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Unremembered	By : ElegantMess Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 17156 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any characters from the books or the movie. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
Time

What is time?

And memory

What is memory?

Seeing- being blindfolded

Recognition- Remembering

by Salvamea

Hermione closed her favorite poetry book and laid it on her lap. It was finally quiet in Grimmauld Place. She sat in Harry's favorite armchair, alone for the first time in nearly four weeks. Harry was at work, the little ones were with Molly at the burrow, and Ginny was visiting George in St. Mungo's. Two days earlier George had been experimenting on a new line of pranks and one of them backfired on him. Fortunately the there was little damage to anything except George, who now sported an odd blue-green talking mass on his shoulder. Irritating, ugly, but ultimately painless, the mass was proving difficult for the healers in the Spell Damage ward to remove.

Hermione sat in the quiet, listening to the soft strains of music as it drifted from the wizarding wireless. It was something distinctly Celtic and soothing. As the final notes of the song played out she sighed heavily. She was now seventeen weeks along in her pregnancy, nearly half-way through. She had gone to see Poppy last week for a check-up and Poppy had happily told her that she believed that she was at a much safer time in her pregnancy. She was still considered high-risk but, barring unforseen problems, she would likely be able to carry this child to full term. While she was absolutely thrilled with the news, it also served to deepen her depression. This would have been news she and Severus could have rejoiced in. However, Severus had made it abundantly clear that he could not consider himself her husband. As her heart broke she knew that she could not force his love or affection by telling him of their child. As difficult as the memory loss was for him, she knew her continued presence would only serve to antagonize him further. She had hoped that by leaving him alone he could work out his frustrations and begin the healing process. She knew that given time, as his memories returned, he would remember the love they shared. However, according to Harry, who had Kreacher keeping an eye on Severus for them, he was not doing well. It wasn't truly surprising, he had retreated from the world into a firewhiskey bottle before. It had been over three weeks since she had last spoken to Severus. There were only about six weeks till the start of term. She was truly unsure of what to do. She was the Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts and was expected to be at the school preparing her classroom and curriculum in two short weeks. She couldn't go back to her rooms with Severus yet, he wasn't ready. Of course should it become necessary, Minerva would allow her to temporarily move back into the Transfiguration Professor's quarters. It had been over five years since she had lived in those rooms. So much had happened there; tears, laughter, the fights, and celebrations, endings and new beginnings.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Saturday October 30, 1999...

'Damn that Rita Skeeter!' Hermione was of half a mind to storm into her office at the Daily Prophet, grab her by the hair and drag her meddling arse to the Ministry and tell the whole wizarding world that Skeeter was an unregistered animagus. Hermione knew that Skeeter held a grudge against her, but this went beyond the reporter's normal disparaging of her character. It seemed that since Hermione gave no reaction to Rita's article last week that she turned her lying quill on Ron and Hermione's relationship instead.

Last week, the title of Skeeter's gossip column was:

Hermione Granger and Not-so-reformed Death Eater Severus Snape Maybe Plotting to Take Over the Ministry of Magic and Resurrect The Dark Lord!

Hermione, of course had responded to any questions the same as she always had, by telling anyone who asked, that Rita Skeeter was a daft dimbo and so was anyone who was foolish enough to believe the rubbish Skeeter falsely called news. So Hermione's non-reaction must have been what prompted today's Daily Prophet front page headline:

Is the Golden Trio Falling Apart?

The article went on to claim that Ron was flagrantly cheating on Hermione, that Harry was helping him cover and Hermione, the supposed brains of the trio, was woefully oblivious. Hermione was an emotional wreck, normally Rita's bile didn't faze her, but this cut to close to home. She and Ron had been growing apart lately and she had wondered at times... She shook her head, she really needed to talk to Harry. Hopefully there was no truth to the article but at least she knew Harry couldn't lie to her, whereas Ron might try. Over the last year and a half since the final battle she and Harry had grown closer. They now were as close as siblings; They teased each other like siblings, They fought like siblings, But most importantly, they loved each other like siblings. Now, she and Harry were so close she could read his every tell. He couldn't lie to her.

