"What the hell do you think you're doing Snape?" He yelled.
I was completely at a loss to his behavior. "Keep your voice down, Potter." I said, walking back down to him. "What is it you mean?"
"Why are you playing around with Hermione?" He snarled as I moved closer.
I tensed at his words. "I do not understand what you mean, Potter."
"You know bloody well what I mean!" He growled. "Why are messing around with Hermione? How have you tricked her into following you around?"
"I have done nothing!" I exclaimed exasperatedly. What was he on about?
"Oh, you bloody have! Just because Hermione had the decency to save your sorry arse after the war, doesn't mean that she has any feelings for you. If anything the only feeling she has for you are pure pity and that's it, so bloody leave her alone!" He ranted, but I lost the words he said after a certain few.
"What?" I said, my anger and irritation quickly falling away. "She saved me?"
Harry growled again. "Of course she bloody saved you, you nincompoop! And just because she saved you does not mean that you get to use her any way you want! I don't want you to get the idea that she's like my mother and that you can just –"
"Potter!" I cut him off. "Before you continue, I just want to make a few things clear. I know that Hermione is not Lily! The differences between the two of them are innumerable. Yes, there are things they have in common like their smarts and eagerness to learn but, to be completely honest, I'm not about to go and fall in love with some daft girl!" I paused and Potter opened his mouth. "I'm not finished! I. I have. I have moved on from Lily. Yes, there will always be a place for her in my heart, but she does not consume me as she once did. During the time that I was in Voldemort's service I was unable to mourn her and what I had lost. Since the war has ended, however, I have mourned and I have come to terms with it and I have been able to live my life to some degree. And to get things straight, Hermione Granger contacted me, not the other way around!" I finished rather tartly, Potter in a stunned stance.
After a moment Potter finally said something. "You've fallen in love with Hermione?"
"I did not say that." I spat defensively.
"You basically did." Potter said. As I opened my mouth he raised his hands in surrender. "Whether or not you have, she is in a relationship with Ron. But… if she's with Ron… then why did she contact you?"
I shrugged exasperatedly. "I have no idea." I sighed. "Potter, let's get inside and have some tea. It's much too cold to be having a spat outside."
Potter nodded and we began to trudge up the hill. "When did she first contact you?"
"The week before last. It was Tuesday morning that I received her first letter." I said, not really sure why I was suddenly being so kind to this scrawny kid.
"That was the day that Hermione called Ginny and told her that she would be following her advice and going on a vacation of sorts." Potter snorted. "That's why she didn't tell us where she was going. We would've thought she was mad."
"And I wouldn't blame you. I was shocked to receive her letter." I said as we entered the castle.
"How many times have you met since she's arrived?" He asked, his tone even.
"Three times." I said easily.
"Have you two," Potter paused and I sent a glance in his direction. "Been intimate?"
"Heavens, no, Potter." I reacted.
Potter was quiet for a moment as we descended the stairs. "And would you… object if things were to get more intimate between the two of you?"
"Are you asking if I have feelings for her, Potter?" I asked, trying to avoid the question.
"I am only trying to ascertain if you have feelings for her or if you are just trying to get into her pants." He said bluntly.
"Oh." I paused before giving him my answer. Trying to figure the best way to answer. "No, I am not trying to 'get into her pants', however," I paused out of embarrassment. "I would not mind if things got more intimate."
"So you do have feelings for her?" He asked, coming back to his basic question as I opened the door to my rooms.
With a sigh I set the kettle on. "Yes, Potter. I do."
Potter sighed in return, taking a seat near the fire as it sprang to life. "You do realize that she's in a relationship with Ron, right?"
"Yes. A relationship she's running from it seems like." I said, taking the chair opposite him.
Potter laughed dryly. "I don't understand why she's unhappy. I thought she wanted Ron and to marry him and do all that stuff. And now… now it seems like she's turning her back on us."
"Turning her back? Have you been listening to her, Potter? The first time I met her since the war and I asked how things were going with her and her friends and it was completely obvious that she was not very happy with the way her life was developing." I said, wondering why I was deciding to be so honest with this boy, the boy with Lily's eyes. Odd that didn't hurt much anymore.
"We all were thinking that it was just the after-effects of the war and that she just needed time." He said leaning his head against the back of the chair.
"The after-effects of the war, five year after the war?" I asked, questioning his logic.
He grimaced. "Doesn't make much sense, does it?"
I shook my head. The tea sounded and I stood to retrieve it. I poured two cups in silence and handed one to Potter before sitting back.
"Does she like you, then?" Potter asked, staring into the steaming liquid.
I shrugged. "How should I know?"
"Well, she certainly seemed friendly on the outing you were on today." Potter said, taking a gentle sip.
