Something Undefined

Mutually Unrequited

The most evil of the times had arrived. Everything had changed, everyone had changed. Something that remained unaffected was a bushy haired girl's unrequited love. Why? She couldn't understand.

Severus had killed Dumbledore, the past months had passed with the trio seeking for horcruxes, Dobby had died, so had many others. But they couldn't just let them go in vain, couldn't let their sacrifice go waste.

The Shrieking Shack was soon to be the site where the trio had to go. When Voldemort's warning echoed and the they hidden behind the shades, they could see Snape being inquired by the Dark Lord.

As the snake's mouth enclosed around Severus' neck, it was all Hermione could do to hold back the scream that was trying to erupt from her mouth. Mercilessly, the Dark Lord took his wand and exited the room. She and Harry ran to where Snape was laying in a pool of his own blood writhing in dying agony.

Unbeknownst to Harry, tears were streaming down Hermione's face as she looked down on the man that she had longed to love. It was not fair for him to die like this, he deserved better treatment. Hermione thought to herself as she was now silently sobbing as his convulsions become slightly more violent. Harry was bent over him, and Severus grabbed the front of Harry's shirt and said the words that would later haunt Hermione's dreams:

"Look... At... Me..."

Hermione couldn't look at him any longer. She turned her back towards them both and attempted to regain her composure. It took several deep sighs and wiping of the eyes for her to finally settle down. By that time Harry stood up and grabbed her arm, telling her that he had something that he had to do, and for her to stay safe.

When Harry was out of the room, Hermione closed in on her former professor whose convulsions had subsided, but now he was gasping for air. She kneeled down beside him and their eyes met.

"You don't deserve to die this way! You don't deserve to die at all!"

Hermione cried as she collapsed in heaving sobs onto Severus' chest. Abruptly realizing that she might be causing him pain, she lifted herself up and looked into his eyes.

The eyes that usually looked so cold and cruel were staring directly into Hermione's, only they were neither cold nor cruel. What Hermione saw strongly resembled compassion and kindness. She stared into each pupil and then heard Snape's voice in her head. He was using legillimency with what little amount of energy he had left.

The low voice rang through her thoughts,

"Hermione, to be able to have you as a student was my greatest honor, and I sincerely hope that you will be able to prevail through this war and be whatever you dream. I regret never telling you sooner just how much you mean to me."

As he 'spoke', tears were flowing at full force down Hermione's cheek. She reached down and grabbed his hand, stroking it with her thumb, and softly spoke.

"Thank you, S-Severus."

Calling him anything else seemed unnecessary in such an unconventional situation and conversation. She continued,

"Those are the words that I've strived towards the entire time I've had you as a professor, and- and-"

her sobs came on harder as she tried to finish the sentence that she'd held back for so long,

"I can't live without you... I l-love you Severus!"

He didn't reply, but as he was still looking into Hermione's eyes, he smiled weakly.
Using legillimency for the last time,
his words sounded in her mind....

"I thought my love would forever remain unrequited. I love you too...
Hermione."

There was a mix of relief and grief on his unforgettable face. A tear escaped his eye and the smile faded from his face as the life in his eyes started to fade as well. When the upward heaving of his chest slowed to a stop, Hermione draped herself over his body and wept.

She couldn't just let him go, not like this. He wasn't supposed to die. Dumbledore knew that one day it would happen, he would have to meet his end. She didn't believe that he did love her. When did this something undefined occur?

All was in vain. She'd lost him. Forever. It was on such occasions that the need to call upon death was stronger. But her heart continued to beat.

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This is not the end!! Parts of the story taken from my oneshot: The Last Goodbye