Chapter 18- Harry's Confrontation

Dear Hermione,

I have owled Harry as well, but please extend my thanks to him again in regards to his help with Minister Shackelbolt. I believe his well placed words regarding his feeling towards Hogwarts went a long way towards keeping our doors open.

I have also been in contact with the Healers at St Mungo's and I am relieved to know that Professor Snape is out of danger and is on his way to recovery. I have teachers covering his classes for the rest of the year to allow him time to recover.

I understand your desire to remain in London with Professor Snape but we will be glad for your return, whenever that may be. I also understand that Professor Snape is still refusing to have visitors, however if there is any change, please give him my regards.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Hermione sighed as she refolded the letter and set it on Harry's kitchen table.

"Who was that from?" Harry asked walking into the kitchen with an empty baby bottle.

"Minerva. She knows Severus is refusing to see me and wants me to come back to Hogwarts."

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. "She said that?"

"No. But that's what she meant." Hermione sighed resting her head on her arms. She had left her Memory Crystal at Hogwarts and her dreams were more troubling every night. That combined with long hours at St. Mungo's staring at Severus pretending to sleep were taking their toll.

"I hate to say it, Hermione, but it's been almost a week and he still will not speak to you. You know I don't mind you being here, but how long are you going to do this? Look at you! You're not sleeping, you barely eat. I'm worried about you."

"Oh, honestly. There is nothing for you to worry about. I'll stay another day or so and then head back to Hogwarts. You're right. It's time for me to be going back." She gave Harry a sad smile and then went into the guest room, closing the door before he had a chance to respond.

"What was that about?" asked Ginny walking into the room, Ronnie crawling after her.

"McGonagall wants Hermione back at Hogwarts. She said she's going to leave the day after tomorrow."

"Snape still won't speak to her will he?"

Harry shook his head. "No." Then he stood up, grabbing his wand and cloak and walked toward the door.

"Harry? Where are you going?" Ginny looked over at her husband. He walked back over to her giving her a quick kiss.

"To go talk some sense into Snape. I'm not going to watch Hermione suffer any more."

Severus Snape stared at the ceiling. Six days he had been staring at that ceiling and it was no more interesting now than it was the first day. The only thing worse than staring at the ceiling, was pretending to sleep with Hermione sitting next to him. She sat so close he could hear her breathe. Sometimes she would talk; either babbling about nothing at all or, what was worse, begging him to open his eyes. This was usually followed by crying, which was the worst of all. He had lost count of how many times he had nearly opened his eyes, but the fear of seeing pity in her eyes was too great.

'Poor pathetic Severus Snape. As if he wasn't pathetic enough before, now he is scarred and crippled'. He was sure that's what everyone must be thinking.

He heard the sound of the door opening and he quickly shut his eyes in case it was her. Sure enough he heard the sound of someone walking around the curtain and stopping at the foot of his bed.

"You might as well stop pretending, Snape. I'm not going to be horrified by your appearance. In case you haven't noticed, my face has seen better days as well." The voice was not the soft voice he had been expecting but hard and cold and angry and male. The surprise forced his eyes open and he started up at Harry Potter.

"What do you want Potter? Come to gloat over my deformed body?" Severus sneered up at the young man.

"You really are thick, aren't you Snape? What do you think I'm doing here?" He walked over next to the bed and Severus propped himself up, refusing to allow Harry to tower completely over him. "I'm here because my best friend is over in my flat right now wasting away. She won't eat; at night I hear her crying in her sleep from her nightmares. She's been here every day for a week and you don't even have the courage to look at her."

Severus swallowed hard. He had thought that surely Hermione would give up, go back to her life and forget about him. However Harry continued his tirade.

"I am here because Hermione, for reasons I cannot begin to fathom, has fallen in love with you and I'll be damned if I'll watch her heart get broken again."

'No. He's lying. She could not possibly love me.' "What gave you that ridiculous idea, Potter?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"What do you think? Because she told me!" Harry leaned in close, his voice low but furious. "She is going back to Hogwarts day after tomorrow at McGonagall's request. I swear to you, if she leaves as sad as she arrived, you will pay for it."

Snape glared furiously at Harry. 'How DARE he threaten me!' he thought furiously to himself for a long moment. But he found it hard to keep up his anger for long.

"I'm trying to do her a favor, Potter," he finally managed to croak out. "I am no use to her like this. Deformed, hideous. She needs to move on."

