Fate
Chapter 3
Astronomy Tower
Severus stood at the window, looking at the vast lands of Hogwarts. So much had changed from the time Voldemort came back to Harry killing Voldemort. He was thinking so much of the past few years that he didn't hear Hermione run up the stairs.
"Professor Snape?" He turned around and saw Hermione standing there with what he presumed to be the letter in her hand. 'So she has come to tell me that she doesn't want to marry me.'
"Yes Herm – Miss Granger?"
'He almost called me Hermione.'
"I received a letter from the Ministry regarding the marriage law."
"Oh?"
"Yes. It seems that they have paired us together. I wanted to speak to you about this."
"Miss Granger… I know that you and Mr. Weasley started seeing each other shortly after the war. If you wish to marry him, by all means, marry him. I will not hold you to this. Good day." She saw the sadness in his eyes as he walked toward the stairs. She called after him as he was walking down and followed him.
"Professor!" He kept walking.
"Professor!" He still didn't stop.
"SEVERUS STOP!" They had reached the bottom of the stairs when she yelled for him. He stopped and looked at her. She walked closer to him, put her hands on his chest, and looked up to see him staring at her.
"I don't want to marry Ron. He and I put an end to our relationship because we weren't right for each other. I also can't marry him while I love someone else, now can I?" He shook his head and started to slowly back away, but she held onto his shirt. She placed her forehead on his chest and breathed in his sandalwood scent.
"I… I want this marriage Severus. I want us to be happy. I love you." He had tears in his eyes when she finished. He put his arms around her and kissed her head.
"I love you too, Hermione. So much." He kissed her head again.
"Come," he said and he led her to his rooms.
When they arrived, he led her to his sitting room. He gestured for her to sit down on the couch and moved some of the Potions magazines off of the coffee table.
"Tea?"
"That would be lovely."
A couple of minutes later, he walked out of the kitchen with a pot of tea and two teacups. He poured the tea and handed a cup to Hermione.
"Thank you."
He awkwardly sat beside her and took a sip of his tea. He was about to take another when he felt small, dainty hands taking he cup from him.
"Profe – "
"Hermione, call me Severus. I do believe it would be quite odd if I were to call you Miss Granger, if we are to be married."
"Of course, Severus. How is this going to work? I'm a student and you are a teacher."
'She regrets her decision. I should have known. She was lying. No one would want me. I shall cherish these moments forever. I have to release her. It is only fair.' He stood from the couch and walked away from her. He couldn't let her see the pain he is in. It was too much to bear.
"Herm – Miss Granger, I release you from our engagement. You are no longer obligated to marry me as it is clearly you wish not to. I understand that I am not a desirable man and many people believe I don't have feelings. Contrary to popular belief, I do have feelings. I do not enjoy having my emotions toyed with. I do not need your pity."
"You don't have my pity Severus. You have my love. I find you very attractive. I think you are handsome, intelligent, honourable, and completely wonderful. I know you have feelings. I feel them when we are near and even when we are apart. I love you Severus. Truly, never doubt that, please."
"The last time I loved someone, I accidentally called them 'mudblood'. She never forgave me. She married someone else and she was killed."
"Who was she?"
"Lily Evans. Commonly known as Lily Potter." Hermione felt her heart clench at the mention of someone else he loved, who happened to be Harry's mother.
"Then I met a girls o much younger than me. She was so intelligent, beautiful; she was amazing. Brilliant. She had these two dunderhead friends that kept me from interacting with her. She is and always will be my favourite student. She was so brave. I fell in love with her. I doubted that we could ever be together. I nothing to live for until her. I made myself believe that she wouldn't want to be with me.
"My life was meaningless without her. Then, the Ministry enacted the marriage law. I could only be jealous of whoever she was matched with. When I was told that I happened to be matched with the love of my life, I was so happy. I was afraid of her reaction. Would she be disgusted? When she received her letter, I left the Great Hall. I couldn't bear it if she hated the notion of marrying me. We talked about the marriage law. We professed our love. I worry that I will still lose her to a younger, more able and handsome man. I don't know what I would do if she leaves." Hermione walked over to him, put her hands on his cheeks, and pulled his head down for a soft, sweet kiss.
"I won't leave you Severus. I don't want to leave you and hopefully, you won't ever leave me either. Severus, when I said I loved you, I meant it. I truly do love you. If you don't believe me, you can enter my mind and see for yourself."
He nodded and entered her mind. He saw all of her happy moments, sad moments, then, he saw the ones where she was in-class with him. He heard her thoughts. 'He would never be with me. I can only hope though.'
"There's more I want to show you Severus." He nodded and entered her mind again. He was shocked. She showed him the moment where she realized she loved him. When he pulled out of her mind, he wrapped her in a tight embrace and laid his head on top of hers.
"Will you stay tonight? I don't want you to leave. Besides, we have a wedding to plan. What better time than the present?"
"I would love to stay. Would you like to help me get some things? If we are to be married, I prefer to live here together than apart." He nodded and she lead him to her rooms.
A/N: This is my longest chapter so far. Hopefully you guys liked it. I love seeing a softer side to Severus, but of course, there is the darker side of him that I will try to incorporate into the story. I typed this chapter with a bandaid on the tip of my left index finger, and let me just say that it is hard typing with a bandaid on. I might post some more chapters for this story and my other ones this week, so keep looking out for updates. Thank you!
