Sorry for the delay of this chapter! Floods, snow and ice storms…now tornado warning's…the weather is CRAZY right now! Needless to say I'm a bit freaked out! Just a lot of things going on at once I've wrote this chapter four different ways….I'm not satisfied with how it flows….any input is welcome! Thank you everyone that has reviewed I think I got all the reply's back but in case I didn't big THANK YOUS!

I own nothing in the world of Harry Potter ….yada yada yada

Chapter 6: Hermione's Choice

Severus went home and settled in for the night. His thoughts were heavy with knowledge of what was to come in the next couple weeks. He was adamant about not helping with the cause but wasn't this the same cause he had already be fighting for two decades? A moral struggle began in his mind. He shook his head to dispel of the thoughts bouncing around in his head. He would decide on what to do after the Ball tomorrow night. After that he will know if he has a future to worry about keeping. He lay back on his bed covered up and drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Hermione cradling in his head.

Hermione awoke on Saturday morning with a big fat smile across her face. It was time to get started preparing for tonight. She was truly excited about her date with Severus tonight. She honestly believed that nothing could spoil her good fortune. She had seen a new side of Severus and she was ready to see more of his soft caresses.

She pulled her new dress robes from the closet and laid them across her bed. She placed the shoes beneath were the dress draped over the edge of the bed. Her jewelry was next placing it gently on the bed beside her dress. Making her way to the shower she started the process of cleaning and taming her hair. She knew it would take nearly all day to make it beautiful enough for a ball.

Severus awoke with an indifferent expression across his face. He was feeling awful about last night. Why was there always something interfering with his life? Throwing the self pity to the side for a moment he remembered that tonight was his date with Hermione. He was very excited about tonight but he knew he would have to tell her about the events that unfolded last night.

He had made his decision. Before he began the process of readying himself for the ball he would go to Hermione's and informs her of what had happen. Perhaps with her opinion it would be easier to form his own decision on what he should do. Before he had time to change his mind he apparated to the church below Hermione's home. He didn't feel it appropriate to apparate to her bedroom. He made his way down the street and up to her home carefully knocking on the door.

Hermione heard a small tap on the front door. This annoyed her greatly considering she was in the midst of taming her hair. She ignored the door and hopefully they would go away. After a few minutes had passed she heard the knock again only the knock had become louder. Huffing loudly she got up and made her way down the stairs. She had put her night gown back on after her shower because it was easy to get off and wouldn't disturb her hair after she had gotten it ready.

She made her way to the front door and without a second thought she slung the door open. Immediately regretting that decision considering that she was in her night gown with her hair half bushy and half straight; she was certain she looked absolutely hideous!

Quickly attempting to hide behind the front door she weakly spoke as she was completely embarrassed.

"Se..Se..Severus what are you doing here?"

Severus was floored when she opened the door in her night gown. It literally took his breath away. Her gown clung to her curvaceous body and in that instance he could feel a throbbing in his groin. Dear Merlin she needed cloths on now before he changed his mind and ignored the whole situation!

"Hermione…" He cleared his throat because her name came out scratchy and hoarse like.

"I have something we need to discuss. May I come in?"

Oh no! He's canceling our date! I knew this was too good to be true. I hope they will take my dress robes back.

"No. I understand. There is no need to come in I'm sure whoever else you found for your date will suit you much more adequately." She slammed the door in his face. She walked over to the steps and fell back towards them sitting a little too hard on the fourth step up.

Wait…what just…did she think he was canceling their date! Merlin this woman is insane maybe he should cancel their date. He knocked on the door again….and again….and again….she wasn't going to answer. He was slowly beginning to come apart she could not just ignore him…he reached for the door handle. Thankful that she didn't lock the door he slowly opened the door waiting for something to be thrown at his head. Nothing came but sadly she was sitting on the steps weeping. He went straight to her and wrapped her up into his arms. "Hermione please stop crying." He gently wiped the tears off her cheek. "I beg of you…Please stop crying."

