I Will Always Love You

2. The Bargain Store

'Take these old, used memories from the past
and these broken dreams and plans that didn't last.
I'll trade them for a future; I can't use them any more.
I wasted love, but I still have some more.'

Dolly Parton.

Severus sat behind his desk. He was trying to mark essays, but it was futile. Each time he tried to concentrate, his mind insisted on replaying Hermione's words. Rubbing his hands over his face, he sighed deeply and cursed whatever Gods that chose to listen to him while he whinged. It had been bad enough coping with rejection from Lily Fucking Evans – to give her her full title – but to be this infatuated with Hermione Bloody Granger as well. Caught twice in the one lifetime. Hadn't he put up with enough shit?

As was normally the way of things where Severus Snape was concerned, he proceeded to drink far too much Firewhiskey for his own good. And as was also often the case, he then went on to make a fool of himself in front of Hermione Bloody Granger.

++

Hermione had been reading when she thought she heard the knock at her door. She was so engrossed that she wasn't even sure if she had heard correctly, but she decided to investigate anyway.

Thinking that he was being ignored, Severus had slumped like a lovesick puppy against her door, his forehead pressed against the wood as if he was trying to pass through it like a castle ghost. It also served as a way of keeping himself upright. Walking whilst drunk was always precarious, but walking whilst drunk when obsessed with Hermione Bloody Granger made him all the more wobbly on his pins.

Which is why Severus Snape ended up being healed by a slightly confused bushy-haired witch after falling at her feet and breaking his nose and three ribs.

'Feeling any better?' Hermione asked him quietly. She was kneeling on the rug beside the sofa and peering at his face carefully, making sure her hurried attempt as fixing his nose hadn't spoiled it in any way.

'No.' Severus muttered. He was still pissed, but despite his fall nothing would stop him saying what he came to say.

'Do you need a pain potion?' Hermione asked, and then went to stand. She was stopped by thin, agile fingers that wrapped themselves gently around her wrist.

'I would like,' he whispered, and his eyes sought hers urgently as he tried to focus through the fog of alcohol that was blurring his vision somewhat, 'to be friends.'

Hermione relaxed, and her eyes were warm as she smiled down into Severus's slightly bruised face.

'Me too,' she replied.