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Hermione had done abominably in her presentation, she was sure. Unfortunately, the Wizengamot was a much more malleable people than she imagined they would be. Her claims had been solid enough, and her delivery apparently not at all finicky. Only Kingsley had realized that she had completely botched the true core of her work.

Whether or not she had been great or not didn't matter, for all had went well regardless.

Well... not quite. Immediately after getting the positive vote to start drafting rights' laws, Hermione had left for her flat. She was sick to her stomach, and the world around her had shifted completely. Parts of her wanted the attraction to Severus, for that was certainly what it was at this point, to have been crafted up by her mind as a cruel joke. The conversation with Ginny had simply bitten at her anxiety so hard, her conscience had decided to just agree to it.

When she got home, however, and she saw the unfinished cup of tea on her counter, Hermione knew that everything had been real. The connection, the way they'd drifted together.

She hated herself for not seeing it sooner.

The first thing Hermione did was sit before Ron and apologize. Her heart had strayed without her consent, and now nothing would ever go back to the way it was before. She was too honest of a person to let Ron wake and think nothing went astray besides the welcoming of Master Snape into their home. No, Hermione could not be that witch, and even if she never spoke to Severus after Ron's treatment, she still couldn't continue on with her current boyfriend. There had been a traitor in her heart.

Ron deserved complete fidelity.

She could no longer provide that, and her place on the transfigured bed felt more than proper that evening. It wasn't as though sleep was going to come easy, however, she didn't think it would for the next two months anyways.

And how shaken Severus must be! Hermione pitied him, knowing he had an important duty to complete these following months. He was a professor now who had practically the whole of the Wizarding community watching him. It was a scary thought, and getting into some type of scandal with her was especially not what he needed.

Hermione made the firm decision that she could no longer let him so close to her. Of course, after a while... maybe they could revisit their friendship, for it was one of strength, built on stable roots. They talked like nothing could get in their way, and everything was up for discussion. She had been charmed by this, and the fact that he was just different from Ronald altogether, which was refreshing when you lived with someone for so long.

There was no brute in Severus Snape, for he possessed a lightness to him that was uncharacteristic of his dark dress. Hermione yearned for his presence again, and yet hated that she did all at once.

The fact she'd bombed her presentation meant nothing when she was in so brutal of a turmoil. The Wizengamot had ruled in her favor anyways, so she need no longer worry over the facts and the proof that had been swirling around in her mind for a month now.

The next morning she found herself in Harry's office, of course.

Hermione had no idea how her best friend would take such news, but she needed to tell someone everything. And she truly meant everything.

"What's the matter, Hermione?"

She had barely said good morning before he had asked.

Harry's office chair was cold below her, though it wasn't a surprise. He never seemed to be here, except to handle paperwork, or set his coat or such on the desk. Being behind his desk was odd, seeing as his faced the opposite way hers did.

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