AN: Thank you all so much for the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
How the hell did Judith get past everything in front of the door? How did she manage to enter the room?
Time crawled as Judith stomped towards them, her forced smile in stark contrast to the hardness in her eyes. He glanced over at Hermione, who was already pallid with beads of sweat on her forehead.
"Severus it's so nice to finally find you," Judith's voice was sweet, much too sweet for someone who had just walked in on such a tender moment between the person she was dating and another woman. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"Likewise," his stomach sank.
"Hermione," she turned to her. "What an unpleasant surprise."
Hermione fidgeted.
"Then again, why should I be surprised to find you here? It seems that every time I turn around, you're finding new ways to crawl all over Severus, not caring about the other woman in his life."
"I'm hardly crawling all over him," her eyes fell on the unused cloth napkin.
"No, you and Neville just set up this nice little Italian dinner so you could get to know your alleged 'nothing more than my best friend' better, ignoring the fact you see him every day and could find your own Valentine's Day date instead of stealing someone else's."
Hermione met her eyes. "I didn't set any of this up, nor am I stealing anyone away from you."
"Oh sure, you just happened to find yourself in the same room as Severus with the door blocked."
"It was against my will."
"Other women may fall for the Ms. Innocent act, but I don't. A woman like you has no moral qualms about setting something such as this up."
"She did not set anything up," Severus argued. "Neville trapped us in here together against our wills. She had no part in it."
Judith examined Hermione, twisting her lower lip in a way reminiscent of a viper about to strike its prey. Hermione refocused her attention on the breadsticks on the table as she squirmed.
"Maybe she didn't set it up, but she doesn't seem to upset about being here," Judith noted.
"There's no reason to be upset when I'm with Severus," she looked Judith in the eyes. "I enjoy spending time with him, hence the reason I am happy to be here."
"Yes, that's become clear," Judith grumbled. "You do seem happy around him."
"Friends tend to be happy around each other."
"Yes, but you looked absolutely ecstatic to be in his arms. You seemed quite affectionate for someone who only considers Severus to be a dear friend."
"How did you even find us?" Severus demanded.
"This afternoon, I got a letter from Minerva saying you were ill in bed and could not attend our Valentine's Day dinner," Judith began. "The letter was odd because it did not have the same tone as many of her other letters, the handwriting appeared to be different, nor did it make mention of rescheduling the dinner. I flooed Minerva telling her to send you my regards, only for her to say you were perfectly healthy. When she told me where we were to meet, I made my way here. Imagine my shock when I saw a desk and two chairs blocking the entrance."
Severus shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. Neville needed to learn how to deal with any complication that may come his way, or at least not get so distracted with the promise of his girlfriend's cooking to forget something as simple as finding a way to distract Minerva from returning Judith's calls.
Judith turned to Severus. "It seems you are quite well."
"I am doing just fine," he admitted.
She turned to Hermione. "You on the other hand appear to be on the verge of another tantrum."
"I apologize if I appear cross," Hermione swallowed. "I just don't appreciate people coming between me and a good plate of chicken Alfredo."
"In every restaurant I've been to, you can order a meal to-go."
"I may do that," she slouched in the chair.
"No Hermione, you will not leave," Severus cut in. "You were here first, so you should continue to dine with me."
"Normally I would support a double date but Hermione has no one who wants to be her Valentine," Judith gave her a pointed look.
Hermione bowed her head.
"She has me," Severus argued. "I am with her."
"Yes, I am sure you are a wonderful friend and feel sorry enough for her being single that you don't want her to be alone. Still, Valentine's Day is meant to be spent having a romantic date, not cuddling up with a single friend who wants nothing more than a platonic relationship."
"She's right," Hermione piped up. "I should go. Tipsy can deliver my food to my quarters."
"No, Tipsy will deliver your food here, because you are staying."
"I should leave."
"No, you should stay so we can finish our conversation."
"What about me?" Judith asked.
"Listen," he took a deep breath. "I fear I have been unfair to you. It seems I have been leading you on with the promise of a relationship that is never to be. My actions have not been fair to you, her, or myself. I apologize for leading you on."
"Are you leading me on, or is she leading you on?" Judith pointed to Hermione. "Because every time I come here, she's panting after you like some pathetic puppy begging for a scrap of beef. Yet I heard your question when I entered. She never answered you. She never told you whether or not she loves you."
