an awfully big adventure...

Ron and Harry were making their way down the hallowed hall while Snape pulled on his trousers and Hermione tried fixing her blouse. They worked in silence, comfortable but with a hint of something not said. Hermione watched Snape do the numerous buttons on his trousers, and she smiled tenderly at him.

He looked over to her and caught her gaze before she pre-occupied herself with her blouse. He noticed the faint pink hue on her cheeks and watched her pull on her knickers, her blouse forgotten.

Snape gave a short chuckle and with a short wrist movement with his wand, her blouse was fixed. She thanked him softly, not meeting his eyes yet. Something lurked in their seemingly peaceful tasks, and Hermione was the first to speak, timidly and rather bashfully.

“Severus?” she said, trying the name out and seeing if he bristled. He didn’t. Instead, he turned to her, beaming at the use of his first name, it sounded so much sweeter coming from her.

“Yes?” he asked quietly, quite content to sit there and listen to her voice. He sat on the edge of the stool nearby, pulling on his shoes which had been scattered as he had flipped Hermione onto the desk. His neck and face flushed as he remembered how much of an animal he had been. He could have been wrong, but she had seemed to enjoy it.

Hermione twisted her fingers together, trying to piece together what had just happened. She had just lost her virginity to Professor Severus Snape, ex Death Eater. Her heart and stomach gave a little flip. Her hair was still damp and she pushed it from her face, knowing it was already starting to frizz. Snape was still watching her face, trying to see what was bothering her.

Hermione wondered if she should actually say what she was thinking, wondering if it was too fast. Even though these feelings had been stirring in her a long time, the same might not be with Snape. He watched her tenderly with those eyes of his, those black orbs that made you either way to break down and confess everything or keep everything inside. He was sitting there patiently with those eyes, waiting for her to speak.

“Severus, I think I-“ her small voice was cut off when a loud bang sounded at the door. Hermione’s eyes flew open as she and Snape jerked their eyes to the door.

He quickly helped Hermione put her still damp cloak on, smoothing it out on her while she smiled at his frantic movements. He was about to go the door when she pulled his cloak, and kissed him deeply when he faced her. He gave an uncharacteristically goofy grin and then replaced it with a scowl as Hermione stifled a giggle and dashed off to his storage room with her heart fluttering. She heard Snape cough loudly muttering,

“Just a moment.”

He smoothed out his own robes, surveyed the classroom a moment seeing if he was missing any items of clothing, and then opened the door to his classroom with a heavy hand.

“Potter. Weasely.” He said halted as he spied the two of them, “What can I do for you?”

Normally he would have answered with a small; What the hell do you want? But he had Hermione to think of, these were after all her friends.

“H-has Hermione been here?” Harry asked breathlessly, his eyes looking all around the room. Ron nodded, breathing shakily and surveying the dark classroom as well.

“No.” Snape lied, he prepared to close the door. “Good evening.”

Harry pushed the door open, ambling his way in, clumsy at best. “You don’t understand, if she’s not here then I’m really worried.”

A loud sign emitted from an irritable Potion’s master. His eyes coolly met the boy wonder, his patience almost spent. He knew Hermione was safe and sound and that was all that mattered.

“Why would that be Mr. Potter?”

Harry looked furiously to the evil man in front of him, “Because she was furious, and if she hasn’t been to you or Black, I’m worried she might have done something drastic.”

Hermione herself was busy making herself comfortable in the back storage room, oblivious to the dialogue outside. She barely heard them anyway, and she looked at the many vials and jars Severus had stocked away. He had everything in seemingly alphabetical order, and she struggled not to laugh as she recalled why the whole ordeal had started. She may have said she regretted the whole thing before, but now with she and Severus…the answer was obvious.

The man was so precise, so very much like her. She smiled as she recalled the minutes prior. He had been so tender and explosive. The man was full of surprises.

Hermione Snape.

Suddenly Hermione giggled quietly to herself at the awkwardness of the name, and recalled why she had stared out really hating Snape in the first place this year. For writing Hermione Black on a piece of parchment. How times did change.

Snape was now looking at Harry and Ron with obvious distaste in his eyes. “How does this affect me in the least?” he pondered rudely.

“It doesn’t really,” Harry said suddenly, his Gryffindor courage suddenly apparent, “But we do care since we care for Hermione, don’t worry we don’t expect you to understand.”

