A thousand apologies dear readers. I accidently posted a chapter from another of my fanfics as chapter 4 for this story because I am a complete idiot. This is the proper chapter.
Several months had passed and Hermione was enjoying life as an apprentice, memorising and documenting the advanced potions that she was taught, as well as sneaking occassional glances of her Mentor as he taught. She knew he was secretly doing the same but she especially looked forward to the nights when she and Severus would spend their time reading in his living room or playing chess, some thing she had found she was quite good at much to her mentor's surprise.
"Where did you learn to play this game so well? I haven't had a decent opponent for a while" Severus said during a particularly tense game.
"Ron taught me the basics years ago but I haven't played since then so I don't know really" she replied "CHECKMATE" she cried giggling at her mentor's pouting face.
"Your such a sore loser" she said smiling at him.
"Well I have had enough excitement for one night" he said packing up the chessboard.
"I will be off to bed now then, I am quite sleepy. Good night Severus" she said with a yawn.
She is so cute when she yawns "Good night Hermione" Severus said as Hermione left the room.
Hermione had been asleep for only an hour or so when she was awoken by the sound of shouting from her Mentor's room.
She immediately jumped out of bed and headed down to his chambers he never lets anyone into his chamber at night so it must be a nightmare again she thought as she ran to his chamber.
She reached his door and unlocked the ward on the door before opening it and resetting the ward, as she finished the spell she heard him shout "NO DONT MAKE ME PLEASE"
He hasn't had a nightmare for ages she thought as she rushed to his bedroom.
She opened the bedroom door and found him in bed laying on his side but he wasn't thrashing about this time he was just quietly begging not to do something. She walked to his bed and got in with him, she gently place one arm around his waist and slipped the other under his head and cuddled up to him face to face. She let the nightmare run its course and she felt him wake up with a jolt.
As he woke up he could feel himself being held down by something and panic started to build up inside of him, he didn't dare open his eyes for fear of what was holding him down, he just waited patiently for the inevitable. That was until he heard a soft whisper "It's ok Sev, open your eyes for me"
He opened his eyes to find Hermione looking at him, comforting him by rubbing his arm softly "it was just a nightmare Sev" she said.
"I killed him Hermione, I killed my Mentor what kind of person does that. He was like my father and I killed him" he whispered, pain etched on his face before closing his eyes again and letting the tears flow down his cheeks.
Hermione hugged him close to her again, they had never been this close together. His head was resting on her shoulder and she could smell his scent, sandalwood and something that was distinctly him.
"He asked you to Sev, it was a selfless act. You know he would have died a very painful death if the curse had run its course, you spared him the pain of suffering and you spared the rest of us the pain of watching him deteriorate"
"I know. Do you think it was the right thing to do?" he asked her.
"I honestly do Sev, I know you blame yourself for his death and you feel you killed him but in my opinion you saved him so please don't hurt yourself any longer with these thoughts" she replied gently rubbing his back.
"Thank you Hermione. I'm sorry for waking you up again" He said as he pulled himself from her embrace.
As he laid his head back on his pillow, he gave her a small smile and she looked into his obsidean black eyes that were glistening with tears, his face was etched with angst and depression, he looked so damn vulnerable and she couldn't stand it. Where had the strong, stern, scary Potions master that she once known gone? Into a pit of depression and terrible regret was where he had gone. She never truly realised just how much toll the war had taken on him. She wished she could take on his worries and regrets even just for a moment so he could have a glimpse of peace, the peace that he truly deserved. He of all people deserved to live in peace and tranquillity, he deserved for the depression and angst to be replaced with compassion and love, her love.
She couldn't bare to see him suffering any more and just as he was about to ask if she was ok, she placed her lips upon his and kissed him softly. All the feelings she had kept hidden for years were transferred into the kiss, she wanted him to feel how loved he was, that even if he didn't believe it at least one person in this world truly loved him just for being him.
She could feel the tears that had been glistening in his eyes, slowly falling down his face making her own cheeks damp. She gently rolled him onto his back and without breaking their connection she straddled his waist and brought her hands up to his face. She then pulled away from him and looked at him "Don't cry Sev" she said softly as she wiped the tears away with her thumbs as she cradled his face in her hands and bent down to kiss him again. She felt his hands running up her back and she shivered at the sensation, she suddenly realised what she was doing. She was kissing her friend, she had taken advantage of him in his most vulnerable state, she didn't even know if he felt the same, she could have destroyed their friendship. Reality hit her like a slap in the face and she released him "I'm so sorry Sev, I should never of done that" she said before getting off him and running back to her room, her own tears mixing with the remnants of his on her cheeks. WHAT HAVE I DONE she screamed in her head as she threw herself onto her bed, sobbing into her pillow. She could still feel his soft lips on her own, a reminder of her betrayal.
Seconds later she heard a gentle knock on her bedroom door before it was opened. She didn't lift her head from her pillow as she felt the bed sag as the person sat down.
"Hermione, why did you run away? did I do something wrong?"
She looked up from the pillow to see her beloved Mentor sat next to her, looking worried for her. She sat up and dried her tears with her hand.
"No Sev, you didn't do anything wrong, I was in the wrong. I kissed you after you had woken from a terrifying dream, you were vulnerable and I took advantage of that. I'm so sorry" she said dropping her head as she tried her best to hold back her tears that were threatening to fall again.
He lifted her chin up with his hand and smiled at her, he lent forward and whispered "don't be" before kissing her just as softly as she had kissed him.
He slowly pushed her back onto the bed, when she was laying on her back he positioned himself on top of her, with his elbows supporting his weight and his hands on each side of her head, her hair was spread over the pillow and the moon light was shining through the window bathing her in its white glow. She is so beautiful he thought as he lowered his head and placed soft kisses on her forehead, nose and cheeks before kissing down her neck causing little goosebumps to spread over her whole body before gently nibbling and kissing her collarbone.
"Severus" she whispered into his ear as she wrapped her arms around him, a moan escaped from the back of his throat as he heard him say his name. He then placed little kisses back up her neck and her cheek before kissing her rosy pink lips again.
Breaking the kiss for precious oxygen, he looked at her gorgeous face, a blush had spread across her cheeks and she had a look of pure lust in her beautiful brown eyes.
Before he could give into his carnal desires he reluctantly got off her.
"Hermione we shouldn't do this, I'm your teacher and I'm old enough to be your father" he said his voice tinged with sadness as he stood up off the bed.
As he turned to leave the room, he was stopped by a hand on his arm "Please Severus I don't care how old you are. I love you" Hermione pleaded.
"I love you Hermione but just think what other people say. You a beautiful, young woman with me an old, worn out teacher" he replied his shoulders sagging with angst.
"I don't care what other people think, I only care about you. I don't see a old, worn out teacher. I see a handsome, intelligent man whom I would be proud and honoured to call my own" she said honestly.
"I can't Hermione, I cant watch you get hurt again" he replied as he turned and walked to the door.
"SEVERUS SNAPE, I DID NOT BRING YOU BACK FROM THE DEAD FOR YOU TO LEAVE ME AGAIN" Hermione shouted at him, tears streaming down her face, her fists clenched tightly.
He stood still by the door.