""Harry?" she called through the floo. "Harry, are you busy? Can we talk?" Harry had been pacing angrily in his sitting room, the newspaper balled up in his fist, when Hermione's head had popped through the green flames.

Knowing her early morning floo-call was likely because of the distressing article he replied, "Hermione, Ron would never do that to you. And even if he did, I would never lie to you or cover up for him like that. Anyways, you know all she ever writes is lies right?" Hermione nodded. "She's gone to far this time though! I swear I'm going to drag her to Kingsley and have her held without bond for being an unregistered animagus!" Harry growled, turned towards Hermione, and seeing the look on her face he said with a sigh, "Back up, I'm coming over."

Hermione quickly exited the floo and stood up. Harry came through to Hermione's sitting room. Thankfully as a Professor, Hermione had a private floo in her quarters. Harry paced in a small circle in front of the floo. Hermione had read the paper with her morning tea and not yet dressed for the day. Her hair was a mess and she was wearing a small blue camisole and blue flannel pyjama shorts riding low on her hips. She sat on her sofa tearing the article in question into miniscule pieces, tears filling her eyes. A single drop fell from the corner of her eye and trekked it's way down her cheek.

"Harry... What if she's not lying this time?" Hermione whispered.

Immediately Harry was kneeling down in front of her, she looked so lost, so far from the strong confidant young witch he had come to love like a sister. Taking her hands gently in his own, he asked softly, "Oh Hermione, of course she's lying. Why would you even ask such a question?"

With a heavy shuddering sigh that set loose more tears she whispered brokenly, "There have been alot of little things. Stuff I've tried to overlook. Stuff I wanted to pretend I couldn't see. There was a Quidditch practice that he had to rush of to, that his mate Adams, from the team, later mentioned had been canceled. There was the time he was going to visit his Mum to help with some of you and Ginny's wedding stuff. Later that evening I floo-called the Burrow to ask him a question and Molly said she hadn't heard from nor seen him in almost two weeks. But the worst one, was the stray pair of knickers in his Quidditch stuff. He said they must have become entangled in his things when Adams hired a stripper for their Victory party earlier this season." Hermione shook her head. "When I first read that article I was furious that she would print such lies, but the more I think about it the more I'm certain that I have been fooling myself the whole time."

Harry stood and began to pace again. "How long?" he asked quietly. Hermione covered her face with her hands and mumbled into her palms. Harry couldn't understand her muffled reply. "What?"

With a heavy sigh she moved her hands and whispered, "Since shortly after he signed on with the Cannons as Keeper."

"Damn it Hermione! Why didn't you say something before? Ten months? You"'ve let this go since January? You know I'm an Auror, I have connections. I could have checked for you." Harry's voice softened, "I can still check for you, if you want..."

Hermione just shook her head. "No, no, I don't want you to check. I just want it all to be lies. The article, the knickers, everything, I just want to pretend none of it ever happened. I just want it all to go away, because if it did happen, I just don't know if I can get past it. Ron and I have had so many other problems. We've been fighting, and I know that's nothing new, but this is different. We have such different goals. He wants a little wife, at home, barefoot, and pregnant, like his mum. I love Molly but I don't want that. I absolutely adore teaching. Hogwarts is home to me, I can do all the research I want. I have the opportunity to mold and shape young minds. He wants me to quit after we get married. I can't, but he doesn't seem to care. It's just too hard. I have had my suspicions for so long, he seemed to be pulling away from me, and we've been fighting so much. We don't see each other for weeks on end and then when we do see each other all we do is argue. The fights have become so much crueler. I don't want to fight anymore. I've thought about breaking it off with him, but it's like everyone expects us to be together. Do I stay with him; if I don't love him like that, if he's cheating on me. Do I break up with him; if I don't really know what else to do, if I may end up alone for the rest of my life. I just don't know what to do." Looking up at him in anguish, tears rolling down her cheeks, her heart broken, she pleaded, "Harry, what am I supposed to do...?" She began to sob brokenly.

