A/N: Severus is sick and Hermione comes to take care of him

final word count: 660

Severus groaned at the knock on his door. His stomach was queasy and his head was warm and throbbing. Some part of him hoped that Granger would have stayed away today.

Regardless, He got up, wrapping a blanket around himself. The girl was too damn stubborn for her own good. Though a small part of him had grown to consider her a friend.

He opened the door and glared down at her. "Not today, Granger."

"Are you okay?" She asked, concern lighting her eyes.

"Just go away."

She pushed the door open and made her way inside. "Let me take care of you."

"Granger-"

"For the umpteenth time, my name is Hermione. And just let me take care of you. Go lay down, read a book, sleep. I'll just be here if you need anything."

He glared at her, but decided that he wasn't feeling up to arguing with her, so he just grunted and made his way to his bedroom.

He opened his eyes to see her holding a tray with steaming hot soup. He sat up, his head spinning for a moment and she placed the tray in front of him before sitting in a chair she'd brought in. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit," he murmured, not touching the soup.

"You should eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"You should still eat."

"Why are you even here?"

She looked almost hurt by the question. "Because I thought we had become friends. And friends help each other."

"I can take care of myself."

"I just wanted to help."

It looked like she was going to cry. Some piece of her was breaking, simply because he was rejecting her presence. "Why do you insist on being here?"

"Because I care about you."

The words were a silent whisper and a confession. She had been the one to save him. She had stayed behind and given him the necessary potions that sustained him until real help could arrive. She had fought side by side with Harry to ensure that he hadn't gone to Azkaban. And then she had been there every week, sometimes multiple days, reading books, having lunch, exchanging books, talking to him. She had built a friendship. And yet as he looked at her now, he realized that there was more than friendship being offered.

He picked up the spoon and took a mouthful of soup. It was bland, which she seemed to understand he needed. His stomach managed to not turn over for the first time that day.

"If you want, I'll leave now," she said, her voice still soft.

"You haven't left all day. Why would you leave now?"

"Because it seems pointless. I was trying to be your friend and you've never considered it."

"If I hadn't considered it, I would have fought you more frequently every time you came over. You'd have never crossed this threshold."

"Yet I am still more your friend than you ever will be mine."

"Why do you care so much? It is not like I was ever kind before. It's not like there was ever a possibility before."

She stood up. "I care because I saw those memories. I saw how Lily treated you. I saw how badly you needed a friend. And then I saw how much we have in common. How different and yet similar we are. I like you Severus. Not just as a friend. But you won't even be my friend."

She left the room, and he heard the front door slam.

He had appeared at her door, a pile of books in his arms and note tucked carefully inside.

Hermione,

I am sorry. I do not know how to let people in. I am sorry I pushed you away. In all honesty, I have enjoyed our time together and I appreciate you taking care of me when I was sick.

I do not deserve it, but I would like to ask for another chance.

Severus.