At the Shore of The Heart

“I would never have come if I had known you were here,’ Hermione whispered as she paced the room. ‘I shall have to tell Minerva I am leaving.’



‘You do not need to leave,’ he murmured, watching her closely. He had never seen Hermione like this, and he wasn’t sure what to do.



‘Yes, I do. I cannot remain under the same roof as you, Severus. What do you expect of me? That I can sit at the same table as you in the Great Hall, work alongside you as a colleague, and pretend that your very presence doesn’t make me feel weak with longing for you?’ Hermione spat at him, and laughed a little hysterically. ‘I cannot be with you and want you, knowing you do not want me.’



Severus could feel the colour fading from his face. Hermione was describing exactly how he had felt in the months immediately after Lucy’s death, and he recognised that pain.



‘I know how painful it is, Hermione,’ he said quietly.



Hermione turned on him and her eyes flashed angrily. ‘How dare you? You have no idea how I feel,’ she shouted, her hair shaking around her shoulders. ‘I want you to leave now,’ she said firmly.



‘I will not leave until you hear me out. Surely you can allow me that much?’ Severus stepped closer to her, his eyes soft as he looked at her.



Hermione waved her hand in exasperation. ‘Fine. Say what you want, but then go. I don’t want to see you again, Severus. It’s too hard,’ she whispered sadly.



She turned away from him and walked over to the window. She watched as the smoke from Hagrid’s hut rose and then dispersed into the sky. She didn’t hear Severus walking to her, but she felt him, and she inhaled his familiar scent of bergamot and sandalwood, silent tears began to fall down her face.



Severus sighed deeply before he spoke. ‘You accused me of not knowing how you feel. That was unfair, given what you know of my relationship with Lucy. There have been many nights when I have longed for someone I could not have,’ he said quietly.



Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around herself. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.



‘You are also assuming I do not want you. I can tell you now; there is nothing I want more than you, Hermione. Nothing,’ he whispered.



‘You left me in Italy, lying in your bed like some cheap whore. You didn’t answer my letters, even when I laid my soul bare to you. What else was there to think?’ she sobbed, not fully understanding the meaning in his words, her heart beating its way out of chest wildly.



‘I wasn’t ready for what you wanted of me, Hermione. I tried to write to you, but I just couldn’t. I am truly sorry for hurting you,’ he said quietly. Hermione turned and stared at him and he looked at her with sympathy in his eyes. Shrugging, she walked over to the door and opened it wide.



‘I’m not finished yet,’ he snapped, frustration rising in his voice. He took out his wand and flicked it. The door flew from Hermione’s hand and slammed shut, and before she had the chance to respond, Severus warded and silenced the room.



Hermione glared at him, her fists clenched by her sides. ‘Are you staying just to torture me?’ she spat out.



‘Gods, witch,’ he shouted at her and walked in two strides to where she stood. He pushed her against the wall, his hands gripping her shoulders firmly. Hermione gasped as their bodies’ touched and she tried to struggle from his grip.



‘What are you doing?’ she gasped as she tried in vain to push him away. His eyes were dark as he stared at her, and he was scaring her with his strength, and yet she couldn’t tear her eyes from his face, so close to hers, she could feel his angry breath on her cheek.



‘I am trying to tell you that I love you, you stupid witch,’ he growled, shaking her slightly.



Hermione stopped fighting and stared at him. Her jaw dropped and her mouth opened, and Severus took advantage of her quietness and covered her lips with his own, fervently kissing her and tasting her tongue with his own. A sob escaped her mouth and their kiss was tinged with salty tears. He pulled away and looked down at her, his face full of love as she clung to him and started to cry fiercely.



‘I’ve wanted you so much,’ she sobbed.



Severus held her to him and stroked her hair softly. ‘I’m here. And I promise I am not going anywhere,’ he whispered, nuzzling her neck softly. He kissed her neck softly and Hermione didn’t even try to stifle the low moan of desire that came from her as he gently licked her most sensitive spot.



‘I love you,’ she whispered quietly, her fingers softly caressing his cheek.



‘I love you too,’ he said, smiling at her.





*******



Lemons ahoy..... phew.... I thought she was gonna throw him out for sure.