Remember

CHAPTER 15: Caring Hurts







The remainder of the Christmas holiday passed slowly, not that anyone minded. Tobias Snape, in fear of his son, packed up his few belongings and left the house early the morning after Christmas. Hermione had tended to Eileen’s bumps and bruises, comforting the witch as best she could while Severus altered the protective wards on the house. Tobias Snape would never set foot within those walls again.









Severus had watched in amazement as his mother hugged Hermione tight, kissing her cheek as they prepared to floo to King’s Cross. Eileen pulled Severus into her arms and she embraced him so tight he could barely breathe.







“Mum, I’ll be home before you know it. Just you and me from now on.” He said softly, rubbing her back gently.









“Take care of that girl, Severus, I would love for you to bring her back.” She whispered.









“I don’t know if that will be possible, Mum, she’s an exchange student, she will have to go back at the end of the term.” Severus said.







“That girl is your future, Inky, I know it, you will find a way somehow to be together.” She said, kissing his cheek and letting him go. “Have a safe trip back to Hogwarts.” She said as she stepped back and watched them step hand in hand into the green swirling flames.









Severus tugged Hermione out of the hearth and into the office on platform 9 ¾ . He seemed frustrated as he pulled her along with him out onto the platform.







“Severus, what is wrong?” She asked.







“Nothing.” He said shortly, stopping to wait in line behind several other students waiting to board.







“Something is wrong…did your mum say something to upset you?” She asked.







“No…she asked me to bring you back home with me sometime, I told her it wasn’t possible.” He said.







“It isn’t like I wouldn’t love to come back and visit if I could.” She said softly. Sadness filled his eyes when he looked at her and she got a glimpse of the pain their separation would cause.







“But you can’t.” He said before turning his back on her.







“Severus, don’t be that way, it isn’t as though I can change the way things are.” She said, putting her hand on his shoulder.







“I don’t want to talk about it.” He said, shrugging her hand off. Her brow furrowed in a frown as she stared at his back. She knew this was going to become a sore spot for them.







“Fine.” She snapped, picking up her bag and stepping around the group to move into another line. Severus felt her knock into him with her shoulder as she walked away and he stared after her. She had her head tucked low as she weaved through the crowd and he felt like a first class arse, he had hurt her feelings.







“Damn it all.” He muttered as he grabbed his bag and followed after her.











*****************







Sirius Black was leaning against the wall, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips as he watched the crowd of students. James and Lily were snogging beside him while some little Ravenclaw witch talked his ear off on the other side. His interest was peaked when he saw Hermione stomping across the platform with Severus chasing her, shoving people out of his way in the process.





Sirius reached out and grabbed James who grumbled about being pulled away from his girl.





“What?” He snapped as Sirius turned him around to watch the show.







“Trouble in outcast paradise.” Sirius said, smirking.









**********************





Severus followed Hermione, his long legs moving him quickly across the platform as he pushed other students out of the way. He grabbed the back of her robe and she stopped, turned around and glared at him through tear filled eyes.







“Hermione…I…I’m sorry…I know it isn’t your fault.” He said softly, hating himself for making her cry.







“You know it isn’t going to be easy for me either, Severus. I didn’t mean to come back here…I definitely didn’t intend to meet someone and fall for them.” She said, sniffing.







“I know. I just…you make me happy…nothing makes me happy, but you do, and you are going to leave me.” He said, wincing at his own neediness.







“Not by choice…and you won’t remember me…when I leave…but I will go back and I will see you every day…” She said, a fat tear rolling down her cheek as her voice cracked.







“That doesn’t make it any easier, knowing that my memories will be stolen from me.” He said, reaching out to brush the tear from her cheek. “Don’t cry.”







“I don’t want to fight, Severus.” She sniffed. “I just want to enjoy our time together; I want to just be happy…with you…while we can.”







“Me too.” He said, reaching out for her hand and yanking her close, wrapping his arms tight around her as he buried his face in her hair. She put her arms around his waist and hugged him back. “Stop crying, please…I can’t stand it when women cry…and knowing it’s my fault is killing me.”







“Ok.” She said, sniffing and laughing softly. Severus pulled back and looked down into her tear streaked face, his brow furrowing.







“Your eyes are puffy now.” He said. She smiled and locked her hands at the small of his back.







“They will get better…if you kiss me.” She said.







“People are watching…” He said softly, his eyes darting around the platform.







“Since when do you care about other people?” She asked.









“I care about you.” He whispered, just before he pressed his lips to hers right there in the middle of the crowded train platform.









*********************







“I wonder what they are arguing about.” Lily said as she watched Severus reach out and grab Hermione’s robe. He looked upset.







“Why is everyone so interested in them?” James asked, looking between Lily and Sirius as they watched the couple.







“Come on…Snape has a girlfriend…a Gryffindor girlfriend who he took home for nearly three weeks. Not to mention that the witch is strange.” Sirius said, tossing the fag onto the floor and crushing it beneath his foot. When he looked up it was to see Snape brushing his thumb across the witch’s cheek.









“I think it is wonderful that he has found someone he cares for.” Lily said, smiling softly when she saw him pull her forcefully into his arms and bury his face in her wild mane of hair.







“I think it is just plain weird.” Sirius said.







“And I think it is annoying that you two are so interested!” James said with a shake of his head. “Who cares? So Severus found a witch as odd as he is…bloody fantastic…can we move on now?”







“Oh! Look! It’s so romantic, he’s kissing her!” Lily said with a sigh, watching as Severus kissed Hermione gently, right there in the middle of the crowd.







“Oi…that is just wrong…does she have to look like she enjoys it so much?” Sirius sneered.







“I think they are in love.” Lily smiled, watching them. They pulled apart and stared at one another for several seconds before sharing a smile. Severus picked up their bags and took her hand in his as they boarded the train to school.







“I still think something strange is going on there.” Sirius said, pushing from the wall and heading to the train with Lily and James following close behind.











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



I am feeling generous today LOL, so another 2 chapters got posted....tomorrow however begins my work week so I will likely revert back to 1 a day....but enjoy!