Warning : Bit of swearing...

Chapter Four

As soon as Severus hit the floor, I pushed away from Harry and ran to his side.

Tears fell as I slapped his cheek, murmering 'Wake up, wake up..' He didn't know the whole story, and he probably wouldn't care when he woke up. I then realized how majorly I screwed up.

His eyes fluttered and he glanced around, gasping for air, and looking at everything almost as if he had no idea where he was. Then finally, his eyes met mine and he shoved me away, sitting up. "Don't..touch me.." He murmered through heavy breaths.

"Severus, you don't understand..." I said, through now heavy tears, grabbing his arm.

He snatched it away like it was on fire. "That's Professor Severus Snape to you.."

Before I could speak, Harry ran for it. He knew once Severus got up, he'd kill him, then kill me too. I felt miserable, but it wasn't really all my fault.

"Severus...Please listen..." I begged.

"What?" He asked, now on his feet and pacing while many people looked on from other tables. "What could make it any better, Hermione?"

"He told me he wanted me to break it off with you...Or I'd lose him as a friend.." I began.

"Oh is that it? You poor child. Is that saying he means more to you than me?" He asked, on the verge of yelling.

"No! No no it doesn't..I love you.."

"You sure have a funny fucking way of showing it!" He shouted.

"He said he'd tell the whole school..."

"Tell them then!" He yelled, pushing a table over, getting a simeltanious gasp from all around. "Let them all fucking know how much I was in love with you!"

"Was..?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said through gritted teeth. "Was."

"Don't say that..Please...I just didn't want anyone else to find out..."

"So you'd put...US..on the line to cover it up?" He asked, exhasperated. "Nice move.."

"Please.."

He hesitated, chewing on the inside of his lip. Then looked at me, shaking his head. "Go and fuck yourself, Hermione.." Then he disappeared out of the cafeteria.

It took me a moment, but finally, I sunk to my knees, my hands palm up on the floor. I leaned my face into my hands and began to sob uncontrollably. He wouldn't listen...

I fell back, sitting, and covered my face. "Fuck.." I murmered through tears.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I uncovered my face to see an older woman I didn't know. She was smiling sympathetically. It was fine though, I felt like I needed sympathy at that moment. I felt so vulnerable and alone for the first time since April. "C-can I h-help you?" I asked.

"I saw what happened, dear...And heard..."

"Heard?" I asked alarmed. "The whole thing?"

She nodded. "The whole thing. I know you wouldn't have done that if you didn't love him, you need to try to sit him down and talk to him..."

I laughed hopelessly. "Easier said than done."

She then sat beside me, rubbing my back. "He sounds just like my husband back when we were dating...Stubborn, a little too proud for his own good.."

"Bingo.." I mumbled. "And what I just did was a puncture wound to his pride."

"He's just hurt." She replied. "He wouldn't have reacted so harshly if he didn't love you more than life itself, you know. He must love you a lot..."

"He does.." I squeaked, wiping my eyes. "Or he did...I had to convince him to go into this...He's risking his job...His freedom...He risked everything for me."

"He sounds like a good man." She commented.

"He is.." I wiped at my eyes again.

"And that boy is no friend of yours." She said, sternly. "No best friend would do something like that..."

I recalled in my mind exactly what happened.

Harry waited for the doors to close, and once he was sure Severus was out of earshot, He turned to Hermione. "I want you to break it off with him."

"Harry...What..?" She sputtered, confused.

"I don't want you with that git." He replied quietly.

"Harry!" She spoke loudly. "I love him!"

"And I love you.."

Hermione froze, staring at him. "What did you say?"

He leaned closer. "Do you value our friendship?" He questioned, moving his hand overtop hers.

Just as she went to snatch it back, He grabbed painfully tight around it. "Harry, stop...you're hurting me.."

"Answer the question, Mione." He demanded.

"Yes, I value our friendship." She replied, wincing.

"Good." He loosened his grip on her hand lightly. "Then you'll kiss me."

