A Strange Love

[toryvic]

This is my first ever fanfic, and it's one I wrote ages ago. Recently a friend read it and convinced me to post it on here, so I hope you think it's up to the high standard already on this thread.


Disclaimer: Harry Potter and any of the other characters in the following text do not belong to me in any way. And therefore I don’t deserve any of the credit or glory JKR rightfully receives for her marvellous and inspirational Harry Potter books. This fiction is purely for the enjoyment of myself and anybody else who wishes to read it. Also I intend to receive absolutely no financial gain from this story. This work is entirely of my own creation (apart from the characters obviously).

(hope that served as a reasonable disclaimer)

[toryvic]

Hermione woke up, she was unsure whether it was the rain that had woken her or simply the sicky nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach. She looked around her new Hogwarts apartment smiled a sleepy smile and lay back down. She couldn’t believe it 'A teacher I'm a teacher at Hogwarts'
Hermione Granger was approaching her 19th birthday and was about to become the youngest teacher in the school's history. Over the past year Hermione had been very unsure about her future career. Her two best friends Harry and Ron had decided to become Aurors but Hermione at the last minute realised she just could not bear to leave Hogwarts. She had spent some of the happiest times in her life at the castle, and simply could not bear to leave. Of course the professors at the school (well most of them) welcomed Hermione with open arms. She had of course gained top grades in her N.E.W.T's and had taken a fast track W.T.Q (wizard teaching qualification) over the summer and was ready to start as the new DADA teacher at the start of September

Hermione looked at her watch, it was only quarter to five, she had to force herself to get back to sleep, 'I'm not nervous, I'm excited' she whispered to herself, Screwed up her eyes tightly and soon managed to get back to sleep.
Next morning Hermione went down to breakfast in the great hall, she had to remember to go and sit up at the staff table otherwise she would have taken her old place at the Gryffindor table accidentally. Hermione went and sat between Hagrid and (to her very slight annoyance) Professor Snape.
'G'morning Hermione...sorry I mean Professor Granger' he said chuckling, his beetle black eyes dancing merrily behind his huge hairy face 'Yeh nervous? 'he asked
'A bit' Hermione answered meekly, what if it's a complete fiasco?' Hagrid smiled

'Everything will be fine 'Ermione, Dumbledore wouln' a taken yeh on if he wasn' sure you were up to the job. Hermione smiled, her face glowing 'I think I might make my way to my classroom, make sure everything is ready for my first class' Hermione pushed out her chair which banged into Professor Snape who was obviously on the way to his own dungeon. 'Oh Professor I'm so sorry groaned Hermione her face reddening. She knew how much Snape had disliked her all through her school career, now she was a professor she wanted to make a better impression, purely so she could walk into the staff room with her head held high. 'It’s quite alright Miss....I mean, Professor, Granger' said Snape in his deep cold voice his eyes glinting strangely as if the idea of Hermione becoming a Professor so quickly was amusing to him in some way. Hermione muttered another speedy sorry, and then dashed away to her classroom The first couple of weeks went really rather well for Hermione. The students liked her because she was young, and they could remember her as a student. Hermione was starting to really love her job and was sure hat she had made the right decision not to go to Austria with Ron and Harry when they did their Auror training.
The only thing that Hermione didn't like about this new part of her life was that she didn't have her two best friends by her side. Hermione was spending a lot of time with Hagrid and also Professor McGonnagal (who had taken Hermione under her wing) Hermione also spent quite a lot of time with her only remaining school friend Ginny Weasley.
Hermione had confided in Ginny by telling her exactly what had happened between Ron and her before he had gone to Austria .

[toryvic]

Ron and Hermione had had a relationship for a brief period in their sixth year at Hogwarts. Although it was clear that it was something that they both really wanted Hermione broke the relationship off after about six weeks because she was concerned that getting too serious would ruin their friendship. Although they never were involved in a relationship together again, it was clear that they both had pretty major feelings for each other. When Ron was due to go to Austria for his training he went to Hermione and asked her if she would consider going with him and maybe rekindle their former love. Hermione had already accepted the position at Hogwarts at this time and felt that she simply could not let Dumbledore down. So she refused Ron. Ron was broken hearted and two days later left with Harry for Austria. Hermione had remembered how sad she felt when she had seen Ron and Harry off at the airport with Ginny. And remembered vividly for months afterwards how when Hermione hugged Ron goodbye at the airport, he hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear 'y'know Hermione it's not too late for you to come with me, just say the word and I'll wait for you'. Hermione began to cry silently into his neck 'Oh Ron it's not that I don't care about you, it's just I've taken the job. Maybe when you come home, things will be different. Ron kissed her lightly on her lips and sighed. 'I don't think it will be, Hermione' Hermione remembered the pained look on his face so clearly, and for a week afterwards she cried herself to sleep, the words he had said to her ringing in her ears




Back to Hermione's actual job now)
Hermione was enjoying her new job very much, everything about it made her happy well everything apart from the behavior of a certain potions master. Hermione knew that Professor Snape had never been exactly keen on her whilst she was a student and also that there had never been a DADA teacher that he had been civilized to since Hermione had started at the school. However, Snape was behaving very peculiarly towards Hermione. Instead of avoiding her and not speaking to her at all he always seemed very keen to try and engage her in conversation. It was almost as if he was checking up on her and making sure that she was good enough for the job she had been given. At least this was how it seemed to Hermione. After all the business concerning the eventual downfall of Lord Voldemort, in which Harry and Hermione had saved Snape from the wrath of Lord Voldemort. Snape had never been as vindictive towards them as previously after this incident. And was seen by Hermione and Ron being thoroughly polite to Harry in the spring before they had left. Hermione trusted Snape. She knew only to well the sacrifices he was prepared to take to ensure the fall of the dark lord, and for that she sort of respected him. Having said this though she was still understandably freaked out by how interested he seemed in her and her teaching methods. If only she knew the truth......



Snape had no complaints with Hermione's teaching methods whatsoever. On the contrary he thought that for one so young she was doing her job rather well. The reason that Snape had such a vested interest in Professor Granger was because he was still incredibly grateful for the risk she had taken in helping to save his life. The problem was however Snape did not want to be too nice to Hermione (he had his reputation as a malevolent slimeball to maintain after all) So what he had decided to do was be ever so gradually nicer to Hermione (because if the truth be told he did rather like her as a person now as well as just feeling indebted to her). By only being gradually nicer, he hoped that Hermione would not notice any change (a bit of a long shot considering how bright she was). Snape just hoped that one day soon he could start to repay his debt to Hermione. This opportunity came sooner than he had anticipated...

[toryvic]

One afternoon, Snape had to go up to see Hermione to discuss with her one of the Slytherin third years who had been giving her a hard time (Saying she was Harry Potter's girlfriend). When he got to her office he noticed that the door was slightly ajar and she was sitting at her desk with her head in her hands. Just as he was about to knock she let out a little shuddering sob. Was this the best time for Snape to approach her? He really wasn't sure, he was just about to turn and walk away when she spotted him. 'P..P..Professor’ she called, and Snape furious at himself for not going away sooner opened the office door fully. 'Please take a seat' she gestured to the ornate chair in front of her desk. Snape considered it for a moment and then sat. 'Professor Granger' Snape began, in his low seemingly cold voice 'Are you quite alright?' Hermione looked at Snape intently. Was that concern she could see on his usually expressionless face? Surely not. 'Oh you know how it can be professor' she began 'When you've had an unpleasant class you sometimes wonder why you bother' Snape murmured his assent. He knew exactly how that felt, he wondered it every single day. ' I just want the pupils to respect me as their professor, is that too much to ask?' Snape didn't quite know what to say to that one. He did not care in the slightest whether the students loathed him or not.

"Miss, sorry… Professor Granger" Snape began, 'Do not let one bad lesson put you off teaching. If I had done that I would have left here in my very first week as potions master and would never have returned.' Hermione looked up at Snape through her red eyes. Why was he being so nice to her? His voice was calm and soothing, unlike the usual coldness she was used to. In fact he reminded her more of Dumbledore at that moment (pleasant and considerate) than of Professor Snape-The teacher who in the fourth year was so unspeakably cruel to her after she had fallen victim to a tooth enlarging spell she had actually cried. Now he was being nice, in fact he was being positively lovely. 'Now Professor' he said giving her an encouraging little smile. 'Do try and cheer up, I will reprimand the students who have been so unpleasant towards you and will ensure that nothing of this nature ever occurs again' Snape suddenly checked himself, was he overdoing the niceness just a little bit? Hermione looked up at Snape from her desk and beamed at him, and then the strangest thing happened. As Hermione smiled at him Snape could feel this strange moving in his stomach, he knew what it was immediately. 'Oh dear' he thought to himself, 'oh dear oh dear'

After the sudden stomach jolt, Snape had excused himself and gone back to his dungeon under the pretence of marking some sixth year assignments. As he walked back down through the castle he couldn't help wondering where the jolt had come from. Surely he could not have any sort of...he struggled for the right words in his brain...romantic attachment to Hermione Granger, or could he? After all she was a fairly attractive young woman not to mention extremely intelligent. He also remembered various incidents over the years that made him know that she had a fairly sweet and caring nature. She always seemed happy to Snape and she had a certain charisma that he had not seen in a woman for years. 'Pull yourself together Severus,' Snape said to himself. 'For goodness sake you are old enough to be her father!'

