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Hermione laughed at the timing of the knock and walked to the door. It was too soon to be Ron; the owl would still be mid-flight. She opened the door, and there stood Neville. He pushed his way into her rooms and Hermione closed the door.
"Hello Professor Snape, sir." Neville nodded his head towards Severus. Severus knew Hermione had no idea about the goings on.
"Longbottom, how many times must we go through this? You are a professor now, and as much as I may dislike it, you are to refer to me as Severus…hell I'll make it easy on you…just call me Snape." Severus stood staring at Neville.
"Yes, sir…I mean…ok Snape." Neville nodded quickly and turned to face Hermione. "I heard the students saying the two of you were holding hands in the hallway. Is that true?"
"So what if it is?" Hermione asked raising her eyebrow.
"Hermione!?" Neville exclaimed. "What do you mean? You're engaged to Ron! And…it's creepy," He scrunched his face and turned to Severus. "No offense, sir."
"No, by all means please continue." Severus gestured towards Hermione eager to hear her response.
"What business is it of yours, what I do?" Hermione asked her hands sitting on her hips.
"You're my friend, and Ron's my friend." Neville replied.
"Oh, Ron's your friend?" Hermione asked her voice was heavy with attitude.
"Yes, he is." Neville nodded.
"When's the last time the two of you hung out? When's the last time he even sent you an owl?" Hermione replied. Neville looked to the floor and shuffled his foot, he didn't respond. "That's what I thought. I'm your friend, I actually talk to you. I care about what's going on with you. Harry is Ron's friend. You are his backup friend; you know the go to guy if Harry is busy."
"Yeah, well…he's still my friend. Are you ok, Hermione? You're not acting like yourself at all." Neville shook his head again.
"I'm fine, now leave please." Hermione pointed to the door.
"But you are going to let Snape stay?" Neville asked as his voice jumped an octave higher.
"Yes." Hermione replied simply.
"You never answered my question." Neville attempted to delay.
"What do you want me to say, Neville? Yes, I was holding his hand." Hermione threw her hands up into the air.
"Why?" Neville made a face as if he was disgusted.
"I love him, that's why. Does that answer satisfy you?" Hermione shrieked. Neville turned to Severus.
"I'm not going to sit back and let you just steal my mates girl! I'll….I'll…fight you." Neville balled up his fists in front of him. Severus rolled his eyes.
"Firstly, Neville Longbottom, I am not property. I do not belong to Ronald Weasley. Secondly, you're going to fight him? Really? We're not first years Neville, Dumbledore isn't going to give you ten points for growing a pair. There's no friendship house cup, get out!" Hermione shoved him towards her door. Neville stammered as she pushed him out into the hall, and slammed the door. She was seething when she turned back to Severus.
"That was brilliant." Severus smirked, causing Hermione's anger to fall away. She laughed.
"He deserved it." Hermione shrugged. "I just want to be alone, with you." She walked back over to Severus and pulled him down to kiss her again.
"I want to be alone with you as well. Hermione, as much as I am going to hate the taste of the words that I am about to utter, I must say this. I would prefer if you would break things off with Weasley before anything transpires between us. I dislike the boy…man…but he does deserve a small amount of respect in this matter. It is not his doing that we are in the situation we are in." Severus spoke softly, as he gently played with one of her curls. She sighed.
"You're right."
"Indeed." Severus replied. "I was not joking earlier. Longbottom was made aware quickly, I assure you Weasley will come, tonight."
"Let him come." Hermione raised her eyebrow. "I'll tell him tonight then."
"I will go to my rooms, you can find me there when you are finished." Severus used his forefinger to lift her chin so he could peer into her eyes.
"I'll be there." Hermione replied.
"I will be waiting." He bent down and kissed her again before he made his way from her rooms. Hermione ran her hands through her hair and sat down to await Ron's arrival.
She didn't have long to wait before she heard another knock at her door. She sighed as she heaved herself up from her couch. She didn't want to do this, but she knew she had no choice. Slowly she opened the door and sure enough, there stood Ron.
"'Mione?" Ron furrowed his brow.
"Hello, Ronald. Come in." She moved from the entrance and allowed him in, closing the door behind him.
"You don't sound surprised to see me." Ron shook his head.
"That's because I'm not." Hermione replied. "I knew, Ginny would send you an owl. She did, didn't she?" Hermione asked as she crossed her arms.
"Yeah." Ron nodded. "Why were you…I mean…Snape?"
"Yes, I was." Hermione looked to the floor.
"Why?" Ron asked as he made his way over and sat down on her couch. He held the palms of his hands out to the fire that was roaring in front of him.
"There's no easy way to say this…"Hermione walked over and handed him his ring back. "I can't marry you."
"What?" Ron furrowed his brow as he looked from the ring back to Hermione.
"I can't marry you Ron. I can't explain everything, I'm just not the Hermione you fell in love with." Hermione sighed.
"What do you mean? Of course you are!" Ron stood up quickly.
"No, I'm really not. I'm sorry Ron, I really am. I don't want to hurt you, but no matter what I do someone would get hurt and it was either you or me. To be truthful, I've had a lifetime of hurt over the past few months, and I refuse to be hurting anymore." Hermione bit her lip.
"I'm sorry." Ron replied. Hermione was confused, but allowed him to continue. "I know I shouldn't have been so sneaky, it's just that well Mum and Dad like you so much and after losing…well…I just didn't want to hurt them. How did you find out about me and Lavender?"
"Oh…Ron." Hermione laughed.
"What's so funny?" Ron scrunched his face.
"You are!" Hermione continued to laugh. "Ron, I didn't know about you and Lavender."
"You didn't know?" Ron asked.
"No." Hermione began to laugh harder as she plopped her weight down into the chair that sat near the couch.
"Then…huh?" Ron shook his head.
"You're in love with Lavender?" Hermione asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah…I am. Are you angry?" Ron asked hesitantly.
"No, Ron. I'm in love with someone else as well." Hermione smirked.
"Who?" Ron clasped and unclasped his hands.
"Severus." Hermione replied.
"Snape!?" Ron cried.
"The one and only." Hermione nodded.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exhaled. He looked back to Hermione. "Well, at least we acknowledged it now…and not ten years down the road, eh?"
"Yes, Ron. Now I hate to rush you, but I have a date." Hermione stood up.
"You have a date?" Ron asked as he stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"I do, with Severus. So if you would please…"She motioned to her door with her head.
"Yeah, ok." Ron nodded as he walked to the door. He stopped and turned back slightly. "Hey, 'Mione?"
"Yes, Ron?" Hermione looked at him.
"Friends?" Ron raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Yes, Ron…friends." Hermione nodded as he walked out and closed the door.
