Later that day, Hermione found Harry in the Gryffindor Common Room. She collapsed onto the couch next to him, her expression heavy with sadness.
"I'm guessing your plan didn't quite go as expected," Harry remarked, his tone gentle.
Hermione shook her head, glancing around the empty common room for reassurance. She fixed her gaze on the crackling fire, her cheeks flushing with frustration. "He's so infuriating. One moment he kisses me, undoes my shirt, and the next he pushes me away."
Harry's eyes widened at Hermione's words, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Hermione, I think you might be diving into something too complicated," he said cautiously, his concern evident in his voice. "As I mentioned before, you're stirring up trouble."
Hermione frowned, hoping Harry would grasp the depth of her emotions. "He told me that my feelings aren't genuine, that they're just a product of our bond. Do you think he's telling the truth, or is he using that as an excuse to distance himself even more?"
Harry offered Hermione a sympathetic look. "I think you need to consider that he might be telling the truth."
"How can I tell what's real and what's not? I genuinely like spending time with him. I like our occlumency lessons, I like getting to know the person behind the dark persona he pretends to be. Is that all a lie?" Hermione questioned softly, with a troubled look on her face.
Harry paused before responding to Hermione's question, choosing his words carefully. "I hate to say this, Hermione, but I think you might want to consider this from his viewpoint. You've known him for seven years as a student. You didn't desire him through school, did you?"
Hermione took a few minutes to digest the weighty question Harry had posed. Before their bond, she didn't harbor romantic feelings for him, but she always yearned for his approval. His constant accusations of her being insolent and insufferable left her unsettled. Witnessing his near-death experience in that shack after the war only heightened her distress. While romantic feelings didn't exist then, a small part of her always cared for him and wished for his well-being.
Hermione opted for a simpler response, stating, "No, I did not desire him."
"Considering you weren't attracted to him for seven years, suddenly feeling this way after just two weeks of marriage does raise some questions," Harry remarked gently. "I'm not invalidating your feelings, Hermione, but maybe it's best to give him some space to process everything."
Feeling a mix of emotions, Hermione silently acknowledged Harry's words with a sharp nod. Reluctantly, she decided to head to the library, seeking solace and time to reflect on everything that had transpired.
Hermione remained in the library, burying herself in countless homework assignments to escape from her thoughts and the events of the day. Ignoring the passage of time, she refused to emerge for dinner, immersing herself further in her studies. As curfew approached, she reluctantly packed away her belongings and made her way to her shared quarters, her mind still swirling with unanswered questions and unresolved emotions.
Once inside their quarters, Hermione didn't acknowledge Severus sitting on the couch with a book. Instead, she proceeded straight to the bedroom, setting her book bag down by the bed before disappearing into the bathroom. There, she meticulously brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed into comfortable sleepwear, her movements deliberate and methodical as she attempted to block out the tumultuous events of the day.
As Hermione settled into bed, her mind buzzed with the events of the day, making sleep seem elusive. She resolved to give Severus space, recognizing that her attempts to push him had been unwelcome and inappropriate. She vowed to respect his boundaries and wait for him to initiate any further intimacy. With a heavy heart, she accepted that their relationship needed time to evolve naturally, and she drifted off to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.
The next morning, Hermione lingered beneath the covers, reluctant to face the day. She buried her face in her pillow, seeking solace in the soft fabric and the darkness it offered. Despite the temptation to retreat into sleep once more, she remained awake, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty and regret.
Hermione felt someone nudging her awake, but she remained silent, hoping to be left alone. When the nudging persisted, she finally snapped, "Leave me alone!"
With a firm scowl on her lips, Hermione lifted her head up from the pillow and glared at the person shaking her awake. However, the moment her bleary eyes found Severus waiting for her at the side of the bed, her scowl immediately vanished.
Severus remained undeterred by her attitude that morning. "You missed dinner last night, and I suspect you skipped lunch as well. Get up and come have breakfast with me," he ordered sternly.
Hermione kept her head nestled into the pillow and murmured, "I don't feel like eating."
Severus's expression softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "Regardless, you need to eat," he insisted.