"What?! Harry, I can't...I love-"

He put a finger over her lips and pulled her onto his lap. "Now kiss me if you value our friendship.."

"Harry.." She whimpered.

"Do it.." He said, gripping her wrists like a vice.

Whimpering all the way, she met her lips with his bitterly. He took her hands and put them upon his chest.

"That's it.." He murmered into her mouth as he took her into another kiss, wrapping his arms about her.

I shook my head harshly. "No..No no no he's not.."

She gave me a pat on the back. "Go find him."

Without thinking, I hugged the woman, and sobbed into her shoulder for a moment. Finally, I took my arms away and shakily, got to my feet. "Thank you...So much."

She nodded. "Good luck, Hermione."

I paused as I watched the woman walk away, but didn't think much more into it. I sprinted out of the cafeteria and up the stairs. Once I was on deck, I looked around. No sight of Severus. I began walking around, eyes darting back and forth until I saw him. Sitting, back against the rail, near the back of the boat, a cigarette rested between his middle and index fingers as he stared off into nothing.

"Severus?"

He looked up, and once he saw me, he turned back to stare.

I walked closer, and gingerly, took a seat about a foot away from him. "Can we talk?"

"Now that you've made me look like a fool infront of the entire cafeteria, yes. I suppose we can." There was a hint of sarcasm to his voice, but I went on anyway, retelling him the entire story.

After I finished, he sighed, flicking the cigarette out into the water between the rails. "Don't you get it. Hermione?"

I shook my head. "I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Don't you understand I'd give my life, my job, my freedom, all for you in a heartbeat?" He asked me, quietly. "I don't care if Potter tells the whole school. I don't care if he tells the whole world. That wouldn't stop me from caring for you."

I felt tears welling in my eyes again. "I just thought.." I sighed. "I wasn't thinking."

"That is apparent." He said in an undertone, thumbing my tears away.

Then I broke down, clinging to him and crying. "Please don't stop loving me.." I whimpered. "Please.."

"Its okay..." He soothed finally, holding me tight to him. "You made a mistake.."

I sniffled. "And you reacted." I said, looking up to him.

"Yes.."

We paused.

"I'm sorry." We both said in unison, laughing quietly afterward.

"Can you do me a favor?" I asked as he wiped away the tears on my face.

He nodded.

"Can you love me forever?"

He hesitated, then finally, he put his lips to my ear. "Je t'aime, Hermione, et je vous aimerai pour toujours.."

I shivered at the tickle in my ear. I looked up to him, thoroughly surprised, and felt a new round of tears coming on. This time, not tears of hurt or apology. Tears of love and adoration. "Je t'aime, Severus.."

I sat there in his arms for a while, neither of us speaking, until I looked up at him. "Do I still have to call you Professor Snape?"

"Well." He began. "If you like it kinky."

I turned violently red, slapped his shoulder and got to my feet. "You are disgusting." I said, through my own giggles.

He stood as well, slipping an arm around my waist as we walked back to the front of the boat to sit where we had before, and after a few moments, we got back to talking as if none of the past half an hour had happened.

Eventually, we docked and Severus, being the gentleman he was carried his luggage and my own, which whether I wanted to admit or not, was much more than he had packed.

As we walked along the dock, I heard my name called from behind.

I turned in dismay to see Molly and Arthur Weasley, followed by their children and...Harry, coming in our immediate direction.

I looked at Severus, giving a weak smile. "I think we're in trouble."

"Aye." He replied, nodding. "I agree."

Well, there's Chapter Four for y'all. I would have completed it sooner, but I lost my creativity for about two days, what with my Freshman year approaching in two days, I guess my nervous-ness is replacing my creativity. I'm sorry if the writing is crappy. Just bear with me for a while. I'm out of my mind with worry because of school. Blah. =/

Thanks to all my reviewers. I adore all of you.

And my French is kind of limited, but for those of you whose French is even more limited, Severus said : I love you, Hermione, and I will love you for always.

And Hermione just said : I love you, Severus.

Simple enough I think. =D

I'll update soon as possible.

-Heart- Casey