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Resolution	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 8076 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Resolution: Chapter 6 of 13

Hermione awoke to the rise and fall of his chest against her cheek and an arm draped around her waist. Sighing, she snuggled closer to him, the familiar planes of his clothed skin caressing her cheek. What she wouldn�t give to wake up like this every morning. Lazily, she traced the pattern of buttons on his shirt. She felt his sudden intake of breath and raised her sleepy eyes to meet his infinitely more awake ones.

�Good morning.� His voice was silky and sent shivers down her spine as she looked into his eyes.

She smiled shyly, splaying her hand across his chest. �How long have you been awake?�

He shrugged his shoulders and set down the book he was reading. �Hungry?�

�What time is it?�

�Around noon.�

�Noon?!?� she proclaimed, jumping up.

�It appears you needed your sleep.�

�I guess so.� Suddenly, she remembered the words she had spoken the night before: I want to fall asleep in your arms and I want to wake up in the morning still in your arms. I want to know this isn�t a dream. �You waited for me,� she said, amazed.

�I wanted you to know it wasn�t a dream.�

With the right man, anything is possible.

She smiled at him warmly. �Thank you, Severus.�

�You are very welcome.�

***

Breakfast was actually lunch, given the time of day. As they ate in silence, she wondered if the dark circles under her eyes had lessened at all. She was relieved to be able to eat on a regular basis again. She felt infinitely more relaxed overall, now that she was back in familiar territory with the man that had a way of making her feel safe. How long would it last, though? Tomorrow was Monday. He would have to teach, and she would have to return to her classes as well. Surely, he had been just placating her yesterday.

Resolutely, she asked, �When do I have to leave?�

He set down his fork and contemplated her question. �I didn�t know you were leaving.�

�Aren�t I?�

�That depends,� his rich voice echoed.

�Depends on what?�

�Depends on you, Hermione. What do you want?�

She looked away, knowing that what she wanted didn�t really matter. Everyone else wanted what was best for her; surely he�d be no different. �I want to stay here. I don�t want to go back to that school. But I don�t really have a choice, do I?�

He was looking at her quite strangely, she thought.

�What makes you think you don�t have a choice?�

She rolled her eyes. �And what choice do I have? I highly doubt you would let me quit school and throw away my future over some jerk who just happens to scare the daylights out of me. And�� She stopped when his hand grasped hers, his eyes meeting hers with an intense gaze.

�Slow down, woman. You have choices. I would not make you do something against your will. Ever. Nor do I think that Gladwick is the best place for you right now. But what I think does not matter. What you think does.�

�What choices do I have?� she nearly whispered, unsure of her footing in this conversation.

Severus cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head. With a smug look on his face, he said, �I have spoken with Albus. We would like to offer you the position of Assistant Potions Master. As you know, my research is very important to me and I get precious little time to work on it during the school year. However, with an assistant, much could be accomplished. If you choose to accept, you would be offered living space here at the castle.�

She wondered if her face betrayed the astonishment she felt.

He leaned forward and continued. �However, that is far from your only option. There are several other top notch universities that would be honored to have you. If you do not wish to take a break from your studies, we would be more than happy to provide recommendations for you to enroll in another university of your choosing.�

She wanted to thank him, but instead she just stared at him, speechless.

�You do not have to return to Gladwick, Hermione. I would hate to see your talent go to waste.�

She hadn�t known he would support her so fully. His faith in her felt wonderful. �I don�t know what to say,� she managed.

�You don�t have to decide now. Give it some thought.�

�How much time do I have?� she asked.

�As much time as you need, Hermione.�

�And I don�t have to go back to Gladwick?�

�Only to collect your belongings.�

�And will you accompany me?�

�I wouldn�t have it any other way.�

***

It was late that afternoon when Hermione and Severus Apparated near her dormitory at Gladwick University. She led him up the back stairway. Severus presumed it was because she wanted to avoid running into anyone she knew. He had noticed the change in her demeanor the instant they had Apparated. She became tense, panicked almost. Her skin lost some of its color, and she looked around nervously. Once inside her room, she seemed to relax a little. He sat at the desk in the corner while she packed, looking over her textbooks and occasionally commenting on their quality, or lack thereof. He knew that he had very high standards for education. While most professors catered to the common denominator of student intelligence, he selected texts based on their merits which usually meant that only the best and brightest students would benefit from their full effect.

Hermione looked up when the door to her room opened. Severus watched her carefully. He could not see who was standing in the entryway.

�And just where were you last night?� The feminine voice was both accusing and brash.

