Severus stopped dead in his tracks. "Scared of me?"
"Yes," she admitted meekly. She looked down. "I don't want to be. You've never hurt me before, at least not physically. But I am."
Severus took a step forward, only for her to take a step back.
"Don't."
"Hermione, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry, okay?"
The apology seemed only half-hearted to Hermione, so she shook her head. "Be sorry all you want. It doesn't change it."
"I can't take it back, Hermione, you know that."
"Then stay away from me."
"You're giving up on our marriage so easily?"