Harry looked at Severus with a certain amount of shock. He hadn't expected Severus to even acknowledge what he was saying let alone try to explain himself. He gave Severus a long look and all he saw looking back was fear and self-loathing.

"Don't you think she should decide that for herself? Merlin knows I don't understand it, but she seems to think you're worth all this time and trouble. Don't waste it." And then Harry turned and walked out of the room. Severus sighed and laid back, staring at the ceiling ignoring the voice in his head yelling louder than Harry had.

Hermione walked into Severus' ward for what she had decided was the last time. Harry was right; Minerva was right. It was time to return to Hogwarts. He wouldn't even speak to her; there was no sense in continuing to waste her time. She walked around the curtain and sat down in her chair and stared for a long time at Severus. His hands were no longer bandaged, although they were heavily scarred and he was not yet able to move his fingers His eyes were closed, his breathing deep. She would have thoughthe was sleeping if she wasn't so sure he was continuing to ignore her.

"Good morning Severus," she said pausing, hoping for some sort of response. "I received an owl from Minerva yesterday and I'll be returning to Hogwarts tomorrow." Again she paused, but no response. She felt her eyes fill with tears and she cursed herself under her breath. She was tired of crying; tired of being sad.

"So, this is my last visit. I cannot continue to sit here day after day to have you lay there pretending to be asleep. So, I just came to tell you good-bye." Still no response. "Well, good-bye Severus." She sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress creaking from her weight. In the remote chance he was actually asleep, this would surely wake him up. But still, nothing. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I love you," she whispered and stared at him hard for a long moment. Then she stood up and turned around.

"Don't go." The words were quiet and for a second she thought she was imagining it. She turned around and Severus was looking at her.

"Please," he whispered. "Don't go."

Hermione walked back to his bed, sitting back on it.

"Why have you been doing this? Why have you refused to look at me?"

Severus looked away for a moment trying to find the right words. Explaining himself was not an easy thing to do.

"I didn't want to see you pity me. I don't want you to be here because you feel sorry for me." Severus cringed to himself. In his mind he sounded pathetic and childish. But Hermione smiled at him.

"I do not pity you. You would never allow it of me. Severus, you are the same person you were before this happened. You have scars, but they do not change who you are. So why would that change how I think of you?"

Severus did not answer her. He could not think of anything to say that would not reveal more of himself than he could bear. But he stared at her for a long moment. Suddenly he began struggling to sit up and Hermione reached over and helped him up, pillows against his back. Finally he found the words and spoke again.

"Hermione, I am not one that likes to reveal myself to people. To me, showing emotion is a sign of weakness and I will not appear weak. I will never be able to give you flowery words and poetry."

"I understand," Hermione said looking down on him. "I have never been one who cared about those things anyway. Severus, I do not need you to spout fancy words at me for me to know how you feel."

"And I'm moody," Severus grumbled, almost more to himself than to her, but Hermione just laughed.

"Are you trying to talk me out of this? I have known you most of my life. Since I was eleven years old and you refused to call on me when I knew all the answers. I think I know your moods."

Severus couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself at the memory whilte she smiled, sitting beside him. Then he suddenly looked very serious and leaned forward.

"Hermione, there is something I must ask."

"What?"

"Did you memorize all your books before arriving at Hogwarts your first year?"

"Um…I might have," Hermione said laughing and blushing at the same time. Severus also chuckled.

"I had asked those questions every year since I started teaching and you were the only one to know all the answers." His face then grew more serious. "You are the most brilliant witch I have ever known."

Hermione blushed even more furiously and felt at a loss for words. She was saved from speech, however, as Severus leaned over and kissed her. It was long and passionate and after several increasingly frantic moments Hermione found herself on top of him, their arms and legs tangled with sheets and clothes.

"Do you have any idea how long I have wanted you like this?" Severus murmured between kisses. "Our date ended far too quickly."

Hermione again found herself speechless, but it did not appear to bother Severus in the least. He was keeping her mouth far too busy to respond anyway. Just as she felt his hands slip inside her robes, however, she heard a nervous clearing of the throat coming from behind them. They both froze and she turned her head to see Healer Dawson staring at them, red faced and open mouthed.

"I…um…I…uh…came to check your bandages," he finally managed to stutter out.

"Check them later," growled Severus. There was a little squeak and Healer Dawson disappeared again. Severus turned back to Hermione and sighed with regret when he saw her straightening her clothes and hair.

"So what is this about you leaving?" Severus asked as Hermione self-consciously returned back to the chair. She looked at him and gave him a brilliant smile.

"I might be persuaded to stay another couple days."