The Ultimatum

A/N: Thank you once again to my beta justine 34 for her encouragement and corrections.

The next logical step would be for Severus to avoid Hermione Granger at all costs. To end their lunches together, cease visiting the Hospital Garden, perhaps even leave her orders to be filled by one of his many bumbling assistants. She was unattainable on all levels, and any sort of pursuit on Severus' part would end in heartbreak. Alas, with his life thus far as proof, Severus was anything but logical when in love.

Thus, he found himself seated under the very same elm where he had finally acknowledged, internally, his attraction to Hermione. She was sitting much closer this afternoon, sharing her magazine as he had forgotten his own. It was only a small white lie, as he was well aware that his own magazine sat safely in the drawer of his desk, but now that he was admitting to himself that he was attracted to her, he figured he might as well enjoy her company while he could. At the moment, they were perusing a medical journal and she seemed to be quite absorbed in a study on the long term effects of Quidditch injuries.

"Quite the Quidditch fan, are you?" asked a puzzled Severus. They had been on this page now for ten minutes, and he had only skimmed the article as he had very little interest in these specific healing spells.

"Hmm?" Hermione said, jerking from a reverie. Looking down at the page, she seemed to realize the question.

"Oh, well, no, not really," she replied. "But Ron is, and well, he really isn't interested in my other work."

"I see," Severus said with a nod. "Yes, I suppose hearing about Mrs. Mayweather's bubble-producing hiccups or Mr. Andrew's poorly aimed Engorgement Charm is only entertaining to the few of us in the medical profession." Hermione laughed at his dry joke and put the journal down.

"No, no," she responded through her laughter. "He also finds those stories amusing. It's just, there are only so many of those a day, and he never wants to hear about my research interests." The last part she said rather quietly, as if she was embarrassed to even be bringing it up. Severus leaned away from her slightly, placing weight on his left hand so he could get a better look at her face. She was staring straight ahead, her brown eyes unfocused in thought.

This wasn't the first time she had hinted that she and Weasley lacked similar interests. On one occasion, she had explained that although they fought very little, it seemed their schedules kept them from even communicating in general. Their training programs were rigorous, and as she had put it, the last thing Ron was interested in hearing about during his downtime was the magical properties of certain venoms or the minutia of antidote application.

"I find your research interests quite interesting," he replied, unable to help himself. "Though, I suppose I am biased, as anything involving the venom of magical creatures would certainly relate to my own history." This caused Hermione to turn her head towards him rather suddenly. She wore a look of tender concern as her eyes drifted down his neck to the scene of the crime.

"I know you're not fond of talking about it, but does it still bother you?" she asked in a soft voice. She made a gesture as if reaching to take his hand, but her hand hesitated. This wasn't the first time she had made such movements, but Severus had convinced himself early on that the movements were only a characteristic of her bleeding heart nature.

"No, not much anymore," Severus answered, looking away slightly. Something about the look in her eye inspired an odd feeling. It wasn't as if no one had expressed concern for him before – in fact, after everything was said and done, it seemed everyone had great sympathy for what he had gone through. However, the look she was giving him displayed more than the usual concern. It seemed she was taking it all quite personally.

"Honestly," he reiterated. "I've hardly felt anything since the incident." She nodded and looked away, staring ahead once more.

"You know, I really am sorry that I left you there that day," she said quietly.

"Yes," he agreed with irritation. "We've discussed this at length already, and I believe it was established that my past history as a bastard directed your actions." This caused Hermione to smile slightly.

"You have to admit, you were pretty cruel," she replied. "Though, I suppose you've mellowed out. You certainly haven't bitten my head off lately." Now she was smirking with amusement.

Wanting greatly to change the subject, Severus tried to direct it back to its beginning.

"If research isn't his thing, what is it that Mr. Weasley is truly interested in?" Severus asked, finding it difficult to control the condescension in his voice.

"Mostly defense spells and the like," she said, ripping a blade of grass from the ground and carefully shredding it into slimmer and slimmer strips.

"We discuss his training to be an Auror a lot. And the future. He's quite ambitious... " She trailed off slightly. Unable to control his curiosity, Severus decided it was time to address the elephant in the room.

"And this 'future,'" Severus phrased delicately. "Is it what you want?" Releasing a small sigh, she began arranging the strips of grass in patterns on the ground before her.

"Honestly," she said, shaping the grass into a star, "I want to do great research and find lifesaving cures. I want to be known for something other than that war. As it stands, it would be... difficult to achieve those things and follow Ron's plan." Without thinking, Severus expressed his opinion.

"Your research would be brilliant," he said bluntly. This earned him an appreciative smile. Emboldened, he continued.

"It would be a waste for you not to pursue your interests. It's been established that I've been less than encouraging in the past, but it's rare that someone with such a keen intellect actually uses it for good." In the silence that followed, it was clear they both knew who he was referring to. With a sad smile, Hermione followed through on her original plan, placing her soft, warm hand on one of his own. The spark he felt at her touch made him reckless.

"Hermione, I..." He was cut short by the appearance of a familiar red head at the garden's door. Noticing his gaze, Hermione turned her head to look. Severus felt the warmth of her hand disappear from his as she stood up.

"Ron?" she asked confused. "What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Ron approached them, throwing Severus a quizzical glance.

"No," he said, still looking at Severus. "I finished early for the day and I thought I'd check in. Care for a stroll?"

"Um, sure," she replied hesitantly. She gave Severus an apologetic look. His face was blank.

"I need to return to the lab anyway," Severus said. "I'll see you later, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley." And with a quick nod to each, he stalked out of the room. As he left, he vaguely heard Ron ask if it was "really Snape" she had been sitting with, but he was out of earshot before she responded.

