Ghostly Curse

Chapter 5

Ch 5 - Morning Ventures

Hermione opened her eyes the next morning and stared absently at the balcony doors. She had felt embarrassed about what had transpired between herself and Lucius the night before until she realized that all he really did was act upon her own challenge. Well, of course, you stupid arse. You told him he could join you. Did you really believe he wouldn’t?

Groaning, she pulled the soft down covers over her head and wished for the earth to open up and swallow her. Why had Lucius listened to her daring offer? Severus never had. She remembered when she had first discovered his hidden feelings for one of her best friends…

“Hermione, I suggest you just overlook this and pretend it never happened.” His voice had been cold and unemotional despite the tears she cried.

“But, Severus, You just admitted to me that I’m not the one you love. I married you believing that we had fallen in love. Now, I feel like the last two years have all been a lie.” He voice broke on a sob. “Did I… Did I not ever mean anything to you?”It was then that his own frustration at their situation came to a head. “I do care for you, Hermione. I’m just not in love with you. I… I’ve cared for Ginny since the final battle. But, she was happily married to Potter and I never believed she’d leave him.”Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes. “She didn’t leave him, Severus. He died.” Her voice was calm as she said this.

Severus sighed. “I am well aware of this fact, Hermione. What happened to him is unfortunate. I never would have expected--”

Hermione cut in, “What? That his own life was tied to Voldemort’s? That he would slowly dwindle away and die within a year of the Dark Lord’s defeat?”

Looking uncomfortable, Severus backed away, nodding. “Yes.” His voice became distant as he spoke softly. “Perhaps if I had known sooner what was happening to him…”

Hermione watched the remorse cross his face before she asked, “Would you really have helped him? Even knowing that it would only be through his death that you would be able to have Ginny?”Sighing, Severus turned from Hermione. Shaking his head, he answered. “I never hated the boy. I would never have wished him any true lasting harm.” Turning back to her, his eyes bore into hers. “Yes, Hermione. I would still have helped him, even at the risk of never being able to make my feelings known to Ginny. It wouldn’t have been the first time I have sacrificed my own desires for the greater good.”…

… Throwing the covers off of herself, Hermione rose from the bed and got ready for the day. It did her no good to let herself be miserable over the past. Harry was gone. Ron had refused to have anything to do with her after she had accepted Severus’ proposal. After Severus had let his feelings for Ginny be known, Hermione had agreed to a divorce.

Ginny had come to her the night before it had been final and asked her if she was truly okay with her being with her ex-husband. At which point, Hermione had smiled and told Ginny that it made no sense for her to stay and be miserable with a man that her friend could be happy with.

In the end, Hermione had told them both that there were no ill feelings and she wished them both every happiness. Then, licking her wounds, she had moved as far as she could stand to be away from the life she had known. She had fled to the Muggle world for almost two years and pretended they all didn’t exist.

But as time went by, she realize that she did herself no justice by hiding. She was throwing all her dreams away by doing so and that was just stupid. After all, she was the brightest witch of the age and she had every right to be a part of the world she so loved. So, she had to give up the man she had thought to love.That didn’t mean she had to give up that which she wanted so dearly. She was more than just one of the surviving members of the Golden Trio. She was also a very good Potions mistress. One of the best, it would seem, with her ex-husband being the only other one in the vicinity.