Lions Vs Snakes

Chapter Seventeen

Hermione was sitting in her usual spot, on the dark red couch when Harry returned to the common room. Her back was rigid upright and her hair was even crazier than usual. She was shaking very violently as the very obviously cried.

When Harry went to sit next to her he noticed how puffy and red her eyes were. She was starring it the empty fireplace. She looked as if she wasn't even aware of anyone's presence. Not even her own.

Harry wasn't sure how to approach the situation. He wasnt sure about anything anymore. However he needed to do something. He couldn't stand Hermione like that. She seemed empty. He took a shot in the dark.

Carefully her wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her to his chest. She refused to move mostly but swayed into him slightly.

"Hermione?" Harry wasn't sure he should speak. Hermione lifted her head and wiped away her tears.

Harry took this as a way to say that to speak would be appropriate so he continued. "I'm sorry me and Ron were such prats. We didn't treat you like we should have I'm really sorry."

Hermione still seemed to be in her trance but she broke it and finally looked a little better. She tried to smile at Harry but she failed so terribly and ended up frowning rather than smiling. She finally calmed down enough to speak.

"Harry, I understand the way you and Ronald are. But what you don't understand is that...well..." Hermione stopped talking. She buried her face into her hands.

"C'mon Hermione you can tell me anything you know that." Harry encouraged.

"Harry-Severus-is-more-than-a-teacher-to-me-and-he-has-been-for-awhile-but-I-didn't-know-how-to-tell-you" Hermione quickly spat out before bursting into tears once more.

Harry sat in shock for a while. He had not thought that Hermione of all people was well with Snape. He couldn't believe anyone even found him remotely attractive. Although Harry had to admit he was nice if he had to be and a very intelligent man. That was probably why Hermione liked him so much.

"Oh please don't hate me Harry!"

"What? I would never!" Harry responded quickly out of habit. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel. Having your loved one taken away. It really hurts."

Harry was crying too now because all he could think about was Draco. How he would rest his head in Harry's lap while he ruffled Draco's hair. How they would sneak out at night to play one-on-one quidditch matches. How Draco would sing when no one else was around but Harry. How Draco secretly loved muggle things like movies. Or how Draco could recite almost every word from Grease.

Harry and Hermione sat together crying for the two people they loved most in the world to return safely and unharmed, though they knew the chances of that happening were very very slim. They would speak every now and again to each other assuring the other that everything would be alright. They both knew this would be far from true but they took refuge in the simple lies they told one another.

Eventually they became too tired and they fell asleep together. Both of them had cried themselves to sleep. Their checks were stained with their salty tears and their eyes were red and swollen.

They stirred in their sleep. Most likely because of bad dreams.
Harry woke up later at when he assumed to be three in the morning.

He didn't want to wake Hermione so he slowly and carefully rose from the couch. He found one of the unused blankets and covered the shivering bundle of Hermione that lay on the couch with it. He stood and observed her sleeping for a while wishing he could help her somehow. He thought maybe there was a way as he quietly walked up to bed.

Hermione remained curled up on the red couch. The satin blanket that lay over her had long since been kicked of and her sleep seemed restless. If it was even humanly possible she was even more stresses while asleep than awake. Hermione even let out the occasional whimper and would grab for a shoulder to cry on even though no one else was there.

She had terrible dreams of Severus being tortured where ever he was now. She had flashbacks of what had happened earlier that day. She had a horrible dream.

She could do nothing but watch her lover cripple onto the ground crying in pain and agony as he was tortured. How she tried so hard to defend him, to help, to fight but she was stuck unable to move. Her feet were glued to the ground and she was sinking into it.

Soon the ground became devil's snare. The plant held her back but refused to kill her. She thrashed and fought but remained stuck. Severus was being strangled by the devil's snare as Bellatrix cackled in the background. Her evil cries getting louder and louder as more light drained from Severus' eyes.