Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter related belongs to J.K. Rowling
Author's Note: I lost all my formatting, unfortunately. I don't know about the rest of you but I need italics to emphasize words and it makes the title look pretty....well anyway, individual notes are at the bottom of the chapter
~*Writing on the Shower Wall*~
~*Chaper Three*~
Severus stayed with Draco and Hermione for another week and although Draco seemed to be getting used to the company, something made Hermione feel on guard and worried. Of course she didn't quite know what that was yet but she was sure she'd figure it out soon.
It was Thursday, which meant Hermione's day to cook. She carefully chopped up peppers and onions while Severus sat at the tile counter. Draco was out, sent on an errand by Hermione who had just found out they had run out of tomatoes. Hermione finished chopping up the vegetables and expertly scooped them all up on the side of the large cutting knife and put them in the soup simmering on the stove.
"Any word about Lucius lately?" Hermione inquired. The steam was making the skin on her face feel leathery. She used the wooden ladle to stir the mixture.
"Not particularly," he answered, a crease forming on his forehead. "You do realize, Hermione, he planned his own death and staged it. He won't be coming out with a letter of any sort. It's not like him to reveal himself so readily."
"That's what I figured," she answered. "But it's also not like him to keep quiet."
"Just watch out Hermione, you and Draco both. Suspicious people, suspicious objects being delivered...if you do notice these I hope you owl Dumbledore, Minerva (that's Professor McGonagall to you) or me." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'll make sure to do that and pass along the message to Draco, Mr. Sunshine." That sparked a slight grin from Severus, the Snape equivalent of laughing out loud.
"Need some help with the food?" he asked. Hermione gladly welcomed the help and Severus moved across the room to stand behind Hermione. He reached around her to grip the soup ladle and Hermione felt her heart quicken...or did it slow down? She couldn't tell. She closed her eyes and ordered herself to breathe.
~*~
Draco was haggling for a lower price at the bag of tomatoes when he noticed something strange. A dark hooded figure was standing a bit away from him and his (his? He couldn't tell the gender of the figure) face was covered but Draco could feel his eyes burning on him. He shifted his weight, uncomfortable, and ran a hand through his flaxen hair.
"Who the hell is that," he muttered. The figure was most definately human, not a dementor but there was still something equally unsettling about him. Every part of his body was screaming at him, every nerve and cell was ordering him to leave immediately. Draco hurriedly shoved some money into the woman that was still arguing that these were the best tomatoes on this side of the world and derserved their price. He didn't even stop to get the change and grabbed the tomatoes and practically ran all the way back home.
~*~
"I think-I think that's enough help," Hermione said quietly, tripping over her words. Having Severus stand close was extremely unnerving and already Hermione and dropped half of her seasoning into another dish. She could feel him shrug and move back to the counter, a safe distance away.
"Thanks for the help though," she added, voice still quiet. The air was still and yet it seemed to crackle as Hermione's eyes met Severus'. Suddenly, the door swung open and Draco walked in, looking a little unnerved himself.
"Hey Draco," Hermione said, walking out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Draco hugged her with one arm, the other hand still holding the tomatoes, and kissed her cheek.
"Are you alright?" she asked. She could feel her eyebrows twist in concern at the look on Draco's face. His eyes closed off as did the rest of his expression and suddenly he looked very guarded.
"Yeah, sure, I'm fine," he said, distractedly. Hermione tugged at his hand and took the tomatoes.
~*~
It was night and Hermione couldn't sleep. She had never exactly been a morning person but she had never been able to not sleep like this before. She felt her mind and her thoughts roaming. The walls of the room weren't strong enough to contain them so Hermione slipped out of bed and out onto the balcony. There she settled into one of the chairs and breathed deeply. Here she could let her thoughts roll out of her head all the way up to meet the stars above her.
"Sleep doesn't greet you with open arms?" asked a voice. Hermione didn't jump for she was in a languid, calm state of mind. And she knew who the voice belonged to.
"Severus," she breathed and so he appeared from the shadows. He walked to the railing and leaned against it, looking at the large orb that hung perfectly in the sky above them.
