Authors note: I was rather cruel to you last chapter, so I thought I'd be a bit nicer in this one, just a bit. Enjoy :)

Hermione

Hermione was sitting, her legs curled beneath her, on the sofa in her living room, eagerly devouring the book clutched tenderly in her hands. It was Wuthering Heights and she loved every word that she read. Severus had not contacted her and she had felt rather detached from him, considering that just recently she had seen rather a lot of him. That was what it felt like to her and rather than owling him as he would see that as pestering, she waited patiently for word from him. In the meantime, she still felt the need to be close to him and the closest she could be was through the copy of Wuthering Heights that she religiously kept with her. When she slept the copy was under her pillow, influencing her dreams with her taking the role of Cathy and Severus that of Heathcliff. Hermione had to admit to herself that Severus made a perfect Heathcliff. Although conventionally speaking Hermione should dislike Heathcliff, she had been unable to help herself from finding him immensely attractive which was, she reasoned, why she was Cathy and Severus was Heathcliff in her dreams. When she was eating the copy would be right beside her. When she left the house, the copy was with her. Even when she was showering it was close at hand, lying within hands reach. To avoid damaging it further she had of course cast a Protection Charm.

She could find nothing else to do that day so Hermione had decided that rather than just keep the copy on her at all times, she would go ahead and read it too. So this was how Hermione found herself, contentedly sitting reading eagerly, a glass of cranberry juice sitting on a small table beside her. This was a very relaxing activity for Hermione, not to mention an enjoyable one. Sadly she was wrenched out of this by the beginning of an incessant tapping on the one window in the room. Annoyed, Hermione looked up to find an unfamiliar owl. Her face lit up with a smile and she carefully lay the book down on the sofa before leaping and practically dashing over to unlock the window and open it. The owl stopped tapping on the glass with its beak and offered a leg out to her. With eager anticipation Hermione accepted and as tenderly as she could removed the letter before tearing it open. Her face fell as she saw the handwriting, that wasn't Severus' handwriting. At least, it didn't look like his handwriting. Once the letter was read totally Hermione was assured that it wasn't from Severus. He would never write this to her. She couldn't imagine him writing this to anyone.

Hermione,

Sweet Hermione. I have longed to tell you for so long, oh many things. You are the embodiment of beauty and grace. You have such a wonderful mind and a soul that is glorious enough in it's light and kindness to combat even the thickest darkness. You could so easily be perfection and I am so surprised, saddened and yet joyful, that no man has yet attempted to claim your hand. Never feel that you are not beautiful, for you outshine any other female who walks this earth. Your heart is pure and you have been through so much pain, yet still remained wholesome and the same kind soul you were before. Never lose that kindness and know from this day until you breath your last that I love you with every fibre of my being. I love you more than words or even actions could ever express.

Eternally Yours

Hermione was stunned, the letter slipping through her fingers and fluttering to the floor. She had never received anything like this before. No potential suitors had ever told her anything like this in person, let alone write it to her. Considering that she did not know who the author was of the letter she was more than inclined to feel rather frightened. The contents were not particularly threatening though. It sounded like a declaration of love and there were no suggestions of anything else following. So with this knowledge Hermione bent and picked the letter up, reading through it again. It sounded so sincere and charming, she had never experienced anything like that before. She had read of it and had dreamed of it, like every girl did, but she had never received it or thought she ever could. She smiled as she read the letter again and then that smile faded as she realised the truth of the matter. Whoever this mysterious person was, she would only end up hurting them. For they might love her but she couldn't ever love them. She was already in love, with Severus Snape. There was no use for Hermione to deny it. She may as well deny that the sky was blue for all the good it would do.

This only complicated what was already a complicated situation and Hermione could not help cut silently curse the world. It had taken away her childhood innocence sooner than it should have been taken. It had nearly engulfed her in darkness and destroyed her body and soul. It had broken her heart and now it offered to heal and break it again at the same time. It was not fair but then again, when did life and the world ever proclaim that it was fair? Nothing that existed was fair and Hermione couldn't see any way it ever would be. She sighed heavily and clutched the letter tightly, debating with herself as to what she should do with it. If she kept it, it could be a betrayal of her feelings for Severus. He would not care because he didn't know of her feelings except in her dreams. She would though. If she burnt it though, like she so very easily could, that would be hurtful to this mysterious man. It would also be the destruction of the only romance she had ever experienced in her life. It may be the only romance she would ever experience. Hermione was torn but not for long. She crumpled the letter in her hand then tucked it into her pocket. She would keep it, just so she would know that romance existed, in a way.