Hermione's conversation with Snape had really given her something to think about. She was no longer freaked out by his behaviour towards her and she realised that Snape seemed to genuinely care about her unhappiness. But why? Hadn't Snape always hated her? What could possibly have changed? Also for the first time Hermione was starting to think quite frequently about Professor Snape. Since his life had been saved from the clutches of Voldemort he seemed like a changed man. Granted he could and often did frighten his students into hysterics but he was nicer and more tolerant of other people. Also Hermione was truthfully stumped at the way Snape had been such a shoulder to cry on for her. She had never in her wildest dreams thought that Snape could possibly have a sensitive side, and felt in a strange way pleased, that other people's perceptions of Snape weren't completely correct.

[toryvic]

Hermione now felt much warmer towards Snape than she had done before their conversation, she would smile cheerily or wave when she passed him in the corridor, and often would go to him for advice if she had been having a particularly bad day. She often marvelled inwardly at the fact that he was such a different person to the one she thought she knew.

Nobody was more surprised about this new friendship than Snape himself. For several years Snape had been fairly moody and unhappy and now for the first time in what seemed like years and years he was laughing and happy. He had a certain spring in his step these days that had previously not been there, he was often to be seen smiling and conversing interestedly with either Hermione or other members of staff.

This seemed so peculiar to those around Snape that Professor McGonnagal was quite worried. She confided her fears in Professor Dumbledore.

'Albus' she asked 'Have you noticed the sudden change in Severus, he seems...well...how can I put it, almost normal. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled

'If he's being normal Minerva why are you so concerned?’ McGonagall looked somewhat apprehensive ‘Albus, do you think that it could be possible that Snape is going through...'she was clearly wrestling with herself whether to say this or not. 'Well could he possibly be going through a midlife crisis?' At this Dumbledore actually let out a little chortle of a laugh 'My dear Minerva' chuckled Dumbledore 'Severus is only 42! I have older things than him in the pantries downstairs! No Minerva, Severus is perfectly fine, in fact I've never seen him happier as long as I've known him, and that has certainly been a while'

After Professor McGonagall had left Dumbledore sat back in his chair a small smile playing on his lips. He was extremely glad to see the change in Snape. 'A little romance might be just what he is looking for' Dumbledore whispered to himself, and who better to provide it than Hermione he thought

It was now approaching Christmas at Hogwarts. Hermione felt completely at ease in her job now. Not only had Snape frightened the students who had upset Hermione into a state of almost nervous collapse, but the other students were clearly so keen on her and were so well behaved that Hermione often seemed to glow radiantly from the inside out. On about the second week of December Ginny Weasley went to see Hermione to tell her that Harry and Ron had been invited to come and spend Christmas at Hogwarts with Dumbledore. Since the defeat of Lord Voldemort Dumbledore treated Harry even more like a son than ever before and invited him to stay at Hogwarts.

Hermione was looking forward to seeing her friends but was also at the same time a little apprehensive. How would Ron behave towards her? Would everybody notice the friction in the air between them? Hermione was quite worried, It had now been more than four months since Hermione had last seen her two best friends. The longest period of time in seven years. Would they have changed? She knew that being an auror was a very demanding job and could be quite scary. What if she didn't like them any more? Hermione worried herself for two weeks until they arrived on Christmas Eve.

Snape had been to a certain extent avoiding Hermione for a little while now. He was really starting to have strong feelings for her but did not want to mention them to Hermione. He cringed when he thought of how he would feel if he told all to Hermione and she just told him she didn't feel the same. Snape had also noticed that recently Hermione had been a bit preoccupied and a bit distant towards him. Was it possible she already knew about the way he felt? He sincerely hoped not.

Something else that slightly bothered Snape was the fact that Potter and Weasley were coming to Hogwarts for Christmas. He had always suspected that Hermione had been having a relationship with at least one of them during her last couple of years at Hogwarts. What if she rekindled an old love? Snape really wasn't sure if he was going to be able to bear it if she did. Snape thought that the best thing that he could do was see how she behaved around them when the arrived and then he could get some idea of where her heart lay.

[toryvic]

Ron and Harry arrived on Christmas Eve. They had gone to the castle first to find Hermione but she was in Hogsmeade buying their Christmas presents. They eventually caught up with her at the Three Broomsticks. Hermione was sitting in a small booth by herself writing out Christmas cards. She was so absorbed in the cards that she didn't notice a tall man come and sit opposite her staring intently a broad grin on his face. When Hermione looked up she got the fright of her life 'Ron' she squealed happily and flung her arms around him. 'How are you? When did you get here? Where's Harry? Ron laughed 'All the better for seeing you. About an hour ago, He's at the bar.' Hermione looked and sure enough there at the bar was the scruffy haired man that Hermione knew so well. 'Ron how have you been?' she asked her cheeks pink with excitement. 'Oh fine' smiled Ron. 'We've finished in Austria for the time being. Should be starting at the ministry in January with a bit of luck' he continued. Harry came over with three butterbeers on a tray 'Hello Professor Granger' he said teasingly. Hermione stood up and as Harry deposited the beers she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 'I'm so pleased to see you both. I've been a bit worried, you've both got such a dangerous job' Harry laughed at this. I've been in Austria four months nobody has tried to kill me yet. When I was at Hogwarts somebody tried to kill me at least once a year. I feel safer than I have for years'. The door of the three broomsticks opened and Professors McGonagall and Snape came into the pub. Snape scanned round the pub obviously looking for somebody. His eyes fell on Hermione's table and he and Professor McGonagall walked over

'Ah Potter, Weasley, how are you both? Gryffindor Quidditch team isn't the same without you both

'Fine thanks' said Ron Harry nodded.

'How are you finding life as aurors? She continued interestedly. McGonagall had always had a very soft spot for Harry, Ron and Hermione and was especially interested in how they were finding life after Hogwarts. 'We're both really enjoying it, thank you Professor' said Harry, we should be starting at the ministry in the New Year'. Harry looked at McGonagall's smiling face. She looked older than he had remembered. How could she have aged since the summer? Harry's attention was then drawn to Snape. In contrast to McGonagall he looked younger and cheerier. His hair wasn't as greasy as it had always been and his deep empty eyes didn't seem empty any more. Snape was speaking quietly to Hermione and it looked to Harry as if there was a faint smile lingering around his mouth. 'Hello Professor' said Harry brightly. Snape turned. 'Ah Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley welcome back' he said in a tone, which seemed to Hermione as slightly forced

Ron was surveying Snape with some doubt. He had never, ever liked Snape. Even after Harry and Hermione had saved Snape's life (and in many ways left their previous hatred behind) Ron had still disliked him. And felt that Snape was still a slimy git. Ron also observed the change over Hermione when Snape had entered the pub. She had sat upright and her facial expressions changed (could it be possible that her eyes had got bigger when he came in?). Also in Ron's opinion Snape looked like a different person, definitely younger and more agreeable. Ron however put this down to the fact that he wasn't wearing the scowl that Ron had been used to seeing for seven years. He still didn't like him though, he decided and he definitely didn't like the way that Hermione was talking to him with such a look of blissfulness on her face

[toryvic]

For the rest of the day it was just like old times at Hogwarts. The three of them spent their time walking around Hogwarts. They went and visited Hagrid who was elated to see Harry and Ron again. Hagrid also had changed over the last few months. For one thing he had finally got married to Madame Maxime. This was the last time that Harry and Ron had seen Hagrid and indeed the last time they had been to Hogwarts (which was where the wedding had been held). Madame Maxime was still Headmistress at Beauxbatons but she apparated back to Hogsmeade at the weekend, and spent the weekend with Hagrid (and Fang) in the cabin. Also Hagrid in an attempt to please the woman he loved had dramatically cut his fearsome mane of hair so it was now shorter and manageable.

Also at the request of his wife he had taken up cookery lessons via a quikspell course, and at last Harry Ron and Hermione could accept biscuits from Hagrid without having the fear of breaking a tooth. Harry and Ron were really relishing being back at Hogwarts, they had both missed it more than they had thought they would. Hermione had shown Harry and Ron her office and the small apartment, which she had been living in at Hogwarts. They were both rather impressed. Harry particularly liked the way that her office was very similar to that of Remus Lupin (it was the same office but the way she had decorated it reminded Harry of Lupin). Hermione was in regular correspondence with Lupin who was often a source of good information in terms of teaching DADA. Harry and Ron had been given an apartment opposite to Hermione's for them to stay in whilst they were at Hogwarts and the three of them sat up until the early hours of Christmas morning reminiscing over old times.

Christmas day dawned bright and snow covered, at about half past seven Harry and Ron went to Hermione’s apartment to give her their Christmas presents. Harry had obtained from one of the guests at Hagrid’s wedding a photograph of Harry, Ron and Hermione which showed the three of them grouped together, Hermione in the middle with Harry and Ron at either side each with an arm draped over her shoulder. Harry knew that Hermione didn’t have a picture of the three of them together. He had also bought a silver frame for the photo to go into. Hermione was (as Harry hoped she would be) over the moon at this present and put the picture of the three friends grinning and waving to the camera, on the table in her living room. For Harry, Hermione had managed to buy a special leather bound first edition copy of ‘Quidditch Through The Ages’, Harry was extremely pleased with this present and asked Hermione where she had managed to pick up such a rare book. She had seen it ages ago in Quality Quidditch Supplies and bought it straight away knowing that Harry would absolutely love it. For Ron, Hermione had bought a new wizard chess set. She knew that his one was very old and that many of the pieces were a bit worse for wear. It had been quite expensive, but Hermione had decided that it was a sound investment because Ron was an extremely good chess player. Ron was thrilled with this present and Harry had to virtually prise Ron off Hermione he was hugging her so tightly. ‘Thank you so much Hermione’ he gushed ‘I really love it’. But by far the most surprising present was the one that Ron had bought Hermione. After Hermione had given had given him his present, Ron had gone back into his room. When he returned a few minutes later he had a rather sheepish smile on his face. ‘I hope you like this Hermione’ he said in a strangled sort of voice. He then proceeded to pull from his robe a fairly long carved wood box; (Hermione who knew just about everything about everything recognised the wood as oak) She opened the box, which was lined with purple velvet and inside was the most beautiful thing Hermione had ever seen. ‘Wow Ron’ Hermione managed to croak. How on earth had he been able to afford this? He was only a trainee auror he must have really saved up to be able to afford this, and by the looks of things not just for months but more like years. It was a beautiful antique white gold necklace with a sapphire pendant roughly the size of a silver sickle. The sapphire twinkled a beautiful deep blue. Hermione’s eyes filled up ‘It’s so beautiful’ she said and flung her arms around Ron’s neck.

