DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of the Harry Potter world, just the plot.
A/N: Poor Hermione! Everyone feel sorry for her! Don't worry, she'll feel
happier soon! Snape might seem a bit OOC, but he's really NOT evil, just
misunderstood!
CHAPTER 2 Talks and romancing
The next morning, Snape woke with a start as one of his legs fell off of the chair he was sitting in and hit the floor with a thud. He glanced at the clock and realized with a jolt that it was 6:00 in the morning. He tried to stand and cursed as his leg reminded him hat he had not moved all night. His left leg was numb to the thigh, and Snape gritted his teeth and waited until the tingling receded from his leg. He stood up and went over to Hermione, shaking her gently by the shoulder. She jerked upright with a small cry, looking around with terrified eyes. "Hermione. Miss Granger," Snape said. "It's just me. We have to get back to your rooms." Hermione calmed and nodded, and stood quietly. Snape escorted her out of his chambers. "Will you be all right walking to Gryffindor tower by yourself?" h asked quietly. "Of course," Hermione said. She turned to go, and stopped. "Professor- thank you." She turned and fled then, and Snape sighed. He walked back into his office and took out a small glass mirror that he had spelled to reveal the whereabouts and activities of any person. "Hermione Granger," he commanded, tapping the smooth glass surface with his wand. A picture of the tired-looking girl formed in the mirror. He watched as she entered her common room, and to his surprise, no one looked startled that she had been away for the night. This implied that she was often away during the night, and Snape did not like this in the least. He would have to monitor her carefully over the next few nights. Snape watched her in the mirror for three nights, and she stayed in her tower the whole time, with no change in routine whatsoever. On the fourth night, however, she got into bed but feigned sleep until all of the other girls were out. Then, she arose and stalked swiftly and silently out of the tower, heading for another section of the castle. Snape cursed and watched her carefully, and realized that she was headed for the Astronomy tower. He threw on a cloak and raced out of his office, leaving the mirror behind. He took a few shortcuts, and came out of a corridor just behind the girl. He slunk along silently behind her, and watched her carefully as she climbed the stairs to the tower, still unaware of his presence. When she reached the top, she walked into the room and headed straight to one of the windows. Snape crept closer and hid behind a box, ready to jump out and pull her back it she showed any inclination to jump. She merely stared out of the window, however, leaning over the edge slightly. Snape wondered what she was doing, and she spoke suddenly. "I'm a coward," Hermione said softly, turning to face the spot where Snape hid. He knew that she saw him and stood up slowly, eyes never leaving her face, which still contained great sadness. "I want so much to end it all," she continued. "But I'm a coward. Living my life, pretending I'm fine. I can't do it anymore. But I haven't the courage to jump." Snape stepped forward, catching her upper arm and holding it. "You're not," he said firmly. "Suicide is cowardly. By living, you are being braver than anyone else here." "What about you?" Hermione asked, turning those shadowed eyes up to his. "I'm not brave," Snape said bitterly, looking away. "If I were brave, I'd tell Dumbledore what I did." "Why can't you?" Hermione whispered. "I can't tell anyone," Snape replied in an anguished voice. "Never." "Not me?" Hermione asked, sad eyes still upon him. Snape looked up in startlement. "You can trust me, Sev'," she whispered. "I won't judge you or betray you. I know too much of that." Grief flitted across her features, but it was gone in an instant. "I-I can't. Not now. Maybe later, but-not now." Hermione nodded, and looked back out of the window. Snape sighed in relief tinged with regret. If she ever found out-he would not be her enemy.
He would be dead. Severus looked up as Hermione turned back around. "Professor?" she asked timidly. "Yes?" Snape answered, in a gentle tone. "Do you think, that sometime, we could just-talk, a bit? Maybe?" Her voice was timid and sad, as though she expected him to say no. This told Snape that, even though she was very intelligent, she was very insecure. That alone would have made Snape give what answer he did, even if he didn't already have s bit of a soft spot for the girl. "Yes, Hermione. Anytime. I'm here." "Always?" Hermione whispered, walking slowly towards him, as though scarcely daring to believe it. "Always," he confirmed. He swept her into a most un-snapelike hug and picked her up, carrying her down the stairs.