Arriving at his lab, he sat at his desk and buried his head in his hands. He felt dizzy as his heart raced. He had been a breath away from a passionate confession. This needed to end now.

As noon rolled around the next day, Severus was resolved in his decision. His little excursions to the Hospital Garden were done. He had been foolish to indulge as he had, and now it was time to listen to the voice of reason which had pleaded with his passions from day one. Thus, it was in the tearoom where a clearly agitated Hermione found him later. It certainly didn't help that upon discovering him, she found that Severus was engaging another Healer in discussion. Truly, she had been one of his attending physicians, and they had only been catching up. Of course, she did have the flowing gold locks of a Veela and a flirty giggle which usually caught the attention of all the men in the room. Their chat had been pleasant, and he had even managed to inspire her to let out that flirty giggle a few times. All of this came to a screeching halt as the shadow of a furious-looking Hermione cast upon their table.

"Miss Granger, how are you?" Healer Daniels asked cheerfully, failing to notice the obvious ire in Hermione's stare.

"Quite well, Healer Daniels," Hermione replied brusquely. "Severus, may I have a word with you outside?" Wanting to decline, but fearing a scene, Severus reluctantly stood, bidding Healer Daniels farewell. He felt Hermione at his heels as he exited the room. Once in the hallway, she rounded on him.

"Where were you?" she asked angrily. He had never seen her livid, but he thought he might have seen her hair sparking as she glared at him. Deciding it was best to remain calm in the face of her fury, he attempted to answer as coolly as possible.

"I decided..."

"Oh, you decided," she cut him off, looking no less mollified. "You decided to fail to show up without any notice and instead leave me there waiting for you in vain while you were in the staff tearoom chatting up Healer Daniels!"

"Sorry, did you just say chatting up," Severus asked, his anger beginning to rise. "I wasn't chatting anyone up. I was just talking to her about my recovery. Why are you so angry?"

"I'm not angry!" she protested. "I'm just annoyed that you decided to skip out on our usual lunch... agreement without even telling me."

"Well, then there's no need to yell," he retorted with a glare.

"Fine!" she spat. "Just try to be a little more considerate next time!" And with that, Hermione turned on her heel and marched off, clenching her fists on either side of her torso.

Not wishing to re-enter the staff tearoom, which suddenly seemed eerily quiet, Severus walked off in the opposite direction. Returning to the lab, he threw open the door, and stalked straight into his private office. After warding the door and casting a Silencing Charm, Severus let out a growl of frustration. Without a second thought, he began systematically picking up objects in his office and throwing them against its white cinder block walls. Apparently, he hadn't mellowed at all. Had a Silencing Charm not been cast, his assistants would have heard, upon entering the lab, the sound of shattering objects, such as inkwells and ceramic mugs; flying paper, as he cleared his desk with a violent sweep of his hands, and the loud crash of a rolling office chair slamming into the door.

After thirty minutes of destroying everything he could get his hands on, he found his aggression spent, but his anger only ebbing slightly. Vanishing the mess with a single wave of his wand, he removed the wards on his office and left without a word, only one destination in mind.

Severus was sitting on one of the many metal benches and scowling at the small pond sitting at the center of the Hospital Garden when Hermione found him once again. He hadn't heard her approach as he was too busy seething.

"Severus?"

He turned to see a timid Hermione standing a couple of feet behind his bench. Her hands fiddled in front of her, and she stood rooted to the ground.

"Look," she said with a tremor in her voice as she looked anywhere but at him. "I'm sorry about earlier. It was wrong. It's none of my business who you talk to. I don't know why I overreacted."

Turning back to glare at the lake, Severus replied.

"You're right. It was none of your business who I was talking to. If I remember correctly, you are happily committed at the moment." There was no mistaking the venom in his voice, he was clearly infuriated.

"I know. I'm sorry!" she repeated, moving to step closer. "I don't know what came over me, but it won't happen again! Please, can we go back to being friends?"

"No," he answered in a steely voice. Though his back was to her, he heard her step closer behind him.

"What?" she asked with confusion. Standing, he turned to face her, only the metal bench between them. He watched her cower as he towered over her.

"I cannot be your friend, Hermione," he said, this time his voice quiet, but firm. "I am attracted to you and desire far more than friendship."

"Oh, Severus," she began, but was halted by his raised hand.

"You were right about one thing," he continued, his voice level even as adrenaline shot through his veins. "You were wrong back there in the tearoom. You had no right to burst in and jealously berate me while only the day before you had unceremoniously dropped my company for a boyfriend who you can't even talk to."

"But, but..." she stuttered, and was once more pulled up short by Severus.

"Let me finish," he commanded. "I think you feel the same way I do, but you can't have it both ways. It's either me or him. I will not sit here and listen to your complaints while we both know you might be happier with me." With this last statement, Hermione gave up all attempts to protest. Instead, she gaped at him slightly, as if reaching for some kind of response, only to look past him to the pond.

An uncomfortable silence permeated the garden as a simulated breeze blew. Deciding it might be best to leave her to think, Severus moved to leave, but halted at the sound of her voice.

"You're right," she said, meeting his eyes once more. "I have been unfair." Though his expression was blank, wild thoughts raced through his head at those words. Could this actually be happening?

"I need to decide," she continued, suddenly looking very resolute. Stepping towards him, she reached forward with her right hand, cupping his face gently. Could she feel his heart hammering in his chest? However, as quickly as the hand grazed his face, it left.

"I need to think," was the last thing she said before giving him one more resolute glance and walking away.

Severus swayed in place slightly before finding himself sitting back on the metal bench. So that was that. She would decide. He suddenly had a sinking feeling that the ultimatum might have been a mistake. Had he already lost? As he considered this, he briefly wondered how having his heart ripped out metaphorically could possibly hurt worse than actual snake fangs tearing into the flesh of his throat.