Turned out he need not fret at all. Hermione had run away the very next day. Her room cleaned out, not a single note to anybody. Should he be relieved? Should he search for her? Where would he start? McGonagall had met up with her parents but they had no clue. A search party was formed and he participated in it, keeping silent on the real reason she was missing. Only Harry Potter glared at him vehemently throughout the entire search. He suspected Hermione had told him and had him sworn to secrecy, hence his secret was still safe.

Harry confronted him after the futile search in a deserted corridor.

'Just what the bloody hell do you think you are doing?'

He wanted to explain himself badly, but caught himself. He was a Professor, he needn't explain to the boy. But then, he was a Professor, he shouldn't have consorted with a girl.

'Is that the way to talk to a Professor, Potter? 50 points from Griffindor.' And he was glad his voice was steady and its usual icy coolness.

Harry was however, less composed.

'To hell with points. Take them all! You know bloody well why she's missing. Are you going to leave her to handle this by herself? You should have known better!' And Harry drew his fist and punched Snape in the face. Strange how detached he had become to everything since Hermione's disappearance. He felt the bridge of his nose crack, the sudden rushing warmth of his blood filling his nose and dripping down his palate. He stood where he was, not defending himself.

'She said you regretted it because you still loved my mom! Well I have news for you Snape! My mother is dead! She's dead because of your snivelling cowardice! So why don't you spare your love,' he spat at the word, 'on someone who's very much alive and needing you right now!'

And with disgust written all over his face, Harry turned and left the Potions Master who stood against the stony walls.

Impassive.

Unresponsive.

Cold.

Unfeeling.

Coward.

Snape might as well have died the night Nagini bit him.