Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling and sadly, I am not she. If I was, Severus would be alive, Lily would not have been the love of his life and Hermione would have been and they would have had tonnes of kids which would then lead onto a Severus/Hermione mini series!lol
Plot belongs to me.
Note: writing in italics below are internal thoughts of the characters/letter content.
Please review: it is appreciated. I've received tonnes of PM's and story alerts which has boosted my confidence lots, but I'd appreciate more in the way of reviews so I know if you guys like what I am doing, or indeed if you have any ideas that you would like me to consider writing into the plot. Not compliant at all to the books, so please don't feel the need to point it out. You're reading a Severus/Hermione ship…that ain't compliant to begin with so if you don't like the things I invent or twist within the story to suit my plot, please move on to some other story. I appreciate constructive criticism not pissing and moaning.
I am finally updating, I apologise for taking so long to upload, I've just started a new job and also recovering from a very bad case of flu…so here it is…finally! Enjoy.
Severus awoke feeling refreshed and unusually happy after a night filled with dreams of his lovely Hermione. He had worked out in his head before he had fallen asleep just how he would actually tell her how he felt for her. His original plan had been to slowly woo her and make a steady switch from enemy, to friend, to lover; but being within such close proximity to Hermione every day and every night was proving to be too much for his once steely nerves. Just a mere thought of the Gryffindor beauty had his heart beating out of his chest. He had even found himself looking for excuses to go and speak to her during and after school hours.
He had on a few occasions…encouraged…a few fights between his Slytherin and her Gryffindor students over the past week, so that he could be in the same room as her for a period of time as they reprimanded those involved. He knew it was rather childish and he knew he could not over do that particular ploy as Hermione was no bimbo…she would probably have guessed that something was amiss. However, if she had cottoned on and accused him of doing such, he knew he had the ability to deny it like the pro he was. Nevertheless, he knew that particular method was infantile and unfair to the students involved overall.
He smiled inwardly to himself as he spied Hermione drifting into the Great Hall for breakfast, looking slightly flustered. He felt his cock twitch involuntarily as she made eye contact with him before sitting down and her face flushed bright red.
What an interesting reaction from her…what I wouldn't give to see her face flushed like that in the throes of passion…but…I wonder what has happened to cause her to be so…bashful with me? She's never mentioned the almost kiss yet so I cannot see it being that. Since she is distracted perhaps I can gently probe her mind to see what happened to her. Severus thought to himself.
He made eye contact with her and smiled, almost innocently while he muttered, "Legilimens.".
He swiftly saw images of himself and her locked in a passionate tryst, Hermione in his arms during Lucius's capture of them and then the view flashed to her watching him at the Celebration Ball 3 years prior.
Oops…pushed a bit harder than I had originally intended. But at least now I am sure of her feelings for me. He thought while he was amongst her memories.
As he snapped back to reality he saw that Hermione was looking at him with angry eyes. Severus felt a horrible, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"You bastard, you used legilimency on me! How dare you take such liberties with my mind…so much for being friends!" She shouted at him tearfully before running from the Great Hall in a state of upset.
Severus had the decency to look embarrassed and quickly followed her out of the hall, ignoring the wide-eyed and inquisitive looks he was getting from both the children and the staff.
Hermione was beyond furious, how dare he look into her private thoughts, her memories, her mind without permission. The embarrassment she now felt was almost too much. He was supposed to be her friend and he betrayed her in one of the most intimate of ways.
A person's mind was supposed to be private, it was not supposed to be viewed by outsiders as some sort of Sunday Supplement! How could he! She raged inside her head before she left the main doors of the school and began to stalk towards the lake, unaware that the Headmaster was just steps behind her.
He saw it all! He saw how I see him, he would see the attraction I have for him. He will make a fool out of me…I shall have to resign from my position. That bastard! Urgh…actually, no…I won't resign, I've done nothing wrong. Fuck, Granger…what a fucking mess! He'll never want you…especially not now…mooning over him like some sort of fucking teenage crush! Stupid Hermione! Stupid!
"Hermione…"
She heard him beckon from behind.
"Fuck off, Snape." She sneered with a ragged voice.
"Please….Hermione….stop." He sounded so remorseful that her heart skipped a beat. But then the anger she had felt returned almost as quickly.
"Leave. Me. Alone." She growled out from gritted teeth. She wanted to walk on and leave him standing there like a prize tool but she was slightly pissed off to find that her feet had come to a complete standstill just in view of the lake.
