Time Apart

Disclaimer: All characters are for J.K.R. of course. Plot thought of by Betz. The other stuff belongs to me!

As always, a big thanks to the brilliant Charmed Nay for being my beta!

"Well, I've got her fingers all healed up. Said she was trying to pick up a broken lamp that she knocked over. Glad you thought to go get those...girlie things from her chambers. I just wonder though, what the bloody hell Sn-"

"Ron," Harry interrupted. "Don't draw any conclusions. She won't say anything else. We need to talk to Snape. Dumbledore has told me exactly how to find his home. I think after we're sure she'll be down for a bit, we need to pay him a visit."

"A bit suspicious, if you ask me," Ron said crossly. "Where was she coming from? We saw her Apparate alone and run for the dungeons. He couldn't have done this to her, but if not him, then who?"

"She was mumbling something about being a whore and some Libertine bloke. I mean, you saw what she was wearing before I gave her one of your shirts. Only had that sexy," Harry coughed, "only had those skimpy shreddies on. I think she might have been with another bloke, and I think Snape found out. Probably caught them at it." Harry took off his glasses to wipe a couple of smudges away. "Maybe he and the bloke fought, and he left angry. Could be why she's looking for him."

"Oi! Don't draw any conclusions, eh? What do you think that's called?" Ron mocked. "How come 'sall right for you to have a say, and I can't?"

"Stuff it, Ron. I just meant for you to not think Snape did this to her. I know you don't like him much," Harry said.

"Hell, I had a right nice conversation with him the other morning. He and I joked about Hermione trying to run things all the time." Ron pointed an accusing finger at Harry. "You're the one who hates the bloke. Why'd you not say anything more about this in the first place?"

"I don't hate him any more. He...he talked to me one night when I needed someone to talk to. Don't tell him I told you, or I'll likely be missing something important to me." Harry laughed, adjusting his crotch. "You believed it was possible that he was a Vampire!"

"Shut up, Harry," Ron grouched. "What are we waiting for then? Let's go talk to the bloke! What have we to lose?"

"Our dangling bits for one," Harry said glumly. "If he is mad at some bloke Hermione was shagging, well, just keep your wand ready and prepare to run!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ HG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having polished off one bottle of Firewhisky, Severus was now working on the second. How could he have allowed her into his life so quickly? She had somehow figured it out. "Fucking know-it-all!" he roared, hoping his two House Elves woke. Nobody deserved to be comfortable when he was feeling this way. He was sure that Hermione had had a little cry about things. She was probably disappointed that he didn't beg for forgiveness. "I will not beg. I told her why I did what I did!"

Brilliant! He was talking to himself. And, to top it off, he was slurring! He could hear it with his own ears. Severus growled before taking another swig from his bottle. She was probably taking a bath now and feeling smug about her success. Well, yes, he'd done something wrong, and he should have said something. He just couldn't resist the idea of having her. His one desire. His one weakness. When he found out that she did want him, it was too late. "Fuck it," he said with a shrug. "Get your arse together."

Thump. He looked around. The House Elves must be about. He took another long drink. Damn. This bottle was nearly half gone already. No matter. There was another bottle on the bar. Thump. Someone was standing behind his door. His wards had just alerted him. He pulled his wand and crept forward to blast away the intruder. Then he heard it. The voice of bloody Harry Potter.

"Well, I don't think he's awake. Maybe we should just wait." There was laughter. "What? I'm not afraid, but if he's sleeping, we shouldn't bother him."

Who the hell was with Potter? He grimaced as he heard another voice. One he loathed. "We need to find out if that bloke hurt Mione. Snape's the only one who can tell us." Weasley. What the hell was he going on about? What bloke? Even though Severus was dismayed with her, he'd kill anyone else that hurt her. It would be prudent to let them in, so that he could find out about this fellow.

He opened the door slowly. "You might try knocking, boys," he said, crossing his arms in front of him. "What do you want? Speak quickly before I have you thrown off of my property."

