Why had she done that? Hermione shivered. It had been dreadfully impulsive of her. It was unlike her to simply- simply kiss someone and run off… let alone her… But she couldn't help thinking about him.
She would never have believed such a reclusive man could be so passionate. She thought Ron had the emotional range of a teaspoon, but Snape wasn't supposed to have emotions. He was a surly man, and he never had a kind word to say about anyone. He'd always called her a 'smart-arse' or a 'little-miss-know-it-all' in the past; if he had ever felt affection for her before that moment in the snow, he had hidden it well.
Unconsciously, she touched her lips. Warmth – his warmth – still lingered there, and she suddenly recalled his hands tousled in her hair and the way his hungry, desperate eyes had roved her face. The memory of him made her blush like a schoolgirl. Though it was cold out, her cheeks burned as she thought of what might have been if she hadn't pulled away.
No. She shook her head and wrung her hands, feeling the familiar band around her ring finger. She was engaged to Ron. Dear Ron. Kind Ron. She loved Ron, his silliness, his gentlemanly manners, the way he looked at her whenever she said anything smart (which was most of the time, really). She loved the way he held her too, how he'd cradle her head against his chest and sing old wizard songs to her with his endearingly off-key voice.
She loved Ron.
But sometimes, she wondered if they had gotten engaged too soon. Ron had proposed 2 years after they had graduated from Hogwarts. It was a sweet, traditional affair; they had dinner with the rest of the Weasley family, Harry and a few other family friends when Ron got down on one knee and proposed. That day, looking into his eyes, she said yes.
Occasionally, however, she would wonder if she said 'yes' so empathically because of how much everyone else in the room supported their relationship. If she had said no…why, everyone would've been very disappointed. Molly, bless her soul, had taken her aside afterwards and thanked her for accepting her 'hapless, dolt of a son' in marriage. Harry couldn't stop grinning for the rest of that night. As for Ron, he quickly proclaimed he was the luckiest wizard in the world.
She remembered feeling happy. However, night after night of lying in Ron's arms, stroking the same ginger-furred arms made her wonder if she had missed out, if there had been paths not taken into more wondrous, exciting woods.
Perhaps that was why she had kissed Snape.
It felt dangerous. Thrilling. Intoxicating.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket, breaking her reverie.
1 new message from S. She took a deep breath and attempted to pushed him out of her mind.
"Hermione," she said aloud, "you're an engaged woman."
She strode off, heading home to the man she loved — away from the man she wanted.