Severus walked and stood in front of her so he was in her line of sight. Hermione, being the stubborn woman she was, averted her eyes and stared at the grass beneath her with intensity. She was determined not to look into his eyes. Not only because she was furiously angry, but because she felt embarrassed that he would now know that she was attracted to him.
She trained her eyes on the ground, watching her salty tears drip onto the grass below before she felt his nimble finger clasp under her chin and tilt her head up to his level.
"I am sorry Hermione. I did not mean…"
"Why!" She spat at him.
He sighed so solemnly that her eyes looked up to see his face, her eyes looked on his. She felt her knees weaken and her heart rate begin to race as she saw the remorse and sorrow in his expression.
"I am an old fool, Hermione. I…I should not have done what I did. It was an act of a desperate and stupid man who was eager to know what your true opinion of him was. I only hope that you can find it within yourself to forgive me. I'll understand if you never want to speak with me again but please…believe me when I say I am truly sorry."
His sorrowful, black eyes gazed into her angered, hazelnut ones, trying to further show her the regret he felt in what he had done.
She was not convinced. As much as she disliked being angry with him, she knew that she had every right to be so. She was torn between anger and the love she felt for him.
I still love him, the bastard. He looks so sorry, so sad but no…I cannot let him get off with this scot-free without an explanation at least.
"Thank you for the apology Severus but that did not answer my question…I asked you why? I expect an answer." She stood before him, face red, hands on hips and tapping her foot in annoyance and impatience.
Severus was certain he'd never seen her look more beautiful in his life.
It's now or never old man. His mind chided.
Hermione saw Severus close his eyes, take a deep breath and give himself a small nod.
"Hermione, I looked inside your mind because I saw that you were embarrassed about something and my curiosity got the better of me. I did not mean to delve as deep into your thoughts as I did, I had only meant to access what was on the forefront of your mind however…once I saw that those thoughts involved me…I….wanted to see what else you had thought about me."
Hermione's face coloured violently, she was now bright red verging on mauve. She kept silent and with her eyes told Severus to go on with his explanation.
"I lost control, something I never ever do. Or rather, losing control was something I never did before I…before I met you. You see…you have bewitched me; mind, body and soul. I saw that you first recognised your attraction to me at the Celebration ball three years ago and that was when I first realised how much I…admired you…how much I was attracted to you and more than anything…how much I wanted you." Severus swallowed nervously with a click.
Hermione merely stared at him, breathing heavily, hardily believing that the object of her love and affection was admitting his feelings for her…in the flesh.
"What I am trying to convey is that I acted out of rashness and I did not mean to invade your privacy. I can only hope that this incident has not caused the feelings you once had for me to…disappear, completely. I beg for your forgiveness…my love."
He looked up at Hermione expectantly and his heart sank as he saw tears begin to stream down her face again.
Oh fuck….maybe I misread her memories. Of course she doesn't want me…look at me. Shite on a stick!
"I'll leave you alone now Hermione. I apologise for this and I am sorry that my feelings are not reciprocated…"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" She interrupted with wide eyes.
Severus looked at her confused, "Um…what?"
Hermione stepped closer to him, her eyes never straying from his.
"How do you know your feelings are not reciprocated? Have I spoken yet?...Did I reject you outright?" She said as her hands lay on his firm chest, her voice decidedly softer to before.
Severus looked at her dumbly, unable to form words. His mind was racing, trying to process what she was saying. Could he dare to hope that she did love him as he loved her?
"Severus…" she whispered, "If it hasn't clicked in that large head of yours, I love you Severus Snape."
She reached up on her tip toes and lightly brushed her lips against his. Both parties felt the enormous spark that shot through their bodies with such a small, sweet kiss had caused.
Hermione looked up at Severus, awaiting his reaction to her bold move, feeling both empowered and absolutely terrified. She began to worry that she had acted too quickly and perhaps misread that situation. Severus saw the doubt in her eyes and it seemed to snap him out of the trance he was in.
"Hermione, I…love…you…so in love with you." He grabbed her around the waist and held her body tightly against his."My beautiful Hermione." He began to lower his head towards hers and his lips moved softly against hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss and caress.
When they both finally separated to catch their breath, they wore twin grins.
"Wow…" Hermione breathed, snuggling her cheek against his.
"Indeed." Severus chuckled, burying his face in her neck and fragrant curls.
Hermione moved away from his body to look him direct in the eye, "I love you."
Severus smiled a rare, genuine smile and cupped her cheek. "And I love you, so very much."
The couple cuddled together at the foot of the lake within the shadow of the twilight, very much in love.
a/n: awwwww sweet huh? Review please.
