LIFETIME MATE

Chapter Seventeen

After explaining to her parents, who said to take all the time she needed and that Katrina could stay with them for a few days, she and Severus apparated to the front of the Hogwart’s gates.

Hermione felt a chill and looked down at her bare legs and her shorts. She waved her hand over her legs, to see them appear in an old pair of jeans she owned.

Severus waited for her to ‘change’ , then looked at her, “You okay Hermione?”

“I don’t know. This is all such a shock to me, you know?” She looked to him, her face pale.

“Yes, I know. If you need me, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks Severus. You have been a good friend.” She put her arm around his waist, while he put his around her shoulder. A pair of blue eyes following their movements up to the front of the school.

Severus walked her to the astronomy tower stairs, kissed her cheek, then left her there to proceed by herself. She took a deep breath, then another, then climbed the stairs to see someone who she thought she would never see again.

When she entered the room she looked around and saw him looking out the window, his back to her. She slowly and quietly walked to him, her legs trembling from nervousness. She reached out her hand, just about to touch him, then drew her hand back. “Draco?” She whispered tentatively.

He turned around, his face expressionless, his blue eyes steely. She brought her hand up to touch the side of his face, wanting to feel that he was actually there, standing in front of her. She touched his face, touching his warmth, as her tears fell freely.

“Oh Draco.” She cried as she threw her arms around his neck to hug him close. “I missed you.”

Draco watched her face, the face that was constantly in his dreams and his thoughts. He wanted to hug her close, then he thought of her with Weasley and Snape. He kept his hands at his sides, his fingers biting into his palms, fighting himself not to touch her.

Hermione felt the unresponsiveness and stepped back, confused. “Draco. Albus just told me what happened, I came right here. I wanted to see you. I still can’t believe it, but here you are.”

“Yes. Here I am. I see you’ve been getting along alright.” He sneered.

Hermione was taken aback from his look and the tone of his voice. “There’s something I need to tell you.....” She started.

“Like what Hermione? That you’ve slept around with the Weasel and Snape. Who else have you slutted around with Hermione?” “What are you talking about?” She cried.

“You know what I’m talking about. How many people have kept your bed warm for you Hermione?” He sneered.

Her temperature was slowly rising at the implications he was making. “First of all. I thought you were dead. Did you expect me to be a dried up old spinster, or to get on with my life. And for how many people that have kept me warm, NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS!” She yelled as she turned her back to leave, shaking in anger.

“How many Hermione?”

She turned back, walked right up to him. “Three other people Malfoy, and ......” She grabbed his shirt collar and tugged it open, buttons flying to the cold stone floor. “...you ‘Chase’” as she poked the scar at his shoulder. “Do you realize Malfoy, I was starting to fall in love with you again. Damn you Malfoy, why did you do it?” She cried, her voice breaking as she ran from the tower.

Draco watched her go, touched the scar where she had touched. “Because I couldn’t stay away.” He said sadly.


Hermione ran all the way to the dungeons and pounded on the door. The door opened and she flung her arms around Severus’s neck. “Severus, he hates me. He wouldn’t even listen to me.”

Severus clutched her close, then sat her down on the couch, sitting close by her, rubbing her back. “What did he say?”

“He asked who I was slutting around with. I tried to tell him about Kat, but he wouldn’t listen. All’s he wanted to know is who I’ve slept with. He saw me with Ron and you.” She sat up, her anger slowly rising again. “How does he know about that?”

“I don’t know Hermione. I have told no one about that weekend. My guess, he’s been following you.”

“How dare he! I thought he was dead.” The tears flowing again. “I thought he was dead.” She cried again as she fell against Severus’s chest, crying onto his shoulder, the shock now coming full force into her head.

Severus hugged her close, hating to see her hurting like this. She laid her head down on his thigh, him running his fingers through her hair, soothing her.

“Did what I do, so wrong Severus?” She asked quietly.

“No Hermione. You are a young, kind beautiful woman. You were trying to get on with your life.” He said. He paused as his hand stilled. “Do you regret now the time spent with me?”

She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. She took his hand and kissed his palm. “No. Severus, not at all. It was special to me.” She laid back down on his thigh, where he continued to rub her back.

“Do you still love him Hermione?” He asked after awhile.

She didn’t answer and he thought she had fallen asleep, when he heard her whisper. “I don’t know.” Then he felt her body shake and felt her tears seep through his pants. “Yes I do. I still love him. But it’s too late.”

‘It’s never too late’ Severus thought to himself. He continued to soothe Hermione throughout the night, rubbing her back as she laid against him in a non-sexual way. He watched as she would fall in and out of sleep, mumbling Draco’s name over and over again.