Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.
A/N: Wow! Lots of reviews, and they all asked for the same thing: a long chapter. I tried to make this chapter longer! It just didn't go to well! Sorry! Also, I didn't have this chapter beta'd so I could get it up quickly.
Back in Black
Chapter 7
After spending a good two hours thinking of something that resembled an apology, Severus Snape made his way back to the infirmy. He held the equivelant of a magical 3x5 index card in his hand. It wasn't a sappy apology, but he figured that it might be good to have a reference point if he tripped over his words. When he reached the infirmy doors, he heaved a sigh, then opened them.
"Hermione." Snape cleared his throat a little as though to get her to turn and face him. No such luck. "Hermione, I would like to say that I'm sorry. I realize that I must have offended you in jumping to conclusions earlier. -He looked down at the card.- I hope that you accept my apology."
He drew his eyes back to her restful form. She was awake, wasn't she? He was praying that he would never have to repeat that. 'Damn it!' Severus scolded himself. Deciding that there was nothing else to be done here, he left the hospital wing again.
What he did not know, was that Ms. Granger had heard him, loud and clear.
~~**~~**~~
(The next morning)
Hermione stood up and dressed silently. Severus Snape had just given her an apology, something she didn't think he was capable of. The thing that was disturbing her was that she didn't truly accept it. She needed to know more. 'He wouldn't just apologize for no reason, I mean there must be some real serious shit going on in his head to apologize at all.' With that, she made her way down to the dungeons.
Snape was already up, and presently bent over a cauldron full of some purplish liquid. It was her turn to clear her throat and get his attention.
"Ms. Granger." He said in aknowledgement before turning back to his brewing.
"Ms. Granger? I distinctly remember that last night I was Hermione." She gave a small smirk when his back went just the slightest bit rigid. 'So she had heard.' Snape thought. "My title is beside the point at the moment. What I would like to tell you, is that I do not accept your apology, at least not in full." His face fell a little at this. 'Wasn't that his best apology, ever?' "What I truly wish to inquire, is why you jumped to the conclusion that you did." Something that sounded much like a sniffle escaped Severus. He turned around very slowly, and she almost gasped in surprise when she saw the beginnings of tears in the brims of the potions master's eyes.
Following her words, Hermione stood in the most uncomfortable silence she had ever felt in her life. Until, finally, he spoke. "I didn't want to lose another witch that way." Not quite cottoning on as to what he meant, Hermione allowed him to continue. "As you know, I was a death eater before joining the side of light. Now, what I'm about to tell you, only Albus and myself know, so it may not be repeated." She nodded. "After graduating Hogwarts I fell deeply into the dark arts. I also fell deeply in love. Azaneth, my girl friend, was pregnant with my child, and was to be made my bride. -He let out an audible gulp.- When she discovered my dark activities, she summoned me and called off the wedding. I was devestated, and I didn't understand." Here he paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "About a month later, I learned that Azaneth had commited suicide, and in her note it said that 'she'd rather be dead than spawn the son of a death eater.'" When he finished, Hermione felt as though she would cry.
It was then that she did the next most sensible thing. She walked to where he sat and embraced him. He jumped when she put her arms around him, and a look of even greater surprise crossed hid face when her lips found his. "Apology accepted." She whispered, still holding him.
A/N: Wow! Lots of reviews, and they all asked for the same thing: a long chapter. I tried to make this chapter longer! It just didn't go to well! Sorry! Also, I didn't have this chapter beta'd so I could get it up quickly.
Back in Black
Chapter 7
After spending a good two hours thinking of something that resembled an apology, Severus Snape made his way back to the infirmy. He held the equivelant of a magical 3x5 index card in his hand. It wasn't a sappy apology, but he figured that it might be good to have a reference point if he tripped over his words. When he reached the infirmy doors, he heaved a sigh, then opened them.
"Hermione." Snape cleared his throat a little as though to get her to turn and face him. No such luck. "Hermione, I would like to say that I'm sorry. I realize that I must have offended you in jumping to conclusions earlier. -He looked down at the card.- I hope that you accept my apology."
He drew his eyes back to her restful form. She was awake, wasn't she? He was praying that he would never have to repeat that. 'Damn it!' Severus scolded himself. Deciding that there was nothing else to be done here, he left the hospital wing again.
What he did not know, was that Ms. Granger had heard him, loud and clear.
~~**~~**~~
(The next morning)
Hermione stood up and dressed silently. Severus Snape had just given her an apology, something she didn't think he was capable of. The thing that was disturbing her was that she didn't truly accept it. She needed to know more. 'He wouldn't just apologize for no reason, I mean there must be some real serious shit going on in his head to apologize at all.' With that, she made her way down to the dungeons.
Snape was already up, and presently bent over a cauldron full of some purplish liquid. It was her turn to clear her throat and get his attention.
"Ms. Granger." He said in aknowledgement before turning back to his brewing.
"Ms. Granger? I distinctly remember that last night I was Hermione." She gave a small smirk when his back went just the slightest bit rigid. 'So she had heard.' Snape thought. "My title is beside the point at the moment. What I would like to tell you, is that I do not accept your apology, at least not in full." His face fell a little at this. 'Wasn't that his best apology, ever?' "What I truly wish to inquire, is why you jumped to the conclusion that you did." Something that sounded much like a sniffle escaped Severus. He turned around very slowly, and she almost gasped in surprise when she saw the beginnings of tears in the brims of the potions master's eyes.
Following her words, Hermione stood in the most uncomfortable silence she had ever felt in her life. Until, finally, he spoke. "I didn't want to lose another witch that way." Not quite cottoning on as to what he meant, Hermione allowed him to continue. "As you know, I was a death eater before joining the side of light. Now, what I'm about to tell you, only Albus and myself know, so it may not be repeated." She nodded. "After graduating Hogwarts I fell deeply into the dark arts. I also fell deeply in love. Azaneth, my girl friend, was pregnant with my child, and was to be made my bride. -He let out an audible gulp.- When she discovered my dark activities, she summoned me and called off the wedding. I was devestated, and I didn't understand." Here he paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "About a month later, I learned that Azaneth had commited suicide, and in her note it said that 'she'd rather be dead than spawn the son of a death eater.'" When he finished, Hermione felt as though she would cry.
It was then that she did the next most sensible thing. She walked to where he sat and embraced him. He jumped when she put her arms around him, and a look of even greater surprise crossed hid face when her lips found his. "Apology accepted." She whispered, still holding him.
