Chapter 40

Hermione got up the next morning cleaning up the vase she had thrown against the door. She did not feel better, nor did she sleep. She looked at the small pile of broken vase on the floor. She cleaned up the mess, dressed for the day and went to breakfast. She wasn't even hungry.

She arrived in the great hall, sensed Severus was looking at her but she didn't look at him, gave him no good morning wink, or looked at anyone else for that matter. She plopped down to her seat and started her cup of coffee. Severus watched for her when she arrived. No wink from her or look his way for that matter. She looked as if she hadn't slept, and she had put her hair up in a sloppy ponytail. She quietly drank her coffee. She nodded at her fellow students, then started flipping through a booklet.

Breakfast ended and Hermione left the table, her friends shrugging as she left. With a flippant wave of her hand, the great hall doors opened and she left. She went back to her room, took out her portable CD player and sat by the window for an hour listening to music. She didn't notice Severus' face peek in the floo watching her gaze out the window. Looking out to the quidditch pitch, she decided flying would be a capital idea. Changing into something suitable for flying, she grabbed her broom and left by the window.

There's no match, nor is there a practice, what is she doing? Snape thought. He quickly made his way through the castle towards the pitch. Approaching the pitch, he disillusioned himself so he could observe the happenings unseen. After her outburst last night, he needed to find out what was wrong before he attempted to face her. Hearing a swoosh, Hermione raced from the pitch entrance. She flew a few very fast loops around the pitch, did some corkscrews and a thrilling Wronski feint that made Severus' heart rate rise a bit. Going to the far end of the pitch, she gripped the broom with her knees, let go and glided the length of the stadium with her arms outstretched, head back, eyes closed. Her hair had come out of the pony tail and was flying freely in the breeze.

What Hermione did next puzzled Severus. She slowed down and dropped small rocks on the ground at various places on the ground.

What in the world? Severus thought.

She got off her broom, walked to each rock, said a charm and enlarged the rocks to make them bigger, about two feet in diameter. Getting back on her broom, she flew above the pitch for a minute then picked up speed. She took out her wand and cast a "bombarda" at one of the large rocks as she flew by it. She missed the first few. She landed on the ground, kicked at the ground, and looked at the rocks for a few minutes. Tossing off her sunglasses, she tried again. She got the first one this time, the large rock making a small explosion sending pieces of rock in all directions. She grinned as she hit the second one. She missed the third, but hit the rest. After an hour of rock blasting, she stopped and flew from the pitch back towards the castle. Landing by her window, she climbed through. She felt better.

At lunch, Hermione wasn't so grim, but was still quiet. She actually talked to her friends at lunch. She did her tutoring for the first years after lunch, then went to do some studying in the library. Not sleeping last night was catching up to her. Severus was watching from behind a shelf, observing her stretch and yawn. She said "sorry" to the only other person in the library then rested her head on a hand. Feeling quite drowsy, she intended to just rest her eyes for a minute. After ensuring she was asleep, Severus cast a light "legilimens" on her. He didn't want to do it, but felt a need to find out what was vexing her. What he saw didn't help much because her mind was a big jumble of images.

He saw images of Draco with pink hair, piles of books on Hermione's desk in her room, and quidditch teammates tossing around a quaffle. Next he saw images of himself through Hermione's eyes. His robes as they swooshed into the classroom, him dodging a cucumber slice (Hermione grinned in her sleep at that one), and finally of him slowly unbuttoning his shirt, her fireplace crackling in the background. He broke the connection which caused Hermione to wake up. She gathered her belongings and left the library.

As dinner was wrapping up, Ginny leaned over to her and said,

"We need to talk," Ginny said. "Eight tonight?"

"Sure Gin," Hermione replied.

Ginny knocked on Hermione's door at eight o clock on the dot.

"It's open," Hermione called.

Ginny peeked in.

"Gin, it's safe. Get in here. Our usual spot?" Hermione laughed pointing to the window.

Ginny sat in the window and Hermione leaned back in a chair, feet propped up on the sill next to Ginny. Ginny opened the window and let the soft cool night breeze waft into the room. Neither of them noticed the face of Severus peek in the floo fire.

I'm in luck. Severus thought as he listened.

"Herms, what were you doing today at the quidditch pitch?" Ginny asked.

"Stress relief," Hermione said. "And by the way, how long are you going to call me Herms?"

"The rest of your life," Ginny said.

"I see," Hermione said.

"Back to topic, stress relief?" Ginny said. "Did he and you have a fight?"

"No, not exactly. I was the stupid, angry one. Poor thing's probably wondering what he did wrong," Hermione mused.

Yes, I was wondering. Severus mused.

"Things have just been building up. This thing with Ayden Foote, NEWTs, and figuring out how I'm going to break the news about Severus to my parents," Hermione said. She wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Hold that thought, I'll be right back," Ginny said quickly.

She rushed from the room and came back a minute later with a bottle of firewhiskey and grabbed two glasses from Hermione's desk.

"This will help with the stress, might be easier to get out " Ginny said. "No arguing, you need it."

Hermione hesitated then said, "Okay, at least there's no classes tomorrow."

She downed the bit of whiskey in the glass Ginny gave her in one gulp. She choked and Ginny patted her on the back. Hermione did the same for Ginny. After a few minutes, they were giggling at the window.

