CHAPTER 10

The next few months at Hogwarts were the best of Hermione's life. At least a few times a week, she would sneak out of her dorm and make her way down to the dungeons….almost being caught by Filch on many occasions. She enjoyed her time with her dark man, Snape. She was sad they couldn't be public. She wanted to walk down the halls holding hands, to sit in his lap in her common room. Go to Hogsmead and the Three Broomsticks together. She grew impatient for the year to end, when they could finally be together. On one afternoon Hermione went down to see the Professor. She approached his classroom and heard voices. Quietly, she stood outside and listened.

Professor McGonagall: Severus this is serious.

Snape: I disagree, this is not an issue in my opinion.

Professor McGonagall: How can you say that. She's just a child.

Snape: No. She's not a child. She's a young woman. A beautiful young woman whom I love very, very much.

Hermione gasped silently, he had said he loved her. Who else could he be talking about?

Professor McGonagall: Severus. I don't think you understand the seriousness of what you have done.

Snape: I will not brush her aside. She is everything to me.

Professor McGonagall: She is a girl. She cannot possibly know what she wants.

Snape: She does. I looked into her mind and saw it. She isn't as you would think. She is mature beyond her years.

Professor McGonagall: Nonetheless, I have no choice but to ask you to leave.

Hermione burst in.

Hermione: No! You cant sack him. Professor McGonagall please. You know me. You know him. He was Dumbledoor's right hand man in defeating Voldemort. He saved this school and you repay him with a sack not even a year later? You owe him your life. This man, alone…saved us. He protected Harry for years. He risked his life over and over just to see that Harry was safe. He saved my life too. And yours.

Snape, head low, flashed a smile her way.

Professor McGonagall: Miss Granger surely you know the rules. You are head girl and the highest ranking witch at this school. Im ashamed of you.

Hermione: All those titles and you still don't believe him…..or me. You don't believe he cares for me, nor I him. You just believe he is using me. After all he has done. Let him be. Let us be.

Professor McGonagall sighed. She didn't want to sack him, but it was her duty as Head of Hogwarts to abide by the law.

Professor McGonagall: Im sorry, I have to. I have no choice.

Hermione: You have a choice. Does anyone else know about this? How did you find out?

Professor McGonagall: Filch saw you sneak into his classroom in the middle of the night. He and I are the only ones who know. Ive instructed him to keep his mouth shut.

Hermione: Please.

Hermione walked over to Snape, and held is hands tightly.

Hermione: I love this man. I want to be with him.

Snape jerked his head, looking down at the begging witch. He was so happy to hear her say the words. Professor McGonagall looked back and fourth from his face to hers, then down at their intertwined hands.

Hermione: It hasn't affected anyone. It hasn't affected my work or his teaching. I am of age. Its not against the law.

Professor McGonagall: But it is against Hogwarts rules.

Hermione: Please Professor. Let us be.

Professor McGonagall sighed. She looked defeated.

Professor McGonagall: Alright. You must not let it get in the way of anything. If I see even the slightest disturbance, you will both be banished from the grounds. Understood? Im putting my job on the line here. Do not make me regret it.

With the final word she stormed out. Snape and Hermione looked at leach other and embraced.

Snape: So its true? How you feel about me?

Hermione: Yes.

Snape: Dear girl…..

They kissed.

Hermione: Where do we go from here?

Snape: We live out lives in secrecy until the end of the year. Then we can go wherever you want. I will leave Hogwarts and follow you. Ive fulfilled my purpose. You must do the same.

Hermione: You would do that for me? Leave all this behind? Your home?

Snape: Of course. Home is wherever you are.

They both smiled, hugging each other tightly. They never let go.