Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry this took so long! But i just graduated from high school so i should be updating faster! :) Please review! i know this is a little short. The next will be longer I promise! Love you all 3

"Don't say goodbye like you're burying him. 'Cuz the world is round and he might return. But if he loves me then why does he leave." (Just Like the Movies by Regina Spektor)

The nights were terror. Both Severus and Hermione faced dreams and memories full of pain. Distractions worked but only for so long. Luckily the days had become easier. The awkwardness between them had gone. To Hermione it had become apparent that Severus was completely over whatever had transpired between them. He had returned to hating her. This should have been the best thing ever. Yet for some reason it made her heart ache. She smothered these emotions with affections for Jimmy. Something was oddly developing with her behavior lately though. The more she was around Jimmy the jitterier she became. She was antsy and slightly uncomfortable. In fact she acted like this when she wasn't around Jimmy. Only in the dark warmth of the dungeons and her room was she at peace.

She discovered this one-day while she was having drinks with Jimmy in his office. She hadn't realized her leg had been bouncing until Jimmy asked her about it.

"Um, is everything okay?" Hermione looked up from her cup. His blue eyes stared at her own. These eyes, they didn't read her soul or interpret her feelings, they just stared.

"I'm sorry, what?" Jimmy smiled showing his perfect teeth. They were starting to remind Hermione of Lockhart.

"Your leg?" Confusion filled her face until she gazed down. Instead of stopping her leg she allowed it to continue. "Did you need to be somewhere?" Hermione had nowhere to be. But she didn't tell him that. For reasons unbeknownst to her she instead lied.

"Actually I've just remembered I have to prepare a lesson for the potions class tomorrow. It's already late. I should go do that." The lie flowed so easily to the surface it almost surprised Hermione.

"Okay, you do whatever you have to do." Hermione stood nodding and gave him a forced half smile. Jimmy stood and kissed her. It was a quick kiss as Hermione rushed off still faking the pain of ending her time with Jimmy. She planned to go to her room but her feet took her somewhere else. Before she knew it Hermione was outside. She sat by the moonlit bank of the river. The cool breeze blew her hair reminding her of the fast coming winter. Hermione's mind drifted as she looked into the woods. They reminded her all too much of her 'killing Harry' dream. She remembered everything in that very realistic vision. Of course she knew from various letters that Harry was fine, Hermione still worried.

Hermione rested her head on her hands as she placed her elbows on her folded knees. The water moved softly in front of her and a calm caused her eyes to droop. Hermione was starting to sink into that quiet nostalgia of her own world, that she so often did with books. A rustling of robes in the distance brought a panic to her chest and her eyes snapped open. Hermione looked towards the noise and saw a figure leaving the castle. She knew they couldn't see her from where she was at this point. However the closer they came the more visible she would become. Hermione carefully moved to hide behind the large oak a little ways from her. Her heart was pounding so loudly she feared the unknown walker would hear it. Once she realized she was well hidden it became obvious that she knew the approaching persona. Otherwise what could explain the excitement and fear mounting in her stomach? My moonlight love. It had to be Jimmy. Hermione relaxed and the excitement began to leave slightly.

The figure sat on the bank almost exactly where she herself had been. Minutes passed like hours as Hermione watched every little motion "Jimmy" made. The more she watched the less the figure was Jimmy. He did nothing Jimmy did. He didn't push his hair back, shift his weight, or adjust his robes. In fact it was his lack of movement that confused Hermione. She felt herself drawn to him though. His hair fell in ease and his posture showed a slight sleepiness. He was really concentrating on some thought and Hermione felt herself being drawn in.

It took about an hour for Hermione to feel the effect of the position she was in. She had been on her knees the entire time and it was starting to make her sore. Hermione shifted slightly. She instantly regretted this decision as the leaves around her crunched. The figure by the river stiffened and Hermione held her breath. She watched his hand move within the robes, no doubted for his wand. Panic rose in her throat and Hermione struggled to think of an escape. As the moonlight love stood the solution practically hit her. As quietly as possible she pulled out her own wand and murmured a spell at the rock by her feet. It transformed into a mouse and scurried out from behind the tree just as the persona turned. The mouse was in perfect view for the man to see and the man was in perfect view for Hermione to see. His dark eyes took in the rodent and connected it to the noise. Hermione's brown eyes took in the face of Severus Snape and she gulped. My moonlight love. ~

Severus was becoming paranoid. He watched the mouse scurry away and felt his heart slow. He considered sitting again but the noise had broken his perfect silence. The comforting space had turned him back to reality and he no longer cared to be there. Lately he had been slightly jumpy. Having turned his mind into ignoring Hermione Granger he was focusing completely on the upcoming war. They still had Occlumency but other than that, and classes, they barely spoke. Severus had tricked himself into not caring about her in any way, shape or form. Or at least had tricked himself into thinking he didn't care.

He stared at the spot the mouse had been, then looked toward the area of the noise. Perhaps I should inspect further. Severus moved toward the large oak tree and put his hand on the bark. As he readied to check behind it he stopped. "You're being paranoid Severus. Go back inside." Talking to himself Severus sighed and backed away still looking at the tree. Once he was satisfied that there was nothing there he turned and went into the castle. Odd how that oak tree smelt of cherry blossoms. I didn't see any flowers. Severus was stuck in his own thoughts as he almost ran into someone. When he saw the blue eyes and smile he wished he had been moving faster and hit harder.

"Hello there Severus!" His Irish accent filled Severus' ears with dirt and disgust. Severus nodded and motioned to pass Savage. He stood in his way however looking determined. It was obvious he had something to say. "So, where were you?" Severus could feel his lips curl.

"Walking." Savage continued to smile. Severus was not in the mood right then.

"Oh, outside?" He looked beyond Severus to the doors.

"Obviously." Savage completely missed Severus' dry sarcasm as he continued rambling.

"Oh! I myself was thinkin' about a walk. You know? But I didn't realize everyone else was out and about. Perhaps I'll go back 2 me chambers." He was acting somewhat skittish and Severus wasn't sure why. His eyebrow rose as if testing Savage.

"Yes, that would probably be best." Savage continued smiling and Severus continued his suspicion.

"Well best be off then. Goodnight." Savage attempted to shake Severus' hand but he ignored it. Instead Savage gave a nervous chuckle and left in the direction he had come. Severus made a mental note to keep an eye on Savage. Something's not right about him. He watched Savage walk down the hall and then turned on his heel toward the dungeons. ~

Hermione breathed a deep sigh of relief as she watched the castle door close behind Severus. He was so close to catching me. Then Hermione wondered why she was so scared. So what if he saw her. Yet the thought of Severus seeing her, the two of them in the moonlight, brought intense fluttering to her stomach. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe the kiss meant something before. "I have a crush on Severus Snape." She blushed even at the thought. So many things were wrong with this. Hermione should have been overcome with emotions. Yet all she felt was the fluttering. Hermione smiled and leaned back against the tree. Right now she'd sit and enjoy this. Later that night Hermione slept perfectly.