Everything except the storyline belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 25

The next morning they found themselves making brunch together; They had both pretended to sleep well past their usual hour, neither wanted to leave the comfort of the other ones arms. Severus was making scrambled eggs, while Hermione was dividing dough for scones.

The small smiles and the bumping into each other made the morning all the more enjoyable. A sudden 'pop' behind them made them both swirl, wands raised. Severus noted that Hermione had taken a big step towards him, for some reason that made his heart swell.

"Elora!" Hermione exclaimed. She quickly lowered her wand. "We weren't expecting you back yet. Is everything alright?"

Elora stood with her hands on her hips, staring down the wand Severus was still pointing her way.

"You are paranoid," the elf commented.

Severus simply raised an eyebrow.

"Fine! Fine! Flubberworms are a pest."

"What?" Hermione asked, confused.

"It's a password," Severus explained, smiling at her. "After the stunt Dobby pulled at Malfoy Manor, some of the Death Eaters got more creative in their use of house elves." He turned back to his eggs. "Is the Marrot family doing better?" he continued to Elora.

"Yes, they are out of bed and able to take care of themselves once more." There was a pause. "What are you doing making breakfast at this hour?" Elora asked.

From the corner of his eye he saw Hermione blush prettily and turn around quickly.

"She doesn't miss anything, now does she?" Hermione whispered.

"No, I don't" came her answer.

The witch turned even redder. Severus chuckled and pulled her against his side, kissing the top of her head.

"Finally!"

He looked over his shoulder to see that Elora had thrown her arms in the air at her exclamation.

"Now go sit at the table, you are messing up my kitchen!"

A week later Hermione was feeling really, really optimistic. She hadn't had a seizure or tremor ever since the on in the kitchen. Severus was still a bit tentative around her, but every so now and then he simply leaned in to kiss her. She caught him staring a lot as well. That, combined with the fact she had slept in his arms all off the previous nights, made her feel almost giddy with happiness.

As she sat herself down at the kitchen table for lunch, she noticed Severus had put on his mask again. She frowned at him, but mentally shrugged. He would snap out of it soon enough.

"I think congratulations are in order,' he suddenly said.

Hermione looked at him in confusion. "Why?"

He gave her a small smile. "You haven't had a withdrawal symptom for a full week now, I can say with certainty that your rehabilitation is completed."

"Really?" Hermione piped up happily. "Sweet Merlin, I thought this would never end!"

Something flashed behind Severus' eyes, but it was too fast for Hermione to catch its meaning.

"Of course that means you are now free to do as you please. You have no doubt things you want to do or places you want to go."

She stared at him as realisation hit.

"You, you want me to, to leave?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

"I am simply stating that there is nothing left to bind you here."

"Nothing, nothing left to bind me?" she stuttered. Hermione blinked furiously to keep the tears that were gathering in her eyes from falling. "You want me to leave?" she asked again.

Her question was met with silence.

"But, I thought, you, I, …"

Her breath caught in her throat and she felt like there was a knife twisting in her heart. Perhaps she had misinterpreted the situation? Perhaps he simply wanted his privacy back, she had been imposing on it for one and a half months. Or perhaps he realised he didn't want a relationship with her after all, and this was his way of getting rid of her? Either way she should respect his wishes. She got up, grateful for the support the table offered her.

"Of course," she said, not looking at him. "You want your privacy back, I understand. I'll go upstairs and pack." She turned to leave.

"Hermione."

It sounded almost like a plea, his voice sounded unsure. She stopped, but didn't turn back, knowing her face would betray her emotions.

"We can continue your occlumency lessons if you want?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "I'm sure we can create some form of schedule."

She started walking again. She heard his chair scrape over the floor and not long after his hand wrapped around her wrist.

"Hermione," he said for a third time. "I'm … sorry."

She took another shaky breath. "Not, it's alright, I understand, really, it's only normal you want your house back to yourself."

"You misunderstand."

"I don't see what there is to misunderstand, Severus."

There was a long moment of silence, neither of them moved.

"I don't want you to leave," he whispered.

Hermione whirled around, and looked up at him. "You don't?" she asked in a small voice.

He whipped away a tear with his thumb.

"No, you silly girl. I just thought you might want to get out of here."

"Why would I want to leave? I want to stay with you."

"Something I'm still trying to wrap my head around," he answered honestly.

She smacked him on the chest, and raised herself up to kiss him.

"Severus Snape," she jested. "I am sorry to inform you that you are very much stuck with me."

He grinned and pulled her closer. "I plan to take full advantage of that."

A couple of days before the start of the new term, Hermione climbed the stairs to the headmistress office. She had a meeting with Minerva, claiming she wanted to talk about her 'living arrangements', purposefully leaving out any details. It didn't happen very often you could surprise her, and Hermione was going to seize the opportunity.

Severus had gone to his quarters and lab. He wanted to check the wards and the more unstable potion ingredients, before allowing Elora to prepare the rooms for their return. He would be joining the headmistress and Hermione soon. Arriving at the top of the stairs, Hermione knocked on the door.

"Enter."

Minerva looked up as her former pupil entered. "Hermione, dear, I'm so happy to see you!" The elderly witch hurried around the large desk and gave her a hug. "How have you been? I haven't heard from you all summer! Have you gone to Australia?"

Hermione sat herself down in one of the comfortable armchairs, and accepted the tea Minerva offered her.

"Actually, I haven't," she said, before explaining all that had happened last year.

A knock on the door interrupted her just as she was about to tell Minerva about Severus' offer to have her rehabilitate at his house. With a wave of her hand, the headmistress opened the door. Hermione beamed at Severus as he walked in, dressed in his teachers robes, and greeted Minerva with a small bow.

"Severus! Such a surprise," Minerva greeted him, pouring another cup of tea. "Hermine was just telling me a fascinating story. It seems you have been most helpful last year."

"Oh, you've only heard half of it," Hermione commented, before continuing her story.

Severus leaned back in his chair, savouring his tea.

"So, you've been living with him during the summer?" Minerva asked incredulous once Hermione had finished recalling. Her eyes had grown wide, her tea was long forgotten.

"Yes," Hermione answered, "and that brings us back to the present, and my living arrangements."

She reached out for Severus' hand and he smiled at her.

"I asked her to move in with me," he rumbled while looking in her eyes.

"And I said yes," Hermione replied.

They both turned to the headmistress, and Hermione grinned widely. The shocked but pleased expression on Minerva's face was utterly priceless.

AN: The End.
I can't believe this is finished! I want to thank all of you faithful followers, and especially those who took the time to comment. Writing this story has been loads of fun, and I hope I didn't disappoint.
The best of wishes to all of you!
Noppoh