Severus opened his eyes and then closed them instantly. He repeated this process several times before he was finally able to convince himself that he was not dreaming. His life may have seemed like a dream, but everything that had transpired in the past few hours had been very real.
I am Hermione Granger's deepest desire. But what exactly did that mean? There were many ways that he could fulfill that desire: sex, friendship, his attention- any of those could be what she secretly craved. But gods, which is the real one. It took Severus some time before he actually comprehended the fact that the most intelligent witch he had known was interested in him, the bat of the dungeon. He couldn't believe that she actually found the courage to tell him that herself. Damn that Gryffindor courage, he snickered to himself.
He sat up slowly and stared at the clock on the wall in front of him. It was almost midnight. Poppy had instructed him, or rather demanded, to stay the night so she could check his vitals in the morning. Hermione had been right in that he severely hurt his arm and had several broken ribs. Was he surprised at her correct diagnosis? A clue, no. In fact, he was surprised that she hadn't mended him herself! Wasn't she always going on about the idea of becoming a healer after she graduated?
His train of thought was interrupted when he heard faint footsteps approaching his door. He quickly shut his eyes and pretended to sleep.
'I'm sure he'll be good as new by tomorrow, Professor.' It was Poppy's voice.
'Thank you Poppy. I'm still not quite sure what to make out of this whole situation, but nevertheless I am glad Miss Granger insisted that he accompany her into the forest. Heavens knows what might have happened if she had gone alone.' Professor McGonagall replied.
Poppy silently closed the door and Severus listened intently until the two nosy women left the infirmary.
'Nosy little chits,' Severus mumbled to himself, 'They would be best to let it alone.'
He was positive that Minerva wasn't going to drop the matter- especially not after having witnessed his head resting comfortably in Hermione's lap. He understood the position both he and Hermione could be put in if anyone found out about their inevitable relationship- because let's be honest, it was bound to happen.
For a moment, Severus contemplated what it would be like to truly be with someone who he could adore wholeheartedly and who did the same in return. There was only one woman who came to his mind. He mentally told himself that he was going to quickly fall down a slippery slope if something was not done to ease the concerns that his brain held. He knew they would need to talk, but when? The way she had run out of the room had made him feel insecure. Is she ashamed of me? He couldn't help the grimace that plagued his face at that thought.
Again, his thoughts were interrupted, and knowing neither McGonagall nor Poppy would have returned at this hour, he became the alert spy he once was. He heard a single set of footsteps slowly make its way towards his door.
'Lumos,' he heard a small voice whisper. Instinctively, Severus grabbed his wand off the nightstand next to his bed and held it at his side.
The door handle turned slowly and at the same time Severus readied himself for whatever danger could be lurking. The door finally opened and he heard a strained, 'Headmaster?'
Hermione.
He breathed a sigh, more of contentedness than relief, and watched her walk into the room slowly.
'Miss Granger,' Hermione froze instantly at the sound of that silky voice, 'I must say that your presence here at such a late hour is hardly appropriate. Do you agree?'
The girl blushed madly and looked down at her hands.
'I- I just wante- I just wanted to makesureyoureokay,' she stammered incoherently.
Severus chuckled darkly, 'Come here'.
He beckoned to her and she approached him with a small smile, sitting next to him on the edge of the bed.
'And in response to your babbling, I am doing just fine, thank you. But then, I owe my life to you again Miss Granger, so I'm not surprised that I wouldn't be doing any less.'
Hermione blushed at those words, but said nothing.
'You have a wonderful blush,' he muttered softly and reached out a hand to her cheek, which she allowed willingly. 'Now tell me,' he continued, 'why are you really here? It's very late and I suspect you have classes in the morning.'
He waited what seemed like forever before she answered.
'I really couldn't sleep, sir. What no one knows, aside from you now, is that Dreamless Sleep hardly ever works on me anymore. After the war and other things…I- I found myself taking more than I probably should have, but I just couldn't stop the horrible nightmares. I realized that I could end up with a serious problem so I stopped and eventually the dreams subsided on their own. The little bit that Professor McGonagall gave me tonight wouldn't have been enough for me three weeks after the war, let alone now.
'I also felt slightly ashamed for leaving you as quickly as I did. It was immature and I'm sure you felt it quite annoying. It's just, I've never been able to say that to someone before and really mean it. I know that I shouldn't even be thinking things like this because of our school relationship, but come May I'm done with this place and I…,' she gulped and took a deep breath. 'I just can't help thinking that this,' she motioned her hand between the two of them, 'could be more?' She paused, realizing that she had ended that statement quizzically and then repeated herself, 'Excuse me, could be more.' She placed emphasis on the 'more' and the definiteness of that part of her declaration.
'Hermione,' Severus started. 'I don't think I could express enough happiness at those words. I'd have to be daft to let someone like you, who has any interest in someone like me, slip from my grasp. While I do believe that we will have to plan and be extremely cautious, I see no reason why we should ever fear becoming more than what we are now. That is, if you would want that…' He looked at her questioningly, almost holding his breath.
'Sir, I don't think there's anything I want more. Well, actually,' she giggled, 'apparently there isn't anything I want more, according to that stupid bird! Speaking of which, that's another matter entirely. I feel bad that you've basically been dragged into that. I really had no idea.' She looked down at her hands again.
Severus reached out to her and gently lifted her chin with his soft hands, turning her face towards his.
'So much for being the 'brightest witch' of your age! Would I really just tell you what I did and then be upset for a bird that is granting your deepest desire? Which, I might add, happens to be me?'
Again, the young woman blushed, only Severus noted it this time by softly stroking her cheek. Hermione turned towards her Professor and bore her eyes into his, a gaze with which he happily returned.
They allowed the silence to complete the moment as they sat just looking into each others eyes. Hermione broke the silence.
'I'm scared. I always have been. I was scared of losing you to death and now I'm scared that I'll just lose you. It's awful.' She continued to look into his dark eyes.
'You have nothing to fear. Absolutely nothing. Aside from freak accidents in the forest, we are both perfectly safe now. I promise you. I'm not a man who breaks promises, nor would I ever intend to do so with you. Please trust me on that.' He smiled softly at her.
'I just wish that I knew for a fact that all of this was real.' The instant those words left her mouth, her hand shot up and covered the place where they had come from. She groaned, 'I think I just inadvertently wished for something.'
Severus sat up, his back flat the headboard, 'Hermione,' he whispered gently.
She looked at him, a longing bubbling to the surface of her eyes, and leaned into him as his gently pulled her face towards his.
With just a whispers distance between their lips, he spoke.
'I just want you to know that, wish or no wish, I still would have ended this conversation as such…'
With that, he slowly eliminated the remaining space, placing his lips tenderly to hers.