Severus didn't hesitate; he simply pulled the covers off of her and firmly stated, "Don't make me resort to magic to get you out of bed."
Hermione scowled at him and grumbled, "Why do you care?" as she tried to wrestle the covers from his grip.
"Look, I understand you're upset about yesterday, but lying in bed won't solve anything," Severus replied calmly.
Hermione rolled her eyes, annoyed by his persistence. She reluctantly released her grip on the covers, knowing she couldn't outmatch him physically. With a sigh, she rose from the bed and stood before him, arms crossed defensively. "Happy now?" she muttered, her tone laced with frustration.
Severus didn't dignify her question with a response. Instead, he issued a firm command, his tone brooking no argument. "You have five minutes to get ready. I expect to see you in the living room. If not, I will come back in here and escort you myself," he declared, his voice authoritative.
After completing her morning routine, Hermione stood at the closed bedroom door, weighing her options. She hesitated for a moment, her frustration with Severus still lingering, before finally deciding to comply with his request. With a resigned sigh, she opened the door and made her way to the living room to join him for breakfast.
Despite her earlier claim of not being hungry, Hermione's stomach betrayed her as it rumbled at the sight and smell of the food on the tray. Reluctantly, she joined Severus on the couch, doing her best to ignore the pleased expression on his face.
Before she could inquire about tea, a floating teacup was handed to her, prepared just the way she liked it. Taking a sip of the milky liquid, she began to enjoy the food laid out before her.
Severus remained silent, calmly sipping his tea as he observed Hermione delving into her breakfast. A small pang of regret gnawed at him, knowing she was still upset with him. Despite their progress in improving their relationship, her morning behavior disappointed him.
When she finally set down her fork and finished her tea, Hermione reluctantly mumbled a "thank you," acknowledging the meal before her.
Severus continued to watch her carefully, contemplating his words before speaking. "I want you to understand that everything I've done in this relationship so far has been for your benefit," he stated calmly.
When Hermione didn't respond, Severus felt a surge of frustration rising within him, but he suppressed it. "I care about you," he eventually stated, his voice softer now, tinged with sincerity.
Hermione snorted and retorted, "You have a funny way of showing it."
Severus's eyes darkened, and a sneer formed on his lips. "If I didn't care, I would have easily taken advantage of you yesterday. I was wrong to let my anger get the better of me. You are not thinking clearly about this," he stated firmly.
"Taken advantage? I was a willing participant," Hermione reminded him.
Severus replied in a gentle yet firm tone, "Consider what you're saying, Hermione. Attraction doesn't develop so quickly, especially under our circumstances. While you may have developed feelings for me and enjoy our time together, rushing into anything would be unwise. There are complexities you're not fully aware of."
"How do I know what's real and what's not?" Hermione whispered in response. "I was so sure yesterday what I wanted, but you are telling me that what I feel is not true."
"I understand your confusion," Severus began, his voice softening slightly. "Our bond complicates matters, blurring the lines between what's genuine and what's influenced by magic. But trust that I have your best interests at heart. It's crucial to discern between genuine emotions and those influenced by external forces."
Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Severus trudged forward, needing her to understand. He sighed heavily, his expression pained. "I know this might be difficult to accept, but the sudden intensity of your feelings is likely a result of our bond, not genuine attraction. Before our current circumstances, you did not harbor romantic feelings for me."
Hermione reluctantly nodded in comprehension. "So, just like me, is the bond causing you to experience emotions that you wouldn't normally feel?"
Severus hesitated, grappling with his response. "In a sense, yes. The bond has undoubtedly amplified certain emotions, but I've learned to distinguish between what is genuine and what is influenced by it. It's a matter of control and understanding."
What Severus didn't disclose to her was that their feelings were entirely genuine, but the bond amplified them. He wasn't prepared to reveal this to her yet, apprehensive about the intensity of his emotions toward the young witch. He felt an urgent need to regain control over them.
Severus leaned back in his chair, taking another sip of his tea, the weight of his lie heavy on his mind. Despite his resolve, he couldn't shake the feeling of regret for misleading her.