AN: Hello! Here's chapter 3! We're nearly at the end, only one chapter left! Let me know what you think!

Chapter 3

A week. A whole week had passed since Hermione had bumped into Snape's mother and she still hadn't heard a word from her. What did that mean? Didn't Snape wish to see her? Didn't the kiss that she couldn't forget, mean anything to him? What the hell was she thinking? She was engaged to Ron now, she shouldn't be thinking about another man.

Ron…

She had rarely seen him this week. True, they were both very busy with their works, but so were Ginny and Harry and they were still able to meet when they were free. She huffed. What her and Ron had, was nothing like what their friends had. At first she believed that it was normal, people were different and so, also relationships were. But now she thought that maybe their relationship was different because their feelings were different. She had had a crush on him in school, for many years, but that was a long time ago. Before the war.

'Before Severus,' her brain said.

'Oh, shut up. Not now.'

'Not now? And when then? When you're married? When you'll have children? Forgive me for trying to put some sense into you'.

Hermione shook her head as if the motion would send away all those unwanted thoughts. Marrying Ron was the right thing to do. They cared about each other. They would be happy. She shouldn't think about a man who probably didn't even want to see her. She was able to overcome her feelings once, she would be able to do it again. With her mind made up, she put on her coat and she Apparated to the Burrow, for a long due visit.

"'Mione!" cried a voice as soon as she had touched the ground. She wasn't able to see the face of that person, but she could distinguish that hug everywhere.

"Ron!"

"I didn't know you were coming," he said after he had put her down. "Has something happened?"

"I just wanted to see you. We haven't seen each other once this week," she answered, leaning forward and kissing his cheek.

"Yeah… ehm, you're right. I'm sorry, 'Mione. I've… uhm… been pretty busy."

The young witch immediately knew that something wasn't right. Her boyfriend, her fiancée, wasn't even looking at her and he was scratching his neck, nervously.

"Ron, are you alright?" she asked, moving towards him.

Whatever was on his mind seemed to melt away as he raised his head and met her eyes.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, sorry. Come inside then. Mum and Dad are in Diagon Alley to make some purchases, Ginny is with Harry and George is at the shop. So the house is quite empty," he said, heading towards the front door.

As soon as she stepped through the threshold the familiar air of the Weasley home invaded her. Even when empty, the house was emanating comfort and love. Her and Ron sat next to each other on the couch, embracing after a long week. She could feel him moving and she knew he was about to kiss her, when a knocking on the window interrupted them.

Ron looked sheepishly at her and went to retrieve the owl. He was about to reach for it's leg when the animal opened his wings and flew towards Hermione.

"Were you expecting some mail, 'Mione?" asked Weasley as he sat next to her.

Hermione trembling hands took the letter that was attached to the owl's leg. As soon as she had freed him, the animal flew away, without even asking for a treat.

'What does this mean?' she asked herself. 'Is this a rejection and he's not expecting an answer?'

The young witch didn't know what to do. If she opened the letter in front of Ron, he would surely ask why she was corresponding with Snape's mother. If she didn't Ron's curiosity would get the best of him and he would persistently ask about it. Furthermore, if this was a rejection, she didn't want her boyfriend to see it because she knew that, as much as she tried to deny it, it would crush her.

"It's nothing important, Ron. Don't worry. Now… weren't you about to kiss me?" she asked, smiling at the boy.

Letter forgotten, Ronald leaned towards her and planted his lips upon hers. Closing her eyes, she tried to enjoy the moment as much as she could. However, as much as she tried, something was missing; something that came to the front of her mind in the shape of a lonely man.

She couldn't do this. Not to herself, not to Ron. It didn't matter if the letter was a rejection, she couldn't marry Ron, because she didn't love him. The man she loved was someone who she had thought dead for two long years, someone she had tried to forget. Someone whom she couldn't forget because of the intense kiss they had shared, someone that went by the name of Severus Snape.

Moving away from Ron, the girl looked at the floor.

