Snape found Hermione talking with Draco in one of the corridors near the entrance to the kitchen. He could not help smiling at the fact they were getting along. What pleased him even more was that he was the catalyst in the whole affair. For once in his life, Snape felt he had done something right. However, his elation was short lived as he remembered why he had gone in search of Hermione in the first place. He had been dreading it all morning and he knew he would lose his nerve if he waited until afternoon.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy," he began, trying to sound happy, "it's nice to see two of my favorite students getting along for once."
Hermione was taken a little off guard by Snape's sudden presence. She was not quite sure how to act with Draco around, so she just smiled politely.
"Hello, Professor. I just want to thank you again. You gave me the push I needed to make the right decision," said Draco.
Hermione was not surprised by what Draco had said. She had always thought he would not follow in his father's footsteps. It did not seem to be his style. It was at this moment, though, that she realized how much influence Snape really had. He definitely had a way of inspiring people. 'Just another one of his adorable qualities,' she thought.
"I'm glad to know you feel that way, Draco. It is comments like yours that making teaching so rewarding." The blond could not help smiling. "Hermione, may I have a word please?"
"Certainly, sir," she responded formally. If she kept being so formal, his job would be a little easier.
"Excuse us, Draco," said Snape politely to the young man he now considered his peer.
"Thanks, Hermione. I'm going to look for Harry. Thought we could share some Quidditch moves or something. Thanks again, Professor Snape."
Snape watched solemnly as Draco walked down the hall. Turning to Hermione, he said, "We'll go to my office so we can have some privacy." The only problem was that all he was thinking at that moment was how much he wanted someone else to do it. This was not going to be pretty, and he was not sure either of them would come out of it physically and emotionally well.
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"Hey, Potter! Wait up!" Harry heard as he was walking to the Gryffindor common room. He turned to see who it was.
"Oh, hi, Draco. I'm sorry about Ron. He just . . . well, you know how he is. What are you doing here?'
"I thought we could talk, or do, well, friend stuff," came the awkward response.
"Yeah, all right," said Harry. "Let's go down to the Great Hall. Are you any good at Wizards Chess?"
"I'm not bad. I beat Crabbe and Goyle when they were a team."
Both boys chuckled at this. Crabbe and Goyle were was thick as rocks. Anyone could beat them, even when they were a team. They walked to the Great Hall, talking about Quidditch and school. Harry notice Ron playing Exploding Snap with Colin Creevy, a sixth year Gryffindor who idolized Harry. Draco pointed to the next table where the chessboard was sitting. He and Harry sat down to play. Harry had Draco's king checked and mated in nine moves. Right after he announced the checkmate, a loud shout could be heard from Colin. Ron ran out of the Great hall. Harry and Draco shared a look.
"I better go after him," said Harry.
"This is my fault, isn't it?"
"No. It's not your fault, Draco. It's Ron's. He's convinced Professor Snape has it in for Hermione and you're going to be a traitor to our side." Harry got up to leave. "Oh, and thanks for the game."
"No problem. I want a rematch later though."
"You got it," said Harry on his way out.
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Hermione could tell Severus wanted his space. He was walking stiffer than normal and he was not looking at her, just his shoes, the floor, a painting here or there, and the corridor ahead; basically anything that was not her. She had this intense feeling she did not want to hear what he had to say. They walked in silence all the way to the dungeon. When they reached his office, Severus opened the door for Hermione. He thought he better be a gentleman before delivering his speech. He realized his options were few. He could either put her in greater danger if Voldemort ever found out about their involvement or break her heart. It was better she lived and hated him, he decided. Then, at least, he knew she was somewhat safe. Ultimately, it was the lesser of two evils.
Both of them were standing quietly, looking at the floor. Finally, curiosity got the better of Hermione.
"Severus, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He had to do it, but he hated himself for it. Little did he know how much more he would hate himself when he finished having his say. With a heavy heart, he sat her in a chair and sat across from her.
"Hermione, I . . no, we can't do this."
Did she hear him correctly?
"What do you mean we? It sounds a lot more like you than me. I want this. You wanted this. At least, I thought you did . . . " she responded harshly.
"I do want this. I want you, Hermione," he replied, looking her straight in the eye. "However, we cannot have a relationship together. Not with this war."
"Are you afraid I'll put you in danger, because it still sounds like a you thing."
She was furious. He knew she would be, but there was not an alternative until Voldemort was gone. If anyone beyond those who already knew found out he was with a muggle born, he would not only be compromised, but they would be tortured to death if not something worse. Severus shuddered to think what they would do to Hermione.
"It is not just for my sake. Do you realize the position we'll both be put in if someone finds out? It's a miracle no one has been told by Weasley yet! Hermione, I will not be the cause of your death. This, this thing between us ends now before it goes any further!"
That did it. That set off the flood. He had made Hermione cry in class once or twice before, but this time it hurt. Severus Snape had never felt such intense heartbreak. Of course, he had never loved anyone as much.
He could only look sadly on as Hermione's tears fell. He would lose his resolve if he made any attempt to sooth her. Finally, she spoke. "You insensitive bastard! I hate you, Severus Snape!" and she ran out of the dungeon, tears still falling.
The slamming of the door barely registered as the overwhelming sense of guilt and loss flooded over him. Snape could feel the warm tears rolling down his own cheeks. He hoped she could forgive him someday. She was right about one thing, though. It was more his problem than hers. She was already in great danger by being Harry Potter's friend. He vowed to himself he would protect them, each and every one. "Better a foolish bastard's death than someone with a whole life of possibilities ahead," he said to himself.
