Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling… aren't you all surprised?
A/N: I've taken all your advice, I think I know how we shall deal with mean old Viktor. But first, we need some angst and romance… what do you think?
Her pleas to Viktor were useless. He invaded her dreams like he did every other night. The moment she closed her eyes he was there and no matter what she tried to think about, she could see the look on his face and hear him groaning in her ear. She tried to shut him out but he wouldn't allow it. She sunk into sleep and dreamed again of the night at Diagon Alley. This time, he was larger than life towering over her grinning evilly down at her as he pulled his pants down. She looked around her as Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Severus Snape looked on. They each turned around and walked away shaking their head ashamed of her. 'Severus! Help me!' Then, it all happened again.
She sat straight up in bed and looked outside. The sun had begun to come up over the lake. Her clock said it was 730. Well, I guess I'll take a bath and get ready. An hour and a half later she heard a knock at her door.
"Who is it?"
"It is I," he called from the door.
"Just a minute." She walked over and opened the door. "Are you ready?"
"I suppose…" She took a deep breath and walked out the door. (A/N: we're going to assume that you can walk to Hogsmeade here because I'm not entirely sure how you get there.)
Their walk was silent. Okay Hermione. Be calm. Everything is fine, there's nothing here to worry about. Severus wouldn't hurt you. He might. He is a man after all. He rescued me, though. Would he do what Viktor did to me? Yes, he would, he's probably just like all the other ones. She continued to have this inner battle with herself as Snape watched her puzzled. I can't do this, I don't want to go. I can turn back now.
"Hermione? Is something troubling you?"
"No… well, yes."
"May I inquire as to what that might be?"
"I'm… just…"
"Just what?" he thought he knew what was bothering her but thought that if she said it she would realize how foolish she was being. She stopped on the path and looked up at the sky.
"I'm afraid."
"Of what?" he tried to coax her into telling him without it being too obvious what he was doing. He knew what she was afraid of.
"Of what happened the last time I was here," she finally blurted out.
"Oh," now that he had coaxed it out of her he didn't know what to say. Dammit Severus! Think man! What does she need to hear?
"Please don't be mad at me…" she pleaded with him and she sat down on a stump and looked down at the ground. He walked over to her and lifted her chin with his forefinger and thumb.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I just thought that you might enjoy a day out of the castle. We can go back if you like."
She looked at him and she saw that he was quite sincere. His fingers were so soft on her face and she shook her head 'no.'
"I need to go. I want to go. It's… it's just hard."
He didn't know what to say. Instead, he held out his hand and she let him help her up. They continued walking in silence.
When they arrived at Hogsmeade, they walked around a bit taking in the summer sunshine. They carried on idle conversation, mostly about potions or stories from classes. When it came time for lunch, he walked toward the restaurant that she had met Viktor at that day before Christmas.
"Severus…"
"Yes?"
"I-I… um, this is so embarrassing."
"What?"
"Can we go somewhere else?"
"Certainly, do you not like the choice of cuisine here?"
"No, its just that… well, I used to meet… what I mean to say is that before Christmas… I mean… I don't…"
He knew what she was driving at so he quickly stepped in to help her. "Choose wherever you like to eat. There are many good places here." She told him thank you with only her eyes as they walked a bit further down the road. "Where would you like to dine this afternoon?"
"You choose," she replied.
"No, this is your day, you pick wherever you like."
"I can't." He was completely dumbstruck.
"You can't?" he raised an eyebrow at her totally confused.
If I pick something that he doesn't like, he'll get angry with me. What if he gets mad for picking the wrong place or his food isn't good or it's too expensive? What if he does what Viktor does when I make a mistake? I won't make a mistake, I won't choose.
"Whatever will be fine," she finally replied.
"What do you like?" He's asking me what I like. What do I like? I learned to like what it was that Viktor liked.
"I don't know, please don't make me choose."
"I'm not going to make you do anything. How about we just stop at the next place we come to, eh?"
He's not going to make me do anything. Viktor did. He made me into a woman and I didn't want to be. Would Severus do the same thing? Would he force me into a position that I can't get out of? He's a man after all, of course he would.
Their lunch was eaten with casual conversation. After they had eaten, he picked up the bill from the table. Hermione was digging around in her purse to find money for lunch.
"I've got it Hermione, put your money away."
"No, I'll pay for my own."
"Really, let me buy you lunch, I'm the one with the job remember."
"I just don't want to owe you." Does he expect me to be dessert? If he buys lunch then he'll want something in return.
He could sense what she was thinking. "You won't owe me. Seeing you eat is payment enough. I won't have it any other way." She could see his resolve and resigned herself to letting him buy her lunch.
Maybe he's not like Viktor… maybe…
A/N: Viktor still lurks about… whatever will we do with him?
