Epilogue

Two years later

Of course his life couldn't be simple, could it? Hermione Granger had had to be a witch, hadn't she?

She was a witch and she'd come to Hogwarts to be a student and learn magic. After a year of conversing through letters only, Severus could say he'd learnt a great deal about the young girl. One thing she'd failed to mention were the strange incidents that must have happened around her as a result of accidental magic.

Thinking back to the second day he'd seen her, the bullies were commenting on her freakishness, but he'd gotten so caught up with everything that he'd forgotten. He'd almost choked on his food when Minerva had called out for her to be sorted. And of course, she'd been sorted into Gryffindor. How couldn't she considering her actions? Severus wondered what the Sorting Hat believed of him now that he'd seen him in her memories?

He felt the moment she saw him, and looked at her in the eyes for a second before looking away. That'd been the start of the end for him. All year, he'd only shown her the Professor Snape persona, the same one he'd been once happy she didn't know. He knew that he was being impossible, but he couldn't help it. He didn't know what else to do. Her being a student changed everything. Didn't it?

Sometimes he wished friendship would come with a manual. He settled to ignore her and pretend that her betrayed looks weren't a stab to his own heart. He was snarky, he was rude and an awful teacher. Severus wondered if she'd even come next summer to meet with him, considering that now she knew who he was. How he was.

When she'd set his robes on fire, he'd been both impressed and hurt. Of course, he hadn't done anything. If anything, it was his fault. She'd tried to behave as much normal as possible in his presence. She'd never been late to his classes, probably taking his comment to heart.

It was with a heavy heart that he arrived at the playground that summer and he couldn't help but feel relieved when he saw her waiting near the swings, looking at the ground.

"Miss Granger."

He didn't know why he'd called her that, but it got her attention. She turned her head onto his direction and taking deep breaths, she seemed to be trying her courage to speak.

Severus wished that wouldn't be the case. He hoped her brave spirit was still intact, not afraid to speak her mind.

"Professor Snape."

He flinched, he'd deserved it. He looked at her and wished for her to see how sorry he was for his behaviour. How abnormal he was for not knowing how to behave around her and simply chickening out and ignoring her completely.

"Severus," she said, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Perhaps, it wasn't all lost.

"Do you hate me?" she asked in a small voice and he found his heart breaking a little more, her words tugging at his conscience.

He sighed and went to sit on the swing. Quietly, she joined him on the other, like the day they'd met. At least, that gave him hope.

"I do not hate you, Hermione. I wouldn't have come here otherwise."

He didn't say that it was impossible for him to hate her.

"All year you ignored me. Why did you come?"

"Because…" He gestured around, not knowing how to convey the fact that he still saw her as a friend.

"Because you pity me? Do you think it's your duty to help me with those kids? I'm almost thirteen. I can deal with them, now I know I'm not a freak."

He flinched again at her words, and twisted around on the swing to face her. How could he explain? He had to try, he knew that it was his fault for hurting her.

"I didn't come here because I pity you. I know what you're going through. Why do you think I was that weird kid from Spinner's End? I know that you're part of two worlds. Isn't that why you came to the playground? I know more than you can imagine. I was different, even at Hogwarts; I had just one friend, and I lost her, too."

Where had that come from? He'd avoided for a year not to talk about Lily in his letters and now it seemed to just spill out.

"I was your friend! Why did you ignore me if you empathised with me? Before that troll, I had no one. You built up my confidence two summers ago and you…"

He grabbed her hand. She'd never know how sorry he was. Perhaps he should have gone to Albus for advice instead of deciding on his own.

"I know," he whispered." But I didn't know how to act. You were a child when I last saw you, and then you came to Hogwarts as a teenager and I am your Professor. An adult befriending a child is problematic—a man and a young girl even more so. If he is her professor, the situation is worse—especially with my reputation."

There, he could only hope she understood his situation. Especially since she knew exactly what everyone at Hogwarts thought about him. What her new best friends, Potter and Weasley thought too.

"I met you when I was nine and you pushed my swing. We just played ball two years ago. I understand you, but I don't agree. You could have told me that, not faked ignorance. There's only so much I can take. I set your robes on fire because I…"

"Didn't trust me, I know. I also know from Albus that Potter and you suspected me to be going after the stone. That was when I realised that you not trusting me hurt. You're the first person to be my friend in a long time. And the only one in a very long time who saw me in both the Muggle and Wizarding Worlds."

And probably the only one who ever would.

"The friend you lost?" Hermione asked and he wondered how much more he'd tell her.

"Yes, the friend I lost. I met her in the hills near my house."

"Am I a replacement?"

He squeezed her hands, sadness overcoming him. Was that what she thought? 'That's what I get for mentioning Lily.' Some things were better left buried.

"No, Hermione, you're not. You're a cute child who is a sweet friend, but you're not her and I would never take advantage of your friendship. That's if you forgive me. You'd have to understand though, that I, Severus, merge with Professor Snape. We come from two separate worlds."

She observed him in silence. He could tell that she understood his words, and if she wanted to ask more, Severus couldn't say. But the acceptance in her eyes meant everything to him.

"Yes. You're only human. And so am I. We make mistakes. Everyone needs a friend; I'm yours." She put her other hand on the top of his. "I was always part of two worlds. I can be Hermione your friend, here in the playground, and Miss Granger at Hogwarts, in the Wizarding World. However, I wish one day people would see you from my perspective, and then we could blend the two worlds."

He felt the need to protest, no one could know, but she raised her hand to stop him before he even opened his mouth.

"Not now, but later. When I'm older."

Severus nodded, knowing that that was probably never going to happen. There was still so much she didn't know about him. He resolved that he'd tell her in time.

"Now," she said, standing up, all the while holding his hand, "I think you owe me a game."

He grinned at her and stood up as well. "That I do, indeed."