I hope you all enjoy! I don't own HP.

Chapter 15

"Severus? Have you found anything?" She asked exasperated.

He growled. "Hermione, if I didn't find anything ten minutes ago, I don't think I would have found something now."

She turned to him, glaring. "You don't need to get so snippy Sev. Jeesh."

Yes, she was getting impatient. They had been looking for days. DAYS. But everytime she thought they had a lead, it would just slip through their fingers. Harry wasn't having any luck either.

Hermione loved being around Severus. But this was driving her nuts. It was so pointless. They weren't going to find anything in a book. Dumbledore had sent them on a wild goose chase. At least that's what it felt like.

"Hermione, we've been looking for days, if I had found something by now, I would have told you."

"I'm sorry Severus. I'm just so stressed out. This is fustrating."

Severus scooted closer to her on the couch, putting his arm around her shoulder. "I know Hermione. I'm as worried as you are, trust me."

Hermione looked to Sev, her eyes full of affection and pity. He just couldn't catch a break. He had served two masters for his entire life. Now, now that's he's finally free, he's not free at all. And frankly, it was her fault.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

He grabbed her face, making her look at him. "Hermione, you have nothing to be sorry for."

She tore her gaze away. "Severus, I've ruined your life.."

Hermione got off the couch and begin pacing the room, millions of thoughts running through her head. It was her fault. If she wasn't turned, then he wouldn't have been dragged into this mess. He could be traveling the world, healing from the past. But no, he was stuck here, with her. And for a good time too, because she bonded with him.

She wanted to smack herself in the face for that. How could she have been so foolish? Just because she wanted to be around him didn't mean he wanted to be around her. She just took it for granted, and look where that's led them.

"Severus. You shouldn't be here. You should be out, healing yourself, letting go of your demons. But you're stuck here, facing my demons. You don't deserve this."

"Hermione, stop beating yourself up. What happened isn't your fault, why don't you understand that?"

She turned to face him, peering into his eyes. "Because it's my fault. If I hadn't been turned, you wouldn't have been assigned to babysit me."

Severus growled. "Hermione, you can be so thick headed. Why can't you understand that it isn't your fault? I'm not angry with you, and I don't think I could ever be. You're just so infuriating sometime! Why can't you just realize that you didn't do anything wrong!"

Hermione snarled back. "Why can't you believe that I love you!? Well? Severus, I love you! And you're so thick headed that you can't even realize it! Stop fighting it!"

Severus closed his eyes. He was broken, too broken for her. "Hermione, I don't want to talk about this right now."

She looked at him, growling. She just wanted to kiss him, have hot, passionate sex with him, but he was always so shut down. He would never let his walls down. He was so guarded with her, and it hurt.

Their love was one sided.

She loved him, so much. But no matter how much she told him, he just wouldn't get it through his thick skull. It hurt.

Hermione walked towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Severus shouted.

"Anywhere. Sev, I just need some time to think. I'll be back later."

"So you're leaving me?" His voice sounded small.

I don't know why I even bother. She rolled her eyes. "Don't be so silly. I'm just going for a walk. I need some air."

"You don't need air."

"Thanks for the reminder Severus." She said coldly.

And with that, she stormed out the door. She needed to get away, to clear her head. She was just so confused, about everything. She was stressed out, and hurt.

She just needed to get away.