"I have given this a lot of thought, Miss Granger. It is really for the best," Severus told her, as her eyes filled with tears.
"How can it be for the best, when it feels so awful?" She asked him, trembling.
"You are going to be an apprentice in Paris for two years," he said softly. "I will be at Hogwarts. Trust me. You will move on from the pain you are feeling right now. You will see that it is better this way," he told her as she hugged herself tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"And what about you? Are you not feeling any pain?" she asked him harshly.
Severus' face fell. How could he tell her that he was feeling more pain than he had ever felt in his life? Simply. He could not.
"Enjoy Paris," he said, turning to leave her flat; the flat in which they had shared many passionate moments.
Hermione Granger studied her luggage one last time. She was a fully fledged potions mistress now, and it was time for her to return to London. Paris had been good to her.
She hadn't taken a lover, though it was not for lack of opportunity. Many had come to call on her, but she just was not interested, throwing herself into her studies. At least that is what she had convinced herself the reason was.
When she arrived back in London later that afternoon, she decided to go to Diagon Alley. Unpacking could certainly wait. She had been away for two years, and unpacking was definitely I not /I how she wanted to spend her first night back.
She strolled through Diagon Alley, stopping in various shops, buying a few necessities, and a few books at Flourish and Blotts. She walked idly past Ollivander's, and, on second thought, decided that now was as good a time as any to buy a new wand.
The bells clanked as she walked into the dimly lit shop. Standing at the counter was none other than Severus Snape.
Her heart began to pound, and she considered just leaving the shop, but before she could, he turned around.
"Miss Granger," he said, face developing a slight flush. "You're back form Paris?"
"I arrived this afternoon," she said, voice trembling slightly.
His eyes swept over her body, and she felt a familiar old heat stir in her.
"How have you been?" He asked her.
"I've been fine. Paris was great, and I have a job lined up at the ministry. How have you been?"
"I've been fine, too."
"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Is it better this way? I mean is it really better?"
Severus' face fell.
"No," he said quietly.
"I didn't think so," she whispered.
He surveyed her.
Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to hold her. It was as if two years had not passed, but he was looking at the same woman he turned from the last night he saw her.
"May I buy you a drink?"
"Of course."