By Mykerinos
Confrontation
"I have to see him," Hermione thought suddenly. It was late, and although Hermione didn't wear a watch or something, she knew it had to be somewhere round midnight. She had gone to bed early, hoping she would fall asleep soon and forget for a moment what had happened. Instead, she had laid here thinking and wondering and trying to find out what exactly had happened, and what she had to do.
And now, this sudden, but not totally unexpected thought. Wish. Desire.
She startled. Desire? Had it got this far already? But of course it had. Doh! She had kissed him, for heaven's sake, of course it had got way too far!
But she had to see him, anyway. Now.
Slowly and quietly sitting right up, she looked around the dark room. Assuming Lavender didn't snor when being awake, the whole dormitory was asleep. Hermione quickly slipped out of her bed, landing on the ground softly. Using a silencing charm for the cracking, Hermione pushed open the door, and went out.
It was only when the Fat Lady drowsily asked her where she was going when Hermione realised the absurdness of this midnight stroll.
"Er, just going to look over something for the exam, tomorrow," she quickly made up, but the Fat Lady had fallen asleep again. Heaving a relieved sigh, Hermione continued her way, but this time a lot less sure.
What was she going to say? Why was she going there anyway? What if things got all out of control??
No. She'd only make sure it had been just a kiss. Because then she would be able to totally focus on the exams again.
Who are you fooling, Hermione?
Hermione jumped up in surprise. Those damned voices.
Well? Who are you trying to kid?
She wasn't kidding anyone. Was she?
You're only going there because you want to see him again.
That was not true! She just had to find out what it had been. Had to find out his thoughts on it. That was all, honest, it was!
She had arrived in the dungeons, when suddenly a high voice suddenly pierced the air. "Hey! What are you doing out here? Ooohh, I don't think you're allowed to!"
Peeves. Hermione looked up, and saw the ghost flying in circles above her head. He had an evil grin on his face, and Hermione suddenly felt scared. What if Snape heard him? "I'm a prefect, Peeves, you know that!" she whispered.
Peeves started to laugh a high pitched laugh. "I don't think Snapey-wozzy likes the idea of a student in his dungeons at midnight! Shall we call him?"
Hermione gave him a horrified look. "No- Please, Peeves, don't do that-"
"SNAPEY-POO! SNAPEY-POO! LOOK WHAT I FOUND FOR YOU! SNAPEY-POO! SNAPEY-POO!"
Hermione started to run away, away from the awful noise. She ran into the dark, bounced against a wall, and ran further, as fast as she could. Was Peeves following her..? She ran, and once again bumped into something... But it was no wall this time. It certainly felt too strange for that. These were no cold bricks, but... robes? She let out a small scream as she jumped backwards.
"Miss Granger?" the voice asked, barely able to hide his surprise.
"Professor?" Hermione responded timidly, being all exhausted and gasping for air. Her gasping was the only noise now that could be heard, and she tried to breathe normally through her nostrils. She ended up coughing loudly, having the greatest trouble to stiffle it. She was going to make herself all hysterical, she realised.
Silly girl, Severus thought. He could not see her, and that somehow made him nervous. "What are you doing here so late, Miss Granger?" he asked calmly, but with something menacing in it also.
"I-- I was on my way to - when Peeves - Peeves suddenly showed up, and he started singing -" She was hyperventilating now. "I all panicked - started running- and then I bumped and it was -- you!"
Severus stared at the darkness where he had heard her voice coming from, possibly only a metre away from him. He wanted to grab her, hold her in his embrace, kiss her again, but all of these seemed stupid and naive actions. It was irrational to do such a thing. It was unlike Severus Snape. But if he didn't...
"SNAPEY-POO! SNAPEY-POO! SEEMS LIKE SHE'S ALREADY FOUND YOU!"
Peeves interrupted his thoughts, and his plans. He couldn't embrace her now. Not with Peeves here hanging around. Too late. Too bad.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor for hanging around in my dungeons where you've got nothing to seek. Now get lost." Good she couldn't see the disappointed look on his face. Good she would never know why he had been up so late...
Hermione stared a few more moments into the darkness, still breathing much faster than she was supposed to. Good he would never know how she felt about this. She turned around, and ran away, hoping she'd be back in her dormitory the next day.
A kiss, both of them realised. It had been, and would be, a kiss. Nothing more.
A/N: How was that? Yes, folks, this really was the end. Don't go begging for a sequel, because there won't be any. I'm working on another HG/SS story, one with lots of angst, and probably with less weirdness... =) Really, I still don't know where that first chapter came from. Herbs..? Oh, come on! But anyways, thanks for the reviews ^_^ You know I love you, don't ya?
