Well here is the next chapter for you. I hope you all enjoy this.
I apologize if there are any spelling errors. I do not have spell check on this computer so I will do my best by proof-reading this.
The mystery character is revealed in this chapter! The author deemed you worthy to know!
sarcasticcapricorn - Sirius has been alive since the beginning of this story...where have you been? I did not think through howhe is alive. Consider this slightly AU, if it makesyou feel better. Also to be honest...I needed the PERFECT antagonist for Severus and what better person than his boyhood ENEMY! Plus Sirius SUCKS! I hate him! He is such a jerk and dirtbag. He was in Azkaban for ATTEMPTED murder. He is mean to Severus. -SNIFFLES- I WUV SEVEWUS! He is my lover. I loaned him to Hermione in this fic though. Am I not generous?
- February 14, 1998 -
It had been a little more than a month since Professor Snape had been sick. Just as Madam Pomfrey had siad he was up and around in no time at all. The Cruentus Potion had been brewed to completion. I felt awful though. Now I had no reason for going down into the dungeons. I missed the extra time I'd had with Professor Snape. I decided that it would be only fair on Valentines Day to send Severus another charm. I wanted him to know that we would have each other soon. I wouldn't send him a note though. I know it is crazy for me to think this but I do anyway...I blamed my cruel, somewhat teasing, note for making Severus become ill.
"I'll see you Hermione," Harry called to me. He held his broom and waved as he exited our common room. It was a full moon that night. I knew that I would have the common room to myself. Now was the time to send my present to Professor Snape. The heart charm from the bracelet he'd given me so many years ago, though to me it was only several months. I detached it and put it in an envelope addressed to Severus Snape.
I got up from my warm chair and left the common room to walk up to the Owlry to send the Valentines Day present to my true love. A black owl with a pale beak fluttered down and took the note from me and swept out.
I walked back slowly with my hands in my pockets. I hadn't bothered to take my wand. I wouldn't need it. It was just a quick trip to the Owlry.
BAM!
I was seeing stars and in a heap against the wall. Everything was going black. I felt a hard body press up against my back pinning me to the wall. I heard a bottle uncork. I couldn't see what was happening though beause one large hand held my neck down. A man roughly flipped me over. I know it was a man. I could feel him pressing into my hips. His rough angry lips descended on mine tearing them open with his teeth. I felt a warm potion slide into my mouth from his along with his tongue. It tasted of cinnamon and fresh bread. I collapsed welcoming the hands of darkness that gripped me.
-Severus Snape -
I sat quietly. I couldn't help but wonder at Miss Granger's kindness toward me. After all I had never been kind to her before. So why was she kind to me?
Why had she wanted to take care of me? It had not escaped my notice that she had said she wanted to do that job. Who would want to take care of me? It left no end to the questions that were pounding through my head. I was grateful that it had been her instead of Poppy though. Poppy could be like a mother hen at times.
A black owl fluttered down onto my coffee table twittering and looking around curiously. I opened the envelope and turned it over dumping the contents out onto the table. A single heart shaped charm dropped out with a tinkle onto the table. No letter. I felt slightly disappointed that Jane had not written to me but I was pleased that she had sent me another reason to hold onto my faith and hope of being together soon.
I glanced at the clock. It was around seven thirty.
I spent the rest of the night reminiscing of the past time Jane and I had spent together and planning a future for us. We could just go and live at Snape Mansion without worries of anything. Of course, I would have to wait for her to rejoin me before I could actually begin a real plan but I could dream of what I wanted.
-Hermione Granger -
"Hermione wake up," I heard a soft voice call above me.
My lips ached and the metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth.
"Where am I?" I asked. I felt something warm ooze from the corner of my mouth. I tried to lift my hand but it didn't move. My head was pounding and it was dark.
I felt someone with gentle, caring hands caressing my hair.
"Hermione, open your eyes," the deep, soothing voice called.
I opened them squinting into the bright light. I felt soft, and probably expensive, fabric against my cheek. I could smell an expensive, masculine cologne that had clearly been sprayed sparingly. I lifted my hand and slid it onto a nice shoulder. His arms tightend convulsively around me, pulling me tightly to his chest. I was rising up. I felt myself moving through the hallways cradled in someone's arms. I couldn't remember who it should be or who I wanted it to be. I felt my mind beginning to stress out. I dug my nails into the soft fabric of the man's shoulders and he let out a hiss of pain.
My eyes gradually adjusted to the light and as they did I saw who was holding me.
Dark, soulful, puppy-like eyes set deep into his face. His skin was tanned and blemish free. You could tell it was all natural and not some silly glamour charm like most people had to use to look that way. My eyes moved up to examine his hair. It was semi-long, black, and very thick. His chest was well muscled. I could feel it against my side and I could feel his strong arms under my knees and back. You could feel them even through the warm robes he was wearing. They were pure velvet. I rested my head on his shoulder as he entered the common room Harry and I shared.
Professor Black. What a babe! Where did that come from? Since when was I attracted to Harry's godfather...I'd always thought the first of never. Well it was probably his sudden kindness that was doing this to me. Sort of like a seeming Prince in shining armor. He is so powerful and fit. I felt my pupils grow larger as I looked at his strong jaw and deep, kind eyes. It still felt strange to be seeing my Professor this way. Something had to be amiss. I'd never spent so much time looking at Professor Black. I knew all the other girls did. I knew he had slept with some of them. I am far from naïve. Suddenly I felt a little jealous. I did not want others looking at him that way. They had no right.
"Hermione, are you okay?" he asked placing me down as if I were a porcelain doll.
"No. I'm forgetting things. I feel so confused. It scares me," I said pressing my fingertips to my head.
"Shush," Sirius said trying to soothe me.
"Professor, I'm scared," I whimpered as tears welled up in my eyes. I tightened my arms around his neck.
Professor Black gently wrapped his arms around me. He drew me closer to him. He began to stroke my hair. He pressed his lips softly and sweetly to my temple.
"Hermione," he said after a bit. I pressed my face into his neck. My arms wrapped around his shoulders holding him tightly, slinging to him really. He was so warm and he smeeled wonderful. "Drink this." He held out a sparkling red potion to me.
"What is it?"
"It is just something that will make you all better. It will make your life much easier. Trust me," Sirius said and it sounded serpentine and mendacious. "Trust me."
"Okay," I said and I took the flask he was offering me.
"Go on dear. Go on and drink it sweetie," Sirius said. He sounded like a spider that had just caught a tasty bug in his web. With his honey smoothe voice he could talk a cat into a doghouse.
I uncorked the flask and drank it down while staring deeply into Sirius Black's gorgeous, perfect eyes.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave me a very kind review. Reviews are like candy...they make you feel happy and good about yourself when you are an author. I hope you all want me to be happy. Sorry for being slightly lazy and not updating sooner. But I was trying to discover what all needed to be included in this chapter.