~~~~~~~~~~
Over the next few months, Snape and Hermione talked a lot, mostly at night, when neither of them could sleep. He learned much of what she thought about things; politics, magic, muggles, boys. He told her of his days as a student and what his family had been like. They both enjoyed each other's company, and grew closer and closer. One night, Snape decided to ask Hermione something. "Hermione, do you play chess?" he asked as they sat across from each other, sipping drinks. "Yes, why?" she replied, waking up a bit. "Well, it just so happens that no one has beat me in over ten years," Snape said casually. The challenge hung in the air between them, and Hermione sat up in an instant. "Well, I'm sure that could be remedied," she replied lazily, her face betraying no emotion. Snape smirked and Summoned his chessboard. He conjured up a table and placed it between them, and laid the board flat. "Pawn to d-4," he commanded, starting the game. He grinned to himself as the pieces arranged themselves. This would be fun.
~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later he sat bolt upright, staring at the board in shock. "What did you say?" he asked his partner, dumbfounded. "I said checkmate, Professor Snape," Hermione repeated, sounding smug. "B-but, you're only a student! E-even Dumbledore couldn't beat me!" he said, staring at her. "Well, I guess you've met your match, Professor," Hermione stated, and swept out of his rooms, smirking slightly. Snape seethed for a moment before laughing. He had gotten complacent! He would beat her next time.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chess became a ritual for them. At about ten o'clock at night, Hermione would arrive at Snape's rooms, and he would set up the chessboard. While they were playing, they would open on whatever subject they wanted to discuss that night. After an hour or so, if they still were not finished, they took a break and had some drinks, usually juice or light wine. Hermione was particularly fond of Muggle champagne. Snape himself preferred vodka. Hermione had grown noticeably happier over the last few months. She began eating better, and some of the gloom had left her face. The shadows in her eyes were still there, however, and it was those that Snape most worried about. There was something there that no one knew about, he could tell. Something even worse than knowing her parents were dead. He knew that Hermione did not want to tell anyone about it, but as long as she kept it bottled up, the shadows would stay. He had to coax it out of her somehow. They had avoided talking about anything depressing so far, but as the chessboard set itself up one December night, Snape gently prowled around the subject. "Do you know any Dark curses?" he asked casually as she made the first move. Hermione jumped, confusing her pawn so that it landed on the wrong space. "Why?" she asked, sounding nervous. "Just wondering," he said, gently correcting her pawn. "Oh. Yes, I know a few." "More than a few, I'd reckon," he said shrewdly. Hermione nodded, smiling sadly. "I know a few myself," he continued, and her face went a tiny bit paler. "I-I know," she said, staring hard at the board. "When did you find out?" he asked softly. She looked up at him with startled eyes, and he did his best to look non-threatening. "A long time ago," she said, looking back down at the board. "And you trusted me?" "Yes." "Why?" Hermione didn't answer for a moment, then sighed. "I knew that you were all right, Severus Snape, the first time I saw you. You were cruel, yes, and sarcastic, but I knew that you were not evil. I have no idea how, or why, but I felt that I could trust you from very early on." Snape was startled by these words, and looked up into her face. Her eyes were completely sincere, and the shadows had fled for a single instant. Snape was caught in the beauty of her face, the seriousness and intelligence that resided in her eyes. Hermione was completely taken with her professor at that point. He looked so different like his, startlement clearly visible on his face. There were no masks, no layers of cold indifference. He was just.himself. She leaned unconsciously closer to him, caught in the heat of his gaze, and he leaned in as well. Before either of them knew it, their lips met. Hermione had kissed before, and she would say that she liked it well enough. But liking did not begin to describe the thunder that raced through her body, filling every inch of her. Sparks seemed to fly where their lips met, and for the first time in over two years, she felt happy, completely fulfilled. Snape was a bit shocked at first, but relaxed in an instant. He had not kissed in just over twenty years, but he remembered well how to. Hermione did not seem the least bit afraid of him, which was what startled him the most. After all she had heard about him, he would expect that she would stiffen and run. To Snape's even greater shock, she slid sideways and out from behind the table to get nearer to him, never losing contact. All thoughts were wiped from his mind as Hermione put her arms around his neck, and he sighed into her mouth. Finally, he had found someone.
