Hermione Granger sat in a large room with two deep red chairs which were both currently occupied by her and another, a small side table, a burning fire set inside a beautiful dark brick fireplace, all wrapped inside cream colored walls that were barely visible behind the grand bookcases that covered all four walls from the floor to almost the ceiling. A large book, The Untold Stories of the Real Life Vampires and Their Unusual Magic, was sprawled across her lap, her eyes not really focusing on the words. Her hand was absentmindedly twisting her already wavy hair, her other set on the stuffed arm of her chair.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" asked a distant voice that sounded male.
Hermione felt a hand being hesitantly being placed on her own. She pushed the strand of hair behind her ear that she had been twisting for the better part of half an hour and sighed.
"Hermione?" his voice now raised slightly, the concern apparent in his deep voice. "Are you alright?"
"Hm?" Hermione blinked a few times, clearing the random thoughts from her head and squeezed his hand. "Fine, just thinking, that's all. Nothing to worry about," she smiled, meeting his slightly narrowed eyes.
"I see that… Well, mostly," he chuckled slightly, looking thoroughly amused. "What exactly are you thinking about?"
"Oh," she said dismissively, "nothing really."
The man holding her hand looked at her skeptically, but decided to let it go. The truth was Hermione did indeed have quite a bit on her mind. However, she did not want to worry her handsome companion who was still eyeing her carefully. She dropped her eyes back down to her thick book because she had a feeling that her caramel eyes gave her away completely. Either that or the man knew everything she was thinking. She smiled, thinking it was probably a mixture of both.
Hermione folded her legs more securely underneath her in the red-felt chair, trying to balance her book in order to keep it from falling. She squeezed his hand, glanced at him again before returning to her book and leaned her head against the pillow top of the chair.
"Would you like some tea?"
Hermione looked towards the voice, her vision a bit blurry. She had not realized her hand was empty, or that the previous occupant of the chair beside her had risen. He stood about two feet in front of her holding a larger silver tray with an antique looking blue and white teapot along with two matching cups and a small smattering of what looked like cakes. She blinked a few times, looking around she saw her thick book on the mahogany table beside her and smiled as she realized there was a small green throw blanket draped around her that had not been there before.
"I'd love some, thank you," she said, her voice a bit hoarse. "Did I fall asleep?"
A smile spread slowly, leaving small lines across his face. "Oh, just for a few minutes, you seemed to need it," he said gently, his eyes scanning her face. His smile slowly disappeared and he seemed to be struggling with something. "I do wish you would tell me what was bothering you so. You were tossing in your sleep and mumbling."
Hermione frowned slightly, not knowing quite how to put it. She took a deep breath and said quickly, "I just miss Harry, that's all. It's been just about a year since…" her voice trailed off as her eyes slowly filled with tears. She looked down, not wanting him to see the weakness in her face.
She closed her eyes tightly, trying not to let the tears escape, and heard him move. There was a light clinking noise and then she felt a warm hand cover both of hers that were folded in her lap as his other rose to her face and brushed off a tear that was sliding down her cheek. She heard him sigh sadly and put his arms around her, sliding her off of the chair and into his lap on the floor, cradling her against his chest.
"Hermione, it is okay to be sad, do not hide it, it will only make things harder on you," he whispered gently.
"I know… I just…. I just don't know what to do," she choked out. "He's gone and I don't know how to let it go." With that she finally broke down into sobs and he wrapped her more tightly in his arms, holding her against him firmly, lovingly.
"Shh, Hermione, it is alright. It's okay," he cooed into her hair.
"I'm- I'm- s-s-sorry," she wept, burying her face into his chest.
"No, no, my love, do not apologize. It's okay. I know you miss Harry, I know. I miss him too. But it's okay. Although I hate to see you so upset, it's alright to miss him. To cry for him. I know if the situation was reversed, I'm sure he'd feel the same and you wouldn't want him to be so miserable, now would you? It's alright, darling."
He said all of this while slowly stroking her now messy hair until finally her sobs turned into a low whimper, and finally into silence.
"See? All better," he whispered, kissing the top of her head, not loosening his grip around her.
"Thank you," Hermione said, rubbing her cheek against him slightly, feeling her lids starting to get heavy again. "I love you, Severus."
The last thing she felt was Severus' mouth curve into a large smile before drifting off to sleep, and dreaming once again about that painful night, nearly a year ago...