Snape shrugged, although it killed him, fanning a hand in the direction of the door with a short,
“Good evening.”

Ron’s face was aflame with anger, and didn’t know what made him say what he did next, perhaps it was because he hated Snape so much at that moment that he wanted to kill him or perhaps he knew Hermione harbored feelings obviously unrequited.

“Just to let you know, Professor.” Ron spat as he made his way out, “A girl like Hermione would never like you. You should be honored if she ever looked at you kindly, or touched you which she would only do out of pity I assure you.”

Silence.

Until.

“Thirty points from Gryffindor for obvious disrespect to a teacher.” Snape hissed evenly, his eyes narrowing on Ron’s shaking frame. “Now, Get out of my sight, both of you.”

Ron said no more, but knew damage had been done. He and Harry rushed out of the lab as Snape slammed the door on them, the tears stinging the back of his eyes. He turned when he heard a small shuffling in the front of the classroom.

Hermione.

He opened the door to the storage room, and saw Hermione shuffling about and looking at his various vials and such. She beamed at him, her eyes taking in his solemn face. Her smile fell from her face as she took a step towards him, her eyes searching his.

“What’s wrong?”

Snape didn’t answer, but went over to Hermione and looked her straight in the eye, the only sound heard was their breathing. This went on a minute more before Hermione opened her mouth to speak.

Snape claimed her lips suddenly, crushing them with his own as he forced his tongue into her sweet mouth, he pushed her against the shelves of ingredients, his hips grinding against hers as she squirmed under his forced embrace. She hated it when he was like this, so rough…sometimes. Finally he broke off the violent kiss, looking at her in the eye again. She looked momentarily terrified.

“What is wrong with you?” she said roughly, pulling from him, “You don’t own me Severus. Don’t ever think you do.”

“I apologize.” Snape said, not meaning it at all. Hermione nodded warily then smiled back to him, kissing him sweetly on the lips. He tried to enjoy it but Ron’s words flashed through his head, as he looked to a rather flustered Hermione. Had Ron been right? Did she really just pity him?

Only one way to find out.

“Do you pity me, Hermione?” he asked suddenly his dark eyes alight. Hermione looked to him as if he were joking and offered a small laugh and a shrug of her shoulders.

“Not really.”

Snape nodded at her words, trying to convince himself. But there was a lie in her limpid brown eyes as she spoke. Snape placed a finger under her jaw and lifted her face to meet his, along with her gaze.

“Tell me the truth, Hermione.” He said darkly. Hermione shrugged, and he lowered his hand as she met it. Hermione stroked the hand that was now in her palm with one finger.

“I admit I do feel sorry for you at times, Severus.” She said gently, looking to him with flooded eyes, “For all the times James and Sirius were so mean to you. And how your life was wasted as a Death Eater.”

Snape stood transfixed on her words, now confirmed of her pity. Hermione went on, not realizing her confession was paining him so. “And for all the pain you’ve suffered in your life,” she paused, “But-“

Snape held up a hand, making her halt her words. He didn’t want to hear anymore, he couldn’t bear it. And he looked to her eyes, misconstruing her look of love for pity.

“I think you should go, Miss Granger.”

Miss Granger.

Hermione never thought she could hate her own name, but when it came from him it was heartwrenching. She looked to him horrified as she dropped his hand, causing him to wince.

Hermione stood there a moment, trying to understand what she had done wrong. Finally, her own anger got the better of her. He wanted to play mind games? He wanted a one-night stand? Fine.

“Go to hell.” She said through clenched teeth, as she brushed past him, he reached out faintly with one hand, struggling to call her back, but couldn’t find his voice.

Hermione made her way down the halls, the tears falling freely down her cheeks as she muttered, “Veritaserum” through a choking sob.

Severus Snape had broken her heart.
__________________________________________

“God the man is such a heartless bastard!” Ron fumed, his face as red as his hair. They paced around the Gryffindor common room, Harry looking equally furious.

“I’m going back to bed.” He said sullenly, “There’s nothing we can do. We checked her room, we checked the dungeons, we checked with Black…we’ve been all over.”

Suddenly Ron on the couch sat straight up, his eyes suddenly wide with recognition. “Harry!” he breathed excitedly, “Why didn’t we think of it before, The Marauder’s Map!”

Harry flashed a trademark grin before nodding and rushing up to his room. Scuffling ensued and suddenly the sound of footsteps on stone and the fluttering of paper graced Ron’s eager ears.

