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Chapter 19: Confronting, a Plan and Private Lessons

Four months had gone by since Severus Snape asked himself that question. And he asked himself it again and again for the same time. He couldn't understand why he sneered down upon Hermione when she smiled at him, nor could he grasp why he continually pushed her away. Severus had gathered that the reason was she was too young for him, until he reminded himself that he didn't really give a damn, nor did Hermione. The next common reason to plague his thoughts was that she was too good for him.

This thought lasted considerably longer than his other, feebler arguments but, with time they too became weaker. Not because his role in the self battle had changed, but because of Hermione's persistence to get his attention, and the sad look when she failed. It was this more then anything that got him; in the Hospital Wing his resolve had almost broke when he saw her crying.

If he hadn't walked away he would have forgiven her but he couldn't, not yet.

'Well that's a lie isn't it?' A little voice said tauntingly. 'You have, you just can't tell her, you cowa–'

Severus shook the voice away. He didn't care what it thought; he was by no means a coward.

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For Hermione, those four months passed by just as slowly.

Her life had started to become more stable then what it was previously, and had greatly improved since Ron came around. It may have taken him the better part of a month of sulking but, after watching Sirius apologise, he followed suit. While Ron was still having trouble imagining her with Snape he began to understand her position on the matter, especially when he and Harry persuaded her to show them her memories.

To say that they had been disgusted with the Marauders, minus Remus of course, attitude would be an understatement. If Sirius hadn't already patched things up with Hermione, Harry would not have spoken to his godfather for a good week at least. Ginny and, after a small argument from Ron, Draco had also seen the memories and they were considerably warmer to the idea then Ron had been.

Hermione had begun to befriend Draco and could see, when he wasn't being a jerk, why Ginny liked the blonde Slytherin. He was, Hermione had soon discovered, much like his father with some obvious changes of course, but still similar.

While Hermione was glad that she had patched things up with her past friends, she couldn't help but be sad; Severus had still not responded to anything she did and she was beginning to give up. She knew that he was most likely seeing how long she would try and, if he continued, would at least be friends with her again like he had in the past. After four months however, she was beginning to doubt that that was ever his plan.

As she didn't want to make any of her friends sad with her worries, she spent most of her 'down time' in the Room of Requirement. It would usually shape itself into the lounge like room that she, Lucius and Severus had shared together so many times before and she would calm herself there. By calming herself, that usually meant crying and writing about her problems in the journal Lily had given her. It was one such time when the door behind her slowly creaked open.

Hermione didn't notice any thing a miss until she felt a hand rest lightly on her shoulder.

"Miss Gra– Hermione."

She froze. She had never expected him to come to her, here of all places. Not daring to believe it, Hermione slowly turned her slightly tear stained face to look up into the eyes of one Severus Snape.

"Seve– Professor Snape, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked rather timidly, remembering their last encounter.

Severus sighed at they way she was acting, not that he could really blame her.

"Hermione, I… I have thought about what you told me before. You have taken our age difference into account?"

"Yes and, like I told you the first time, I don't care," she answered, trying to see where he was going with these questions.

"You have no worries about what others may make of us?" He prompted further.

"I haven't cared for another's views for a very long time, Severus."

'One more, just one more question. The main thing that has been bothering me.'

Severus looked over to where Hermione now sat, all traces of sadness gone.

"Are you sure that you wish to tie yourself down with a Death Eater?"

'Ah, so this is what has been bothering him. I can't believe after all this time that it's this that has him concerned.'

"You are a spy, Severus. That is different to a Death Eater, very different. I don't care if you were one before, your not now and that's all I care about," Hermione said firmly.

All the stress that had hung over Severus like a cloud seemed to have vanished. His muscles weren't nearly as tense as they were before he asked that question, and he could breathe far more deeply and evenly then before.

Hermione saw his sudden change in demeanour and took advantage of his relaxed state. She quickly went over to the potions master and hugged him tightly, an embrace that he soon returned. They stayed together for a few minutes, though it felt like much longer, and as Hermione slowly tilted her head upwards, Severus pulled away.

'What the hell? He was fine a minute ago… please tell me he isn't having second thoughts on this, for Circe's sake,' Hermione thought confused.

Severus noticed her change in mood and was quick to reassure her.

"I haven't changed my mind Hermione," he said softly, and she seemed to relax again at his words.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Regardless of our views on age, the Ministry have a very different idea. I do not wish to spend time in Azkaban nor do I wish that you were expelled," Severus replied simply.

"Dumbledore–"

"May approve, but he does not have the kind of power to over throw a decision made by the Governors."

Watching as Hermione began to deflate, her happiness slowly dwindling, he merrily smirked at her.

"This does not mean that we can not wait for graduation, does it?"

Her head snapped up at his words.

"You mean it?" the smile quickly returning to her face.

Severus smiled lightly down at the young Gryffindor.

"Yes, I do."

Hermione seemed to be in deep thought for a moment or two, until her head lifted once more with an almost Slytherinish smirk on her face.

"Severus, Professor I mean, I know that potions have change since twenty years. Would I be able to have private lessons to make up for what I have missed?" Hermione asked sweetly.

"I'm sure that can be arranged, Miss Granger," Severus replied, a smirk of his own firmly on his face.

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Only one more chapter left peoples! And for the last chapter, the more reviews I receive, the faster I shall post it. I hope that you have enjoyed this story thus far and that the ending is just as good. Please review!

Lady of Elysion