Chapter 15 - Sheer Heart Attack
Hermione didn't know where she was going. Her feet carried her through the dark corridors of Hogwarts. Night had fallen. All of the other students were either in bed or staying up late, attempting to finish inches of parchment in their common room before daybreak. With every corner she turned Hermione was terrified that she would run into a previous acquaintance. What would they think of her? What would they think of the relationship she shared with Snape? She wasn't ready for their questions. She wasn't ready to face reality.
As Hermione walked through the castle she took in her surroundings. She missed the times spent at Hogwarts within the last 6 years. The moving staircases. The 16-inch-long History of Magic essays. Double Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. Harry and Ron. A single tear ran down her left cheek as the memories flowed. Hermione continued her lonely tour of the castle and her thoughts drifted to one Severus Snape. Why had she reacted so stupidly to his advances? Surely she was comfortable enough within the relationship to progress her physical interactions with Severus. They were obviously in a mature relationship and yet, she could not bring herself to act accordingly.
She had not been paying attention to where she was walking but she suddenly found herself standing in front of the portrait of a snoozing fat lady. Hermione stared longingly at the face of the painting and what must lie beyond. She began to wonder what her life would now be like if the inevitable had never happened. A hazy image swam before her tired eyes. She was sitting in a squishy armchair next to the Gryffindor fire with Harry and Ron, laughing as her two best friends fought a violent battle upon a wizard's chessboard. Ron would be no doubt winning without any hint of graciousness in his words or actions.
"Hermione?" The young witch was shaken from her imaginings as a vaguely familiar voice sounded from behind her. "Is that really you?" She hurriedly turned around and found herself facing Neville Longbottom. He had a look of complete disbelief upon his no-longer round face. Hermione didn't know what to do. She smiled weakly and uttered in a near whisper "Hello Neville. Did you have a good summer?" He didn't answer. They gazed at each other for a small moment before Neville stepped meaningfully towards his old friend and embraced her tightly. "Hermione… I'm so sorry about Harry and Ron. I couldn't believe it when I heard about what had happened. I can't imagine what you're going through. But what are you doing? Why are you here now?" He said all of this without taking a breath.
Hermione sighed, realising that it was now time to face what was happening beyond her own bubble. "I'm staying at Hogwarts this year but I will not be conducting my studies with everyone else. I've come to develop a great interest in potions so I'm working towards my NEWT goals with the help of Professor Snape." Neville's eyes widened at the mention of the professor he most feared. They stood together in silence for a short while. "We all miss you Hermione. But I know that you'll do what's right." Hermione smiled. Neville had truly developed into an intelligent and understanding young man. "What are you doing out so late anyway, Neville?" Her companion grinned sheepishly. "Patrol. I've been made Head Boy. Gran was so proud when she found out." The friends soon parted ways, promising to meet again soon.
Severus was pacing his quarters. Hermione had been gone for almost an hour and he was beginning to worry. He had acted entirely irrationally and hoped that she would be able to forgive his lack of sense. He had allowed his emotions to override his mind, a thing that he had promised never to allow. And now he had to endure the consequences. As he began to wonder whether he should begin searching for Hermione, the sound of the door opening aroused his senses.
The moment that the young witch entered the room she was bombarded with the near hysterical apologies of Severus Snape. "Hermione! I don't know why I did it. I was acting stupidly. I know you probably hate me and you have only come back to tell me that you can't stand the mere sight of me but I need you to understand. I'm so very sorry. I don't know what… I just can't explain it. I've never done anything like tha-" Hermione interrupted. "Severus please stop, you'll give yourself a stroke. I don't know why you feel the need to apologise. In fact, I had returned with the intentions of saying sorry."
There was a moment of silence in which Severus breathed heavily, contemplating what Hermione had just said. He composed himself slightly before speaking again. "It is my honest opinion that I have acted in an appalling manner today. I should have given your emotions the respect that they most definitely deserve. I am aware that I am not particularly eloquent when expressing my emotions but I now know that I could never bear to lose you. Hermione… I love you." Hermione stood motionless, as those last three words engulfed her. She didn't give a reply, but they both knew that one wasn't needed. Severus walked towards the young witch, placed his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. Hermione did the same and the pair stood in the middle of the room, hugging tightly for what felt like eons. They never wanted to let go.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
I know that apologies are most certainly due for the huge gap between this and the last chapter. But anybody reading should expect that from me by now. ;)
I'm hoping to get at least one more chapter written in the next couple of weeks, as I'm on school holidays.