Chapter 8:

Hermione had just returned from Jason's house after his last match. They had spent the last few hours talking about their relationship. Hermione had told him that there was no future for them as a couple. He had somehow convinced her to continue with the ruse for the media but promised that he would lay off the relationship aspect of things. She was skeptical but allowed it as she had become friends with many of the other players and enjoyed the reprieve the matches gave her from studying.

She was on her 10th or so letter to Severus, all which had been balled up as not good enough. She realized she needed to come clean with the man after the stern letter she got from Harry that morning.

Moine,

I don't know what you and Snape discuss in your letters but I guess I had assumed that he was aware that you were dating Jason. He was upset this morning when he realized you were actually dating. As much as the man rubs me the wrong way I know he is your friend and that he cares a great deal for you. You need to come clean with him. Every time you mention him in a letter I can tell how fond of the man you are. I never thought you would be the type to play with someone's emotions. I am guessing you didn't mean to hurt him, but finding out 4 months late that the person he writes to at least twice a week 'forgot' to mention that she was dating someone had to hurt him. Fix it please as none of us want to see the 'Greasy Git' reemerge.

Love,

Harry

Hermione had been reduced to tears as she realized she had hurt her friend and was desperately trying to find a way to tell him everything she needed to.

My Dear Severus,

This is the hardest letter I have ever had to write you. I think this is the 20th or so draft just today. I have been trying unsuccessfully to write some of this to you for the past 4 months but somehow it never came out right so I just omitted the information. I know a lie of omission is just as damming as a straight out lie and I can not tell you how sorry I am. As you are most likely aware now, I began dating Jason for real 4 months ago. Minerva suggested that I give him a chance as I was young and had never really dated anyone. I knew from the start that he was not the one for me, maybe that was why I never found the courage to tell you. I look forward to your letters more than anything else here and I was scared that you would stop writing or that our friendship would change if I told you. I was selfish, I realize that now, and I deeply hope you were not hurt by my not telling you myself. I value your correspondence more than all the others combined and cannot bear the thought that you will become "Professor Snape" again when I know what a wonderful man "Severus" is.

I broke things off with Jason this morning. He asked me why and I told him some of the smaller reasons, things like that he was too materialistic and that I was not ready for a physical relationship. I finally had to tell him that the main reason was that I couldn't see myself with him, there were no sparks. When he was away for matches I didn't wonder what he was doing or hope he would hurry back. I know you are asking why I am telling you all this. The main reason is that I think about you between your letters, wonder what you are up to and wait rather impatiently for your next letter. The thing is Severus, I would much rather spend time with you than Jason or anyone else for that mater. Somehow over the past few years you have become the most important person in my life. The thought that I have hurt you and possibly ruined our friendship causes me great pain. Please Severus, let me know that I am still your friend. I don't know that I could handle staying here without your support.

Always yours,

Hermione

Severus was stunned to read the letter from Hermione that morning. He had still been licking his wounds and not written her for a few days. The letter answered a few of his questions about why she never told him but opened up another whole chapter of questions for him as well. The letter gave him the hope that there may be a future with her when she returned, but he was still skeptical. He had realized when he found out about her and Jason that he had not guarded his heart enough and had fallen head over heals for the young witch. Knowing he needed another opinion he headed up to Albus, knowing he would regret it but having no other options.

"What has you so out of sorts?" Albus asked him after reading the letter. "This seems fairly straightforward."

"I understand that she is sorry and I have no intention of stopping our correspondence but what about her feelings?" Severus asked.

"Is it so hard for you to believe that she may have feelings for you?" Albus asked him with a smile, eyes twinkling. "You have allowed her to see a side of you that most never will. I am hardly surprised that she regards you as highly as she does."

"But that is the question," Severus told him exasperated. "She didn't tell me what her feelings were, just that I had come to mean a lot to her!"

"You thought she would tell you her exact feelings and risk not only rejection of her friendship but rejection of her affections as well?" Albus asked with a chuckle.

"I guess not," Severus admitted. "But where do I go from here?"

"You write her back, tell her you forgive her and that you wish to continue writing her. Then see where it leads my boy," Albus said twinkling.

Dear Hermione,

I admit that finding you had lied to me hurt more that I thought it could. I accept you apology and have no intention of stopping our correspondence. I too look forward to your letters more than a former professor should. I hope this eases your concerns. Although I expect honesty from you from now on, even if you think I will not like the truth. I am not a trusting man Hermione and yet I find myself trusting you explicitly.

Severus

Hermione was relieved by his letter; he had admitted that he did have some feelings for her more than just friends. She wished his letter had been longer but realized that it must have taken a lot out of him to admit as much as he did. She smiled and hurried to class, deciding to put even more effort into her schooling. She had realized that what she really wanted was to get back to Europe; she was ready to be done with Australia and get on with her life.

