Said there'd be no going back
Promised myself I'd never be that sad
Maybe that's why you've come along
To show me, it's not always bad
Cause I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared cause my heart has been hurt so
It's true I've become a skeptic, how many couples really love
Just wish I had a crystal ball, to show me, if it's worth it all
Cause I can feel it, baby, I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go, I'm scared cause my heart has been hurt so
Yeah I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared cause my heart has been hurt so
And I've got to be sure, cause it's been so long
And I cannot take the pain again
If it all goes wrong
Falling For You
Several weeks later, it was time for the Yule Ball, and he was resenting the fact that Albus had somehow coerced him into attending.
He stood there, waiting for the champions to arrive, and then he felt his anger rise when he saw Miss Granger walk in on the arm of the man who had attacked her. There was no fear in her body language, no reserve in the way that she held his arm, no sign of unease when the Bulgarian touched her waist in an all-too-familiar way.
Watching the two of them carefully, he waited until she was outside getting some air, and then he approached her.
"Miss Granger…"
He was pleased to see her jump in surprise and whirl around to face him.
"Professor Snape? I'm sorry, am I not supposed to be here? I'll leave, I'm so sorry…"
She made as if to leave, and he surprised himself by placing his hand on her shoulder, stopping her from going any further, and he looked her in the eye, carefully delving beneath the surface of her thoughts to see her memory of her encounter with Krum…and found, instead of the memory, a faint trail of smoky and blurred images. She'd been Obliviated. If she'd been Obliviated, then her memories following the incident that had been erased would be muddled, and most likely not remembered very clearly, if at all. It was common with people who weren't experienced in using memory charms.
He broke the connection and saw her looking at him in confusion. Of course, he hadn't said a word.
Quickly thinking, he asked her, "Miss Granger, do you remember coming to my office several weekends ago?"
She turned her head slightly, as though trying to remember, and then vaguely nodded.
"Yes…"
He gave her a scrutinizing glare, his hand still on her shoulder. "Do you remember why you came to my office?"
Her gaze turning thoughtful, he watched as she wracked her brain, trying to remember exactly why she had gone to her Potions professor's office, and he saw her look turn to one of confusion, which he knew was from the incongruity of memories.
"Yes, but…it doesn't make any sense, Professor, because I wouldn't-"
He cut her off.
"Humor me, Miss Granger."
She slowly nodded. "Of course, Professor." She absently began to wring her hands as she verbally recalled what had happened. "I remember arriving in your office, thinking no one was there, and then you, uhm, yelled…" She gave him a sheepish look. "…And then I remember waking up on a sofa in, uhm, your personal quarters. I was...injured? At least, I think I was, but that doesn't make any sense! Professor, I think something's wrong because I can't even remember how I got down to the dungeons, I can't remember-"
He cut her off again, his hand lifting from her shoulder and pressing a finger to her lips as he put one against his own, indicating for her to be quiet.
"Miss Granger," he said quietly, making sure he had her attention, "I am afraid that you have been Obliviated."
She looked at him in shock, not quite believing what he was saying, but her astute mind quickly put the pieces together and quickly realized that he was right.
There was silence, and then she asked,
"Are you going to tell me who did it and what they erased? Sir?"
He looked at her carefully, trying to figure out whether or not he should tell her, knowing that tipping her off about what was going on might ruin their chances of finding out about what was going on with Potter, but then she surprised him by suddenly saying,
"Actually, sir…I'd rather you not tell me, if that's alright."
He looked at her in shock, but then she quickly explained.
"I've…I've had some feelings recently that what's been happening with Harry is…well, that it's more than it seems, and that someone is trying to get to him, and that whatever has been erased from my mind could have been someone trying to use me to get to him, to distract him from the tournament. And if that's the case, then I don't want to know what happened."
At that moment, for the first time in his life, he found himself truly impressed with the young woman before him.
He had only ever seen her as an irrepressible know-it-all, who regurgitated facts from books with no thoughts of her own, and he'd tried to push her by being as brutally critical of her work as he would an apprentice's work…but this…this was truly brilliant.
Hermione, (yes, he was willing to refer to her by her first name now) was truly the bearer of a genius mind, and more observant than he gave her credit for.
Finally, he said,
"If that is your wish, Miss Granger. I shall respect it…and I can say," he added cautiously, knowing that he would have to hide this memory from Dumbledore, "That you're much more astute than you are given credit for. Have a good evening, Miss Granger…"
He turned away, his cloak sweeping out behind him, but then he partially turned to look at her once more, standing in the snow in her blue dress, white flakes collecting on her smoothed out curls and eyelashes.
"…and, some advice…tell Mr. Krum to keep his hands to himself."
With those parting words and an enigmatic smirk that was more smile than smirk, he turned once more, he cloak sweeping out behind him yet again, leaving her standing in the snow.
Hermione stared after him, faintly realizing that the whole encounter had felt increasingly surreal. First, with his hand touching her shoulder, then his finger on her lips, and then a compliment! And then, most unexpected thing had happened…he had smiled. At her. He had smiled!
And it wasn't an entirely unpleasant one at that.
Having no desire to go back inside, she lifted her right hand in front of her to rub the left side of her neck…and she was surprised to feel a slightly rough patch.
She looked down at her chest and saw very faint white lines across her skin, leading in a diagonal line under her dress.
How…how had she not seen these before? How long had she had them?
Not realizing it, she was now sitting on the snow covered ground in her dress, the cold wetness soaking through the material, but she was so distracted by her thoughts, she didn't even notice it as it ruined the beautiful pale blue satin.
She absently rubbed her fingers across the roughened skin and then a small smile stole across her lips…
"Because I feel safe here…"
A confused look crossed his face, his eyes softened as did his tone, the tension left his shoulders and he said one word…
"Why?"
She continued to smile and then whispered to the empty air that lingered behind him…
"Because I know you'll protect me…no matter what."
Of course he couldn't hear her words, but she could imagine that the faint wind carried them to him inside, and she continued to sit there in the snow as her memory of their encounter came flooding back to her in one continuous rush.
As she remembered being bare in front of him, she expected to feel embarrassed, but instead felt a rush of heat between her thighs, and felt confused…but at the same time, she felt as though it had been a long time coming for her. A very long time coming. And she was able to put some pieces of the puzzle together. The reason why she'd said yes to Viktor Krum, the reason why she'd always defended Professor Snape to the boys.
There was a distinct similarity between the Professor and the Bulgarian Seeker; tall, anti-social, larger than average nose, low voices…though the Professor's was one that couldn't be matched.
She looked towards the Great Hall and lightly laughed at her predicament.
Oh, well, she thought to herself. It won't happen now…but at least it could in the future. After everything is over.
With that thought, she stood up and walked back towards the castle, wandlessly drying her dress, vaguely realizing that the material was still probably ruined. But she honestly didn't care, and suddenly wanted nothing more than the evening to be over.
As she walked back inside, she cast a glance towards the front of the Great Hall and saw the familiar dark figure talking to Professor McGonagall…and she smiled.
After everything was over.
PART 3/5
Lyrics by Jem