Harry, who was behind Hermione and therefore could see Ron’s face, gave a small wink to Ron and then quietly left the room, sensing that possibly the two of them should be left alone for this.

‘Ron why did you buy me this, I don’t deserve it’ Ron looked straight into Hermione’s eyes, his face slightly pinker than usual. ‘I think you deserve it Hermione, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it for you’ he said his voice slightly husky. Hermione smiled ‘But why Ron? Why’ she asked ‘why have you spent a sack full of Galleons on a Christmas present for me, why not just buy me a box of chocolates or something, why all this?

Ron’s face went pinker than ever ‘Hermione’ his voice cracked, he was clearly undergoing some sort of internal struggle, but seemed resolved not to mince his words ‘Hermione I love you’ Hermione’s jaw dropped and her eyes looked as if they were actually going to pop out of her head. Whatever she had been expecting him to say it certainly wasn’t this. But Ron wasn’t prepared to stop there. ‘I’ve wanted us to be together for four years now Hermione and there always seems to be something that stands in our way. I’m home for good now and I really want to be with you. I was so unhappy when you told me you were staying at Hogwarts when I was going to Austria, and ever since Dumbledore wrote to Harry saying that he wanted us to come to Hogwarts for Christmas I’ve been so excited at the thought of seeing you.’ Hermione was (for possibly the first time in her life) absolutely dumbstruck. She just looked at Ron, her eyes bulging like a halibut’s possibly would if it was being strangled. What could she say? Did she love Ron? She certainly cared about him more than…. Well she knew that she definitely cared about him. But what could she say to Ron? She looked as his face so hopeful and boyish. She certainly couldn’t picture life without him. But then she couldn’t picture life without Harry either, (and she certainly wasn’t going to confess her undying love for him!!) Hermione wanted to say I love you to but the words seemed to get stuck halfway between her brain and her mouth. Instead she just squeezed his hand tightly and looked into his eyes.

[toryvic]

Professor Snape had woken up rather late on Christmas morning. He had been drinking Old Ogden’s Firewhisky with the headmaster, Hagrid and Professor Flitwick. It had began as a cheerful evening singing Christmas carols (well Hagrid had been) but the later in the evening had got and the more whisky consumed the more miserable Snape had become. It was about three-o clock in the morning and Snape had consumed probably a third of a bottle of whisky when he had to confide in Professor Dumbledore the root of his unhappiness. ‘What if she leaves the school to marry Weasley’ Snape slurred angrily. Dumbledore looked slightly surprised at this but just said gravely ‘Severus, Professor Granger is only 19 years old I doubt very much if she’s going to marry anybody any time soon’.

‘That’s another thing’ spat Snape angrily ‘She’s only 19 I’m almost 43, I’m a middle aged potions master. Not exactly a profession that can match the excitement of an auror.’ Snape sighed bitterly. ‘I don’t know Severus, you’ve had a pretty exciting few years. It’s not all been flobberworm mucus and pickled rats brains, now has it?’ retorted Dumbledore

‘I suppose not headmaster, but when I see her with Weasley I feel such a doddery old fool.’ Dumbledore laughed at this. ‘Severus when you get to my age you can start to think about calling yourself a doddery old fool. But in the mean time may I suggest that you let Professor Granger know how you feel about her. You never know your feelings might just be reciprocated’ Snape had thought about this at some length. Was this really the right time for him to share his feelings with Hermione? He definitely wanted to get his feelings out in the open, but was Christmas day the best time to spill his can of beans? He really didn’t know.

On Christmas morning Snape was on his way to see the headmaster to thank him for his advice the previous night and give him his Christmas present which was a box of sherbet lemons (Dumbledore’s stash had seriously depleted since he had introduced them to Snape who had become hooked). He had got about half way to Dumbledore’s office when he saw Harry and Ron, (who were on their way to the owlery to send Christmas greetings to Remus Lupin and the Weasleys.) Snape noticed that they were both talking animatedly and Ron (in his opinion) had an even more idiotic grin on his face than he usually did. A thought suddenly occurred to Snape, this could be the ideal chance to get Hermione to himself, to tell her once and for all how he felt. Without another moment’s hesitation Snape doubled back to his office to collect Hermione’s Christmas present. Snape could genuinely not remember a time when he had been more nervous. It had been twenty years since he had felt like this about a woman, and that had… well that had ended in disaster.

Five minutes later Snape was standing outside Hermione’s apartment. He took a deep breath and knocked. ‘Come in’ called a voice, which made Snape’s stomach turn over. Snape opened the apartment door and stepped inside. ‘Merry Christmas Professor Granger’ said Snape his voice as deep and calm as ever. Hermione had not been expecting Snape but was pleased to see him nonetheless beamed. ‘Merry Christmas Severus’ she smiled ‘and please call me Hermione, I hope we’ve been friends long enough now to call each other by our first names.’ Snape allowed his mouth to twitch as if to signify a smile. ‘Sorry, Merry Christmas…Hermione’ Snape said. In his head he always thought of Hermione as ‘Hermione’ not ‘Professor Granger’ but he had never called her by her first name ever, even when she was his student.

Hermione smiled broadly again ‘Severus please take a seat, and could I possibly get you a cup of tea?’

Snape smiled ‘That would be very nice, thank you’. Hermione walked into her very small kitchen in the corner (which was actually only two cupboards a small stove and a sink). She really didn’t know what was the matter with herself. Although she had expected the knock on her door to have been Ron’s and not Snape’s she found herself pleasantly surprised to see him. In fact her hands were shaking ever so slightly. Also the way that Snape had said her name (deep and slowly) had actually made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Hermione had been daydreaming so much that when the kettle magically began to whistle she almost dropped the cup, which was in her hand, from shock. She made the tea and took both cups into her living room. Snape was sitting in a chair nervously surveying the place. Hermione handed him a cup, which he gratefully accepted. She put hers down on the table and said with a slight mischievous grin ‘I’d better go and get your present. Snape had utterly forgotten the present that was in his cloak. As Hermione passed Snape on her way to her bedroom she noticed that he was wearing after-shave and particularly nice after-shave, not like the cheap stuff that Ron… Hermione quickly pulled herself together. She couldn’t believe that she had just compared the two men to one another. They couldn’t be more different. Hermione retrieved Snape’s present, which was in the bottom of her wardrobe, She carried the box into the living room, it was quite large. Hermione put it down on the floor. ‘Merry Christmas Severus’ Hermione said. Snape looked puzzledly at the present but proceeded to unwrap it. Inside the box was quite a small cast iron cauldron. On it was engraved
‘Professor Severus Snape,
Potions Master

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry’‘I thought you could use it for special occasions.’ Hermione laughed. She knew full well that Snape had approximately 70 cauldrons in his dungeon. In fact it had been a bit of a standing joke between the two of them that Snape had a cauldron shortage. This cauldron was not anything like the school cauldrons though, it was much heavier and grander. Snape was elated at the present. ‘Hermione thank you very much it’s…er …wonderful’ At this they both chuckled. ‘Are you sure you like it’ she asked, serious for a moment. Snape let out another laugh

‘I do, I really do. It’s fantastic. It can live in my office. It’s far too good for my damp old dungeon.’ Hermione smiled relieved.

‘Umm… Hermione this is for you’ said Snape somewhat apprehensively. He handed her a tiny package. Hermione opened it and inside was a small silver and pearl hatpin.

[toryvic]

Two months before, on a wet Sunday afternoon Hermione and Snape had been discussing memorable aspects of their childhood. Hermione had told Snape the story about the day she had first realised she had magical capabilities.

When Hermione had been a small girl her grand parents always took her to church on a Sunday morning (she had explained). They always sat in the same seats, as did the rest of the congregation. There was one woman, who used to sit two rows in front of Hermione who used to wear a large hat and had a variety of very interesting hatpins. Hermione at the time was about eight years old and did not find the sermons very entertaining. She used to amuse herself by looking at the lady’s hatpins (she had a very large assortment) One particular day the lady’s pin was at an angle on her head so that Hermione could not see it. This annoyed her because she had nothing to entertain her, and she really wished she could see it. She was staring so intently at the lady’s head, (trying to get a decent view of the pin) and concentrating so hard on it, that the pin (which was silver with a pearl on it’s top) suddenly came zooming towards Hermione. At the time this was particularly shocking for little Hermione, but she managed to replace it inconspicuously after she had had a good look at it. It wasn’t until years later that Hermione realised that she had put a summoning charm the pin.

Hermione looked down at the hatpin not quite knowing what to say. She genuinely could not believe that Snape had remembered this story. The hatpin was not particularly grand or expensive but Snape had bought it for her because he knew that it would hold great sentimental value to Hermione.

