Hermione stirred the coffee in her cup absentmindedly as she stared ahead, with no particular thought. He was going to leave today. That one was for sure. He would leave and she would stay. It was meant to be. As for the fact that her heart squeezed painfully in her chest when the realization flashed in her mind, it didn't matter. This was what had happened. The moment he turned the corner, everything changed. She remembered their first kiss – not a proper one, like in all those romance novels. No, theirs had been rushed and desperate. And while it still sent her mind into overdrive every time she recalled it, it wasn't because of any sexual attraction. It was simply the knowledge of just how important he'd become to her. He always was. But even after all these years, they were never enough for each other. Wrong time and wrong place... Since when had she become such a pessimist?
Severus emerged from the shower, his freshly washed hair shining in the pale morning light. He inhaled the scent of coffee and stopped in the middle of a kitchen to eye Hermione thoughtfully. He had already made a decision. They were in for a good heart-to-heart talk. Now or never. To win or to lose. But then again, nothing new under the moon.
Snape doctored himself a large mug of white coffee with tho sugars, much to Granger's chagrin, stretched languidly, and walked to the table, sitting down and facing her. "Hermione," he began, taking the first sip from his cup. "We need to talk. About...this situation we have found ourselves in. And about us."
She sat up straight at this. She had expected more subtle ways than bluntness but she would take it if it gave her the closure she so desperately needed. "I understand if you don't want me here anymore, Severus. You've told me that yourself many times, I know." Her head lowered slightly. "We accidentally met again, after all these years, but it doesn't change anything, does it? That night...it was...Oh, sod it, Hermione," she scolded herself and looked him straight in the eye. "It was the best damn night in my life, Severus, and I don't regret anything!"
He watched as Hermione took a deep breath. He knew why she kept looking at the floor and avoiding eye contact. If he had any doubt as to whether or not she felt the same way, his gaze now confirmed it. So he spoke softly: "Do you remember our conversation, after your graduation?"
She nodded in affirmation and sipped her now completely cold coffee.
"You said that we both needed time to come to terms with ourselves and our future. You told me, that you didn't want to breach the Master-Apprentice relationship status more than it had been already breached. And that you wanted me to explore my brand-new future..."
Severus stared at her intently, his dark eyes burning with an unknown fire. Dangerous yet beaconing Hermione to follow its call. "I have never regretted what happened between us, nor do I plan to." His last words seemed to settle something inside her, and Hermione looked back at him, her eyes wide open.
"No?"
He shook his head and allowed himself a small smile.
"No, Hermione. I have been following your progress all these years. I sent you letters congratulating you on your successful patents, and I hope, that you didn't throw into the fire the Potion Quarterly that held my latest articles..."
"They are all in the drawer in my bedroom," Hermione muttered under her breath.
"Yes," he replied with a chuckle. "As if I'd ever had any doubts about your bleeding Gryffindor heart..."
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
"And as you might have guessed, I've spent the past years waiting for you to decide. You're the reason I'm alive right now. You are the reason why I'm here, no matter how foolishly sentimental I might sound. I never thought you could feel the same way for me. You never asked, either, did you?" He raised his hands in defense, knowing perfectly well the truth behind her silence. "So why do I care anyway?"
A long and tense silence fell over them. Snape sighed heavily before taking another sip of his coffee.
"Because, egoistic as I may be, but I wanted you to live this new life of hers, do whatever you want and be whoever you wished, and if maybe, just maybe, Hermione, your heart would desire that it foolishly want to tie itself with some old and snarky git, such as I am...then, I'd be waiting."
Hermione swallowed hard and tried to stop her hand from shaking. A single tear escaped her eyelids and slid slowly down her cheek, falling softly onto her lap. Severus frowned as if he couldn't quite understand the expression, and leaned forward in his seat. "What is it, then?" She leaped from her seat and into his arms. He barely had time to catch her.
"Shhh. don't cry. You foolish witch...My witch. I'm here, if you will have me, I am here. Though, I must admit, that you have terrible taste in men."
"Severus-"
"Yes, Hermione?"
"Do shut up and kiss me!"
He tapped his chin and smirked. "Are you asking, Miss Granger?" Hermione blushed furiously and kissed him passionately despite the fact she could still feel the tears running down her face. After a few minutes they came apart and Severus rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and sighing happily. For the first time that morning, he had really, truly relaxed. "Now, where were we...ah yes. Our future." She giggled quietly and he smiled warmly at the sight. How beautiful she was, smiling. He loved the way her nose crinkled when she laughed. "You've built quite a life for yourself here, Hermione, I'm proud of you..."
Hermione interrupted him by grabbing him by the wrist. "Severus, before you turn yourself into the worst version of Albus Dumbledore, I'm sorry for bringing your predecessor up, but anyway. I have an offer to make. Let's go travel, Scotland, Ireland, Bali-"
"Bali?" Severus sputtered in disbelief. She just laughed.
"Wherever. I want us to live. To have this chance to explore life, to touch the seashore with our toes, to gaze at the stars, and do something equally sentimental and real. Together."
"Together?" He echoed her words. "Yes, witch, let's do this together."
He smiled and reached across the table to take her hand. His fingers intertwined with hers and she felt like crying again. But this time it was happy tears. It felt right.
The two of them stood together on the deck of the ship and gazed out at the horizon.
Their life had begun now and they were ready to face it together.
End.