“Here.” Harry said running over to him, his hair all tousled. “It should show us where she is at this exact moment.”

They stepped out into the hall, making sure it was empty and opening the map hurriedly. Suddenly Ron’s hand pointed to a slowly moving dot. “There she is!” he cried in triumph as Harry squinted at it.

“That can’t be right Ron,” Harry said looking at the dot, “It says she’s…right behind us.”

“Hello Harry, Ron.”

The two boys jumped with a shriek of fright and turned to face a miserable looking Hermione. She looked at them with an arched eyebrow, waiting for them to speak.

“Hermione.” Ron breathed, looking to her fondly. “We were worried about you.”

“Really?” Hermione said suspiciously, her eyes a bit red rimmed from crying and were now darting back and forth from Ron to Harry, “Why’s that?”

“We thought you might have gone to Snape…” Ron trailed off as Hermione’s angry gaze strengthened. Harry suddenly interuppted.

“Hermione.” he said compassionately, “It looks as if you’ve been crying.”

Hermione looked to Harry stonily, her defenses up. She shrugged and suddenly Ron felt the urgent need to tell her what had happened between he and Snape. He was sure she would laugh along with him, after all the pain he had caused her.

“You should have seen it ‘Mione.” Ron said, his chest swelling proudly, “I told off the greasy git off for you.”

Hermione’s dark eyes suddenly darkened and she looked to Ron furiously. “What?”

Ron didn’t seem to notice her angry glare because he recited every word he had spoken to the maniacal bastard,

“I said, Snape you greasy git, just to let you know, a brilliant girl like Hermione would never like you or even look at you twice. You should be honored if she ever looked at you kindly, or touched you which she would only do out of pity I assure you.”

Silence before Hermione’s face paled and with one swift movement, her palm connected with Ron’s fiery cheek and it echoed off the empty hallway. There was a hollow smacking sound as Ron suddenly cupped his wounded face.

“What the hell was that for?” he asked furiously, as Harry suddenly dashed inside the Gryffindor common room…he didn’t need to be in the middle of a lover’s quarrel.

“Don’t you understand, Ron?” Hermione said hollowly, choking back those tears, her cheeks reddening and her heart beating unevenly.

“In all your messing about and trying to be so macho… You’ve ruined my life.”

There was a deafening silence and Ron suddenly began quaking, something no one at Hogwarts, save for his brother’s, had seen before and evidently by Hermione’s expression, neither had she.

“Real fair, Hermione Granger.” Ron said spitting, “You mess me about with your love potion, trying to get me to help you, then fall in love with you and you say I’m ruining your life?” he was babbling mostly, but beneath it’s clumsy exterior there was truth.

“In all honestly, Hermione.” Ron said miserably, “You’ve ruined my life. Because I can never have you.”

Hermione wished he would stop, but he didn’t.

“Because your in love Snape.”

That was it. The flood started and Hermione was suddenly sobbing, throwing her arms around Ron’s shaking shoulders and wailing.

“I’m so sorry Ron.” She sobbed messily, trying to wipe her eyes free from those blasted tears. Ron felt his own tears slipping down his cheeks as he held her. After a few minutes the two of them regained composure, and Snape

“I’m sorry too Hermione.” Ron said somberly, brushing some stray hair from Hermione’s red face. “I only said that stuff to Snape because…because I didn’t think he cared.”

“I did go to Snape, Ron.” Hermione said bashfully, “And…well, it doesn’t matter. I’m fairly certain he doesn’t want me.”

Ron looked to Hermione with a solemn duty to protect her best interests, and with a heavy hand on her shoulder he looked to her.

“I think he really does. He just doesn’t realize it yet.”
________________________________________

“An idiot.” Snape cursed as he paced his classroom hours later, “That’s what I am, a bloody idiotic git! I had the most perfect girl who wanted me and I wanted her and what do I do? I go and get jealous over something so stupid that it’s unbelievable!”

Snape breathed heavily, his hair hanging in his face as he tried to calculate what made him do it. And suddenly it came to him.

Weasely.

Ron had been right. Hermione had been doing it out of pity. Pity he didn’t truly understand the motive fout put pity nonetheless. God he had been stupid. His prior thoughts on lost love were replaced with ugly, hateful images as he tried desperately to stop the rapid beating of his heart.

