Chapter 12: Close Encounters

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She jumped up panicked. She ran over to James and ignoring the protests from Lily said, in a hurried whisper, "James...Lupin ...full moon. Sirius tricked Snape into following. You have to stop him. He will be killed. Don't ask how I know, just run. Go!" James needed no further urging. He jumped up and ran out the portrait hole.

She ran over to the window once more hoping to see Severus still on the grounds. Her heart sunk rapidly seeing no movement below. Suddenly her heart filled with fear and some other glittering feeling that lent her strength. She turned abruptly and followed James flight out of the common room.

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There was no one awake to see the front door open to allow the passage of a dark figure. Upon reaching the grass the figure seemed to change shape. Where one the form of a man stood there was now a regal figure of a stag.

James took a moment to orient himself to his animagus form before galloping headlong towards the ominous form of the Whomping Willow. He did not see the shadow cast by the small hawk flying swiftly above him.

Just outside the range of the Willow's branches, James reverted to his human shape. He bent to pick up the branch used by Snape to prod the knot that allowed entrance to the secret passage way, but a small form flew by him to hit the knot first. He looked up to see the branches still and the hovering form of a hawk above him. He didn't know how this bird knew of the trick but gave it a quick salute of thanks anyway, before rushing into the hole at the base of the tree to its cry of acknowledgement.

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Hermione rushed down the corridor outside the Gryffindor common room. She couldn't see any sign of James and figured he had taken a secret passage way or something. She paused and made a quick decision. She headed into the nearest open door.

After entering the abandoned classroom, she headed straight for the windows on the east side. Pushing one open, she climbed up on the sill. She saw James transforming her many feet below her. Swiftly she launched herself out the window, changing as she fell.

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Hawk-Hermione watched as James entered the passage and prayed that they weren't too late. Too nervous to waste energy on trying to hover, she landed and changed back just outside of the Willow's range. She bit her lip in worry. To her surprise she was not worried at all about Remus' secret being exposed but rather was focused on what was happening to Snape down there.

After fifteen minutes she began to contemplate going in there herself. Suddenly the trap door slid open and Severus raggedly made his way out. The horror on his face scared her. She had never seen him this shaken. Headless of the danger of the tree branches above them she rushed forward to support him as he staggered forward.

He turned and stared at her in surprise when she gently touched his face to see if there were any injuries and said in confusion, "Why are you he.. ooff."

He didn't get to finish the sentence as the first branch knocked him off his feet. He looked around to see if Elizabeth was alright, but looked up at the terrified scream of his friend. She was caught on one of the branches that flying through the air. Suddenly she was no longer caught but falling towards the ground.

She didn't have time to transform. She hit with a hard thud and tried to catch her wind. She slowly raised herself up and began to crawl back towards the stricken form of Snape. Their progress towards each other was hindered by the need to roll and dodge the enraged tree.

She was just in arms reach of Severus' out stretched hand, when she heard James' cry of alarm. Too slowly she reacted and was once again being swept into the air by a large gnarled branch. I think I'll wait to do anymore flying for awhile, was the weary thought that passed through her mind as she once again began to fall. Panic took over as she watched the ground rush towards her.

Both James and Severus watched in horror as their friend fell from a much higher point this time. Both were frozen to there spots not even thinking to try to slow her decent with magic. Severus began to run towards where she would fall, but knew in his heart it was too late. Morbidly he began to count the seconds until she would hit the ground, five, four, three, two ... Suddenly he was shouting, "NO!" She hit with a sickening crunch and this time did not move. He collapsed next to her and frantically began to check for signs of life. After several terrifying seconds where he began to think she was dead, her chest slowly began to rise. Severus let the relieved tears fall freely not caring if Potter saw or not. SHE IS ALIVE!

James stared at the Slytherin Head Boy who was so tenderly examining the fallen girl. Carefully he walked towards them out of the tree's range. Hesitantly he stretched out a hand and touched the other boy on the shoulder. He felt Snape stiffen under his hand as the Head Boy whirled and pointed his wand at one of his most hated enemies.

James put up his hands in surrender and with a slightly trembling voice said, "We need to get her to the Hospital Wing." Slowly Snape lowered his wand and pointed it at the still form. He conjured a stretched and instead of levitating her he bent down and carefully lifted her on to it.

He turned to the Gryffindor and said, "I've got her. Go help your friends, before I go find them and do something I won't regret." He began to turn way when James spoke.

"Wait just one minute. She is my friend. I don't know what kind of agreement you two made but you have no right taking claim over her. I should take her up," he argued.

Snape sneered, "Friend? You call that being a friend? You're the one who almost got me killed and because she tried to help me... she is in worse shape than I am. She is my friend. And I say I am taking her up. So, bugger off!"

James glared angrily, then seemed to sober up quickly and said, "Fine, how about we both take her up?"

Snape looked at him disdainfully then spat, "Fine."

Together they levitated the stretcher and rushed their friend to Madame Pomfrey. No one noticed the still form of a large black dog watching them from the passage opening.

