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

Rating: R for language

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.



Rebound

by Auror Borealis



1 Chapter 7



Snape entered the Three Broomsticks with Hagrid and Lupin, looking in vain for an empty table. It was the last Hogsmeade weekend of the school year, finals were over, and it was a beautiful, warm June day. The tavern was packed to the rafters with 3rd years and older, most of whom had completed their tours of Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop, and the other places that thrived on the custom of the students. Packages and bags were piled on most of the tables, leaving little room for the butterbeer that the teenagers couldn't seem to get enough of. Harry spotted the teachers first, and waved them over to their table.

Hermione was elated when the Potions professor, arriving first at the table, chose the seat next to her. She'd been trying so hard not to behave like a lovestruck puppy around him. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done. Looking at him now, sitting crowded close to him in the company of her favorite people in the world, she felt a wave of love for him. The Leaving Feast was in less than a week. Hermione's resolve was threatening to crumble, here and now. Less than a week, and he would be gone from her life. She longed to throw her arms around him and kiss him senseless, to beg him to love her in return. Instead, she smiled at him, greeting him warmly, but politely.

Weasley, to Snape's amazement, was quite cordial to him, as well as to Lupin and Hagrid. Parvati had blistered his ears the night Hermione had returned to the dungeons in answer to Snape's summons, making it clear that if she had to witness any more displays of jealousy over Hermione, Ron would have not one but two ex-girlfriends. The next evening, alone in the common room after everyone else had gone to bed, Hermione had told him that if she had to endure any more such scenes, she would be not only his ex- girlfriend, but his ex-friend. The discussion that followed went a long way toward clearing the air between them, much to everyone's relief.



"If I have to be willing to move on, so do you. You can't have it both ways."

"I'm just trying to protect you, Hermione." He sounded a bit lame, even to himself. After his talk with Parvati, he realized that he had been guilty of being possessive towards two girls at once. He adored Parvati, but it was harder than he thought it would be to let go of Hermione, and he said so.

"That is something you're going to have to work out on your own, Ron. I still love you, as a friend. Only as a friend. I think the reason I reacted like I did when we broke up was because you dumped me, and not the other way around. Rejection hurts," she said, and was touched when he laid a sympathetic hand over hers. The gesture was free of anything else, and she was glad to see it.

"I know, and I think that's why I'm taking this whole Snape thing so hard. Even if we're not together anymore, it's not easy to see you want someone else. I know that's not rational, and it's not fair to you. But I am working on it."

She smiled. "I know you are. But I don't think you have to worry about the 'whole Snape thing,' anyway. It's one-sided, and that's never going to change." The pain in her voice was obvious, and in unconscious imitation of his longtime nemesis, Ron knelt in front of her.

"If he doesn't see how special you are, he doesn't deserve you. I never did deserve you, and I know it now. I'm really sorry for being such a pain in the ass about the things that were important to you. I felt threatened, and I knew I couldn't measure up in the end. I put you through a lot because of it, and I wish I hadn't been such a jerk."

"Thanks, Ron. I wasn't easy to be with either, I know. Don't take offense at this…" she trailed off, waiting for a signal from Ron to continue. He nodded. "I think Parvati is good for you. The reason I think that is because the Ron Weasley I dated wouldn't have admitted what you just did."

"You're right. She is good for me. I may not deserve her, either, but I'm going to try. And Hermione," he added, giving her a hug, "if Snape is really what will make you happy, I hope you get him."



Thinking back to that night, Hermione was glad to have Ron seated next to her, knowing now that she could count on emotional support from him. He turned his attention to Parvati and Lavender, 2 startling Hermione by pointedly excluding her from the discussion she had been involved in moments before. Harry's attention was focused on Lupin and Hagrid, who were enthusiastically discussing Harry's plans for the summer and afterward, which were happily completely Dursley-free. Harry was being courted by the Chudley Cannons, and had decided that a few years of professional Quidditch would not be a bad thing before making the decision about a more permanent career. Ron was doing a summer internship with Gringotts, working with his brother Bill in Egypt for the summer as a curse- breaker. Parvati's interest in magical archaeology had led her parents to agree to let her join a program sponsored by a prestigious wizarding university that would be digging in Egypt during the summer as well, provided she took along a girlfriend. Lavender had happily agreed to play chaperone. Hermione had been caught up in their plans with them when the teachers arrived, not eager to talk about her own.

Ron's ploy to make sure Hermione and Snape had only each other to talk to made Hermione grateful; it was a generous gesture, confirming her belief that Parvati was bringing out the best in Ron in a way that she never could have.

Snape, beside her, took a sip of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, set down by a very busy Rosmerta. "What institution of learning will you be honoring with your presence next fall, Miss Granger?"