Hermione couldn't help but cry. She couldn't really handle anymore rejection. Severus had pushed her over the edge just now and she honestly thought she was going to have a break down. She heard the knocking on the door. She didn't want to see him again. Never again would she allow anyone to get close to her even in friendship. She knew that other girls were prettier than her and easier to get along with but why could she not have just one person in her life who thought she was beautiful and who thought her vast amount of knowledge was attractive? She heard the door open but she was to busy wallowing in her self pity to notice Severus walking through the door.

She felt his warm embrace, arms wrapped around her, the gentleness of his voice and how he so delicately wiped the tears from her face. It was a sudden realization that he was holding her attempting to calm her down. She didn't want his pity!

She pushed him away, "I don't need your pity Severus….I'm use to being someone's second choice." She spat out with as much venom as she could muster.

It hurt when she pushed him away. Pity? Second choice? She must have bumped her head because she has officially lost her mind. How anyone could put her second to anyone including themselves was beyond him. "Hermione, you are not my second choice."

"What do you want!?" She was furious! Not only was she not his first or second choice but she wasn't a choice at all; the nerve of this man was fierce!

Severus bit his tongue he had to keep his calm when dealing with these raw emotions she was apparently unleashing to the world mainly, him. "I did not come here to cancel our date. I came here to tell you something that…well…that has nothing to do with the Ministry Ball." He didn't know if he should cover his ears because he knew more shouting was about to commence.

"Pardon me? It has nothing to do with the Ministry ball? Then why did you act so…so…you pompous ass!" She stood quickly and headed to the kitchen to make some tea. With each step fervently stomping the ground she felt almost like rejoicing that he wasn't rejecting her and at the same time she felt quite embarrassed at her mini break down. She reached for the tea kettle and sat it on the stove…instantly remembering she forgot to fill it with water she turned towards the sink and filled it up and then set it on the stove.

Mumbling under her breath incoherent obscenities because of her stupidity. She felt like Ron over reacting to the smallest thing then realizing he was wrong the entire time.

Severus couldn't believe he hadn't been smacked. He didn't deserve to be smacked but he was certain that it was going to happen. He slowly followed Hermione into the kitchen. He listened carefully as she mumbled under her breath but could not determine what exactly she was saying. He couldn't wrap his mind around the thought that she felt rejected. Who would reject such a beautiful woman? Such an intelligent beautiful woman. How could he show her that he wanted her? He was use to rejection he knew how she felt but rejection for him was normal. After all he was the bat of the dungeons for crying out loud!

He had to show her she was desirable and wanted. He walked over to her and grabbed her arm turning her to face him. He pushed her backwards up against the kitchen counter and put his hands on the counter behind her. She was intoxicating. He stared into her dark brown eyes and stared at her lips. He brought one hand up along the curves of her body to her face and cupped her cheek into his hand. Barely at a whisper, "Hermione…."

She was completely floored. Did he just back her up into the kitchen counter? Is he going to do what I think he's going to do! Dear Merlin I haven't brushed my teeth yet! She heard his silky smooth deep baritone voice say her name. She melted on que..that voice drove her crazy. "Yes Severus?"

His nose was nearly touching hers he was still staring into her eyes. He leaned into her and brought his mouth up close to her ear. With all the "feelings" he could bring to the surface he brought them into his voice which barely came out as a whisper. "Don't ever think you are undesirable." He moved back to look her in the eyes, he pushed his body into hers and went to speak into her other ear. "After tonight you will never doubt my want for you." He nibbled on her ear and pulled back one last time staring deeply into her eyes. "After tonight you will never have to face rejection from me again." He leaned in and gave her a small kiss on the cheek; kissing away her only remaining tears.

He stepped back and let her go as the tea kettle began to whistle. He walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. That should ensure her at least for the time being they still had a lot to discuss.

Hermione was so weak in the knees she didn't think she could move. That voice and his tender touch was enough to send any woman screaming for more! She needed more and he just goes a sits his ass down at the kitchen table as if it didn't faze him not one damn bit. After several minutes of white knuckling the kitchen counters edge she made her way to the tea kettle and to the kitchen table with everything they needed for tea. She sat across from Severus with a vacant stare on her face. She wanted to jump across the table and rip his cloths off but in reality she was far too timid to do such a thing. She had never even made it past second base before. Truth be told the most erotic moment of her life happened about ten minutes ago.

