by Aurora
The next day was Friday. Her classes were over by 2 in the afternoon
and she decided to take a walk. She gathered some flowers from Sprout's
garden first, before setting out. She walked the now familiar path slowly,
as if she was prolonging the moments. Soon she reached the gates of the
cemetary.
Carefully she opened them and treaded softly to
the two graves near the back. She was surprised to see another figure in
black already sitting in front of one of them, pinching his nose again.
She decided to shy back a moment to study him. He looked very tense and
grave. He kept putting his head in his hands and fussing with his hair
when it fell in his face. As she walked closer she thought she heard him
mumbling something softly. She didnt catch most of it, but was able to
make out a "sorry" before he noticed her presence and went rigid all over.
"Its just me Severus."she spoke to reassure him.
He visibly relaxed some, and she took in the unspoken compliment in
the actions. If it were anyone else, he wouldnt have stayed there a moment
longer.
She moved to place the flowers on the grave of Minerva in front of
Snape and then some on Ron's as well. She then stood for a moment and he
looked at her then. He saw the play of thoughts across her face as she
tried to put something together. She looked at him then and her eyes grew
wide.
"Severus, you cant possibly blame yourself for.."
He cut her off.
"Of course I can, and I do. Every day. I should be where she lays and
she should be alive and well."
"No Severus. No, you couldnt possibly have known that she was right
behind you at that moment any more than you knew that Voldemort would deflect
your curse. This is not your fault."
She was crouching next to him now.
He remained silent, brooding.
"This is what has been eating at you hasnt it? Whats pulled you further
into yourself...Why Voldemort still has a hold on you even from his grave.
Because you choose to take all responsibility on yourself for every evil
he caused. You're only one man Severus, you cant put the weight of the
world on your shoulders alone."
"You're one to talk."he began a bit darkly.
"Wha-"
"You eat hardly anything, you sit in my rooms every night reading your
life away. You barely speak to any of your old friends. You dont care about
things around you. You just seem to move like a robot. How dare you lecture
me on carrying my burdens! Would you care to share why you mope about Professor
Granger?! Or do you just take pleasure in pouring salt into open wounds
of others and not your own."
She stared at him in shock and barely held back pain.
"Now if you are quite finished meddling Miss Granger, I'd ask you to
either leave me in peace or stay quiet if you're going to be here."
She looked away from him, not being able to contain her hurt any longer.
"Fine. Excuse me for putting your needs above mine Professor. I guess
that would mean I'd have to really care for you, and who would do that?"
she spat in a voice mixed with anger and hurt, tears brimming her eyes.
She got up quickly and moved to sit in front of Ron's grave, her back to
him. She didnt see the thunderstorm of confused emotions dance in his eyes
before he got up and left the cemetary.
A few moments later she turned towards where he had been.
"Severus, I-" she stopped when she saw he was gone and Albus Dumbledore
stood there instead.
"Hello Hermione."
"Albus..where did..."
"He went back to the castle. Dont worry child, he'll be alright. He
just needs time, and your words didnt really only hurt him. They did help,
no matter what he may let you think."
She sighed.
"He can be so difficult sometimes...."
"And thats why you like him."
She smiled.
"Yeah, I guess so....hey! How did you know that?"
The older man chuckled.
"I know everything my dear. Plus, you practically told him with your
last words Hermione."
She blushed.
"You heard all of that?"she asked sheepishly.
"No, just from when he started to yell at you.He is right you know.
You need to come to terms with what is eating at you, even if you cant
seem to think what is causing it. But my guess is you know whats bothering
you, and you need to fix it as soon as possible."
She looked down at her hands then, wringing them.
She felt her chin tipped upwards by a long finger.
"Dont worry child. His bark is much worse than his bite."
The old wizard smiled at her then and she turned her gaze back to Ron's
grave.
"Forever friends Ron."she whispered before turning back to an empty
spot.
"He is way too good at that..."she chuckled.