A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers. I love you guys and your opinions. Ok here's the next chapter.

Chapter 4: Take the Day Off

Hermione said good night to the Headmaster and left the room to find Severus leaning against the wall.

"Are you ready?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Yeah," he said gloomily. He walked on one side of the hall and she walked on the other. Every so often she would look at him to try and see some sort of expression but she couldn't tell what he was feeling. They didn't say a word to each other for most of the rounds.

Just say something, Severus thought. "So how was college?" Hermione almost jumped at the suddenness of his question.

"Oh it was fine." Just ask him Hermione. "So how have you been?"

"I've been fine." Hermione smiled, ay least they were talking. Why had Dumbledore done this? It was hard enough being back here but now she had to spend a few hours a week alone in awkward silence with him. She was walking around a corner when she suddenly slipped. Severus, being so close, caught her before she hit the ground. He helped her up and she realized this was the closest they had been since the break up. She was holding on to his arms and he was holding onto her waist. She looked up at him and noticed he was breathing heavy. He looked into her eyes and Hermione in his. Hermione tried to move her head closer to his but he must have realized what they were doing because he pulled away.

"I better be going," he said and walked away. Hermione sighed when he had gone. She could still feel the heat where his arms had held her waist. Why does everything have to be so difficult? Hermione returned to her rooms and found a letter on her bed. She smiled recognizing Ginny's handwriting.

Dearest Hermione,

I'm sorry to hear that things between you two are awkward. So tell me more about these dreams. How long have you been having them? I think you should talk to him. Maybe just to put a closure on things, if that's what you want. And I don't think he forgot about everything that happened. He couldn't forget it. He loved you and I bet he still does in a way. And since I know you I think you still love him too. You just need to admit it. Maybe once you admit it to yourself it will be easier to admit it to him. I'm just suggesting so don't get mad. If you don't want to talk to him I can't force you. You are a grown woman and you can make your own choices. But do you really want to get on with your life? That is a huge thing to just forget. Well I will let you go but Hermione I want you to know that I support you in whatever you do. Hope everything is well.

My love to you always,

Ginny

"Ginny. What would I do without you?" Hermione asked aloud. She pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and began to write.

My dear Ginny,

Where do I begin? Well I have just returned to my rooms after finishing my weekly rounds only this year Dumbledore has added a twist. He has decided to pair up all the teachers for their rounds and guess who I'm paired with? Severus. I thought he would be mad about it but then he actually talked to me. He asked me about college and I asked him how he has been. We both said one word, "fine." Shows how much has changed doesn't it? But then I tripped and he caught me. Then he just held onto me. I didn't know what was happening but it was almost as it had been in my 7th year. Then he seemed to realize what he was doing and he ran off. Does this mean anything Gin? For one second he seemed to have forgotten that last day at Hogwarts but…I don't know. Could I just be seeing things? Maybe you're right. Maybe I do still love him but what if he doesn't still love me? I don't know what to do. About the dreams, I haven't had one since my last letter so maybe that's a good sign. I still don't know what to do though. Any ideas?

Love your confused friend,

Hermione

Hermione folded up the letter and decided to wait until morning to send it. She slipped into bed and fell fast asleep.

Hermione was walking down a long corridor. She had made up her mind and she was not going to chicken out. She walked to his room. She knocked on his door and waited for him to come out.

"Miss Granger? What are you doing here?" Now was the time to do it.

"Severus, I love you. I never stopped loving you."

"I don't know what to say." Hermione looked down in disappointment.

"Well I just thought I should let you know. Now I have and I can move on. I am sorry that I have taken up your time. Good bye Severus." She turned to walk away. She had to fight back the tears that were trying to force themselves out. He didn't love her anymore. At least now she knew and could move on.

"Hermione…" She immediately spun around to look at him.

"Yes?"

"I…"

And she woke up. Damn it! What was he going to say? Part of her wanted to know and the other part didn't want to know. She sighed and got out of bed. She grabbed her usual cup of coffee and looked out the window.

At breakfast she was minding her own business when Dumbledore came up to her.

"Hermione dear, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, thank you Albus." Dumbledore smiled.

"Are you sure? You seem rather quiet lately. Is there something you want to talk about? If not with me maybe someone else, Minerva maybe?" Hermione froze. Maybe she should talk to McGonagall. "Well why don't you take the day off anyways. It will give you some time to think… about anything. I can take over your classes for you."

"Really Albus, that's not necessary."

"No, no, I insist."

"Ok then, you're the boss." Dumbledore smiled and returned to his seat. Now what was she to do? She had the whole day to herself. She decided that she would take Dumbledore's advice and think…about everything. After breakfast she decided to take a walk outside. She was walking when she saw a small hut in the distance. Hagrid! She headed down to Hagrid's hut as she hadn't talked to him in years. She knocked on the door and heard the familiar bark of Fang, Hagrid's giant black dog. As the door opened Fang bounded out and jumped on her, licking her face.

"Well it's nice to see you too Fang," Hermione said pushing the enormous dog off of her.

"Hello Hermione. Its nice ter see you agin. C'm in, I was jus' makin' some tea." Hermione smiled and followed Hagrid into the hut.

"So how come yer not teachin' righ' now?" Hagrid asked handing her a giant cup filled with tea.

"Dumbledore gave me the day off. He seems to think that I'm sick."

"Well you know Dumbledore, always makin' sure everyone's all righ'. Maybe he can see somtin' you can't."

"Yeah maybe. So how have you been Hagrid? Goodness I haven't talked to you since I graduated."

"I been all righ'. I hear you went to college. Tha's our Hermione. Smartest witch of our age. An' now take a look at you. Teachin' at Hogwarts. Greatest school in the world it is. I'm so proud of you Hermione." Hagrid was starting to get a little teary eyed so Hermione handed him a tissue.

"Thanks Hagrid." Hermione smiled. "So keeping any new monsters as pets lately?"

"No not lately."

"Hagrid I'm shocked," Hermione said jokingly.

"Well I can' keep up with em as much as I could when I was a youngin' like you."

After chatting with Hagrid and pretending to drink three cups of his tea, Hermione decided to return to her walk. She walked over to the lake and sat down by the same tree she used to sit at while in school. She must have sat there for a while because she fell asleep. She just laid there on the grass in the shining sun.

Severus, who had also been given the day off by Dumbledore, stepped outside of the castle into the fresh air. He took a deep breath and squinted in the sun. He walked down a path by the lake which he often took when he was just wandering around. He leaned up against a tree close to the one Hermione was sleeping under. He looked over at her and went to leave, but then he noticed that she must be sleeping.

Maybe I can get close to her without her waking up. He just wanted to be near her again. After their incident the previous night, he told himself he would be more careful about what he did when he was around her. He walked over to her and smiled at how peace full she looked. He bent down to brush her hair away that had fallen into her face. She shivered when his hand touched her cheek and for a moment he thought he had woken her. He let his hand linger on her cheek and he just looked at her. She was always so beautiful when she slept.

He had left his hand there too long because she opened her eyes. She looked up at him and he pulled his hand away. She stood up and brushed her robes off. She opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I was doing." He turned and rushed back up to the castle. Hermione was too stunned to move or say anything. She watched him leave and felt a sudden pain inside. She had hoped that she could talk to him and then he had done that. It had made her hope that maybe there was still a chance but then he regretted doing it, which saddened her. She couldn't keep this up anymore. She needed to know how he felt so she could get on with her life. She neededto talk to him.

A/N: Ooooh what's gonna happen?