Chapter 2
Alone, Snape's thoughts turned to something he had been thinking of a lot lately. Ironically enough, since he had found someone to replace her, she had been on his mind more than ever. The past seven years had been painful enough, although he had expected them to be really. A constant reminder of who he had loved and lost. The reminder with no idea of what he signified to Snape.
He lay back on his bed and thought of her. The way a simple smile lit her face up like a light bulb was switched on. Her golden hair lying across his bare chest. Her speaking tenderly into his ear on their stolen nights together. A tear dripped silently down his face as he then thought of what occurred afterwards. The wedding, standing by her side, but as the best man. One of the most painful memories he owned, he would gladly have suffered the cruciatius curse a hundred times to change places with the man at the altar. (sorry, telling you who that was would have told you who his love was, to early in the story to divulge that!)
And their son. Of course, when he was born, Snape had expected to see him in due course, and he did feel sorry for the boy, he wasn't completely heartless. He just couldn't help resenting him because of his parents. True, he couldn't help who they were but anyway.
Before he could think anymore, there was a ring on his doorbell. He opened the door to find Dumbledore there. ' Snape, there is a problem and whilst Minerva's away, you are the Gryffindor housemaster.' He gathered his robe around him and walked swiftly with Dumbledore to the common room. There he found Hermione collapsed on the floor with a bruise blossoming over her left cheek and Harry staring grimly into the fire.
Snape struggled to control himself and gritted his teeth to prevent running over to Hermione's limp form. 'What happened?' he growled. ' I think Harry has some explaining to do don't you?' said Dumbledore gently. With that Harry burst into uncontrollable sobs. 'She doesn't love me Dumbledore, I asked her why and she said that was someone else. When I asked her who, Mione refused to tell me and said I didn't know him. She got defensive and said I didn't love her and that I thought she was a prize. I got so angry then that I struck out at her. I never meant to hit her that hard and I didn't think she would collapse.' 'I think that the fact you didn't think is evident.' Said Snape in the tones of hatred he managed to muster only for Harry.
Harry was ushered by Dumbledore to his private tower. 'Harry, harry, harry, why?' 'I love her professor, she haunts my dreams. Why will she not be mine, stupid bitch.' 'Harry,' Dumbledore remonstrated. 'Did she tell you who her 'lover' was?' 'No, why do you think I hit her?'
*We leave them @ this point to check up on our lovers*
Hermione lay unconscious on the bed in the hospital wing. Snape sat beside her holding her pale hand crying. Wherever you will go playing in the background, tears silently fell down his face. Unable to display his grief publicly he suffered silently. He thought his heart would break and rested his head on the quilt and painful sobs racked his chest. Dumbledore walked softly in to be greeted by this alarming scene. He crossed the room silently and laid a hand on Snape's shoulder. Snape sat up straight suddenly looking alarmed but without stopping his tears. 'I guessed Severus; I can read you like a book my dear friend. However painful this is you must be strong for her. I understand she only has one term left of school. Is this now official?' Snape had the decency to look slightly abashed at that moment. 'Oh Albus, I love her more than I ever have anyone in my whole life. I..I..I was going to ask her to marry me. I have it planned out, but then this happened.' His grief overcame him again and he put his head in his hands. 'Severus, She loves you as well. I can see it by the way she looks at you. Like you are the rarest, most precious jewel in the world. If you two truly are meant for each other, then I believe this should have happened. She is better for you than Lily ever was.'
Severus closed his eyes at yet another painful loss. Lily Potter. His one love. His first love, they say you never forget your first love. He hated James for it. Hated Harry because Snape had loved and lost his mother. Poor boy, to be robbed of a love was bad enough but by someone you hated. Snape really sympathised with the boy. He knew his predicament better than anyone.
Dumbledore offered his hand to Snape and he lightly kissed Hermione's closed lips and left.
