Quidditch and Truths

Ginny mentally fumed at Hermione. Ring side seats at a American quidditch game and she had her head stuck in a book. An extremely old, boring book without pictures. Games like these were not broadcast in England, indoor quidditch sounded so amazing. Unfortunately today wasn't the day Ginny was to find out.

Ginny knew she didn't hate it that much, in fact Hermione had been completely torn as to which activity she would go to; choosing to the Broadway version of The Crucible in the end. Of course Hermione was the personification of cutting ones nose to spite ones face. Ginny thought lovingly of her friend.

A few glances at Snape told Hermione, he was finding it as boring as she was pretending it was....

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"- And the New York Rangers are leading 80 to nothing going into the third hour." The American commentator shouted proudly over the speakers. "But the Bulls seem to be fighting back- And- Yes. Fredricks scores the first ten points for the Bulls." The crowd went wild.

"This game could go on for days! Even though the blasted snitch should be easier to spot." Hermione said not looking up from her book. It had in fact flown over he book twice.

"Or even weeks." Snape replied coldly.

"Well, we'll have a problem seeing I have to leave by the end of the week." Hermione looked at him, searching for some warmth. An apology.

"Nothing is keeping you here Miss Granger." Snape scoffed. Hermione stood hoping to keep her dignity in tacked by not crying right there and then. She walked down the concrete steps and out of the open doorway with out a word to either Snape or Draco who was sitting behind her. It wasn't until she'd reached the escalators leading to the subway station underneath Madison Square Garden that she realised she was being followed. Snape grabbed her arm after watching her break down at the bottom of the escalator. She collapsed onto his chest and sobbed. She didn't care what his response was; he could be repulsed. Just as long as he held her. Which he did. This outburst had been welling up inside her for months. It had seemed to have melted his heart that had been in the deep freeze over the past few days.

"Come with me." He instructed softly leading her to a subway platform. Hermione stopped crying instantly. She was never the one to make a scene willingly. They travelled in silence. The subway car was empty; it was nearly eleven at night and most wizards were still at the game. No one would be on this train.

The journey was silent. Comfortable. There was no sense of awkwardness, just peace. Hermione could have stayed like that forever. Times Square came into view and Snape stood up. Hermione inwardly groaned. This wasn't the time for bright lights. Perhaps he was taking her to see the end of the play? She knew Broadway was nearby. When he took her up a flight of stairs down a corridor and back down a flight of stair, she wondered what the hell he was playing at. After a journey on the number 7 train, and a climb of steps Hermione was met with a breathtaking view of a massive building artfully light.

"Not that Hermione." Snape laughed slightly, adding a short walk to their journey.

She saw it. A thing of beauty. Brooklyn Bridge. Why did he bring her here? She thought as he carried on walking toward the bridge. Hermione stopped him at a small shop that had antiques in the window. Her eyes had been caught by a ring. One like her Father had bought her Mother as an eternity ring. Her Mother had lost it years ago. After a moment, Snape led her on, along the pedestrian walk way above the cars. Still in silence. Hermione was growing tense. She had things to say to him. But she didn't know how. She didn't know where to start. They stopped at a midway. The stone arch elegantly towered above them the chains that linked it to the next were illuminated by lights. Hermione had never felt so small and vulnerable. How can her heritage damn her so much when they could make such things of beauty? She took a deep breath as she knew what was coming.

"It's amazing here isn't it? My mother brought me here as a child. It was her place, her calming place." He felt himself get sidetracked with his explanation of why they where at the bridge. "What is wrong?" He questioned leading her to the railing that overlooked the cars bellow, none aware that they were there. She had his full attention and she didn't know if she liked it.

"Nothing." She automatically responded. "Everything." She couldn't cope with his gaze. Her eyes began counting the cars.

"First you can tell me why you've been letting those girls bully you?" Snape asked. Hermione smiled genuinely, he'd known. "Do you really think I know you so little as to think you'd be bullying those girls. I was just disappointed in you." And Jealous! Don't forget jealous Ginny added, immensely engrossed in what was unfolding in front of her. Was this it? "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What could you have done? You couldn't have stopped them from hating me." Tears slowly fell, her voice wavering. "You can't change who I am. There isn't a wand in all the world that would let you do that."

