"I will always love you Charlotte."

"But George... how can you love me when you won't remember who I am?"

"You will always be in my heart..."

"But how? I'll never be more then a stranger to you ever again."

"I'll find a way; you mean everything to me."

"Oh George!"

Hermione howled into her tissue and wiped the tears from her eyes to see the screen better. George and Charlotte kissed passionately in the middle of the pine forest, her hands clumsily pushing his top hat from his head and his fingers curling in her full skirts. The light from the screen danced around her living room, reflecting off of the glass fronts of the picture frames hanging on the wall behind her sofa. Hermione cried out again and held the tissue to her mouth, trying to smother the unladylike noise before giving in and letting the sobs wrack her body. It was just so sad! She may have seen the ancient black and white film more times then she cared to remember but this moment of utter despair always got to her. Hermione pulled her legs out from under herself and picked her hot chocolate up from the floor, taking a tentative sip.

"Charlotte, it's time." Hermione's sobs reached epic proportions as George pulled himself from Charlotte's arms and turned to stare at the horizon.

"Oh George. Please. You can't leave. We'll think of something; we always think of something." George shook his head sadly and picked up his cane from the ground.

"You are my everything, Charlotte. I can't let you..."

"So this is your girls' night out?" Hermione screamed and jumped up from the couch. Her chipped mug of hot chocolate arched through the air, the brown liquid spiralling towards her as it was freed from it's china prison. The cooled drink slashed across her lavender pyjama bottoms and 'weird sisters' night shirt, drenching her skin and hair. Charlotte and George continued to love each other quietly in the corner of the room. With horror Hermione reached up and felt the damp curls trapped in her favourite blue hair band. Severus watched her with one eyebrow cocked in amusement as he leant against the door frame to her living room. He had been suspicious when Hermione refused to see him and it seemed his curiosity had been very called for. Hermione bit the inside of her mouth awkwardly as he began to prowl towards her. Her messy, Friday-night-in pyjamas, red rimmed eyes and flushed cheeks were making her self-conscious. Severus' face was impassive and Hermione glanced into his eyes trying to see whether he was angry or not. Her t-shirt was suddenly lifted over her head and Severus was kissing her like it was the last thing he would ever do. So he... wasn't angry?

"Sever...?"

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." Severus said slowly in-between frantic butterfly kisses. The comment stung sharply at Hermione's pride and she pulled away from him quickly.

"No, we need to talk..." Severus stroked warm fingers across her bare stomach, ignoring her protests.

"No, we need to go to your bedroom." Hermione shook her head, trying to shake off the fuzz inside her that always fizzled in her ears around him. She laid her hands gently on Severus' shoulders and pushed him lightly away. Severus cocked one eyebrow at her lazily and crossed his arms, watching her through waiting black eyes.

"Why are you so ashamed of me?" Severus's look of disdain made Hermione's shoulders feel tight and uncomfortable. She ducked her head and stared at the threadbare rug they were standing on. The raspberry rug had been a find in a small muggle village's second hand shop. Severus absolutely hated it but Hermione refused to move it to another room when he came around.

Suddenly, Hermione was tugged slowly into thin arms. Severus pulled her hair out it's hair band with one hand and lifted her face with the other so he could watch her eyes.

"I'm not." Spindly, potion stained fingers began to run through her curls absent-mindedly, they twisted around the pale appendages until Severus had a hand-full of wild, brown, hot chocolate soaked curls. He began to walk them backwards, still trapped together in his arms. "You know, you shouldn't lie to me about where you're going..." The clouds in her head began to lift again and Hermione tried to pull away slightly.

"Why shouldn't I? When i'm not even allowed to tell anyone you're my... boyfriend." Hermione watched Severus' face twist into a sneer.

"I'm 41-years-old. I'd hardly call myself your boyfriend." They had paused on the very edge of her raspberry rug and Severus' destination – her bedroom – was only a few feet away. Hermione struggled in his arms, now wanting to be distracted by stroking fingers and kisses.