Harry sat down beside her and gathered her into his arms. He rubbed her back in slow soothing circles and whispered, "It's all going to work out, we'll get through this together." She shuddered and shook as she poured out her heartache in tears. Hermione's grief triggered something fraternal, protective in Harry. Suddenly instead of wanting to help his two best friends work their relationship out, he just wanted to tear Ron limb from limb. He wanted to make Ron hurt for all the pain he had caused her. Harry held her as she wept, rocking her, whispering soothing things in her ear. Slowly the pent up tension in her body began to abate as she fell into a fitful sleep. She shivered as she slept. Harry pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa and draped it over her body.

Harry mumbled softly, "Ron was never the right guy for you. He's not smart enough, you need someone who can challenge you. He doesn't deserve you. I'm going to help find that right man for you I promise."

As Harry held her still trembling form, someone knocked on the door to her quarters. Assuming it was Ginny, and not wanting to move or call out and wake her, he pulled out his wand, and flicked it at the door to open it. When no one immediately entered, Harry raised his wand. A moment later Severus Snape silently walked in, his wand also raised, his face a grim mask of concern. Upon finding Hermione asleep in Harry's arms, he scowled and lowered his wand, as did Harry.

"What are you doing here?" they both asked. Snape ached an eyebrow and Harry answered first.

"Hermione was really upset and she needed me. I don't know if you've had a chance to read the Prophet this morning but it's bad, real bad. She was really upset and she cried herself to sleep, but I have it handled." Harry sighed heavily. "Wait a minute, what are you doing here?"

"I found it odd that Professor Granger had not come down to breakfast yet. When Filius was finished reading his copy of the Prophet, he handed it to me. After reading some of Skeeter's tripe, I ascertained that the article was likely the cause of Professor Granger's absence from breakfast. I came up here to inquire after her wellbeing, and to offer my assistance in brewing some Veritaserum, or perhaps an untraceable poison." Snape said with a smirk.

Harry stared for a moment, surprise clearly evident on his face. "Wait, Professor, did you just tell a joke?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Obviously," Snape sneered.

"Merlin's beard! Severus Snape just told two jokes!" Harry sputtered as he began to laugh uncontrollably. His laughter shook Hermione awake.

With her face buried on Harry's shoulder and her back to the rest of the room, she didn't notice Severus in her quarters. "Really, Harry, there's not a damn thing funny about this!" she grumbled, smacking him lightly on the chest.

Still laughing, Harry sputtered, "No... I... He... Shite! Hermione, quit it!" He laughed harder and she began striking him in earnest. "Ow... alright... now Hermione stop that!" Harry yelped as he struggled with the angry witch on his lap. In her struggles the blanket fell the the floor. Harry quickly caught hold of both her wrists in one hand lifted her arms up, away from him, and pulled her struggling body against his to restrain her.

"Damn it, Harry let me go!!" she growled.

"Hermione... wait a second..." Harry began.

"Oh yes, Mr. Potter, I can see that you have this situation well handled." At the sound of Severus' voice Hermione froze.

Blushing furiously she hissed at Harry, "Let me go!!" He did and she scrambled up quickly and with a mumbled apology she ran for the bathroom.

The two men stood in awkward silence. There were sounds of rushing around in the bathroom; a brush roughly attacking hair, the rustling of clothes, a heavy thump, a muffled grunt, and then the sound of water splashing in the sink. Hermione emerged a moment later, her hair pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck, and a bathrobe thrown over her pyjamas. She had scrubbed her face clean of tear tracks but there was no mistaking her red rimmed eyes or the distinct pinkness of her nose.

"Good morning Severus, what brings you up her so early on a Saturday morning?" Hermione asked softly.

"The Daily Prophet," he answered simply.

Her eyes misted briefly, she shook her head and cleared her throat, "Thank you Severus for your concern. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think right now, I want to believe that Ron would never do that to me. All Rita Skeeter has ever printed in the past has been lies, it would be odd for her, to have actually written some truth. Right now I am choosing to reserve judgment until I can talk to Ron."

"Hermione..." Harry began.

