Not Yet (A Hermione Granger fanfic)

Chapter 22

Hermione throws her hands up in the air. "Oh well this is just great! Am I ever going to be able to trust you, Severus?" Angry tears splash out of her eyes before she can stop them. But the look of pity Severus gives her only serves to make her angrier, and her tears hotter.

"Stop crying," he says.

Hermione's chest swells in anger. "You SHUT IT! I can't believe this. Has it been fun, Snape, playing me along all this time, letting me believe I'm helping you, getting me into your bed?!"

"Now hang on! That's not what it was about. If you'll just let me get a word in, I'll explain!"

"I'm tired of your explaining—"

"And has it occurred to you, Granger, that I am tired of you casting doubt over everything I do?"

"Can you blame me?"

"Yes. I can and I will. Have I not proven . . ." Severus breaks off, his look at once scathing and hurt.

"Hey!" someone calls. Hermione and Severus turn to see Charlie Weasley standing on top of the rocks leading down to the pool.

Severus swears.

"Everything alright, Hermione?" Charlie calls as he scrambles down toward them. Hermione glances at Severus, who is already casting discreet Glamor Charms on himself, transforming back into Orev. By the time Charlie gets close enough to really see them, Severus Snape has disappeared.

Charlie frowns at the pair, his eyes lingering on Hermione's puffy eyes. She hastily wipes the remaining tears on her sleeve. "Everything's alright, Charlie," she assures him.

"Doesn't look alright. And what about you?" Charlie looks at Orev.

"Why don't you keep your nose where it belongs, Weasley?" he sneers.

"I'm pretty sure it belongs right here." Charlie grasps his wand a bit tighter. "Maybe it's your nose that needs an adjustment. If you've upset Hermione, I'll do it for you."

"Oh boys," Hermione says, interrupting their glaring at each other. "Is this really necessary?"

"Yes," says Charlie, not taking his eyes off Orev. "I've been looking for you. Hermione, this man is not who he claims to be."

Hermione rolls her eyes, then remembers Charlie is only worried about her. "I know, Charlie."

Orev shoots Hermione a warning look. Charlie notices it, and puffs up. "Then maybe you'd like to know that Severus Snape didn't have any living relatives. None. Harry checked, then confirmed it with just about everybody he can think of. So this man here is someone else."

"I know, Charlie." Hermione sighs, looking at Orev. But his jaw is set—apparently he's not about to divulge his true identity to Charlie Weasley. She could, though, and in her current temper, she thinks it would serve him right.

"Then who are you?" Charlie asks Orev.

"Nobody—a concerned party," Orev answers.

"Oh?" Hermione says, her tone biting. "Concerned, are you? About me or yourself?"

He turns to her. "About you of course."

Charlie looks from one to the other.

"Prove it," she says.

"Excuse me?"

"Prove it, right now. Tell him who you are."

"How is that going to—?"

"Because if you don't, Charlie won't leave, and he'll report back to Harry, who will be here before we can set up camp for the night. If you care about me, you won't put my friends through all that."