"Why are you still up?" Hermione asked, in that same slow voice. She could see Severus shake is shoulders in a shrug. She could feel how the silk of his robe had absorbed the heat of his body but she didn't know how she exactly knew this. He faced her leaning against the rail, robe slightly open revealing a bare chest bathed in silky, silver moonlight and cashmere pants.
"Always been a bit of a night owl. At Hogwarts I have to stay up late each night, grading papers, you know how it is." Hermione stood up and stood next to him, elbows on the cold metal railing and looking out.
"I have to ask you something," Hermione said. Her heart started to race. Damn her abnormal heart. Or maybe this WAS normal. He looked at her questioningly.
"Why do you make me feel this way," she demanded. "Why is it that even though I'm with Draco I still want to be with you? Is there something wrong with me?" She took a shaky breath. Severus had a look on his face that she couldn't decode. Finally, he took her into his arms and Hermione rested her head against his chest, hearing the watery thud of his heartbeat.
"Hermione, don't blow what you have with Draco on a silly schoolgirl's crush on me," he said. Hermione pulled away.
"Is that what you think it is?" she asked, incredulously. He was silent for awhile then sighed.
"No," he answered. "But you and Draco...you were meant to be Hermione. You can't throw that away for something else so easily."
"Then why do you make me feel this way," she whispered. He looked almost equally pained.
"Hermione, forget about us okay? Forget about me, whatever we had it doesn't exist as of now."
"It exists inside of me," she said softly. Severus made a growling noise. He held her hand to his chest and she could feel his heartbeat.
"It's inside of me too. But please Hermione, forget this, you have to."
"Even when you feel the same way?" she demanded. He closed his eyes momentarily.
"Hermione, you have no idea how this is making me feel." She shook her head.
"I think I do." He caught her hands and kissed them softly. Hermione felt herself being carried back to the bed where she and Draco slept. She felt herself being tucked in and she flew towards sleep.
The next morning, Severus was gone.
~*~
a/n: Sorry I know that was a crappy ending! I'll try and update sooner next time.
Author's Note: I lost all my formatting, unfortunately. I don't know about the rest of you but I need italics to emphasize words and it makes the title look pretty....well anyway, individual notes are at the bottom of the chapter
~*Writing on the Shower Wall*~
~*Chaper Three*~
Severus stayed with Draco and Hermione for another week and although Draco seemed to be getting used to the company, something made Hermione feel on guard and worried. Of course she didn't quite know what that was yet but she was sure she'd figure it out soon.
It was Thursday, which meant Hermione's day to cook. She carefully chopped up peppers and onions while Severus sat at the tile counter. Draco was out, sent on an errand by Hermione who had just found out they had run out of tomatoes. Hermione finished chopping up the vegetables and expertly scooped them all up on the side of the large cutting knife and put them in the soup simmering on the stove.
"Any word about Lucius lately?" Hermione inquired. The steam was making the skin on her face feel leathery. She used the wooden ladle to stir the mixture.
"Not particularly," he answered, a crease forming on his forehead. "You do realize, Hermione, he planned his own death and staged it. He won't be coming out with a letter of any sort. It's not like him to reveal himself so readily."
"That's what I figured," she answered. "But it's also not like him to keep quiet."
"Just watch out Hermione, you and Draco both. Suspicious people, suspicious objects being delivered...if you do notice these I hope you owl Dumbledore, Minerva (that's Professor McGonagall to you) or me." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'll make sure to do that and pass along the message to Draco, Mr. Sunshine." That sparked a slight grin from Severus, the Snape equivalent of laughing out loud.
"Need some help with the food?" he asked. Hermione gladly welcomed the help and Severus moved across the room to stand behind Hermione. He reached around her to grip the soup ladle and Hermione felt her heart quicken...or did it slow down? She couldn't tell. She closed her eyes and ordered herself to breathe.
~*~
Draco was haggling for a lower price at the bag of tomatoes when he noticed something strange. A dark hooded figure was standing a bit away from him and his (his? He couldn't tell the gender of the figure) face was covered but Draco could feel his eyes burning on him. He shifted his weight, uncomfortable, and ran a hand through his flaxen hair.
