The Love of One Woman

Chapter Five

Time Will Only Tell



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Hermione was the first off the Train and smiled when the view of the School fell into her sights. It was like she never left. She briefly wished she never pushed Harry into going to Ginny's home in London now. Hermione felt lonely without him at her side. Dispite some of the distance that had been between them in recent years, she still deeply loved him. He had always been like family to her. Him, and Ron.

That was what she enjoyed about their marriage the most. It was so comfortable at times it was nearly frightening.

Safe. Was another word that perfectly explained her feelings of their relationship. Harry would never do anything that would ever hurt her. That would ever break her heart. Not ever knowingly anyway.

Hermione gave a suprised look at the man who started to walk beside her toward the School's grounds, and she could see two clothes chests hovering behind him. One was hers, and the other belonged to him.

"I thought I'd bring yours along too," Severus murmered softly. "It was sitting beside mine anyway in the Cab."

Hermione smiled a small smile. "Thank you, Severus. You didn't have too, you know. You owe me nothing."

"But I do." He replied.

She looked back up at him as they walked along. She never expected that reply.

"How so?" She asked curiously, not hiding a grin.

"You may not think of the last conversation that we had anymore, Professor," Severus began cooly, making a point to meet her gaze. "But I do. I have quite a lot over the years. I for one hold regret over my actions then. I treated you, rather badly. Dispite the relationship we shared then, we were friends above all else, and I treated you horribly. I shouldn't have."

"You never treated me horribly, Severus." Hermione replied softly, not looking at him now as they continued to walk along. "If anything, It was me. I ended our relationship, and left the school. I married another man less than three months to the day we broke up. I never gave you the chance you deserved, Severus. I should have been more patient with you. I was such in a hurry to grow up. I wanted to get married and attend university so very young. I planned to have two children all ready at my age now, and I'm only twenty-two just this year."

"Do you and Potter have children, Professor?" Severus asked curiously. Silently he was preying for her reply to be no. He couldn't say why for certain just then.

"No," Hermione admitted sadly. "Harry doesn't want children for awhile yet. He wants us to get settled for afew years in our marriage and new home he bought in London. We move in next month on Halloween break."

"How long is awhile?" Severus pressed. He expected her to say none of your business but she didn't.

"When we're both about thirty or so." Hermione replied as they neared the School now. "Harry's afraid a baby would cause trouble with his Quiddach career and all. He wouldn't be around to help me out with the children."

"He's obviously not concerned if you have children, or not, then." Severus replied icily. "He should be happy that you would want to be the mother of his children. Proud as hell, in fact. I know I-would be."

Hermione beamed at him. "Thank you, Severus, for being a friend to me. I've never stopped hoping for that much."

"I've never stopped caring for you, Hermione." He then replied, not caring about names anymore. "It was only that I was much too late in admitting that before."

Hermione grinned up at him with tears in her eyes, and grabbed his offered arm as they walked towards the lake. The boats were waiting as Hagrid guided first years into boats first.

"Lets go this way, Severus, please?" She pleaded softly. "It brings back so much for me."

Severus scowled as he watched the first years get into the boats. She actually wanted to go with them? He thought bitterly.

"Fine, but I'm casting a charm to make one of the boats larger," He scowled. "I'm not going anywhere in one of those tiny little tubs."

Hermione laughed out loud.

"Sounds good." She grinned.

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