Chapter 7- Future

Present day

Severus Snape stalked down the hall, furious beyond belief. What the hell was happening to me, he thought savagely and with a hint of fear. He made his way up the winding staircase, which would lead to Headmistress McGonagall. Or Minerva as he called her.

The door swung open before he could knock. He strode into the room, hands shaking slightly.

"What in the name of Merlin is going on here!" He hissed sharply, his control on his emotions breaking. Minerva wasn't moved by the display, but amused.

"Surely you can see what's happened. Something wondrous." She said, eying him in a knowing fashion. Severus blanched, fearing her next words.

"I refuse to believe it. I would never- a student!"

Minerva frowned, peering at him intently. "Severus, you can hardly control it. You're both teenagers there, though I do wonder what she is thinking sometimes."

Severus was used to the disbelieving looks and whispers he received concerning his love life, or there lack of. True he had not been with a woman in many years, but he had relationships before. Ones that lasted 6 or seven months. Actual relationships.

But this farce with Miss Granger….Miss Hermione Granger deserved all those looks. Every single one.

Minerva continued, not noticing Severus' internal dialogue. "She must see what a catch you are, though I wonder why she is so protective of Harry. I can see that myself in the memories. One day they weren't there and then they were. She always knows where he is, and she really dislikes Albus. Harry was almost completely disrespectful. My gosh, the way he spoke to Miss Granger. It was as if she were his child sneaking cookies before dinner!" Minerva said, slightly appalled at her student's behavior.

"We never got the details of what happened during their capture. Two days they were gone and came back with three dead bodies and covered in blood, claiming to have killed their captors. I sensed there was much more to the whole thing, but who was I to ask." Severus said; glad to have the subject change from his…attractiveness.

Minerva stared at her friend that she had known since he was eleven years old. "They refused to speak of it. Harry more so than Miss Granger. She mostly cried and argued, whilst Harry flat out told everyone to-

"Fuck off. Yes I was there Minerva." Severus hissed, hating the feeling he had of unease when he remembered the days following their return.

Minerva didn't scold him for his language. She wasn't his mother, unfortunately. He would have made her proud, he does so anyway.

"Yes, but do you really think they murdered people. Hermione and Harry?" She asked skeptically.

Severus didn't hesitate to answer, "They did. Brutally." He winced, wishing he had left out the last part.

Minerva looked disturbed, "They spoke to you?"

Severus scoffed, "Hardly, but I'm a murderer myself, Minerva. I know the look in a person's face when they've ended a life. It's hard to miss for a man like myself."

A wave of sorrow hit the headmistress. How unfair this world was to the past few generations. So much lost.

"Well how is he fairing?" Minerva asked at last, willing the dread in her stomach away. She didn't need to think of such things.

"I'd say it's lucky he isn't mentally insane. I've brewed his potion, but I doubt he'll need it. All the test say he's pure wizard. He doesn't speak much. Sentences every few days. He hasn't said anything of memories to me and hasn't asked what happened to him. Poppy is out of her mind with worry. She says he could very well never be the man he was."

Minerva took this in, "Remus is a wonderful man. Brave. He'll make it, though I don't have any answers. He just appeared in the Infirmary, you say?"

He nodded, "Yes. One minute I'm alone and then he standing there, pale as a ghost but obviously alive. How does a man go from being dead and six feet under to standing in front of me breathing?"

Minerva didn't have an answer to that. No one did.

1977- Hermione's POV

Harry never brought up Bellatrix Lestranges and I couldn't bring myself to either. I had something else on my mind entirely. One, Severus Snape. Sometime I would catch myself staring at him in class, and he would catch me as well and I would flush. He would smirk and wink at me. It was all in good fun, right?

I feared it wasn't. What could I do? The Severus Snape I knew in my time would die before touching me, but the one here obviously wanted me. Dare I say it, I wanted him too.

It was just the way he was so passionate about everything around him. Whether it is Potions, charms, this theory, or that belief; I couldn't help but wonder how It would feel to be held in that light. That passion.

I could dream about it day and night, but couldn't explain why it was worth it. When I went home it would have been for nothing. Nothing at all. So I only went along with his flirtatious banter to feel good about myself. It wasn't as if anything could ever come of a relationship between us. It was laughable. Severus met with me every day in the Library, to study, but we mostly talked, a few lingering touches there, a few sultry glances there. I told myself it wasn't there, that it wasn't real.

But how could it not be when it was right there in front of me! I wanted to kiss the man silly, but I was living a lie here. This was the young Severus Snape and he knew nothing of my faults. Yes he knew I could stomp on a man's face without hesitation and that I could withstand pain, but a murderer and a torturer? Who would accept that? I assumed he himself wasn't either of those things yet.

