I Learned the Truth at Seventeen

And space was what she got.

She hadn't seen Severus all day and when she returned to their room, he was nowhere to be seen.

She couldn't 'hear' him and she couldn't feel him and felt rather empty without him 'there' She spent the day by herself locked away in the Library, no one disturbed her probably knew that if they did they would get their head bitten off my a very angry and upset Hermione. She wondered whether Severus could feel her emotions.

After Hermione ran out on him Severus got himself ready and went back to Hogwarts. If she wanted space, he'd give it to her.

He never asked to be her soul mate, he never wanted anything to do with the Gryffindor and now he was infatuated with her; all day long he thought of her.

At Hogwarts, he spent the day in his classroom brewing potions, one being a contraceptive. He might need that in the coming days, or he might not depend on if Hermione ever spoke to him again.

After brewing for most of the day, Severus sat down in his office and thought about Hermione. He wondered where she was right now? Probably having a laugh with her friends about him. He looked at the bottles on contraception and sighed. Would they ever use them? Probably not.

He felt rejected by Hermione, rejected by the one person that he thought would always be there but obviously he was wrong and like always, no one cared.

At dinner, Hermione was made to sit with the others by Mrs Weasley although no one spoke except Mr Weasley who tried to make small talk. Ron was glaring at her across the table while Ginny was nudging him to make him stop. Harry wouldn't look at her like he was disgusted with her.

After Hermione made her way to the library to hide away again. As she sat down on the sofa the door slowly opened.

'Severus?' she called out

'No.' came a voice which belonged to Harry.

'Harry? What are you doing in here?' she said

'I wanted to talk to you.' He said as he walked towards the sofa.

Hermione said nothing and sat down on the other side of the sofa. He looked at Hermione and sighed.

'I'm sorry for the way we reacted.' He said softly.

'Don't apologise for others when they might not to sorry for their actions Harry.' She said harshly.

'Well, I'm sorry for the way I acted.' He said strongly. 'It's just hard to digest.'

'And you don't think it was for me! You're not the one who had to understand that her soul mate was her professor.' She nearly shouted.

'I know.' Harry said softly. 'I really am sorry Hermione, I didn't really think about how you felt and I should have but it was just such a shock to us.'

'I know, I should have told you but we are...or we were just trying to see how we could work things out.' Hermione said.

'You were? What do you mean by that?' he said.

'I haven't seen Severus all day, well not since this morning when I said I needed some space. I think he took it to heart but I was just annoyed and upset and needed sometime on my own. Probably ruined everything now.' She said trying not to cry.

'No you haven't. Your Soul Mates, you can't ever be apart or that's what Molly said I think.' Harry said smiling.

'You spoke with Mrs Weasley about soul mates?' she asked.

'I needed to know more about it.' Harry said. 'I want the best for you.'

'Thanks Harry.' She said moving towards him and hugging him. 'Harry, if you don't mind I'm going to go to bed; I didn't sleep much last night.'

'Okay. 'He said standing up with her. 'I know Ginny is really sorry too.'

'I'll speak with her tomorrow.' Hermione said. 'Goodnight Harry.'

'Night Mione.'

Hermione walked down the hallway and into her bedroom. She walked in hoping to see Severus however he was nowhere to be seen. Hermione undressed for bed and climbed into the bed. She smiled softly when she smelt the fresh silk sheets.

Phoenix who was asleep on the floor woke and saw his mistress. He jumped up onto the bed and snuggled into Hermione's stomach. Hermione stroked his head and finally let tears fall.

I need you here Severus, I need you right now. I need you to hold me and tell me everything's okay. Please come back.

At 4am, Hermione awoke when she heard someone bang the door shut. She sat up scared and grabbed her wand but a voice in the darkness let her know she was not to be scared.

'It's me.' He said as he walked across the room.

'I didn't think you would come back.' She said softly looking at his shadow in the darkness.

'I heard you; you said you needed me here.' He said roughly. 'Do you?'

'Of course I do.' She said softly. 'I'm sorry for this morning Severus; I was just upset that they would treat me that way. I know you think there immature and idiots but they're my friends and I love them.'

Severus only nodded and took off his black robe. 'Instead of pushing me away Hermione, talk to me.' He said

'I know.' She said softly. 'I'm sorry Severus.'

Severus walked towards Hermione and kissed her gently on the head. He sat on the edge and looked at Hermione.

'Do you want me to stay?' he asked.

'Stay...forever.' she said smiling.

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