Chapter 38

Ginny left, with no real closure to her visit. After she shared the details of Ron and Percy, Hermione left the room. Ginny told Severus that Ron had always fancied Hermione and then hearing that Harry was going to try and date her just made him mad. But, he was even worse off after he heard Hermione was supposedly involved with the bane of their existence for seven years.

After Ginny left, Severus went to his desk in the library and poured a glass of Firewhiskey. It burned sliding down and he stood still a long time staring into the brown liquid. He ran over what he knew in his mind.

Hermione was now scandalized in the public eyes, because of him. She lost her closest friends, people she had grown up with most of her life, because of him. He wanted to believe she was happy with him, but they hadn't gotten the opportunity to give it a proper go. They had three days together and then her world came crashing down around her. His world was her now. If she went, then his would crash too.

Severus wrestled with what was happening around them. He was a powerful wizard but could not control the tides of the public. No one had the ability…except one person.

One Golden boy. One Chosen One who knew Hermione better than Severus did. He hated the thought. He loathed the position he was in now. But if there was any hope at all, Potter was the only one who could dictate public perception.

Hermione lay in bed and closed her eyes. The tears had stopped, but she couldn't breath right because her nose was so stuffed. She reached for her wand and conjured an handkerchief and blew her nose. Her head was pounding and her heart was breaking. The only real thing to her anymore was Severus.

She did not blame him. In fact all of this supported her prior opinion of him. He stood beside her and never faltered. He allowed her to handle this as she saw fit. He held her when she cried and even when she didn't. If none of this had happened, and no one knew of their affair, she would be laying in his arms right now, without a care in the world.

But as it is now, he was drinking too much in the library, she knew he was. She heard the clinking glass on glass when she went to turn off the lights. What he was thinking, she didn't know. But it worried her, made her sick even, to think he would leave her because of it But every time the thought crept into her mind, she fought it back with a vengeance. It took years to break his walls down and make her feelings known to him. She could not allow this, her friends, or anyone else to stand in the way again. Hermione knew it would calm down, but she desperately wanted it to calm down very quickly.

She even thought they could possibly go on holiday, give the public nothing to talk about for awhile, and then when they returned…no. She couldn't' do that. The last time no one could reach her was a total disaster.

The clock on the mantle struck midnight. Severus placed his empty glass on the table and smacked his lips. There was nothing for it then. He had to speak to that lunatic boy and have him help Hermione. Severus was sick knowing that he couldn't. If he spoke out, no one would listen. He had to appeal to Potter in a way that made him act. A way that would make him do what Sevrerus wanted him to, without question.

He stood and tossed a handfull of floo powder in the fireplace. He stepped in an hesitated. He better have his wand out. With his wand dawn, he spoke softly into the fire.

"Number Twelve Grimmauld Place."

Harry sat in the kitchen, twirling his cup of brandy on the table with his hand. This was a mess. A complete and total disaster. Hermione was supposedly involved with the greasy git. No one knows how, but the Daily Prophet got wind of it and took off with the story like a raging Hippogriff. Harry had heard people whispering about him, and he hated it. He hated that people whispered about Hermione too. As horrible as the other night was, it was private. He knew all too well what it was like to have the press lie about you. Accuse you of horrible things and do it without a care in the world.

The only thing he couldn't get out of his mind was what Ginny had said to him the other night. She said Hermione was involved with Snape. Perhaps Ginny went to the Daily Prophet? No…she wouldn't. Harry couldn't think of one single person who would do anything like that to Hermione.

He did think Ginny had a point about pushing everyone away. He had turned his back on Hermione first. Then Ginny, then Ron. Ron probably came by to give him an earful about Ginny being upset, Harry just didn't want to deal with it at that moment. What he wouldn't give for someone to talk to…

In the distance, Harry heard the Floo open and heard someone step out. Harry was happy because he thought his request was answered. He had hoped it would be Ron, but anyone would do. He grabbed his drink and entered the parlor.

He dropped his drink on the floor the moment he entered.

"What the Hell are you doing in my house?" Harry raged. Severus stood still, fingering his wand in his hand.

"It seems you and I need to talk Mr. Potter."

"I have nothing to say to you. Except, leave Hermione alone! I know something is going on! But-"

"You know nothing you arrogant little child!" Harry was just as tall as Severus was and just as thin. Had they not been glaring at each other with the utmost contempt, one would think they were related.

"What cold you possibly say to me that would interest me at all Snape?"

"You really are just like your father-"

"Thank you."

"Nonetheless, we have business together, you and I. As much as it pains me, you and I share something in common."

"What's that?" Harry sneered.

"Ms. Granger." Harry took a small step back and his eye grew wide.

"No..." he shook his head in disbelief.

"Yes. Ms. Granger. I don't think you know, but I will enlighten you nonetheless. Ms. Granger and I have been working together. She contacted me because she needed assistance with a potion and I answered her summons because it would benefit me financially. Your dear friend, the bumbling baboon, Ronald Weasley and his brother Percy are the ones responsible for the…unpleasant business in the papers. Percy saw Ms. Granger and myself at the Ministry together, working, and made assumptions. Assumptions that have affected your friend very deeply." Severus spoke the last worsds slowly. It hurt him to say it outloud because it was he who had caused it.

For a moment, Harry saw the slightest glimmer of…something…in Snape's eyes. But when he blinked, it was gone.

"Hang on…why would Ron do that? How do you know?"

"The ever so annoying Ms. Weasley came to speak to Ms. Granger. I was unfortunate enough to witness it. She has spoken to her brother and came to speak on his behalf." Severus smirked.

"So…it's not true, is it?" Harry asked.

"I just said that Ms. Weasley said it was and I-"

"No, I mean about you and Hermione. Is it?" Severus faltered for a moment and then drew himself up straight.

"What is true right now is that my partner is unable to work. She is unable to do her job because everyone whom she calls a friend, has left her to the wolves. And to me. I do not relish being thrust into your juvenile world, but I was. I plan to remedy the situation now."

"How?'

"You need to speak to the public for her."

"And say what?'

"Are you thick headed? You need to speak for her and dispel the rumors that are being plastered all over every newspaper in the country. That way-'

"But I can't, can I? You didn't answer my question. Are you and Hermione…together?" There was a long silent pause. Severus stared at Harry and Harry stared at Severus. Severus struggled with himself to not strangle the little brat. Harry struggled with something far worse.

He knew he saw it in Snape's eyes this time. A tenderness that changed his entire face to someone seemingly foreign. Whatever was going on, Snape fancied Hermione. Harry was sure of it.

"You are the standard to which all young people hold themselves, as unfortunate as that is. You have the power to make this go away. For your friend, you need to speak out. Tell them that it was all a mistake, but tell them something soon. She suffers…daily." Harry understood now. Severus came here, not to clear his own name or for any other purpose, other than to help Hermione. He couldn't wrap his mind around the thought. But looking at his face, it was…different somehow. Harry nodded his head and ran a hand though his hair.

"Alright." Harry said. Severus turned to leave.