CHAPTER 2 Talks and romancing
The next morning, Snape woke with a start as one of his legs fell off of the chair he was sitting in and hit the floor with a thud. He glanced at the clock and realized with a jolt that it was 6:00 in the morning. He tried to stand and cursed as his leg reminded him hat he had not moved all night. His left leg was numb to the thigh, and Snape gritted his teeth and waited until the tingling receded from his leg. He stood up and went over to Hermione, shaking her gently by the shoulder. She jerked upright with a small cry, looking around with terrified eyes. "Hermione. Miss Granger," Snape said. "It's just me. We have to get back to your rooms." Hermione calmed and nodded, and stood quietly. Snape escorted her out of his chambers. "Will you be all right walking to Gryffindor tower by yourself?" h asked quietly. "Of course," Hermione said. She turned to go, and stopped. "Professor- thank you." She turned and fled then, and Snape sighed. He walked back into his office and took out a small glass mirror that he had spelled to reveal the whereabouts and activities of any person. "Hermione Granger," he commanded, tapping the smooth glass surface with his wand. A picture of the tired-looking girl formed in the mirror. He watched as she entered her common room, and to his surprise, no one looked startled that she had been away for the night. This implied that she was often away during the night, and Snape did not like this in the least. He would have to monitor her carefully over the next few nights. Snape watched her in the mirror for three nights, and she stayed in her tower the whole time, with no change in routine whatsoever. On the fourth night, however, she got into bed but feigned sleep until all of the other girls were out. Then, she arose and stalked swiftly and silently out of the tower, heading for another section of the castle. Snape cursed and watched her carefully, and realized that she was headed for the Astronomy tower. He threw on a cloak and raced out of his office, leaving the mirror behind. He took a few shortcuts, and came out of a corridor just behind the girl. He slunk along silently behind her, and watched her carefully as she climbed the stairs to the tower, still unaware of his presence. When she reached the top, she walked into the room and headed straight to one of the windows. Snape crept closer and hid behind a box, ready to jump out and pull her back it she showed any inclination to jump. She merely stared out of the window, however, leaning over the edge slightly. Snape wondered what she was doing, and she spoke suddenly. "I'm a coward," Hermione said softly, turning to face the spot where Snape hid. He knew that she saw him and stood up slowly, eyes never leaving her face, which still contained great sadness. "I want so much to end it all," she continued. "But I'm a coward. Living my life, pretending I'm fine. I can't do it anymore. But I haven't the courage to jump." Snape stepped forward, catching her upper arm and holding it. "You're not," he said firmly. "Suicide is cowardly. By living, you are being braver than anyone else here." "What about you?" Hermione asked, turning those shadowed eyes up to his. "I'm not brave," Snape said bitterly, looking away. "If I were brave, I'd tell Dumbledore what I did." "Why can't you?" Hermione whispered. "I can't tell anyone," Snape replied in an anguished voice. "Never." "Not me?" Hermione asked, sad eyes still upon him. Snape looked up in startlement. "You can trust me, Sev'," she whispered. "I won't judge you or betray you. I know too much of that." Grief flitted across her features, but it was gone in an instant. "I-I can't. Not now. Maybe later, but-not now." Hermione nodded, and looked back out of the window. Snape sighed in relief tinged with regret. If she ever found out-he would not be her enemy.
He would be dead. Severus looked up as Hermione turned back around. "Professor?" she asked timidly. "Yes?" Snape answered, in a gentle tone. "Do you think, that sometime, we could just-talk, a bit? Maybe?" Her voice was timid and sad, as though she expected him to say no. This told Snape that, even though she was very intelligent, she was very insecure. That alone would have made Snape give what answer he did, even if he didn't already have s bit of a soft spot for the girl. "Yes, Hermione. Anytime. I'm here." "Always?" Hermione whispered, walking slowly towards him, as though scarcely daring to believe it. "Always," he confirmed. He swept her into a most un-snapelike hug and picked her up, carrying her down the stairs.
