she couldn't move.
"Hermione, get up!"
Hermione shook her head sharply to clear it, finding her mobility and pushing herself up.
Remus punched his own opponent and fired two spells from his wand, only one finding its target. Hermione struggled to her feet.
She gasped as another wizard appeared behind Remus and shoved him to the ground. The wizard approaching Hermione turned, distracted.
The new wizard kicked Remus in the stomach and Hermione cried out.
Remus groaned and was dealt another blow, a kick to his face. He felt his nose break, felt the warm blood rush down his face, heard Hermione scream. His attacker reached down, plucking Remus's wand from his hand and tossing it away.
"Take the girl."
Hermione screamed again as she was grabbed from behind, her arms pinned to her sides, her wand falling from her hand to the ground.
"Hermione!" Remus cried, starting to get up. Another kick to the head laid him flat again, and blackness encroached on his peripheral vision. He heard Hermione scream his name and he wanted to help her, but the darkness was overpowering and before he passed out he heard two loud cracks as the wizards disappeared, one clutching Hermione.
Remus came to. How much time had passed he didn't know but he scrambled to his feet. All the wizards were gone, as was Hermione.
"Oh no," he murmured. He looked frantically around for his wand, spotting it a few feet away. He snatched it up, then retrieved Hermione's from where it lay in the dirt and Apparated back to the Burrow.
He rushed inside, into the kitchen.
"Molly-"
"Remus, what happened?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, standing quickly. "Where's Hermione?"
"They took her, Molly. Voldemort's got her now."