Severus!

He was gone. She ran towards the gate, the direction he had gone. There, she saw them. His arms were wrapped around a woman with long, blonde hair.

"No!" She screamed with all her might, but it came out barely more than a whisper. It didn't go unnoticed.

Severus looked up and excused himself from the woman's arms, walking towards Hermione.

"Hermione, be reasonable. I don't want you to make this mistake. Why don't you come meet Emmaline? I'm sure you two would get along. You have a lot in common."

She still couldn't believe him. She said nothing.

He gestured for Emmaline to come forward. She smiled at Hermione as she walked up.

"Hello," she said in an almost too friendly tone. "I'm Emmaline. Severus and I met at a Potions Convention. You must be Hermione." She immediately wrapped herself into Severus' arms once more.

"Yes," was all she could bring herself to say.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hermione."

There was an awkward silence. Severus looked at Hermione impatiently and then turned his focus back to Emmaline. "Hermione is an excellent apprentice well on her way to becoming a Potions Mistress. She is very smart and has always been able to deal with anything life throws at her." He gave her a knowing look. "I'm sure she will do well should she remember that."

She could feel the tears coming on and her voice was gone. Saying nothing, she turned away. She could hear Severus excusing himself from the woman's embrace. It made her sick.

He was following her, but she didn't turn around. Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulders.

"Hermione."

She ignored him.

"Hermione!"

She looked away from him.

"Miss Granger, stop acting like a child!"

"So it's Miss Granger now, is it? Let me go!"

He wouldn't release her. His anger was growing and he began shaking her. The world went black.

Hermione was being shaken her from her sleep.

"Hermione, wake up."

She rolled over and looked at her husband's face.

She was surprised. "It was a dream."

"What was a dream?"

"Nothing, it doesn't matter."

"Hermione, what is bothering you so much? This is the third time this week. You were even muttering this time."

"What did I say?" She sounded nervous.

"You kept saying the name 'Emmaline'. Who is she?"

"She's nobody. You don't know her."

"Hermione, we need to talk about this. Who is she? Why is she haunting you? Why can't you tell me?"

Hermione didn't want to answer. She didn't want to tell her husband of three months that she had subconscious doubts about their relationship.

He's the one I want to be with. He's the one I love. He want to be with me. He loves me.

She had to keep repeating that to herself. Maybe then she'd believe it.

She sighed. "Alright, love. Let's talk." Even though I may regret this...

"So who is Emmaline?"

"She's the antagonist in the nightmare. She's a horrible woman."

"Why do you think you are having these dreams?"

"I don't know. I think maybe I have some unresolved feelings and fears."

"What can I do?"

"Just promise me one thing."

"Anything, love."

"Promise me you'll never attend a Potions Convention, Severus."