A/N: Thanks to my reviewers. Here is the second to last chapter I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 9: The Final Day
The next morning Hermione awoke to a rose on the pillow next to her. There was also a note with it.
You looked so peaceful,
I didn't want to wake you.
Last night was the best of my life.
I love you Hermione.
Severus
Hermione smiled and got up, wrapping the blankets around her. She walked out to find Severus drinking coffee by the fire.
"Good morning," Severus said.
"Morning." Hermione gave him a kiss and then sat down.
"Want some breakfast?" He offered her some fruit and toast. She took a piece of toast and ate it.
"So when do you have to leave?" He asked her.
"Well I'm not so sure I want to leave. I mean I can stay here and Dumbledore can get me a job. Then I can stay with you." Again Severus was silent.
"I'll probably go home for the summer to see my parents, but then I think I want to come back here."
"Doesn't the train leave tomorrow?"
"Yeah, it does. So we have the rest of today. And we can write over the summer."
"Well why don't you go pack and then you can come back here for the rest of the night. It will give you time to say good bye to your friends."
"The one that is left anyways," she said almost sarcastically. She grabbed her clothes and got dressed. She said good bye to Severus and headed back to her dorm. She had a feeling that Severus was upset about something but she didn't know about what.
She went to her room and looked around. She thought of all the things that had happened here this year. Some were good and others not so good. She walked over to her bookshelf and began pulling the off and putting them into a box she conjured up. She then headed to her closet. She looked down at the same clothes she had worn yesterday. She pulled out some sweatpants and a t-shirt and slipped them on.
She then waved her wand and all her clothes folded themselves and fell into another box. After about an hour of cleaning, some magic and some not, she was done packing. She looked around her empty room and sighed. This was really it. She would no longer live in this room after today. She left her room and headed down to the dungeons. She went to Severus' room and found him still by the fire.
"I'm all done packing."
"Already?"
"Yeah, it was easy with magic." She walked over to him and tried to give him a kiss but he pulled away.
"What's wrong?" He didn't say anything but just turned around. She walked in front of him.
"Come on, you can tell me."
"Hermione I can't let you stay here." He finally said.
"What? Why not?"
"Because, it will keep you from your full potential."
"What are you talking about? Come on what's really wrong?"
"I'm not letting you stay at Hogwarts."
"But what about us? Don't you care about me?"
"Of course I do. That's why I'm not going to let you come back here next year. You could be great. Staying here won't do anything for you."
"I don't care what I could be. I want to be with you." He couldn't look her in the eyes and she knew something was wrong.
"I know. That's why I can't see you anymore."
"Are you breaking up with me?"
"As long as we are together, you won't want to do anything with your life. It's for your own good Hermione."
"I love you. I don't care about anything else."
"I love you too Hermione and this is killing me. But I can't allow you to just throw your life away for me."
"If you love me then why are you doing this to me?"
"Because I want you to be the greatest witch that ever lived. And if you stay with me, that won't happen. You need to go to college and continue leaning and doing what you love."
"Why now? Why did you even start this if you were just going to end it? Was it fun for you? Watching me fall in love with you? Losing everything for you?"
"How can you say that Hermione? This is just as hard for me as it is for you."
"Fine. Then it's done. Happy? We're through. Have a nice life." Hermione stormed out of the room.
"Hermione! Wait!" It was too late. She had already left.
Hermione ran through the halls trying not to cry. She went to the one person she could trust.
"Ginny!" She looked around and then saw her.
"Hermione what's wrong?" Ginny stood up and went to Hermione.
"It's Severus. We broke up." Hermione couldn't hold it in anymore and felt the tears run down her cheeks.
"What why?"
"He said that I was throwing my life away for him. I love him Gin." Ginny hugged Hermione.
"I know Hermione. He loves you too. That's why he wants what's best for you." Ginny just continued to hold her while she cried. After about ten minutes Ginny suggested that Hermione stay with her tonight.
The next morning Ginny woke Hermione up early so they could catch the Hogwarts Express. They headed down for Hermione's final breakfast at Hogwarts. Hermione looked for Severus. She needed to talk to him before she left. She couldn't just end their relationship with a fight like that. He wasn't at the head's table and she didn't see him in the hallway.
While Ginny was saying goodbye to some of the teachers Hermione conjured up a piece of parchment and a quill.
Severus couldn't force himself to get out of bed. He was broken hearted. He hadn't meant to hurt Hermione and he had also hurt himself. All of a sudden he heard a knock at his door. Could it be?
He got up and slipped on his robe. He walked out to his living room and opened the door. There was no one there. He looked down the corridor but still no one. Finally he looked down and found a small envelope with one word written on it: Severus.
Hermione sighed as she took her seat on the train. Ginny was putting their stuff away. Hermione looked out the window and watched Hogwarts disappear in the distance for the last time. She tuned back to Ginny and forced a smile. She knew she must get on with her life.
A/N: I just want to let you all know that I cried when I was writing this chapter. I hope that some of you could feel that emotion as well. I cried while writing the next chapter as well. But you will get that one soon enough. Sorry that this chapter was short but it kind of needed to be. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you will come back for the last one.
