I DONT OWN HARRY POTTER.

Chapter 8

Severus glided through her memories like a warm knife through butter. He was confused at how she could just allow him in with such ease, yet when he tried to penetrate deeper he was instantly blocked.

Jesus Woman?! Who taught you Occlumency?!Women? It's Granger. May be an older, more mature Granger, but it's still that little swot you taught since she was 11 years old!

Severus allowed himself a second to recover after plummeting full force into Hermione's solid mind walls. Once he had regained his focus, he felt himself being pulled into one of her memories. It must of been a memory of great importance as he found himself unable to look at anything else, it was almost like Hermione Granger had control over THE Severus Snape in her mind.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The memories played back to him like he was watching a film in a muggle cinema.

The information that was shown, took Severus back.

When he released himself from her mind, he just stood there, staring at her.

Hermione just stood there watching Severus stare at her, it was as if she was some kind of rare enigma that he had never seen before in his life, and that he was trying to solve her unfathomable puzzle before she burst into flames, never to be seen again.

A few minutes had passed when Severus finally spoke to her, "Very well then, Miss Granger. That was rather insitefull... However I do not have time for idle chit chat in this present moment. So if you would kindly exit my chambers, and go back to... Where ever you are residing currently, and we can discuss... This, later."

Hermione nodded, and knew not to push further, so she nodded slightly and left Severus alone in his rooms.

He watched as the door swiftly shut behind her. He wondered if he just kept staring at the wooden door that he might be able to burn holes into it.

After a few more minutes of door watching, he sat back down on his bed and put his hands through his hair.

The future.

She came from the future.

To save him?

Why would anyone in their right mind want to do that? Especially for him?

Yet his mind was bought back to the conversation his future self, had with Miss Granger...

So, if she changed nothing he would die? But what if he wanted to die?

"Death is empty. Not what I thought it would be. I thought freedom would welcome me as an old friend... But very much like my life, I do not have friends. No one welcomed me here..."

The words of that memory echoed in his mind. So there was nothing waiting for him? No Lily? After everything? After everything he had sacrificed to amend for his sins, all for her would be for Nothing?

I died, and she never greeted me...Maybe Granger being here isn't a bad thing, if she succeeds... But then what? They all want me to have a second chance, a second chance for what! Love?Who in their right minds would want to love me?They said that I will be seen as a hero, that may be the case, but nobody would understand . No one would ever understand what I have had to endure all of these years, especially the past weeks...

Severus paused.

Suddenly he realised.

Granger! That's why he sent her... Oh that Meddeling old Coot Dumbledore! Even from the grave he thinks he's bloody St Valentine!

Severus huffed, today was going to be a long day.

Xxxxxxxxxx

The evening light from the sunset glowed into the little window of the dungeons, creating a warm orange glow that spread across the dreary room.

Severus made his way to what he presumed were Hermione's rooms, he came to this conclusion when he noticed a door in his chambers which had not existed before. How had he not noticed it before? He is a spy for crying out loud!

However he only noticed it today, which made him realise that she must have kept it under a disillusion charm until she revealed herself to him.

Mmm your future self Miss Granger, has more common sense than your current counterpart.

He smirked to himself as he gently knocked on the door.

As he waited for the witch to open the door he could distinctivly hear the muffled sounds of closing books and the clatter of cauldrons.

When Hermione opened the door, she had the look of somone who had been working in a hot kitchen. As her hair was slightly frizzed and pulled back into a messy bun, and her cheeks were flushed.

However Severus found that she looked remarkably beautiful like that, although he would never mention it.

"Good Evening... Sir." Hermione greeted him with coy smile, although she still seemed a little bit flustered.

"May I help you with anything sir?"

"Well Miss Granger, I was rather hoping that we could discuss some... issues, so to speak. Would you join me to a night cap?" He asked, pointing at his sofa by the lit fire.

They both sat down and Severus summoned a bottle, poured two glasses and handed one to Hermione.

She looked down at her glass and willed her hand to stop shaking. To say that Hermione was feeling apprehensive about this 'discussion' was an understatement. However she also felt rather confused but slightly pleased that Severus hadn't bitten her head off.

Suddenly Hermione was brought back out of her thoughts when she heard him clear his throat, it also occurred to her how close the proximity was between them.

"Miss Granger, you are supposed to put your lips to your glass, that whisky isn't going to suddenly float into your mouth." He smoothly spoke into her ear.

Shaking her head slightly, she turned to look at him, feeling nervous.

"I'm sorry sir, I must admit that I feel slightly apprehensive..." She then chuckled, "When you knocked on my door I half expected you to chuck me out and send me back to my own time." She looked back down at her glass again.

"Honestly, I did considered it... However I came to the conclusion that if I did, it would be quite a waste of time, so to speak."

Hermione almost choked on her drink.

"Sir?! Did you just make a joke?"

"I belive I did, contrary to popular belief's I'm not completely made out of stone, Miss Gran... May I call you Hermione?"

" As long as I get to call you Severus, its only fair." She looked at him in such a way that even shocked herself, was she flirting?

"Indeed." He purred.

"Miss... Hermione?"

"Yes?"

She looked into his endless eyes, but noticed a hint of something... was he nervous?

"I wanted to thank you for this morning, I will admit that I did come back in a rather bad shape, the dark Lord was rather frivolous with his punishments last night. If you were not there to help me, I probably would be..."

"Severus..." She gently placed her hand on his, surprisingly his hand didn't move away.

"Severus, you have and will do so much more for us. Plus I couldn't bare seeing you like this."

She turned to look at him.

"You deserve so much more Severus Snape."

Her eyes glittered with honesty, and respect for him. No one had ever looked at him like that...

He quickly looked back at the fire.

"That's debatable Miss Granger," He looked at his watch and faked a yawn.

"Thank you for this discussion, however I must take my leave as it is rather late, and papers will not mark themselves. Good night."

He stood up and made his way towards his bedroom, but silently turned to look at her once more.

"Hermione, prove to me that I have something to live for."

And with that, he went to bed.

With his thoughts all focused on one Hermione Granger.

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