Chapter Eight:

"Me?" Hermione squeaked.

"Yes. The memories I have of the few conversations I've had with you since you started teaching." Snape explained.

"What does that have to do with--?" Hermione started.

"They don't want me becoming distracted, Hermione, distracted by you."

"Distracted by me? How?"

"Voldemort found something when he trod through my feelings. Something I haven't even admitted to myself." Snape was speaking quietly and seriously.

"What did he find?" Hermione asked.

"An attraction to you." Snape said, carefully avoiding her gaze.

"What?" Hermione muttered wildly.

"I never admitted it because I thought you and Wood--"

"So that's why you always bug me about him!"

"I--" Snape winced, he lay his head back on the pillow and clenched his fists, and "They're growing back."

Seconds later, he was out of breath and relaxed his fists. Hermione stood up and came o the side of his bed.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, it's over now." he said, "what was I saying?"

"Why you always bug me about Oliver."

"Jealousy, I suppose. Though I never admitted it to myself." Snape muttered.

The sun had set while they were talking and no light shone through the windows of the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey came, shooed Hermione out and told her to get some sleep. She examined Snape again before releasing him. He found Hermione waiting outside the door.

"There's a charm." She said, "That will block certain things in your memory. Only one person will ever see them other than you."

"How does it work?" he asked quietly.

"Whoever performs the charm sees and feels everything you want to hide…then two people sort of share your memories. Voldemort can't touch them." Hermione explained.

"Would you be willing?"

"Are you sure you want me to know everything?"

"Yes." Snape said.

Hermione followed him to his office and through a door. She found herself in his bedroom. He was watching her closely.

"Are you ready?' she asked, he nodded.

Hermione told him to sit in a chair next to his bed. She pulled out he wand and took a deep breath.

"Memoriesum Protegum."

Hermione felt like she was watching a movie. She saw herself and Oliver talking at the staff table and felt a surge of jealousy. She saw herself talking in her classroom and butterflies filled her stomach, mixed with a sinking feeling. Many more memories and feelings washed over Hermione before the charm was complete, and she foun herself lying on the floor. Snape crouched next to her.

"I'm fine." she muttered, standing up.

"Are you sure?"

"All those things I saw…why?" Hermione whispered.