AN - I own nothing! I'm just borrowing from J.K. Rowling!

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Chapter 13

Hermione sat down on her living room sofa and looked out the glass windows, staring at the skyline. She was seated with her ankles stretched out in front of her, lying against the arm. Her thumb ran through the buttons of the remote control, but never pressed on any. The news channel was on, but she really wasn't paying much attention to it.

Over a month had passed since her attack from Adam. The incident though was still kept secret, and hadn't come out yet. The Governor wrote a letter to Hermione, wanting to meet with her. Of course, Hermione didn't meet up with her, but Greg showed up on her behalf.

Governor Michaels was trying as best as she could to delay and cover everything up. She even asked that Hermione pull back the charges from her son, and pretend nothing had happened. To add to that, she even offered to pay Hermione a huge amount of money, showing her desperation.

No. Hermione wasn't one to back down, even if she wasn't in the limelight of it all. She wanted Adam to get what he deserved, and also believed that he had victimized other women. The truth about him was about to come out any time, whether the governor liked it or not. It would affect not just her family, and her name, but her political image as well, for she was running for senator in the coming elections. When the truth came out, there was no hope to her in winning.

Hermione placed her hand on her stomach. It was evident that she was pregnant, with a small mound that showed. Weeks of debating to herself over and over to go and talk to Severus hadn't come to an end. He hadn't called her mobile, and she hadn't tried to call him either.

Right then and there, she made up her mind, and stood up from the couch. She went to the walk in closet to grab one of her oversized hoodies, wanting to hide her pregnancy. Soon, she was in her car, as Henry drove them to the Meat Packing District.

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Hermione's hand and fingers fidgeted with the key to Severus's loft as she stood at the door. He had given it to her weeks ago as she had given him a key to her place, each allowing them to enter each other's homes freely. She started at the door, until she finally knocked on it.

"Granger," Severus greeted Hermione flatly, as he kept his face impassive. Wasn't it over between them?

The way he addressed her, and the sound of it made Hermione flinch. "Severus, I was wondering if we could talk."

"Whatever for?" he asked. "Come here for another fuck? I'm not interested in you anymore." There was a look on her face and he knew it was sadness, and pain. He wasn't going to fall for that though.

Hermione could feel her heart breaking. She however, refused to cry in front of him, fighting back her tears before they fell from her eyes. "Won't you let me in?" she asked.

"I am no gentleman," he replied as he shook his head.

"How-how have you been?" It was the first question that came to mind. There was nothing that she had planned to say or written out for him.

"Better, until you came knocking at my door," he drawled.

Her gaze tore away from him as she stared down at the floor, and rocked at the balls of her feet for a bit. "Are you really going to be a bastard to me again?" she looked up at him slowly, meeting his cold gaze. "I thought that maybe we could be friends, start out something new. I could use one now."

"Friends Miss Granger? I don't have friends, and I am in no need of any. If you need friends though, I am sure that there are more than you need across the blasted ocean. Why not go to them?"

The pain was too much, and Hermione started to sniffle as her tears had finally won the battle.

"Crying doesn't suit you, and it will get you nowhere. If you've come here for comfort and care, then you came to the wrong place." In all honesty, her tears were hurting him in a way he couldn't describe. He had never seen her cry before. He needed to push her away before he pulled her into his arms. "And I will continue to be that bastard as you are still the annoying know-it-all that can't mind her own bloody business, now get off my back, and leave me alone!"

"Do you mean that Sev?"

"I do, and you have no right to call me Sev, or Severus for that matter."

"So, it really is over between us?"

"There was never an 'us,'" Severus stated firmly.

"You're secret is still safe with me then," Hermione said.

"Why am I not surprised? And to think, I was just about to move, and change my identity and disappear all over again. To make sure you wouldn't come knocking at me door."

Hermione nodded and wiped her tears with the back of the sleeve. Severus really didn't want anything to do with her anymore. It was really over. There was no hope that she could see. At least now she knew instead of questioning herself for weeks. "You're right, maybe going back to England is better."

"Good, now leave," he said, and started to close the door on her.

"Wait!" Hermione said as she placed her hand on the door, stopping it from closing. She gave him a small and sad smile. "I'm not going to lie to you and say that I don't have feelings for you, because I do. If you want me out of your life, I can't force you to do anything for I respect that."

Feelings? Severus questioned to himself. What exactly did she mean?

"I guess I'll see you when I see you. And if not… It was nice being with you, and spending time with you. I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble. And… whatever it is you're looking for Severus, I hope you do find it, because I want you to be happy." She tiptoed up and kissed him on his lips. When she felt them unmoving, she pulled away and softly whispered, "Goodbye." She reached into her pocket and gave him the copy of his key, and walked away without saying another word.

Severus froze for a moment, before he bought his finger up to his lips. As he wiped them with his tongue, he could taste the sweetness of her kiss, and the unfamiliar saltiness of her tears.

He stepped out into the hall, and saw the elevator door close. Hermione's final words had hit him, making his chest clench and his stomach tighten as if he had been stabbed. It was also a pain that he couldn't describe very well. Whatever it was, it was the most unbearable kind of pain that he had felt his entire life.

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AN – Here I go again… cry, cry, cry. Review!