He walked over to the small vial in which he had been helping Hermione with, and sent it crashing into the dustbin. It had been a sort of momento, a remembrance of their time together, which was now like the potion that had once been in the bottom of the bin. Gone.

‘Stupid Black’ came the random thought.

He didn’t know what made him think of Black at this moment, perhaps his angry state, or the fact that he was just sick of having that man around Hermione all the time now. His Hermione.

His brilliant, talented, beautiful to him Hermione Granger. Hermione Snape perhaps, if she hadn’t pitied him. Funny, the thought of marriage had repulsed him…but the thought of waking up every morning and going sleep next to her…

His mind trailed off of her, the pain was too great and all he could think of was how one person had ruined it before it had started.

Sirius Black.
______________________________

“Thank you Sirius.” Hermione said taking the cup of tea from him, “I didn’t know whom else to turn to.” Her eyes were shining with tears again, and she tried to hide them from him…this didn’t work on the ever-scrupulous Black.

He clucked his tongue, sitting across from her and sighed deeply. He had caused her so much pain…pain that he hadn’t meant to cause.

“It’s quite alright, Hermione.” Black said looking to her kindly, “My door is always open to you.”

Hermione nodded, drinking the tea shakily. She leaned back in the comfortable chair in Black’s classroom, her eyes looking at the ceiling.

“Why does he do it?” she wondered aloud, as Black hesitantly answered.

“I’m afraid,” he drawled, looking to his tea momentarily, not wanting to go on. “It’s probably my fault.”

“Oh no Sirius.” Hermione said, sitting up straight and looking him in the eyes, “You mustn’t blame yourself.”

Black shrugged, he knew what he had done to the poor adolescent Severus Snape was wrong. He had his whole life to pity himself, but now, Snape needed his help, and he had to oblige.

“Hermione.” He said darkly, “James and I were horrible to Severus, we did nothing but make his adolescent life a living hell”

Hermione’s eyes filled with tears again, but Black shook his head, telling Hermione mentally that tears could not save him now.

“The mere fact that you held an attraction towards me, how sworn enemy is probably always in the back of Severus’ mind. He has always been pitied, by me lately, Minerva, Dumbledor…he probably just thought you were different.”

A flash of anger and Hermione jumped from her seat, her tea forgotten and upset on the floor of Black’s messy classroom.

“But I am!” Hermione replied indignantly, “I don’t pity him because of what he is, I pity him for what was done to him in his past. I certainly don’t pity him now. I don’t see him as you and James and everyone else did. I see him now as a man, a man that I love…” she broke off, not meeting Black’s eyes as he came over and hugged her gently as she continued “A man I want to love me back.”

Black was about to speak when a thundering boom sounded on his door and a livid Severus Snape stood in the doorframe, shaking with fury. He saw Black’s arms around Hermione’s narrow shoulders and all he could see for a moment was red around his vision.

“Black.” He snarled, not looking to Hermione any longer, he seemed he was going to speak more when suddenly out of his pocket, his wand was produced, like he had been waiting for an attack, Black frantically reached for his own weapon, pushing Hermione from him as Snape moved on.

“Expelliarmus!” Snape bellowed furiously, as Black’s wand flew twelve feet behind him, hitting the chalkboard and falling with a gentle clatter te fle floor. Black’s eyes were wide with terror as he realized how crazed Severus looked.

Suddenly Snape boomed as Black made a dive for his wand, “Impedimenta!” and Black had fallen, as though bound by invisible ropes which he clawed at to no avail.

“Let me go!” He called angrily, his eyes brimming with angry tears. Snape smirked evilly as he made his way over to him, he kneeled next to him, giving him a malicious sneer before saying quietly.

“Revenge is sweet, eh Blackhead?”

Then a sudden flash of light was seen as Black was upside down in the air, bellowing at Snape to let him down. Vicious curses rang out through the air as Snape looked up to him viciously. This was his turn, he would not be humiliated.

“Perhaps I should get the staff, hmmm?” Snape asked merrily, his eyes twinkling bizarrely, “Some student to jeer and point? What do you think?”

“Snape…you don’t understand.” Black said trying t focus on the swirling ground below. He felt his vision black a moment and then his eyes were narrowed on the smirking Snape.

“I suppose you know how it was for me then?” Snape said now angrily, “Everyone pointing and laughing. Not enjoying the view up there Black? I know I didn’t.”

