Trial and Error

Potterverse belongs to J.K. Rowling.

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Hermione walked on a brick path in the middle of a rose garden. She watched as butterflies fluttered lazily in the sky and as bees busily gathered sweet nectar for their queen. A smile spread across her face as she tried to imagine what might be going on in their little minds. She was startled out of her reverie by a soft, low voice.

\"Hermione?\"

She turned quickly and came face to face with a man who had just suffered more pain than any man deserves.

\"Remus, are you alright?\"

\"Don\'t worry about me, love, how are you? I\'m so sorry about what happened. I should have tried better to-\"

\"Remus, please stop,\" Hermione said as she placed her small hand over his lips. \"It wasn\'t your fault and you didn\'t even hurt me. The potion hurt you more than you hurt me. Please believe that Remus. You\'ve been through so much pain as it is. I don\'t want your conscience to ache, too. Remus?\"

The man looked into Hermione\'s eyes and tears began pouring down his pale face. \"Hermione, I need to tell you something.\"

She took his head in her arms and held him close. \"Hmm?\"

\"I...I love you. I have been in love with you for a long time but could never bring myself to say it.\"

He brought his head back and looked up at her and bit his lower lip. Hermione was speechless and she stared at him with her eyes wide.

\"Remus, I-\"

\"I know, I know. I should NOT have said that. Hermione, I am so sorry. I never thought you would reciprocate me feelings, but I couldn\'t help but have a little hope that you...might.\" He looked down at his feet and closed his eyes in shame. He was just beginning to turn away when Hermione caught his hand.

\"Remus?\"

He stopped movin
\"
\"I...\" her lips were quivering \"I love you....t-too.\"

Remus spun his head around and his eyes frantically searched her face for any signs of sarcasm or uncertainty. Finding none, he crushed his mouth against hers and she let out a gasp of surprise. Once she had recovered from the shock, she pushed her mouth back against his and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Hermione felt Remus harden against her and she took a sharp breath.

\"Remus...I love you. Please... I want..to be with...you..\"

Remus stopped kissing her and pushed her gently to an arms length away.

\"Hermione, what are you saying?\"

\"That I want you....to have me, to make lo-\"

The sound of a cloak dragging on brick met Hermione\'s ears and she turned to her left and saw the outline of a man watching them. The man slowly stepped into the light and Hermione gasped.

Dark, ebony eyes which were much brighter than usual gazed into hers. His tight lips trembled ever so slightly. After a moment, he closed his eyes and Hermione saw two tears make a journey down his pale cheeks, over his soft lips, and down to his chin before dropping off onto the red brick path.

Without a word, he turned around and walked back up the path to the towering castle that wagwargwarts.

Hermione watched until she could no longer see the man and then turned back to Remus with tears in her own eyes. He looked at her questioningly and then in the direction the man had taken.

\"Hermione, maybe it is too soon for you to know who you love?\"

Silently, Hermione nodded and then she turned and ran down the brick path away from Remus and the castle. Tears began streaming down her face as she ran faster and faster. She had so much confusion, she had to get out of here! She closed her eyes when she heard her name being called. No, she would not turn back. Her feet were off of the brick path now and she felt her body fall forward. She opened her eyes in time to see the river she was plunging into. She couldn\'t stop; she let out a scream before hitting the water. This was it. This was the end of Hermione Granger. Silly girl can\'t even watch where she was going.
~~~
Hermione stopped screaming and closed her eyes again. She felt damp and cold. She began to shiver and felt someone wrap something warm around her. A ligh pressure touched her cheek...it was soft and sweet. She heard her name being called again...this time from much closer...

\"Hermione? Hermione, wake up! Are you alright?\"

A slight stinging replaced the pleasant pressure on her cheek..

\"Ouch! Wha- Professor Snape?\"

Severus sighed in relief. \'This is probably the only time that I won\'t feel guilty for hitting a woman,\' he thought to himself.

Hermione sat up in the bed and rubbed her cheek where Severus had slapped her. The covers were twisted about her body and her clothes were soaked in something cold...she looked up at Severus who was holding an empty goblet and started to understand.

\"It was...a dream then.\"

\"Yes, Hermione. And I must inquire as to the nature of that dream. I don\'t recall ever seeing someone attempt to run so quickly whilst lying down.\"

He smiled down at her.

\"I apoogise for the water and for slapping your face. I couldn\'t get you to wake any other way.\"

\"It\'s okay. Um...was I talking in my sleep?\" \'Please say no, please say no!!!\'

Severus looked uncomfortable and Hermione grimmaced.

\"Yes,\" he replied, and at the look on Hermione\'s face he hastened; \"but I could not understand much of it.\"

Hermione relaxed a small amount and Severus sat back down next to her.

\"Hermione?\"

\"Hmm?\"

\"Remus is doing better. Albus came in while you were sleeping and told me.\"

Hermione opened her eyes wide and she smiled.

\"I\'m so glad. I was worried about him.\"

\'So I noticed,\' he grumbled to himself. \"Albus said that Remus will stay in a carefully sealed room until the moon wanes just to be on the safe side....in case our potion does not work.\"

Hermione nodded, but remained quiet. Inside her mind, there was a bustle of activity..

\'If I was talking, what did he hear? Does he know what the dream was about? What did it mean? I\'ve never had feelings that strong for anyone so what would make them show up in a dream? And WHY was Severus in it, too?? He\'s a grouchy old man who doesn\'t know how to love or to be kind or even how to take care of himself properly,\' she eyed the shiny black hair that fell untidily over Severus\' shoulders. \'But his eyes in the dream showed more than that...they were the eyes of a man who was full of sorrow, over losing....me?\' Hermione chanced a glance into Severus\'s face and gasped.

Severus was looking into Hermione\'s eyes almost as if he knew what she had been thinking (which, Hermione thought, was possible). His eyes met hers with passion and Hermione felt a funny feeling in her middle region.

Severus reached out a hand for one of hers and brought it to his mouth and kissed it. His lips were as soft on her skin as she had imagined them to be, but her mind was spinning.

\"Hermione.\"

\"Y-yes?\" She was starting to feel uncomfortable.

\"I know what your dream was about.\"

Silence.

\"I just wanted to tell you....that...\"

Hermione looked at him quizzically. \'Snape at a loss for words?\'

\"Hermione, I don\'t want you to be with Remus and it hurts me everytime I see you with him, comforting him, or grieving over him.\"

Hermione opened her mouth in shock, but said nothing.

\"I know I am probably not the best at showing affection and I\'ve probably shown you more evilness than gentleness, but I ask you now to give me a chance to show you who I really am.\" \'There. I said it. Thankfully there are no witnesses here to ruin my reputation.\'

Hermione found her voice, however quiet, and said; \"Severus, what do you mean by that?\"
She was afraid at what his answer would be, but highly doubted it would be what she feared the most.

\"Hermione,\" he looked up at the ceilling, \"I love you.\"

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Short chapter, I know, but I wanted to get the story ready for the *ahem* \"good stuff\". Thanks to all for your patience. I have gone through some hard times but I am doing okay now. Hugs to all!!

-Gwen