Her hands shook.

Tears fell from her pale face as she reread the paper again and again but it just showed the same content before she slowly dropped it as she sank down to her knees.

The newspaper that now lay on the floor featured the headline about how Severus Snape—the war hero, the loyal spy, the former headmaster— her husband—had an amorous affair with one of his own students while she was away with her job in the ministry for the past three months.

It had taken all of her self control just to read the first page as she found out that he had accepted an interview regarding the matter which stated that he only took the girl's proposition for she had graduated and was not forced upon by the potions master at all. This fueled her anger even more since it seemed he had only agreed to the article just so he can clear the wrong assumption of him taking advantage of his position as teacher and was not at all denying of the fact that he had slept with her. She was further enraged when he had stated that he had brought her to his—their— quarters only after the girl had graduated and had only continued since then.

Her heart sank even further when she found out that the writer of the article wasn't even by Rita Skeeter. The Prophet had flooded on contacting her, wanting to know her comments and reaction. It made her feel even worse when the Quibbler was also able to post an editorial about the torrent affair.

Hermione didn't know what to say.

Anger, confusion, surprise, and sadness all plagued her mind of how, just how?

How can he—HE, of all people, do this to HER?

How did she not notice a guilty glint in his eyes when she saw him this month?

How did she not notice it happen?

Droplets fell as she began to tear up once more, feeling lost and sorrow grip her soul.

It had hit her with a physical blow as she read further at how he explained that he did it with the parents' knowing consent. They were apathetic and seemed almost happy with the sudden fame they were receiving as they stated on how they didn't care who slept with their child as long as she didn't get pregnant.

She ground her teeth in anger.

He said he loved her…

How can he lie to her?

She couldn't stand it anymore.

She screamed in hysterics—at her sorrow.

She wailed.

She cried for hours as she ignored the hundreds—now thousands—of owls that flew into her office that were probably from her friends and family who were seeking to comfort her. She ignored them all as she drew her knees closer to her face, feeling completely worthless. Despite her eyes that were fogged and misty, she noticed a black owl that was about to drop a letter with a very familiar spiky handwriting scrawled across it.

She immediately grabbed the envelope, and was about to open it—wanting to find an explanation—when a fresh surge of rage overcame her senses that she threw the letter along with the newspaper to the fireplace.

She let the tears fall as the items smolder away to nothingness.

When a few more silent moments went by she realized that she will not stand up for this. She will not let this—her failed marriage—bring her down and cripple her. Even if it was by Severus bloody Snape; she will not let him have the satisfaction of seeing what he has done to her. May it be that a wizard marriage does not allow a divorce; she has no intention of seeing him again—ever for that matter.

Even if she was pregnant with his child.

He does not deserve to know.

She took a deep breath as she steadied her breathing.

She made up her mind.

Warding her doors, she blocked her floo network making sure she won't be receiving any unwanted visitors as she began to clear her office. She stood on shaky legs as she began to remove the letters that he had sent her which started everything. She had brought them so she can read them whenever she felt lonely, and now she felt more betrayed and alone than ever. She reviewed about how he began courting her through these correspondences and how he blinded her with his poetry of how he loved her and would do anything for her.

She remembered how she used to feel so complete when she read his words, when she wrote to him earnestly, telling him her fears, and pouring all her love into her own letters.

It had made her feel complete.

It had made her feel happy.

Now she felt numb and rereading each one left a nauseating bitter taste in her mouth.

She took the special tin container that she had placed them in and threw them all into the fire without any remorse. She watched it in grim satisfaction as the case was in no time turned into melted metal and the letters to ashes.

Smiling bitterly, she resumed her work. She began to write her resignation letter on her desk as she wanted to avoid him. For her job, she didn't mind leaving it. It was a dead-end job anyway and she had other job offers that she could choose from that were mainly from different countries thanks to her intelligence along with her status as a war hero. She had at first had wanted to talk with Severus about them but seeing the…unexpected circumstances, she thought it was the best time to have a different occupation.

She began to pack her bags as she silently packed everything she had with her wand. He could keep her items in their— no, his quarters, as they were all replaceable anyway and she did not need to think of how to dispose the other items he had given her. She had just placed the note for her resignation when she noticed a glimmer in her finger.

Her ring.

With the warm fire, it glowed with an orange shade as it sparkled along with the light. She sadly remembered when he had first proposed to her and how nervous he had been as well as how cheerful she was as soon as she found out that she squealed with joy that she imagined his future with him as his—

Stop.

It was best to leave the past behind now.

He no longer deserved any of her futures.

