CHAPTER ONE:
Hermione kept her head down as she wandered through the deserted corridors. Most of the students were in their common rooms or at dinner. She went into a deserted classroom and sank into one of the chairs, her head in her hands, sobbing quietly. Professor Snape had called her a "know-it-all" once too many times and it hurt hearing the rest of the class laughing and jeering her. Back in her first year she'd thought she's just get used to it, but she'd gone over the edge today. It also was harder, to hear Ron's laugh. Hermione felt so alone. She heard the door open behind her. She turned around, startled, to see Snape standing, almost sheepishly, with a box of tissues in his hand. She wiped her eyes quickly. "I was just leaving," she said.
He sat down in front of her, placed the box on the desk and looked at her. He felt guilty knowing he had caused this upset. He'd known there was something wrong in class today when she stopped trying to answer every question, and her potionwork equalled that of Longbottom's. Severus Snape looked into her eyes and said the words he had never said to another student, "I'm sorry."
Hermione was shocked. His voice told her that he was being sincere, but Snape had never, in her memory, shown emotion. He burst into speech. "Ever since your first class, Ms. Granger, you've always known the answer to every question. Why, no first year should know the difference between Monkswood and Wolfsbane, I was just trying to catch Potter out, but you did. And that startled me. You excelled in every potions class, and I hated it, because it reminded me of.." He paused. Taking a deep breath, he continued. ".. A girl I once loved. So that is why I've put you down in every class,the memory was too painful, and I am truly sorry."
Hermione was at a loss of what to say. Tears had begun to slide down his cheeks when he mentioned the girl and Hermione knew he was telling the truth. This man, who had made her classes hell for five-and-a-half years, was now opening up , and all Hermione could do was offer the box of tissues back to him. Snape took the tissue gratefully. He felt angry at himself for breaking down like this. But he had never gotten the chance to talk about Lily's death, nor had he stopped blaming himself. For it was his fault. He had told Voldemort about the prophecy. Had he known it meant Lily's son, he would never have done so. However, he had carried around the burden ever since, and it had caused him so much pain. He allowed himself to cry on Hermione's shoulder, as wave after wave of magical energy flowed away from him, releasing his bottled up feelings.
Albus Dumbledore looked up from his work in his study. He had felt something, something that shook him to the core of his magic. Something he had not felt since his legendry fight with Grindlewald, a wave of pure magical power. Wizards who could feel another's magical power had to be very powerful themselves, so Albus was reassured this was not the pain of one of his students, nor would they be able to feel this energy. Wave after wave was now pulsing through Dumbledore's core, and he grew worried. He needed to find who was experiencing this pain.
Hermione cast a silencing charm on the door, as she watched her Potions master break down. She had no idea what to do. Snape had now collapsed on the floor sobbing, and Hermione knew he was embracing feelings that had been bottled up for a long time. She knelt down beside him, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, then pulled him into a hug. After a while, Snape began to calm himself. Hermione heard the door open once more and looked up to find Albus Dumbledore, looking troubled.
Albus Dumbledore was shocked. He did expect this moment from Severus Snape. After the loss of Lily it was only to be expected, but he did not expect it to be like this. Not in front of a student, nor this magnitude. He did not realise the situation was this bad. Hermione was still holding Snape, who was shaking from the loss of energy. Snape did not seem to notice that Dumbledore was in the room, but he clung to Hermione's robes like a child might do to a mother's.
Dumbledore handed a goblet to Hermione and indicated Snape should drink it. Hermione put the goblet to Snape's lips and he drank it, falling asleep after doing so. Hermione gently placed his head on the floor and stood up, looking at Dumbledore. "I suggest you go up to my office and wait there for me. The password is 'pumpkin pasties.'"
Hermione walked along the corridors, thinking about what had happened. She began to fully appreciate the pain that Snape had. This explained why he was so sour. She hoped Dumbledore would be able to heal him. No one deserved that pain. She stepped into Dumbledore's office and sat down in the chair opposite his. She head the door open, and Dumbledore came in, looking grave. He sat down. "Professor Snape has been taken to 's, to replenish his magic energy."
"Will he be alright?" Hermione asked.
Dumbledore nodded. "Forgive me but I must ask, what was Professor Snape talking about before he broke down?"
Hermione told him and Dumbledore nodded. "I knew this time would come. Professor Snape was in love, and the girl died. He blames himself. I am asking you not to repeat what happened tonight to anyone."
Hermione nodded. "I understand Professor."
She took this as her cue to leave. She headed up to the Gryffindor tower and went to bed. She began to think about how Snape might be feeling. She felt sorry for him, lying in a bed in St. Mungo's all alone. He didn't deserve that! To have had a great emotional upheaval and Dumbledore sent him to a hospital alone. Hermione began to grow angry thinking about it.