Three

Hermione was walking in the apple orchard. The sun was warming the trees, and the scent from the heavy boughs of blossom was starting to fill the air. She loved this time of year, with the promise of sunny days ahead and the hints of the harvest to follow. She raised her face to the dapple of light through the branches, letting her eyes close. For the shortest of moments she thought that she felt a familiar presence, but she shook her head and laughed bitterly. She had to forget the past and move on, she knew that now. Severus Snape had been the love of her life, but it was over. And she had tried and failed to find contentment with Ron. Good, kind Ron who loved her more than she would ever love him, who tried so hard to make her happy. She sighed deeply. She felt that she was using him, and it was unfair to always compare him to Severus, but she couldn’t help it. Severus was intelligent, and deep, and passionate; so passionate that the intensity had scared her at times. He was incredibly physical in bed, whereas Ron was gentle and tried to be romantic. Hermione hated lying to him. It wasn’t fair, and somewhere in the world was a witch who could truly appreciate him for who he was. She would tell him, soon, that it was over. When she felt stronger.

The sound of a twig snapping broke Hermione from her thoughts, and she turned her head in the direction the sound had come from. She could see little but apple trees, but as she took a step forwards, she gasped. A pair of familiar, dragon hide boots were just visible from behind a tree.

‘I can see you,’ she said quietly. She held her breath as Severus slipped from his hiding place and stood before her. He looked better than she had expected. His hair was longer, his skin had a healthy glow, and his eyes glittered like black diamonds as he pointedly looked her up and down. She had to physically dig her fingers into the palms of her hands to stop herself rushing to him.

‘Why are you here?’ She said, trying to keep her tone neutral.

‘I wanted to see you. I had heard you were unwell,’ he said, taking a small step towards her.

Hermione was unable to stop herself from following his lead, and they walked slowly to each other until they were but a whisper away. She looked up into his face and their eyes met. Her heart was beating hard now, the blood pumping through her veins with such force that she thought she might pass out.

‘You look tired,’ he said, and concern told in his tone. For some reason this angered her.

‘It’s none of your business how I feel, or how I look,’ she said, her words coming out louder than she had expected. ‘You have no right coming here.’ Despite her words, she didn’t move. Her feet seemed rooted to the earth, her eyes focussed only on his face, and on the wry smile that now crooked his lips.

‘You’re right, of course. But you should know that I pushed you away for your own safety, and that yours was not the only heart broken that day.’

Severus lifted his hand and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. Hermione closed her eyes at the touch of his cool fingers as they brushed against her cheek, and felt herself waiver on her feet as the familiar scent of him assaulted her. He caught her swiftly, a firm arm about her waist, and pulled her flush against him in the process. Hermione pressed her hands against his cloak, and her fingers absently caressed the buttons as she raised her face to his.

‘Ron…’ she whispered, even as her lips moved towards his own.

‘Knows…’ he replied. There was a brief pause, and their lips met. The first, butterfly kiss, tentative and remembering, was replaced by something more certain, sweeter and with the promise of things to come, and his threaded his fingers through her hair to hold her all the more closely. He tasted of bitter coffee and peppermint, and as his tongue teased hers, she smiled.

‘Is something amusing you?’ He pulled away briefly to speak, but was soon cut off as Hermione covered his mouth with her own for another, more passionate kiss.

‘Not amusing so much. I just never thought I would get to see you again, let alone kiss you.’ She pulled slowly from his embrace, but caught his hand in hers.

‘I have missed you, Hermione Granger.’ Severus spoke from the heart, and the truth of it hit him like a train. He had been drifting along since the war, not knowing where to go or what to do, or where he belonged. He knew now.

‘Why didn’t you write?’ Hermione rubbed the tops of his fingers with her thumb.

‘You had moved on to Weasley, according to the Prophet.’ Severus narrowed his eyes and watched as her emotions played out across her face. She was hopeless at hiding.

‘Ron was kind to me, but I have not been fully honest with him. I don’t love him, not in the way his wants me to.’

‘He contacted me, Hermione. He said… he said you were talking in your sleep.’

‘He never told me!’ Hermione covered her mouth in horror. What had Ron heard? ‘What did I say?’

‘My name,’ he said softly. ‘He said you were whispering my name. I’m hoping that means something.’

Hermione turned and looked back at the Burrow. From the top window, she saw the tell-tale flash of red hair.

‘It means I am yours, Severus,’ she whispered.

END

Whispering Your Name lyrics (Alison Moyet)

When she said that you were through

I thought that there was nothing that I could do

Just because she ran right here

Doesn't mean I interfered

Now I'm wondering if we can feel the same

'Cause she keeps whispering your name

She keeps on whispering your name

Like she's just waiting

She once told me how she felt

Didn't just want me to hear it from someone else

There were unknowns she couldn't know

But she hoped you two would grow

And when you didn't she was brought to me in pain

And she keeps whispering your name

She keeps on whispering your name

Like she's just waiting

If it's just a little fling, a simple thing I'll try not to pretend

If it's just for jealousy, she's using me

That might be hard to mend

Oh what else can I do

But try to give her more than she got from you

And when she wakes up suddenly

And she says your name to me

I'll just hope it's force of habit and not need

And she keeps whispering your name

she keeps on whispering your name

Like she's just waiting

Oh tell me what is fair

When nothing's wrong

And she just stares

Like she's just waiting

Link to the song :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60iBOSPX-g