I Love You

Disclaimer: Characters and song not mine. Am borrowing. Will return when I am done.

Author's Note: I haven't actually heard the song, but I saw the lyrics at a Stargate Fanfic site, and decided to use them. The song is 'I Love You' by Sarah McLachlan.

Severus Snape closed his eyes as he listened to the Muggle tape he'd been sent. His first impulse had been to destroy the thing, but on a second thought, he decided to keep it. The song ended, and another one began. He kept listening. The song was sung by a woman with a beautiful voice, a voice that made you want to stop and listen.

I have a smile

Stretched from ear to ear

To see you walking down the road

We meet at the lights

I stare for a while

The world around us disappears

Unbidden, the face of Hermione Granger came into his mind, smiling, as she had been when he last saw her, at Diagon Alley. She'd got a job as a scientist at the Ministry of Magic, and was picking up some supplies for an experiment she was working on. He'd ignored her, pretended not to notice her, but she saw him, and greeted him. He'd mumbled something and left, kicking himself at this lost chance.

Just you and me

On this island of hope

A breath between us could be miles

Let me surround you

My sea to your shore

Let me be the calm you seek

He'd fought by her side in the Final Battle against the Dark Lord, covered each other's backs, celebrated the victories, and mourned those lost, all together.

But as he returned to his normal life, he knew something was missing, and he couldn't hide it anymore.

Oh, and everytime I'm close to you

There's so much I can't say

And you just walk away

And I forgot

To tell you

I love you

Oh, he could try and hide it, but he knew. In the war against the Dark Lord, he'd seen another side of her, a side of her he had never seen before, cool, calm, collected, brilliant.

He had grown to love her.

And the night's too long

And I'm cold here without you

I grieve in my condition

For I cannot find the words to say

I need you so

He suddenly knew what to do. He took a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote:

Miss Hermione Granger.

You are invited for afternoon tea with me at three o'clock tomorrow at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.

I look forward to your reply.

Severus Snape

Oh, and everytime I look at you

There's so much I can't say

And you just walk away

And I forgot

To tell you

I love you

And the night's too long

And I'm cold here without you

As Snape attached the note to his owl, the song ended, but the last lines echoed in his head.

And the night's too long

And I'm cold here without you.

-FIN- 14 May 2005