"Hermione? Is that you?"
Hermione, who had just stopped, desperately clutching the wall as she tried to catch a breath, raised her eyes to look at the one addressing her. She was still in shock after all that had happened in Snape's office – moreover, she was not quite sure if she was not bound to face any consequences because of the fact she had just skipped her detention. So many rules had to be bent so she could get back to school, and now...
"Luna!" gasped Hermione, feeling a wave of relief flood her. Having taken a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a short while to calm down, then forced a smile, so Luna would not notice the state she was really in. "Aren't you with Ginny?"
"We've just got back to the castle," answered Luna, stepping closer to Hermione, her eyes fixed upon her friend's face. "Are you sure you're alright, Hermione Granger?"
Nothing could hide from Luna's watchful eyes. She had seen enough fake smiles in her life to be able to recognise one. And she had never seen Hermione in such a state before – well, maybe during the fight, but it was no longer war...
"You look pale," she continued in her soft voice. "And scared. There is... such a look in your eyes... do you want me to help you to the Hospital Wing so you can see Madam Pomfrey? I think you could use some Soothing Solution..."
Although Hermione really appreciated Luna's will to help, she had a feeling it would be better if she found herself in the dormitory as soon as possible. That way Snape would not be able to get to her – at least before the next evening, which now seemed to be much closer. Would he be all the same the next evening? And every evening after that, whenever she came to his office?
She was so stupid... so stupid, thinking that she needed a mysterious man like Snape – right now, she needed no-one else but a good friend. And Ginny was probably already up there, in Gryffindor Tower... but how would she be able to explain anything to Ginny without telling her what had happened the evening they had got there?
"No, thank you, Luna," she spoke out loud, her voice strangely hoarse and trembling. "I... don't feel too well, but not bad enough to go to the Hospital Wing. Instead of Soothing Solution I should get some sleep."
A soft frown brought Luna's brows together, but she nodded, smiling softly, dreamy look returning onto her face.
"Remember that whatever storm is troubling you right now, it will be gone by the next morning," she said in her singsong voice. "I wish you a good night, Hermione Granger."
And she marched away, absent-minded, as if she had already forgotten about her worries – but Hermione knew it was not so. Luna's strange words made her feel better. Although the two girls had never been really fond of each other, right now the young Gryffindor began to appreciate Luna's presence.
Because Luna was right – her problems would turn into nothingness before the next day. The next morning she would be able to start anew, hoping that Snape would not choose to keep taunting her just to survive his heart's dilemmas.
"Here you are!"
Ginny's voice rang in Hermione's ears like a little bell, making her come back to reality. This time she smiled, and the smile was a sincere one.
"I was very nervous as I left you here all alone," continued Ginny, "knowing that you would be face-to-face with Snape. I know you're not the only one who's ever had a detention with him but... blimey, I really hate the moments spent in the dungeons with him."
"Don't worry, it wasn't that bad," replied Hermione, feeling guilty for lying to her best friend, but there was no need to worry her even more, especially as she saw Ginny probably even more nervous than she was. "I think I can survive the whole month of... sorting different potions ingredients..."
"Oh, he made you do that?" Ginny grimaced, but there was a soft shadow of smile behind that. "Obnoxious."
"Right?" Hermione laughed as she sank into one of the comfortable armchairs close to the fireplace. "As if we couldn't do something that would be more... useful... and less disgusting."
"Ask him that question next time you see him," suggested Ginny, her voice betraying that she was just making fun of her friend. "Let's see how he'll react. Probably he'll say something like, you broke the rules, now you get to be punished, Granger... you should have thought about it first."
Hermione could not hold back her laugh as she heard Ginny trying to imitate Snape's irritated tone; moreover, there was the very same grimace upon her face as on Snape's, whenever he was annoyed by someone's behaviour.
"Besides," continued Hermione, "it is not useless. It is very much needed, and I definitely would not like to get my hands dirty."
This time it was Ginny who burst out laughing, dispelling all of Hermione's concerns. Somehow Snape was no longer so scary now, as the two of them were together, laughing and making fun of him.
