The Seaside Retreat

Chapter 19... It’s Time To Tell Her Friends

Hermione was disappointed to have to see her parents off the morning after Christmas, but was very happy with the time she was able to spend with them. Though she was thrilled they accepted her decision to return to the wizarding world, there was a part of her that was terrified that it would create an irrevocable rift between them. The time she was able to spend with them over the holidays allowed her to mend that rift and feel like she was close to them once again. They were able to see where she went for most of the year, and meet the people who helped make her what she is.

Her parents were making the return trip home through the floo network. They still weren’t used to traveling by magical means, but they did admit how nice it was to be able to cut their travel time down to a few minutes. While the group was saying their goodbyes, Hermione saw Mr. Granger pull Severus aside and speak to him. The facial expressions were a bit tight at first, but after a few moments they relaxed once again and the two men shook hands firmly. Hermione and Severus sent her parents home and took a moment to embrace in the privacy of Minerva’s office, causing Albus’ portrait to beam.

When they pulled away from each other, the question in Hermione’s eyes let Severus know he was due for an interrogation. “Severus, what did you and my father speak about?”

“He noticed how much time we spend together and questioned me about the nature of our relationship. Your parents are very observant love; they noticed how comfortable we are around each other.”

“Oh Severus!” she replied sounding a bit hysterical “was he upset? What did you tell him?”

“Calm down Hermione. Its okay” he soothed while pulling her against his chest. She could feel his voice rumble deep and soothing against her cheek while he spoke. “I told him that it was true, we were dating and have been since over the summer, but that my intentions are entirely honorable and I love you with all of my heart.”

This simple statement caused Hermione eyes to begin watering, and she breathed deeply through the tight feeling in her chest. “I love you too Severus, I hope we can spend the rest of our lives together. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

For Severus, it was wonderful hearing this confirmation of what he was feeling. He still didn’t want to propose while she was in school, but he knew now that they would be married eventually, and eventually grow old together. He was surprised at his new found sentimentality towards marriage and a family, something he swore he would never want or have, but he none the less began to yearn for recently.

The couple walked back to his chambers, each lost in their own thoughts but desperately clinging to each others hands almost afraid to let go, for if they did the illusion of happiness would disappear with the contact of their intertwined fingers. When they arrived in his quarters Hermione brought up the thought she had been pondering for awhile.

“Severus, the guys are starting to get suspicious of me. They see how happy I am and they seem to know it’s a man that’s making me feel this way. They wonder who I am disappearing to see so often and Millicent and Ginny can only cover for me so much. I think it’s time I tell them what’s happening. Ron and Harry are both pre occupied with their own relationships right now. I think with the help of Ginny and Millicent I can talk them out of acting too rashly.”

Severus looked a doubtful at her plan to come clean, and didn’t hesitate to let her know that he wasn’t at all comfortable with this turn of events. “Hermione, I love you, but you have this faith in people that I just can’t share. I am glad you have it, or you would have never of given me a chance, but looking at the world through rose colored glasses isn’t always the smartest thing to do. I know your friends care about you, but I don’t have as much faith in their ability to think about this rationally.”

“So, you think I’m naive? Is that it? I am mature enough to fuck but not to make decisions based off of friendships I have had for nearly seven years?” Severus’ eyes grew wide at how quickly the situation had gotten away from him, and tried to quickly smooth the situation over.

“Hermione, love, please listen to me. I don’t think you’re naive. I just think your being naive about this particular situation.” He quickly realized that this was not the right thing to say, and his pride at his smooth talking quickly turned to him inwardly cringing at the look on her face.

“So you think that I am stupid for trusting my friends? Severus I am so sick of lying to them. We have been through so much together and they have always accepted me for what I am. I think they have a right to know what is happening in my life. They don’t hate you and they haven’t for awhile, why can’t you extend them the same courtesy?”

“I can’t extend them the courtesy because I know what will happen. They have never appreciated you for what you are Hermione. They know your smart and they know your brains have helped them out of a lot of bad situations, but they don’t appreciate you as someone mature enough to make her own decisions. I know what will happen. You will tell them and they will scream and yell and tell you how much I have taken advantage of you and in the end you will choose them over me. They will drive you away from me, Hermione!”