I felt my face flush with frustration. I was on my way to the Library, to meet Severus. He was being teased constantly, but he never batted an eye at his bullies, only having eyes for me and laughing at them as if they were on the outside of some huge joke. In a way everyone was.

I went to my table and flopped onto the desk. I had basically given up my chair for Severus and spent my time sitting out our table, swinging my legs. It was relaxing and I…kind of liked how he stared at my legs for minutes on end. It was flattering and I liked that feeling a lot. Almost powerful. It had been a long time since I felt anything besides magical power.

I never thought I would crush on any boy again. I thought there was only so much pain a heart could take until it stopped working. Apparently not.

I rested on head back on the desk, lying flat on my back, still swinging my legs. I folded my arms over my stomach, breathing deeply.

Harry had approved of my friendship with Severus, almost encouraged it. No matter how appalled I was at his behavior with Bellatrix, his opinion still mattered to me, more than anyone's.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling just how tired I really was. Sometimes it just catches up with me when I don't expect it.

I opened my eyes and gasp when I see Severus' face hovering just mere centimeters from my face.

My heart races and I wait for whatever he's doing.

"What are you doing sleeping on a table? Wont it hurt your back?" he said, raising an eyebrow to tell me he thought I was crazy. I laughed nervously and sighed in relief and …disappointment. Yes that's what I'm feeling and it really stings.

I close my eyes again, blocking out his strangely startling eyes, "So? Where am I supposed to sleep in a Library anyway? On the books?"

He smirked, I didn't see it because my eyes were closed, but I could just feel it.

"I think there's a rule about sleeping in here. You shouldn't do it." He warned, mockingly.

"I'll believe it when I see it, Severus." I hear him get up, his chair, or rather my chair, making that squeaky noise.

He comes back moments later, laying a piece of paper directly on my face, and I inhale it. It smells like ink.

I opened my eyes and look at it. It's a list of the rules in the Library. No sleeping is number three. I looked over at Severus who's almost laughing at me.

"I wonder when they made that rule?" I mutter, obviously knowing I wasn't supposed to sleep in the Library. I practically lived there in my time, not to mention this time.

"Hermione, I think its common sense." He laughed lightly.

"Well someone had to do it for it to become a rule. And number three no less." I argued, finally sitting up.

He eyes followed me with precision and he flushed. I looked down at myself and saw that my shirt had lifted and my skirt had hiked up a few inches. He can now obviously see my naval and outer thighs.

And I liked it.

Severus keeps staring almost as if he's in a trance. I almost kiss him then, but for some reason I want him to do that. For six weeks I've wanted him to do something because I want him so badly and how can he not notice? I shift on the table, drawing his attention to my face.

"So, any homework to do?" he asked brightly. I shook my head, perplexed. He was so difficult. He frowned.

"Then why did we meet today?" he asked curiously.

"Because I wanted to see you and we don't always need homework to be together Severus." I snapped, sliding forward about to hop off the desk. He gripped my wrist gently, stopping me. He's distracted by my newly shone skin.

"Stop ogling me!" I snapped pulling away from him. I'm not really angry, but frustrated. Boys.

He flushes and grabbed his things. "Fine, I'll leave."

I pushed him back down onto his seat roughly. "Like hell you will." I snarled, but I hesitated.

"Why are we even doing anything together anymore if you're only here to do homework? I'm just as smart as you, I don't need help."

He flinched, but I don't really care. "I could ask you the same thing." He countered.

"Because I enjoy your sarcastic, witty company. I guess that was my mistake, wasn't it."

His eyes light up in a way I've come to love and relish in. It's like I'm the sun he's seeing for the first time.

"No, I just… I don't know Hermione. I'm confused." He's not going to say it. He won't say anything. My hope disintegrates, turning to ash.

"Goodbye, Snape." I said expressionlessly. He's surprised by my behavior. I ignored him and hurriedly grabbed my bag. I almost allow myself to hope he'll come after me. But that's ridiculous. He doesn't care. I don't know how I let my self be deluded into thinking he did.

I take two deep breaths once I'm outside the Library. A cold feeling settles into my bones. I've lost a best friend before, but somehow even though he's alive in the next room, makes it hurt just as badly.

I walked purposely to my room, refusing to see if he's behind me. My whole body wishes he were.

"Hermione! Wait!"

But I don't, even though my whole body courses with joy, I don't stop walking. His hand roughly spins me and around and he plants a kiss right on my lips.

He's so warm! That's the first thing I can think of. I dropped my bag and wound my hands around him, trying to kiss him as deeply as I possibly can. He's stunned by my enthusiastic response. I can tell because he froze and didn't know what to do for a second.

But then he's just kissing me, lighting small fires in my body.

He pulls away, "Well if I had any idea that's what you were after I would have done it five weeks ago."

Then he smirks.

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