“Leave him alone!” said a small yell from beside a power mad Snape, as his mind broke from its hypnosis and he glared at her.

“Worried about your lover, Granger?” he said madly, his eyes narrowing on her own, then glancing back up he added “What a shame.”

“Severus!” Hermione shouted frantically, tugging at his cloak, he didn’t answer, his dark eyes were feasting on Black’s wriggling body. “Stop it!”

Snape stopped, looking to Hermione with anger and pain in those dark orbs of his, “Why? Are you in love with him again?”

“Why do you have to be like this?” she screeched, as Snape continued, his mind a whirring. Hermione wanted nothing more than to slap that sneer off his face but couldn’t.

“Don’t you understand?” she said softly, “I don’t love him, I…I-I love you.”

Snape’s smirk faltered, as he thought he heard her utter something. As if he had been transported emotionally from his body, he looked back to Black’s wiggling body and suddenly felt his heart fall.

What was he doing?

He was just as bad as Black had been. Slowly he muttered a small incantation and Black floated soundlessly to the flood. Snape was able to do the right thing, be the mature one when Black had not and he felt his sanity and maturity flood back to him.

“I apologize Black.” Severus said blankly, looking to Black hollowly. Black nodded, running a hand through his hair and looking to the spot where Hermione had been.

She was gone.

Snape looked back to Black, hurriedly preparing to say something to excuse him when Black with an unpremeditated smirk nodded and said, “Better hurry, she walks fast.”

Snape didn’t grace him with a reply, as he was now running down the halls, frantically searching for Hermione.

After several moments he was sure he had lost her for the day, sure he had lost his one love forever and he walked out a door of Hogwarts, his eyes blurring at the sun that was setting slowly.

It seemed that everyone had congregated outside on the luck grass for some picnicking, or playing and Snape envied each of the young couples holding hands and laughing. No, didn’t envy…Snape hated them all.

Several Professors sat talking in the grass or walking, surveying the students, obviously not inviting Severus out for who wanted his company? Who would want to be near Severus Snape if they didn’t have to be?

She did.

He was nearing the path that lead to the forest, and he decided that perhaps a long walk down there would suffice his endless painstaking walking. He had decided to give up once and for all when a small hand touched his shoudler.

“Severus.” She said gently, looking to his hooded eyes with compassion and…love. “I’m sorry I left, but I had to…”

Snape nodded, his eyes stinging with restrained tears as he looked at her serious face. She looked to him with heavy thoughts and said softly.

“I don’t pity you Severus.” She said rather sternly, facing him and standing at her full height, “And don’t expect me to.”

He nodded at this bemused, with a small hint of a smirk on his full and luscious lips. She went on with a deep breath, her eyes locking with his.

“I understand that you’re my professor, and I understand that you think I’m a silly little girl.” At this she and Snape both smiled, “But,” she went on, “You also have to understand that I am truly in love with you.”

He didn’t move, didn’t respond and she felt her heart sink as she nodded as if hearing his unspoken answer. The tears stopped after her confession and she nodded once more, turning from him. She noticed the teachers around and this confirmed his actions.

Suddenly his hand was heavily on her shoulders as he whirled her gently to face him. He smiled as he tried to regain his composure. “Hermione.” He said the name softly, his lips loving the way her name sounded on his lips. “You silly little girl. Of course I love you. How couldn’t I?”

Hermione felt her heart soar, and his smile grew wider and less devilish. She let the lone tear fall from her eye before she looked up to his dark frame.

She reached out to kiss his sweet lips when she saw the look he shot around at his peers from a few feet away, a nervous and restrained look of contempt and hatred shot at them. Minerva looked to Hermione with a small nod and smile before looking back to a still talking Albus.

Hermione then realized their relationship was one that would be scrutinized to no ends if put out on public display, so she pulled back gently, no feelings hurt for she understood.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Snape nodded to her request and matched her steps, looking a little more relaxed now that they were going farther from their unsuspecting prison. There was her graduation ahead, a long time to spend together.

And now walking with him along the path that lead to the forest he reached out a lean hand and hurriedly grasped her own in his. His embarrassment thrown to the wind, for he was with the woman he loved.

She looked down at their fingers entwined, and a smile touched her lips, and as she looked to his usually stony face, she noticed a smile playing upon his lips as well, his face wistful as if in a pleasant dream. There would be much laughter and kissing and love making and talking in their future.


For now she was just content to hold his hand.