Chapter 6-Distance

Here is the simple truth. I'm always right. Always. Without a doubt.

You can imagine, though, how utterly stunned I was when I realized I wasn't. Right, that is. No matter where I looked or what book I used, every single one said the same damn thing. I was wrong. It's a bit much to say that I'm always right, but I usually am and I don't like being wrong.

I could ask Snape to do this Vow, but I could end up hurting us permanently. So I put that idea on hold and then there was the problem of getting someone to be out Witness. It didn't matter now, because I was taking his advice and going out of the country.

Having learned how to make my own, unauthorized portkeys, I was heading to America. I'd been there once when I was little, but I didn't remember much. I was going to New York and the plan was to just stay overnight and see what the big deal was.

I was a little nervous, but I didn't know what exactly I was going to go through. I read in one ancient book that the soul bond's separation could be painful, but it wasn't fatal obviously, or Snape wouldn't be walking and talking. And annoying. And snooping and …

He just wouldn't be here. My Portkey was to leave in fifteen minutes, so I packed up my books and ran down to Hogsmeade, wishing I'd been watching the time better.

I made it there just in time, running too fast for anyone to try and stop me. I pulled out my hair pin, which I'd turned into a Portkey. I felt the air shift a little around me and then I was gone.

I knew instantly what Snape meant. It wasn't a painful feeling, but just a sense of wrongness I couldn't shake.

I felt like I was going to be sick. I ran to the bathroom in my hotel room, forget checking in, and was violently sick. Tears streamed down my face and I had some trouble breathing. I turned on the shower, fumbling with the unfamiliar knobs. I let the water spray down on my fully clothed body. My hair stuck to my face as I focused on just breathing.

It wasn't getting any better. My stomach was cramping up and my hands were shaking. I felt a little scared. Would Snape have really asked me to do something that would hurt me? Maybe.

I should have made plans to come back sooner than I thought. The portkey wasn't going to leave again until tomorrow morning and it was only ten at night here in America. I had seven hours to go. It didn't say anywhere that it wasn't possible to Apparate overseas, but having never tired it, I wasn't going to now.

It was painful. I could bare it, but I was hurting more and more with every second. I doubted I would sleep a wink tonight. I let to water run over my body until it turned ice cold. I was too exhausted to cast a warming charm and cursed myself for not booking in a magical hotel. That would have been more productive. I just didn't want to be recognized. I wasn't sure how many people over here knew of Lord Voldemort and that I'd helped defeat him, but I didn't want to take any chances.

I turned the water off and just laid there, soaking wet in the tub. I wasn't sure I could move. Every ounce of energy had just left my body so rapidly. I closed my eyes and waited for the morning.

Severus's POV

The stupid, foolish, irresponsible, Gryffindor girl! What was she thinking, going to America! I could feel the pain she was feeling. When I said for her to do some research, I thought she would at least be thorough. I'd just underestimated what would happen, but she seemed completely clueless.

It was good that the girl wasn't the only one who could make unauthorized Portkeys.

I waited ten minutes, while the Portkey took effect. What state would she be in when I got there? I hoped the extra distance she'd gone wouldn't matter.

I just had a horrible feeling in my gut. And that was never good.

Hermione's POV

A rustling noise woke me up soon after I had managed to fall asleep. I looked up and realized with a groan that I was still in the hotel bathroom and it was only midnight. Two hours of sleep. Wonderful.

My stomach cramped up again at the moment and I cried out, clutching myself in agony. This was just great. The bathroom door burst open and the moment I saw who it was, the pain tripled and I stared screaming. It was like my insides were burning to ash.

He wrenched me out of the tub and lay me on the bed. He forced something down my throat and I swallowed it awkwardly, trying to ignore the pain as best I could.

The pain gradually started seeping away and I evened my breathing out. I looked over at my Potions Master and soul mate.

"You Bastard! 'Oh go out of the country and see what happens'.' Do some research!' What the hell is wrong with you!" I yelled and actually pushed him away from my wet self. He looked surprised at my outburst and glared down at me.

"I didn't think you were stupid enough to do it. I thought you would actually research what happens when we go too far away from each other." He snapped sharply, sitting further down the bed. I sat up, aware of how my clothes were clinging to my body.

"How did you know where I was?"

"I just knew."

I rolled my eyes and glared at him. Of all the vague answers he could give, that had to be the vaguest.

"I want an answer!" I demanded. He looked around at my simple hotel room, silently. I waited impatiently.

"I know a lot of things, Hermione."

Silence. I don't know what stunned me more; his voice or his usage of my first name. His voice was…fond…maybe tolerant would be a better word. Could Snape even be fond of anything? That thing being me. Absolutely not.

"How do you know a lot of things, Severus?" I was getting angry and impatient. I wanted answers. He jerked and looked at me in surprise and anger.

"Did I give you permission to use my given name?" He snapped.

"Did I give you mine?" I countered easily. He raised an eyebrow, "Fair enough."

"I am the elder in our bond, with that title comes…gifts?" he trailed off in a soft voice.

I stared at him in awe, "Are you saying that there really are side effects to this? I thought you said if you didn't believe it, it was useless!"

He snorted, "I was merely putting you at ease. I expect nothing from you."

Ouch. My eyes filled with tears and I swallowed thickly. My face heated up and I stared down at my stomach.

He sighed and took my wrist into his hand. The pain and discomfort seeped away and I let out a shaky breath.

"What are those gifts you were talking about?" I was glad he'd taken my silence as discomfort instead of the truth. I'm sure he didn't care if he hurt my feelings.

"I care. It comes with the title of soul mate. Think about me dying and see what it feels like." He said softly.

I imagined him dying right then, that moment while we both were in America for no reason. My heart skipped a beat and constricted.

"What is that?" I said with a gasp. He was still gripping my wrist gently, and I looked up at him curiously.

"Our bond, I wish I could have prevented this."

Ouch, again. Was I really that horrible? "Of course not, we're just horribly paired. We have nothing in common and I know nothing about you other than you can memorize a text book."

Boy, he was really having fun throwing insults in my face. Jackass…that's what he was. He was a jack ass.

"I'm guessing you didn't make another Portkey that will take us back?" I asked hopefully. He shook his head.

"I won't be strong enough for a few hours at least to make a new one. Don't you have one?"

I nodded. "It doesn't leave until the morning."

He let go of me and looked around the room. There were two beds. "It looks like we'll be in America for the night.

I hadn't missed that he hadn't answered my question. I would get the truth out of him, eventually.

A/N:I am so surprised at the response to my story after only five chapters! I hope you all keep enjoying this story!I might update again on the weekend, depends on if I have time. Reviews make me smile :)