Summary: Hermione graduated from Hogwarts 2 years ago and is now twenty. War rages on and she builds barriers around her heart.
Genre: Angst/Romance Rating: Mature/Lemon Warnings: This is very OOC. If you want the characters just the way they are in the book, stop now and click on the back button. This is also AU. If you do not like it, do not read it! Now for those who want to, enjoy!
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I Don't Believe In Love
Chapter Five: Realization
The Hogwarts staff was baffled by the actions of Severus towards Hermione and vice versa. Oh, they still fought. However, their fights seemed more like teasing. They have also grown considerably closer. They were seldom seen apart except when there were lessons of course.
"Maybe all those fights were signs of affection." Once, professor Sprout said this.
Minerva heard this. She was getting worried. Hermione did not know Snape. He could not be trusted, and she knew this.
After that night, the two can be often seen at night lying in the courtyard. None of the staff had seen this for they had cast a disillusionment charm on themselves. They saw each other's outlines of course. So did Minerva.
She saw them once and hid herself. None of them was making advances. It was as if they were content lying with each other even without hugs or holding each other. Just lying down and watching the night clouds pass.
She decided to confront Hermione one time and she responded this way:
"Minerva, the man is a spy. You forget, I am also one. I do understand how he feels. Caught between two walls, closing in on him. Risking his life in every turn, and worse, no one trusts him. Both sides are wary of him. Both sides believe him a betrayer. Over the years, he built an impenetrable wall covering him. And in this wall, he hides. Those who do not even risk their lives call him a coward. He does not have any friends. Albus was the only one he thought was a friend to him. Now he found another one. Do not let him sink lower in his solitude. Please. I will try to help him. He will continue to shun everyone out until this war is over. Who knows? After all those years of solitude, he might not even change anymore." Hermione finished her speech with determination in her eyes. "Don't treat him any different after this conversation, Minerva. He will only push you away."
It was the first time that Minerva McGonagall felt guilt for thinking foul of Severus, pride for Hermione, anger for the war, shame for her thoughts and Remorse all at once. She never really thought that Snape could feel that way. She never knew.
Hermione smiled at her. "Don't worry; you're not the first one." Hermione knew what she was thinking!
"I can see it in your face." She said.
"Oh." Was all she said.
"Well, I'll see you later in the staff meeting."
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Severus opened the door to the staff room. Most of the staff just ignored him. Minerva gave her usual slight nod. Hermione waved at him. He gave her a miniscule smile. He did have a reputation to uphold.
"Harry and Ron are coming here tomorrow." All traces of his smile vanished.
"How wonderful." He said in a totally monotonous and sarcastic voice.
"Oh come now, they're not that bad. Maybe a bit annoying at times, but still, they're wonderful friends." She tried to make him understand.
"I am quite content with my current friends." He looked at her pointedly.
"Are you insinuating something?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I must be doing a very lousy job of it if you have to ask." He teased her. She looked at him for a bit then she started to chuckle and he joined along for a bit.
"No, you're not doing a very lousy job of it." She said slyly. He just smirked at her.
No one saw the exchange because they were sitting in the hidden part. Suddenly they both stood up. Startled, the staff looked at them. Hermione sent a telling look at Minerva.
The dark mark was burning again.
Luckily, Albus came in just on time. "Headmaster, there is nothing new in my potions class--" "Nor in my defense class."
"Very well. I expect you two back soon." Dumbledore turned to the staff. "They will be collecting some things for me."
As soon as they were out of the door, they dashed towards the headmaster's office. "Accio death eater garb." They both called out.
"Nerds." The gargoyle moved.
They both quickly put on the robes and donned the masks before taking the paperweight portkey.
At Hogsmeade, they took reassuring glances at each other, nodding; (legillimency) hardened their expressions before apparating away.
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"Good evening my lord." Snape immediately dropped to his knees.
"Careful with the venues Tom. I might just think you're becoming sentimental. The beach?" Hermione asked amusedly.
"I thought you might like it." Voldemort said, taking her hand and kissing it.
Snape was shocked tremendously. Hermione was just disgusted. Fortunately, they were both masters of disguise. They did not even show a flicker of their feelings.
Hermione forced herself to giggle. She hated giggling girls.
"We'll continue this later, my dear." Voldemort must have thought she liked it.
Some of the early death eaters saw the exchange. Most of them were furious.
The meeting was all about the usual 'We will dominate the world' speech. Hermione hardly listening. Snape was concerned for her. He decided that he would wait for her later.
Finally, the meeting ended. The death eaters were dismissed except for Hermione and Severus. "Severus, I have a new mission for you. You are to guard Hermione. You will be her protector. Her pain will be yours as well. In addition, if she should die, you will die as well. Accept it." Voldemort did not really give him a chance. It was accept it or die.
"Anything you wish my lord." He would have gladly done it anyway.
"Come closer and hold out your right hand." Severus did as he was told. The dark lord produced a knife and cut his palm. Then he took out a vial of a semi-transparent potion. Severus immediately recognized this potion. It was used in history, when wizards pledged their loyalty to another. It would also prevent inappropriate acts between those affected by the potion.
Voldemort dropped some of his blood into the potion and shook it gently. He gave it to Hermione and gestured to her to drink it.
"It might taste foul." Voldemort warned her.
She drank it in one gulp, and grimaced.
"You will wait for her, Severus, but you will stay far." In other words, he wanted a private conversation.
Snape walked away. He did not really think that the day would come when he would find use for an extendable ear, but here it is now.
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Yes I know I'm evil. But won't you agree it would be worse if I were to cut Voldemort and Hermione's conversation at a very critical point? Thanks for all who reviewed. I love you guys so much.
deadlyabyss12: (Running all over the place) I'm trying, I'm trying.
SidneySnape: Thank you. I'm actually trying to slow it down. lol. I'm too excited.
Amanda Snape: Thank you. I will.
phantominhell: Thanks. I'll try as fast as I can.
Angelbabe385: Yeah, I get pretty bore of the uptight Hermione too.
sammy2008: Lol. Thanks
Nore: Thank you.
Mish Michelle: Thank you so much. Hmm, you're right. Thanks for the suggestion by the way. I would love some more.
Reviews are actually the only things that keep me from quitting this story. Thanks for reading the story. Review. Please. - Darque