It suddenly made sense. "You followed the owl after her. You wanted to know what she was up to and followed her around until you discovered me at the bottom of it all. You're the one who's made her feel like she's being watched. Let me guess, the invisibility cloak?"
Harry offered a strangled smile. "You caught me. I think I've discovered more than I care for, however." He paused. "You haven't answered my question, though. Does she fancy you?"
"Potter, I do not know. Yes, she's been kind to me and she hasn't outright refused me but she hasn't exactly professed her feelings to me, either." I paused. He seemed to want more information. "The part of me that fancies her see's that she fancies me in every move, in every word, but the logical side of me doubts it all. And, of course, there's the factor of my age."
He nodded. "You are a bit old for her."
"A bit? I could be her father, Potter." I said dryly, not sugarcoating anything.
He nodded. "It is odd." He agreed. "however, if we have been mistreating Hermione, then I want her to find happiness and whether that's with you or some other bloke or with Ron, then I'm going to do my best to support her."
I was beyond stunned. "You're serious?"
Harry shrugged. "I guess I am." He paused. "Don't take advantage of her, though, alright. I'm afraid enough people have already done that."
I nodded and we finished our tea in silence.
"Do you mind if I stay the night? I'll just sleep on the couch and I can be gone before you wake up." Potter finally piped up as I took the tea tray back to the kitchen.
"Of course, I'll retrieve some blankets for you. You don't have to leave so early in the morning, just, don't wake me up too early." I said, with a slight laugh.
In a few minutes, he was situated on the couch, and I left him for my own room.
What an odd day.
The next day, Potter was gone before I had woken up.
The words he had said the night before rang through my memory. She saved me? This girl, this beautiful, wonderful girl, who wondered how I had survived, had saved me? How? Why didn't she tell me?
With a groan I sat down on the couch. Why didn't she want to tell me? The few occasions we had met seemed lovely and she had every right to bring it up and to declare some sort of payment but she hadn't said a word. If anything, she tried to derail any hint in her direction by asking how I had survived. The bloody smart girl. I tried not to notice that I was smiling.
Part of me wanted to jump up right then, run to her, and thank her for everything she had done. The other part of me, however, continued to wonder why she hadn't said anything. Why didn't she want me to know?
Eventually I stood from the loveseat that was in my front room and got dressed. Once I seemed suitable, I walked to the Great Hall in silence, still wondering about that beautiful girl. I sat down quietly at the end of the table, trying to avoid all the conversation I could that morning. I couldn't tell Minerva, I knew that for a fact. If Hermione didn't want me to know than she probably didn't want someone unrelated to the incident to know. However, without her council, I didn't know how to broach the subject. Eventually breakfast appeared on the table and I put a small assortment of food on my plate. Once the small meal was over, I stood and began a slow walk about the halls of Hogwarts.
I almost didn't notice that no one was stopping to talk to me. Apparently I seemed ready to dock points from any house that dared stop me on my way.
If Hermione didn't want me to know than I certainly wasn't going to press her for information. I knew that. I couldn't intrude when I didn't know for certain how she felt about me.
How did she feel about me, though? How big was Ron in the picture of her life?
It was that single thought that kept me walking until the clock struck twelve. Before I could enter the Great Hall for the lunch meal, however, I was captured.
Minerva quickly pulled me down the hall towards her office.
"So?" She asked as we climbed the stairs. "How did yesterday go?"
"Sometimes, Minerva," I drawled. "You are no better than the students I teach."
She laughed humorlessly. "Yes, but if you told them about all the dirty things you did with Hermione, they would be scarred for life. I, on the other hand, rather enjoy it."
"Minerva, I've told you before, nothing has happened!" I scolded her, hoping it would get through her thick skull.
She only rolled her eyes. "I know, I know." She said, pushing me through the door of her office. "So tell me how yesterday went? I wasn't able to catch you after breakfast, and you don't look very happy, so did it go badly?"
I shook my head and walked towards her fireplace. I came to a stop in front of it before replying. "It was wonderful."
"And? Then why are you so glum?" She asked, noisily taking her seat behind her desk.
"I am only wondering how she feels about me." I said simply. There were millions of reasons why that should make me glum so let her have that.
"Why are you wondering this with so forlorn a face? Did she do or say something yesterday to make you think this way?"
I shook my head, disappointed that she didn't take the bait. "I wonder after the famous Ronald Weasley."
Minerva sighed. "I see."
I only nodded. "Should I." I paused and cleared my throat. "Should I ask her about him?"
She sighed again. "I cannot tell you what you should or should not do Severus. I will only say that it may be the only way to find out."
I received a small note Tuesday morning from Hermione.
Sev,
Would you mind accompanying me to a play tomorrow evening? It starts at 7 and it requires formal attire.
Wholeheartedly,
Hermione
How could I refuse?
