The Crimson Thread

REALITY

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Hermione and Severus were married during the height of the Wizarding War, a strategic union to protect the members of the Order of the Phoenix. Yet, for Hermione, it was much more than a tactical decision. Deep in her heart, she had already fallen in love with Severus. She admired his bravery, respected his intellect, and found herself captivated by the depths of his enigmatic soul.

Despite the chaos around them, she always cared for him, trusted him implicitly, and supported him through every perilous mission. After their marriage, they began to grow closer, both emotionally and physically. Late-night conversations in the dim light of Grimmauld Place turned into whispered confessions and shared secrets. Touches that began as accidental brushes of hands evolved into tender caresses and stolen kisses.

But Hermione never dared to confess her love. She knew the burden Severus carried as a double agent, the danger he faced daily, and the need for him to remain focused and unencumbered by additional emotional ties. She didn't want him to feel weak or bound in an unwanted relationship. So, she kept her feelings hidden, letting her actions speak louder than words. She wanted him to be hers, and hers alone, but she feared revealing her heart might make his already precarious position even more dangerous.

One memory surfaced painfully in her mind. They stood by the door, and she asked him "Promise me you will come back to me?" , but he had never replied. His silence in response had cut her deeply, a wound that never fully healed. She had always feared that his heart belonged elsewhere or that his feelings were buried beneath layers of duty and secrecy.

The war raged on, and in a brutal confrontation, Severus was struck by a deadly curse. The Order members managed to secure victory, and they rushed Severus to the hospital wing, fighting to keep him alive. Hermione never left his side, holding his hand, whispering words of comfort and love, even as he lay unconscious.

When morning broke, Severus awoke with a jolt, his sudden movement startling Hermione awake from her light sleep. "Severus," she breathed, her voice a mixture of relief and concern. But his eyes, usually so sharp and discerning, were filled with confusion.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice flat and devoid of recognition. "I don't know you."

Hermione's heart shattered. It felt as though someone had driven a knife straight through her chest. She tried to maintain her composure, but tears welled up in her eyes. "I'll get the mediwitch," she said, her voice trembling.

The mediwitch arrived promptly, examining Severus with professional efficiency. The mediwitch finally turned to Hermione. "I'm afraid Severus has suffered memory loss," she said gently. "He seems to have forgotten only you. Someone during the war must have obliviated his memories of you."

Hermione felt the world tilt on its axis. The mediwitch's words echoed in her mind, a cruel confirmation of her worst fears. The weight of this revelation was almost unbearable, as if her very existence had been erased from the man she loved. Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away, forcing herself to remain strong.

Her thoughts raced, torn between despair and a fierce determination. She would not give up on Severus, not after everything they had endured together. But the path ahead seemed impossibly daunting, filled with the heart-wrenching task of rekindling a love that had been cruelly torn from his mind.

As she stood by his bedside, watching him struggle with his fragmented memories, Hermione vowed silently to herself. She would find a way to make him remember, to restore the love they had built. No matter how long it took, she would not abandon Severus to the darkness that had claimed his past.

With a heavy heart but unwavering resolve, Hermione stepped out of the room to let the mediwitch finish her work. She knew the journey ahead would be fraught with pain and challenges, but her love for Severus was a force stronger than any magic. And she would not rest until they found their way back to each other.