Chapter 17

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"Harry- I feel like you know something that I don't." Ron said.

"I know several things that you don't. Remember, I'm the boy who lived." Harry chuckled.

"You wouldn't believe the conversation that Hermione and I had this morning- she told me that she thought I was wonderful and kind and that she wished the best for me. She told me she wanted to be lifelong friends but that she didn't love me as anything more. I'm so embarrased that I bought that ring, I'm going to take it back tonight." Ron looked pained with expression.

"It's ok Ron- when it's the right girl you will know. And then you won't be embarrassed. Wait a while though. Be patient with finding her, she's out there. Just like Hermione found who was out there for her." Harry commented a little too quickly.

"So even YOU know who it is?" Ron was seething with anger.

"I don't know for sure, but I have a pretty good idea. Here's the thing though- you're going to have to find out for yourself."

"I actually don't care anymore at all- I'm just happy that she is happy."

"Now THAT is the most mature thing I've ever heard you say Ron- maybe you know more than me after all."

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Hermione slept in her bed after a long night of passion when she started screaming. Ginny ran into the room as quickly as possible.

She watched Hermione in her sleep grabbing her pillows and saying, "I love you Severus- where are you? Why did you leave me? I love you. I need to be with you."

Ginny had run into the room because she overheard Hermione calling for him. If anyone else heard her calls they would immediately be found out.

Ginny sat sweetly next to Hermione and brushed her hair out of her face.

"I love you, don't you understand me? Come back. Why can't I feel you anymore?"

Hermione woke up crying when she noticed Ginny standing nearby.

"What are you doing in my room Ginny?"

"You were calling out for him and I didn't want anyone else to hear."

Hermione grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her into a hug.

"I truly miss him SO much."

"Then you're going to go back."

"I can't, Ron will find us together again."

Ginny smiled knowingly at her friend and held up something very important- the invisibility cloak they had borrowed from Harry.

"Oh Ginny, you are such a perfect friend."

An owl flew to the window- and Hermione opened it. A letter from her mom. Maybe her mom had read her letter afterall.

She opened the letter and it read out loud to Ginny.

"Dear Hermione, Your dad and I are SO proud of the wonderful things that you have accomplished already in your life. And to know that you have found someone to love is wonderful. All we ask is that we are invited to your wedding and that you still go after your dreams. We love you and can't wait to meet this guy that you've fallen so in love with. By the way, when I met your father- I thought about him everytime I remembered to breathe too. I love you. –Mom-"

"Wow Hermione, how did she know you were in love?"

"I owled her. And she approves- even though she doesn't know about who he is exactly or how we met. I love her so much." Hermione beamed.

"Ready dear friend?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, yes I am." Hermione replied as she put on the invisibility cloak.

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Snape paced around his room. He missed her so much but there were a lot of things on his mind as of late. He began to practice what he was going to say.

"Hermione, I'd really love if you would marry me.

No that won't do.

I know that we have only been a couple for a while now, but I have strong feelings for you.

No not that either.

I love you and I want you ask if you'll marry me.

Hell what do I say to her? I don't know what to say to her- I just want her to be mine forever."

As he was pacing around the room talking to himself, he heard a knock at his door. How he hoped it would be her, he missed her so much. When he opened the door he saw Ginny Weasley standing at it.

"Professor Snape, Hermione has been really sad today and has missed being around someone very important to her. She hasn't stopped crying because of my idiot brother. So I'm wondering if you could step out here with me and talk about it."

"Sure." He would do ANYTHING to help ease Hermione's pain and maybe if he talked to Ginny he could tell her something to comfort Hermione- although he was feeling the same exact pain.

After he walked out the door just before the door shut- Hermione kept it open and walked back into his room. There, no one had seen her go in and it would be a surprise when he came back.

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"So she has been crying?"

"Yes, she misses you- I caught her in a dream crying out your name. I just wonder if there is any way that you could find to see her again."

