Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Let's try that one over there," Hermione advised as she pointed across the large hall.

Severus studied it intently. "I don't know. It doesn't look like the safest of environments," he muttered. "It looks like a jungle."

"I've always wanted to visit the jungle!" Hermione grabbed his hand and before they knew it, they were standing in the other painting. A huge giraffe walked by them, and Hermione craned her neck to see its face high above them.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Hermione. I'm sure I've seen some wild cats in this picture before."

Hermione looked around. "I don't see any now," she said. Her hand stayed firmly in his as she tugged him along. "Come on! Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I had enough adventure while I was alive, thank you. I have no desire to give my dead heart the chance to fly out of my body in fear."

She turned back to him with a grin. "I bet you can't find me!" She flicked her wand at him, temporarily blinding him. He heard her move away quickly.

"Hermione! Hermione! Get this hex off me this instant!" Severus demanded. Silence was his only answer. Within a minute things went from black to grey, then to fuzzy, and finally he could see clearly again.

He grit his teeth together. That witch was in for it when he caught her. Sauntering off, he began to covertly look for her. The trees in the area had very thin trunks, so she was definitely not hiding behind one of those. He spied a large bush and set his mouth determinedly as he rushed behind it. She wasn't there.

"Woman, show yourself!" he commanded. He was unsurprised that she ignored him completely. Looking around, he noted that the forest seemed to get thicker a little ways off. He made his way toward that area. He was just about to scatter a pile of leaves when he heard a blood-curdling scream. Looking up, he saw Hermione bounding toward him with a look of sheer terror on her face.

"Run!" she cried.

He didn't wonder for long about why she was so terrified. Only a few yards behind her, a lion snarled and bared his teeth as it bounded after her.

Hermione caught up to Severus, and he pushed her ahead of him. They ran as quickly as they could to the edge of the picture; all the while, the vicious cat gaining on them. Severus looked back and was terrified to see the lion mere feet from him. He hoped the beast wouldn't decide to leap before they could escape.

Reaching the edge of the painting, he pushed Hermione and jumped out of the picture. He landed in a heap on top of her in the neighboring frame. Rolling off her, he looked at her in fury.

"Are you insane?" he demanded.

Hermione lifted herself up on her arms and glared at him. "How was I to know that lion was going to think I'd make a good lunch?"

"I told you the picture was dangerous, yet you ran off all by yourself." He kneeled so that he could look into her face and grabbed her shoulders. "Do you realize you could have been killed?"

She gave him a furious look. "Why do you think I was running?"

"You could have been killed."

"I understand that..."

"No, you don't understand anything!" Severus shoved her away, stood and stalked off. Taking in their surroundings finally, he found them to be on a boat dock next to a motorboat. He eyed the boat angrily before lowering himself into it and unwinding the tether that moored it.

Hermione had gotten up by this time. She rushed toward him.

"What are you doing?" she cried.

He glared at her. "Going for a boat ride, what does it look like?"

She stood there, looking forlorn. "Severus..."

"No."

He turned to set the boat free, started the engine and zoomed away, leaving Hermione calling after him on the dock. As soon as he cleared the small harbor, he pushed the accelerator to full throttle and sent the boat speeding along the water. He did nothing but let the wind blow his hair and cloak back behind him. He tried not to think at all, but he found that task almost impossible. Finally, after five minutes he killed the motor and sat down heavily in the captain's chair.

His breathing was labored, and he felt as if he was about to explode. He fought not to destroy anything in front of him. Bending his legs up, he put his arms on them and buried his head. He let his terror wash over him. He'd almost lost her.... What would he have done if she'd been killed?

Perhaps if she were killed, I could have her painted in with me...

He lifted his head and smacked his fist into his palm. That wasn't what he wanted. For the first time since his death, he wished he were still alive. He wanted to be alive so he could live forever with Hermione Granger. He was lost... utterly lost... because she would never be his, no matter how she might feel about him.

Reality was a harsh dictator. Their being together was impossible. He was kidding himself to even let these thoughts about her continue on.

She is just... a friend, a flesh and blood friend who will return to that state soon. She can be nothing more.... Nothing more...

Severus beat down his frustration and took in several large breaths. Composing himself, his thoughts were drawn to Hermione, who he'd left at the dock. He felt guilt well up inside him for his caustic departure. Starting the engine, he turned the boat around and headed back to shore.

He saw her as a little dot when he was approaching the pier. As he neared, he saw that she was sitting at the edge of the dock, her head cradled on her arms, which were rested on her drawn up knees. Hearing the boat approach, she lifted her head.

He drew the boat into the dock, wrapped the tether around the mooring, and climbed onto the wooden frame. Hermione hadn't moved, but was staring at him. Her eyes were puffy from crying.

