Author's Notes:
Ok, here it is. The final chapter in this three-part series. For those of you that requested the continuance of the original story: Thank you! Although I never planned for this to be a series, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed writing the second two parts. I hope you like the completed version! :) Oh, a note...this chapter is back to being rated PG, but because of the second chapter, I'm going to keep the overall R rating.
Disclaimer:
Yet again...not mine, never were. All characters were borrowed from the great and wise J.K. Rowling.
Archiving:
As always, feel free to link to this story at ff.net. But please don't post it anywhere else without asking me first.
What Lingers Here
*Part 3*
By Aezara She sat in his office, sweaty palms pressed tightly together to hide the shaking of her hands. She knew that she was possibly in very grave trouble, and realized how stupid she had been. I am such an idiot, she thought. As Head Girl, she was supposed to stop these things, not help contribute to them. Unfortunately, her memories of the previous night were...rather vague, and quite distorted. This is why I don't drink, she reprimanded herself savagely. Or at least, I didn't until last night... Harry and Ron, in the spirit of the culmination of all their "exploits" while at Hogwarts, had decided to throw a party. It was the end of their final year, exams were behind them, and they had only the graduation ceremony standing between them and the rest of their lives. What better way to celebrate than to get the entire 7th year student body royally drunk? She groaned inwardly. What on earth could have made me decide to even allow that party, much less attend it?? She waited, shaking, for him to finish grading the last of his 3rd year exam parchments. Finally, he laid down his quill and looked up at her. "Well?" He looked at her, obviously waiting for an explanation. She looked at the floor. "Sir, I don't know quite what to say. I take full responsibility for what happened last night. I honestly cannot believe that I was involved...it's not at all like me...I don't..." She could not continue. He regarded her silently for a moment before speaking in his usual measured tone. "No, Miss Granger, it is not at all like you, which is why I've called you here. I can certainly understand the behavior of your classmates, and especially that of your...friends, who I am told were the instigators. The party itself doesn't bother me." He paused, then amended his statement. "Rather, it doesn't bother me that there was a party, though I must admit I am disappointed in all of you for behaving like common Muggles in a pub." She continued to keep her eyes downcast, but attempted a stuttering response. "Yes sir...you are absolutely right...it was probably the stupidest thing we have ever done...even Harry and Ron..." A sound startled her into looking up; he was actually chuckling softly. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasely have indeed outdone themselves this time." He waited for her reaction; receiving none, he continued. "Not that I am surprised...I expected something along these lines, to be frank." He glanced at her again, noting the astonishment on her face. "Miss Granger, you can't honestly believe that this is the first time this has happened. A class as...spirited as yours doesn't come along often, but we do get them every few years." He looked at her levelly for several seconds before resuming his speech. "My only real shock was finding that you were involved." She started to speak, to attempt to explain herself, make excuse, anything...although she had no idea what she could possibly say to make the situation any less reprehensible. He stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Miss Granger, you are not in trouble. And to put you further at ease, neither are any of your classmates." He smiled slightly. "Not even Harry and Ron." "Then why..." "Why have I summoned you to my office, if not to admonish you?" She nodded weakly. "Because, Miss Granger, I am concerned." His voice lowered, but instead of his usual sarcasm, it was laced with gentleness. "Hermione, I repeat, this is not at all like you. I simply want to know why. Nothing more." "Sir...I wish I knew, but I don't." Except that she did. But she couldn't possibly tell him... Suddenly, it hit her that it was time to give up. She had been keeping this secret for five years, and she was sick of it. What could possibly be the harm in finally letting go? In a week she would be leaving, and none of this would matter anymore. She wouldn't have to face him; she could avoid him for a week, and then she'd never see him again. And she realized for the first time the incredible toll that her silence had taken on her. She realized that he was eyeing her curiously, and flushed slightly. "Actually, sir, I do know. I just don't...I don't quite know how to say it." "Hermione, over the course of your years here, we have discussed many things. I doubt seriously that anything you might say now could shock me." His tone was sincere. "Please. Tell me what it is." She looked at him, utterly terrified, but knowing that it was now or never, and that there was really no turning back at this point. "Professor Snape, it's you." She tried to speak calmly, but her voice shook uncontrollably, in perfect time with the tremors that were running through her body. "I...I'm..." She took a deep breath and tried again, and this time her words came out like water from a breaking dam. "I am in love with you. I have been for...a long time. I've never told anyone, and I honestly thought that if I could just keep it inside me until I left Hogwarts, I'd be ok. But I won't. It's killing me. And you don't have to say anything, because I know how ridiculous this is, and I'll never see you again after next week anyway." She stopped, breathless, and glanced at him briefly before turning her head to the window, praying that he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. She sensed him watching her, but he didn't speak. She felt as though her heart was actually ripping apart. She really hoped that he wouldn't say anything; at this point she seriously thought she might break down completely if she had to hear what would be only an obligatory response. But he did speak, of course. She winced, bracing for the piteous reply that she knew was coming. "Hermione," he said gently, "What took you so long?" Against her will, she raised her eyes to him, and was floored by the look on his face. It was...tender...loving. She stood abruptly, knocking her chair over in the process. No. I am not going to let myself go through this again. She spoke aloud, "No! I can't do this anymore. This is not reality. You are an apparition. I am not going to wake up crying over this dream anymore!" She stopped, not realizing that tears were already streaming down her face. He came around the desk and stood facing her. "Hermione...please calm down." The look of concern on his face infuriated her even more. "Stop! For the love of god, whoever is doing this to me, stop! I can't take any more of this!" She burst into sobs, collapsing backward. The arms that she fell into went around her, and she cried out in anguish. "Severus!..." It was time; she could feel it. This was where it always ended. She fell silent, awaiting the inevitable. He turned her to face him and gently cupped her face in his hands. He bowed his head, touching his forehead to hers. "Hermione..." he whispered. "I'm here. I really am." He pulled her close to him and kissed her softly. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. She slowly raised her hand to touch his face. It was as damp as her own, and warm with life. And real. Finis.