Hermione was taken aback for a moment by Snape's sneering tone, but then she caught the slight upward tilt of one corner of his mouth. It looked as if, with a little encouragement, it could become a smile. She found herself nervous about his reaction to her plans. Ron had been openly dismayed, and even Harry had been surprised, and not entirely pleased. Hoping it wouldn't make that hint of a smile on Snape's face disappear into a genuine sneer, she told him.

Hermione had, as a concession to her parents, agreed to attend London University for one year, to make certain that the Muggle world offered no options that she might prefer over the magical one. She had been reluctant, not wishing to get behind in her wizarding education. But she decided that it was the least she could do for them. They had been very supportive all through her time at Hogwarts, even as they were watching her slowly disappear into a world they could never be a part of.

To her astonishment, he nodded thoughtfully and said, "I can understand why they would want you to have more exposure to the Muggle world. You've lived mostly in the wizarding one since you were a child, after all. I've thought occasionally that the Muggle scientific community lost a brilliant mind the day you received your Hogwarts letter."

She smiled brilliantly at him. "I'm beginning to look at it as taking a year off before I start university for real. I'm planning on taking mostly literature and history courses, a bit of math and chemistry, and watching a lot of movies and eating a lot of pizza."

"What is pizza?"

Hermione laughed as she explained. Even after seven years at Hogwarts, the gaps in the average wizard's knowledge of all things Muggle still amazed her. And the wizard seated next to her, she reflected, was far from average. He then quizzed her on the subject of movies, looking amused at her appalled expression when he told her he'd never seen one.

As they left to return to Hogwarts, Hermione strolled along beside Snape, their heads bent close together as they talked. One by one or in couples, their companions remembered last minute errands in Hogsmeade. Before they reached the train station and the path beyond it that led to the castle, they were alone. When Hermione shyly took Snape's hand, he gave her a startled look, but did not pull away.



That evening, Snape had another visit from Lupin. They retired to Snape's private quarters, making desultory conversation until they were both settled before the huge fireplace, snifters of brandy and a decanter on the table between them. For once, Snape was not in the mood to exchange barbs with his old not-quite-friend. They sat enjoying the brandy in companionable silence for a long time, until Lupin spoke.

"I think she was hoping you'd ask her to go for pizza and a movie over the summer."

"Do you think so?" Snape's tone was bored.

"She was certainly glad to see you in The Three Broomsticks."

"How gratifying."

"So why didn't you?"

"Why didn't I what, Lupin?"

"Why didn't you ask her on a date?"

Snape pinned the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a look that usually drove the blood from the faces of the first years.

"Am I to ask a student for a date? I cannot believe that even you would favor such a thing."

"After the Leaving Feast, she won't be a student anymore. Not here, at least."

"Let it alone." This was almost a growl.

"Thanks for telling me I hit a nerve. I wasn't sure before now."

Snape sighed, knowing very well that Lupin would not let go of the subject. Damn the man for his impudence anyway, he thought.

"It's a crush."

"I'm not so sure of that anymore, Severus."

Silence descended again, lasting for several minutes. Snape did not want to betray himself by asking what the werewolf meant, and Lupin wasn't going to volunteer the information. He was enjoying this too much.

Snape finally decided that the relief of talking about it would outweigh the indignity of doing so.

"Weasley broke off his relationship with her, and I was foolish enough to be nice to her shortly thereafter. As you said, a knight in shining armor. Next time I shall know better than to go to the rescue of a damsel in distress."

"She and Ron are friends again."

"And what has that to do with anything?"

"Only that if she turned to you only because she felt abandoned by him, I would think that her interest would be waning now. They've never gotten along better."

"He's no longer her boyfriend."

"But she's not feeling alone anymore, either. She's spending as much time with her friends as ever."

"I'm old enough to be her father."

"Only just. And I believe that her father has a good fifteen years on you. I'm sure you could take him in a fight, if that's what's worrying you."

His jest was rewarded with a hint of a smile, but it faded quickly. When Snape spoke again, his voice sounded defeated.

"You know what I am, Lupin, and what I've been. I can never be good enough for her."

"Severus, my friend," Lupin replied thoughtfully, "if Hermione were to wait for the man who was good enough, she'd be alone all of her life. What she needs is someone who loves her. She needs someone who can love her for who she is, and not try to make her into the girl he wants her to be, like Ron was trying to do, poor blighter. She needs a man who's strong, at least as intelligent as she is, and above all, one who can truly appreciate what the gods have bestowed upon him. I know one man who fits that description, and he's sitting next to me feeling sorry for himself because a wonderful young woman has fallen in love with him. On second thought, maybe you're not as smart as I thought you were."

"I am not feeling sorry for myself, so kindly go to hell."

"That's the spirit. There's only one question. Do you love her?"

Snape poured another brandy and held it in his hands to warm it as he considered the question. "Would we be having this conversation if you didn't already know that I do?"

"Not a chance. Cheers," Lupin said, draining his glass.