A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

Cupid AU/Gods/Goddess AU

Word Count: 895

The arrow bounced off the wall, landing point down on the floor. It sank into the plush red carpeting.

"Stupid Lily!" Severus cursed, throwing another arrow against the wall. He was cupid. He made people fall in love.

"I hit her, right through the heart, her eyes met mine and she still somehow fell for him!" he screamed, grabbing another arrow from his quiver. He snapped this one in half before throwing both halves at the wall. They bounced off, also landing in the carpet. One landed tip up, not that one could see the red heart shaped tip in the red carpeting.

"What's the point of making everyone fall in love if no one loves me," he grumbled, breaking three more arrows.

"What happened this time, Severus?" a voice asked from the doorway. "Starcrossed lovers kill themselves again?"

"Must you be so macabre, Hermione. No one died this time, although if James had..."

"Oh, this about her then? Let me guess, you finally shot her? She rejected you and now you're up here sulking because some mortal girl turned you down?"

"It's more complicated than that!"

Hermione shrugged grabbing a strawberry and dipping it in the chocolate fountain. She bit off the tip, watching Severus the entire time.

"You really should just give up on those mortals, Sev. They live, they die, we interfere and its' fun for a bit, but getting attached... It always ends up in heartbreak."

"Quit being such a bloody know it all, Hermione. Go inspire some stupid scholar or something," he muttered, waving a hand at her. She snorted.

"Why would I want to do that when I could stand here and annoy the hell out of you?" Hermione asked, grabbing another strawberry, the chocolate dripping onto her white gown. "Want a bite?" she asked, holding it out to Severus.

"No. Enough with the stupid strawberries."

"One bite? It'll make you feel better," she offered. He sighed as she crossed the room.

"Ouch!" she yelped, dropping the strawberry. She lifted her bare foot. Still embedded was the tip of one of Severus' arrows. She gently pulled it out, her eyes meeting Severus'. He stared at her as she dropped the arrow tip.

"Fuck," he muttered realizing her gaze had become fixated on him.

"We could do that if you'd like," she offered. "Or I could kiss you until your lips are too tired, or we could watch the pegusi fly into the sunset, or..." her voice trailed off.

"We will do none of that! It's just the arrow, you only think you're in love with me. I'm not lovable."

"You are, the way you care about things no one else does. The fact you watch the couples you create, even after your job is done. You once believed in happily ever after, we could have that, Severus," Hermione purred, wrapping her arms around him. He tried to pull her off.

"No, I love Lily. You're just under the influence of my arrow."

"Fine, you love Lily. If it was true love, meant to be, then why fire at her? She would have loved you without the arrow. Now, I think one of us might be wearing a little too much clothing?" she suggested, tugging at Severus' shirt. He pushed her away, grabbed a black arrow from the wall and stabbed her heart with it. She pulled back, her eyes wide.

"Really? Was that necessary?" she asked.

"You were trying to strip me naked, Hermione."

"No, I said you were wearing too much clothing, I only tried to remove your shirt, you look better without it anyway," she added, giving him a smile. He stared at her.

"You think?"

"I do, I've always preferred it when you walked around shirtless," she added.

"The antidote arrow..."

"Only counters the effect of your love arrows, not true love. I loved you before I stepped on the remnants of your little tantrum, Severus. I came here when I heard about Lily."

"You came to gloat."

"I came to make sure you were alright, maybe take your mind off her for a bit, show you what it looks like to be loved?"

"Hermione."

"Severus, I know what it's like to have your heart broken. You've broken mine about three times this century if I'm being honest. Just think about my offer. We could still do any of those things if you're interested," Hermione said, turning to leave. Severus watched her take a step towards the door. He reached out and caught her wrist.

"I... Thank you, for caring. You're the only one who does. And, you're right."

"About?"

"Lily. I knew she didn't love me, I knew shooting her wouldn't make her love me."

"Come watch the sunset with me, Severus."

"Do I have to wear my shirt?" he asked, with a smirk.

"I'd prefer you didn't," Hermione answered. Severus slid off his shirt, tossed it on the floor with the rest of the broken arrows and followed Hermione out onto the balcony. She smiled at him as the sky filled with dozens of flying horses, all returning to the stables for the night. Slowly, Severus put his arm around Hermione's waist. She smiled, leaning her head against him slightly. It would take time for him to heal from Lily's rejection, but she was a Goddess. She had all the time in the world.