Part 5
Snape continued to pace at the other end of the room, deep in thought. He knew what must be done. He just did not want to do it.
"Professor Snape, please talk to me," Hermione requested quietly. Some color had returned to his face, but he still did not look himself. "I'm . . . " she began, not really sure what she was going to say. More self- assured, she began again, "Well, I'm really sorry. I hadn't considered the consequences. I didn't know you'd react this way. I mean," she began rambling," I knew you'd be upset, furious even. I thought I'd be doing a favor, but I guess I thought wrong. I just don't want anything bad happening to you." Hermione was about to continue on, but Snape's sudden movement in her direction stopped her. He was staring intently at her.
Did she just apologize? To him?
"What did you just say, Miss Granger?" he asked quietly, demandingly. If he heard her correctly, he actually meant something to her.
Her reply came as quietly as his question, and with greater feeling on her part. "I don't want anything bad happening to you. Professor Snape, believe it or not, I know there is a good man in you. The fear you place in the students is against your will. You'd rather not do it."
"Miss Granger," he responded after a brief silence, "how is it you think you know me so well, yet I have never given you any proof?"
She realized her answer was important. "Headmaster Dumbledore has said how much he believes in you. That has to mean something. Your work as a Death Eater is important to our survival. I mean, you've placed yourself at great risk just to ensure that. Harry has even mentioned that you are part of the reason he's still alive." She quieted, realizing what she had just said. At the recognition Snape perked up a little. Harry Potter apparently did not hate him as much as he thought. Just as well, Potter was still a reminder of his father in Snape's eyes. "Professor Snape, sir, none of us would be here without you," Hermione added gently.
Snape was closely watching Hermione throughout her answer. The way she looked at him hinted at something. Her words were said in awe and reverence. She almost seemed to pride herself in the fact she knew him and he was her professor. This realization brought about a complete change in his demeanor. Hermione looked on as the hunched figure in front of here straightened and stood up to his full height. His features had softened and he no longer looked as angry. Hermione thought she even saw a glimmer of a smile. 'He should smile more often,' she thought. His next move surprised her. Snape gently took hold of her hands and pulled her up to stand in front of him. They stood that way for a few minutes looking at each other. He was searching her, looking for something. She nervously glanced between him and the door.
Finally, he spoke, soft and gentle with a hint of pleading. "Hermione, what I have to tell you may come as a surprise. Since the only way out is to reveal my darkest secret, I must reveal something that may seem . . . inappropriate. So much so that I am finally admitting it to myself." He hesitated slightly before continuing. "Please think nothing less of me. I am only human, and I have my needs and desires like any man."
With the way he was talking to her, Hermione felt like she was getting somewhere. "You can tell me, sir," she found herself saying encouragingly. But she was a little afraid. If he was about to reject her, she didn't know if she could take it. "I won't tell anyone." And she wouldn't. Fortunately for Hermione, her fears were quashed in the next moment.
If he had been reading the signs correctly, she felt the same way he did, or something like it. Her intent gaze gave away quite a bit more than she may have wanted. Snape was not going to let the moment get away from him since he may not have another chance. Damn the consequences! With that in mind, he kissed her.
Taken off her guard, Hermione took a moment to respond. Once she realized what was happening, she could not believe it actually was happening. Hermione had dreamed of kissing Professor Snape many nights before, but she never believed she would actually be kissing her professor. But here she was, and he had initiated the whole thing. The reality was so much better than the dream. He was gentle, yet passionate. She kissed him back with equal fervor.
Severus Snape could not believe his luck. Here he was, kissing the woman who had stolen his heart years ago, and she wanted him as much as he wanted her. On some level, he knew this was not proper, but he did not care at the moment. Hermione was of legal age, even though she was still a student. Besides, whoever said love was rational was an idiot, plain and simple. To almost any outside observer, Severus Snape and Hermione Granger being in love would not be possible without magical interference of some kind, anyone except Albus Dumbledore, headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry anyway. In fact, Dumbledore knew the exact moment the door to the dungeon had reappeared, as well as what had caused it.
Harry and Ron were playing a game of wizard's chess in the Great Hall while Draco fumed a couple of tables away.