He walked over to her and sat next to her on the edge of the dock. She stared at him as he stared forward, not looking at her. He knew if he turned his head in the slightest, he'd be in danger of scooping her into his arms and never letting her go. His peripheral vision caught her head turn as she stared straight ahead with him. He cleared his throat nervously.

"I shouldn't have rushed off like I did. I had no intention of leaving you here for long. I just wanted to clear my head."

Hermione said nothing. Severus shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm glad you weren't hurt," he continued weakly.

Hermione stood. He didn't dare look up at her.

"No, the lion didn't hurt me at all," she said in an accusatory voice.

He heard her footsteps, heavily banging on the dock, as she moved away. His gut felt as if it were twisted in knots. He glanced behind him, seeing that she stood at the other side of the dock with her arms crossed, looking off behind them. Her back was rigid, and she had an angry aura about her.

Can I blame her?

He arose finally and made his way back to her. His footsteps rang in his ears as he closed the distance between them. He put his hands on her shoulders once he had come up to her.

"Hermione..."

She wheeled around, anger filling her face. "You know, it's not as if I intended to make that lion chase us! I had no idea it was there until it sprang from behind a bush and started chasing me."

"I told you that picture was dangerous," he replied, his voice showing his annoyance at her lack of regard for his previous caution.

Her face softened slightly. "You were right." Her shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you." She looked away from him.

She seemed so vulnerable in that minute that even though his mind was screaming at him to leave this whole incident alone, he pulled her to him, turning her before enveloping her in an embrace.

"I shouldn't have screamed at you," he whispered.

"You scared me, Severus. You were just so livid. I don't think I've ever seen you in such a state before."

"Certainly you've seen me angry like that before," he murmured, still keeping her locked in his embrace.

She pulled her head from under his chin and looked up at him.

"No, not like that. There was something in your eyes. I can't even describe it."

Before he could stop himself, his explanation fell from his lips. How could she do this to him with only a few words?

"I've never felt like that before. I thought you were going to be killed. Being that you're not truly a painting, I had no idea what that would mean. The thought of losing you was unbearable."

Full realization of what his statement implied caused him to stiffen and pull away from Hermione. He turned and stalked back along the pier. It wasn't long before she followed him.

"Severus?" she asked from behind him.

He couldn't turn to look at her. If he did, he knew he would be lost and all his secrets would be open to her. Despite years of hiding things from his two masters, this slip of a woman had him saying things he knew he should keep to himself.

Feeling her hand on his arm, he turned his head in her direction, but didn't make eye contact.

"I'm sorry I scared you. I didn't think of it from your point of view. Of course you would have been scared."

He nodded curtly.

"I care for you, too," she said simply.

His eyes snapped to hers and that was his undoing. Her face radiated love... toward him.

"It is utter folly..." he murmured.

She smiled wanly at him. "Nonetheless, it is how I feel. I can't deny it any longer."

"We can't..." he tried to argue, but she shook her head at him.

"I know; it's seemingly impossible. I know that. I can't help myself, though. I'm falling in love with you."

"Hermione, I am nothing but a mass of brushstrokes."

She gave a wry laugh. "Don't you think I've told myself that repeatedly? It doesn't matter. Brush strokes or not, you have a soul, Severus Snape."

He looked at her in wonder. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought he could earn the attraction of a witch such as she.

Giving him a determined look, Hermione continued. "I don't care what you're made of, Severus."

He turned to her then and grimaced as he tried to get his point across.

"So, what happens when you are out there?" He pointed outside the picture. "How can you and I be together? Will you stroke my paint and tell me how much you miss me? Will I hopelessly reach out to you, never being able to reach past the canvas? What are we to do then, Hermione?"

She squared her shoulders, looking at him intently. "I don't know. All I know is that I will not deny this feeling any longer. Not to myself, and not to you."

"Do you realize what you're saying?" he asked incredulously.

She took a step toward him. "I'm saying I can't stop thinking about you. I want to be with you. I... want... you."

Their eyes locked, and Severus felt his walls crumbling around him. What would be the harm in confessing his feelings and maybe getting some comfort before she found her way out of his world? No harm at all.

"Merlin, I want you, too," he told her before pulling her to him and kissing her. His lips captured hers, and he nearly died a second time from the wonderful feeling of her kiss. He was enveloped in the sheer headiness of the feeling of her in his arms. His hand came up and tangled itself in her curls. Her hands followed suit and entwined in his black locks. A flood of emotions showered over him. Love, desire, amazement, and intense passion enveloped him. Having her kissing him was like heaven.

And then it came to him...

The reason why he was able to pull her into the portrait was so simple he'd hadn't even considered it. He pulled back from her delectable mouth and stared at Hermione sadly. An intense feeling of loss enveloped him. He'd just found her, and now he had to send her back. Neither life nor death was fair.

AN: Sorry, guys. I'm really evil here, I know. Thanks to slytherinlaurel for the fine beta work.