The door remained closed. Hermione tried Alohamora on the door knob, but nothing happened. She heard voices behind the door, people speaking in quick, quiet voices. Raging, she slashed the air with her wand, crying "Stupefy!", blasting the door open. There, right in front of her, stood Ron and Harry. Harry immediately conjured a shielding charm, while Ron was cowering behind him. Never had they seen Hermione with such loathing in her eyes. The air around her seemed to crackle, and she looked like a bull ready to charge. Her breathing was shallow and, beyond her angry tears, her colossal feeling of sadness was noticeable. For a moment, nobody moved and the only noise was that of Hermione's panting. At long last, Ron peered above Harry's shoulder, behind which he was crouched.
"Hermione, I know right now you must be thinking that I'm the bad guy or something, but wake up, I know something's wrong-"
"All this time I've lied for you, worked for you, got you out of trouble..." Hermione's voice was low and dangerous. It sounded so much like Severus', it almost scared Ron.
"Hermione, you're not being yourself! Wake up!" pleaded Ron.
"...You've used me, Ronald, you've never loved me, you've never respected my decisions, either when I was with Victor or with Severus... You used me like a doll, like if you had control over me, as if..." Hermione felt her heart pounding against her chest, and tears were now flowing down her cheeks, but she didn't bother to restrain them any longer. "You've made him suffer... you wanted him dead... you're no better than a Death Eater to my eyes now, Ronald!"
"Hermione, calm down! What the hell are you talking about?" Harry turned to Ron, and when he saw him staring guiltily down at his feet, murmured "you didn't...", comprehension dawning at last.
"I'll teach you the meaning of pain, Ronald!" she shrieked, and at this, she whipped her wand towards Ron and, looking slightly crazy, yelled "Crucio!"
"Hermione, no!" Harry pushed Ron aside, but he didn't have to, for a wheezy voice cried "expeliarmus " and sent Hermione's wand flying away. She turned to find Severus, supported by Dumbledore, pointing his wand at her hand.
"Get away from her, you bastard!" shouted Ron, feeling braver now that his opponent was a half-dead man.
"Mr. Weasly, you have attempted to murder Professor Snape, might I add in such a revolting way I'm starting to wonder whether you really belong to Griffindor, so please, I must ask you to remain silent." Hermione had never heard so much rage and contempt in her Headmaster's voice, and maybe Ron noticed too, for his face showed no trace of outrage, but only shame.
Dumbledore carried Snape in his arms with surprising strength, and lied him down on the sofa, his expression solemn. He called for the boys to leave Hermione and Severus alone, following them outside. Ron stopped just as he was about to leave the house, lifted his head towards Hermione as though he was about to apologize, but turn back at the sight on the fury flaming in her eyes.
"Hermione", whispered Snape feebly, "I had to stop you from cursing him... you soul isn't yet as stained as mine."
"Why didn't you stay at Saint Mungo's, Severus?" asked Hermione quietly. "You knew you were too weak to leave..."
"I'm dying, Hermione... Nothing could've saved me, so you can't blame Mr. Weasley..."
"Pity."
"Hush, child", said Severus, but there was glee in his half opened eyes. "Don't go thinking like that. You're too innocent yet... I wanted to tell you, whatever you may have thought, I cared... I loved you..."
"I love you too, Sev..." Hermione sobbed.
"Now, now, don't cry, my angel, not now, not now..."


"I guess it's time for goodbyes then, Sev."
"Remember, 'Mione, say goodnight..." Severus closed his eyes with a sigh.
"Not goodbye..." Severus' hand, that had been held by Hermione, thudded to the floor, when she reached for him for a last embrace.
A few years later, Hermione didn't quite remember well what happened next; her memory seemed to have become all fuzzy like a badly broadcasted tv channel. She remembered Ron's apologies (which she roughly accepted), Severus' funerals (which next to no-one attended to), but most importantly, the vial Dumbledore had given her as Severus' last gift. It came with the message "To remember me", written in a spiky, cramped writing.
Hermione was brought back to earth when she realised she was nearly late.
"Come on, Sebastian, time to go to school!" she called out of her small kitchen.
"Coming mom!"
And there came Sebastian Snape, rushing down the stairs, his long greasy black hair falling over his hazel eyes in quite a handsome way, pulling on his black jacket, ready to start a new day.

THE END