~~~~~~~~~~
Over the next few months, Snape and Hermione talked a lot, mostly at night, when neither of them could sleep. He learned much of what she thought about things; politics, magic, muggles, boys. He told her of his days as a student and what his family had been like. They both enjoyed each other's company, and grew closer and closer. One night, Snape decided to ask Hermione something. "Hermione, do you play chess?" he asked as they sat across from each other, sipping drinks. "Yes, why?" she replied, waking up a bit. "Well, it just so happens that no one has beat me in over ten years," Snape said casually. The challenge hung in the air between them, and Hermione sat up in an instant. "Well, I'm sure that could be remedied," she replied lazily, her face betraying no emotion. Snape smirked and Summoned his chessboard. He conjured up a table and placed it between them, and laid the board flat. "Pawn to d-4," he commanded, starting the game. He grinned to himself as the pieces arranged themselves. This would be fun.
~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later he sat bolt upright, staring at the board in shock. "What did you say?" he asked his partner, dumbfounded. "I said checkmate, Professor Snape," Hermione repeated, sounding smug. "B-but, you're only a student! E-even Dumbledore couldn't beat me!" he said, staring at her. "Well, I guess you've met your match, Professor," Hermione stated, and swept out of his rooms, smirking slightly. Snape seethed for a moment before laughing. He had gotten complacent! He would beat her next time.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chess became a ritual for them. At about ten o'clock at night, Hermione would arrive at Snape's rooms, and he would set up the chessboard. While they were playing, they would open on whatever subject they wanted to discuss that night. After an hour or so, if they still were not finished, they took a break and had some drinks, usually juice or light wine. Hermione was particularly fond of Muggle champagne. Snape himself preferred vodka. Hermione had grown noticeably happier over the last few months. She began eating better, and some of the gloom had left her face. The shadows in her eyes were still there, however, and it was those that Snape most worried about. There was something there that no one knew about, he could tell. Something even worse than knowing her parents were dead. He knew that Hermione did not want to tell anyone about it, but as long as she kept it bottled up, the shadows would stay. He had to coax it out of her somehow. They had avoided talking about anything depressing so far, but as the chessboard set itself up one December night, Snape gently prowled around the subject. "Do you know any Dark curses?" he asked casually as she made the first move. Hermione jumped, confusing her pawn so that it landed on the wrong space. "Why?" she asked, sounding nervous. "Just wondering," he said, gently correcting her pawn. "Oh. Yes, I know a few." "More than a few, I'd reckon," he said shrewdly. Hermione nodded, smiling sadly. "I know a few myself," he continued, and her face went a tiny bit paler. "I-I know," she said, staring hard at the board. "When did you find out?" he asked softly. She looked up at him with startled eyes, and he did his best to look non-threatening. "A long time ago," she said, looking back down at the board. "And you trusted me?" "Yes." "Why?" Hermione didn't answer for a moment, then sighed. "I knew that you were all right, Severus Snape, the first time I saw you. You were cruel, yes, and sarcastic, but I knew that you were not evil. I have no idea how, or why, but I felt that I could trust you from very early on." Snape was startled by these words, and looked up into her face. Her eyes were completely sincere, and the shadows had fled for a single instant. Snape was caught in the beauty of her face, the seriousness and intelligence that resided in her eyes. Hermione was completely taken with her professor at that point. He looked so different like his, startlement clearly visible on his face. There were no masks, no layers of cold indifference. He was just.himself. She leaned unconsciously closer to him, caught in the heat of his gaze, and he leaned in as well. Before either of them knew it, their lips met. Hermione had kissed before, and she would say that she liked it well enough. But liking did not begin to describe the thunder that raced through her body, filling every inch of her. Sparks seemed to fly where their lips met, and for the first time in over two years, she felt happy, completely fulfilled. Snape was a bit shocked at first, but relaxed in an instant. He had not kissed in just over twenty years, but he remembered well how to. Hermione did not seem the least bit afraid of him, which was what startled him the most. After all she had heard about him, he would expect that she would stiffen and run. To Snape's even greater shock, she slid sideways and out from behind the table to get nearer to him, never losing contact. All thoughts were wiped from his mind as Hermione put her arms around his neck, and he sighed into her mouth. Finally, he had found someone.