End part 5
Snape continued to pace at the other end of the room, deep in thought. He knew what must be done. He just did not want to do it.
"Professor Snape, please talk to me," Hermione requested quietly. Some color had returned to his face, but he still did not look himself. "I'm . . . " she began, not really sure what she was going to say. More self- assured, she began again, "Well, I'm really sorry. I hadn't considered the consequences. I didn't know you'd react this way. I mean," she began rambling," I knew you'd be upset, furious even. I thought I'd be doing a favor, but I guess I thought wrong. I just don't want anything bad happening to you." Hermione was about to continue on, but Snape's sudden movement in her direction stopped her. He was staring intently at her.
Did she just apologize? To him?
"What did you just say, Miss Granger?" he asked quietly, demandingly. If he heard her correctly, he actually meant something to her.
Her reply came as quietly as his question, and with greater feeling on her part. "I don't want anything bad happening to you. Professor Snape, believe it or not, I know there is a good man in you. The fear you place in the students is against your will. You'd rather not do it."
"Miss Granger," he responded after a brief silence, "how is it you think you know me so well, yet I have never given you any proof?"
She realized her answer was important. "Headmaster Dumbledore has said how much he believes in you. That has to mean something. Your work as a Death Eater is important to our survival. I mean, you've placed yourself at great risk just to ensure that. Harry has even mentioned that you are part of the reason he's still alive." She quieted, realizing what she had just said. At the recognition Snape perked up a little. Harry Potter apparently did not hate him as much as he thought. Just as well, Potter was still a reminder of his father in Snape's eyes. "Professor Snape, sir, none of us would be here without you," Hermione added gently.
Snape was closely watching Hermione throughout her answer. The way she looked at him hinted at something. Her words were said in awe and reverence. She almost seemed to pride herself in the fact she knew him and he was her professor. This realization brought about a complete change in his demeanor. Hermione looked on as the hunched figure in front of here straightened and stood up to his full height. His features had softened and he no longer looked as angry. Hermione thought she even saw a glimmer of a smile. 'He should smile more often,' she thought. His next move surprised her. Snape gently took hold of her hands and pulled her up to stand in front of him. They stood that way for a few minutes looking at each other. He was searching her, looking for something. She nervously glanced between him and the door.
Finally, he spoke, soft and gentle with a hint of pleading. "Hermione, what I have to tell you may come as a surprise. Since the only way out is to reveal my darkest secret, I must reveal something that may seem . . . inappropriate. So much so that I am finally admitting it to myself." He hesitated slightly before continuing. "Please think nothing less of me. I am only human, and I have my needs and desires like any man."
With the way he was talking to her, Hermione felt like she was getting somewhere. "You can tell me, sir," she found herself saying encouragingly. But she was a little afraid. If he was about to reject her, she didn't know if she could take it. "I won't tell anyone." And she wouldn't. Fortunately for Hermione, her fears were quashed in the next moment.
If he had been reading the signs correctly, she felt the same way he did, or something like it. Her intent gaze gave away quite a bit more than she may have wanted. Snape was not going to let the moment get away from him since he may not have another chance. Damn the consequences! With that in mind, he kissed her.
Taken off her guard, Hermione took a moment to respond. Once she realized what was happening, she could not believe it actually was happening. Hermione had dreamed of kissing Professor Snape many nights before, but she never believed she would actually be kissing her professor. But here she was, and he had initiated the whole thing. The reality was so much better than the dream. He was gentle, yet passionate. She kissed him back with equal fervor.
Severus Snape could not believe his luck. Here he was, kissing the woman who had stolen his heart years ago, and she wanted him as much as he wanted her. On some level, he knew this was not proper, but he did not care at the moment. Hermione was of legal age, even though she was still a student. Besides, whoever said love was rational was an idiot, plain and simple. To almost any outside observer, Severus Snape and Hermione Granger being in love would not be possible without magical interference of some kind, anyone except Albus Dumbledore, headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry anyway. In fact, Dumbledore knew the exact moment the door to the dungeon had reappeared, as well as what had caused it.
Harry and Ron were playing a game of wizard's chess in the Great Hall while Draco fumed a couple of tables away.
End part 5