‘Severus, I…’ Hermione broke off. She was close to tears. She knew that Snape would have had to go into the muggle world to buy the pin (Snape was a pure blood wizard without a great affection for muggles). Hermione walked over to Snape who stood up foreseeing what was coming. She went over a hugged him. (Snape reciprocated hardly believing his luck) ‘Severus, this is the best present anybody has ever given me, I don’t know how to thank you’ she gushed. Snape smiled wistfully, he knew exactly how she could thank him, but he wasn’t quite ready to suggest it. ‘Merry Christmas Hermione,’ he whispered into her hair, glad that she hadn’t broken off the hug.

Hermione had never felt such a tangle of emotions in her life. Less than an hour ago Ron had given her an extravagantly beautiful necklace, which had obviously cost several weeks’ wages. He had also told Hermione that he loved her, but she was unsure how she felt herself.

Snape on the other hand had bought Hermione a fairly plain and boring hatpin and had never told Hermione that he had any feelings for her whatsoever. But at that moment Hermione knew who she wanted to be with more. There had been so much thought and care, which had gone into this present. Why would he go to so much trouble for her? Surely he wasn’t in love with her. Hermione blushed at the very thought. Professor Snape was a mature and extremely intelligent man why on earth would he be interested in Hermione? Hermione was absorbed in pondering this fact when her chain of thought was interrupted by Snape’s voice

‘Hermione’ he asked in a very low voice, loosening his hold on Hermione ever so slightly. ‘Mmmmm?’ she said stepping back and looking up into Snape’s face her cheeks slightly pink. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, what is that?’ he indicated the wooden box on the coffee table. ‘Oh…it’s a present from…erm…Ron’ Hermione blushed a furious pink.

‘May I see’ he asked. Hermione felt completely powerless, her face was beginning to burn. Without waiting for a reply Snape reached for the box and opened it. As soon as he looked at the necklace, his face changed completely, his eyes hardened and his faint lingering smile vanished completely, also his body seemed to stiffen. ‘It’s er very nice Professor Granger’ he said softly, the warmth in his voice gone. For a moment they both stared at each other not knowing what to say. Snape was wearing a very surly look, but after a moment he checked himself, straightened up and forcing a smile said ‘Please excuse me Professor, I must go and give the headmaster his present before dinner starts. Thank you for the gift I like it very much indeed’. Before Hermione could say another word Snape had picked up his cauldron and swept out of the door silently shutting it behind him.

[toryvic]

Hermione slumped in her chair and began to sob. Snape, instead of going to the headmaster went back to his room, he was angry. Angry with Hermione, angry with Ron, but most of all angry with himself. ‘I’ve been such a fool’ he muttered to himself as he opened his door, ‘Why would she want me when she could have somebody like him.’

An hour later Hermione walked on her own into the Great Hall. She had told Ron and Harry that she would catch them up when they had called for her five minutes before. She could not bear the idea of walking into the Hall with Ron. She knew her eyes were red and a bit puffy but she didn’t care.

When she walked into the hall she could see that the staff table had been pulled out and the staff, Ron, Harry and half a dozen students were already sitting around it. Ron and Harry were at one side of the table talking animatedly to Hagrid. Two seats along from Harry was Professor Snape. He was looking down when Hermione walked in, apparently very interested in his gold side plate. Were his eyes red too? Hermione wasn’t altogether sure. Hermione could see that the seat beside Ron was free, as was the one next to Snape. Who should she sit next to? Hermione bit her lip. She would rather have sat next to Snape if she was honest. She really needed to explain to him about Ron’s gift. She knew that this had upset him. Was it possible that Snape possibly thought that Ron’s gift was superior to his own? Admittedly, it had cost more money- considerably more, but Snape’s gift showed how much he obviously cared about Hermione. He had remembered a detail from a trivial conversation and had deliberately gone out of his way to buy the present. Hermione racked her brain, had Snape ever given any sign that he was interested in Hermione in any way other than friendship? No she thought, he’d never given any suggestion whatsoever before that he wished to be her lover. However, was that strictly true? He was far nicer to her than she had ever seen him be to anybody else. He was considerate of her feelings (like the times he had comforted her and offered friendly advice when she had been unhappy), and most importantly, he had bought her the hatpin. This surely wasn’t the action of a man who wasn’t interested, now was it?

As Hermione approached the table Ron looked up and beamed possibly the widest smile Hermione had seen in her entire life. What on earth was she going to do? Hermione returned Ron’s smile but then decided to sit beside Harry. This was, in her opinion the safest option if she wished to avoid hurting anybody’s feelings. Hermione sat down and looked pointedly at Snape, he completely ignored her. Hermione couldn’t stop herself giving a little sigh.

Snape could think of nowhere that he wanted to be less at that moment than the Great Hall. All he wanted to do was go back to his office and drown his sorrows. He noticed that Hermione’s eyes were puffy and little as if she had been crying. This gave him no satisfaction whatsoever. Something that did give him satisfaction though, was the fact that she wasn’t wearing the necklace that Ron had bought her. Snape looked sideways at Hermione he could scarcely remember her looking as unhappy as she did then. Snape was just about to apologise to Hermione for his abruptness in her apartment, when Ron came over and sat on the vacant chair between the two of them. Snape’s lips tightened. He didn’t want to overhear any intimate conversation between the two of them. He had never liked Ron, but at that moment he positively hated him. He couldn’t believe that he had got so close to telling Hermione that he loved her, and how that ginger idiot had spoiled his only chance.

Hermione made a brave attempt at conversation throughout dinner but was in no mood whatsoever to make small talk with Ron and Harry. As soon as dinner ended, Hermione excused herself from the table saying that she had a headache and would attend the customary Christmas party in the staff room that evening.

[toryvic]

As Hermione was walking down the corridor, she could hear the sound of quick foot falls behind her. She stopped walking and turned to see Ron hurrying towards her ‘Hermione are you alright?’ he asked, his face red from trying to catch up with her brisk pace. ‘You left the hall so quickly I wanted to make sure you were alright’ Hermione looked up at Ron, her face was defiant ‘Ron, I’m fine’ she said harshly. ‘I just want to be left on my own that’s all’ Ron looked slightly taken aback at this. ‘Oh’ he said his eyes narrowing slightly. ‘Fine…but would you at least let me see you back to your room?’

‘Ron,’ she said coldly ‘I need my own space at the moment…please… we can speak later.’ Ron looked at Hermione, he wasn’t going to let her go without an argument. ‘What on earth is the matter with you Hermione? This morning you were, you were so lovely to me, but since I left your apartment you’ve been really frosty towards me. I don’t deserve it Hermione I really don’t. Hermione raised her head and stared into Ron’s face. ‘No Ron, your right you don’t deserve it’ Ron reached forward to put his hand on her shoulder, but Hermione brushed him angrily away. ‘Ron, I have nothing to offer you, A relationship between the two of us wouldn’t work. I just want us to be friends’

Ron stared at Hermione the colour draining from his face. Was this the same girl who had been so affectionate towards him only the same morning? He wasn’t going to let her go without a fight. ‘Hermione how can you say that. It would work, I could make it work. There is nothing, nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I told you that I love you, I mean it I really do. Whatever you want from me I promise I’ll give it to you.’ Hermione looked up at Ron, his voice was so pleading, his expression so earnest. She did care about Ron, she was sure she did, and up until today she thought that she even loved him. So why was she turning him down? What had changed? Ron certainly hadn’t changed. he loved her, he always had (as he had told her so that morning). So why now could she not bring herself to return Ron’s love. ‘I’m so sorry’ Hermione whispered ‘But Hermione I love you’ returned Ron his voice full of desperation. Hermione had to force the next words out ‘ I’m sorry Ron but I don’t love you’

Ron looked as if he had just been slapped extremely hard around his face. His face was mingled with pain and surprise. For a moment Hermione thought that he looked as if he was about to burst into tears, but Ron was not going to allow himself to cry in front of Hermione. Instead he straightened up and (in a manner which reminded Hermione exceedingly of Ron’s father) said in a very strained voice. ‘Alright Hermione I shan’t bother you on the matter again’ Hermione opened her mouth to say something more but Ron turned on his heels and walked stiffly away. As Hermione saw the back of his head retreating her heart sank even further, she felt as if she had stabbed one of her dearest friends in the chest. Hermione couldn’t help herself and fat tears began to plop down her cheeks.

[toryvic]

Once Snape had finished his dinner he was desperate to leave the table and go back to his room, however the headmaster insisted on detaining him for a further twenty minutes. It was only when Dumbledore proposed a game of charades that Snape absolutely insisted on leaving the great hall. As Snape walked out the Hall he saw that the front door to the castle was open and the wintry sunshine was shining into the entrance hall. Snape decided that instead of going directly back to his room he would take a walk in the grounds first.

Snape had always been a great walker and as he had plenty of thinking to do he thought that a good walk would be just what he needed. Snape began to walk towards the greenhouses. Behind the greenhouses were Hogwarts ornamental gardens. These had been planted around seventy years ago in memory of a headmistress who had died at the school who had been a keen gardener and Herbologist. These gardens were not generally accessible to the students, and they were only permitted to go into them in the summer. The lack of students always made this part of the grounds particularly popular with members of staff. Snape often took delight in walking around the gardens, especially in the evenings when the grounds were peaceful and he could enjoy the flowers alone.