"All right then," Ron said quickly. "We saw Hermione Apparate to Hogwarts, and she ran down to the dungeons. We followed because she was crying." Severus' chest tightened. "When we found her, she was all crumpled at your door in tears, full of blood."

"Blood? Why? What happened?" Severus asked, moving aside to usher the boys in. "Who hurt her?" Anger was coursing through his veins. It must be the bloke they were talking about!

"Well, we don't know, really," Harry said. "She keeps crying and saying odd things. There are a few things we were able to make out, but I don't know. Claims she was bleeding because of a vase she broke, but I think some bloke..." Harry looked to Ron for backup, but Ron was staring at the house. Harry cleared his throat.

Ron looked at Severus. "Right."

"Right what?" the dark man asked, clearly agitated. They needed to get on with it and do it quickly.

"Er...whatever Harry was saying?" he asked cautiously. Harry pushed him aside.

"We just want to know what happened, Snape. She told us about some bloke named Libertine," Harry said, stepping back at the man's expression.

"Did she?"

Harry and Ron both nodded. It was Ron that spoke. "Sure. If you can call it that. More like said something about being this bloke named Libertine's whore, and something about needing her Severus back. Mostly rambling to be quite honest."

Severus could have laughed. They had no idea who Libertine was, and he would bloody well not tell them either. Berks! But, why was she bleeding? "This Libertine? He made her bleed?"

"Well," Harry began, "she says that she knocked over a lamp, and when she went to pick up the pieces, they cut her fingers. Then, there was the other bleeding. Down low, but it wasn't what we thought. It was strictly feminine problems."

Severus grabbed him by the front of his robes and pulled him to his face roughly. "Potter, are you telling me that you examined her...personal areas?" he asked, voice deadly low.

"Not on purpose! We helped her take off her robes..." Severus tightened his hold. "...and, she hardly had anything on. There was a little blood on her leg."

"You looked at her in what she was wearing," Severus stated coldly. He quickly pushed Potter away, causing him to trip. When he glared in Weasley's direction, he was met with a wand pointed at him.

"That's enough of that, Snape. We didn't do anything wrong. She's like our sister. We just want to know who to go knock up and hex. We thought you would know," Weasley said, seemingly angry.

Severus tilted his head sideways. Did this pillock believe that he could actually do anything to him? Severus began laughing loudly. Both boys began looking at him oddly before beginning to laugh slightly. "Er...sir?"

"Fuck it," Severus said. "I suppose bad company is better than no company, but just for one drink. After that, you had better march your arses back to Hogwarts and mind your own business."

"A drink?" Ron asked. "All right then. Move out of the way, Harry. Let the man through."

Severus walked as carefully as he could to his chair. "There is a bottle over there. Glasses as well. Serve yourselves." He picked up his bottle and took a long drink.

The boys did as told and sat down. Ron spoke. "Why don't you just tell us what happened?"

Severus looked at the pair of brats before him. He'd loathed their trio for so long, yet at some point he'd fell for one of them. For her. They would tell nobody if he did mention it. It was apparent that she hadn't told them, yet. But, why? Why bother to be loyal still? Why not tell the world? Did his little witch love him enough to keep silent and not ruin him amongst their colleagues? Did she just want to keep silent so nobody would know that she'd acquired the services of a hired man? His love for her wanted to reach out somehow. Could he use these two to do that? His pride would never allow him to approach her first. He knew that. Perhaps, he could talk to them, explain things, and maybe it would help things along. He sighed. She might not care. He had to at least do something. Just in case. In case she cared. If I make this last sacrifice for her, then at least she will have someone to talk to about everything. They can help her if she needs it. Ha! Not that she cared. Just in case though.

"Do you have any idea who Libertine is?" Severus asked, sitting forward. They both shook their heads. "He's a gigolo."

"Holy shit," said Harry.