"No, Harry, I'll see him tomorrow night at the All Hallow's Eve Party. I promise you one way or another I will find out the truth from him before the party is over. I promise you, I'm not going into this blind Harry. I have my suspicions and there is Skeeter's article to consider, but I can't go forward with this until I have all the facts. Though I was inclined to end the relationship before this, now that Skeeter has seen fit to air all Ron's dirty laundry I'll have to be a little more careful how I go about it. I refuse to be manipulated by that woman."

Both Harry and Severus seemed about to speak when there was a knock at Hermione's door.

"Hermione? It's me Ginny, can I come in?" she called.

"Well, aren't I popular this morning?" she muttered. "Yeah, sure come on in join the pity party," she called to Ginny.

As she came in she seemed confused to see Severus in Hermione's room but gave a polite nod anyways. She was about to say something to Hermione when she finally noticed Harry.

"Harry!!!" she exclaimed joyfully. She ran past Hermione and Severus and launched herself into Harry's arms kissing him fervently. Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny, and for a moment, they seemed to forget they were not alone. Hermione cleared her throat loudly. Quickly remembering where they were, they stepped apart a bit, still holding hands and blushing.

Ginny turned to Hermione and trying to maintain some semblance of propriety she asked, "Did you get it?"

Hermione grimaced, "Yeah I got the Prophet this morning Ginny. And I'll tell you what I've already said to these two, all Rita Skeeter has ever printed has been lies." Ginny nodded. "Of course I'll see him tomorrow night and I'll find out the complete truth then."

"I'm glad you're not just immediately ready to think the worst of Ron. Skeeter's usually full of shite, but if my prat of a brother has cheated on you, I'll hex his bollocks off myself." Ginny grinned wickedly. Severus arched an eyebrow and Harry cringed slightly away from his fiancee. "Although, that wasn't what I meant. I meant did you get you and Ron's costumes yet? Mine was delivered early this morning, and I was hoping we could try them on together. And then we could work on the charms for Ron's. Though I have to say, in light of this mornings Prophet, it will be all the more enjoyable to see the reaction to his costume." Ginny chuckled maniacally.

Hermione faltered, "Um, yeah they're in my room, hold on I'll go get them." She turned quietly and walked back to her bedroom.

As soon as Hermione closed her bedroom door, Ginny cast a Muffliato, turned to Harry and Severus, and said, "You two have already figured out that Ron really did cheat on her haven't you?" They both nodded. "She's only saying all that because she thinks the whole wizarding world will be upset if she breaks up with him. Well, Mum might, but I know I won't be. I don't think Hermione'll be all that heart broken. Her heart's not been in it for about six months now. I think she's probably known for even longer than that, but has been trying to spare everyone else's feelings. I say we save her from doing the noble thing of staying with him for everyone else's sake. So what were you two planning to do about it?" Ginny asked with a knowing smirk.

Hermione took her time once she was in her room, to collect her thoughts as well as the costumes. She knew this day of reckoning would come. She had been fairly certain that Ron had been cheating on her. That he was caught by Rita in such a public fashion was merely the final nail in the coffin for their relationship. She had been hoping to break up privately, without the whole wizarding as their audience. With all the publicity from the article, that was no longer an option.

The summer before, about two months after the fall of Voldemort, she had gone to Australia and attempted, unsuccessfully, to restore her parents memories. She had gone to do some research at the Australian Ministry of Magic's main library, hoping to find more in-depth information about memory restoration. She had arranged to stay in Australia for two weeks and spent the next few days in their library. She was then distraught when not two days after her attempt they were in a fatal head on car collision. When Hermione found out, she had sent a Patronus to Harry and Ron. She was in shambles by the time Harry and the Weasleys arrived. While Ron did his best to comfort her, it was Harry's constant presence that had truly helped her recover. It was during that time that she and Harry had cemented the sibling-like bond that had begun in childhood.

She had called on Harry that morning because Harry was the closest thing to family that she had left and she needed his reassurance that she could survive even this. She felt uncertain and thought perhaps Molly, and whole the Weasley family was likely to turn on her if she and Ron broke up. She needed to know that she wouldn't lose Harry too, after all he was now the only "family" she had left.

