1 Disclaimer: Don't own anything, not making any money, no infringement intended. I just love these characters too much to leave them alone.

1.1 Rating: R for language. Mostly it's been PG so far, but that will probably change very soon, so it gets the R.

Summary: Hermione finds comfort from an unexpected source after Ron breaks up with her. Takes place 7th year, two months before the Trio graduate from Hogwarts. Severus/Hermione.

2

3 Rebound

by Auror Borealis

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4 Chapter 4



For the next week, Hermione kept to herself. She spent most of her time outside of class in the library, almost never looking up from her reading. It was the postural equivalent of a 'do not disturb' sign. Her fellow students had long since learned that there was nothing to be gained from disturbing the Brain of Gryffindor while she was immersed in a book, and possibly something to be lost; a limb, perhaps, especially if it was close to finals. Rumours flying around Hogwarts about Ron's change of girlfriends also helped. A Hermione in mourning for her lost love was bound to be even more dangerous than one who simply had studying to do. She had been approached once or twice by bolder students hungry for the freshest gossip, but her chilly manner and monosyllabic answers to their questions convinced them that Parvati Patil would make better prey, and sought her out instead.

She came early to meals, bolted down her food, and left again as quickly as possible. "Got work to do" was the only response anyone got when they asked her why she couldn't stay to chat for a moment. She stayed in the library until it closed, only then going up to Gryffindor Tower, hurrying through ablutions in the bathroom, then retiring to her bed, curtains closed around her. Lavender greeted her awkwardly during these brief encounters. Loyalty to Parvati made her unsure of how she should behave with Hermione. Parvati herself was by turns penitent for her role in Hermione's perceived anguish, and resentful towards what seemed to be Hermione's martyred attitude.

"She should just grow up, and accept it already," Parvati told Lavender in Divination one day. "She's making it impossible for me to just enjoy being with Ron."



Harry did his best to respect Hermione's wish for solitude, but it was beginning to worry him. It worried Ron as well. After kissing Parvati goodnight at the foot of the steps leading to the girls' dormitory, Ron turned an anxious face to Harry, who was performing largely superfluous servicing on his beloved Firebolt.

"You don't think she'll do anything drastic, do you, Harry?" he asked.

"Who?" Harry was fine-tuning the alignment of several important twigs. The last time he'd flown, it seemed that the broom might possibly have leaned just the tiniest bit to the left. He measured the distance between two twigs again, adjusted them, measured again, and decided that they were better where they'd started. In truth, he just loved to putter with the broomstick, whether it needed it or not.

"Hermione. She's been a complete hermit ever since the split." Ron's face was anxious.

"Define drastic." Harry held the broom up, inspecting it from another angle.

"Well, you don't think there's any chance she'd, you know, hurt herself? Because if she did, I'd never forgive myself."

Harry had wondered the same thing, but as angry as Hermione had been with Ron, he didn't think she would go that far. He thought immersing herself in her books was exactly what Hermione was bound to do in a situation like this. He hoped she'd start feeling more social soon, but if she still needed space, he wasn't going to pester her about it. He knew it wouldn't be a good thing if Ron decided to do so. Concern coming from Ron right now was bound to be as welcome as finding out that Snape was now Head of Gryffindor.

"Come on, Ron, lighten up. I know you think you're a major player now, but I hardly think Hermione's going to chuck herself off the Astronomy Tower for your sake." Harry's wry tone brought a smile to Ron's face.

"You're right. She just needs a little time. I really hope she starts talking to Parvati again, soon, though. It's really getting to her." His face turned from worried to what could best be described as goofy, as his mind dwelled on his new girlfriend.

"You've got it bad, Ron." Harry was smiling. "But honestly, if Hermione's nothing else, she's strong. And if you think that after you, she has nothing worthwhile to live for, you must have forgotten that she has an Arithmancy exam tomorrow. She wouldn't drink her hemlock until she got her results back from that, so you can relax."

Ron grinned, his mood lightened not only by Harry's reassurances about Hermione, but by his acceptance of Parvati's place in Ron's life. Now, if only he could have his other best friend back…



Hermione was not mourning, although she didn't do anything to dispel that impression. Far better that others believed her to be pining over Ron Weasley – which was quite a ridiculous notion, now that she thought about it – than to guess that she had also moved on, considering the direction her affections were now guiding her.

For a couple of days, Hermione had wondered if there was anything else in the numbing potion Professor Snape had given her the night of the break up. A love potion, perhaps? But she dismissed the idea quickly. There was no such thing as a time-release love potion that became stronger, not weaker, with the passage of time. And she had progressed rapidly from flattered by what Snape had said to her, to having developed a full-blown crush on the Potions Master. She did in fact spend a great deal of her time studying, but the remainder of her solitary reflections dwelled on Snape. His dark, mysterious eyes; his brooding manner that could, if one thought about it, do justice to a romantic hero out of 19th century Muggle literature. Would he compare best to Heathcliff, she wondered, or was he Mr. Rochester to her Jane Eyre? Perhaps he was the hero from Rebecca, although she couldn't quite recall his name at the moment. And was that a 19th or 20th century novel anyway? She'd have to look it up. Either way, she could picture him frightening the wits out of his new bride in an old mausoleum of a Gothic mansion. She shivered deliciously. It had possibilities. Maybe just a dash of the arrogant, sarcastic Mr. Darcy thrown in for good measure. Or perhaps Mr. Knightley to her Emma; Emma was considered too bossy by half, and still managed to make a decent romantic heroine. It was a pleasant thought.

"Miss Granger." Hermione was suddenly, uncomfortably aware that she was the focus of attention from her silent, staring classmates. She wondered just how long Professor Lupin had been trying to get her attention, and she blushed vivid red.

"I'm sorry, Professor, could you repeat the question?" Harry and Ron were staring at her too, as was Parvati, who had an odd expression on her face.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to deduct five points from Gryffindor for having to call on you four times, Miss Granger. I would be obliged if you could tell us the roots of the legend that says that garlic repels vampires, and why it would be dangerous to trust one's life to it?"

Recalled to herself, she answered the question automatically. Get it together, Granger, she told herself. Crush or no crush (she couldn't bring herself to call it love; not after so badly mistaking the depth of her affection for Ron), she couldn't afford more silly lapses like that. Those silly lapses could wait until she was alone, and could enjoy them in peace.



"I'm telling you, Ron, I know that look," Parvati insisted. She was seated in front of Ron, leaning back against his chest while he nuzzled her neck in the Quidditch stadium, only a few benches away from where Hermione had sat crying a week before.

"Parvati, love, don't worry about it. I've told you, she'll get over it. She's got tons going for her; she'll soon wonder what she ever saw in me." He chuckled, and turned her face up to him for a kiss. "Just as long as you don't start doing the same."

"That's just it, Ron," she said when they came up for air. "I think she probably is wondering what she ever saw in you."

Ron sat up straight. "What are you talking about?"

"I know that look, because I've seen it in the mirror too many times recently not to know it. I think Hermione's in love." She smiled and snuggled back against Ron, missing the look of dismay on his face.







A/N: I know, no Snape makes for a disappointing chapter, but don't get your knickers in a twist, I'm getting to it ;)

Seriously, thanks very much for all the kind feedback you've been giving me, and please keep it coming.