I shall believe

A.n: I am taking a break from all my stories because I have serious writer's block and my birthday is coming up this weekend, so I am not going to be writing for a while. However, this story has been running around in my brain forever and I absolutely love this song…(it's on the Roswell soundtrack and it's beautiful.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I don't own the lyrics to this song by Sheryl Crow. If I did, I would be rich and I wouldn't be writing this disclaimer…

I have always had a cold and dark personality. It's been my nature since I was about in my teens and young adulthood. I have never been open about my feelings, nor have I ever been warm and "fuzzy" to someone in my life. I have never known true friendship and never really had a one love that I saw as my "other half." I have never been that stupid to think that someone was out there that was meant for me. I could never stomach to feel feelings, but that all changed on one cold night.

A night that I was set free…

The halls had been dark and the candle lights flickered off the cement walls that belonged to the dungeons. I listened to my footsteps as they echoed through the shadowed passage that I roamed.

I was heading to my office after a night of patrolling the halls for loose straggling children that were either lost or too dumb to realize the time. I had taken about 80 points from Gryffindor and I was reveling in my success when I heard another sound echo up ahead of me.

I stopped and listened to the sound. It was light and muffled, but it was the distinct sound of a girl crying. I started to walk again, but very slowly and softly, carefully trying to sneak up on my final "victim" of the night. I caught a glimpse of an open door that had a sliver of candle light dancing through the crack. I smiled an evil smile and approached the door very quietly.

When I reached the door, I took the cold metal handle in my hand and pulled slowly on it and put on eye up to the opening. The crying got a little louder and I saw a bush of wavy brown hair that shone brilliantly in the faint light.

I realized that it was the school's insufferable know-it-all, Hermione Granger. She had her hands covering her face and tears were spilling out from behind them. She sat crunched up in a ball and was rocking slightly on the wooden bench that was supposed to be for big containers of potions that were in need of storing.

I opened the door wider and stepped inside of the small room and she didn't notice me right away. I stood with my arms crossed and I put a scowl squarely on my face. Ms. Granger sniffled a little more then looked up and gasped slightly.

"Ms. Granger? What the bloody hell are you doing down here at this time of night!"

She looked up at me even more and I saw the tears in her eyes sparkle in the soft light.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I-I'm very s-sorry…"

Her voice was meek and frail. I felt the curiosity bubble within me.

"Why are you crying, Ms. Granger?"

She gave me confused look and her head fell with exhaustion. I stepped closer and she looked back up.

"It really is none of your business, sir…"

"I will not be spoken to like that. Answer my question."

Hermione's eyes welled with tears and I felt strange. What was this feeling?

"I-I'm crying because…V-Viktor Crum broke up with me. He said he found someone else…"

I rolled my eyes and shook it with disgust. All she had been crying about was a little crush.

"Well, I don't see the reason why…"

But before I could finish, she had gotten up and wrapped her arms around my shoulders and she cried.

Come to me now
and lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
and I shall believe

The initial shock of what was happening didn't register with my brain. Hermione Granger was hugging me. She was looking for comfort, knowing I couldn't give any. I looked around the small room for anything that could help me escape her grasp, but I found nothing. She openly sobbed into my robes and I knew the only thing that could possibly work…I brought a hand up and started to pat her lightly on the back.

She sobbed some more and she clung tighter than ever.

"Ms. Granger...this is…inappropriate…"

"I-I know…I just…"

She didn't finish and she pulled away and straightened her robes. She wiped the tears from her puffy eyes and she approached the door behind me. I turned and watched her with confusion. She stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"Thank you, Professor. I only needed a shoulder to cry on…" And she smiled a teary smile.

My whole world shattered.

A.n: Okay…next chapter will be up soon. I know that it's a little fast, but who cares? It's a story for Merlin's sake! Okay, please review and let me know what you think!