"Of COURSE I want to see her again. It's just that I can't with all of the other students around. Please tell her that I care and that I will send her an owl tonight. Please tell her that I will be waiting for her and that I am just as miserable without her as she is without me."

"That is so sweet- you must really care about her." Ginny smiled.

"I do, and Ms. Weasley- I love her." He exclaimed. "I love her!"

Ginny fanned her face in disbelief of the things he was saying to her. Sure she thought he loved Hermione but to hear him actually say with joy that he loved her best friend was amazing. She felt simply amazing for Hermione- knowing that she would have someone special forever and ever.

"And Ms. Weasley- I'm going to ask her to marry me." He continued.

"You ARE?"

"Yes."

"When will you be asking her? Oh how exciting!"

Ginny began to imagine what her maid of honor dress would look like. Hopefully it wouldn't be too awful a dress- then again she might have to help Hermione choose. But this was ages from now- he'd have to wait until she was at least out of school before he proposed.

"Tonight."

Ginny looked shocked, "Tonight?"

"Yes. Tonight. And I have a plan that only YOU can help me with. Are you willing to help?"

"Why yes sure." Ginny felt overjoyed.

"I'll owl you later with the details. Oh, and bring along Draco- we don't want him missing any of this."

"Ok" Ginny said as she felt she was about to faint.

Things had gotten very serious between Hermione and Snape and she'd had no clue until just now how serious they were.

"In the meantime, just tell her that I love her."

"Why can't you tell her those things yourself?" Ginny laughed then ran away. "Gotta Go."

'What an odd little witch Ginny is.' Snape thought as he went back into his quarters.

He was feeling hungry and thought it might be time to get something to eat, but he would never forget how much he enjoyed cooking for her- it wouldn't be anywhere near the pleasure that he had when he made her breakfast.

As he entered the kitchen he found a surprise that made his entire day seem worthwhile.

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"Surprise." Hermione yelled.

She was absolutely naked in the middle of his kitchen. He was VERY aware of his arousal.

He thought about what he would say but his body acted quicker than he could even speak. He grabbed her close into him and began to kiss her. This was a hungry kiss, hungrier than ever before.

She jumped into his arms. He carried her over to the kitchen counter and sat her on top while looking at her.

"I missed you so much" she said happily to see him again.

"I missed you too." He hungrily feasted at her mouth.

He disrobed himself, spread her legs and began to fuck her against the counter. He entered her with a vengeance and pulled her closer to the edge of the counter. He rocked her fast and grabbed her breasts, there was a manly, hungry, passionate way to which they were making love.

Hermione spread her legs even wider and began to move with rhythm to match his. They moved faster and faster together until they climaxed all over the kitchen counter.

He smirked at her and brought her down-

"Now look at the mess you've made- and I was just getting ready to have lunch. You were yummy enough for me though. I'm not hungry anymore."

"Please don't ever make me leave again- I won't. I will scream and cry if you make me leave."

"I won't make you leave. When you leave is your choice."

"Ok, can we go lay down on the bed?"

"You have GOT to be kidding me Hermione. I don't know if I will ever be able to keep up with you." He laughed.

"No, not for that- just to sleep. I am tired and I haven't been able to sleep without you. Could you just hold me?"

'I would very much like to hold onto you, forever' he thought as they walked to the bedroom to go take a nap.

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"No. This is impossible. It can't be- I'm going to be killed." Ginny sighed looking at Poppy.

"It happens at least once a year to a girl at Hogwarts. You will be just fine."

"No, you don't understand- my dad, his dad, they will kill us if they find out."

"Ginny, you don't have to tell them. You need to both decide what you want to do about this."

"I just don't know how to tell Draco"

" I can tell him for you if you would like."

"How am I ever going to tell him? And you said it was caused by what?"

"Too much sex. I'll keep your secret, but I will still have to write down that you saw me today. You'll just need to inform Draco of the situation. Surely you can do that. Drink this potion."

Ginny drank the potion and hoped that the three days would go by really fast. Well, it was an infection, but thank gods it wasn't a baby.

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