Edit: Made a few small grammatical changes to this chapter. Oops! =)
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No lemons this chapter, sorry folks. Still, I hope you like it!
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"Mione, where were you last night? I never saw you after dinner," Ginny whispered to her as they walked towards the great hall for breakfast.
Blushing, Hermione continued to stare ahead.
"I knew it! You were with your boyfriend! You've got to tell me who he is, please!" she begged.
Hermione's smile disappeared and she glanced at her friend. "I…I can't."
Huffing, Ginny continued, "What's so wrong with him that you can't tell people? Is he horribly ugly or something? Shit, he's not a Slytherin, is he?" Seeing the twitch in Hermione's face, Ginny knew she'd hit the nail on the head. "Gods, Hermione, you're dating a Slytherin?" she shouted, just as they walked into the great hall.
All eyes were on them. Daring a glance at the head table, she saw panic flash on Severus' face before he was able to put his stony mask back in place. "Ginny, was that really necessary?" she said through her teeth.
"Shit…sorry…"
They continued to Griffindor table, but Hermione could still feel the eyes of her classmates and teachers on her.
"You fucking slut, you're snogging a Slytherin?" Ron hissed as she sat down across from him.
"Ron, don't do this…" Harry started.
Turning, he snapped at his friend, "Why the hell not? I'm done trying to 'be nice' if she's just going to turn around and fuck a snake!" Spinning back to Hermione, he shouted at her, "Who is it, Mione? Blaise? Draco? Or are you topping it all and nailing the great greasy bat himself, huh?"
"Detention, Mr. Weasley, for your detestable language." Severus had stepped up behind the redhead and was using every ounce of his self-control to keep from murdering the boy.
Ron jumped and spun around. "Professor…"
Severus cut him off, "I don't want to hear your excuses. You'll serve detention with Mr. Filch every night for a month."
Ron, in a shining example of his brilliance, opened his mouth to protest.
"One more word and you'll be enjoying his company until Christmas." Glancing up at the Headmaster, he grabbed Ron by the shirt and dragged him from the room.
"Oh my god, Mione, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for everyone to hear me, my mouth just runs away with me sometimes." Ginny was rambling.
"It's ok, Ginny." Hermione spoke tightly as she stabbed at the bacon on her plate. "I didn't expect Ron to react that way, though."
"So…you are dating a Slytherin?" Ginny ventured.
The girl didn't know when to shut up. "Ginny, please drop it."
"Fine. Sorry again."
Hermione wasn't hungry anymore. She didn't bother with an excuse when she stood and left the great hall.
*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*
Severus was exhausted.
He'd taken the boy to see the Headmaster. Dumbledore had given Mr. Weasley a tongue-lashing and, surprisingly, stood by Severus' choice of punishment.
The things that Mr. Weasley had said to Hermione had been appalling. Severus knew that the boy was upset with her because she had turned him down, but that display of anger was uncalled for. Hermione would be under closer scrutiny from now on, too. They were going to need to be even more careful if this was to continue.
Severus took another sip of his firewhiskey and nearly spit it all over himself when his wards went off. He really needed to make the alarm less…alarming while he was awake.
Waving his wand, he unlocked the door to let Remus in. Whatever the wolf had to say to him probably wasn't good, but Severus was drunk enough that he'd be able to mostly ignore whatever insults were hurled.
"Firewhiskey?" he calmly asked Remus when he stepped through the door.
"No thanks, Severus." The wolf calmly made his way to the armchair and sat down.
"Well, get on with it then," he said.
"I'm not here to insult you. I actually wanted to say…I'm sorry." Remus stared into the fire.
Confused, Severus turned to look at him. "Excuse me?"
Sighing, Remus repeated himself. "I'm sorry, Severus. It's not my place to judge what you and Hermione do. You're both adults. I…I was wrong." He didn't look at Severus, but his voice bellied the honesty of his statements.
Considering the man in front of him, Severus thought carefully before he spoke. "Thank you, Remus."
Smiling, Remus turned to face his friend and colleague. "She's been good for you."
Severus smirked and watched his drink as he swirled it in the glass. "You have no idea."
Remus laughed. "Bloody hell, Severus. This morning was interesting, though. Is Hermione ok after all that?"
"I don't know, I haven't seen her since breakfast. I'll have her tomorrow after lunch, I was going to speak with her then." Severus frowned at his drink.
"You what? Do you have a bloody schedule?" he stared at Severus.
"What? Yes, we have a…" Realization dawned on him, "Gods, Remus, I have her in class tomorrow! Get your mind out of the gutter!" He laughed and took a drink.
"Severus Snape laughing. I never thought I'd see the day." Smiling, Remus stood. "I don't have to tell you to treat her right, so I'm just going to wish you luck, old friend."
Severus didn't take his eyes from the fire as the sound of the door closing echoed into the room. "I'm going to need it, old friend," he whispered as he finished off his drink.
Standing, he realized just how drunk he was. "Shit, I've still got to do my final rounds," he grumbled into the empty room. Weaving a bit, he walked into his lab to get a sober-up potion.
*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*
Hermione had been sitting by the lake since breakfast. Fortunately it was Sunday, so she wasn't missing classes. Dobby had brought her some food, she guessed around suppertime, but she hadn't been able to eat it.
She was cold and it had been dark for hours, but she didn't move.
Ron's words shouldn't have affected her so much. But he was one of her two oldest and dearest friends. The words of someone so close can wound and mend with great dexterity and Ron had wounded her far worse than he could know.
The disgust in his voice as he unknowingly spoke of Severus told her everything. He would never accept her lover, even if they all survived the war and she could bring her relationship into the open. She was either going to lose Ron as her friend or she'd have to give up Severus. Sadly, it seemed as though Ron had made her choice for her.
"What are yeh doin' out 'ere in the cold, 'Ermione? Tis after curfew, yeh should get yerself back in the castle."
She shook herself and turned to see Hagrid loping towards her. "Hagrid! Sorry, I was just thinking. I guess I lost track of time."
"Tis a'right, girl. Just 'urry on up 'fore yeh catch yer death." He smiled down at the girl before turning back towards his hut.
"G'night Hagrid!" she yelled at his back as she stretched her stiff muscles and headed back towards the castle.
As she stepped into the entrance hall, she realized how hungry she was. Suddenly, the room seemed to spin and she felt sick. Holding herself up against the wall, she started to dry heave. Hermione knew that she wasn't going to make it to the hospital wing; it was too far.
Making up her mind, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. Slowly, she stumbled towards the dungeons.
Severus spotted the lump on the ground near the dungeon entrance. Figuring that a student had dropped their bag or robes, he went towards it. As soon as he recognized the curls, he started running.
"Hermione…" he whispered as he turned her over. Running a quick diagnostic spell, the symbols showed that her blood sugar was incredibly low and she was dehydrated. She must not have eaten all day. "Bloody stupid girl," he grumbled, "you're going to kill yourself."
Severus gingerly lifted the girl and carried her back to his quarters.