*Thanks J, slightly perverse but then I learned from da best! *
Alone, Snape's thoughts turned to something he had been thinking of a lot lately. Ironically enough, since he had found someone to replace her, she had been on his mind more than ever. The past seven years had been painful enough, although he had expected them to be really. A constant reminder of who he had loved and lost. The reminder with no idea of what he signified to Snape.
He lay back on his bed and thought of her. The way a simple smile lit her face up like a light bulb was switched on. Her golden hair lying across his bare chest. Her speaking tenderly into his ear on their stolen nights together. A tear dripped silently down his face as he then thought of what occurred afterwards. The wedding, standing by her side, but as the best man. One of the most painful memories he owned, he would gladly have suffered the cruciatius curse a hundred times to change places with the man at the altar. (sorry, telling you who that was would have told you who his love was, to early in the story to divulge that!)
And their son. Of course, when he was born, Snape had expected to see him in due course, and he did feel sorry for the boy, he wasn't completely heartless. He just couldn't help resenting him because of his parents. True, he couldn't help who they were but anyway.
Before he could think anymore, there was a ring on his doorbell. He opened the door to find Dumbledore there. ' Snape, there is a problem and whilst Minerva's away, you are the Gryffindor housemaster.' He gathered his robe around him and walked swiftly with Dumbledore to the common room. There he found Hermione collapsed on the floor with a bruise blossoming over her left cheek and Harry staring grimly into the fire.
Snape struggled to control himself and gritted his teeth to prevent running over to Hermione's limp form. 'What happened?' he growled. ' I think Harry has some explaining to do don't you?' said Dumbledore gently. With that Harry burst into uncontrollable sobs. 'She doesn't love me Dumbledore, I asked her why and she said that was someone else. When I asked her who, Mione refused to tell me and said I didn't know him. She got defensive and said I didn't love her and that I thought she was a prize. I got so angry then that I struck out at her. I never meant to hit her that hard and I didn't think she would collapse.' 'I think that the fact you didn't think is evident.' Said Snape in the tones of hatred he managed to muster only for Harry.
Harry was ushered by Dumbledore to his private tower. 'Harry, harry, harry, why?' 'I love her professor, she haunts my dreams. Why will she not be mine, stupid bitch.' 'Harry,' Dumbledore remonstrated. 'Did she tell you who her 'lover' was?' 'No, why do you think I hit her?'
*We leave them @ this point to check up on our lovers*
Hermione lay unconscious on the bed in the hospital wing. Snape sat beside her holding her pale hand crying. Wherever you will go playing in the background, tears silently fell down his face. Unable to display his grief publicly he suffered silently. He thought his heart would break and rested his head on the quilt and painful sobs racked his chest. Dumbledore walked softly in to be greeted by this alarming scene. He crossed the room silently and laid a hand on Snape's shoulder. Snape sat up straight suddenly looking alarmed but without stopping his tears. 'I guessed Severus; I can read you like a book my dear friend. However painful this is you must be strong for her. I understand she only has one term left of school. Is this now official?' Snape had the decency to look slightly abashed at that moment. 'Oh Albus, I love her more than I ever have anyone in my whole life. I..I..I was going to ask her to marry me. I have it planned out, but then this happened.' His grief overcame him again and he put his head in his hands. 'Severus, She loves you as well. I can see it by the way she looks at you. Like you are the rarest, most precious jewel in the world. If you two truly are meant for each other, then I believe this should have happened. She is better for you than Lily ever was.'
Severus closed his eyes at yet another painful loss. Lily Potter. His one love. His first love, they say you never forget your first love. He hated James for it. Hated Harry because Snape had loved and lost his mother. Poor boy, to be robbed of a love was bad enough but by someone you hated. Snape really sympathised with the boy. He knew his predicament better than anyone.
Dumbledore offered his hand to Snape and he lightly kissed Hermione's closed lips and left.
*Thanks J, slightly perverse but then I learned from da best! *