There's No Place Like Hogwarts *COMPLETE*

Chapter 8- Decisions

Hermione sighed happily as she sat up in bed. She frowned when she noticed Severus was missing. Before she could get out of bed to go look for him, the man in question came into the room.

“Good morning Hermione,” He smiled.

“Good morning indeed. What is this?” She asked nodding to the tray he carried.

“I took the liberty of having our breakfast delivered. We need to talk about some things,” He answered as he sat the tray on the bed.

Hermione knew he was right. Yes last night had been beyond amazing, but there was still a lot they needed to discuss. Quietly they ate. It seemed Severus was just as reluctant to begin the discussion as she was. Finally they could no longer put it off.

“Hermione, last night…I didn’t expect to jump right into a physical relationship with you. I don’t regret it, I just thought we would wait a bit,” He sighed.

“Well, I didn’t exactly give you much choice did I?” She replied.

“Don’t. I don’t want there to be any regrets about that. To be honest, I’m glad it happened,” He said.

“You are?” She asked.

“Hermione, I love you, you know that. If I was honest with myself, I’ve loved you since the beginning. I think I started falling for you after I received your letter. Every time Albus or Minerva would bring up your name, I found myself paying attention. I didn’t start doing that till your letter.

“When I heard you were coming back, I felt excited. I couldn’t wait to see you again. I often dreamt of what you would look like. Had you cut your hair? Were you seeing anyone? Were your eyes still full of questions? I don’t want to hide our relationship. You are my lover. I want everyone to know it. Can you accept that? Accept me, past and all?” He explained.

Hermione moved so that she sat on his lap. She took his face in her hands and stared into his arms. “Yes. I love you Severus. I do and have always accepted you. I know you had a long hard life, but I don’t care. I accept you Severus Snape,”

Severus held her close as he kissed her. Hermione’s arms wrapped around his neck as she returned the kiss. Whatever else that they were going to discuss could wait till later they both thought as Severus lowered her to the bed.

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Ron groaned as he covered his eyes from the sunlight pouring into his room. His brain was fuzzy and he felt sick to his stomach.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Don’t yell, my head’s pounding,” Ron moaned.

“Answer my question Ron,” Harry said.

“Why are you pissed at me? What did I do?” Ron shot back as he slowly, very slowly, sat up.

“You don’t remember last night? My party? Hermione, Severus, confronting Hermione and Severus pinning you to the wall?”

“Oh shit,” He sighed.

“Oh shit is right. What the hell were you trying to accomplish last night?” Harry demanded as he hand Ron a sober up potion.

Ron downed the potion in one gulp. “She should still be with me. Hermione should be my wife and be having my children,”

“Says you. Damnit Ron, when are you going to wake up and see that Hermione wasn’t happy with you?” Harry asked.

“How do you know she wasn’t happy?” Ron countered.

“Because she told me. The day before she broke up with you, she came to me. She was crying her eyes out. She didn’t want to hurt you but she had to be truthful to herself and fair to you. She said you deserved a woman who could love you the way you deserved to be loved. She wasn’t and isn’t that woman. Everyone else can see that but you. Now you have a choice to make Ron,” Harry said.

“I do?” Ron asked.

“Yes. You can get your head out of your ass, be happy for Hermione and try to win her friendship back, or you can just stay out of her life. Just so you know, I’m happy for Hermione and Severus and I fully support them. Let me know when you’ve made up your mind,” Harry stated before leaving Ron’s flat.

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Hermione was sitting at her desk in the hospital going over all her inventory lists. With the new term starting in a month, she wanted to be prepared. “I thought you could use a snack,” Severus said as he entered with a tray of cookies and pumpkin juice.

“How thoughtful,” Hermione smiled.

“Well, I finished my work early and thought I would see if you needed help,” He replied.

“Actually, I could use the help. I’m just going over my inventory lists one last time. I don’t want to miss anything,” She explained as she picked up a cookie.

Severus took over while Hermione enjoyed her snack. Once finished, Hermione got back to work. Between her and Severus, she finished her lists in half the time it would have taken her to do it alone. The two put the lists away and left the office.

