Severus and Hermione: Book One

Chapter 10: Hermione's Letter-Severus

Severus tore open the letter immediately. As he read Hermione's letter, his heart fell as he realized that she only wanted to know who he was. All she wanted was a name, but giving away his name could end him. His teaching career and his whole life could end over this one little mistake. He wasn't going to lie to her, but he couldn't tell her the truth either? What was he to do?

Then a thought popped into his head, if he gave her some lovey-dovey reason for why he didn't want her to know his name, then maybe he could avoid it as much as possible. When Hermione came in and hugged Severus for saving her life, his heart began to beat. He was worried that she would've heard it, but luckily she didn't.

Images of the night before still danced in his head. All the blood, her face as white as snow. He remembered the feeling in his heart when he saw her like that. It reminded him of the night he found Lily. Cold and dead, the light in her eyes long gone. The fact that he almost had to feel that pain again, was too much for him. For the first time, in a long time, he cried. He cried over Lily and now he was crying over Hermione.

It was very frightning, but he pulled through it. Madam Pomfrey saved her life. He wrote his letter to Hermione back, telling her about the moment when he held her hand.

Beautiful Hermione,

Your reply is simply wonderful, but I cannot give you my name. I'm worried that if I were to give you my name..you would stop caring for me. You would no longer be my Juliet, but someone that I used to know. I want our love to grow and blossom, like a rose. My words are not meant to hurt you, but to shed some light on the matter.

I want to tell you that it was I who held your hand last night. It felt like our souls were merging, even if you could not see my face. Even if I could not look into your beautiful brown eyes and see your love, I knew that it was there. The way your hand fits into mine, makes that moment all the more special.

Love,

Romeo

Severus folded the letter shut. If Hermione were to show up to his class, he would simply slip it into her bag like before. Or maybe into one of her books. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but for some reason, his heart assured him that it was right. Christmas was just a few months away and he wanted to get Hermione something...but what?

He thought of it. A promise ring. Perhaps it was a bit too bold, but he wanted to give her something special. A promise ring, meant that he promised to love her as long as she would wear it. He smiled as he thought about it on his way to lunch. The Great Hall was full of students and the volume was far too loud, but he didn't notice. As he seated himself at the staff's table, he spotted Hermione with Harry and Ron.

The gauze on her arm was noticeable. He watched her as she moved her hands about talking with them. He remembered how soft her hands were and how it felt to be able to hold them in his own. He daydreamed about it until everyone began to rise and leave for their next class. He hurried to the dungeons, trying his best to beat the students there.