Secret Revealed

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR. No money, fame or glory here.

AN: A thanks to Ariadne, who somehow manages to do the comma thing in the middle of my destruction and sappy goodness. That certainly deserves recognition.

"What have you been doing?"

Severus grinned as he reached for his goblet. "Might I suggest you never pursue espionage as a career? Your mastery of the art of interrogation leaves much to be desired."

Hermione stabbed her dinner with enough ferocity that her fork scratched the plate.

"I do believe the bird is sufficiently deceased as well," he said with a condescending glance in her direction.

"The next words out of your mouth need to be an explanation of what you are up to, Snape," she snapped.

"Impressive. However, I shall thank you to not point that pheasant at me," he said evenly, looking sideways at her. "I am fairly certain that that particular gesture trespasses on some rule of manners."

Hermione glared at him and continued eating in silence.

Ginny elbowed Hermione during dessert. "Any luck?"

Hermione glanced sideways at Severus, then whispered in Ginny's ear, "No. Was gone all afternoon too."

Ginny looked towards Severus, then turned to whisper back. Before she could, though, a bored voice drawled, "Might I suggest that you try not talking about him when he's right here?"

Both Ginny and Hermione looked to see Severus glaring at them as he stood and left the High Table.

"Now where are you going?" Hermione called after him. Almost everyone at the table stopped eating to watch Severus, hoping to hear his response. Word of his success at keeping something from Hermione had spread like wildfire. Several members of the Order tried vainly to appear otherwise preoccupied while observing the two of them.

Severus ignored her, striding towards the doors without looking back. Everyone turned to watch Hermione's reaction to find her fuming. Harry was making an "Ooo" expression as Ron muttered something that sounded like, "Run."

"Hermione, dear... remember your temper. He's not the kind to be trifled with," Minerva warned, leaning forward to see Hermione become more and more furious.

"He's going wish all I did was trifle with him," Hermione muttered. "Didn't you suggest that I assist Severus in his research of the potion for Harry?"

A confused look spread over Minerva's face before she realized what Hermione meant. "Yes... but..."

Hermione had already left her seat before Minerva could complete her response. As she passed by, Tonks cheered her on, ignoring the look of irritation on Remus' face.

Severus was halfway to the doors when Hermione caught hold of his arm. When he turned to inform her, yet again, to leave it be, he was stopped by something familiar in her eyes, something he'd seen before.

"I am supposed to assist you. You are going to the lab, aren't you?"

"Yes, to brew Lupin's potion. It is far too involved and dangerous for you to be present."

"Severus, you and I both know the only thing dangerous about Wolfsbane is its horrid smell."

He scowled at her. The hall was silent as they stood halfway down the row of tables. Out of the corner of his eye, Severus could see almost everyone at the High Table leaning forward, either straining to hear or whispering to each other.

Hermione crossed her arms and smirked at him in victory. "Try something else. I'm waiting."

"I cannot tell you, Hermione. Trust me when I say it is nothing of consequence. You are worrying yourself over nothing. However, I will allow one thing to slip: I hope you will enjoy what I am working on."

"You hope? How do you not know?"

Severus closed his eyes for a moment, then said, "Because it depends. You will know in time."

Hermione took a step towards him and noticed that he unconsciously stepped back. A smile crept onto her face.

"Don't," he said, his eyes dark with something Hermione could not quite put her finger on. He would turn his head quickly towards the High Table, then back to her, as if fearful of taking his eyes away for more than a second.

"Oh, how power shifts," she stated with a devious grin, moving closer and circling around. Attempting to keep her in his sights, he lost track of where he was backing, running into one of the benches. The wood scraped loudly on the stone floor.

"Hermione, no..." he hissed, pleading with her to stop. She had maneuvered him almost within earshot of the High Table.

Hermione smiled at how unnerved he was by the prospect of even the smallest public display of affection.

"Tell me – or I just might kiss you in front of..." She turned, attempted to count those in attendance, then gave up. "... quite a lot of people."

His eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare."

She placed a hand on his chest and his face looked to be near panic. "Nervous?" she asked.

He swore she had a predatory look in her eye, that she was enjoying every second of her prey's discomfort and desire to escape.

"I'd prefer you just hex me instead, quite honestly," he said as he glanced at the High Table once more. The only saving grace was the enraged look on Ronald Weasley's face at the scene unfolding before him.

"Honestly now, Severus. I'm standing no closer to you than if we were dancing at the ball," she said softly.

"You know how I feel, please..." he pleaded through clenched teeth, his brows coming together in a desperate attempt to express to her just how miserable she was making him feel.

All she needed to do was touch one button on his frock coat while at almost arm's length.

"Fine! Fine! Just stop!" he growled, wondering if the fire he felt in his face showed and if his pounding heart could be heard.

"Well...?" Hermione said after he remained silent. Everyone had given up pretending they weren't watching, and they all leaned forward, straining to hear.

"Bastard," Ron muttered, as if he'd completely missed who was intimidating whom. Harry and Ginny both had the same confused look. Neville, however, looked completely stunned and stared with his mouth slightly open.

Severus stepped back to what he felt was a respectable distance. Only then did Hermione notice the complete and utter fear in his eyes, subtle enough that only she could see. He looked as if he was caught unprepared, and she could swear his hands were shaking slightly before he clasped them together. He moved slightly from side to side and seemed to be swallowing far more than normal. His eyes kept flying up to the High Table and scanning the curious faces before returning to Hermione's face.

