Disclaimer: I only play with these characters…
Hermione woke up curled up on the floor in her sitting room. She had a terrible ach in her back and neck. She was stiff all over and had an odd chill in her bones. She had cried herself to sleep last night; never moving from her spot on the floor in front of the door where she had landed after Severus left her quarters. As she struggled to climb to her feet she was struck with an odd realization. He came to visit her, and in an odd sort of way had pleaded with her to take him back. He had missed her, and had taken her absence quite hard. However, Hermione was struggling to find an answer to the real question: Did he love her? She knew he was sorry, but if she took him back would he push her away again? If what a terrible word, two little letters cause so much woe and painstakingly sleepless nights for everyone at least once in a lifetime.
Hermione meandered over to the bathroom to attempt to make herself look presentable for the day. She didn't want to leave her chambers, but she had a strong desire to show Severus that he hadn't affected her, at least not very much. She wanted to appear stronger than him. She needed to appear stronger than him. She wasn't sure why, but she felt as though the best way to handle the situation is to pretend to be ok. She didn't feel like being bothered by anyone who was remaining at Hogwarts for the holiday season. Teachers that weren't required to stay were allowed to leave today, but despite the depleted numbers she knew that there would be questions of she went from being herself to what she was today out of nowhere, especially since she hadn't gone to dinner last night. She had been crying at the door and wasn't hungry anyway then she fell asleep out of pure exhaustion before even being able to move, let alone decide she was hungry.
As Hermione's keen mind ran through a replay of yesterday in her mind and ran through the facts in her head, she was calculating her next move, deciding what the best course of action would be. She knew that she would need to act swiftly and discreetly. Hermione was just about ready to go to breakfast when her stomach gurgled loudly protesting of hunger. Quiet you; I'm about to head down for breakfast. She mentally scolded her body for not being more patient. Hermione knew what needed to be done and realized that the extra bounce in her step wasn't forced. She really was becoming happy again.
A smile was slowly creeping upon her lips as she entered the great hall. Her stomach gurgled once more as she inhaled the fragrant scents of fresh biscuits and fruit. Hermione spied a platter of pancakes on the table and her mouth began to water. I might just take that whole platter to my seat. Hermione smirked mildly at that thought and livened her pace slightly to get to the table in the center of the room faster. There was no need for 5 large tables to be out. There was no more than 20 people left in the castle including staff and Headmistress McGonagall found the dinning arrangements to be superfluous and changed them for the duration of the holiday.
Hermione surveyed the table as she piled 4 large pancakes onto her plate; she took several large strawberries as well and cut them up to place on her pancakes. She smothered them in butter and maple syrup and filled her goblet with pumpkin juice. She tried to eat in a normal pace but found that she was forcing herself. She hadn't realized how ravenous she was before she had taken that first mouthful of food. I never realized how much being emotional takes out of you. Hermione pushed that out of her brain and continued to eat as she attempted to make pleasantries with her dining neighbors. More correctly she was trying to not ignore her neighbors making pleasantries with her. Once she felt sated she pushed her plate slightly away from her and was ready to make real conversation with her neighbors who had waited patiently for her to no longer be preoccupied. She was sandwiched between Professor Flitwick and a third year student, the child's name escaped her at the moment. She was in Hufflepuff and made it a point to not stand out at anything by being exceptionally good or bad.
Hermione smiled again. She had noted that Severus was not present at breakfast; he probably was still in his rooms, sulking. I don't sulk! I disappear discretely into the shadows and review my thoughts. That was what Severus had told her one time when he was particular moody over a Slytherin loss at quidditch. Hermione had rolled her eyes at that description of his actions and was quite tempted to pounce on top of him and tickle him until he was no longer sulking. However, she knew that the outcome of those actions would go over very well. He had after all been a spy and death eater for about 20 years. Besides, he had really good reflexes and may react instinctively rather than reasonably. Old habits die hard after all.
Hermione was lost in her thoughts for a moment reliving old memories with a glazed expression on her face. She came back to the present time to a hand on her shoulder.
"Professor?" the child had questioned her. "Is everything alright? I've been trying to get your attention for the past few minutes."
"Yes Miss Parker. What is it?"
"It's just everyone was leaving, I thought that you might want to do so too…" she responded shyly trying to end the conversation quickly.
"Thank you Miss Parker, you're free to go"
The girl smiled shyly and scurried away quickly. She was brought back into a pool of memories, back to her third year when Peter Pettigrew was found out to be not dead at all; he was Ron's pet rat Scabbers. This memory passed quickly as she slowly wandered back towards her quarters. That last thought had reminded her that she had owls to send. She needed to write out letters to Harry and Ginny if no one else. She wasn't complaining, simply informing them of the change of events. She already knew what she was going to do and wasn't sad at all. She was surprised at how ok she really was. Yesterday she thought her world was coming crashing down. But today the sun was shining and there was a promise of snow. She would have to go for a walk around the lake after she sent off her letters. She fancied a bit of snow. It always made her feel like a child and she would make a snow angel in the fresh powder that she hoped would cover the ground soon. There was a smile firmly in place on her face as Hermione muttered the password to her rooms. She was slightly taken aback when she saw that the fires were already lit in her sitting room.
It's a shortie I know…but its also just after 2 am and I've got a long day ahead of me. And for the record, I don't know what happens next either. HAHA
by the way, I do appreciate all these comments. If it wasn't for that you wouldn't have gotten this chapter tonight! But I felt like I needed to post something since you all seemed to like what I'd written thus far.
Muzic
