Someone Like You
Chapter 1: Memories
Snape finds himself in Diagon Alley 19 years after the war has ended. Little did he know that he will bump into a person who played an important role in his past. How will he fair?
A/N: Based on Adele's song "Someone Like You". It just so fits my story line. Snape OOC. It kind of follows the DH timeline except for the fact that Snape had survived. I hope ya'll like it! Reviews are greatly appreciated. Rated T for safety.
It had been 19 years since the war ended... since Severus Snape had gotten his new life (with the help of a certain young witch). Out of her love for him, she was able to take away the poison going further in his bloodstream and heal a little of the snake bites in his body. Out of her love for him, she was able to bring him to the hospital wing at Hogwarts just in time. Out of her love for him, she stayed by his side for days and days until he finally woke up. As he opened his eyes and saw the witch before him sleeping, he realized that if it weren't for her, he would not be able to be there at that moment. And he realized... that he was willing to take another shot in letting himself fall in love again.
It had been 17 years since he professed his love for her. She had just started her apprenticeship under his care. He tried so hard to keep their relationship as professional as possible, but to no avail. The more time he got to spend with her, the more his feelings grew.. the more he wanted to scoop her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. And he did just that. Finally, she was able to tell him how she loved him more.
It had been 15 years since she had ended their relationship. She said that he focused too much on his work that he had forgotten her importance. He had neglected her. After some time, things have just been much of a routine: He would come back in his quarters already in the wee hours of the night after doing all his research and brewing his potions, and she stays in their bed waiting for him until she couldn't anymore and falls asleep. Still, he chooses to sit by his fireplace every night when he comes in, and only when he feels a bit of drowsiness does he go into their bedroom and sleep.
She couldn't keep up with that anymore. When she left, she had told him how much she loved him still, but she can't take how he was neglecting her. He was angry, but he knew she was right... and he let her go. Just like that.
Since that day, Severus heard little about Hermione Granger. She resigned from her apprenticeship the day after she had left her and didn't tell Minerva McGonagall what plans she had next. He opted to concentrate more on his work than try to run after her... even if that was the only thing he really wanted to do at that moment. He had missed how perfectly she fitted in his embrace... and how blissful it felt when she gently intertwines her fingers with his. Things had been so different since that day, and he just didn't do anything about it. Since that day, his life was full of depression and remorse... it was Lily all over again. And he didn't do anything to stop her... he just let her leave him. Just like that.
It had been 13 years and he was still the same old dungeon bat. He kept to himself more than he did the past few years. One day, while reading the Daily Prophet, he saw the news that Hermione and that Weasley boy are off to be married the next day. He felt his heart, or at least what was left of it, crush in to little bits and pieces as he read the fine print. She looked happy in the picture... oh how he wished that the reason why she was happy was because of him. But that was a long time ago, and Hermione has moved on.
He brushed his thumb in the picture as a tear drop fell from his eye. Out of anger and pity at himself, he threw the paper in the fireplace. He looked as the picture of Hermione was slowly being eaten by the fire until it what was left was only ashes. He had hoped that it would be that easy to forget her, like burning paper.
13 years had passed since that day. Another peaceful year is starting in Hogwarts. Severus was still living the same lifestyle: teaching students, brewing potions, nothing more. Life had been boring ever since, but he didn't care anymore. He just got used to it.
Severus finds himself at the Diagon Alley to buy missing ingredients for his potions class. He knew that this week was the time for the students to buy their requirements for school so he reckoned he had to come early in the morning to avoid the horde of students. He made his way to the Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, planning to buy a couple of bezoars, porcupine quills, vials of unicorn and salamander blood and many more.
While looking at a cupboard full of vials, the door opened and he heard a familiar voice.