"Then what are you?" she choked out as she fought against his hold. Severus raised an eyebrow and adjusted his hold on her so she could lean back and study his face. Severus moved closer for another kiss, deciding that this conversation was dangerous and that it would be better to distract her completely. "Severus stop!"

"What is wrong with you tonight?" Severus yelled down at her. Hermione blinked in the aftermath of his anger and slipped out of his loosened grip. Severus stood in shock as she ran to the fireplace and disappeared through the floo.

Seconds later Hermione tumbled out of the small hearth in Tonks and Remus' homely kitchen.

"I changed my mind." she choked out at the couple drinking tea, tears beginning to slide down her cheeks.

-

With her eyes closed Hermione sat at the small stool in front of Tonks' dressing table. Various brushes stroked her face as Tonks applied a layer of make-up to her tear-stained face.
"Promise me you aren't making me look like a clown." she said with a thick voice.

"Of course not, 'Mione. I'm just giving you a bit of colour."

"Okay... don't call me 'Mione." A comfortable silence spread out between them as Tonks told her to open her eyes and wondered off to find her an outfit. Hermione remained in front of the mirror staring at the small, curly haired girl watching her. No one would suspect that the neat, little thing had just had her heart broken.

Tonks suddenly ran back into view, waving a short piece of black material at her. The grin on her face told Hermione that it was the outfit she was expected to wear. She smiled back weakly and looked at the quaint little bedroom of the Lupin's. A half-moon shone in through the small bay window and the blue lamp on a night stand shone a weak light on the white walls.

Suddenly the urge to tell Tonks everything simply because she was so lovely became overwhelming.

"It's Snape." Hermione said in a quiet voice before she could talk herself out of the admittance. Tonks continued to smile as she laid the dress out on the bed and dropped to her hands and knees under it to look for some shoes.

"What's Snape?" she asked when she resurfaced with two large leather shoes obviously belonging to Remus on her hands. She smiled playfully at Hermione and held them against the dress. She had been about to make a comment on how perfect they were when Hermione spoke again...

"My mystery man." Tonks sat back on her heels in shock, one shoe-coated hand came up to support her face as she looked at Hermione in contemplation.

"Well I can't say I saw that coming." Hermione smiled weakly at her and stood up from the stool. Tonks moved with her until they were both sitting on either side of Hermione's outfit on the bed. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, the shoes on her hands making her look bizarre, but it seemed she had forgotten about them.

"Because he's an idiot and wouldn't listen to me." Tonks looked confused for a second and rested one shoe on Hermione's shoulder.

"Hermione? It's Snape! Flash him a bit of leg and you're in!"

-

A.N Sorry about the really long wait. I've actually had most of this done since the day after the last chapter but I've been putting off actually finishing it. I should be doing my politics essay right now but this seemed more fun. For some strange reason I love that shoe image XD

Only one more chapter to go. So I need some help with what I should do next.

A) Go through and re do all of my old stuff (not a popular option for me but it needs to be done but... so can't be bothered)

B) Think of an actual plot for my Bill/Hermione the ranch because it's enjoyable to write but it wasn't going anywhere so I took it down)

C) Attempt my new plot bunny of 18th century love between Hermione (the cousin/maybe just ward of the Weasley's) who is staying at the Burrow for the winter. Hermione seen as very plain and thrust into the background whilst Ginny is the flavour of the balls etc. Weasley brothers would make appearances but probably only Ron living with them. Harry visiting. Severus the rich scientist, the talk of the village, the Weasley's see it as a chance to marry Ginny off. Ginny doesn't want him and has her heart set on Harry. Maybe a forbidden romance between them. Adult Weasley's presuring Hermione to marry Ron (I know gross but cousins did marry then) but Severus falls for her instead. Haven't really worked out the kinks and it's only in the "hmm maybe I could..." part of my brain.

D) Do something with my drabbles. Maybe make it into a chapter fic of each drabble

E) DO some actual work on my original story which only has one chapter. No one would get to read it even though I keep accidently writing the main male character Cal as Snape :P

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Hope you enjoyed it.