Disclaimer: It's not mine, I just wish it were!

A/N: Hey everyone! Well, I just finished Harry Potter 6 (so as of now, my story is AU. Though it was a bit already, but yeah, whatever), and there's no spoilers. Anyways, thanks for waiting patiently. My summer job doesn't allow me much time to write. So without further ado, onto the story!

Playing Pretend

Chapter Sixteen: Talk is Cheap Except When a Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

"Hello Professor," Ginny greeted hesitantly as Severus walked into the kitchen twenty minutes later.

"What?" He raised an eyebrow in question as he paused. All of her brothers had sat up straight in their chairs, looking warily at him. He had to fight back a laugh when they paled as he glared at all of them.

"Ignore them" she started again, standing up and walking over to him. "Are you okay Sir? I'm sorry about earlier."

"I am fine Ginny, and there is no need to apologise," he said stiffly, well aware of the smirks beginning to appear on her brother's faces at his rather submissive behavior. "I was…out of line…with my behavior. Please accept my apology."

"No apology needed Severus," Ginny smiled before giving him a hug, not that he returned it, still not accustomed to it. He cackled gleefully to himself as her brother's smirks disappeared.

"All right then." It was his turn to smirk as her brothers all paled once more. "Where did Hermione go?"

"I think she's out back in the swing."

"Thank you," he replied sincerely, and left through the backdoor with a slam.

"Well, I see you're in a better mood," Hermione greeted him as he hesitantly walked down to the swing that was hanging from a thick tree branch. "Are you sober Severus, otherwise you can just turn around and walk right back inside. I refuse to talk with an angry dipsomaniac, is that clear?"

"And Minerva wonders why I never dated again," he mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing Hermione," he replied hastily, sitting down next to her. "I cast a sobering charm before I came out. I…I think, that I'm ready to…talk."

"All right then," she nodded. "Start whenever, and wherever, is easiest for you. We have the entire night if you need it."

They sat there in silence for nearly twenty minutes before Severus handed her the small photo frame he had been staring at in his room. Hermione didn't need to ask who it was as she easily recognised a young Bellatrix Black.

"I had known her since I she was born; I was a few months older. Our parents arranged a betrothal for the two of us when we she was but a few days old. So both of us grew up understanding that we would wed once we graduated school. We weren't particularly close to each other, nor did we make a point to get to know each other. What was the point? We figured we would have the entirety of our married lives to become acquainted. However, around the beginning of our sixth year, we were paired up for a year-long potions project," Severus paused briefly, carefully examining the ground between his feet. "So of course we had to see each other rather frequently. During that time, I thought we became friends, and maybe a part of her truly meant it. We continued to spend more time together over the summer, and again when school started. I had…rather strong feelings for her, that blinded me to what was really going on. She was seeing Rudolphus Lestrange on the sly, using school tutoring as a guise, which wasn't too far as she was an exemplary student and he wasn't. On Christmas day, I gave her this," he said, handing over the jewellery box that contained a rather stellar marquise diamond solitaire ring. "Along with telling her that I loved her. And what did she do? She laughed!"

"Oh Severus," Hermione breathed softly, feeling the pain and anger rolling off his tense, taught frame in waves.

"She told me I was a fool to have ever thought she might return my feelings. I stupidly brought up the fact that we were betrothed, and she pulled out a contract. Turns out she had already become engaged to Rudolphus, and wanted out of our betrothal. All she needed was my signature saying that I released her from all marital and betrothal obligations. So I signed it. It was the hardest thing I ever did, and the last this I wanted to do. I wanted, so terribly, not to sign it. But I knew…I knew that if I forced her, she would never love me. At least by letting her go, I knew she was happy, for a time anyways."

"Severus-" Hermione was cut off by Severus.

"If you dare to tell anyone, I swear," he jumped up from the swing, whirling around to face her.

"Severus!" It was her turn to interrupt him. "You don't need to put those walls back up, for Merlin's sake! I am your friend, and now your confidante, and you know by now that I will not betray you! I won't break your trust or faith in me. I haven't in the past weeks, and I promise I won't. Not now, and not ever."

He sighed heavily, closing his eyes as he ran a hand over his face, seemingly exhausted. With another heavy sigh, he sat back down, suddenly looking much older than his forty-two years. "I know…and I'm sorry. It's just so bloody difficult for me…"

"To trust someone again?" she finished for him. "I know. It can be tough, but doesn't that make it all the more worth it in the end? I mean, isn't it nice to have that degree of trust and familiarity with a person? I know you're not used to it, but it is nice. I have that with Harry, Ron, and Percy, and you too I like to think. I mean, if I can't trust you as my friend and teacher, than who can I trust?"

"Percy," he scoffed, ruining the potentially sappy moment; very much like the kinds he tried to avoid. "He's entirely too wrong for you. Proposing already. Where's his sense of decency?"

"Proposing?" she gave him a befuddled look. "He hasn't proposed."

"Then what's this ring doing on your finger?" He reached over and took her left hand in his, lifting it so as to better examine the silver ring. "And a very significant finger, I might add."

"Why, jealous?" She teased, squeezing his hand before letting her hand fall to her lap. "It's a promise ring you goose. In time, if we both feel the same about each other, and if we're ready, he wants to replace it with an engagement ring. So don't worry, you've got your potions apprentice for a while longer yet."

"Good," he nodded, satisfied. "Because I'm getting rather used to having you around."

"You're not getting sentimental on me, are you Sev?" she smiled up at him.

"As your friend, I think I have a right to," he smiled back. Hesitantly, almost as if afraid, he raised his hands to gently cup her face in his hands. Hermione froze as his hands cupped her cheeks. Normally she was the one initiating contact. He hardly ever did, and never anything as intimate feeling as this. She held her breath as he gently tilted her head down slightly before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for listening," he whispered, then pulled back abruptly and stood, and headed inside.

OooOooOooO

A/N: Okay, it's short I know, and I'm sorry, but I've been dealing with a family emergency combined with moving in to my dorm and starting college classes, so it's been tough. And because I wanted to get something up, that's why it's short. But it's got a cute Severus/Hermione part to tide you over. Next chappie they'll be going back to Hogwarts. Thanks for sticking with me!