Hermione,

Thank you for the note. I am glad you dumped the jerk. Although why you are continuing the charade of dating him is beyond me. You should realize that he will try everything to 'win' you back now. Thanks for telling Severus the truth, he is back to being a decent person to the staff again. Alright, just for you, I'll tell you why I am at Hogwarts more than not. Albus is tutoring me in Wizarding politics and how to use my positions in the Wizengammot the way I want. I have been filling my spots for the past 3 years but I still don't feel I fully understand what I am doing. I have been studying actual History of Magic and learning about the history of the laws in our world and what I can do to actually make some changes. Have a good rest of the summer.

Love,

Harry

The next few weeks flew by for Hermione as she was entrenched in research and studying. She had decided to try and test out of three more classes over the summer, and if she was successful she would be done at the end of one more year. She wasn't going to tell anyone until she was sure she could finish that early. It would be an academic first for the university for a student to complete two masters' tests in 4 years.

"We're playing England in two weeks," Jason told her at his next world cub match. "We are ahead so we should be ok even if they beat us. Bulgaria is in the lead and we are second by three games."

"Does that mean its ok for me to cheer for England?" Hermione asked him, smirking as he sputtered that he didn't know why she would want to do that. "Don't worry I will cheer for both teams."

Hermione had gotten permission to attempt to test out of the three classes from the dean of the university and was studying franticly. She was deeply immersed in the middle of a stack of books when Carley burst into her study room out of breath."Hermione, I just heard that over half of England's team got food poisoning and are out for the rest of the season!" Carley told her out of breath. "For sure it took out both seekers, both sets of beaters and the first string chasers. They are due here in under 10 hours and we have no idea if they will even have a teem they can pull together fast enough."

"Can't they just pull players from the other club teams?" Hermione asked as she cleaned up her studying so she could go with Carley back to the league house and hear the gossip. Max had been named the back-up seeker after the last one was injured in practice.

"They could, and most likely will have to. But how good can you expect a team to play that has never played together before?" Carley asked her with a shrug. "I mean they are already pretty much out of the tournament but they could affect the standings some."

Hermione was nervous as she waited with Jason for the English team to arrive. She knew that Wood was the keeper and Carley had said he was ok. The rumor was that the three back up chasers were at a baby shower for one of their mutual friends and Wood had left before dinner so they didn't eat the same food that made the rest of the team sick. She was curious who they would get as they needed new beaters and a new seeker. She smiled despite herself when the English port-bus arrived. The way the teams traveled was in a specially charmed bus that acted like a large port-key and would transport anything inside the bus so the whole team could travel as one along with their coaches, trainers, healers, spouses and equipment.

Oliver Wood was the first person off the bus, followed by who Hermione assumed was his wife, who she was surprised to see was heavily pregnant and looked familiar. "Hello Oliver, welcome to Australia." Hermione greeted cheerfully.

"Hello Hermione," Oliver said with a smile. "This is my wife Patti Stimpson well now Wood." He said obviously deeply in love while smiling at his wife and rubbing her swollen belly.

"Nice to see you again," Hermione told her, finally remembering her as a Gryffindor in Wood's class. "Congratulations on your child. This is my friend Jason the seeker for Australia."

They were interrupted in their introductions by two very loud and boisterous players getting off the bus. "Where is she? Is she here yet? Do you see her? Hermione darling know-it-all where are you?" Hermione stared speechless at the Weasley twins as they pushed their way through the crowd towards here. "Budge up Woody we want to see our little Hermione." They said moving Oliver out of the way.

"Fred! George!" Hermione finally yelled and threw herself at them. She couldn't believe they were the replacement beaters. "I can't believe you're here!" She laughed and introduced them to Jason, who was beginning to feel left out and jealous that she seemed to know way too many other professional players and he was just one of many in her eyes. His fears were confirmed when she laughingly said hello to the trio of women chasers that headed their way. "Angelina, Alicia, Katie! Wow it's like a Gryffindor team reunion."

"We were all at Patti's baby shower and didn't eat the food and then when everyone but the three of us and Wood got sick we decided we needed to go old school for the rest of the season." Angelina told them. "Besides we were the best team Gryffindor ever had!"

"Well you were most of it," Hermione told them with a sad far away smile, remembering that Harry was the seeker for that team.

"No we were all of it," a voice behind her said and she spun and launched herself at the new English national team seeker, Harry Potter. "Shh, it's ok Hermione." Harry said as he rubbed her back, he knew he was going to surprise her again and hadn't expected that she would be so happy to see him that she would cry.

"Harry," she said with a huge grin, wiping her eyes. "You're playing seeker?" She laughed. "Well meet the competition, Harry this is Jason." She said watching as Harry looked Jason over and obviously found him wanting. Jason could tell that he had not impressed Harry and swallowed a lump in his throat. He was going up against Harry Potter, the most powerful wizard in England and Hermione's best friend.

"You going to cheer for me in my first ever professional game?" Harry asked Hermione, making sure Jason could hear him.

"Of course! You're my best friend, practically my brother!" Hermione told him and led him into the club house, forgetting she was supposed to be by Jason's side.

