The Crush – Part Seven

A/N: So just so you know that takes place in Hermione's seventh year and not in her fifth year. I told you why I changed the timeframe and I am deeply sorry for any trouble that is causing you. I can only blame the fact that when I start writing a story the muse takes over and she is a real bitch at times.

To my wonderful reviewers: Wow thanks so much for your kind words. You know how to really flatter me into stunned silence. I just wanted you to know that I pick up all your suggestions. I decided I am not good with smut so I leave it to the experts to write detailed sex scenes. If mentioned at all the sex is only implied (like in older movies- when the good stuff started the picture faded out). Sorry for those who love the juicy part.

I wanted to finish this soon but I decided to let the angst go on a bit longer. I love angst so much- both reading it and writing it. I try to stick true to the characters as much as possible but then again this is a part in their journey that hasn't been covered by the books. We'll see.

Ehm… yeah the century thing was a mistake. Terribly sorry… of course it was meant to be decades. You got me girl and I am blushing furiously here.

Please continue the nice reviews and the creative juices will keep flowing. You will get at least one chapter a day this way.

Breakfast the next day was a difficult moment for Hermione but when she entered the Great Hall Severus Snape was missing from the Head Table. He didn't appear for the whole breakfast and after that she had no time to think about it because her classes begun and now that they were fast approaching their Finals it was even more work. But always when she shad a second she couldn't help but let her thoughts wander to the Potion Master.

After some thinking she had decided that yesterday he had probably felt emotions for the first time in a very long while and that had been a bit much. But before he had broke out into tears there had been a point where she had seen love in his eyes and she was intending to head to the dungeons later and find out what exactly that meant. They had only something like eight weeks left and then she was no longer a student any. Then she would be free for Severus if only he would take her.

Sighing she turned her attention to the needle in front trying to turn it into something that resembled at least a sword. So far with little success. Harry was watching her failing to accomplish something she had done a hundred times.

"Everything okay?" He sounded worried.

Hermione grimaced. "Yeah sure. Just some problems here." She cleared her mind from Severus Snape and turned the object into a silver sword with red rubies.

When they left the classroom Harry caught up to her for once without Ron.

"Can I talk with you Hermione?"

The girl nodded and together they went to the now deserted Gryffindor common room. Since it was lunchtime almost everybody was in the Hall eating.

When they arrived there the green eyed boy looked at his best friend seriously and sat down next to her on a small couch.

"Mione you know that if you have any problem what so ever you can talk with me right?"

Hermione slowly nodded not willing to share anything so far with Harry regarding the events of last night in the dungeons.

"I just noticed in the last weeks that you were behaving quite differently from usual and it got me a bit worried. It doesn't matter what it's about or who is involved - I promise you I won't judge it. Or you." When she nodded again he sighed. "Okay I can see it in your eyes that you won't tell now but please know that whenever you need a friendly advice or just somebody to be there you can always come to me okay?"

In this moment the first smile since she had gotten up this morning lit Hermione's face.

"I know Harry. But I am okay for now."

He nodded and smiled gently at her.

Severus Snape paced the dungeons after classes this morning. Strangely Dumbledore hadn't wanted to hear about the missed classes the yesterday. He had only shook his head and mumbled something about 'I am sure you had your reasons Severus' and had vanished. He had stayed in his private lab the whole time trying to find a way to tell his heart that just because it was beating again it wasn't allowed to wish for things impossible to come true.

Like Hermione Granger.

Sighing he tried to concentrate on grading some papers and not to dwell on the lovely girl.

Cursing he threw his quill against the wall and heard a high pitched squeak. Turning around he saw the girl he had just been thinking about standing in the doorframe looking a bit hesitant.

"Ehm…. Do you want me to come back later?"

He looked at her thoughtful but shook his head and gestured her to enter. At one wave of his wand the door closed.

"What can I do for you Ms Granger?" He tried to make his voice sound casual and bare of any emotion and he managed surprisingly well.

"Are you feeling alright Professor?" The expression of worry on her face appeared honest.

"Why shouldn't I?" His voice sounded cold but he really wanted her to leave him alone. He suffered enough as it was. A man of his kind with his past was surely not a suitable partner for a beautiful, talented, bright minded young student.

"Well after last night I wasn't sure…-"

"Ms Granger, about last night I wanted to remark a few things." He knew now came the part where he had to make sure he wasn't looking into her eyes. Everywhere but at those deep hazel depths and he was alright. "First of all I might have given you the impression that my character for some reason has changed. That is not true. I will deduct house points from you and you will still get detention. I have a certain opinion about Gryffindors in general Ms Granger and that hasn't changed at all. I was always proud to be Slytherin and shall always feel that way. Our relationship is a purely professional one and it will remain that way. Have you understood me Ms Granger?"

Her face had paled with every word but she still nodded. How could she have been so blind? Why would anything change at all? Clearly she had caught her potion master in a strange mood last night and today he was again his evil, sneering self. And she would still be the old know-it-all she had always been for him and he would never see her as anything else.

Without another word she got up since he wasn't even looking at her. Surely he wanted to spare her at least the disgust she was sure that was to find in his eyes right now. She had made a total fool of herself.

Too late to worry now Granger.

Before she had reached the door she heard his voice again. Cold and silken as always but this time almost threatening.

"I hope you understand that I would appreciate it if anything concerning yesterday could be kept privately."

Without turning she nodded and uttered a muffled 'Of course'. Then she fled the room before he could see one of the tears in her eyes.

[Okay so this is where we are now: He loves her but thinks he is not good enough for her. She still loves him but is convinced he changed his mind. I can only say again that this will have a happy ending. At the moment it's too much fun so to make it easy for the two. I am always open for suggestions.

BTW: I really need a dependable, willing beta who wants to read my stories.  I totally agree on that one but I havn't found anyone so far. So if you want to apply for the job please email me or leave a review. I would be eternelly grateful.]