"I can't believe it! I should have done what would have been right when I had the chance those years ago! How could they print something like this?"
An enraged Hermione was pacing the living room she shared with Severus, sporadically glaring at the newspaper on the table with a look that could kill.

"I take it that you already know about that great article Skeeter published today." 

Severus marched into the living room sinking into his favourite armchair, pinched the bridge of his crooked nose and exhaled rather deep while trying to work out a solution that would be best for all.

"Yes, Severus, I obviously know about this wonderful little article that loathsome beetle published. Why would she publish such outright lies? They should have just asked us. I would have gladly told her what was going on. Although she would have still printed lies - they wouldn't have been as outrageous and farfetched as these. What are we to do about this, Severus? I mean, she basically accused us of having an illegal relationship that Minerva seems to approve of, and she tries to put down Harry yet again."

"I honestly don't know yet. I think we should have her interview us and print the truth about this but other than that I have no idea."

He sounded defeated. Defeated and tired, and she has never once heard him sound quite like that. She knew that much of his former anguish came from Harry, Ron and her, and she had hoped that she wouldn't be one of those people to cause him trouble again. Now she was the sole reason he was as defeated as he was now, and it tore her up inside.

"Listen, we'll make that statement and have it published for the whole wizarding world to read. Afterwards, I will resign as your apprentice if need be."

"You will do no such thing. Doing that would only tell them that there was indeed something more than a teacher-student relationship going on between us. Minerva told me that the ministry will be investigating the next few weeks. I think it would be best for you and the children to move into your own rooms in your common room again, at least until they are finished poking their noses in other people's business. I will most definitely be checking on you and the children as often as possible without being suspicious, okay? I know that they won't understand this now, but I hope that they won't blow up our cover."

Severus finally removed his hands from his face. Hermione was shocked when she saw his face. For the first time in months, he looked way older than he actually was due to his being exhausted. Maybe he wasn't exhausted in the traditional sense but tired of the life he had to live again. It seemed as though someone just couldn't stand seeing him not facing impossible hardships. Just when he overcame one thing, another was turning up and Hermione really felt sorry for him. She knew that everyone has to face some hardships in life occasionally, but she has yet to meet someone with as many hurdles to overcome as Severus.

"I guess you're right. I will go, talk to the boys and try to get them to move again." 

She turned and went to wake the two boys up. For a moment she wanted to be a child again, too. Just being able to laugh and enjoy life without facing this whole game filled with lies and death and way too little happiness at the moment. 

She had just found that little piece of happiness with a man she would have never guessed. She hadn't told him that before, and she won't do that now. This was over before it even started and that thought alone made a chill run down her spine and she suddenly felt cold and alone.

++++++++

"I don't want to be here. I want to be with Uncle Sev. Where is he?"

"Yes, we want to be where he is. He is so nice to us, and it is always fun with him."

Hermione smiled weakly and sadly at the two children who stood before her with their little arms crossed across their chests, looking at her like the petulant little children they were at the moment.

She got down on her knees in front of them, finally being around eye-level with them. 

"Harry, Draco, listen. We will be with him again soon, and you will still see him but right now it just isn't possible. If we go and live with him now he will be in much trouble, and you possibly won't see him ever again. It is very important that no one knows that we used to live with him, okay?"

They looked at her with their eyes big, and reluctantly they nodded. After a few more moments they turned and walked over to a corner full of toys Hermione had already readied for them.

Sometime later there was a knock at her door. Wondering who would disturb her now she got up putting a very interesting book about medieval potions to the side and went to open the door. Opening it she found herself face to face with her mentor.

"Hermione, I made ourselves an arrangement with another reporter who hopefully won't lie as much as Skeeter. He will meet with us tomorrow at ten at the ministry. I already talked to Minerva, and she says she has our classes covered. How are they doing?"

"That's great. They are not thrilled, but I think they understand that they can't be with you at all times at the moment. This will work out just fine, you'll see."

He nodded at her before bidding her a good night and leaving her looking after him.

+++++++++

"Ready to go?" asked Severus his apprentice, his hand already on the handle belonging to the door behind which a reporter of the Daily Prophet should be waiting for them to give an interview. 

The young brunette witch wearing a dark blue skirt and blazer combined with a light-grey blouse and black high heels nodded at him, and so he pushed the door open, leading her into a rather small office in the ministry of magic's department responsible for the research and publishing of the Daily Prophet. They were greeted by a nice-looking middle-aged wizard with rectangular glasses. He wore a well-worn brown suit with a light-blue dress-shirt and his mouse-grey hair was already starting to thin on his head. Overall he was a very ordinary man with a rather unordinary name.

"Hello, my name is Graves, Zander Graves. I take it that you are here to make a statement of your own after that article my dear colleague has twisted around to have another sensational story. I know that many people lost much due to her and sadly many of them just sat there doing nothing. I hope that my boss will allow me to publish this exclusive interview with you as this could be one of our only chances to rid our society from her articles."

"I certainly hope so, Mister Graves. Now, what do you want to talk about first?" asked Severus with a civil look on his face. 

This reporter definitely had many things to say against his colleague. The Slytherin in him was already forging a nice plan only a Slytherin could think of to have his own little revenge on Rita Skeeter.