Chapter 16
He paced around the room, trying to form the words into exactly what he was going to say. But how to put into words to the headmaster of your school that you crossed a moral line, that you should by all means be let go from Hogwarts?
'How can I explain all of this?' he thought.
Nervous wasn't the word to describe what he was feeling as Minerva called him into her office.
"Professor Snape, you needed something?" she questioned.
"Yes, and I don't know how to tell you this."
"Is there something wrong Professor Snape?"
"No, yes, no it's not wrong, yes it is. No."
"Well, which one is it?" Mcgonagall implored.
"It's something rather serious."
"What is it? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I'm out of sorts. I'm everything. I'm on this up and down rollercoaster that has no stops and no beginnings and I don't know where the drops are, but I know I just care for her."
"So you're in love?" She smiled. "I can't say I'm not surprised. Who is the lovely witch? I can't wait to meet her."
"Yes, I'm in love. Seriously in love, so I need you to be patient and understand when I try to explain this to you." He continued to pace the floor.
"I think I'm going to ask her to marry me."
Dumbledore woke up from his nap in his portrait.
"Is this really true Severus? You have found someone that you love?" he questioned.
"Yes, and I don't know what to do about it."
"Well, does she love you too?" Dumbledore.
"Yes, I believe she does."
"Then, you should ask Hermione to marry you." Dumbledore laughed.
"Wait," Professor McGonagall paused. "Albus, did you just say her or Hermione?"
"I said Hermione, and I've seen this day coming for quite some time. I'm just sad that I'm stuck behind this portrait and won't be able to hug you properly."
"Hermione.. Granger?" Minerva looked appalled.
"She is one of our best students- certainly you must mean another Hermione, Albus."
Snape was shocked- how in the world did Albus know this was going to happen? What in the land of Merlin did his headmaster understand about his love with Hermione?
"Quite a lot actually- I'm surprised that you two have waited this long to notice it. And now that you are both of age this will work out very well. Together you will create so many wonderful potions to help both the wizarding and muggle worlds. I'm just SO happy that it has happened."
"Albus, certainly this is some sort of a joke from you. And it isn't very funny. Hermione is Severus's student and surely you know that means that they can't be involved. And that is that."
Snape could not believe that this conversation was carrying on without him even saying a word. He had so many words that he wanted to say and had thought about to say but he hadn't even been able to confirm it was in reality Hermione Granger.
"Minerva, you must be kinder in matters of the heart."
"Albus, this is UNETHICAL."
"Sometimes unethical doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to do it. Do you remember when I said those words to you for the first time Minerva?"
She began to blush as she remembered how unethical she had been with Albus, but it was SO worth it.
"So, is this true Severus? Have you taken to Hermione Granger?"
"Yes. Yes, it is." He answered.
"Why would you ruin your career for a quick fling?" McGonagall asked incrediously.
"Because it is not a quick fling. I sincerely love her." The words flew out of his mouth before he could realize what he had admitted to.
"So when you and Ms. Granger were supposedly looking for a textbook in my classroom- there was actually something else going on?" Minerva smirked.
"Yes." He hung his head in shame feeling terrible for betraying her confidence.
"I knew there was something between you- with the way that you blushed when I entered the room. I am so happy for you and at the same time concerned. Concerned about what the other students will say about this relationship. I won't tell you to hide your relationship, but I would suggest that you make a decision rather quickly as to whether or not you are going to marry her. Because for all purposes and intents you all cannot show affection to one another including no nightly room visits unless there is something more concrete about this relationship. We don't want the wizarding community to think that you are having a fling and nothing more. I don't think I have to impress upon you the importance of students understanding they cannot just galavant off to their professor's rooms for the night. But if there was something, some way to prove the sincerity of your relationship. Then there might be a way around it."
"Minerva you have made me so proud of you today." Albus said, "I still love you."
Minerva felt tears come from her eyes, "Severus, love is a powerful emotion- but you already know about that."
She grabbed a kleenex to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"She will not be in your class anymore, we will have to get her a private tutor for Potions. But we will make sure that she graduates just the same."
Severus Snape looked amazed at the tenderness that Albus and Minerva were showing to him and towards each other in this situation. He wasn't fired, and they actually wanted to give him the chance to love Hermione.
He was a Slytherin but for gods sake he felt a tear slip from his eye. He was totally surprised at the way he was loved by these two dear friends and colleagues.
Minerva handed him a tissue and Albus began to cry too.
"What do I do now?" Severus questioned.
"Go get her Severus. Don't let her ever go." Albus said.
"I think you've got to go to her. To ask her if she would take your hand in marriage."
Severus shook hands with Minerva who pulled him into a hug as she the tears still pulled from her eyes. Dumbledore waved at Severus with a smile on his face. Severus placed his hand on the bottom of the portrait and whispered, "Thank you."
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Hermione walked into the common room with Ron. Ginny ran to her dear friend and immediately pulled her to the side with a concerned expression.
"Hermione. Why are you so sad?"
"Ron came and found us this morning and Severus had to obliviate his memory. Then he told me to leave with him so that we wouldn't be caught." Hermione started to sob. "I miss him so much."
"You've been away from him for like a total of 10 minutes?" Ginny asked looking as if her friend was from outer space.
"I've wasted ten minutes of my life being without him, ten minutes. I need to be with him. I was supposed to have a whole weekend, Ginny!" she angrily stated.
"You both didn't need a weekend. I'm SURE you had a lot of fun. In fact, I heard that you did."
"What do you mean you heard that we had a lot of fun?" Hermione questioned her wondering who knew.
"Does this sound familiar? BANG BANG BANG on the wall, Oh Severus, Oh I'm going to cum Hermione." Ginny giggled.
"Oh MERLIN Ginny- where did you hear about this from?" Hermione looked positively embarrased.
"Draco and I were going back to our common rooms and we thought there was something wrong because of the loud noises. What were you two doing anyway to make that noise Hermione?"
"We were having fun." Hermione's face felt flushed.
"On the wall?" Ginny smiled at her friend, " I'm surprised you didn't get a concussion."
Hermione began to laugh as she hugged her friend close to her. She had missed Ginny.
"So spill the details Hermione. How was your first time and please don't tell me it was against the wall because I won't believe you!"
Hermione was quiet. As she tried to avoid eye contact with Ginny.
"Your first time was on a wall? Oh Hermione- that's HILLARIOUS."