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It had been several hours now. He had left Elizabeth in the hands of Madame Pomfrey and let Potter do all the explaining, minus the animagus stuff, as he sat and watched her breath. After the mediwitch had checked both of them for any major injuries she had pronounced them fine and ordered them out so she could work.

They boys had mutely headed out the door, giving each other considering looks before parting their separate ways. Severus had returned to his dorm, but could not sleep. The image of his love falling through the air and hitting the ground just kept rewinding and replaying itself in his mind. He mentally berated himself for not being able to stop her, for not thinking to use magic. He had been frozen with fear.

Slowly he transferred his anger at himself over to the one responsible...Sirius Black. He tried to kill me. He used his friend the werewolf to try to kill me. Only it didn't work did it. Potter chickened out on the joke and pulled me out. I hate being indebted to that little golden boy git. No it didn't work. It almost got his friends girl killed by that stupid tree instead, he raged in thought. His thoughts turned to her. She was going to see if her boyfriend was all right, but saved me anyway. She probably begged Potter not to go through with it. I hope she will be alright. I will never forgive Black if she dies. NEVER.

Suddenly the room was too small. He had to get out. He looked at the clock and noticed it was only five in the morning. He had to go see her or at least look at her. He needed to know if she would be alright. Turning on his heels he marched out the door.

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Hesitantly he approached the Hospital Wing. I can't continue like this. I either need to love her or avoid her. I can't see her with someone else. It has got to end, he thought remorsefully.

He peered surreptitiously around the door. His heart broke hearing the sobs of the Gryffindor girl lying in the nearest bed. He longed to hold her, to wipe away the tears and kiss her pain into oblivion. Instead, he settled for watching her and mentally sending reassurances and love. He loved her with all his heart, but he was a Slytherin and she was beyond his reach. She would never love a 'greasy git' like him. He gave an internal sigh of regret and remorse at his habit of wanting the unobtainable. Giving the object of his affection one last wistful look, he returned to the Snake's Den.

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The ground was rushing towards her and panic filled her eyes when she saw Severus running towards her but knew he wouldn't get there in time. To her mental surprise, her last conscious thought was, I love you. And all went black.

She woke up sometime later to find Madame Pomfrey standing over her and doing a few diagnostic spells over her. The current one made her feel tingly all over like her entire body was waking up after losing circulation. "How..," she croaked. Her throat was sore and her mouth was dry as a desert. She seemed to be having trouble breathing.

Madame Pomfrey stopped and looked at her when she tried to speak. Smiling slightly in reassurance the mediwitch helped her to sit up and handed her a glass of water, saying, "You were hit by the Whomping Willow a few times and took a short lesson in flying. Unfortunately you seemed to have trouble landing. You were brought in unconscious. You had several broken ribs and a nasty concussion. You had some major bruising on your back and stomach but that is mostly gone. You should be fine but I would like you to stay here for the next few hours so I can be sure you concussion is gone. Now take this potion. It will help the rest of the bruising and pain."

Hermione downed the horribly yellow, disgusting looking potion, and then grimaced at the awful taste. She set down the flask on the nightstand and asked, "How are Severus and James?"

If Poppy was surprised at the use of the Slytherin's first name or the order of the inquiry she didn't show it. She responded, "Fine both of them. They both brought you in though Mr. Potter did all the talking. Mr. Snape just sat there watching you like he was going to be sick. I didn't want them to see the extent of your injuries so I sent them back to their dorms. Professor Dumbledore will be speaking with them later about last nights events."

"Will Remus be in trouble?" Hermione asked worriedly.

The mediwitch looked at the girl sharply, contemplating how much she knew. Finally she said, "No. I take it you know about Mr. Lupin's affliction?"

"Yes," the younger witch responded bluntly.

"Well I do hope you have had the forethought to be discreet with that knowledge. It is not a public fact," Poppy stated. Getting an affirmative nod to in reply, she said, "Very well I will leave you to get some rest. You have been excused from morning classes. If you feel any more pain just take some more of that potion. Good night, Miss Gordon."

Hermione sat back then shifted so she was leaning forward with her arms on her bent knees. Why did Sirius do it? Severus didn't deserve that. I was surprised James didn't seem to know, which means that it was only Sirius. Remus would never willfully inflict himself in werewolf form on anyone. That was the point in his friends becoming animagi, to be able to control him. She paused as her mind turned towards her Slytherin friend.

Why did he follow? He was curious. He always wanted to know where they went and why. Sirius probably let something drop. Why did Severus try to catch me? I would have expected James to try first. Did he care about her? If so, why didn't he say something? He had plenty of chances before Remus asked. I would even break up with Remus if Severus asked now. As soon as that thought crossed her mind she knew it was true too. She would break up with Remus if Snape asked. She didn't love Remus. She loved Severus. He was her match. He was intelligent, witty, talented, nice when he wants to be, handsome in his own dark and brooding kind of way. Remus was just smart, nice and adorable, but not who she loved. Why do I have to love the one I can't have? He's Slytherin and pureblood. I am Gryffindor and muggleborn. He would never love me. I am from the future. He's my PROFESSOR! for crying out loud. I can't love him and he would never love me. She didn't notice when she started to sob into her knees and never noticed her love's observation.