"A gigolo? A gigolo attacked Mione?" Ron sprang up. "We'll kick his hired arse!"

"No, you idiot. Just sit down, shut up, and listen," Severus snapped. "Hermione hired Libertine. No, it's not what you think. She never had sex with him. After Charlie Weasley said those things to her and about her, she was afraid to be with me, fearing that I would think less of her for being inexperienced. She hired Libertine for advice only."

"So, you found out, thought the worst, showed up, and hexed the bloke's bits off," Harry summarized. "I can understand the mistake. You didn't know any better, but that outfit. I mean, not that I was looking, mind," he added nervously, "It was a bit revealing and would lead me to think the wrong thing."

Severus nodded. "What you don't understand, either of you, is that I am Libertine."

"Bloody hell," Ron said. "So, you hurt her? What the hell? Why?"

"What?" Severus bellowed indignantly. "Think you I would harm her? You can GET OUT if that's what you honestly think! NOW!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT," Harry pinched him, "ouch! I don't know what to bloody think, but I want to hear what you were doing acting like a gigolo. I want to know why she came home crying!"

"Shush, Ron," Harry said, holding onto his friend's arm as Severus stood up to advance on them. "What happened, Snape?"

"Yeah, tell us," Ron said, trying to sound brave. Harry could see his friend swallowing deeply as Severus' hand went towards his wand. "How could you do that?"

"She never knew. She thought I was another man," Severus said, taking note that the boys' appeared to be listening rather than planning a fight. He sat back down. "This was our third meeting."

"Fucking hell," Harry blurted. "And, she realized that tonight? You two had a row then?"

"Hold on a moment," Severus said, trying to clear his inebriated mind. "She owled me a couple of weeks ago, seeking to ask questions only. I decided to take her on. She built a kinship with my Libertine persona. Needless to say, she found a letter from an old client last night. She put things together, and she planned her revenge. She owled Libertine to make me think that she'd decided to betray me as my punishment. Things turned out badly, and she told me she knew who I was."

"Snape, did you hurt her?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Shut up, boy," he said angrily. "I would never hurt her. I care, fuck that, I love her. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It just got out of hand."

Ron took a long sip before speaking. "Love her, eh? Sure, I could see that," Ron said sarcastically. "Come on over, Mione, let's shag, and let me tell you that honestly I care. Don't expect me to disappoint my other scarlet women though. That would be bad for business."

Severus pulled his wand on the brat. "I would never betray her. When I realized that she truly wanted a relationship with me, I cancelled my ad, refused owls from anyone but her, and I owled my clients to let them know things were over. I just...couldn't admit it to her." He lowered his wand and shrugged. "It's done. We're over with."

"But, why?" Harry asked. "You both seem upset. Can't you just take a few days apart?"

"Yeah. Ginny and Malfoy do that all the time," Ron said nonchalantly. He missed the guilty expression on Harry's face and the knowing smirk on Snape's as he poured himself another drink.

Severus thought for a moment. "I think that things can't be undone. We've both done and said things to hurt the other. It's just a long story."

"Hang on," Ron said suddenly. "People, er, women actually pay you to shag them?"

Severus gave the boy a sour expression. "Yes," he hissed. What was the boy trying to say? Hopefully, he didn't think this was the only way he could get a woman?

"Bloody hell," Ron said, clearly thinking. "Harry, do you know what? I think I've just decided on a little side job. I could make extra galleons and have sex. You could join in, and we could call ourselves Th-"

"If you don't mind," Severus said sardonically. "I suppose I appreciate your gesture by coming to talk to me on Hermione's behalf, but you've wasted your time. You just don't know everything, and I don't think you'd understand."

"We've got Firewhisky, and we've got time. Tell us," Harry said.

Severus decided to tell them. What else could go wrong on a bad day? Why not let the imbeciles know how he truly felt? "I want a wand oath that you will not speak of this again to anyone, aside from Hermione."