This afternoon, Snape was too immersed in his own thoughts to notice the gardens around him. He felt a fool, and worse than a fool, an old fool at that. He could not believe that he had lost out on the chance of happiness with Hermione at the hands of Ron Weasley. Snape’s lip curled. This was the second time in his life that he had lost out on love to another man at the last minute. Snape sighed as he remembered his first love. He knew that he reason that had fallen in love so easily with Hermione was because the two women were so very alike. They were both in his opinion very beautiful, they had both been extremely clever, and both had possessed a wicked sense of humour, intent on teasing Snape for hours at a time. Snape smiled ruefully. In his heart he was sure that he was destined to be alone for the rest of his life, he should have taken his first chance when it came along. Had he known that his second chance at love would not come for another twenty-two years, he would have made more of an effort the first time around. Now it looked as if Snape would be spending the rest of his life as a lonely embittered old man, evil to his students and unpleasant to behold.



Snape was not sure how long he had been walking thinking about the misery he had been subjected to, and his general lack of luck with women, when on turning a corner he saw somebody sitting on a bench a few yards away. It was Hermione. Snape did not know whether to turn on his heels and walk directly away without her notice, or go over and engage her in conversation. After a moment, Snape noticed with some alarm that Hermione was crying. This confused Snape, surely she should be back in the castle immersed in happy conversation with Weasley, why on earth would she be crying about that? Unless… unless they had had an argument. Snape hardly dared to hope that this was the case, but as soon as the thought entered his head, he resolved to go over to Hermione and attempt to comfort her.

[toryvic]

Snape stalked silently across the lawn over to the bench that Hermione was sitting on, she still didn’t know he was there and Snape didn’t want to shock her. ‘Hermione’ said Snape in his usual deep voice. Hermione looked up immediately, she was extremely surprised to see him. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’ he continued soothingly. Hermione tried to control her tears ‘Nothing, I’m just being silly’ she said. Snape sat beside her on the bench. He had seen Hermione cry before but it still surprised him slightly. Snape felt a strong conflict of emotions. On the one hand he wanted to put his arms around Hermione and comfort her, but on the other he really didn’t know where he stood with her. And also there was the question of Weasley, what had happened between the two of them, to make Hermione cry? Snape’s curiosity got the better of him ‘Hermione’ he began apprehensively ‘Where is…er…what about…umm…sorry’ he said pulling himself together ‘I was given to believe that… Mr Weasley came to Hogwarts this Christmas to be with and…proposition you. Why are you alone out here Hermione? It doesn’t seem to make much sense to me’

Hermione stared at Snape, he really seemed to care about why she was crying, his face was full of concern and his voice she noticed was in a way coaxing. Hermione however was not sure whether she wanted to tell Snape the details of her exchange with Ron. It seemed to her that it would be somehow unkind to Ron to discuss what had occurred between them to Snape especially as Hermione knew how much Ron disliked him. Hermione cleared her throat ‘ You’re right Severus, Ron did come to Hogwarts specifically to see me, and I was really looking forward to seeing him’ (Snape frowned but Hermione didn’t see) ‘But when he did come I realised that we wanted two different things. I’m happy here at Hogwarts and I wouldn’t be prepared to leave it if he asked me to. Not now anyway. Also I’m not…’ Hermione checked herself just in time, she had almost said ‘I’m not in love with him’. She couldn’t believe she had almost added further insult to the injury of her friend she also sincerely hoped that Snape hadn’t been able to finish the sentence for himself. But he had. Snape was an extremely clever person and he knew that due to the fact that Hermione was sat crying alone on a bench on Christmas day, that there had obviously been some sort of disagreement between the two of them. ‘Hermione, I don’t wish to pry, but if you want to talk about it…it might make you feel better.’ Hermione looked at Snape. She really trusted him. He was such a good friend to her, she often found it hard to believe that he was the same man who used to delight in calling her an ‘insufferable know it all’. As Hermione thought of those words she smiled. It was almost as if it was a completely different person, she had seen a tender side to Snape, a side that she never could have dreamed existed. She knew that he cared about her. The fact that he was trying to comfort her now was, in Hermione’s opinion, fairly strong evidence. Also the hatpin. That wasn’t the sort of present that a disinterested acquaintance would buy. For the second time that day Hermione questioned Snape’s feelings for her. She looked sideways at his face. Did she feel for him the way that she believed he felt for her? Hermione’s stomach squirmed. She knew that her pulse raced more when she was around Snape than it ever did when she was around Ron. She knew that although he was old enough to be her father and definitely could not be considered attractive (although he seemed a lot more attractive when he smiled and his hair was clean.) But Hermione knew he was a good man. He was clever and funny and his voice often made her swoon like she was a twelve-year-old girl at a pop concert. Also, there was the issue of the hatpin. Hermione thought about it. She did feel for him in a way that was more than just friendly. ‘Severus, there really is nothing that is concerning me unduly. Ron and I are never going to be an item, as I’ve told him’ Snape really could not hide his smile this time and Hermione noticed.

Snape knew that she had seen him smile. He really couldn’t stop himself. Knowing that she wasn’t about to run off with Weasley at any time soon was a great relief, it also allowed Snape to hope. He could now hope that at some stage (maybe not today) he had the chance of building on a relationship with Hermione. Snape also felt that it was really his duty to give some sort of explanation to Hermione as to the reason why he had been smiling like a Cheshire Cat on hearing the information that she was not about to elope with Ron. Especially as her face was at that moment very inquisitive. ‘Sorry Hermione, I am really not smiling at poor Mr Weasley’s misfortune, he said it’s just…I’m very glad that you aren’t going to leave Hogwarts, and I’m glad that you feel you are doing the right thing’ Snape paused looking at Hermione and said in a slightly lower voice ‘and I’m very very glad that you’ve stopped crying’. His face broke into a smile, as did Hermione’s making both of their stomachs jolt. Hermione reached across and squeezed Snape’s hand. ‘Thank you Severus, thank you for your support’

Snape looked down to his lap where Hermione’s hand was still holding his. Never in his life had he ever felt more desperately compelled to kiss somebody as he did at that moment. He looked back up at Hermione. She was so beautiful, yes her eyes were puffy and her hair was very bushy, but never had he been so enchanted by any woman the way he was enchanted by her. If Snape could have one wish it was that this moment would never end, he could have happily sat on that bench next to Hermione with her holding his hand for the remainder of his life. Snape could not bear to think of how he would feel if she had told him that she did not love him like she had told Ron.

[toryvic]

He also couldn’t bear the idea of loving Hermione and not being able to tell her. In his opinion love unrequited was easier to deal with than love unmentioned. In his opinion love was like a poison that consumed the body. Snape was always a man enchanted by potions and poisons (as you can well imagine by the choice of his career) Once love had been declared and refused, love (the poison) can be drawn out and the healing process can begin. But if love is never mentioned it can eat away at the person making them bitter and miserable (like a particularly potent poison). Snape knew that the most sensible thing that he could do would be to declare his love for Hermione at least then he had the chance of getting over her, but as he tried the words wouldn’t find their way out ‘Hermione I love you’ sounded a bit of a stupid thing to say in Snape’s opinion, especially as there had been no romantic build up. Also the thought of the look on Hermione’s face when he (a man of 42) proclaimed his undying love for her was almost too much for him to bear. Snape was sure that he did actually love Hermione and the most sensible thing for him to do would be to tell her. Snape took a deep breath ‘Hermione’ he said, his voice very strained ‘Hermione, I’m afraid I must tell you this, You probably won’t want to hear it especially not today, it’s just if I tell you now you won’t have to hear it another time, so….’ Snape didn’t have a clue how he was going to say this. ‘I just think I ought to tell you that I…’ he faltered ‘that I think I love you.’ He didn’t pause for a reaction he just carried on gabbling, ‘and I’ve tried not to ever since you came back to Hogwarts but it hasn’t worked and I can’t help my feelings and I don’t think you feel the same way but I just feel that you have a right to know.’ Snape took several deep breaths.

Hermione stared. She could not believe that two different men had declared their love for her in one day. That morning nobody had ever told her they loved her, and now at half past three on the very same day, two people had told her. She couldn’t believe it, and the fact that one of them was Severus Snape…Professor Snape, a man that she had hated for just about seven years. A man who had been horrible to her on numerous occasions, who she had accidentally knocked unconscious when she was in the third year. A man, who had been the nemesis of her and her best friends for years. This man…this man had just proclaimed his love for her. But, even more extraordinary she fairly much felt the same way. Hermione looked at Snape, he was looking down his face slightly pink, Hermione thought that at that moment he looked about fourteen. Her heart swelled, she still felt very shocked but at the same time there was another emotion involved could it possibly be pride? Hermione certainly was surprised that such a mature and intelligent man could find Hermione so deeply attractive she really didn’t understand what her saw in her. ‘But why?’ Hermione had meant to say these words in her head but they had accidentally fallen out of her mouth. Snape looked up at Hermione ever so slightly confused ‘Why what?’ he asked. Hermione felt a bit of a fool forcing out these next words but she just about managed. ‘Why.. why on earth do you, do you love me?’ Had these words come out of anybody else’s mouth Snape would have firmly believed that the person was somehow fishing for compliments, but from the genuinely puzzled look on Hermione’s face and the earnestness of her voice he knew that she was truly at a loss. Snape smiled, his black eyes twinkling and he adopted his softest deadliest voice a voice that Hermione had not heard for a good while. ‘Tut tut Miss Granger and you normally being top of the class’. His whole demeanour changed and he looked straight into Hermione’s eyes his voice back to it’s normal tone, clearly deciding that was not the moment for comic impressions of himself. ‘Hermione, you are clever, funny, kind, witty, you cry when people upset you, and when you accidentally upset others, you care about people, you are beautiful and you are the most amazing girl…most amazing woman I have ever known, and whatever you say and whatever you do I’m sure that I could never stop loving you’.

