The usual disclaimer applies. I own nothing and make nothing, and anything you recognise belongs to JK Rowling.

Sorry for the delay in getting this up. I had a bit of writers' block that I am trying to work through. Hopefully I can stick with posting every two weeks (or less) from now on.


Chapter 6

Hermione gently closed the battered copy of Catcher in the Rye and shoved it under her lumpy mattress. She had already read it twice, and was re-reading it a third time since she had not seen Severus in several weeks due to the weather. She had forgotten what day it was until the guard had announced his presence outside of her door. So I do have a visitor this week, she smiled slightly as she sat up in bed. Hmm...Minerva or Harry?

She quietly followed the guard towards the visitor's area, which had now become quite familiar to her. She almost let a smile escape as the door to the room was opened. It wasn't happiness, per se, but she had finally allowed herself to be at peace with her current situation. Five months of her sentence had now been served, and she finally felt that between having visitors and making friends with Severus that she would be able to survive until she was released. She still did not want to think of what she would do once she was free, but she finally had a bit of hope for the first time in almost six months.

"Hello, Harry," she spoke softly and gently smiled at him. "I had wondered whether it would be you or Minerva today."

He raked his hands through his hair nervously before speaking. "Professor McGonagall could not come by this week, but she sends her regards. Ginny does as well."

Hermione's smile faltered as she took in his nervous gestures. "What is wrong Harry? If it is about the denial of a retrial, Minerva has already spoken to me about that."

"No, it's not...it's not that." He looked down and couldn't hold back a sigh before he spoke. "Ginny didn't think it would be a good idea talking to you about this, but I feel like you need to know." He paused and nervously twisted at his fingers before continuing, "Ron is getting married."

Hermione froze in place and tried to take a few deep breaths to remain calm. She did not want Harry to see how much this affected her, and she made a great effort to keep her emotions in check. "That is-is," she paused trying to find the words, "Good for him, I suppose. He deserves happiness after losing so much in the final battle." She tried hard to keep the tears in the corners of her eyes from falling.

"Hermione, he really does still love you. But three years-," he stopped as she interrupted him.

"Harry, don't. Please." She took the edge or her robes and gently blotted her eyes. "I didn't expect him to wait, but I just didn't think he would marry so soon. Who-who is it? Please tell me, Harry."

"Lavender. Lavender Brown."

"Oh," Hermione spoke softly. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering their history. So when was she released from St. Mungo's?"

"Right after you were sentenced. Ron said that she is very different from when we were in school. She barely survived Greyback's attack, and she has a lot of scars. He ran into her in Hogsmeade about four months ago, and I guess they started seeing each other shortly after that."

She tried to smile at Harry, despite the tears, "I-I'm glad he is happy, then. I just wanted him to be happy-," she trailed off as her smile faltered.

"Please, Hermione. You don't have to pretend with me- I know that you both had talked marriage before the charges were filed. I know this must be devastating, but I thought you had a right to know."

At this, she finally started crying softly, and she leaned into her hands to shield her face from Harry. "I-I can't talk any more, Harry. Please. But thank you for telling me."

As he walked out the visitors door, she broke down and started sobbing.

-ooOOoo-

Hermione gently tucked the book into her robes as she followed the guard to the courtyard. Her teeth started to chatter as the cold air hit her. It was mild for this time of year in Azkaban, but it still was only a few degrees above freezing. She was very cold despite wearing two heavy robes, but she wanted to see Severus desperately. It had now been almost five weeks since she had last seen him, and other than the visit from Harry and a brief visit from Minerva, she was quite lonely.

She tried to look at the book as she waited for him, but she could not concentrate on the words. Ever since Harry had told her of Ron's engagement, she had been very depressed and had a difficult time sleeping and eating. She had probably lost what little weight she had gained back from her first weeks of incarceration, and she was sure that she had red-rimmed eyes from all the crying.

Giving up on the book, she closed it and tucked it back into her robes. She watched the gate, hoping that Severus would come out despite the cold weather. She was about to give up when she saw him slowly walk towards her, a book clutched tightly in his pale hands.

He gazed at her a moment before finally sitting down beside her. "You have been crying. What has happened?" His voice was soft, and the gentle tone surprised her.

"Harry visited me a few weeks ago," she paused and took a deep breath to try and calm her emotions. "Ron is getting married."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

She looked up at him, and noticed the concerned look on his face. This Severus was so different from the Professor Snape she had known at Hogwarts. Or rather, not really known, at Hogwarts.

"I-no, not really. I think I will go mad if I talk about it anymore. I really shouldn't be surprised that he is getting married, and I need to try and move past it." She was touched that he was concerned, but she did not want to talk any more about it and break down in front of him. She glanced down at the book in his lap, "What book did you bring today?"

"It is a collection of short stories," he pulled the book out of his lap and showed her the cover. "By Poe." He smirked slightly at her as he took in her expression.

She finally let a smile slowly creep up on her face. "Hmm...why am I not surprised?" She took the book from him and then looked at the index page. "The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher...looks like all the happy stories are included."

She looked up at him and saw a smile slowly form at the corners of his mouth. "You know my fondness of happy stories..."

As she slowly flipped through the book, the outside air had become colder as the clouds moved in, and a biting breeze had started to blow. Without even thinking about it, she moved closer to him and leaned into him to avoid the cold. He startled slightly, making her realise what she had done.

"I'm..I'm sorry," she blushed slightly as she started to move away from him.

"No...don't move. It is cold, and body heat is much warmer than these poor quality robes," he also blushed slightly as he spoke to her.

They started to discuss the book when her guard came to take her back to her cell. "Goodbye, Severus," she offered as she walked towards the gate. She barely heard his farewell as the gate closed behind her.

She smiled to herself when she realised that she quite enjoyed being so close to him in the courtyard.

-ooOOoo-

Hermione woke up slowly, wondering why the guard was banging on her door. It wasn't a visitor day, a courtyard day, or even a shower day. She had no idea what was going on, but she quickly got up from her bed as the guard knocked again on her cell door.

She gasped sharply as the guard came into her cell. She felt a quick prickle of magic before her body was sharply pressed into the wall, her hands and ankles bound as well.

"Long time, no see...Hermione. Or should I say," and at this, the guard stared at the number on her robes, "inmate 5273."

Hermione stared in horror at the guard that had pinned her against the wall. It was a face that she had not seen in over three years, and had honestly never expected to see ever again. As she gazed into the eyes of the guard, she realised that her life was about to become much more difficult.


A/N...Any guesses to who the guard might be? House points will be awarded for correct guesses :)