Chapter 13: He loves her...

In all of her wildest fantasies, never had Severus Snape ever come into them. Not as the potential star anyway. He was so dark, and so miserable. She couldn't imagine a day, for him, without pain. But she saw him standing there, so resilient to any show of emotion... and she couldn't help but feel a little sad for him. Pity.

"Waiting? for me?" Her voice shook.

"Yes."

"Is there a reason? Or are you just blocking the women's loo for kicks?" She felt the sarcasm roll off of her tongue and it felt foreign. She was possibly one of the most un-sarcastic people she knew. He sensed her non-comfort with the form of humor and took it as a show of bravery. She was trying not to let her weaknesses show.

"I saw you go in. I believe that it time for us to talk." His voice was formal and unconvincing. Obviously this topic made him just as uncomfortable as it made her. "Come down to the dungeons. Midnight. Bring the invisibility cloak once more." With that he walked away into the distance, not glancing back.

She stood confused and incapable of understanding the full weight of what had just happened. Professor Snape had come, requested to see her, and then proceeded to tell her when and where. But why? Why? She asked. A little laugh echoed in her mind. Of course, she knew why. A couple of nights had past since there last rendezvous in the dreamscape. She enjoyed falling asleep every night, guessing that in only a little while she would once again be surrounded with the intoxicating presence of him. She was beginning to think of him as more than an angry teacher. Her stomach did flip flops, and she chastised herself for becoming overly emotional. She despised that type of girl that would swoon at the mere thought of a special man. She had never been one of them... and she defiantly refused to let Snape make her into one.

What is so special about him anyway? She asked as she walked deftly back to the table.

IIII

"Admit it... you think his mysteriousness is attractive!" Ginny cooed over to Hermione. Ginny's bubbly laughter and affection glittered about the room in spheres of happiness. Hermione loved Ginny more than she could possibly explain, but her friends recent sense of constant happiness over Harry made her want to vomit. She was happy for her, sure. For the past years she wanted Harry to finally go after Ginny because it was obvious they were perfect for each other. As of lately though, things began to be to much for Hermione.

On top of the strange dreams with Snape, she had to deal with Ron's (still) unrequited love, and Harry and Ginny's public displays of indecent affection. She didn't want to admit that she was beginning to like Snape as a person, fearful that she, too, would sit there for hours on end, agonizing over him the way Ginny did about Harry.

"How would you even guess that?" Hermione began to feel angry with her, "you do understand that he is still the hideous man who tortures the one you fancy every day?"

"Yes, I understand that. Don't take me for a pratt, Hermione. I merely suggested that you may think that he could be a considerably attractive man... if you go for the dark, evil, hairy type." Ginny laughed again and, outwardly, Hermione let herself laugh too.

Inwardly she wished Ginny would go find some one else to patronize because she was beginning to get weary of it. She did like Snape. What was so hard to believe about that. She was an intelligent eighteen year old witch. Who maybe, just maybe, had a ever-so-slight crush on her potions teacher. Besides he was only to be her teacher for another 2 months.

IIII

The air was warm outside and the soft breeze that whistled through the green trees blew warmly against his skin. The grass was still dewy from the early morning fog that engulfed the United Kingdom nightly. Ron paced his walk to match that of Harry's even though his legs were much longer. Out of the corner of his eye he watched his friend. Harry's dark hair blew, untamed, by the wind and his glasses slipped down the bridge of his nose. He was avoiding Ron's eyes and his hands were slipped inside of his pockets which is a sure sign that he was about to say something Ron wouldn't like.

"So you still like Hermione, eh?"

So that is what this is all about, Ron thought, bored. Nodding his head he stopped walking. Harry jerked back as he realized Ron was quite a few paces away. "Why?" Ron asked.

"Its only... she's been acting a bit strange lately. And you still haven't let her know you fancy her so."

"She knows." Ron could sense Harry's discomfort, but didn't care. He was sick of him always trying to make Ron not care about Hermione. It just wasn't about to happen.

"Well... don't you think you'd have a better chance with you... if you actually tried to do something about it.. instead of just... you know.. watching her?" Harry's voice became agitated as he watched Ron's face become red.

"Listen... I know you're trying to help and all... but come off it Harry. I love her... she will never love me. Let me be, alright?" With that, Ron turned and walked back to the castle in the sunset light.

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