Hermione looked at Severus her cheeks glowing, she smiled ‘Are you sure you’re talking about me? I was almost believing you until you said beautiful.’ Snape let out a very small laugh ‘Hermione, you are beautiful, and…’ Hermione stopped him from saying anything that could make her glow further, by leaning forward and kissing him on the lips.

Snape jolted with surprise when Hermione’s lips met his, he could hardly believe his luck. Two minutes ago he thought that she was going to tell him that he was too old for her, and if she was going to refuse Ron Weasley’s advances he was definitely not going to stand a chance, and now, and now the most beautiful girl in the world was kissing him, despite the fact that he was a hook nosed sallow faced man old enough to be her father. After what must have been about thirty seconds but had seemed about two seconds to Snape Hermione pulled away ever so slightly and looked at Snape her eyes looking into his. ‘Severus, I love you to’ she whispered not realising how much she meant it. Snape smiled at Hermione and leaning forward kissed her for what was, in his opinion a much more satisfactory length of time.

[toryvic]

I will post the second half of this story once I have edited out the one, brief, reference to a homosexual relationship between two of the characters they don't even feature in the story but I'm really worried that I'll be accused of writing slash, and will be banished from the forums for all eternity. So it might be a day or two before I post the next bit!!!!

If anybody wants to start up a feedback page about this fanfic, please feel free, I always really appreciate people's criticisms/comments/compliments about my work, and it will help me to improve in the future (or inflate my head to moon-like proportions if you like it)

Happy reading
Victoria

[toryvic]

Hermione had been very surprised when Snape had proclaimed his love for her whilst out in the gardens. But now, three hours later, once Hermione had let it sink in a bit more she was really starting to get used to the idea. Five minutes ago she had left Snape in the ornamental gardens and had headed back to her apartment to prepare for the staff party. (The students had all had their tea in their common rooms this evening). She had spent the last few hours sitting cosily with Snape in the garden, chatting and revealing the full extent of her feelings. As she turned the corridor, which led to her apartment, she genuinely felt as if she was floating a few feet off the ground. As she magically unlocked her door she felt an overwhelming sense of longing, she couldn’t believe it, she missed Snape already. Once inside her apartment she set about running herself a bath, and tidying up the wrapping paper and plates and cups from the morning. As she was tidying she noticed the necklace on the table and her stomach gave a horrible jerk. Ron. She simply had to give the necklace back. There was just no way that it would be right for her to accept such a meaningful gift after she had trampled on his heart like that. Poor Ron, he really was such a nice person, but she just couldn’t see it happening, especially not now she had Snape. She was just settling down to a good bout of daydreaming when there was a tap at her door. Hermione rushed over, sincerely hoping that it was going to be Snape, back to disturb her or hopefully kiss her a bit more. Hermione opened the door and felt a brief stab of disappointment when she saw Harry standing there and not the new love of her life.

‘Hermione, hi,’ said Harry almost nervously ‘I’ve just come, really, to umm see if you are alright. It’s just Ron told me what was said between the two of you and I figured you must be pretty upset so I thought I would come and see about cheering you up.’

Hermione felt very guilty. At that moment somewhere in the castle would be Ron, her best friend for seven years, and there was a fair chance that wherever he was, he was severely miserable and feeling very sorry for himself. And there she was, gallivanting around the grounds with her new boyfriend, whilst poor Ron was probably crying his heart out.

‘Harry,’ said Hermione with a definite guilty tone in her voice that she couldn’t get rid of ‘I do feel bad about Ron but I do think that I’ve done the right thing. There is no point in leading him to believe that I feel more for him than I actually do, and I’m not going to force myself to love him because that wouldn’t be fair on either of us. You do understand, don’t you Harry?’

Harry smiled at his friend. She was always so clever he thought to himself. He could never express himself in the same way that Hermione did, in a way that nobody was left in any doubt about exactly what she meant about anything. ‘Yes, I do understand,’ he sighed ‘it’s just I’m not so sure that Ron does’. Harry sat down and Hermione, who was just preparing to launch into the whole story again for Harry’s sake was very surprised when there was another knock at the door.

[toryvic]

Hermione walked over to the door praying that it wasn’t Ron, she opened it and saw that it was Snape this time who was standing there ‘Sorry Professor Granger’ he said flirtatiously ‘I just couldn’t keep away’. Snape’s eyes fell on Harry and his face purpled in embarrassment. Hermione would have giggled at the look on their faces had it not been such an awkward situation. Snape looked very embarrassed, (in the manner of a schoolboy forced to introduce his girlfriend to his granny) and as for Harry, he didn’t simply look embarrassed he looked deeply shocked as well. Could it be possible that Professor Snape had just flirted with Hermione?

‘Hello Mr Potter’, said Snape bravely ‘I’m so sorry to interrupt your conversation I just wanted a…a…erm… a word with Hermione here. But I can see you are both busy so I’ll come back a bit later on if it’s not inconvenient… er is that alright Hermione?’

‘Yes fine Severus’ said Hermione as if she was very keen for him to leave. As she showed him out he mouthed ‘I love you’ at her, smiled and walked off down the corridor.

Hermione turned back to face Harry her face very flushed. She knew exactly what was coming. She could see the look of astonishment on Harry’s face and knew exactly what he was about to say. ‘Hermione, is there something going on between you and Severus Snape?’

Hermione did not have a clue what to say. She generally found that telling the truth was the best thing to do if you could not think of a convincing lie in time. ‘Yes’ she said ‘we are seeing each other’. Harry could barely believe his ears. He had always thought of Hermione as a beautiful and extremely clever girl (and had Ron not claimed her, he would probably at some stage have made a move himself). Harry could truthfully not see what on earth she saw in Snape. As far as Harry was concerned he was a horrible middle aged man, and although to an extent Snape and himself had buried the hatchet, he could not believe that Hermione would ever choose Snape a former teacher over Ron a former boyfriend. ‘Does Ron know?’ Harry asked, although he was pretty sure that if Ron had known he would have had plenty to say on the matter. ‘No not yet,’ she said ‘but he’s going to have to find out sooner rather than later, and I think it ought to come from me rather than anybody else’. Harry agreed and he also wondered that if it came to blows between Ron and Snape, who would fare the worst. Harry knew what Ron was like and he also knew how much he still loathed Snape from their school days. When he found out that Snape had taken the love of his life. Harry was sure that Ron wasn’t going to be very happy about it.

‘Hermione you have put me in a pretty awkward situation y’know. Ron’s my best friend I can’t keep secrets from him’ Hermione sighed

‘I thought I was your friend as well. There is no awkward situation; I’m going to go and see him as soon as I’ve got changed. I have to give him this necklace back anyway.’

Harry half smiled, this reminded him remarkably of the times back in their earlier friendship when Hermione and Ron were always falling out and he was left to play piggy in the middle. Somehow, Harry thought that this time it would be much worse.

[toryvic]

Hermione knew that her conversation with Ron wasn’t going to be a jolly one. How could she tell him that she was in love with the man that he hated? She knew what Ron was like and that he certainly would be really persistent and he wouldn’t let her just return the necklace explain she was in love with Snape and go on her merry way. No, Ron would make her drag it out and make everything far worse than it deserved to be. After Hermione had changed into her purple dress robes (the staff party was always a formal occasion) she made her way down to Snape’s dungeon hoping that he would be there. If he wasn’t then she would have to try and find his living quarters and she wasn’t altogether sure where they would be.

She stuck her head round the door and saw Snape sitting at his desk leafing through a potions book. As she walked in he saw her and walked over. ‘Hermione’ he said, but his voice was so low it sounded like a seductive growl. ‘I’m terribly pleased to see you, it’s been…about 35 minutes and I was really beginning to pine for you’. Snape pulled Hermione towards him and kissed her lightly at first, getting more and more keen as the seconds progressed. ‘Severus,’ she sighed pulling away after a minute or two. ‘Unfortunately I didn’t come down here for you to practise kissing on. I’ve come to tell you I might be a bit late for the party because I’ve got to return the necklace to Ron’ Hermione saw a flicker in Snape’s face. "I can’t keep it so there’s no point in getting jealous at me going to see him." Snape looked intently at Hermione, ‘How do you know me so well when we’ve only been together for four and a half hours. But you’re right, I am being jealous and I know there’s no need, I trust you and I love you and you can do what you’ve got to do. Snape squeezed Hermione in his arms. ‘I’ll see you at the party’ he said ‘But can I have another kiss before you go, after all, practise makes perfect.’
Hermione knew as she walked down the corridor back towards her apartment that this was going to be bad, very bad. Apprehensively she knocked on the door. ‘Come in’ called Ron’s voice. Hermione opened the door and walked into the apartment opposite hers. She looked briefly around. It was quite like hers but shabbier. Ron was sitting in a winged armchair facing the fire. ‘Hello Hermione’ he said thickly not looking round. Hermione was slightly surprised. ‘How did you know it was me’ Ron turned his head towards Hermione and smiled ‘recognised your knock’ Hermione raised her eyebrow in a manner which reminded Ron of when she was about thirteen. ‘I’m an auror now Hermione. I’ve got a very small foe glass on the table, look’. Sure enough there was a mirror on the table which showed the corridor outside, including Hermione’s door. ‘I’m not a foe, and you know that there’s nobody at Hogwarts likely to harm you. Not after everything that has happened over the past year’. Ron looked a bit sulky for a minute ‘I know, it’s just … well I think it’s pretty and it does have a certain novelty value still. I’ve only been an auror for a few months.’ Hermione smiled.