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The next two days passed quietly with exception of the huge row James had with Sirius about his stupidity and prejudice. Nothing could be heard of the actual words, since there was a muffling charm on the dorm room, but the noise level was astounding as all the Gryffindors sat listening in the common room. Later a sulky and much chastised Sirius emerged and made and apology to Remus and Elizabeth before fleeing the prying eyes of the rest of his house.

Hermione had returned to classes and took the end of term exams. She had been trying to talk to Snape since she was allowed to leave the ward, but he seemed to be avoiding her. He hadn't shown up to either of their regular study sessions and sat with Goyle during Potions. Finally she gave up and just spent all her free time in the Library studying. She knew that sooner or later he would have to come in to get a book he needed for the exams.

On Wednesday, she got lucky. She came in after lunch and found him a row of books about Advanced Charms. She approached him silently while his back was turned and he was reading the first chapter of Clearing the Convoluted Charms for the Confused Caster. He jumped about a foot when she suddenly said, "Hello, Severus."

He whirled around and to her confusion looked frightened at her. She put her hands on her hips and said in her no-nonsense tone of voice, "Where have you been? I've been trying to find you all week. Are you avoiding me or something? If so, why?" She glared at him when he remained stubbornly silent. She felt her anger grow at the injustice. He would not answer and it was making her frustrated.

He could see the anger in his eyes and once again the thought that she was beautiful when angered crossed him mind but decided that he really didn't want it aimed at him so he said quietly, "Yes, I was avoiding you. I thought you would hate me after what happened. You know for not helping you. I thought you would be spending more time with your boyfriend after your close call."

To her surprise she could hear the bitterness in his voice in that last sentence. Was he jealous of Remus? For some reason this just made her angrier. "Why are you jealous? Why would I hate you? It wasn't your fault. Are you some kind of idiot that you don't realize I can see that? I was hurt. I got better and I would have at least expected you, as my supposed friend, to come see if I was all right. Madame Pomfrey said you looked like you were going to be sick. Do I make you feel sick? Does my mudblood parentage make you sick? Well do I? Do you wish the tree had finished me of so there would be one less one of me on this planet? Tell me!" she raged.

Suddenly Snape's back hit the wall. As she had yelled she slowly had backed him into a corner. Snape gulped back his fear at her tirade but was suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to yell back, "No! I don't! You don't make me sick. I was afraid to visit because of the way I felt about you! Your parents don't matter to me. You are the most beautiful witch I have ever seen, Elizabeth Gordon. I do not hate you, I love you!" He stopped; horrified that he had actually said it out loud.

Hermione stood frozen where she stood in shock. Her face was blank as she went over his words in her mind. Beautiful... Don't care... not hate... I love you! He loves me! He said so, her mind rejoiced.

He watched her. His heart broke at her shocked expression. She will definitely hate me now, he thought. I've blown it. I let my temper ruin everything. Why can't I ever keep my big mouth shut?

Suddenly he was being knocked against the wall. He was startled to find the girl of his dreams was pressing him up against the stone, not in malice, but was actually kissing him! He stiffened momentarily in shock then reflexively pulled her closer. He could feel every soft and sensuous curve of her body where it touched his as fire raced over his skin and all over his body. He gently cradled her head in his hands winding his long fingers in her glorious hair. She reached up and pulled his head down to deepen the kiss.

They finally broke apart and gasped for air. They separated and stared at each other in wonder.

Shakily, Hermione was the first to speak, "So it is true then. You do love me." She stepped forward again and hesitated before reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. To her surprise it was not greasy but just thick and shiny. "I have wanted to do that for weeks now. You may not believe it... but I love you too," she whispered.

Snape froze at her gentle touch. He was beginning to tremble at so much close contact. That kiss had been wonderful. He hadn't been kissed like that since...well never. His voice cracked when he dumbly said, "Okay." He was at a loss for words. He never expected his dreams to actually come true. He lifted a trembling hand to return the favor and run his finger through her hair. "I think...I think ...we need to sit down."

She smiled and they moved to the nearest table. Lucky for them they were the only ones in the library and Madame Pince was in a back store room. They let go of each others hair to hold hands. He gently traced circles with his thumb on the back of her hand as he said, "I never believed this could happen. You just made my every wish come true. I could die happy right now. But will this last?"

She looked down at their clasped hands then back at his eager but worried face. She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He could feel her sweet breath on his lips as she responded, "If you want it too."

He could only gasp out a fervent, "Yes."

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A/N: Gleeful laughter ensues I told you the Remus relationship was only temporary. Hope you like this chap. More coming soon. Pleeeeeaaaaaassseee review!