"Who the hell is that," he muttered. The figure was most definately human, not a dementor but there was still something equally unsettling about him. Every part of his body was screaming at him, every nerve and cell was ordering him to leave immediately. Draco hurriedly shoved some money into the woman that was still arguing that these were the best tomatoes on this side of the world and derserved their price. He didn't even stop to get the change and grabbed the tomatoes and practically ran all the way back home.
~*~
"I think-I think that's enough help," Hermione said quietly, tripping over her words. Having Severus stand close was extremely unnerving and already Hermione and dropped half of her seasoning into another dish. She could feel him shrug and move back to the counter, a safe distance away.
"Thanks for the help though," she added, voice still quiet. The air was still and yet it seemed to crackle as Hermione's eyes met Severus'. Suddenly, the door swung open and Draco walked in, looking a little unnerved himself.
"Hey Draco," Hermione said, walking out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Draco hugged her with one arm, the other hand still holding the tomatoes, and kissed her cheek.
"Are you alright?" she asked. She could feel her eyebrows twist in concern at the look on Draco's face. His eyes closed off as did the rest of his expression and suddenly he looked very guarded.
"Yeah, sure, I'm fine," he said, distractedly. Hermione tugged at his hand and took the tomatoes.
~*~
It was night and Hermione couldn't sleep. She had never exactly been a morning person but she had never been able to not sleep like this before. She felt her mind and her thoughts roaming. The walls of the room weren't strong enough to contain them so Hermione slipped out of bed and out onto the balcony. There she settled into one of the chairs and breathed deeply. Here she could let her thoughts roll out of her head all the way up to meet the stars above her.
"Sleep doesn't greet you with open arms?" asked a voice. Hermione didn't jump for she was in a languid, calm state of mind. And she knew who the voice belonged to.
"Severus," she breathed and so he appeared from the shadows. He walked to the railing and leaned against it, looking at the large orb that hung perfectly in the sky above them.
"Why are you still up?" Hermione asked, in that same slow voice. She could see Severus shake is shoulders in a shrug. She could feel how the silk of his robe had absorbed the heat of his body but she didn't know how she exactly knew this. He faced her leaning against the rail, robe slightly open revealing a bare chest bathed in silky, silver moonlight and cashmere pants.
"Always been a bit of a night owl. At Hogwarts I have to stay up late each night, grading papers, you know how it is." Hermione stood up and stood next to him, elbows on the cold metal railing and looking out.
"I have to ask you something," Hermione said. Her heart started to race. Damn her abnormal heart. Or maybe this WAS normal. He looked at her questioningly.
"Why do you make me feel this way," she demanded. "Why is it that even though I'm with Draco I still want to be with you? Is there something wrong with me?" She took a shaky breath. Severus had a look on his face that she couldn't decode. Finally, he took her into his arms and Hermione rested her head against his chest, hearing the watery thud of his heartbeat.
"Hermione, don't blow what you have with Draco on a silly schoolgirl's crush on me," he said. Hermione pulled away.
"Is that what you think it is?" she asked, incredulously. He was silent for awhile then sighed.
"No," he answered. "But you and Draco...you were meant to be Hermione. You can't throw that away for something else so easily."
"Then why do you make me feel this way," she whispered. He looked almost equally pained.
"Hermione, forget about us okay? Forget about me, whatever we had it doesn't exist as of now."
"It exists inside of me," she said softly. Severus made a growling noise. He held her hand to his chest and she could feel his heartbeat.
"It's inside of me too. But please Hermione, forget this, you have to."
"Even when you feel the same way?" she demanded. He closed his eyes momentarily.
"Hermione, you have no idea how this is making me feel." She shook her head.
"I think I do." He caught her hands and kissed them softly. Hermione felt herself being carried back to the bed where she and Draco slept. She felt herself being tucked in and she flew towards sleep.
The next morning, Severus was gone.
~*~
a/n: Sorry I know that was a crappy ending! I'll try and update sooner next time.