*Part 3*
By Aezara She sat in his office, sweaty palms pressed tightly together to hide the shaking of her hands. She knew that she was possibly in very grave trouble, and realized how stupid she had been. I am such an idiot, she thought. As Head Girl, she was supposed to stop these things, not help contribute to them. Unfortunately, her memories of the previous night were...rather vague, and quite distorted. This is why I don't drink, she reprimanded herself savagely. Or at least, I didn't until last night... Harry and Ron, in the spirit of the culmination of all their "exploits" while at Hogwarts, had decided to throw a party. It was the end of their final year, exams were behind them, and they had only the graduation ceremony standing between them and the rest of their lives. What better way to celebrate than to get the entire 7th year student body royally drunk? She groaned inwardly. What on earth could have made me decide to even allow that party, much less attend it?? She waited, shaking, for him to finish grading the last of his 3rd year exam parchments. Finally, he laid down his quill and looked up at her. "Well?" He looked at her, obviously waiting for an explanation. She looked at the floor. "Sir, I don't know quite what to say. I take full responsibility for what happened last night. I honestly cannot believe that I was involved...it's not at all like me...I don't..." She could not continue. He regarded her silently for a moment before speaking in his usual measured tone. "No, Miss Granger, it is not at all like you, which is why I've called you here. I can certainly understand the behavior of your classmates, and especially that of your...friends, who I am told were the instigators. The party itself doesn't bother me." He paused, then amended his statement. "Rather, it doesn't bother me that there was a party, though I must admit I am disappointed in all of you for behaving like common Muggles in a pub." She continued to keep her eyes downcast, but attempted a stuttering response. "Yes sir...you are absolutely right...it was probably the stupidest thing we have ever done...even Harry and Ron..." A sound startled her into looking up; he was actually chuckling softly. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasely have indeed outdone themselves this time." He waited for her reaction; receiving none, he continued. "Not that I am surprised...I expected something along these lines, to be frank." He glanced at her again, noting the astonishment on her face. "Miss Granger, you can't honestly believe that this is the first time this has happened. A class as...spirited as yours doesn't come along often, but we do get them every few years." He looked at her levelly for several seconds before resuming his speech. "My only real shock was finding that you were involved." She started to speak, to attempt to explain herself, make excuse, anything...although she had no idea what she could possibly say to make the situation any less reprehensible. He stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Miss Granger, you are not in trouble. And to put you further at ease, neither are any of your classmates." He smiled slightly. "Not even Harry and Ron." "Then why..." "Why have I summoned you to my office, if not to admonish you?" She nodded weakly. "Because, Miss Granger, I am concerned." His voice lowered, but instead of his usual sarcasm, it was laced with gentleness. "Hermione, I repeat, this is not at all like you. I simply want to know why. Nothing more." "Sir...I wish I knew, but I don't." Except that she did. But she couldn't possibly tell him... Suddenly, it hit her that it was time to give up. She had been keeping this secret for five years, and she was sick of it. What could possibly be the harm in finally letting go? In a week she would be leaving, and none of this would matter anymore. She wouldn't have to face him; she could avoid him for a week, and then she'd never see him again. And she realized for the first time the incredible toll that her silence had taken on her. She realized that he was eyeing her curiously, and flushed slightly. "Actually, sir, I do know. I just don't...I don't quite know how to say it." "Hermione, over the course of your years here, we have discussed many things. I doubt seriously that anything you might say now could shock me." His tone was sincere. "Please. Tell me what it is." She looked at him, utterly terrified, but knowing that it was now or never, and that there was really no turning back at this point. "Professor Snape, it's you." She tried to speak calmly, but her voice shook uncontrollably, in perfect time with the tremors that were running through her body. "I...I'm..." She took a deep breath and tried again, and this time her words came out like water from a breaking dam. "I am in love with you. I have been for...a long time. I've never told anyone, and I honestly thought that if I could just keep it inside me until I left Hogwarts, I'd be ok. But I won't. It's killing me. And you don't have to say anything, because I know how ridiculous this is, and I'll never see you again after next week anyway." She stopped, breathless, and glanced at him briefly before turning her head to the window, praying that he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. She sensed him watching her, but he didn't speak. She felt as though her heart was actually ripping apart. She really hoped that he wouldn't say anything; at this point she seriously thought she might break down completely if she had to hear what would be only an obligatory response. But he did speak, of course. She winced, bracing for the piteous reply that she knew was coming. "Hermione," he said gently, "What took you so long?" Against her will, she raised her eyes to him, and was floored by the look on his face. It was...tender...loving. She stood abruptly, knocking her chair over in the process. No. I am not going to let myself go through this again. She spoke aloud, "No! I can't do this anymore. This is not reality. You are an apparition. I am not going to wake up crying over this dream anymore!" She stopped, not realizing that tears were already streaming down her face. He came around the desk and stood facing her. "Hermione...please calm down." The look of concern on his face infuriated her even more. "Stop! For the love of god, whoever is doing this to me, stop! I can't take any more of this!" She burst into sobs, collapsing backward. The arms that she fell into went around her, and she cried out in anguish. "Severus!..." It was time; she could feel it. This was where it always ended. She fell silent, awaiting the inevitable. He turned her to face him and gently cupped her face in his hands. He bowed his head, touching his forehead to hers. "Hermione..." he whispered. "I'm here. I really am." He pulled her close to him and kissed her softly. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. She slowly raised her hand to touch his face. It was as damp as her own, and warm with life. And real. Finis.