"Then it seems we need to resume our conversation," he lowered his voice, "in peace."
"Or maybe her silence is all the answer you need. Perhaps she doesn't know how to tell you the truth about her sentiments."
Severus looked at Hermione, hoping for any sign of an answer to his question. Instead, his colleague bit her lip and unlocked her wheelchair.
"Hermione," he began in a soft voice.
"I," she swallowed. "I can't stand in your way, not anymore."
"Stand in my way of what?" He demanded. "When have you ever been in my way?"
"I'm in your way now."
"No, you aren't."
Her eyelid quivered.
"Hermione, I need you to stay," he folded his hands. "Please, stay."
Tears in her eyes, Hermione wheeled away as fast as she could.
"There's your answer," Judith replied. "She doesn't love you, at least not enough to stay."
Judith wasn't entirely wrong. Hermione did give him an answer, but not the one Judith believed it to be. Yet the answer he received only led to more questions.
Was it fair to pursue Hermione? Every inadequacy he'd ever entertained flooded his mind. The memories of gazing into Hermione's eyes, wondering what she could see in a man like him flashed in his consciousness. A few times when he'd considered what she could see in him, he'd looked into the mirror. The man starting back at him wore the same expression Hermione had before she left, one of pure heartache at the idea of being alone, one who felt inadequate, undeserving of love.
How could such a woman consider herself inadequate and undeserving of love? Couldn't she see how desirable she was, how desperately he'd grown to need her? Why couldn't she see the love he held for her?
"I apologize for coming late," Judith took the chair which had been pushed aside and set it across from him. "Hopefully we can salvage the evening."
He kept his eyes on the open door. Years ago, he'd lost Lily over a careless word. Now, he was going to lose Hermione if he said and did nothing. His entire future rested on whether he stayed with Judith or pursued his heart's true desire. Even if Hermione turned him down, she'd know he cared. Somehow, he needed her to understand that he loved her and would never abandon her.
"Severus?" Judith blinked. "Are you listening?"
He glanced at her. Judith was perfect, too perfect. There was nothing real about her perfect makeup and polished hair. She could never hurt him because she would never have his heart and soul, not like Hermione did.
Perhaps Hermione would hurt him. One day, she may grow bored with him. There were much better men than him, and one day, she may realize it.
Still, Hermione was real. What they had tonight was real. If he didn't go after her now, this would become the worst night of his life, far surpassing any other disaster he'd ever endured.
"Severus?" Judith said louder.
"You know the way out of the castle," he darted out of the room down the hall, ignoring her calls for him to return.
Few people knew Severus Snape to be someone who fled, but he was fleeing from something shallow to something deep, to a woman he was supposed to love to the woman he had loved for years, from a strange place, to what he hoped would be his new home.
He didn't bother knocking on Hermione's door. Instead, he flung it open. She startled as she spun the wheelchair around. Tears stained her blotched face. Before this night was over, he would ensure she never shed another tear on his account. Somehow, he would show her she was the most valuable woman in the world, if only she'd open up and give him the chance to show how deeply he cared.
"Hermione," he panted before slamming the door behind him.
"What are you doing here?" She choked.
"Getting an answer to my question," he began. "Do you care for me as much as I care for you? Do you feel the same way about me as I do you. Do you," his throat constricted until he swore he would never take another breath. "Do you love me the way I love you?"
"Severus, my fleeing isn't about whether or not I love you," she began.
"Then what is it about?"
"I'm doing what's best for you…"
"Don't start that with me," he snapped. "All of my life I've had people telling me what they thought was best for me. They all claimed to act in my best interest, regardless of my desires. My future has been decided by one person or another, and I'm sick of it. You are the only person who understand just how sick of it I am."
She swallowed and nodded.
"If you don't love me, then I will find a way to survive it. I will not pressure you to feel the way I do. If you need space, I will give it to you. Still, I must know," he shook. "How do you feel about me? Where do I stand with you?"
"You want to know where I stand with you?" She floated in the air, allowing her shaking leg to dangle.
"Yes," he cared little that he was pleading with her for some type of answer. "Where do I stand with you?"
"Right here." She flew in his direction, wrapped her arms around him, and captured his lips.
Hope that was worth the wait!