Chapter Seven

A/N: Seriously, thank you all so much for the reviews! There's just one more chapter left after this one, and I really hope you all continue to enjoy. Thanks to JenniferLupinBlack for being my fabulous alpha, and TrisanaChandler13 for being my fantastic beta.

Disclaimer: JKR owns the world and characters of Harry Potter, not me. I am making no money from the posting of this story.

Chapter 7

Before Hermione knew it, the baking class was over. As she said good-bye to her students, she knew she would miss them all. April and Dave especially. The two teens were adorable, and Hermione imagined they'd marry someday. They were perfect for one another.

Severus, on the other hand, never showed. He missed the last week of class because of her. Hermione felt awful about it, but she was still angry with him. Angry that he stopped coming just so he wouldn't have to face her. She knew that she deserved an explanation, so she was determined to get it.

Which was why she was currently driving over to his house. She would talk to him even if she had to break down his door to get an answer. Hermione had called Martha to tell her she was stopping over. Martha had explained that she had tried to get Severus' attention, but he would not respond.

He just can't shut people out, and Hermione was determined to prove it.

She couldn't get him out of her mind. She thought about him every day and every night. Oh, she had the most delicious dreams about him.

Hermione was determined to make those dreams realities.

Pulling into Severus' driveway, she looked up at his house. A few lights were on so he was obviously home. Getting out of her car, she slammed the door shut.

Gathering her Gryffindor courage, Hermione marched up to his door. She knocked on it. There was no response. She knocked again, harder this time. Still no response.

"Severus Snape, if you do not open this door in five seconds, I will knock down this door!" she shouted. Her hand slid into her pocket, fiddling with her wand. And she would do it too. Screw all the Muggles surrounding them.

"Five!" she shouted. "Four!"

She paused. Still no response. She discreetly pulled her wand out.

"Three, two o—"

The door flung open.

Severus stood in the doorway, glaring at her. "Put your wand away this instant, you foolish girl!" he hissed, his eyes darting up and down the street.

"Not until you let me in your house," she said, narrowing her eyes at him. He looked as if he hadn't slept in days, not to mention he smelled a bit. She crinkled her nose at him. "Let me in." She rolled her wand between her fingers in a subtle way.

"This is forced entry," he growled.

"Don't care," Hermione said with a shrug. "We need to talk, and we're going to talk."

"What if I don't want to talk?"

She smiled at him cheerfully. "Then I will tie you to a chair and make you listen to me."

Severus grumbled something under his breath. He stepped aside, allowing her entrance. "Fine," he said curtly. "I'm not pleased about this one bit."

"I knew you wouldn't be, and once again, I don't care!" Hermione repeated over her shoulder, entering his home. "You've been a right git and you owe me an explanation." She crossed her arms and looked at him. "Martha, too. You've had her quite worried about you." She sighed, shaking her head. "I was worried about you too."

"I did not ask either of you to worry about me," he retorted, moving into the kitchen.

Hermione followed him. "That's what people do when they care about you, Severus. They worry!"

"I never asked anyone to care," he snapped.

Hermione huffed, shaking her head. "Don't be an idiot, Severus. People care about you, whether you realize it or not. Merlin forbid someone actually does."

He didn't say anything, just turned his back to her.

Hermione looked around the room. Dirty dishes were in the sink and the trash smelled horrible.

"Severus," she said gently. "What's been going on? Why is your house a mess? Why are you a mess?"

"Because," he snapped.

"That's not an answer. Why do you do this to yourself? Why are you so masochistic?"

Severus turned to her, a horrified expression on his face. "I am not a masochist."

She tilted her head, looking him over carefully. "It sure seems like that. You kiss me and then push me away. You let yourself and your house fall to shite because of it? And back to your Hogwarts time, spying on Voldemort? Were all the Cruciatus Curses and all the pain and suffering you received punishment for what you called Lily? Retreating from everyone who cared about you? Retreating from the world without even caring? Was that punishment for killing Dumbledore, despite him asking you to?" She knew she was pushing his buttons, but she needed him to snap so he would see reason. "It sure seems to me that you like punishing yourself, Severus."

"Be quiet!" he shouted, moving towards her. He towered over her small body, his face contorted in rage. "You know nothing about me. How dare you stand there and even say such things."

"Then let me in," Hermione replied, grasping the front of his shirt. She held onto him as tightly as she could. "Let me in, Severus, please! I want to know you. I want to help you get past whatever's holding you back."

He took her hands and pushed them away from his body. "Nothing is holding me back."

"Yes, it is," Hermione protested. "You want me; I know you want me. You've made it painfully obvious during our cooking lessons last week. We kissed, which you instigated, mind you, and then you suddenly push me away. What happened?"

"You're wrong," he said, shaking his head. They were still dangerously close, and Severus knew he needed to pull away, but his feet were planted firmly where they were. Her sweet cinnamon scent filled his nostrils, teasing him endlessly.

"Severus, please, let me in. I care about you. I want the chance to know you more." Her brown eyes peered up at him. "Please, I want you," she begged.

He looked away from her. "I don't know."

With a sigh, Hermione took a few steps away. "Well, think about what I told you. You don't need to punish yourself anymore." She looked to him pleadingly. "Please."

When Severus didn't respond, Hermione turned and walked towards the front door.

"Good-bye, Severus," she said, closing the door softly behind her.

She didn't hear him whisper, "Good-bye, Hermione."