Hermione turned to shut the window then noticed that the owl was still there, standing on the windowsill watching her intently. She made a shooing motion with her hands towards the owl. Its reaction was to stand there, still watching her. The creature didn't even move a feather. She was annoyed and was about to try and forcibly evict it before realising that it was probably waiting for a reply from her to take back. Hermione stopped and bit her lip as she tried to think of what she could write back

Severus

Severus had written the letter, not realizing how much he was allowing himself to open up to her. Once it was secured to the owl and the creature was sent on it's way he realised that she would probably be scared senseless, thinking she perhaps had a stalker of some sort. So much for wooing her from afar, idiot Severus mentally admonished himself for his stupidity. It had been done though, so now all that was left was to wait and see the damage. The owl had strict instructions not to leave till she wrote a reply of some sorts and he knew it was obedient and would follow the instructions to the letter. To pass the time till the owl returned Severus had sat and read one of the many books in his library, a glass of firewhiskey beside him. It was a reasonable enough way to pass the time and he actually rather enjoyed it if he was being honest.

He had almost forgotten about the owl and the letter when it arrived back. Almost. When he heard the rustle of feathers he immediately discarded the book, caring little for it in light of the owl's arrival. It had a letter attached to it's leg and Severus hastily took it away, bringing the owl in and shutting the window. He hesitated for a moment before opening it and reading the letter, written in Hermione's wonderful scrawl

Dear mysterious man

Your letter was lovely, I haven't been given anything like it before and it was greatly appreciated. However, I feel that it would be cruel of me not to tell you to stop now before anything could possibly get out of hand. I am in love with someone. A wonderful man with a dark beauty, an astounding wit and intelligence that eclipses even my own. Unfortunately, this love of mine is unrequiented. How could it not be after all? I will not tell you who this man is; I don't even know you and I don't want anyone to know anyway. I feel awful for having to do this to you, but I could never feel anything for you, no matter if you wooed me, for I feel too much for this man. I desperately wish that he could by my Heathcliff as I dream of him and I his Cathy. Sadly it is not to be. Despite this, I cannot betray him, nor can I betray my feelings for him. I would please if you do not write anymore to me

Hermione

Severus didn't know what to make of this letter. It was a rejection, clear as day, and it hurt to know that she loved someone else. Why would she include a reference to Wuthering Heights though? Also, who did Severus know of who had intelligence that not only surpassed but also 'eclipsed' Hermione's? It had the potential to become infuriating. He would much rather feel rage from that mystery than confront the fact that she was in love with another. It was the story of Lily Potter all over again. Or perhaps not for Hermione claimed that the love she felt was also unrequiented. It was a taxing mystery and despite the destitute that Severus felt, the feeling of having his heart trampled on, he would aim to discover who this man was. If he could not be Hermione's love, he would at least make sure that the man whom she loved was suitable enough for her and that he would love her in return. He owed her that much but he didn't know why he would think so.

Unfortunately for Severus there would be backlash, which he only realised as, he stared into the flames in his fireplace. If Hermione had not burnt the letter, if she had kept it, and if she looked at it anytime other than tonight then the handwriting would change to his own. The spell he had placed only worked for a limited time. Then she would know it was him who had wrote to her and he knew she would question him and quite possibly drive him away from her life. Generally speaking, the objects of Severus' affections and love always drove him away and left him to lead their own happy lives, no matter how short they had the potential to be. He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair, silently hoping and praying that Hermione had burnt it

Hermione

The clock had just struck midnight and had awoken Hermione from what had been a fractured and very light sleep. All she could think of was that letter and it's contents. She lay awake in the dark, mulling over the whole situation. She could not keep it, she had to dispose of it and it could not wait till later. It had to be done now. She lifted herself up out of bed, reaching for her wand and casting lumos. She searched for the letter and found it. Or so she thought she had found it. This letter had different handwriting. This letter had the handwriting of Severus Snape and this confused Hermione to no end. She must have found the wrong letter. She started reading it and then dropped it the floor. There was no mistake that was the letter she had received earlier. That letter, the handwriting had changed. It was now Severus'

"It can't be. It just can't. Not. No. Severus" Hermione whispered to herself totally shocked. The evidence was there in front of her there. The letter confessing love to her, it was in Severus Snape's hand.