Her resentment for him flowed back rapidly in her veins that as she took her ring off she felt so much contempt and disgust. If she threw this to the fire now, she felt he would not matter anymore. That it would somehow erase him from her memories and release her from everything that she had felt tonight. As she was about to throw it into the flames, a loud whoosh could be heard at her door.

She felt someone breach her wards.

'Oh no…'

She quickly grabbed her bags and was about to apparate away when a firm yet gentle hand touched her shoulder.

"Hermione…"

She sucked a breath.

She turned her head to look at him and smiled icily before replying.

"Severus, what ever are you doing here?"

He was no different from his usual black robes when it came to his clothing but she noticed that they were disheveled while the bags under his eyes were more prominent and his skin pallid more than ever.

"I…came to see you," He licked his chapped lips. "I wish to discuss about…what I've—"

She let out a dry hollow laugh before gazing at him fiercely.

"Ever so formal Severus?" She simpered bitterly.

"Hermione, at least let me try to ex—"

"There is nothing," She hissed "that I wish to discuss with the likes of you as you've made your intentions quite clear." She choked back a sob threatening to escape from her trembling lips when she tried to level her gaze at him. "Don't ever come near me again Severus Snape," She grabbed her bags. "Now… goodbye…" She bravely strode forward, wanting to leave as soon as possible when a pair of unyielding arms hugged her from behind. Her form quivered at the familiarity of the gesture. She closed her eyes, biting back the tears that threatened to fall.

'Steady.' She told herself.

"Hermione…"His voice rasped as though he had been drinking. "I didn't mean to…I...I'm sorry…" Gripping her tighter, he buried his face in her hair, muffling his words. "I had missed you so much these past months that I...I've wanted to tell you before all this happened… Hermione, please…forgive me..." He whispered brokenly.

Herbs, parchment, and sandalwood surrounded her, his scent trying to do its best to comfort her as she involuntarily relaxed from his closeness.

She loved him.

And yet...why did she feel so… numb?

"I love you so much Hermione…"

'No.' Her mind whispered, escaping the facade of comfort that he tried to provide for her.

'He does not.'

She has had enough.

She jerked away from him as a crackle of raw energy began to form in her as pure rage settled deeply in her heart and being. She brought her wand out as she jabbed it directly under his chin when he tried to go near her. "Did you know," She spoke softly. "That I had saved every letter you've written to me? Have I ever told you how I fell in love with the way you wove your words as if it were actually an enchantment that you've blinded me?" Her eyes finally succumbed to her emotions as droplets fell from her face. "Did you know that?"

"Hermione…I…" She raised a hand to stop him from continuing.

"Let me finish," She glared at him as he fell silent.

"I fell in love with you Severus… I truly did…and now, I've reread all of your letters..."She shook her head. "And I've been trying to see if…they were even true at all…" Her sight was filled to the brim with her tears that she blinked them away while her mouth trembled. "Did you really belong to me, Severus?"

She inhaled deeply.

Snape remained quiet but she can obviously see how his gaze was filled with pain at seeing her this way. She can see his hands that were itching to comfort her as if he could take the pain all back. She'd better get to the point before she broke down even further and give him a chance.

"I'm leaving you Severus…"

"Hermione, please…let me explain—"

"THERE IS NOTHING TO EXPLAIN SEVERUS!" She screamed with fury, her magic whipping dangerously in the air. "YOU'VE PUBLISHED YOUR SCANDAL IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR ALL TO SEE! YOU'VE PUBLICLY HUMILIATED ME, TORE MY HEART OUT, AND STOMPED ON IT! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?!"

She took shuddering breaths as she tried to steady her breathing, making her lower her wand.

He seemed to break as she stepped away from him as his hand tried to hold on to her.

"You can continue sleeping with any whore as you wish Severus, but let me tell you this, I am no whore." She spat out. "I've burned everything that has no use for me and you can do the same with my items in your quarters."

For the last time, she took hold of her luggage.

She had noticed his slightly outstretched hand and decided to hand him the ring that she had been holding this whole time. His hand tried to grasp at hers to which she flinched at and took it abruptly out of his grasp.

"Don't go..." He whispered weakly.

She would've pitied him when she saw tears fill in his usually calm eyes but all she felt was a sadistic pleasure on seeing him hurt as she was. He should've known better.

"Goodbye Severus, you'll never be seeing me ever again." She said as she glanced at him for the last time.

And with that, she apparated away, leaving the usually dour potions master shatter as a small whimper left his lips as he sunk down to his knees in the otherwise empty office.

He could do nothing but stare and let his world fall apart all around him. He held her ring tightly like a life line, knowing entirely well that this would be his last solid reminder of her.