However she pretended otherwise she really did care about Ron, and it wasn’t as if she cared about him just because they had been at school together. They had been through too much for their friendship to be like that. Ever since Ron had saved Hermione’s life in the first year there had been a bond between the two of them. Throughout the years Ron had defended Hermione, countless times Malfoy had upset her and Ron had stuck up for her (and had even been forced to regurgitate slugs because of it). They had had many arguments over the years as well, (most of which they had laughed about afterwards). Hermione missed the old days so much. She remembered all the times they had sneaked out of the common room under the invisibility cloak. She remembered trips to Hogsmeade, and measuring History of Magic assignments. And now, she felt awkward speaking to him as if she had to watch everything that she said.

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Hermione was just about to speak when Ron beat her to it. ‘Hermione I was wrong earlier on to pressurise you. I really had no right. I understand that you and I don’t really have a future ahead of us, in terms of a relationship anyway and it was wrong of me to try to buy your love with that stupid necklace. I’ve been a bit of an idiot Hermione and I’d just like to apologise and say that I’m perfectly happy for things to go back to the way they were, that is if you are okay with that. Ron smiled at Hermione, the same guilty smile he wore in the old days when he had accidentally upset her and was asking for forgiveness.

Hermione was taken aback, she had clearly given less credit to Ron than he deserved. She had been expecting a fuss (the lack of it made her look rather vain) she had at least expected Ron to blame her in some way. She certainly blamed herself, after all she had been very unkind to Ron after he had done his best to make her happy. After seeing how easygoing Ron was being she wasn’t really sure whether there was any reason to mention her relationship with Snape, after all Ron and Harry would be leaving tomorrow night and then she might not see him at Hogwarts for a while. The three of them had already planned a trip to visit Remus Lupin in the Easter holidays, but apart from that they had no plans for meeting up at all. What on earth could be gained from rubbing Ron’s nose in it any further. He didn’t need Hermione to add insult to injury and admit that she was in love with a man that Ron couldn’t stand.

Hermione took a seat beside Ron. ‘Ron, I’m so sorry about the way things have turned out. Let’s concentrate on keeping our friendship as special as it always has been. There really isn’t any point in spoiling it by allowing it to change.’ Hermione looked down ‘and about the necklace, I really think that you ought to take it back to where it came from’

‘What? And leave you with nothing after you bought me that chess set. You must be joking, anyway he said I really want you to have it. I bought it in Austria and I won’t be able to get my money back on it. Think of it as a token of our friendship which we are not going to let change despite the fact that we no longer live in each other’s pockets like we did when we were here.’ Hermione smiled at Ron. ‘Speaking of wizard’s chess, Mr Weasley, I challenge you to a game’. Ron grinned and Hermione smiled and they both quite happily settled down to what promised to be an excellent game of chess.

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About an hour later Harry came into the apartment to see where they had got to. ‘Are you two going to come down to the party?’ asked Harry ‘People keep asking me where the two of you have got to, Dumbledore sent me to flush you both out.’ Hermione and Ron smiled. ‘Hermione can go straight down’ said Ron ‘but I’ll have to change into my dress robes, I’ll see you in about ten minutes’.

Hermione and Harry left the apartment and made their way down to the staff room on the second floor. As soon as they had got round the corner Harry turned to Hermione ‘Did you tell him about you and Snape?’ Hermione shook her head, ‘No, I didn’t, I didn’t think that it was really all that important, after we had both apologised there was no need to make the matter any worse by bringing up things that weren’t important’. Harry stared at Hermione in disbelief. How could Hermione think that it was unimportant that she was… she was… to use Ron’s own terms, fraternising with the enemy, well Ron’s enemy anyway. Harry also didn’t like the idea of keeping secrets from Ron and thought that by Hermione being so secretive she could only make the situation worse. Still, he thought, it wasn’t his business so the very best thing that he could do was keep his nose out.

The staff room was decorated brightly with thousands and thousands of fairy lights. Hermione had tried to encourage Dumbledore not to use them this year because it seemed cruel (she was still a campaigner for magical creatures). Dumbledore insisted however that fairies enjoyed being admired and the most honorable occupation for a fairy was to twinkle and be admired by witches and wizards. At one end of the staff room there was a long table covered with all manner of interesting food, and also (to the pleasure of Harry and Hagrid) a considerable amount of alcohol.

‘Ah Professor Granger, Mr Potter, I’m so very pleased to see you smiled Dumbledore slightly tipsily. ‘Will Mr Weasley be along soon?’

‘I hope so’ said Harry ‘he was just changing into his dress robes and will be down in a moment.’

‘Ah that’s the ticket, now excuse me I think I owe Professor Sinistra a dance.’ Harry and Hermione watched Dumbledore waltz across the room.

Hermione looked around the room and saw Snape lurking on his own in the corner holding a glass. Hermione thought that he looked so funny standing on his own looking so stiff and brooding (like a huge bat) that she felt compelled to go over to him.

‘Good evening Professor Snape how are you?’ said Hermione her eyes twinkling. Snape looked slightly taken aback but after a second he seemed to cotton on ‘Oh…er good evening Professor Granger I’m fine thank you.’ Snape could see Madam Pince the librarian sitting just a few feet away from where they were standing. Snape knew her to be the nosiest woman in the whole school, and the very last thing that he wanted was her broadcasting his, and Hermione’s business al around the place.

Snape cleared his throat ‘Professor Granger would you, erm would you care to dance?’ Hermione grinned broadly. ‘yes please’

The two of them walked into the middle of the room where various members of staff were dancing in couples around the room to beautiful music which seemed to be coming out of the wall.

Snape held out his hand to Hermione and she gladly took it and they began to dance.

Dumbledore was now standing at the edge of the dance floor beside Harry. His eyes were twinkling merrily. ‘Professor Granger looks very happy, doesn’t she’ said Dumbledore ‘mmmm’ agreed Harry ‘she does’. More than watching Hermione however, Dumbledore was watching Snape. He genuinely believed that his old friend was looking several years younger. He was smiling and dancing very well indeed, swaying to and fro with Hermione as if nothing else was important. Dumbledore was pleased that the two of them were so happy. Harry however wasn’t feeling so pleased because Ron had just walked in the room and was gaping at Snape and Hermione dancing like a husband and wife at their wedding. His face was scarlet with surprise mingled with fury

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Ron looked like a fish out of water, gasping for breath. He felt so betrayed. Hermione had just been upstairs trying to smooth over their falling out, and now here she was canoodling with Professor Snape somebody who was in Ron’s eyes an ugly old man. Out of the corner of his eye Snape saw Ron standing there clenching and unclenching his fists, his eyes were bulging with surprise.

‘Erm Hermione, please tell me that you did tell Mr Weasley that we are now seeing each other’ Hermione (who as a teacher had an aptitude for sensing trouble) turned around and saw Ron.

‘Excuse me Severus this is something that I need to deal with’ said Hermione her voice shaking ‘I’ll just be a minute’

Hermione detached herself from Snape and walked towards Ron. ‘I think we had better go outside for this, don’t you?’ Ron had too many emotions surging through his body at that time to even open his mouth so he was led down two flights of stairs by Hermione without him so much as opening his mouth.

As soon as they stepped outside Ron was able to speak again. His voice shook with every syllable ‘How could you Hermione?’ Hermione looked at Ron, she knew that she was wrong but she didn’t want him to blame her.

‘We were alright, we played chess I felt we were closer than we have been for ages and ages. But all the time (his voice cracked) all the time we were upstairs you were hiding from me the real reason why you told me that we could only be friends. Ron raised his voice slightly as if trying to force Hermione to listen. The real reason was that all along you’ve been going with a dirty, miserable, bitter old man, who can’t have any reason to be going around with you other than to get his filthy old kicks.

SMACK Hermione slapped Ron as hard around the face as she possibly could, when she spoke her voice was venomous ‘How dare you insult Severus and how dare you insult me. We are together because we love each other, and, and, is it any wonder that I don’t love you considering how pathetically immature you are Ron? Yes maybe he is a bit older than I am, but at least it’s better that I’m with him than with somebody like you. Sometimes Ron, I can’t bear to look at you.’ Ron opened and closed his mouth as if to protest a couple of times but Hermione simply turned her back on Ron and swiftly walked away.

Ron was genuinely astounded. He knew he had provoked Hermione far beyond the point that he had ever provoked her before and she had given him the most almighty slap for his troubles (which if he was honest he knew that he deserved it). But even so, could nobody see it from his point of view? The girl that he loved – had loved for four years (possibly longer, Ron never remembered exactly the moment he started loving Hermione.) was now telling him that she didn’t love him and instead was in love with a man more than twice her age. And what was worse a man that Ron could barely stand the sight of. Ron was mortified how could he have lost out to be with the best girl in the world to Severus Snape, a man, who until five minutes ago Ron believed had never had a tender thought about another human being in his whole entire life.

All afternoon Ron had been (successfully in his opinion) trying to deal with the fact that Hermione simply wasn’t interested in him and that somehow he would have to forget about his feelings and try to focus on keeping some sort of friendship with Hermione. Now though Ron really didn’t know what to do. Ron had thought that although Hermione had said she didn’t love him, she was saying this to keep their friendship what it had been, but now Ron realised that she was more interested in pursuing a relationship with Snape than worrying about how he might be feeling.