“You seem to be doing an exceedingly good job of driving me away from you on your own Severus.” And with that she shook her head sadly, and with silent tears running down her face, let herself out of his quarters. While he watched his door swing shut with a soft thud, Severus could do nothing but sink down on his couch with his face in his hands. How could he have been so stupid as to let her walk away? His whole reason for happiness just walked out his door and he highly doubted she would ever walk back in again. He spent the rest of his evening drowning his sorrows in Firewiskey while he thought about what could have been.

Meanwhile in her common room, Hermione sobbed into Draco’s shoulder, who was at an utter loss as to how to comfort her due to his complete lack of knowledge on what was bothering her. He made soothing sounds in her ear and smoothed her hair in his hands while he sat and held her. He was about to ask her if she wanted Ginny and Millicent when the whole lot of them walked through the portrait hole. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Millicent, and Blaise were immediately at her side, crouching around her and gently trying to find out what was wrong.

For her part, Hermione had slowly controlled her sobs and gave her friends a watery smile which they returned with more then a bit of confusion. When she took a deep breath and pulled from Draco’s arms it was with a silent conviction. Her decision made, she began to fill the boys in on what her summer was really like.

They were of course horrified and Harry and Ron reacted predictably with yells and accusations of manipulation on his part. Hermione desperately tried to convince them otherwise, but they were so upset, firstly at Severus for using her then tossing her aside, then at Hermione herself for letting him do this to her and keeping it from them. The fact that Severus was right about their reactions did little to appease her broken heart and she quickly tore away from the group and ran to her room.

The girls sent each other a sad look then quickly rounded on Harry and Ron and dragged them from the room to give them a piece of their mind on how they were supposed to treat friends. Draco and Blaise were stunned at the news, but recovered fast enough to follow Hermione to her room and run damage control. When they arrived at the portrait guarding her door, they expected some hesitance, but apparently the pirates could see her need and swung open with not so much as a threatening hook waved in their direction.

“Hermione, please listen to us” Blaise softly whispered to her back, as she refused to turn and face them. “We were all surprised at the news. You can’t expect to spring news like that on us and not have any reaction in return. We love you and want you to be happy and if he does that, then why are you here crying instead of with him?”

“Because he thinks I am a stupid little girl who sees the world with all rainbows and lollipops. After all we have been through, he still doesn’t see me as an equal to him” she sobbed.

“I know that isn’t true darling. Severus Snape is a sour and difficult man, but he isn’t stupid. He would have to be blind to see you as anything other then a beautiful, intelligent woman” Draco replied honestly. “He is my Godfather and I have seen him change in the past months. People think it’s because he isn’t serving two masters any longer, but Hermione, now I know it’s because of you. For the first time in his life he had hopes for the future. Please try to understand that we all say things we don’t mean. From what you tell me, he was terrified he was going to lose you when you told your friends”.

“Boy’s I really appreciate what you are trying to do for me, but don’t you think that Ron and Harry should be up here with me? They are my oldest friends, and all they care about is what they think is happening. They don’t even care enough to talk it through with me. As much as I hate to admit it, Severus was right. And now that I know that I can’t even tell him because Ron and Harry will probably tell everyone and get his fired and me expelled!”

Blaise was ready for this and was quick to reassure her. “They will come around Hermione. They are upset now, but with Ginny and Millicent there with them it won’t be long before they come to their senses and apologize. No one is going to rat you guys out. We all care about you too much. They were just upset because they love you and want what’s best for you, we all do and in the end it will all work out. It always does.”

Hermione was grateful for the company and nodded her head in agreement before curling up to sleep. She had exhausted herself with how upset she had become, and with a plea to the boys not to leave her alone, she drifted into a heavy sleep between the two of them that was wrought with nightmares of growing old all alone.

A/N: Very short chappy I know! I am so sorry but I had exams (which went very well I think!) and I just had to get something out to you guys today! Tomorrow I get the last two of my wisdom teeth pulled and they are in bad shape so , although I still plan on writing with all that glorious time I will have to myself, the chapters may be a little loopy due to a Vicaden (I don’t think I spelled that correctly) induced drug trip. I love all of you and I will work extra hard to get most of this written before next term starts!