End Part 4
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy," he began, trying to sound happy, "it's nice to see two of my favorite students getting along for once."
Hermione was taken a little off guard by Snape's sudden presence. She was not quite sure how to act with Draco around, so she just smiled politely.
"Hello, Professor. I just want to thank you again. You gave me the push I needed to make the right decision," said Draco.
Hermione was not surprised by what Draco had said. She had always thought he would not follow in his father's footsteps. It did not seem to be his style. It was at this moment, though, that she realized how much influence Snape really had. He definitely had a way of inspiring people. 'Just another one of his adorable qualities,' she thought.
"I'm glad to know you feel that way, Draco. It is comments like yours that making teaching so rewarding." The blond could not help smiling. "Hermione, may I have a word please?"
"Certainly, sir," she responded formally. If she kept being so formal, his job would be a little easier.
"Excuse us, Draco," said Snape politely to the young man he now considered his peer.
"Thanks, Hermione. I'm going to look for Harry. Thought we could share some Quidditch moves or something. Thanks again, Professor Snape."
Snape watched solemnly as Draco walked down the hall. Turning to Hermione, he said, "We'll go to my office so we can have some privacy." The only problem was that all he was thinking at that moment was how much he wanted someone else to do it. This was not going to be pretty, and he was not sure either of them would come out of it physically and emotionally well.
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"Hey, Potter! Wait up!" Harry heard as he was walking to the Gryffindor common room. He turned to see who it was.
"Oh, hi, Draco. I'm sorry about Ron. He just . . . well, you know how he is. What are you doing here?'
"I thought we could talk, or do, well, friend stuff," came the awkward response.
"Yeah, all right," said Harry. "Let's go down to the Great Hall. Are you any good at Wizards Chess?"
"I'm not bad. I beat Crabbe and Goyle when they were a team."
Both boys chuckled at this. Crabbe and Goyle were was thick as rocks. Anyone could beat them, even when they were a team. They walked to the Great Hall, talking about Quidditch and school. Harry notice Ron playing Exploding Snap with Colin Creevy, a sixth year Gryffindor who idolized Harry. Draco pointed to the next table where the chessboard was sitting. He and Harry sat down to play. Harry had Draco's king checked and mated in nine moves. Right after he announced the checkmate, a loud shout could be heard from Colin. Ron ran out of the Great hall. Harry and Draco shared a look.
"I better go after him," said Harry.
"This is my fault, isn't it?"
"No. It's not your fault, Draco. It's Ron's. He's convinced Professor Snape has it in for Hermione and you're going to be a traitor to our side." Harry got up to leave. "Oh, and thanks for the game."
"No problem. I want a rematch later though."
"You got it," said Harry on his way out.
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Hermione could tell Severus wanted his space. He was walking stiffer than normal and he was not looking at her, just his shoes, the floor, a painting here or there, and the corridor ahead; basically anything that was not her. She had this intense feeling she did not want to hear what he had to say. They walked in silence all the way to the dungeon. When they reached his office, Severus opened the door for Hermione. He thought he better be a gentleman before delivering his speech. He realized his options were few. He could either put her in greater danger if Voldemort ever found out about their involvement or break her heart. It was better she lived and hated him, he decided. Then, at least, he knew she was somewhat safe. Ultimately, it was the lesser of two evils.
Both of them were standing quietly, looking at the floor. Finally, curiosity got the better of Hermione.
"Severus, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He had to do it, but he hated himself for it. Little did he know how much more he would hate himself when he finished having his say. With a heavy heart, he sat her in a chair and sat across from her.
"Hermione, I . . no, we can't do this."
Did she hear him correctly?
"What do you mean we? It sounds a lot more like you than me. I want this. You wanted this. At least, I thought you did . . . " she responded harshly.
"I do want this. I want you, Hermione," he replied, looking her straight in the eye. "However, we cannot have a relationship together. Not with this war."
"Are you afraid I'll put you in danger, because it still sounds like a you thing."
She was furious. He knew she would be, but there was not an alternative until Voldemort was gone. If anyone beyond those who already knew found out he was with a muggle born, he would not only be compromised, but they would be tortured to death if not something worse. Severus shuddered to think what they would do to Hermione.
"It is not just for my sake. Do you realize the position we'll both be put in if someone finds out? It's a miracle no one has been told by Weasley yet! Hermione, I will not be the cause of your death. This, this thing between us ends now before it goes any further!"
That did it. That set off the flood. He had made Hermione cry in class once or twice before, but this time it hurt. Severus Snape had never felt such intense heartbreak. Of course, he had never loved anyone as much.
He could only look sadly on as Hermione's tears fell. He would lose his resolve if he made any attempt to sooth her. Finally, she spoke. "You insensitive bastard! I hate you, Severus Snape!" and she ran out of the dungeon, tears still falling.
The slamming of the door barely registered as the overwhelming sense of guilt and loss flooded over him. Snape could feel the warm tears rolling down his own cheeks. He hoped she could forgive him someday. She was right about one thing, though. It was more his problem than hers. She was already in great danger by being Harry Potter's friend. He vowed to himself he would protect them, each and every one. "Better a foolish bastard's death than someone with a whole life of possibilities ahead," he said to himself.
End Part 4