Chapter 16

"Harry, no…" her voice was soft, but firm. Harry looked at her for a moment and then dropped his gaze. His hand ran through his hair again and he let out a heavy breath.

"Why not?" he said softly.

"Harry, we're friends! I do love you Harry, but not that way. We've been through so much together that-"

"Exactly! That's why we should Hermione! There isn't anyone in the world who I trust more and …or love more." He was leaning on the table now looking at her with dark green eyes that were alight with intense pain and passion.

"What about Ginny Harry?" she said softly. His face fell at the mention of his former love's name. "Harry…she cares for you. I know she does…" Harry had stood and turned his back on her. She watched his shoulders shake and knew he silently cried.

Hermione reached her hand out to touch his shoulder, but he jerked it from her grasp.

"Don't touch me!" His voice echoed in the sterile room.

"Harry! Please understand, I just can't! You're like a brother to me-"

"Like a brother to you? Please Hermione, spare me. You hardly ever talk to any of us anymore."

"I work Harry!" Hermione didn't mean to yell, but she did. How dare he or anyone else judge her? She worked hard for a reason, though none knew why…

"Yeah, look around you Hermione! There is no one here! You're alone almost everyday! Except for a house elf."

"I am not alone everyday Harry! I go to meetings twice a week. I visit my parents most weekends and I have an assistant now…" her voice trailed away. She did not want that coming up at all. She had to guide him away from that topic of conversation. "Harry…we're friends. I wouldn't want to get involved with you because of that. You mean too much to me. Besides...I think Ginny still loves you Harry"

"Ginny doesn't love me Hermione. She did once, but it's too late for that. I'm ready to move on." He turned to face her and she saw the raw emotion etched on his face. Her own eyes misted up with tears as he spoke.

"Hermione, I…" He turned and walked from the room. Hermione called to him, but she heard him step into the floo and leave.

She spent the remainder of the night crying for all that she and he had lost. Harry had lost so much, so much she hurt for him. But pity doesn't equate to love. She couldn't lie to him, even though he would have been happy for the present, she would have broken him completely in the end.

Hermione spent the next couple of days in quiet solitude. She had gained no ground on the Cruciatus Curse and had lost her drive. Something inside of her had emptied and she felt that she no longer had any energy. She halfheartedly reviewed her notes everyday and only spent a little time with her test subjects.

For a moment she considered just giving up. Just walk away from this research and pour all of her attention into the spells that were quick to create and lucrative to her bank account.

But something kept her hanging on by a mere thread. She couldn't place it, but she knew that she had to continue on no matter how miserable she felt. She hadn't heard from Harry, indeed, she hadn't heard from anyone since her birthday. She guessed it had become the new normal for everyone to only contact her when special occasions arise. She hated hearing it, but Harry was right. She spent too much time by herself. A talking mirror and house elves don't really constitute human interaction.

She sighed heavily.

She watched the snake slither towards her and she opened her arms to it. The black scales shimmered in the moonlight and it felt like a cold, soft, piece of metal touching her skin as she allowed it to wrap around her. It's large, reptilian head rested on her shoulder and turned it's yellow eyes to her. She caressed it's skin and felt the slick scales under her warm hand. The snake shuddered and transformed. Pale, strong hands held her and a voice whispered in her ear. "…not what you need…" She knew unconsciously that he spoke more, but she cold not make out the words. She was leaning her head back on his warm, lean chest and felt the delicious sensation of his breath in her ear. His hand produced the clear, glass vial. The purple liquid bubbled inside and a green mist rose from the top. He brought it to her nose and it smelled sweet. She instinctively knew it tasted sweet. His lips found her throat…

Hermione awoke, shaking, in the darkness of her rooms. He had spoken o her. She knew the voice well too. It was her Snape dream, as she had begun to call it. For it was the same every night. However, he had never spoken to her before. Hermione flung herself back on the pillows. She lay there, for the rest of the night, wondering about the dream.

The weekend was slow to dawn. But Friday evening came and Hermione was startled by the sound of Severus' voice. It startled her so much, because she was remembering the dream the other night. His voice in her ear. How she felt when he spoke to her. How wonderful it felt with his arms around her…

"Ms. Granger." He stood in the doorway to the lab and watched her. She was pale. Too pale. She had the darkest circles he had ever seen under her eyes and she looked…empty. There was no glow there. None of the young, energetic witch he knew, and found very annoying. Perhaps a depressed Hermione Granger was a little more palatable?

"Professor…yes…come in." She waved her hand to him and he stood across from her by the table.

"Ms. Granger, we must speak."

"Yes…Professor. What is it?" She looked at him and he saw great sorrow in her face. He was tempted to use Legilimens, but thought better of it. He didn't want to know. As long as he got paid, she could…no wait. If she was this depressed…she wouldn't work…therefore…they would never make any progress. Bloody women.

"Ms. Granger, are you well?" He clasped his hands behind his back and twisted his fingers, painfully.

"Yes professor. Thank you. I've just been…working too much I think." Severus let out an audible sigh. Good. She is just working too much.

"Ms. Granger, we need to speak more on this potion I am to identify." Severus had prepared for this and he had decided he would demand the information from her. Perhaps whatever it was she was withholding would help them and move things along.

"What else do you need Professor? You have all of the information-"

"I think you're lying Ms. Granger. Some things never change. If I am to do this task that you have asked of me, and that I graciously accepted, you will give me more information. Where did the description come from? How do you know it exists?"

Hermione sat and stared at him.

How could she tell him? I dreamed of you Professor and you showed it to me. Oh yeah, and we were all tangled up in a compromising position as you showed it to me.

"I can't tell you that Professor." Severus' eyes flared and he stepped closer to the table and placed his hands on the top. He leaned in closer and spoke softly.

"Ms. Granger, if you do not tell me willingly, I will use Legilimency and find out for myself."

A few, very long moments went by. If she dared to refuse him, he would look into her mind and see her dream. He would know how intense they were. He would know that she, in her dream, enjoyed his touch and beckoned him to her. If she told him, she could have more control over what he knew. Perhaps she could tell him most of the dream. She could leave out the…erm…compromising parts. Her face flushed at the thought of him knowing the full truth. He would possibly be able to see her thoughts from long ago. He could learn of her school girl crush on him years ago. He would misunderstand all of this and think she had manipulated him here under the ruse of potions and think she was…oh…the thought was awful. She didn't really have feelings for him anymore. She had had a crush as a girl on an authority figure who was intelligent and severe. Someone she looked up to and admired for his inner strength and dedication. No matter what the general consensus in the Wizarding World was, Severus Snape was a hero to Hermione Granger. She couldn't let him know all of it. She had to give in.

"Alright Professor. I'll tell you."