Chapter 15

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"I'm telling you Harry- I don't believe Ginny's story at ALL about Hermione being gone. I think she is actually here with us at Hogwarts- only shagging some wizard that she won't tell me about. I begged Ginny to tell me but she wouldn't so I am resorted to this."

Harry passed the Maurader's map to his friend. "Why are you so obsessed with finding Hermione? Even if she is here, you broke it off by cheating on her with Pansy. Hermione won't stand for that and Ginny said she is positively wild over her new wizard."

"I'm going to ask her to marry me. I bought the ring a few days back after Pansy and I broke up. I finally realized that Hermione is the one for me. We are supposed to end up together."

"If that is the case, then why did you let her go?" Harry questioned.

"Just shut up and help me."

Together they said "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

They immediately saw Hermione's name on the map moving side to side as though she was a vibration on the map and then they saw Snape on the map as well.

"Well that solves it." Ron said "She's probably in trouble with Professor Snape and they are fighting it out."

Harry blushed, "No Ron I really don't think that is it."

"I'm going to go get her. And profess my love." Ron ran quickly out of the room before Harry could tell him that Hermione's name wasn't the only one vibrating on the map.

'Professor Snape' Harry thought. He had known it all along.

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"Oh that was so good- who knew that you could cook?" she laughed.

"I am a potions professor and potions are a science just like cooking so of course I would be good at cooking. I'm just glad you're here for me to enjoy it with." He smiled at her admiring her beautiful body.

"What if I don't ever want to leave?" she asked.

He smiled at her because he could not yet answer that question.

"I'll be right back and then I need to set the dishes out for the house elves to clean up."

Hermione threw on her dress again but didn't bother to zip it- she took the plates and opened the door a crack to set them out. When she opened the door- the first thing she saw was Ron.

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"What in the bloody hell are you doing here Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Well hello Ron, um I'm here because I was searching for a ring that I lost yesterday when I went outside to the forest." She was stumbling over her words in embarrasment hoping that she would believe him. "How did you find me?"

"I used the Maurader's Map. I need to talk to you Hermione. Listen, I don't know who this new guy is- but you have to come back to me- I am nothing without you. I can't spend my forever without you." He reached behind him and pulled out a small box. He opened it and got on one knee. "Will you please forget about the guy you are seeing and marry me?"

"Ron, this isn't the time or the place." She tried pushing him away.

"Hermione I LOVE you." He pleaded.

"Why isn't your dress zipped? What in the bloody hell?" he asked as he pushed into the room he looked at the messed up bed. "You DID shag someone. You're a whore- why didn't you have sex with me? But you're doing it here now and with who? You're a whore- but I'll still love you if you marry me."

"Ron I'm not interested."

"I'll make you love me. If you just kiss me you'll see that all of your love will come back. Kiss me Hermione. Now!"

Ron grabbed onto Hermione in an attempt to kiss her.

Snape walked into the room and commanded, "Get away from her Weasley- she told you NO!"

Ron almost fell backwards-and noticed that Snape was not wearing a shirt and that his pants were unbuttoned.

"No, no... YOU? YOU are the one that she wants to have babies with? Professor Snape? NO WAY! Hermione have you lost your mind?" He started becoming very angry and beligerent. "This is not allowed- I am going to the headmaster right now."

"No, Ron- please wait." Hermione cried.

"Well, what's a Saturday morning without a little drama?" Severus shouted. "OBLIVIATE!."

Ron stumbled backwards and looked like he was sleeping.

"Hurry Hermione, let me zip up your dress and get out there with him."

"I don't want to leave." She said sadly.

"You can't stay here with him acting like this. You have to go- I'll owl you later."

He pulled her body into his. He quickly kissed her. "I have something very important that I need to discuss with you tonight."

She kissed him again and as she left his presence she felt tears stinging her eyes.

"If he touches you at all- I will kill him! And that is my final word." Snape ordered as he slammed the door.

For the first time in a long time he felt intense emotion. He felt like he could cry. He didn't want to send her away and it felt like his life that was passionate for once when she was around, and now that she was gone his life was now devoid of all love and happiness.

He kept remembering her face when she whispered his name on her lips, when they danced with passion, when they kissed, and when they had made love. Without her nearby his life was pointless, he craved her to be next to him. It was at that moment he realized that he had to go talk to the headmaster.

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"Ron, Ron are you ok?" Hermione pleaded to get his attention.

"Ron I was just running down the hall when I found you laying on the floor. What is wrong?"

"Hermione, you look beautiful. I'm so happy to see you. I have missed you so much- are you really here for me? You look like an angel."

"Ron, get up- let's go talk somewhere."

She grabbed Ron's hand and led him to a private alcove where they could talk.

"Hermione."

"No, Ron. You hear ME out. You think just because everyone wanted us to end up together that we were supposed to. But we aren't and weren't meant to be together. We are meant to be very good friends- lifelong friends in fact. And I will always love you as a friend. I will never love you as more than that though. You have been so kind to me over this years, I would hate to lose your friendhsip." Hermione was desperately trying to persuade him to understand.

"Hermione we will always be friends, but how am I supposed to live without you? I was going to ask you to marry me Hermione. Can't you see us together after school?"

"At one time I could Ron, but now I just cannot. I am truly in love with someone else and I hope that you can understand that."

"I understand it, but I just don't bloody like it at all."

Hermione put her hand into Ron's.

"We will always be friends and you will always be someone special to me- but I have found what true love feels like and I can't go back to what we had before."

"Hermione, who is it? I DEMAND to know." He said insolently.

"In good time Ron, right now, please just know that he makes me very very happy. You are very good looking, kind, brave, and loving. I know there is another witch out there for you. And she will be lucky to have you. Did you really think you wanted to be with me forever? Be honest! How would you ever keep a conversation with me when I am only interested in books and things of intellect?"

"I know Hermione. I'm just a little sad."

"It's ok, now let's go back to the common room."

Hermione let several tears spill down her face. She wasn't crying over Ron, she had just realized how empty she felt without being with Severus.

She was supposed to have a weekend of pleasure- not just one night. Damn Ron! She was so upset that she felt like punching him in the face just like she had done to that bitch who said she would sleep with her man.

Hermione looked completely depressed when she walked into the common room.

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He took a deep breath in and out practicing what he was going to say. He didn't know how it was going to come across to Minerva. He knew that he would more than likely lose his job over this- but he had to be honest with her before she found out from someone besides him. With that, he entered her office.

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