She heaved a great sigh, and brushed away the fresh tears. From their earlier conversation, she felt fairly certain she would not lose Harry's friendship, or Ginny's for that matter. Ginny's offer to hex Ron, while not exactly surprising, was a welcome offer of support. She felt quite grateful for Harry and Ginny's comforting reassurances.

She was somewhat surprised to see Severus in her room though. They had developed an odd sort of friendship over the last year or so. After her parents death she had returned to England with little purpose. Looking for a project she could immerse herself in, she dove into helping Harry with Severus' case before the Wizengamot, she also decided to help Draco Malfoy as well. The cases were so overly publicized, it was a difficult go. Especially with Severus initially still in a potion-induced coma. Of course with Harry and Hermione's hard work, their adamant testimonies before the Wizengamot, Severus' memories, a vial of memories belonging to Dumbledore himself (found in the Headmaster's office), and Kingsley as temporary Minister they did finally have both Severus and Draco cleared of all charges.

After the trials, Harry had gone on to Auror training, Ron had decided to work with George in the shop till the Cannons held try outs and Hermione decided to go back to Hogwarts to complete her NEWTS. Harry and Ginny began seriously dating and were practically joined at the hip. Ron and Hermione had decided to take it a little slower. Ron had repeatedly tried to press Hermione into a more physical relationship but she had not felt comfortable going past a bit of snogging and petting. She was a virgin and was not quite ready for that to change.

October first of that year, Hogwarts was scheduled to reopen. In September, Minerva and Hermione had occasion to take tea together and had discussed at length Hermione's plan for the future. Minerva had been placed as Headmistress by the Board of Governors, and tasked with the responsibility of filling all the professorial vacancies. Professor Sprout, who had been injured in the battle, had decided to stay only temporarily to train Neville to take her place. Madam Hooch had been killed by a giant in the battle, and Ginny was to take her place after finishing her NEWTS. Minerva had sweet talked Slughorn into staying, his conditions being, all he was required to do was teach. He refused to be Head of House for the Slytherins or to brew to potions for Poppy. Severus would come back as Defense Against The Dark Arts professor, since he had finally been well enough to be released form St. Mungo's. His quarters still in the dungeons, he would return to his duties as Head of Slytherin and would brew the necessary potions for Poppy. A muggleborn, Hufflepuff, Evelyn Kimberley, who had been in Cedric's year, was going to be the new Muggle Studies Professor, as well as the new Head of House once Pomona left. Neville would be the Head of House for Gryffindor. The only vacancy left was Minerva's old post of Transfiguration. With a bit of manipulation she convinced Hermione to work through the year on both finishing her NEWTS and training to replace Minerva by the end of the year.

In the midst the chaos of the following year, with three student teachers, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville, Hogwarts had returned to as close to normal as it could ever be. The three of them were given their own common room and adjoining dorms. Minerva, hoping to ease their transition from student to Professor, had asked them to begin sitting with the staff. Hermione had taken to sitting on Severus' left, during the transition. She had been pleased to finally find someone as equally well read, who was more than willing to discuss and debate intellectual theory. Their discussions had ranged over a broad spectrum of topics, from potions, to charms, to politics, to philosophy, religion, and even, advances in muggle medical sciences.

Their erudite debates had begun at the end of a staff meeting in early November of that year. Severus had questioned her intelligence after observing her reading an article about Polyjuice, written by a man he deemed not worthy to hold the title of Potions Master. Their ensuing argument had nearly come to drawn wands before Headmistress McGonagall, herself had intervened, sending both Hermione and Severus to their respective quarters to cool off. After this nearly explosive disagreement, Severus seemed to find it a necessity to debate with Hermione on any number of occasions. He had even begun, as of the following school year, inviting Hermione to his quarters in the evenings to continue discussions begun at the dinner table. When Hermione had first entered his personal quarters, she had felt a bit awkward, that is until she saw his personal library. Seeing her covetous gaze, he reluctantly offered to allow her to read any tome she pleased, so long as she did not remove the books from his chambers. They spent many an evening together, embroiled in heated scholarly debate or simply reading together in front of the fire.