At some point, though, Ginny stood up and informed her friend that she was sleepy and wanted to go to bed. Hermione, though, could not allow herself to do that as she still had not written her Charms homework.
"You still have two days to write that essay," noticed Ginny, raising her brow, however, soon a sigh followed. "But... you know, if you want to just go through with it... you're right, at least you won't have to do it at the last minute."
Having said good-night to her friend, she went up to the dormitory, leaving Hermione in the common room, now almost completely empty. Hermione, though, did not feel bad with it – actually, she liked being alone, especially when she needed to do her homework.
With a quiet sigh, she stood up and left the comfortable seat to sit down at one of the tables. Having done so, she pulled out a roll of parchment from her bag, along with a quill and an inkpot. Once she had put everything on the table, she closed her eyes and hid her face in hands, trying to gather her thoughts.
It was not that easy, though. Not with Snape's face, twisted with fury, appearing under her eyelids whenever she tried to focus.
"Good Lord," she mumbled to herself, then shook her head. "Get a grip, girl... you have things to do. You'll worry about that tomorrow."
Somehow, she managed to focus enough to write the first several paragraphs without making any blotts, which was quite an achievement for that day. Just when she had thought that she had managed to get over with it, Snape's voice echoed in her head.
I am not... a good man... but I thought... I hoped... that if there's anyone who'd understand... it would be you...
"Why me, for goodness sake!" she hissed, then put the quill aside, feeling her hand shiver way too much for her to be able to hold it.
After a while, realising she needed to calm down, she stood up and started pacing around. The last person in the room glanced at her, then said a quiet good-night and left. Now, as she was alone, Hermione felt she should be able to sort things out. There was no-one who could see her or hear her, even if she started talking to herself again.
It was obvious that Snape needed help – his obsession with her was far from healthy, and it was not just his business – she was quite concerned about it as well, since with him being so blindly infatuated, she would not be able to live a normal life, without him nagging her on every step. If she wanted to just be a student, she needed to get rid of his fascination, the sooner, the better.
However, she was not quite sure how to help him. The first thing she could think of was talking to McGonagall, but then, she realised it was quite a sensitive case. How could she tell her about such a wrong relationship? It would betray way too many details, and on the second thought, it turned out to be the worst solution of all.
Maybe that was what Snape meant when he told her that she should be the one to understand him?
Never had she been as obsessed with anything nor anyone as Snape was with her, so she was not able to understand his behaviour; nevertheless, maybe she had understood him in a wrong way? Maybe he had wanted to confide in her, and in her – not really unfounded – panic attack, she had simply run away, believing it was the best thing she could do?
But now... now, it no longer mattered. After all she had done that evening, he would not be so understanding with her. If his obsession was not over yet, she would probably pay a heavy price for her insolence. Be it as it may, but he was still her teacher.
It was way too dangerous to assume that if she kept being arrogant and rude to him, he would fall out of love with her – she cared dearly for Gryffindor, and she did not want to lose any points for her in impudent behaviour, moreover, feelings were not that easy. One did not fall in love just with good and kind people, and she was the one to know it best.
"I need to do it," she whispered to herself, coming to a halt. Her heart stopped beating for a moment, and her stomach churned with fear, but she realised there was nothing else she really could do. Reporting it to anyone was simply out of question, and leaving it the way it was could have disastrous consequences. And she would not be the only one to face them – Snape would have to do it as well, and it probably meant that it would in some way affect the rest of the students as well, since he was the teacher, easily driven by his emotions.
Having decided she would not be able to finish her essay that night, she gathered her things and put them carefully into the bag, then took the bag and began climbing up the stairs into the dormitory, quite sure Ginny was asleep.
She was right – all of the girls in the room were already fast asleep, their quiet breaths sounding in unison. Hermione put her bag aside, then started changing into her nightgown, her thoughts flying back to Snape.
He was just a man. It was obvious that he had his flaws. Nevertheless, it did not mean she could excuse all of them. However, calling him a monster would be unfair as well, especially after all he had done for the whole wizarding population... for Harry as well, even though he had always been quite cruel to him. Well, at least he had been the one protecting him for his all life. No longer did she know what to think.
