Hermione stood in Potions class working feverishly. A wisp of hair swished into her face, the steam caused her face to glow with her eyes concentrated firmly on her work.

Harry watched her. He also watched Snape watch her. Not watch her, per say, but Harry saw him every few minutes look up at his friend and he didn't like it. Not one bit. It seemed Ginny was correct in her assumption of him.

He looked down hurriedly as Snape made his routine rounds through the desks, checking the progress of the potions. The dark robes passed quickly past him, making only a sneer at his poorly done potion. As the Professor moved on, Harry looked up just to see him reach Hermione's potion. Here he paused longer, looking, apparently, at her potion. Harry watched Hermione. She looked pointedly down at her potion, fumbling every once in a while with an ingredient. Finally, she became so nervous she actually dropped her phoenix feathers. Quickly she ducked down to retrieve them, he face glowing. She didn't get a chance to reach them, however, as Snape was already handing them to her. Without looking up she accepted it, giving a small smile. Wordlessly, Snape turned away and Hermione continued on her potion. He hadn't gone far when Harry saw him turn slightly. The look in the Potion Master's eyes shocked him. There was something there he had never seen before… one could almost say, it was a gentle look, mingled slightly with longing. Harry nearly felt sorry for him. The revelation only lasted a moment, before it was gone and Snape moved on.

Harry didn't quite know what to think. On one hand he was sickened, thinking about Snape's infatuation with one of his best friends, on the other hand he was struck by the very romanticism of it. Two forbidden people falling in love. Of course he couldn't refrain from thinking of it as being Snape and that ruined the whole romantic mood of it.

He supposed Ginny was right. Snape was also falling for Hermione.

Harry felt sick.

Hermione sat in the library with Ginny working on homework. She had an essay due for Transfiguration in a month and she wanted to get a head start on it, though she really should have started on it last week. Darn her procrastination. She needed another book; this one simply was not satisfactory.

"I'm going to look for something else," she told Ginny, getting to her feet.

Ginny nodded but made no reply as Hermione left, going behind the nearest shelf to look for her book.

Ginny remained working on her homework and was interrupted by Harry sitting down next to her.

"Ginny, you were right," Harry said without preamble, "You were right about Snape. I watched him today and... he's got it bad, Ginny. I think he might be bordering love, if he's not there already."

Ginny looked forlorn.

"Then it's worse than we could have suspected," she said exasperatedly.

"Yeah, a lot worse. If the feeling is mutual, then there's even less chance of putting a stop to it," Harry said matter-of-factly.

Ginny shook her head, he eyes worried. Harry looked at her, not quite sure if he should say what was on his mind.

"Ginny..." he said, deciding to be daring, "I've been thinking a lot about it and..." he stopped, not quite sure how to go on.

"About what, exactly Harry?" Ginny asked him, still slightly preoccupied.

"About Hermione and Snape and... would it be so bad if we left them to their own devices?" He said hurriedly, knowing well Ginny's temper.

She stared at him. "What?"

"You didn't see the look in his eyes, Ginny. I've never seen him look so... I have to say gentle," Ginny looked at him in disbelief, "I know it sounds totally and completely wrong, but I've never seen anyone look at Hermione that way," Harry said seriously, "I was afraid of Hermione getting hurt by pursuing him. I thought he would never share her feelings and that it was a lost cause, but now that I see there is some hope in it, that there may be another side to Snape that we've never seen before... maybe we shouldn't stop Hermione."

Ginny continued to stare at him.

"Harry... how can you say something like that? You of all people. You know what Snape is like, what he's capable of! We all know, but I would think you... of all people would understand exactly why we have to keep him away from Hermione."

"I know that Ginny. I know he is the cause of ruining my life, but over the years I've come to understand... it's not just about me. He betrayed my parents and yes... I hate him for that and I always will, but Ginny... this isn't about me. This isn't about you or even Ron. It's about Hermione and how Hermione feels. I just don't think we should get in her way. If she's so determined nothing will stop her. And besides, she's nearly a woman now. We're all nearly adults. It's her decision. We can't rule her life."

"Whatever, Harry," Ginny said hotly, "whatever you say. You always were a righteous one. But you're completely wrong. Don't you realize the sort of trouble she could get in if she were to get into a relationship with Snape? Don't you realize just how hurt she could get? All of your arguments would be good if only it weren't Snape. He's her teacher. Do you know what it would look like if she were to get involved with him? Harry, there is nothing good about this relationship."

"Love, Ginny. Love is always good and you know what? I think I'm finally coming to look from Hermione point of view. It's her decision, Ginny. None of us can live her life for her," Harry retorted.

"Harry! You can't be siding with her! You just can't! It will never work out!"

"Ginny, I've made up my mind. I can't bear to lose Hermione any more than I can bear to lose you or Ron and I'm sick of this feuding. I'm going to go apologize to her," Harry said, rising from his seat before Ginny could say anything and leaving the library.

Ginny sat fuming where she was.

Hermione sat on the floor between the shelves, her head in her hands, not knowing whether she wanted to shout for joy, cry her eyes out or simply curl up and die.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop. Really she hadn't, but she hadn't gone that far when Harry's first sentence had caught her attention. What else could she do but listen to the rest?

Now she sat in shock. Ginny had lied to her. She had said she was going to support her, but now the truth came out. She would never support her in this decision. What else had she lied about?

Of course Hermione wanted also to cry of gratitude. Harry was being understanding. At least she would have one of her friends back. Not only that, but Severus was in love with her... but could she simply go off of her two friends opinion? She remembered what Harry said; "You didn't see the look in his eyes, Ginny. I've never seen him look so... I have to say gentle." Earlier in potions, when he had picked up her phoenix feathers for her... it had been a small act, but for Severus... it expressed so much. She wished she couldn't have seen that look in his eyes that Harry had identified... aslove. Had he seen it right? Or had he been imagining it?

Torn between her sorrow of Ginny deceit and her joy from Harry, she left the library quickly, avoiding being seen by Ginny.

I don't know why, but i was really ify about this chapter... it just didn't seem like it was ready to be posted, but here you go! If I need to I'll redo it sometime, but for now there it is! The next chapter.

I've been flipping through some SS/HG fan fics and you know what I've noticed about them? In every single on no one is going to acknowledge that HBP happened. As for me I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT SNAPE IS EVIL! grrrr... he isn't he isn't he isn't. I think he and Dumbledore planned for him to "kill" him. There is solid evidence! When hagrid let's slip that they were having an arguement and Snape said he didn't want to do it anymore and Dumbeldore said he had to, I think they were talking about killing him. Snape didn't want to but Dumbledore knew he had to for some reason. And when they were on the tower... Dumbledore would never beg for mercy from anyone. I think he was telling him "You have to do it. You just have to grit your teeth and do it" And there has to be something, something much more solid that no one knows about that would make Dumbledore's faith in Snape so strong. There has to be.

So there! I'll get off my soap box, but Severus is not evil. HA!

Okay, hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Review!

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