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