“So, since we’re both free what should we do now?” She asked.

“What do you say we go for a walk to Hogsmeade and grab some lunch?” He suggested.

“That sounds…normal,” She giggled.

“Until September first, we are normal. Just a couple enjoying our time together,” He smiled.

The couple exited the hospital wing. As they headed for the main doors, Severus reached over and took her hand in his. Hermione simply smiled. The summer air was crisp and a slight wind was blowing, making the heat a bit more tolerable.

“Severus, what should I do about Ron?” She asked.

“What do you mean Hermione?” He replied.

“We were friends for six and a half years, okay best friends for six and a half years. You can’t just throw that away. I know he was hurt when I broke up with him, but I can’t just forget our friendship,” She sighed.

Severus stopped walking and turned Hermione to face him. “If he’s really your friend then he should be happy for you. I can’t tell you what to do here. That choice is yours and yours alone,”

“I don’t want to lose him as a friend. I just hope someday he and I can be the friends we used to be,” She replied.

Severus gathered her into his arms. He knew how much her friends meant to her. He remembered how close she, Harry and Ron were when the three were in school. He just hoped for Hermione’s sake Ron would remember that too.

For the remainder of the summer Hermione and Severus’ relationship continued to grow day by day. They continued to brew and discuss potions. They had even discussed possible collaborations in the future on a few future potions.

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Ron stood nervously outside the hospital wing. He had spent a lot of time thinking about what Harry had said the day after his birthday party. Not only did he think about it, he had pulled out the photo album Hermione had made for him their final year.

As he gone down a photographic trip down memory lane, he replayed their seven years at Hogwarts in his head. With each picture, his mind replayed the memories that accompanied that picture.

“She’s in her office,” Severus said.

Ron spun around. “I always wondered how you did that. Sneaking up behind someone without making a sound,”

“Years of practice. I’m going to warn you now. If you’ve come here to cause her more pain, you will have me to deal with,” Severus stated.

“I’m not. I came to apologize to her and you. I see now that she’s happy with you and her career. I’m sorry for what I said and I’m hoping for a fresh start. With all three of us,’ Ron replied as he extended his hand to Severus.

Severus studied the young man for a few minutes. He could tell Ron was sincere. With a nod, he accepted Ton’s hand in friendship. “Be sure to knock first,”

“I will,” Ron nodded.

Ron took a deep breath and entered the hospital wing. He carefully headed for the office. Through the window in the door, he saw Hermione sitting at her desk reading a parchment. It was now or never. He raised his hand and knocked.

“Come in,” Hermione called out as she read over the budget for the year.

The door opened and closed. Hermione finished reading the last sentence before looking up. When she did she gasped. Before she could speak, Ron began speaking first. “Hermione, look I know ‘m probably the last person you want to see right now, but I have something I want to say to you. I’m so sorry about what happened at Harry’s party. I…I just couldn’t accept you being with Sna…I mean Professor Snape.

“Look, I’ve done a lot of thinking since the party. Harry helped me realize a few things. Hermione, I don’t want to lose our friendship. I know I don’t deserve it, but could you find it in your heart to forgive me? I just want you to be happy and if Professor Snape makes you happy then so be it,” Ron pleaded.

“Oh Ron. I can and do forgive you. I know I could have been a bit more concerned with your feelings and handled that last year a bit better. I probably should have written to you more as well,” Hermione said.

“Can we just try to get to know each other again? Rebuild our friendship to what it used to be?” he asked as he took her hand in his.

Hermione pulled him into her arms and just hugged him. Ron returned the hug gratefully. “Oh yes Ron. I would love that very much.”

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That night Severus held her in his arms as they sat in his sitting room. He listened quietly as she told him about her meeting with Ron and all that was said. He was glad that things were now better between her and Ron.

“Severus, what would you say if I suggested you and me going out to dinner with Ron?” She asked quietly.

“I say, if that’s what you want then let’s do it,” He answered.

“You mean it?” She replied happily.

“Yes. Why don’t we set it up for next Saturday night,” He nodded.

“Oh Severus. You’re so good to me,” She sighed.

T.B.C