When she awoke the next morning, she had noticed the sheets on the side of his bed were undisturbed. She got up and put on her robe, for it was a chilly morning. She walked down the hall to the office and saw that the door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open and entered - it was empty.

She sighed with relief. She just didn't know if she could wake up and deal with him in the morning. She walked out of the office and went back to her rooms and sat at the little desk. In front of her was parchment paper and an ink and quill. She fixed up her face and dipped the quill in ink. She was just about to write when something inside of her was nagging at her heart. She was going to write to Severus, to beg him to get her out of her predicament sooner, but he was just one man, and a busy one. So she decided to wait a few days and then write him, unless proven otherwise.

She set down the quill and dropped her head in her hands, racking her hands through her wild hair. She felt lost. Severus said one thing, but was he telling her the truth? Would he help her? She wanted to believe him, but her conscious was telling her that it was just a game of wishful thinking on her part. She sighed. She was just going to have to trust her gut and put all of her faith in the only person she had; Severus Snape.

As she sat wallowing in her worries, a little hand tapped her on the shoulder. She turned her head and was greeted by Stickles. "Good morning mistress." He said with a toothy grin. "I's haves tea, biscuits, and the post for you." With a flick of his fingers, a tray of hot tea and freshly baked biscuits appeared on the desk, as well as the post. Hermione smiled at him.

"Thank you Stickles." She said quietly. He turned from her and went to her bed and began to make it. "Um, Stickles?" She asked in a quiet and condescending voice. He stopped making the bed and came to her. His wide eyes shone with affection, something she felt she didn't deserve. "I'm... I'm terribly sorry for last night... I wish it wouldn't have happened... it's just... I worry about you... did he... did he hurt you?" She asked, tears threatening her eyes. A lump formed in her throat just thinking about what Lucius could have done, for he has done dreadful things in the past to Stickles.

Stickles grabbed her hands and squeezed them. "Misses, you haves nothing's to worry about for Stickles. Stickles is fine. Master didn't discipline Stickles, I disciplined me self." He said matter of factly. The tears slid down her face. She was so grateful for Stickles.

"Oh Stickles, what did I tell you? I forbid you to ever discipline yourself." She said, her quavering tone becoming stern. Stickles patted her wrist and walked away to finish the bed. Hermione shook her head, such a silly and stubborn elf, someone who she adored. She turned to the desk and began to sort through the post. Most of them were from charities they had donated to, but one caught her eye. It was from the Ministries Auror department and it was for her. She opened it and began to read it.

Hermione,

I agreed to help and stand by my answer. I will see you Friday night at midnight, be ready.

~SS

Hermione was awestruck. She didn't know what to say. She nicely folded up the letter and stood from her chair. He was really going to help her!? She bit her lip and grasped her neck, he was like her night in shining armor, she was the damsel in distress and he was saving her, although there was no happily ever after with each other of course, for it was out of the question. Things did seem as if they were going to work out.