This should be entertaining! Severus thought.

"Stressed out now?" Ginny asked slightly giggling.

"Not so much. This whiskey stuff works just like that," Hermione hiccupped, extending her hand and snapping her fingers. A pillow flew off her bed when she did it. Both the girls pointed and laughed at the accidental magic display.

"So, what new developments on the Snape front?" Ginny asked.

"Another shot please," Hermione asked. Ginny obliged and Hermione downed the hot liquid again. She burped loudly. Both girls erupted in laughter. Severus wanted to laugh too.

"Severus, let's see. Umm, he asked if I would ever consider marrying him," Hermione said sighing.

"Hermione!" Ginny squeeled tackling her in a hug.

"Calm down Gin," Hermione said through her laughs. "He asked if I would ever consider marrying him, he didn't exactly say 'Hermione, would you marry me?" Hermione stated hiccupping again.

"But when he does, you will say yes right?" Ginny asked wobbly on the window sill.

"Of course I'll say yes," Hermione said lightly. "Can you imagine what our kids will be like?" Both girls giggled.

Severus wanted to jump for joy.

"Please don't tell me you of all people are worried about newts," Ginny asked.

"Gin, I'm freaking out over them," Hermione said burping quietly.

Ginny snorted. "Puhleeze, Herms, you c-can take them with your eyes close," Ginny stated.

"I wish that were true," Hermione sighed, looking out the window.

"You really should be baring your soul to Snape you know," Ginny said.

"I know Gin, and I started to yesterday, but I got all mad and he left," Hermione said. "We'll talk and I'll end up baring more than my soul to him," Hermione said grinning.

"Is that a bad thing?" Ginny asked.

"No, it's fabulous," Hermione replied naughtily. "He's fabulous in bed, in the shower…."

Hermione! Severus thought.

"No, No, I don't want to hear anymore!" Ginny exclaimed putting her hands over her ears.

"And let me tell you about this lotion he made.." Hermione started swaying bit.

Hermione Granger, don't you dare! Severus thought.

"Herms, pleeeese. I won't be able to look at him in class if you keep going!" Ginny begged and laughed.

"Howww do yew think I feel? Some days all I w-wanna do is throw him across his desk in the middle of class and shag him senseless!" Hermione exclaimed. "Twice he's caught me daydreaming about it, if he only knew," Hermione said longingly.

Now I do my dear! Severus thought with some amusement.

Hermione took the bottle and took a swig, forgetting the glass. She burped again. She and Ginny laughed again. Hermione turned to the bed and snapped her fingers again. The other pillow flew off the bed.

"Awesome Herms!" Ginny said.

"This reminds me of New Years," Hermione said.

"Didn't you hex yourself?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, I did, " Hermione replied. "W-Would you like to see?"

"Hermione, I dare you!" Ginny said.

"Yew are speaking to a Gryffindor!" Hermione said proudly. "I jumped in front of a crucio, do you think a silly dare means a thing to me?"

Hermione you wouldn't dare! Severus said.

Before Ginny could stop her, Hermione stumbled to the wand at her desk and recited the jelly legs incantation on herself. Both the girls laughed themselves to tears at the sight of Hermione's hex on herself. Severus came close to coming fully through the fireplace.

"Let's tango!" Hermione exclaimed as she tumbled to the ground.

"Wait! L-Lemme go get Draco! He will love this!" Ginny slurred.

She ran into the door then opened it. Severus watched Hermione alone in the room crawl to her broom because she couldn't walk. Severus became alarmed.

"No, I can just hear old M-McGonagall preaching 'Miss Granger you musn't drink and fly!" Hermione declared, attempting a drunk imitation of McGonagall. Then she started singing "Chasers Do It Better".

Hermione my dear, you are an awful drunk. Severus thought.

The door opened and Ginny was dragging Draco in.

"Hermione! What the hell? Ginny, did you give her tequila?" Draco asked.

"Ha ha, nope. This," she said thrusting the bottle of firewhiskey in Draco's face.

"Ginny, where did you get this?" Draco asked. He rolled his eyes at Hermione screeching the naughty part of the song.

She leaned forward towards Draco. Her breath caused him to lean back.

"I'll never tell," she said placing her hand over her heart.

Draco shook his head and walked over to jelly legs Hermione. He took out his wand and stopped the hex.

"Awww, Draco, you're no fun," Hermione pouted.

"And hexing yourself is?" Draco responded trying not to laugh.

Hermione yawned then burped loudly.

"And with that shorty, it's your bedtime," Draco said physically guiding her to bed.

Thank you Draco. Severus thought.

Hermione kicked off her shoes and laid down on the bed. Draco retrieved the pillows from the floor and put them on her bed. Hermione grabbed one, snuggled with it and laid still.

"As for you Gin, I'll take you back to the Gryffindor tower and let your brother deal with you," Draco said.

"Gin, I'll take you back to the Gryffindor tower and let your brother deal with you," Ginny mimicked.

Draco escorted her from the room. Hermione was curled up on the bed facing the door.

"Severus I'm sorry," she said softly then hiccupped.

After a few minutes she was snoring. Severus stepped through the floor, walked to the window and closed it. He went to her bed and drew the covers over her. Bending down he kissed her forehead and left by the floo.