"Ron, I…"

"Hermione, I…"

Their eyes met again. Both could see that there was uncertainty in the other's eyes.

"You go first, Ron," said the woman, smiling encouragingly. She had an idea of what he might have to say.

"I… I think we should stop this," he said looking at his hands.

"I agree."

"I know, I should have told you sooner… wait, you agree?"

He looked so confused, that a small laugh escaped her lips.

"I agree, Ron. I love you, I really do. But I've understood that what I feel is brotherly love. It's not the sort of love that Harry and Ginny share."

"Yeah," answered Weasley, scratching his neck. Then, as if the situation finally dawned on him, he began laughing and Hermione, realising that they had been trying to let down each other gently, followed suite.

After some minutes, when their breathing was back to normal, Hermione looked at her left hand and she slipped the ring off her finger.

"I think you should give this to a more deserving woman. Someone who is in love with you, Ron."

"Thank you, Hermione. I was so afraid this way going to be awkward. I wasn't really expecting you to feel the same," commented Ron, as he put the ring in his pocket.

"You and me both, Ron," answered the girl, smiling.

After some time, Ron's eyes fell on the letter by Hermione's side and, grinning, he turned towards her pointing with his head towards the parchment.

"Sooo, who is it?"

"Who is who?" she asked, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Who is the guy that is more deserving that me of your affections?" he commented, feigning to be hurt.

"Oh, stop it," se said slapping him lightly. "You wouldn't believe me, if I told you," she added quietly.

"Try me."

Hermione looked at her friend. Did she dare to tell him?

'Are you out of your mind?' asked her brain. 'You promised not to tell, girl. It's not up to you to reveal that he's alive.'

"Ron, I'm really sorry, but I can't tell you. Not yet," she said, fiddling with the letter that she had received. "I haven't even met him, yet. Not for a long time. I don't even know if he feels the same."

The boy nodded. "Alright, 'Mione. But promise me you'll tell me if something happens." The witch felt a hand on her back. "And, 'Mione. If he rejects you, then he's a bloody fool."

The young witch looked at the boy sitting next to her and saw that he really meant it. She smiled at him, happy that their friendship had not been affected by their decision. Looking at her hands she decided that, no matter what, she would open that letter and see if Severus welcomed her presence or not. And if he did, then she would tell him about her feelings. She had hidden them for a long time, she would not do it again.

An hour later, Hermione was sitting in her bedroom looking at the unopened letter in her hands.

'Where is your Gryffindor courage, woman?' she asked herself. 'You've already kissed the man. What is a letter from his mother?'

Mind made up, she tore the seal and began reading the words that would determine all her future.

Dear Hermione,

I must ask your forgiveness for making you wait for such a long time, but it has taken me some time to convince Severus to accept that he can't continue to live in hiding.

As a matter of fact, I was able to make him see sense and he has accepted to see you, if you so wish.

However, there is just one thing that I would like to ask you, before you come. When I told you the truth about my son's faked death I couldn't help but noticed that you were extremely affected by it. What I'm trying to say is that if you care about Severus, then you're extremely welcome in our home. But if what you feel for him is only pity then, please, do not visit. My son, as you surely know, is an extremely private man, but he's also very sensitive and a false friend is not what he needs.

Now, in the envelope you can find a hair clip. It's a Portkey that will take you here. It just need to be activated.

Hoping to see you soon,

Eileen Prince

Hermione stared at the letter for some minutes. She couldn't believe it: he had accepted to see her. What did that mean? Did he feel something for her? Did the kiss mean something to him? But if that was the case, why didn't he say something after the war? Was he just acting like a good host?

'Stop it, girl,' cried her brain, stopping her wandering thoughts. 'He wants to see you. End of the story. Get your behind out of this room and go to him immediately.'

Right. That was exactly what she was going to do.

Gathering all her Gryffindor courage, the young witch stood up and, with a shaking hand, she activated the Portkey that would take her to the man she loved.