As she lay down in her bed, she took a deep breath. If there only was a way to talk to him about it all without him throwing a temper tantrum... Maybe he was right and she could understand him, but first, he would need to be willing to explain it to her.
She turned and looked at Ginny, now sleeping soundly in her bed. What would she say if she heard that Hermione, her best friend, did not want her brother, moreover, that she had kissed her brother's most hated teacher? That she had even thought of involving herself into some kind of affair with that man...?
Somehow it had already become a normal thing to think of – that she would end up with Ron. Everyone seemed to assume that, and everyone seemed to be happy with such a turn of events. But would she be happy with it?
Right now, she thought to herself, closing her eyes, I need to focus on my education. I'll have time for love later on.
Then, she slipped into a shallow, restless sleep. Tossing and turning in her bed, she could see Ginny's face, a grimace upon it, anger glistening in her usually warm brown eyes.
"I trusted you!" she shouted. "You were with Ron, everyone agreed to it! Don't you remember? He proposed to you, and now, you're leaving him...? At such a moment?"
"What moment?" asked Hermione, quite confused, and then, out of nowhere, Harry emerged, just as furious and disappointed as Ginny.
"You were about to get married," he said, his voice trembling. "You promised that, Hermione, don't lie now! You cannot just run away."
And he slapped some Muggle handcuffs on her wrists, pulling her towards the altar where Ron stood in his wedding attire. Only now did she realise she had a wedding gown on her as well. And there was Mrs Weasley, crying.
"You look so beautiful in my dress, Hermione," she whispered through her tears. "It's so good you're going to be a part of a family now!"
When Hermione wanted to answer, she found out she was unable to say anything – and Harry kept pulling her on and on towards the altar, which seemed to be strangely far from her. As she struggled, the handcuffs were getting even tighter.
"It hurts!" she cried, yet nothing but a mumble left her lips.
"Yes, we're all so touched," confessed Harry, "that you and Ron are finally getting married... you cannot get away now... not anymore... you're destined to be together."
And his face changed – now, it was not Harry but Professor Trelawney.
"Yes, yes, Miss Granger... you would have known if you'd attended my classes, but you decided to leave... it's written up there, in the stars... and in the cards... I could read your intestines right now... they would tell me the same..."
And she pulled out a giant knife, wanting to cut Hermione's stomach, but at that very moment they reached the altar where Ron looked at her almost blankly.
"We will be together forever," he said in a slurred mumble. "Forever..."
Hermione shook her head, shivering in fear, wanting to tell him that she was not ready... that she was not sure whether she would ever be ready, but her lips still seemed to be sealed, and she could not part them.
"I now pronounce you man and wife," echoed some strange voice as Harry, Ginny and Mrs Weasley started chaining her to Ron. And Ron's face changed, so he was no longer Ron Weasley but Severus Snape...
"Hermione! Hermione, wake up!"
The girl opened her eyes wide, still breathing heavily, her face was wet from sweat. Never in her life had she been so terrified.
"Do you want me to get you to Madam Pomfrey?"
Hermione shook her head. Only after a longer while she noticed that the girl standing in front of her was Ginny. Her voice was full of concern, sounding nothing like the Ginny from her nightmare... and there was no-one but the other three Gryffindor girls. No Snape, no Ron, no Harry...
"I just... had a very... very bad dream," she mumbled, stumbling out of her bed so she could have a glass of water.
"That I noticed," replied Ginny, approaching Hermione. "Are you sure you were alright with the detention?" she asked quietly, making sure the rest would not hear.
"I'm fine, it's just detention," said Hermione reassuringly.
Ginny turned back and saw the three other girls trying to eavesdrop.
"Get back to your beds," she snapped, then, having made sure Hermione had drunk enough water, helped her to the bed. "You should have some sleep. I'll sit here watching you."
Hermione shook her head.
"No, have some rest, too. I'll be fine."
After some more convincing, Ginny finally agreed and returned to her bed. When Hermione fell asleep once again, she had no dreams.