Both boys made their promises, and Severus told them everything beginning with his accidental spotting of Hermione by the lake. He didn't tell them that he watched her repeatedly after, but he did admit to the one time that Potter had seen. He even admitted to enjoying her presence at meal times and in the staff room prior to the boys' employment. He didn't give any sexual details, but he alluded to the fact that they had an extremely healthy sex life. To his surprise, neither groaned or made faces. He left nothing out of the bitter day's events. "I suppose she is upset because I am not groveling at her feet, begging for forgiveness, or trying to do her bidding. I just...she said she loved me. I believed her. I still want to, but I just can't." Severus' bottle was gone. He looked to their empty bottle. "I'm all out of Firewhisky, but I've some Mulled Meade."

After they had their new drinks, they were silent for a while. Ron spoke first. "I think she truly loves you, mate. It's one of the things she was saying over and over. Hermione might not mind a bit of revenge, but she's not cruel."

"Right," Harry agreed. "I mean we are talking about the founder of S.P.E.W. here. Who else tried to be a champion for House Elves?"

"I'm afraid that I refuse to make the first move. I will not expose myself again this way. She handled things childishly."

"Well, I'd say you both did. Should have just been honest," Ron said. "Take Harry here for instance. He was upfront with Draco about his past with Ginny when they started dating. Maybe you should have done the same. Mione had told you about her experiences."

Harry spoke quickly. "Er, I see Snape's point though. Sometimes it's better to just let some things slide away and be forgotten." Harry hoped that intoxicated Snape wouldn't tell Ron his secret. That would really put a hitch in things.

"I suppose," Ron said. "But, really Snape, I say you go over and just tell her how you feel. What's the worst that can happen?"

"She could laugh at me. Tell me she's changed her mind. Lots of things. I won't do it," he said firmly, feeling dizzy. "I am going to bed now. Stay or leave. You decide." With that he rose, and made his way to his bedchambers.

"Bloke just up and leaves us in the middle of a conversation," Ron grumbled.

"You all right to Apparate?" Harry asked. "Don't want to," hiccup, "get splinched."

Ron looked over to Severus' stock of liquor. "Why not have a few more? He's being right hospitable. We know it won't happen again. Should really take advantage while we still can, I say."

"Right then," Harry said with a grin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ HG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Come on, Mione! It's been three days," Harry grumbled. "It's not that I don't mind the company. Really. But, you can't hide out in my chambers forever. You have to go talk to him." She shook her head. "Well, then you have to go out in the castle. If you happen to run into him, well, so be it. He may have tried to owl you or something."

"It would have found me here, Harry. Look, if you don't want me holed up here, just say it," she said with a sigh. "Oh, bother! You're right. I need to get a hold of myself. I just can't believe I lost him."

"You two are the thickest set of lovers I've ever seen," Harry said saucily. "I told you what he said. You know he would like to reconcile if you make the first move. You are just too proud to do it. Same as him."

"What if he laughs at me? What if he's changed his mind about me? I couldn't face that, Harry. Not while we still work here together," she said sadly. "It would just make things worse. I think we should avoid each other for a few weeks, let things cool down, and then maybe talk."

"Absence makes the heart grow forgetful, Hermione."

"More fonder."

"Don't believe everything you hear. Trust me," Harry said, pulling her up by the arm. "Get out. Go to your rooms. Go get some fresh air. Just try. If you can't do it alone, after you've tried, then come back or go to Ron's, but you have to try on your own. Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," she denied. "Well, I am. I was such a fool, Harry. Why did I hurt him? If you could have only seen his eyes, you'd know what I did to him. It's as bad as if I would have taken a dagger to his heart. I have such regret."

