Chapter 9

Summer was coming to an end, how time flies, Hermione thought.

One week more and she would finally be back at Hogwarts and see Severus again. She still felt the hurt in her whenever she thought of how Severus just left without so much as a 'Goodbye'. Since that moment, guilt never ended to tug at her heart. Most especially since Severus had never answered any one of her letters. From her count, she had already sent 14 letters to him, despite her owl's hoots of anger and protests in delivering her letters.

She knew he was angry at her, and he had every right to. She didn't care in the least if Severus wrote her angry letters, she'd even welcome his Howlers for as long as he responded. His silence with the whole event had only made her tenser. Looking back on that day at the hospital wing with Ron, she wished she could take back her actions. Not only because Severus would loathe her for it, but because Ginny and Harry had informed Mrs. Weasley all too eagerly what had happened. The older witch squealed in delight upon knowing that her youngest son had chosen the right witch to lay his affections upon.

Using the Time Turner was most definitely out of the question. Right after she and Harry rescued Sirius from his dreaded fate from the Dementors, she reluctantly surrendered the Time Turner to Dumbledore as the elder wizard had explained to her the circumstances in the possibility that the Ministry would be able to find out she was in possession of such an artifact; it was a sure invitation for calamity, not only for her but for the people involved; namely McGonagall, since she was the one who entrusted her with the said item and Dumbledore, who had encouraged her to use it and even Harry since he was with her when they went back in time.

She shuddered to think at the consequences. The fact that not only was she underage that time, but it was an illegal artifact to be owned by someone, much less by a student. Her skin crawled upon thinking what could have happened to everyone involved if the Ministry detected foul play upon Sirius' rescue since he was in Hogwarts' custody prior his escape.

No, there had to be another way. And settling things with Severus the proper way by talking it out with him was probably the best option, not just right now, but for the other times to come. Running away should never be an option. Hermione settled with the fact that he just needed his space to cool down, being the stubborn man that he is. She just didn't know how long he'd be like this.

And despite his jealous nature, Hermione had to give him credit for his restraint the past few years. He was certainly not pleased in finding out Viktor Krum had made it known to everyone he fancied her by taking her out as his date for the Yule Ball. It wasn't easy on her part explaining to Severus when she accepted his invitation. She couldn't very well go with him to the Yule Ball; it would certainly raise more than a few eyebrows if she did and she chuckled when he stated he would rather swallow a whole jar of Armadillo bile than let her go out with Weasley; Viktor seemed to be a more acceptable choice.

As much as Severus wanted to take Hermione out himself, he knew well than to expose their secret, doing so would mean he would never see her again and it just wouldn't do for her to go without a date. But if she went with Viktor, that way he would be able to keep a close eye on her since the champions that night were literally under a spotlight. It wouldn't be long before one for Krum's posy would show up and whisk him away, and then he'll be able to have Hermione all for himself, which is basically what happened that night. He was highly amused seeing the Bulgarian Seeker's expression when Hermione was no longer where she was when he came looking for her. He somewhat calmed after she reassured him she had no feelings for the Bulgarian and sealed it with a kiss inside one of the carriages that parked outside the Great Hall.

But his anger bloomed in full again when she was the 'treasure' whom Krum had to rescue from the black lake. If Severus wasn't distracted by the fact that Harry had gotten one of his Gillyweeds, she didn't doubt that he would probably wring Viktor's neck when they made it out of the water. She had to double her efforts in convincing Severus that Viktor absolutely meant nothing to her and that the feeling was never mutual. She had immediately stopped seeing the Bulgarian, avoiding him at all cost despite his efforts. Although she was highly amused of the death glares she received from Viktor's fan girls; they can have Viktor for all she cared.

But if someone tried to get in between her and Severus, well…that was another story.

The fact that Viktor's residence at Hogwarts was only temporary was what helped calm Severus. Even after the Triwizard tournament and it was time for the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students to depart, she made it a point to spend that time in Severus' quarters to qualm his agitation with Viktor. It certainly did the trick since he was in a pleasant enough mood to casually rest on her lap while he read his copy of Potions Monthly that afternoon while they had their tea.

Hermione smiled to herself upon thinking how calm he acted towards the fact that McLaggen had also shown interest in her earlier this year. Whether it was his control over himself or just for the fact that she had shown him in more than one occasion her evident dislike of the arrogant and obnoxious Gryffindor Keeper either by jinxing him in practice or slipping his cauldron ingredients that were sure to sabotage his potion. It certainly amused him to know he also had the pleasure of punishing McLaggen with never ending detentions.

But now, she knew she'd done it. He had held his patience for far too long and knew she should be ashamed of herself for provoking him, though it was not beyond his limits, she would be just as frustrated as he is if he would ever bestow his attention on anyone else in a more than friendly manner. But for now, she would have to grant him the space he needed and just enjoy the company of her friends, since she had a few explaining to do to one red-headed woman by the name of Molly Weasley not to get her hopes up with her being her potential daughter-in-law. Severus had never raised a hand to her or pointed his wand at her despite his previous outrages, but she knew he would certainly be tempted to hex into next week if he ever found out Molly Weasley's assumptions.

Hermione was often invited to the Burrow, and when she would inform them she would soon depart, either Ginny or Mrs. Weasley would delay her departure. It seemed they were confident to bring her and Ron together. Whenever they made attempts to get them closer, be it leaving them alone in the living room or giving them tasks that only the two of them would do, Ron always felt awkward and found himself deeply blushing, almost to the point where his face would be comparable to his hair. Hermione however, was neutral and sometimes annoyed.

If they only knew.

All the while she was at the Burrow, she kept thinking about Severus and how she could ever break things and explain to Mrs. Weasley that she could not return her son's affections. She didn't know she would be breaking it to them sooner than she thought when Ron had asked an audience with her at the living room. The way that Mrs. Weasley had announced it to her in an unnaturally more than gleeful way made her eyes narrow with suspicion.