"And who are you?" He questioned. His hand brushed her arm in reassurance. He was going to get it out of her if it killed him. And by the looks of her resilience it would.

"A mudblood." She answered flatly. Confident with her description of herself, even if it hurt her to say it. At this, he placed a hand on either side of her giving her no alternative but to look deep into his eyes.

"You are more than that!" He growled as if he was defending someone who wasn't there. Someone she was insulting. "You need to realise something. Witchcraft is a gift, not a birthright. There is nothing wrong with you, your blood or your family history." Snape showed a little disappointment, then a glint of realisation. "That's why you wanted to get away? You feel torn?" He had finally figured it out. She was torn between two world. He had seen it before. But not on someone so easily adaptive to the wizading world.

"Yes." She said then thought for a minute. Her thoughts faulted her again. She had to tell him the truth. "No... I'm afraid." She cried. "He's going to kill everyone I love. He will kill my parents, I can feel it... I fear Harry won't see out this war. The Weasley's are good, honest people, the Malfoy's are murders who get all the glory, Lucius will be there till the end and the Weasleys will suffer.... And I'm helpless against it all. I am only one person. Who because of my choice of friends, or their choice of me, has made people I love a target." Hermione broke down. "Here I can forget. Here, Hogwarts does not exist. Here I'm small because the buildings are tall, not because I have the weight of the world on my shoulders and the burden of the boy-who-lived."

"But you're still not happy Hermione." He returned to look at the passing cars. She laughed through her tears.

"After those girls? They made me realise Voldermort's hand has a greater reach than I had thought, that or those witches are just plain ignorant." He flinched at the name. It recalled something in her, she scoffed. "And after the way you've been treating me?!" Hermione laughed against her better judgement.

"The way I've been treating you?! It's been no different to normal." Snape looked at her curiously.

"You have shown me respect these last few months. Today, with that professor-" Hermione began.

"Oh. That!" Snape brushed it aside as if it was nothing. Hermione and Ginny, through her own tears, thought otherwise. "She was driving me nuts. Sorry if I seemed a little short!" He apologised.

"A little Short?! You called me child, in the tone you talk to Neville. That was not a man who respected me on that boat. It seemed as if it was for her benefit? The bat form always more seductive?!" Hermione question, this meeting turning slightly sour. Acid welling up in her mouth. Days of held back insults at the tip of her tongue.

"What do you want me to say?! I didn't want her to get any impressions-"

"Of what?!" Hermione screamed, "That you have a strong acidic hatred of an insuperable mudblood. I think she got that loud and-" She never finished that sentence. He'd instantly showed her what impression he was hiding from the professor. He taken her in his arms and kissed her, under the light of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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Sobbing at the recent revelation. She didn't know any of this had happened, she didn't know how scared Hermione was. Ginny blacked out the memory. She felt this was a private moment and should be kept that way. Hermione said that Snape didn't know how she felt. But that returned kiss told him all he needed to know. She loved him and never, ever wanted to let go.

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A/N: Sorry, didn't mean to leave it with a cliffie!

seb1: Thank you for your comments. Yes Snape is OOC but, he's not really Snape, he's a mixture of Snape and a guy I know. Writers licence I guess. I'm just praying JK doesn't sue. lol. I looked at your profile, I will look at your stories but more importantly, check out www.popcap.com there is a game on there called typershark which I think you will enjoy.

tall freak: 1998! Really do think I should re-do that paragraph. I'm glad you are liking my story and can critically review it. Look forward to hearing from you soon. Consider Snape well and truly hit. As for the roommates... perhaps I might have my revenge on them. Haven't decided yet.

Domikins: If you almost cried at the last chapter, I hope you can see your screen right now. This, at the moment, is my favourite chapter. All though it is a bit of an anti-climax for me. I was expecting it to be different. Never mind as long as you like it that's all that matters.

ahiwai: Now that really would be telling wouldn't it *pulls tongue* Could you see him married to her? Hope you read on to find out

Celest-Wikit: Lots and lots of OOCness. I'm the first to admit it, but I'm just so happy that everyone doesn't seem to mind that much.

*Hankies to all that need them* Gosh you can fry an egg on my face!!!!

Next chapter: Woken early! That's all you're getting.

Much Love

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