"Well why are you nine hours early for our date Severus?"

"I came to discuss with you the possibility of another war."

Hermione stared at him for another moment before responding. If there were another possibility of a war surely Harry would have sent her an owl by now.

"Another war against whom?" She asked playfully because in all honesty she thought he was blowing a bit of smoke up her arse.

"Voldemort."

"I don't understand. Voldemort is dead." Maybe the snake venom is still affecting his brain?

Severus began to explain the events that unfolded the previous night. He watched as Hermione twitched uncomfortably in her chair. He could tell that she was nervous to think that Voldemort could return and that Arthur and Ron could be the first to suffer at the hands of this rounds Death Eaters. He watched as she gripped her left arm and wondered why she was holding it so tightly.

"Hermione, I told Potter that I would not be involved in this fight. I don't however know if that is the right decision. What do you feel the best course of action would be to take?"

The fire that had ignited in her stomach only moments ago had been doused with water from the artic circle. She did not want to go into another war. So many people had already died or suffered from Voldemort. Why would anyone want to bring him back? How was she supposed to decide to give up her life again to fight these idiotic people? Especially since it felt like everyone she loved turned their back on her because of Severus. She couldn't decide this on a whim. She had to weight her options.

"I…I don't know." She stood up and walked away from the kitchen table to the back door. Staring out of the window up into the sky she wondered if it would be worth the effort. The emotional damage from the last war nearly broke her. She wondered if Harry wanted her help or if Severus wanted her to help. "Severus what do you really want?"

"I want to leave this country and never look back." He knew he could do it and never regret it. He could pack his bags right now and walk out of his home and never look back. He just didn't want to do it alone. He was tired of his solitude. There was something about Hermione that he just couldn't figure out. Her beauty was beyond her years, her intelligence was overwhelming and he thought maybe he cared for her.

He felt the same as she did. She didn't want to be apart of another war. Today was the first day since she was ten that she had woke up with the ability to look forward to her day. The excitement she felt when she got out of bed to get ready for her date with Severus was powerful.

"I don't want to make my decision yet Severus. I want to wait until after tonight. I want to enjoy the rest of this day as if I never heard anything that you have said in the last hour." She sighed and turned to face the kitchen table. She walked over and laid her hand on Severus' shoulder. "I have to finish getting ready. You want to join me?"

"Yes I can stay for a little while."

She held out her hand for Severus to take and she led him up the stairs and into her room. She directed him to a chair so that he may sit by her while she finished her hair and makeup.

He took her hand and followed her to her bedroom. She was radiating beauty and he began to question her interest. Why was this beautiful woman interested in him? Could she be settling because she feels like no one else would ever want her? When he held her in his arms he knew that's where he wanted to be. He had never comforted anyone the way he had tried to comfort Hermione. He was filled with want and desire for her not only because of her beauty but above all for her intelligence. He wanted her now and forever. She sat him in a chair in her bedroom. He sat and stared at her watching her tame the beast.

"Why are you so quite Severus?"

"Admiring the view." And what a view it was to be held.

Hermione blushed. She suddenly felt the heat flush into her personal area again. She started thinking about earlier being pinned against the counter. She wanted him but he was obviously acting the gentlemen at this point because he had done nothing but sits and stare at her since they entered her room. He must be holding in laughter over her hair.

"As much as it pains me Hermione I must leave so that I may prepare for this evenings affair." He should have just brought his things with him to get ready here however, he didn't think she would still want to go after he had told her what happened last night with Potter. She actually looked disappointed that he was leaving. He hadn't expected her to care for him. He just wished he knew on what level she cared. He didn't want to admit just exactly how much he was caring.

"Must you go now? Can't you stay just a bit longer?" She was afraid to be alone. She felt safe with Severus. She knew he would protect her at all costs. She had never respected and adored anyone the way she did him.

He had to go get ready…but in a way he didn't want to leave either. "Perhaps I can go get my things and return here to ready myself?"

"That sounds like a lovely idea. I will wait here for you I hope you wont be long." Maybe she could go with him. Just the thought of Voldemort dead or alive made her nauseous.

"I will be back soon." He caressed her cheek turned and apparated to Spinner's End.