It was the best game Hermione could ever remember watching. She knew both teams and was on the edge of her seat for the entire 5 hour game. The Australian team was cocky going into the game, thinking they would walk all over the second string chasers and that England had never played together before. She had to watch herself in how much she cheered for Harry. He kept pulling moves that threw Jason off and made him look like a rookie. Hermione couldn't help herself when she saw Harry spot the snitch and yelled "Go Harry!"

The match ended with Harry catching the snitch taking England to a victory of 210 to Australia's 50. The after match party was great fun for her as she knew everyone there and was able to spend time with her 'real' friends. She even had time to run back to her dorm and get Harry's birthday present for him. She hadn't been sure how to send it to him since it was so large and breakable. She had decided not to share her breakthrough on muggle electronics with everyone but knew she could trust Harry to keep it quiet. She had bought him a plasma TV and DVD player along with over 20 DVD movies for him. She had gotten him an assortment of movie genres making sure she included a few she knew he would love like Rocky Horror Picture Show, Wizard of Oz, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves as well as the entire Star Wars Series and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. She had them shrunk and packaged as carefully as she could for travel but had been wary of an owl taking them so far as they would not fit in the letter box.

"Happy early birthday," She told him with a grin before telling him he would have to wait till he got back to open them. Harry, Fred, George and Hermione spent the entire night up talking, knowing the boys had to leave early the next morning. She was even asked her opinion on if Fred and George should wait until Christmas to propose or not. They told her that they had started dating on Boxing Day and thought they should propose on their 3 year anniversary. "That sounds very romantic," she told them with a grin. "So Harry when are you and Tonks going to finally take the plunge?"

"No idea," he told her with a grin. "We aren't really in a hurry. I mean she has already moved in and we act like we are married. I want to have the ceremony but she refuses until her parents give their blessing. It will happen when it's meant to happen."

"Our little Harry here just likes to be a rebel as he knows his living with Tonks has most of England in an uproar as they are not married." George laughed.

"Why are her parents not giving their blessing?" Hermione asked still not understanding why they would not be happy that their daughter is marring the most powerful wizard in the world who also had more money than he could ever spend and was hopelessly in love with their daughter, who he incidentally saved from certain death by Voldemort himself.

"No idea really, they just say that I am not old enough to know what I want and they think I'll get sick of Tonks or some other crap like that. I think her mum is just upset that I have the Black fortune and doesn't want her daughter to have anything from that side of her family."

"It's so strange to be able to actually talk to you about this stuff!" Hermione laughed, "And not have to wait for a letter to get answers!"

"I wish we could talk over the phone," Harry said sadly. "They are such a good muggle invention I wish they could work around magic."

"Can you three keep a secret?" Hermione asked with a grin and after getting their wand oaths she filled them in on her research and the spells she had come up with. "Your birthday present uses my new spell, but I figured you could pass it off as a damping charm around it. I have three charmed cell phones. I can send you one in your box tomorrow and we can start calling each other. We just have to do it in secret until my test or in muggle areas, so nobody realizes what I did yet."

Harry and the twins were speechless. "My dad is going to love you," Fred said in awe. "There are so many cool muggle electronics. Can we go in business with you?" He asked, running figures through his head.

"We would need some major start-up capital to get the electronics but the actual spell work should be straightforward," George said out loud, "Not to mention someplace to store the equipment, a secure area for the spells and sales areas… but this will be a gold mine."

"What about your joke shop?" Hermione asked them, wondering if they could run both. She had known she would need business partners and hadn't known who to ask.

"We've been letting Lee Jordan run it on a daily basis and just concentrating on new pranks. We have Bill taking care of the books and Neville has been supplying our herbs for any potions. We could give Lee a stake in WWW and that would free up enough time to help you run your electronics business." Fred answered.

"You should have an owl order business or something so you can sell around the world as well. As long as you keep the spells a secret and get a wand oath of secrecy from any employee you should have the monopoly on the market." Harry joined in.

"So you guys are ready for this?" Hermione asked. "I will cut you in 50 and you can go from there. We will need a very large warehouse close to Diagon Alley for storage and the spell process. The shop in Diagon should be set-up a lot like a muggle electronics store. We will need to research what products we want to carry and get started on the initial scans so we can customize the spells."

They spent the remaining hours of the morning discussing their new business venture. "When are we going to start all this?" Fred asked her as the rest of the team started stumbling in ready to return to England.

"I'll write you, just send me a few bottles of your un-readable ink first so we can make sure the letters are safe." She told them giving all three a kiss on the cheek. "I love you guys, it was great to see you. Stay safe the rest of the season!" She felt herself tear up again when she turned to say a more personal good-bye to Harry. "Send my love to Severus, Minerva, Albus and Tonks." She told him as he gathered her in a tight hug. "I'll miss you, call often!" She waved to them until the bus port keyed away. She returned to her dorm to sleep for 12 hours, it had been a long time since she had been awake for so long.