No one dared to even move in that moment, as something was very wrong with Severus Snape. Several times he swallowed and opened his mouth, tilting his head as he was about to say something – then stopped. Seconds passed while he wrung his hands and stared intensely at the floor as if searching for how to begin. He repeated the process, moving his eyes to her, then quickly to the table again.

Ginny slowly leaned over to Harry and whispered, "Think he's going to pass out?"

"I don't know, but he's definitely not in his right mind. Looks like he's trying to say something. Oh hang on, here we go – oh – maybe not," Harry said, watching Severus struggling to find his voice as Hermione stood before him.

"It kind of looks like..." Ginny started, before gasping, "No – he can't be..."

"Can't be what?" Molly asked, catching Ginny's words.

Ginny turned, pushed Harry forward so she could lean over him, and, covering her hand, whispered something in her mother's ear. Molly gasped loudly before clapping her hands to her mouth.

Severus' eyes flew to Molly and the commotion at the High Table.

He muttered, "I'm... sorry," before he turned and swiftly left the Great Hall.

"The git's lost his mind," Ron said with a wide grin as he piled more food onto his plate. "Pass the potatoes, would you, Ginny?" he said.

Ginny's response was to smack him, whispering, "Get it yourself!"

For a moment, Hermione watched him leave, then, gritting her teeth, followed after him.

A few moments passed before it seemed everyone else had the same idea. They rose and quickly followed, trying in vain to be as quiet as twenty or so robed witches and wizards could be while whispering and shushing each other.

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Severus sat on the Entrance Hall stairs with his head in his hands. He didn't need to look up as the door to the Great Hall opened and someone came to stand at the bottom of the stairs. Shortly afterward, everyone joined Hermione, standing behind her with expectant expressions.

"Must you have an entourage?" he said with a scowl.

She started to climb the stairs, holding his startled eyes as she drew closer. When she arrived on the landing with him, he looked out at the semicircle of anxious faces at the base of the stairs.

Glancing down, he said, nodding towards everyone, "Does there need to be an audience?"

Hermione looked at Minerva and moved her head in a sort of 'Can we be alone?' motion. Minerva nodded and started to herd everyone out of the Entrance Hall, ignoring their protesting groans.

As Tonks passed out of the Hall, she leaned back, trying to see as much as possible before leaving. Elbowing Remus, she pointed upwards with a smirk on her face and said, "Everyone, follow us."

When the Hall was empty, Hermione stepped towards Severus, her curiosity changing to concern. "What's wrong?"

She took his hands in hers and could feel both his pulse and how he trembled slightly.

"This is very wrong. This man does not tremble," she thought, growing frightened of what he had to say.

"Nothing is wrong; just the opposite," Severus said, shaking his head and returning his gaze to the floor as if deep in thought. His mind was racing, unable to focus on what he wanted to say. What he wanted to tell her could change everything or destroy all that they had in an instant.

"Well..." she said, stepping closer to him and putting her arms around his waist, "Whatever it is – you can tell me."

He took a deep breath, saying, "Very well, but you will need to release me."

Slowly, she let him go and stepped back.

Severus fixed her with a look that instantly halted her ability to breathe.

"Hermione, my life has been filled with darkness, misery and loneliness. The kind of emotional despair that cannot be explained without experiencing it first hand, living a life more terrified of allowing someone to truly know me than of anything in this world, including death. I have aspired for perfection in nearly everything, in the hopes of keeping myself company with knowledge, pursuing the comforts of recognition to fill the void in my heart."

While she looked at him sadly, he moved closer, his eyes softening. "Falling in love with you can only be likened to the sun breaking after a cold dismal rain. When I first held you, everything in the world suddenly fell into place. My soul lifts at the very sight of you and can be destroyed by a single word from your lips. I cannot imagine a time without you and dare not speak of it..."

Severus tried to steel himself, reaching out to the marble railing, trying to use its coldness to push himself on. He shook his head and frowned as he looked back up at her questioning face.

"I have only read about love and know nothing of how to be an adequate partner in life. This much I do know – I have never felt so at ease with someone. You are my equal and even surpass me in many ways."

Hermione looked at him in shock as he took a white ring out of his robes and turned it in his hand. "Since we cannot risk leaving here in these times, I have been creating this. Hagrid assisted by providing a piece of horn from the unicorn killed by Voldemort. Of course, as you already know, the unicorn has been known for centuries to represent only the purest love. Although this one lost its life to keep Voldemort alive, it is a tribute to such a precious thing that a symbol of true love be created from its legacy. That is what I have been doing; however, the engraving is not finished. I was leaving to complete it."

He reached out, took hold of her hand, lifted it to lay a kiss, and lowered himself to one knee.

Hermione could only stand in stunned silence as he looked up at her.

"Hermione, when it comes to weaving words like fine silk I am very much at ease; however, if you ask me to express my feelings, I will fail dismally. If you grant me this, I will do everything within my power to ensure you are as happy as possible. I would lay my very life down for you. I am undeniably in love with you and have no hope to recover, nor do I wish to...

"I love you more than anything. Will you grant me the honor of marrying me?"

Her mouth hung open. She forgot to breathe for a moment and swore her heart had stopped. In her delay, Severus waited, holding onto her hand. He slipped the ring on her finger and said softly, "Hermione?"

Coming to her senses, she quickly said, "Yes. Yes, I will," and pulled him to stand.

As they kissed, a great cheer rose from up above, startling Severus into pulling back. Looking up, they saw that everyone had made their way up to the second floor landing and were watching from above.

Minerva was wiping away a tear and laughing at the same time.

"Well, you couldn't expect us to miss that, could you?"