Chapter 24: The Trouble With Boundaries
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers Enjoy -S.S
{"I can't believe it...I'm not myself...Suddenly I'm thinkin' of 'bout no one else...You're just a fantasy girl...It's an impossible world...All I want is just you and me always...I'll give you everything...Give some attention to me...All I want is just you and me always..."}Stutter, Maroon 5
Hogsmeade Village, Wizarding World...
Freshly fallen snow had been the main attraction to Hogsmeade Village as Hermione accompanied her Gryffindor classmates lead by Head of House Professor McGonagall. The Slytherins had earned the right to attend also accompanied by their Head of House, the very embittered Severus Snape. She tried her best to ignore the glaring stares from him as they made it to the Inn. The Slytherins took off with permission of Snape and he ventured into the Hogshead Inn. Professor McGonagall entered a small tavern leaving the Gryffindors to file inside the Three Broomsticks Inn.
"Is it just me or is Snape more moody than usual?" asked Ron observing the Potions Professor's recent behavior.
"He even gave Draco six weeks detention." added Ginny. "With Filch."
"T-That's unlike him." said Hermione taking notice of his continued strange behavior.
"It's like his temper is all over the place lately." said Harry. "And that's unlike Snape...you think maybe he's polyjuiced?"
"Don't be ridiculous Harry." said Hermione finding herself becoming annoyed.
"Come to think of it, your mood hasn't been all that great either Mione." said Ron looking over the now angry witch.
"Maybe it's because you are such a prat Ron." she replied. "I suppose even Professor Snape has enough to deal with over the past few months...maybe he's just tired."
"And what's your excuse?" asked Ron narrowing his blue eyes at her.
"I've got to deal with you on a daily basis Ron what do you think?" she nearly hissed.
The angry witch stormed off and made her way toward the forest not wishing to be anywhere near the immature prat Ron Weasley.
"Now look what you've done." said Harry annoyed.
"It's not my fault she's got her menstrual or something." said Ron.
"You didn't have to say anything at all Ron." added Ginny.
"Well sod the both of you." said the red head wizard making his way toward the three broom sticks.
Both Harry and Ginny followed in a bid to smooth things over with him and order a couple of butter beers.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
The Forest, Wizarding World...
Hermione had not known what to feel as she attempted to get control over her emotions. A part of her was still shaken and clinging heavily to the life she had come to recognize as her own as Hermione Jean Granger, muggle born witch of Gryffindor. Then there were moments, like when she was alone with Professor Snape that she could easily recall being Evelyn Shaw, half-blood witch of Ravenclaw.
The feelings she felt for Severus Snape were stronger than anything she could have ever imagined and the almost magnetic pull toward him and his darkened nature was difficult to withstand.
Before she could even fathom her warring emotions, she was treated to the sight of a certain wizard clad in ebony with his obsidian gaze fixated on her.
"Don't." said Hermione as he reached down taking her hand and pulling her close to him.
"I can no more ignore your tears than you can your feelings for me." he said softly.
"Severus there's too many people here." she said. "What if someone..."
Her protest was silenced by his kiss. The young witch attempted to break away from him but he only held her tighter.
"Severus...don't." she said balling her fists against his chest.
"I love you." he said meaningfully. "You may not recall every moment we've spent together but I do witch...and I cannot tell you how agonizing it is to watch you after believing you dead all this time and not be able to hold you like I wished to for so long."
"You heard what Lupin said." she replied. "We were separated for a good reason."
"Bullshit." replied Snape meeting her eyes. "Dumbledore had no right to take you from me...he simply wanted another way to initiate control over my life and removing you was his best option."
"Severus..." began Hermione. "I am not that girl of fifteen you married."
"No." he replied in agreement as he continued staring into her eyes. "You are so much more...and I simply wish to enlighten you."
He kissed her once more.
Tears streamed down the witch's cheek as she returned his kiss.
"I love you." said Snape once more. "I have always loved you."
Hermione was once more at war with her emotions.
"I...I don't know how to feel about you." she said honestly.
Her admission hurt some but he respected her honesty.
"Then let me prove you still love me." he said.
"Severus we can't..." she began only to be silenced by his pale finger against her soft pink lips.
"We can." he replied with a smirk. "You are of age two times over...and I mean to earn your love in more than just the ability to take you to bed."
Hermione smiled at this.
"Did Lupin tell you anymore about our baby?" she asked.
Snape shook his head.
"I was told we lost him before you lost consciousness and I was led to believe you had died." he explained.
She noted his lingering sadness and touched his cheek.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." she said meaningfully.
The Potions Professor treated her to a sad smile.
With a wave of his hand, he revealed the wedding ring that had not been off his finger since the day they wed concealed by magic.
"I never truly forgot you it seems." he told her. "And while I cannot recall everything I had said or done during our time together...I wish to make up the wrongs I have committed against you."
"Like sleeping with my best friend." said Hermione narrowing her eyes.
Snape dropped to his knees before her.
"I didn't know...I swear it." he replied looking into her eyes. "You were gone and the old coot did something to my memories to make me think I was in love with her."
"And what about James?" asked Hermione not understanding how any of this was possible. "He was your friend."
"Not after you were gone he wasn't." replied Snape bitterly.
"Do you think he knew about you and Lily?" she asked.
"I didn't even know." replied Snape sadly. "I...I should have protected you."
"You did the best you could given the circumstances." she replied. "What I don't understand is why you were with Tom Riddle?"
"I...was angry most of the time...my mother had been killed...you were gone...Lily didn't want anything to do with me..." he said attempting to get her to see his side of things. "No one gave a damn and the abuse kept coming so I opted for a little power of my own...just to make it all stop."
The amber eyes of Hermione Granger had been filled with sadness as she looked upon her struggling husband.
"I love you." he said. "I love only you."
Hermione nodded.
"I wish I could feel as you do." she said sadly. "But so much has happened and I still haven't processed everything..."
"I told you I'd wait for you." he said.
"Then there's the strange magical energy we have." said Hermione. "What if...what if Dumbledore is right...what if us being together is wrong?"
Snape got to his feet.
"Hermione...you know that's not true." he said.
She closed her eyes.
"Severus...I." before she could say more, Snape suddenly backed away from her.
"There you are Severus." said the voice of Minerva McGonagall. "I've been looking everywhere for you...we've been searching for Miss Granger..."
Snape easily slipped back into his Potions Professor persona.
"As you can see Minerva...I've located the girl." he replied in his usual biting tone.
"Very well Severus...I can take it from here." said the older witch.
"In the future I suggest you see to your students properly." he muttered before leaving them.
Hermione shook her head.
It was amazing how he went to such efforts to put on a show for the benefit of those around them. The final glance he had given her when McGonagall's back was turned was all the indication she needed to note how sincere his words were before the interruption from her Head of House.