Meanwhile, Severus Snape wandered the castle grounds lost in deep thought about a variety of topics…mostly the War, and Lily, and Voldemort's downfall, and how Harry had kept him out of Azkaban by standing up for him, and how frail Hermione looked. The last thought made him stop and pause. Now where in the bloody hell did that come from? Why has the potions mistress suddenly invaded my thoughts? Snape paused and overlooked the hill leading to the Quiddich pitch and Hagrid's hut pondering that last thought when a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Severus slipped into the shadow of a rock formation, wondering who else could be wandering the castle grounds before term started. He watched as a long brown haired woman walked through the front gates carrying two bags and a cat carrier. Her shoulders slumped as if a great invisible weight sat upon them as she ambled towards the castle. Severus noted when she paused and just stared at the castle for a few moments. As the sunlight highlighted her features, Severus found he was not surprised at who the visitor was nor was he surprised at the amount of luggage she seemed to carry. It was obvious to him that she wasn't coming for the day to get some work done. He stood, undetected by her as she resumed her walk up to the castle, and found himself admiring her beauty more than he cared to admit. He also found he respected her for whatever reasons led her to the castle unexpectedly but felt it was not time to make his presence known. Besides, what would he say to her? Again, it really was none of his business. He watched silently, black robes billowing in the breeze, as the young witch glanced at Hagrid's empty cabin before entering the castle.
Hermione entered the castle and set her bags down for a moment, reveling in the silence and grandeur of the hallowed halls. She never tired of this place and sighed happily as a sense of relief spilled over her. For the first time in two days, she began to relax. This is where she belonged. With a new resolute spring in her step, Hermione set off towards the apartment Minerva had told her to use.
The apartment was located in the North Tower, with a sense of privacy, but still close to everything she would need. Hermione found the gargoyle statue and tapped the nose with her wand saying "dwarf knuckles." The gargoyle moved to the side, allowing Hermione to enter a wonderful apartment lit with natural light from the windows that provided a wonderful view of the forest on one side, Hogsmeade in the distance on another, and the lake on a third side. As she walked in, she found herself in a beautifully lit sitting room with a large stone fireplace and several plush couches and chairs for her reading comfort. There were built in shelves already holding some books Hermione was eager to peruse along with a variety of portraits whose unknown occupants waved at her as if to welcome her home. A small spiral staircase reminiscent of Gryffindor Tower led up to her sleeping quarters. Hermione let Crookshanks out of his cage to explore as she wandered up the stairs. In her bedroom she found a large wardrobe on one wall and a large four-poster bed flanked by two windows. The bed was covered in a large Gryffindor coverlet and a silk sheet set appropriate for the summer months. Another fireplace stood at the opposite of the bed to provide ample warmth in the cold Scottish winters. A large candelabra chandelier hung in the middle of the room to provide ample lighting while smaller candles placed at her bedside and on the end tables would give her warm light to work by as well. Back downstairs, she also found a large desk under the window overlooking the lake so she could work here rather than in her office if she desired. Surveying the room with a smile on her face, Hermione decided this would do perfectly and started to unpack.
An hour later, Hermione's small apartment began to resemble a home. Her pictures and books occupied places of honor on the bookshelves piles of notes and research already littered the desk. Crookshanks had already chosen the window overlooking the forest as his napping perch and was snoozing away happily. Now that those necessities were done, Hermione sat down on the couch and stared into the empty fireplace. With the adrenaline of leaving her flat and coming to Hogwarts draining, she no longer felt strong but started to shake with the realization of what she had done. In her heart she knew she was not going to marry Ron nor was she going to go back to her flat except to maybe get a few things. Hermione sat back and thought "I did it. I actually did it." She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that realization. Hermione sat back and let her emotions control her brain before she realized she was mainly scared. Scared that Ron was going to do something stupid, scared that she wouldn't have the courage to not go through with the wedding, and scared that she didn't know where she was going to go from here.