"I do know what you did to him. I listened to the fellow go on about it for three frigging hours the other night. He was pissed on his arse if you ask me, but he was still hurt. Ron and I both saw it." What the hell could he say to make her talk to him? What could he say to the git to make him talk to her? The man had accosted him a few times, inquiring on her health as he hadn't seen her. He was beginning to feel like a go between. Every time he came in, she would ask him if he'd seen Severus, how he'd looked, and if he'd said anything. It was just nerve racking!

Hermione smiled sadly. "I'm going to go for a run, I think. It's been a while." She quickly went to her chambers, dressed in her running attire, and headed for the path along the lake. Her cramping had subsided finally, thanks to Poppy's new potion for female problems. It was actually the first time in a few days that she woke feeling normal. She wondered if she had gotten pregnant if it would have changed anything.

The ache of having him only to lose him would have been easier if she would have conceived. She would always have a part of him with her that way. They would always be linked. Hermione shook her head. That was really ridiculous. She knew better than to think such things. Forcing someone to marry you or to be tied to you because of a child was a horrible trick. She would never purposely do such a thing, but it didn't hurt to daydream about what a child may have meant to them eventually. It was just hard to not wonder.

What would she do once she was forced to go to her own chambers and be alone? Harry and Ron were great company, and being with them kept her occupied. Being alone, she would only dwell on Severus even more. If only she had some sort of sign! Should she approach him first? What if he scoffed at her and pushed her away?

She had a good work out and felt so alive as she ran her way back to her finishing point. She bent down to stretch and cool down. Hermione straightened quickly as she heard a twig break. She nearly ran when she saw her dark lover looking at her snidely. "He-hello, Severus," she managed. It was a sign. It had to be.

"Hermione," he said with a nod. "Not planning on going for a swim, are you?"

"No, I'm not," she said suspiciously. "Do you know that I swim after I run?"

"I do, and I just wanted to make my presence known to you in order to save some embarrassment," he said, turning to walk away.

"How do you know that I swim?"

"I've come upon you already, and I didn't feel comfortable making my presence known, as it would have been embarrassing. There are a few brooms in the air, thanks to Hooch and her friends, so I hated for anyone to spy on you. Good day." He stalked off.

"Wait," she called. "Is...is that all you have to say?" She saw his back stiffen, and the cold reply he gave her made her shiver.

"How dare you attempt to coax me into an apology," he said harshly, not bothering to spare her a glance.

"No, that's not what I meant," she said hurriedly. Maybe Harry was right. If she swallowed her pride and made the first move, things could be as they were. Well, not as they were, but things could be better for them. "Can't we just start over, Severus?"

"Without an apology?" he asked cautiously. "You can't know what you did to me."

"I apologized that night. I told you I was sorry. I told you I loved you!" She was beginning to get angry. Why would he try to pin this on her? He started it. "Severus, why do you have to be so stubborn? I mean, I really believe that you loved me. Do you still love me?"

"Hermione, I think the time for us has passed. We both did things that may not be forgivable," he said, walking off. Those words were the hardest that he'd ever said. The final words that would be the end of them, of what could have been.

Her mouth gaped open. He was just leaving. She'd made the attempt, and he didn't take it. He had changed his mind about them, after all! Tears sprung to her eyes and began to stream down her cheeks. Bastard. She stalked after him and surprised him by forcefully spinning him around to face her. "I still love you. This is just too much. We could just start on a clean slate. There is no need for any more lies. Why can't we just build a relationship up again? Slowly this time?"

Severus sneered as he looked down to the witch's hand on his arm. How dare she think to handle him in such a way? He made eye contact with her, and once again, he felt his hardened heart soften. She meant her words, didn't she? This was not some guilt pushing her to make amends. She really wanted him. Right? Fuck! Confusion crept into his mind. He was confused. He pulled away from her grasp. He'd done nothing but think of her for the last three days. Lonely days. Before he could say anything, she began sobbing and ran for the castle. Shit! She had made the first move. Why had he still been too proud to accept her offering? If nothing else, he could offer to talk to her, to hear her entire side of what happened, and he could tell her everything. The complete truth. If something were meant to be between them, then it would be.