There remained however, one idiosyncrasy to their newfound civility. Severus, while tolerant of Hermione's use of his given name, refused her frequent requests that he do the same for her. She understood the desire for formality in front of the students, but he adamantly refused to use her first name, even in private. It bothered her to no end. She had heard him over the course of the past year, use the first name of every other staff member, including Neville and Ginny. Of course he had called Ginny, Ginerva, but still, she was Professor Granger, or simply Granger when he was aggravated.

"Hermione?" Ginny called, concern in her voice. "Are you alright in there?"

Ginny's voice had shook her from her musings, she took a deep breath to clear her wandering thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine I'll be out in a moment."

It was quite ironic, here her relationship with Ron was falling apart all around her, and her thoughts were drifting to the question of why Severus refused to use her first name. It was just maddeningly unhelpful.

Picking up the costume boxes from her bedside table she tapped them with her wand, they returned to their original sizes as she walked back out to the sitting room to join the others.

"Alright we'll do it your way then!" Harry groaned. As Hermione entered her sitting room she found Severus standing stiffly, facing the floo, his back to Harry and Ginny. Ginny sat on the sofa pointedly staring up at the ceiling. Harry stood on the other side of the room, one hand fisted in his hair, as he glared at her rug as though it had done him some great personal wrong.

"What's going on in here?" Hermione asked.

Turning towards her Severus sighed in frustration, "Thank Circe, you've finally decided to join us, Granger. If I have to listen to one more moment of debate about the Potter-Weasley wedding plans, I may cast myself off the Astronomy Tower."

"Hermione," she requested patiently. When he gave no response she sighed. "I'm sorry you had to hear all that, Severus." Turning to Harry she asked, "Is Ginny still trying to convince you to invite the Dursleys?" Harry nodded. "Why don't you two go on ahead to Ginny's quarters and I'll be there shortly after I get dressed."

With an overly large sigh Harry said, "Alright Mum, sending us to our room for fighting." He rolled his eyes for dramatic effect.

Hermione fisted her hands on her hips and said in a fake motherly tone, "Harry James Potter, don't you roll your eyes at me!" At which the three of them began to laugh uproariously. Severus merely smirked and arched one eyebrow.

Ginny recovered first, hopping up from the sofa she grabbed the costume boxes from Hermione with one hand and Harry's hand with the other. She announced mockingly, "Come on Harry, I think she's serious! We'd better hurry up to my room before she grounds us!" Harry and Ginny then ran out of the room in a fit of laughter.

As their laughter faded down the hall after them, Hermione sighed, "This has been a trying morning. I'm going to fix some tea would you care for some, Severus?"

"Won't your 'children' be wondering where 'Dearest Mummy' is?" Severus smirked.

"I'm certain Ginny will find a way to keep Harry sufficiently entertained. And as such, I'd rather give them some time so I will not intrude on something I'd rather not witness." Severus chuckled. "So would you like to join me for a cuppa?" He nodded and followed Hermione into the small kitchenette as she fixed the tea and continued to prattle on. "Honestly, I'd like to take a few moments before I face the ginger inquisition. Ginny means well, but once I go up to her rooms, she'll end up dissecting every moment of my relationship with Ron. She'll either want all the details that she feels I've been holding back, or she'll spend the whole time bashing Ron's character in attempt to make me feel better. I can't blame her though. Really all this is my own fault. Of course, I should have ended the relationship months ago, when I had my first real suspicions, but I didn't and now I'm stuck. I hate feeling forced into things. Stupid Rita Skeeter! Stupid Ron! Stupid me, for that matter!! Argh!! It just make me so ANGRY!!!"

Hermione had become more and more irate as she went on and as she shouted the last bit she flung her hand out and knocked the kettle full of boiling water on her self. "Shite!" she moaned.

Severus was immediately at her side. He quickly pulled off the sodden bathrobe, cast a cooling charm on her already reddening skin, and a drying charm on her camisole. The top of her camisole had been soaked through with the boiling water. She stumbled backwards, hit the counter behind her, and slid down. Hermione looked down and moaned, her neck and the tops of her breasts were bright red and already beginning to blister. Severus knelt beside her and cast a diagnostic spell over her burns.

