A/N; So I am thinking that this could be the penultimate chapter... maybe, perhaps...
What the hell was he doing still alive? Wasn't he supposed to be dead? Did she really want him dead?
Hermione shook her head, she supposed not, but that was beside the point. She never would have guessed in a million years that he would be here, right now, sitting scowling into his soup just a few seats down from her.
It was the start of year fest and of course they had to attend, of course they had to sit within mere metres of one another.
Hermione took a deep calming breath as a new first year was sorted into Hufflepuff, not that she was paying much attention to the sorting. She was trying to catch McGonagall's eye. For some reason she figured if she could place the blame on anyone it should be her. For starters Hermione saw no reason that explained the fact that she forgot to inform Hermione of Snape's current, continuous employment. Things like that don't just escape your mind.
Hermione shot another dirty look down the table at Snape. He was smugly sneering as some beefy looking boy got sorted into Slytherin.
Jerk.
IIIII
Another Slytherin, it was looking good for his house this year, all the weedy looking brats had been sorted into Hufflepuff of Gryffindor by now.
Severus smirked.
Feeling eyes burning on the back of his head, his sly smile faded to be replaced with a scowl.
Granger.
How dare Minerva hire her and not tell him, Dumbledore had meddled in other peoples business and look where that landed him. Not that his death was a result of his meddling, but anyway. He would never have expected the same from Minerva, yet here she was.
Sitting just two seats away from him and staring at him with her big brown bothersome eyes.
Severus growled.
It wasn't as if he never wanted to see her again. For months after she had left him he had, against his better judgement pined away for her.
He was like a lovesick fool.
It sickened him.
Yet he couldn't help wondering if she was ok, every time the mark burned against his skin he felt for her. He wondered if she felt the same pain, and if so he wanted to take it away.
Not that he could, she never showed up to any DE meeting, not that he blamed her. She didn't want to see him.
Albus had said it was for the best, that such a distraction would benefit no one. He was sure the Dark Lord would have targeted her if he had known Severus true feelings, and perhaps he would have.
Severus couldn't risk that, not so selfishly. Hermione was like a beacon of hope and light and he, he was plagued with death and darkness. He had no business being with her, even wanting her was unrealistic.
She would end up with someone like Potter or that idiot Weasley, not him, she deserved better than having some old fool lusting after her.
Severus sneered as another terrified first year was placed into Ravenclaw.
From the corner of his eye he saw her clapping feverishly. She was smiling down at the children, that beaming blinding smile of hers.
Severus stabbed his fork into a sausage and tore it apart aggressively with his teeth.
IIIII
Hermione squirmed watching Severus mutilate his food before eating it. What she had ever seen in him she didn't know.
"Nervous?" a voice beside her asked.
Hermione turned to see Professor Raspin smiling over at her. He was new here too, a little older that Hermione, he would be taking over Care of Magical Creatures.
Hermione thought he seemed right for the job; he had the most watery puppy dog eyes she had ever seen. Not that anyone would ever replace Hagrid in her mind, but he seemed a suitable substitute.
"A little" she confessed, "everything will be so different now".
"Yes" he smiled, "but it's all for the better".
"Oh, of course" Hermione agreed, "I just mean me, here, teaching, I'm used to being a student, I don't know anything else".
"Me too" Raspin said, "but they seem a good bunch, and now I suppose they don't have anything hanging over their heads like an impending war to deal with, I'm sure they wont give us too much of a hard time".
"I suppose" Hermione smiled, her attention caught by noticing Snape in the corner of her eye glare daggers at Raspin.
She rolled her eyes, what was his problem?
"Would you like to get a coffee later?" Raspin asked regaining her attention.
Hermione blushed.
"Only as a friendly gesture that is, to toast to the new term?" he added hesitantly.
Feeling stupid at her own shyness Hermione smiled and nodded, what harm could it do anyway? Raspin was a nice guy, and she deserved to have someone nice in her life, even it was only for friendship.
A harsh squeal made her jump as Snape pushed his chair back, stood and stormed out of the hall. His black cloak billowing behind him.
Hermione cringed, whatever had set him off she didn't know. But she warned herself not to cross his path tonight, she felt sorry for anyone who would.
"What's his problem?" Raspin asked
Hermione shrugged.
IIIII
"Severus, may I come in?"
"You needn't ask Minerva" Severus sighed, "you are headmistress now you may come and go as you please"
"Yes well I still respect your privacy none the less" she said as she stepped into his chambers.
"Ha" Severus mock laughed throwing his head back, "if you cared then you would not have hired her"
"I was under the impression what ever happened between you and Professor Granger was water under the bridge".
Severus glared, "Professor Granger, Pft".
"She is qualified Severus, you know that" Minerva said watching as he paced back and forth by the fireplace.
The carpet, she noticed, was worn there. He must do that often.
"She is a nuisance, she is a liability, and she must leave" he demanded.
Minerva frowned and fixed him with a calculating stare. "Severus Snape" she snapped, "however much she had hurt you I can assure you it was noting compared to the pain you put her through-"
Severus stopped pacing and looked at the frowning woman bemused.
"-I had to sit and watch her cry her heart out week after week, month after month until nothing was left. You hurt her in all the ways a woman can be hurt. Whether you knew it or not she loved you, and as stupid as it may seem I am sure you harboured some feelings towards her too. When you never even bothered to see if she was alright if she was coping, she gave up. After months of persuading I was able to bring her back to books and studies. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't have won the war, I am sure of it. I will not, now, after mere hours of employment dismiss her because you Severus Snape have a strop on."
The expression on Severus' face was priceless.
"I suggest" Minerva sighed, "you learn to deal with it", and with that she turned on her heel and slammed the door behind her.
Severus let out the breath he was holding and fell into the armchair underneath him.
He had hurt Hermione? Had she thought he didn't care? Questions raced through his head, and as he tried to sort them all one kept popping to the surface, had she really loved him?
A/N; Aww isnt Sev just the cutest?? I think so, bless.
Deathly Hallows out next week- Aghhhh- I promise to have this finished before then.
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