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Hi, Just to let anybody who's interested know, I've just opened a thread for this story in the Feedback section. Please feel free to bestow yoour comments/criticisms upon me. They will all be greatly appreciated. :)

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After a short time Harry came outside. ‘Ron, Ron are you alright?’ Ron looked down. The right side of his face was burning where Hermione had slapped him and he was sure there would be a mark. Ron didn’t want Harry to know that Hermione had hit him, or that he himself had overstepped the mark. Harry sat down beside his friend and said (in what was a fairly soothing voice)

‘I’m sorry Ron, Hermione told me about them this afternoon, it was a shock for me too. But the way I look at it is at least if you or I can’t have her at least it’s somebody we know and trust’.

Ron gave Harry a withering look ‘I don’t trust Snape as far as I can throw him, as far as I’m concerned there are some marks that never come off’.

Harry stood up and said shortly, ‘I don’t care what you say, Severus Snape has done so much for our side, he risked his life for me personally and has shown unswerving loyalty to Dumbledore even whilst under extreme pressure from Voldemort. Admittedly when he was our age (and don’t forget that’s fairly much when it was) he made a stupid decision to go over to the dark side, but he has unfortunately been made to pay for that for more than nineteen years. I would trust Snape with my own life and also the life of those I love the most, and as Hermione falls into that category I am certain that she will be fine with Snape, and he will look after and respect her for as long as they are together’

‘I hope that won’t be for very long’ said Ron huffily

Harry could feel himself losing patience with Ron, but he knew that this would get him nowhere ‘Ron’ he said patiently ‘answer me this, all I want is a yes or no answer’ Ron nodded ‘Do you love Hermione?’

Ron rolled his eyes ‘Of course I do’

‘Yes or no’ Harry snapped

‘Yes’

‘Okay’ said Harry ‘and do you want Hermione to be happy?’

‘Yes’ sighed Ron petulantly, he could sense what Harry was going to say next

‘In that case, why don’t you let her try to be happy with Snape. If it doesn’t work you will still be there for her, and I promise you that if we ever find out that he cheats on Hermione or does anything to hurt her, I’ll hex him and you can punch him on the nose’

Ron grinned ‘I’m amazed that Snape has been able to find himself one woman, let alone one for him to cheat on Hermione with’

‘Stranger things have happened, as you well know’, said Harry meaningfully his eyes twinkling, clearly referring to an old joke between the two of them.

Ron’s whole demeanour changed in an instant and he let out a huge snort of laughter ‘Harry, please don’t, not again. Last time I had threats from Moody, to contend with and he’s not a man that you’d want to cross twice’

Harry’s grin broadened ‘Personally I’m shocked that you even had the nerve to ask him in the first place’

‘I know’ agreed Ron ‘It was Hermione who encouraged me, although I shouldn’t have been daft enough to take her advice’ he chuckled ruefully

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At the reference to Hermione, Harry became serious again. ‘I think you ought to apologise to Hermione for whatever you said to her out here. She walked past me and she was genuinely shaking. Ron, if you love her so much, please just let her go. If it all goes wrong I know that you will be the very first person that she will go running to. Satisfy yourself with that.’

Ron looked at his friend, defeated ‘You’re right Harry I suppose I really ought to go and apologise to Hermione, the last thing in the world I want is for her to hate me’

She will never hate you Ron, you just annoy her more than she can bear sometimes. Go and make your peace with her and I’m sure everything will turn out fine.’

With a grateful smile Ron stood up and walked back towards the school. Harry decided to make his way up to the owlery to send his second letter of the day to his godfather, this time telling him about the bizarre relationship which had been struck up between Hermione and Snape, the letter said:

Dear Sirius,

I know I’ve written to you already once today, but I’ve just found something out, that surprises me so much I’m writing to you for your opinion. Today, Ron finally got round to telling Hermione that he loved her, but instead of her reciprocating she told him she was not interested. Anyway it turns out that Hermione is in love with Severus Snape, and what is more, he is in love with her. Can you believe it? I didn’t think that he had it in him, and I thought she would prefer someone a bit younger. Still you can’t help who you fall in love with, (as you know, only too well) Ron is heart broken. Write back and tell me what you think. See you next week

Harry

Harry tied his letter to one of the school owls (Hedwig was at the Weasley’s with Pigwidgeon), and then decided to make his way back to the staff party.

Hermione was sitting on a chair around the edge of the dance floor watching the dancing. She could see Snape dancing with Madam Hooch, who Hermione believed held a secret flame for him, ever since she had asked him to start helping her during Quidditch practise. Hermione watched them dance until the end of the song, when Snape made his way over and sat beside Hermione ‘How did it go with Ron?’ he asked quietly his face full of concern for Hermione whose cheeks were still scarlet with rage. ‘I hit him’ she said shortly

‘WHAT?’ said Snape loudly, very surprised ‘Why did you do that for goodness sake?’

Hermione looked at Snape ‘Because he insulted you’. Snape looked at Hermione in disbelief, he thought he couldn’t have loved her anymore than he already did, but the fact that she so lovingly defended him, even to Ron was a real surprise. ‘Hermione, I am not worth you losing your best friend over,’ he said very calmly ‘You need to sort this out with Ron before he goes home tomorrow’. Hermione gawped at Snape. ‘Aren’t you glad that I defended you Severus? She asked ‘he said really horrible things about you, and I had to make him know that they were not true. Snape smiled at Hermione ‘I think Ron probably knows they’re not true as well, but he was hurt that you hadn’t confided in him, so he lashed out. The best thing you both can do is forgive and forget about this and try to go back to the way things were’.

Hermione smiled at Snape and whispered "I love you so much, you’re so clever and you always seem to know what to do’ Snape beamed, colour flushing in his pale cheeks. ‘Excuse me’, he said ‘I better go and dance with Professor Sprout, we can talk this evening, tell me how it went with Ron’ Snape gave Hermione’s hand a confident little squeeze and went off to find Professor Sprout. Hermione decided that the best thing she could do was take Snape’s advice and go and find Ron and sort things out once and for all

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Eventually Hermione found Ron who was sitting on a windowsill in the corridor that led to the Gryffindor common room. ‘What are you doing here?’ Hermione asked her voice expressionless. Ron looked at Hermione knowing that what he was about to say would sound a bit daft. ‘I decided to come and find you to…you know apologise. Anyway out of habit I found myself up here going towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. I then felt a bit upset about the fact that those days are over and everything is now different so I just thought I’d sit up here and have a bit of a think about the old days.’ Hermione tried to glare at Ron angrily but she found that she just couldn’t bear to do it. Ron saw Hermione’s face and quickly added ‘I’m sorry for saying those things about Snape. I was talking to Harry after you had left me outside and he said that it is a good thing that you are in a relationship with somebody we know and trust (the fact that Ron had said he didn’t trust Snape seemed irrelevant to him now). Anyway, rather Snape than… I don’t know Draco Malfoy.’

Hermione looked at Ron gravely and said ‘I remember the time when we would class the two of them in the same category, both Slytherin’s, both people linked to the dark lord and both people who used to try their hardest to make us miserable. Isn’t it funny Ron, the way things turn out’

"I know’ said Ron chuckling ‘I never thought I’d see the day when Hermione Granger dated somebody from Slytherin’. Hermione grinned ‘I’m right, it is funny the way things turn out. I’d never believe it myself if I didn’t know it was true’ Ron got down off the windowsill and walked towards Hermione his red hair dappled silver in the moonlight. ‘Hermione I’m sorry’ he said sighing ‘I really was out of order, especially what I said about Snape. I know it isn’t true, what I said, but I was angry please forgive me.’ Hermione put her arms around her friend, glad that her secrecy hadn’t done irreparable damage to their precious friendship ‘I’m sorry too’ she said. ‘Let’s try and forget all about it.’ Hermione continued to hug her friend, sensing that the old bond that had been forged so long ago between the two of them was renewing itself.

Hermione was pleased how well things had gone between her and Ron and she was particularly encouraged by the fact that she was sure that Ron would soon manage to get back into his former role of teasing school friend . She looked at her watch it was quarter to eleven. ‘Let’s go back to the party’ she said Ron nodded in agreement and both of them made their way back down stairs to properly join in with the staff party.

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The party in the staff room was in full swing by the time Hermione and Ron rejoined it. Everybody was dancing drunkenly around the room, in one big group. There was plenty of laughter and falling over each other’s legs as people tried to dance in time to the fast music. Hermione happily observed as she watched her friends and colleagues getting redder and redder in the face as they danced. After a moment the song changed to a slightly slower one and Ron and Hermione joined in. By this stage the dancers had all formed a drunken circle, and everybody put their arms around each other’s shoulders and danced in time to the music, everybody singing along to the well-known tune. Hermione slotted herself in between Ron and Harry who both seemed to tower above her this evening, opposite Hermione was Snape dancing and kicking his feet out in time to the music a drunken smile on his face. He looked across the circle to Hermione and blew her a very small kiss.

‘This has been the strangest day ever’ she thought to herself as she danced between her two friends, happy that things between them could stay so normal despite the change in circumstances. She couldn’t believe that this morning her best friend had proclaimed his love for her and she couldn’t believe that she had refused him. Hermione also couldn’t believe how blissfully happy she was with Snape despite the fact that they had now only been together for eight hours. Sometimes the way things turned out were unbelievably strange she thought to herself mouthing the words to the song that was reverberating in her ears.

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Right, well as the great cartoon legend porky pig said 'that's all folks'
I believed that this was the best natural ending place for my little fic, otherwise it would have become too mushy, and I'm definately not a fan of that sort of fiction.
Please feel free to make plenty of ruthless comments about this work (esp the cruddy title:lol:) in my feedback page.
Hope it wasn't a disappointment to those who stuck with it!!!!!

Toryvic