"Do you have any burn salve in your quarters? This needs to be treated immediately so that it will not scar," Severus asked softly.

Hermione nodded. "It's in my medicine drawer in the bathroom."

Severus pointed his wand toward the bathroom. "Accio burn salve." There was a rattling in the bathroom, and then the burn salve flew through the room and into his waiting hand. Without a second thought he opened the jar, scooped out of the orange salve, and began spreading it on her neck and the tops of her breasts. He softly brushed the thin straps of her camisole off her shoulders, nearly exposing the whole of her breasts.

Hermione felt her body react to the gentle pressure of his strong hands as they smoothed the salve over her tender overheated skin. Her breathing became shallow and rapid, her nipples hardened and warmth pooled below her navel. She blushed furiously. He was so close, so intent on treating her burns, he didn't seem to have noticed her physical reaction to him. His dark hair curtained his face, obscuring it from her anxious perusal. She reached up and softly brushed the hair back away from his face and tucked it behind his ear. "Severus...," she whispered, as her hand came to rest on the back of his neck.

His hands stilled at the sound of her horse whisper. Panic struck him, as he thought that perhaps he had injured her further. He raised his eyes to meet hers. Instead of the pain he expected to see reflected in her eyes, he saw a deep hunger. His chest constricted, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth and began to worry at it. She was such a fusion of innocence and desire. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped off the remaining salve, as he tried to reign in his building need. He had been battling with his ever increasing desire for the beguiling, young woman for the last few months. He had, in the midst of this struggle, come to lay aside his near idol worship of Lily. For what place in his heart, could a long dead, unforgiving woman hold, when a live woman who truly cared for him was looking at him like that. As much as he desired her though, this was not the time nor the place. She was injured, and had not yet rid herself of the Weasley brat. His traitorous body disagreed. She sat before him in a small camisole, the straps pushed off her shoulders, the rest of the shirt (if you could really call the soft scrap of material that) barely covering her breasts and abdomen. Her pyjama shorts were so short they were barely more than knickers. He was unsure how she could truly want such an scarred old git like himself. He gazed at her as he contemplated his next move.

Her hand dropped listlessly to her lap. Tears misted in her eyes. In her mind, his hesitation equaled rejection. She turned away from his intense scrutiny. She neither wanted him to see the tears in her eyes, nor see the rejection in his. She quickly pushed away from the ground, wincing slightly as the sensitive skin pulled a bit at her sudden movement. She stood with her back to him as she pulled the straps back up to rest on her reddened shoulders. He stood quietly, replacing the lid, and placing the jar on the counter behind her. He struggled, knowing that he had missed some opportunity, but still unsure of what to say. Her body shook with silent sobs.

He carefully wrapped the long fingers of one hand around her upper arm as he attempted to make her turn to face him. "Professor Granger..." he began.

"No!" She turned abruptly. She stepped closer, placing herself mere inches from him. Her face flushed, she began poking him in the chest, hard. "My name is Hermione!" she demanded. "You can do me at least that courtesy, Severus Snape!" Then just as quickly as her ire had rose, it fled. She was then terribly unsure of herself, standing so close to him. Again she chewed roughly on her bottom lip.

He gazed down at her now doubt-filled face. Gone was the raging Gryffindor, she seemed more like a startled little rabbit, ready to flee at any sudden movement.

He slowly gently cupped her cheek in his hand and ran the pad of his thumb over her much abused lower lip. "You should not injure yourself so..." his voice was a low rumbling purr. He leaned closer, his face inches from hers. "...Hermione," he whispered, as he closed the distance between them. He kissed her with a careful tenderness, his lips moving ever so softly against hers.

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A/N: Sorry to end it there, but this part was getting way too long. I had to split it into two parts and this seemed to be the best place to split it. The rest of this scene, the All Hallow's Eve party and the confrontation with Ron are coming up. I already have the rest of it hand written, it's simply a matter of typing it and, formatting it. Oh, and don't worry we shall return to Draco and Severus after the rest of this flashback. I felt it was an important time to understand the beginning of their relationship.

PS: Did anyone catch the random non-HP movie quote?
- 7
- 8
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