Deciding a bath was in order, Hermione conjured up a glass of chilled white wine and opened the door that presumably led to her private bathroom. The bathroom was as stunning as the rest of the apartment. She had the usual commode and sink along with a vanity counter and mirror that seemed to compliment you no matter what you did with your hair or make up. There also was a glass shower with jets that seemed to come from every angle and a sunken tub that reminded Hermione of the prefect's bathroom she enjoyed during her fifth and sixth years. The tub faced out a window with a view of the lake with a bench about a foot and a half down for sitting. The rest of the tub was around three or four feet deep in places with a variety of taps that filled the tub with bubbles, scented water, or simply different colors, depending on the Hermione's whims. Hermione tapped a couple of handles with her wand and found the tub filling with bubbles and warm gardenia scented water. Another flick of her wand turned the tub into a Jacuzzi with water jetting out of unseen jets enveloping her in warmth and a much needed massage.
Hermione took off her clothes and stared at herself in the full-length mirror for a minute. Ron's hurtful comments about her looks and perceived lack of sexuality came back to sting her and she wondered if anyone would ever find her beautiful. She took note of her legs that looked like thin sticks, her lack of curvaceous hips (like Lavenders she thought bitterly), her wild brown hair that seemed to never want to stay where she wished, and her crooked teeth. Sighing and inwardly lamenting she would never be beautiful, she slipped into the tub and let the water flow over her, washing the hurt and concern away. Strains of Billy Joel echoed through her head again letting her know "it's alright, you can afford to lose a day or two…" Hermione decided to not worry about anything else and just concentrate on the here and now as the jets found their way to massage the sore stressed joints and let her hair swirl around without a care in the world.
After half an hour or so, Hermione stood up and stretched languorously noting how the water in the tub disappeared the moment she got out. She found warm fluffy towels in a cupboard along with a plush green robe that made her eyes stand out. Hermione dried her hair with a drying spell and decided to put on a pair of comfortable cotton pants and wrap herself in the robe before heading down to the kitchens to see about finding a snack. She figured no one would be milling about the castle to see her dressed in such a manner. Hagrid was off visiting Madam Maxime, several professors were using the summer to take a sabbatical of sorts, Neville was home enjoying his new son with his wife Luna, and the ghosts could care less what Hermione looked like. That left Snape and McGonagall as the only other professors still on the grounds, both of which Hermione figured were highly unlikely to intercept her between her apartment and the kitchens. Counting on that luck, Hermione set off…
Walking in from his usual patrol of the grounds, Severus was brought up short at the sight that welcomed him across the courtyard. He could hardly believe her cheek at wearing such an outfit in broad daylight. He watched as Hermione padded in sandals, a thin pair on cotton pants and a robe that gapped open in certain places towards the Entrance Hallway. Ignoring his earlier promise to himself that he wouldn't pry, Severus couldn't help himself from calling out "Professor?"
Upon hearing his voice, Hermione stopped in her tracks, mortification creeping into her cheeks at being caught in her pajamas. She had no choice but to turn around and face Severus. She saw him standing there, his black hair lifting slightly in the breeze and robes flowing behind him, his face looking at her not with its usual scowl but with an amusing glint in his eye. He regarded her for a second and asked "What in the bloody hell are you doing here in that outfit?" As he spoke, he walked towards her, noting that she seemed unable to move. "I knew you didn't pride yourself on being a fashion plate but isn't this going over the top?"
"Easy for you to say, Severus. You're the one who only knows one color…"
"Are you sure? There's a lot of things that may surprise you."
Hermione unexpectedly thrilled at those words but pushed the feelings aside and asked "Is there anything I can do for you, Severus?"
"You could explain to me what you are doing here in your pajamas when less than 24 hours ago you were on your way home to that fiancée of yours to plan the wedding of the century." Sarcasm dripped from his voice as he regarded the emptiness in her eyes and the diamond weighing her finger down.
Hermione sighed and found herself wanting to tell him but not knowing where to begin. "It's a long story and you said yourself yesterday it's none of your business. I'm here for a few days to take a vacation. That's all."
"Are you sure that's all?" Severus regarded her skeptically and noted how she seemed to sigh a little bit heavier before answering him
"Positive." Hermione couldn't take the intense stare of her colleague anymore and looked away, still unable to make herself move.
Severus decided not to press further but offered, "since we seem to both be going towards the Entrance Hall, do you mind if I walk with you?"
"No. That's fine. I was just going to see what kind of snacks I could find in the kitchen before checking on my lab."
"Then if it's no trouble at all, Professor Granger, I shall accompany you. You look like you might wilt under one stiff breeze."
With that , Severus and Hermione walked towards the kitchens as Minvera McGongall watched the scene from her office with a knowing smile on her face.