He watched Hermione�s hands ball into fists and her eyes grow cold.

�Who wants to know?�

The mysterious female laughed maliciously. �If I thought you were with a man, I�d compliment you. But no one would want the likes of you. Hell, I�d bend over backwards to sleep with Rowland, but you are too good for him. Is that it? He was here you know, him and friends. They were waiting for you last night. Said you had a date. But you didn�t have the guts to go out with a real man, did you? I saw him downstairs just now. He was quite angry that you stood him up last night. I don�t know why he bothers with you when there are so many other witches who are much prettier and more willing than you. I would have brought him up with me if I had have known you were here.�

Severus listened in disbelief as this unknown witch berated Hermione. Her face had blanched considerably and she was trembling slightly, although he wasn�t sure if it was from fear or rage.

�Since you�re obviously too stupid to know how all of this works, I feel it my duty to educate you. Come, I will take you to him.�

Severus stepped forward, standing between Hermione and the offending witch. �Please do,� he intoned, the crisp edges of his voice meant to intimidate. �I�d like to meet this Rowland.�

He watched with pleasure as the witch went pale and stuttered incoherently at him. She shot an accusing look at Hermione, but Severus couldn�t see Hermione�s reaction. Instead, he refocused the witch�s attention on him by clearing his throat. �I�m waiting.�

The witch seemed to regain her composure. �And just who the hell do you think you are? I don�t take commands from strangers.�

�Severus Snape,� he spat out at the witch, stepping closer to intimidate her. �But you shall call me Sir. I suggest you introduce me to this Rowland.� The witch looked like a cross between afraid and outraged. He thought it best to play on the former. �NOW!� he bellowed. He shot Hermione a backwards glance to tell her to stay where she was while he followed the witch through the long, winding corridors and down the stairs.

When they emerged into the lobby, he followed her gaze, quickly locating a group of students gathered on the east side of the common area. He lagged a step behind her, not wanting anyone to realize they were together.

As they approached, an arrogant-looking young man spoke. �Hey Lidia. Is the bitch back yet?�

Lidia. Hermione had mentioned her: the roommate from hell. Lidia remained silent as Severus closed in behind her, his eyes trained on the young wizard.

�You must be Rowland.�

The young wizard puffed out his chest as if he were some kind of exotic bird. �Yeah, what�s it to you old man?�

Severus seethed at Rowland�s arrogance.

�I�ll just be going now,� Lidia said in a timid voice.

Severus�s voice stopped her cold. �You will stay,� he commanded.

Returning his gaze to Rowland, he stalked forward, forcing Rowland to take a couple of steps backward until his back was against the wall.

�Tell me, Rowland, how many women have you raped?� Severus�s voice was not much above a whisper but carried the same threat as if he had yelled it. He saw Lidia�s eyes open wide in his peripheral vision.

Rowland tried to stand up straighter. �I don�t know what you�re talking about.�

�Do you drug them all before you rape them? Or do you just use physical force on the weaker ones?�

�Jeffrey, Marcus, alert the guards that this man is harassing me.�

Severus turned his gaze on Rowland�s friends. �Yes, please do. I would like to press formal charges against this disgrace of a wizard.�

�On whose word? And who the hell are you anyway?�

�Severus Snape.� He paused to allow the recognition wash over the wizard�s faces. Much to Severus�s chagrin, his exploits as a ruthless double agent Death Eater had been fodder for the Wizarding media due to his outstanding efforts in the war against Voldemort. Aside from his reputation at Hogwarts, his mere name struck fear in the hearts of most witches and wizards. Severus noted that Rowland�s friends were frozen in place. No one sought out the guards.

�And have you raped so many women that you need me to clarify which one I speak of?�

Rowland started stuttering. �That whore wanted me! She begged me to! And then she� why, that witch cast the Testiculo Excrucio curse on me! After all I�d done for her!� His friends instinctively shielded their crotches and winced in imagined pain. Severus probably would have done the same under different circumstances. Now, he inwardly congratulated her for her quick thinking.

�Is that what you tell yourself? That they want it?�

Rowland laughed. �The Malfoy whore is only good for one thing��

Rowland�s sentence ended abruptly as Severus threw him up against the wall, knocking the breath out of him. �You will NEVER call her that again, do you understand me?�

Rowland looked as though Severus had shot the killing curse at him. His eyes were wide and he wasn�t breathing. Severus let go and watched as the boy crumpled to the floor. �I suggest you pack your bags. You won�t be at this school much longer.�

With that, Severus walked away. Hermione was waiting for him.
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