Chapter 2
It was very silent outside of the burrow. Not one single cloud covered the sky, so Hermione could see all the stars and the moon. She tried not to cry but found it impossible. She just felt so humiliated and had the feeling that her friends would never understand. But it was true: she had been in love with Professor Severus Snape; for almost two years now…
Why did she even agree to play this stupid game?! Or why didn't she just leave when it became dangerous?
It's never your fault when you fall in love – it just happens! And for Hermione it had happened on one of her first night patrols as a prefect almost two years ago. She had been wandering around the castle's corridors, checking that no students were out of bed, when she had suddenly seen him. Professor Snape had been sitting at one of the windows, which he apparently had opened, breathing heavily and looking outside. The moon shone brightly so she could see his facial expression – and it had moved her in a way she had never thought to be possible. He had looked as if he would cry every second, his face was full of desperate agony.
Hermione had not dared to go over to him although she had wanted to, and had just left, but in this moment she had realised that Snape was a normal human being with feelings!
After that night she had watched him more closely and after a while had noticed in shock that she actually liked him. When she had discovered his beautiful fingers, his smooth voice and his intelligent comments – well, it had been very easy to fall in love with him…
"Hermione?"
She turned around to see that Harry was approaching her. She turned away again.
"Hermione, please don't cry," he said and offered her a handkerchief.
She took it to wipe away the tears from her eyes.
Harry put a hand on her shoulder. "I talked with the others and though we might not understand why, we decided that we will not annoy you with it or ask questions and that we stay with you and that we won't tell anyone else." He smiled at her reassuringly.
"Really?" she asked and sounded like a small girl.
"Of course," he smiled and hugged her firmly. "You are our friend, no matter what."
"Thank you, Harry," she replied moved.