Author's Note: This is my second Harry Potter fan fic, so like last time please be nice. I don't know how clichéd this is compared to my last work, but I'm quite fond of this at the moment and I hope that others will enjoy it as well. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.
Special Thanks:
- To Laura, for being consistently demanding and exacting when I feel like let a piece of writing be finished when it most certainly needs a revision or two…or three.
- To Rob, for saying fantastic things about me and my writing and putting up with me at 2:00am while I tried to decide on a title. Thanks again.
Disclaimer: All the characters contained in this story belong to JK Rowling, not me...however much I'd rather it be the other way around.
Deceptive
By: Yoshida Megumi
I realize I've lost my mind. It's not to terribly hard to admit…at least to myself. I wouldn't dare say a word of this to anyone. I don't believe they would understand…of course that might have something to do with the fact that I don't understand. I don't even know when it happened. I've only realized just now.
But you, you've known longer than I have and you haven't said a word either. I never would have guessed. I would have staked my life on an entirely different answer, and I'd have lost. You're far more deceptive than anyone's given you credit for, obviously.
You're still staring at me, that look of utmost shock plastered across your face. Your brows raised in surprise at your own actions. You can't believe it either, can you? It's no wonder why; you never meant to let it slip, did you. You must have been hiding it for such a long time. I wonder if you'd have ever told me of your own accord. I wonder if I'd be blind forever, I think I might have been.
You're turning now; running away from me and my stunned silence. I think I should say something, but I don't know what. I can only call your name.
I'm eminently surprised when you stop and turn around. Perhaps you're shocked that I'd say anything at all…no, that's not it, is it. I can see in your eyes that you'd hoped I'd react. I find myself thinking that perhaps you had planned this as well; you're far more deceptive than anyone's given you credit for, obviously.
I'm frozen now. You're still looking at me with those eyes of yours, eyes so full of hope and trust. You always were the one that could freeze a person with a look. One look was all it took to make someone stop and listen to you. I realize with a sudden sinking sensation that I've never stood a chance. You've always been in control, letting me do and think as I please, but you're ready for the charade to be over now and it is. All because you let it slip. Just three short words.
I open my mouth to question you, but to my utter surprise and apparently yours as well, something else entirely comes spilling treacherously from my lips. "And I you, Hermione."
We stand some distance apart, staring in astonishment at each other after my declaration. I find suddenly, however, that my body is as treacherous as my mouth. I'm holding you now, and I know that I will never let you go again.
"Forever," I whisper.
"Forever, Severus," you echo back.