Nearly ten minutes later, a decision had been made. He would talk to her. He would make things right somehow. Severus began a quick walk to the castle only to pause in mid stride. She was on top of the Astronomy Tower. Bloody fucking hell! He ran as quickly as he could to the corridor and stairway that led to the tower. Not pausing for breath, he finally neared the door at the top. It was locked and warded for privacy. She wouldn't jump. She couldn't have jumped. An image of finding Hermione's battered body accosted him. A lone tear slid down his cheek. Why didn't he summon a damn broom? Severus quickly unwarded the door and cast an Unlocking Charm on it. He strode towards her stooped figure immediately. She was still crying.

"Hermione," he called softly, hoping to not startle her. "Please come away from that ledge."

She looked up to meet his gaze. "Severus?" He had come to talk to her again! Perhaps he'd changed his mind. She had just been crying and asking anything that would listen to help her. She prayed to God, Merlin, Mother Nature, and any others listening. Maybe this was another sign? It was meant to be?

He made his way to her quickly and paused right before her. "Take my hand, and get down from that ledge." Damn! She was walking carelessly on the ledge. Any loss of balance would see her tumbling over. Please don't let her jump. Let her know I love her. Let her know I've come for her.

"It's pretty from here," she said softly. "The wind blows right through you. It's as if you are a part of nature."

Her hollow voice was scaring the shit out of him. In her emotional state of mind, she might well jump. "Please take my hand."

"Severus, I'm fine. I come here a lot to think. I'll not-Oh!" A gust of wind had blown her robes wildly.

She lost her footing and nearly tumbled off the ledge. He reached out, pulled her down quickly, and lost his balance, falling with her on top of him. His back smarted, but he didn't care. She was safe. Hermione wasn't planning to jump. She was stronger than that, obviously, and she would never attempt suicide. Even so, she'd never felt better nestled in his arms. She tried to pull away, but he held her securely. "Hermione, I don't want to lose you. I just don't know what to do or how to do it. I have no words that could make things better. I can't fix this."

"We can fix it together, Severus. We have to try. Can you honestly tell me that you don't love me?" she asked, searching his face. She didn't care about words. It would be actions that mattered. He needed to let her know in any way that he could that they could be together.

"No."

She blanched. "No, you don't, or no, you can't?" Please don't hurt me. I swear I will never hurt you again.

"No, I can't say it because I do. I just...what I did was wrong." He looked away for a moment. Please let that be good enough. I don't know what to say to you. I'll never hurt you if you'll meet me halfway on this.

"I was wrong as well. We just need to get everything in the open, Severus. It was special what we shared. I've never dreamt that I could feel so comfortable with someone. Give us a chance." She smiled hopefully. "It's all I ask."

Severus was unsure. It sounded nice. It sounded beautiful actually, but what if something happened again? What if he lost her eventually? "All right," he heard himself agree. "We'll talk. Meet me in my chambers for a meal this evening. We'll talk over dinner."

"I'll be there, Severus." She moved closer and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "I have missed you." Hermione had never missed anything so much. She didn't care if she disappointed her parents or if she disappointed her friends. To have Severus disappointed in her was too much. Please say you've missed me. I love you.

Hesitating for only a moment, he pulled her closer and kissed her lips softly. "I have missed you as well, Hermione. This has been the longest three days of my life, but I won't get my hopes up. We have much to talk about. I can only hope to work something out." She's been just as miserable as I have. She loves me. She's missed me. I love her.

"I hope so as well, Severus." Things had just taken a turn for the better. Maybe they could work through everything. Being held by him had never felt better. They could do things right this time.

A/N: Well, I know it was a bit short. Sorry, but I needed to cut it off here, so I could devote the next chapter to what I hope (Hehe) is a reconciliation and lemons. It should be lengthy and tie up any loose ends. Lonnie will make an appearance. Just a little FYI... **wink**