Chapter 45: State of Normalcy

The Great Hall, Hogwarts...

Harry Potter had been trying to figure out what was going on with Hermione ever since the last time she had gone to the library to look up a few things. He noticed that she had stopped talking about Sebastian, even to Ginny. He also noticed that she no longer wore his ring on her hand. The green eyed wizard couldn't understand what had happened to make her suddenly decide to forget about the young wizard she had been in love with. Things seemed to get even more strange when Professor Snape came into the great hall for breakfast. He didn't seem to have been getting much sleep. It was only a couple weeks later when Professor Lupin had informed him that Hermione knew the truth about Snape being Sebastian did the wizard understand why that had been.

Outwardly, neither Hermione nor Professor Snape seem all that effected by the truth coming out between them. He maintained his distance as her Professor and she continued to apply herself to her studies as she had before. The green eyed wizard thought the whole display sad considering how both she and the professor felt about each other when he was Sebastian Prince.

The everything at the Gryffindor table seemed to be as normal as ever. Ginny and Hermione talked about plans for the future. Ron continued to pile his plate high enough to feed a small army and got teased unmercifully over it. Draco had been chatting it up with Pansy and the staff continued to look over their respective houses from their seats.

Harry noticed the glimpse of a sorrowful look in Snape's eyes as he looked over at the Gryffindor table. He had not seemed to even have the energy to work up a scowl. Hermione glance once in his direction and continued to chat with Ginny as if she had not a care in the world. Lupin had been watching the two of them as well and sighed. He had not known how either one of them were really taking this, but they were doing their best to seem unaffected.

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The Grounds, Hogwarts...

Hermione had been making her way toward the library to do some more studying for the upcoming N.E.W.T.S. She had been walking with her arms full of books and a pencil tucked neatly behind her ear. To the approaching Harry Potter, she looked every bit the school girl she had been in previous years. Since both Snape and Hermione knew the truth about Sebastian, he was no longer bound by the oath to keep silent. The green eyed wizard rushed over to his friend.

"Hey Mione." he called. "Can I talk to you?"

Hermione stopped in her tracks and considered this a moment. Snape had told her that Harry was innocent in all of this and that she shouldn't be angry with him. The bushy haired Gryffindor witch sighed.

"Alright." she replied evenly.

Harry looked around and gestured toward the lake.

"Can we speak there?" he asked.

Hermione nodded and followed him over.

Harry took a deep breath and got right to the point.

"You know don't you?" he asked.

Hermione looked at him with a tired expression.

"Do you mean about Snape being Sebastian?" she asked.

Harry nodded finding it hard to meet her eyes.

"Yes I know, Harry." she replied. "I also know that none of you really had any idea at the time and that Dumbledore bound you to an oath so that you couldn't tell either one of us the truth."

"D-Do you know why?" he asked.

It was Hermione's turn to nod.

"Professor Snape and Lucius were being targeted." she replied.

Harry looked down at his feet.

"S-So you aren't upset?" he asked.

"Of course I'm upset Harry." said Hermione. "Why wouldn't I be...but I also know that it was really no one's fault."

"A-Are you angry with Professor Snape?" asked Harry.

Hermione shook her head.

"No." she replied. "He's kept his distance and that is all I can really ask for until graduation and I finally leave here."

Harry sighed. He didn't know how the Potions Professor was taking all this. He had his heart broken before by a Gryffindor witch and it did not do him any good. He would hate to see what this would do to him. Since the fall of Voldemort he had become tolerable as of late.

"I-I hope you'll really be okay Mione." said Harry.

"Me too." replied Hermione.

She kissed him on the cheek and headed back toward the library. The green eyed wizard watched as his friend disappeared behind the thick library door and sighed. She had been so happy when she was with Sebastian.

How was she ever going to get over this?

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Professor Snape's Office, Hogwarts...

Snape had been sitting alone in the dark when Harry Potter came knocking on his door. The Potions Master opened it and sighed disappointed that it had not been something work related for the first time in years. He had known instantly what the boy had been here for and he had no wish to discuss the matter any further.

"P-Professor Snape?" said Harry in an unsure tone.

"Enter." said Snape in an emotionless tone.

Harry stepped passed the dour man and into his darkened office.

"What prey tell, is the reason you saw fit to bother me during my free period Mr. Potter?" asked Snape despite already knowing the answer.

Harry looked up at the lean figure who's height towered over him. Despite getting to know the professor as Sebastian and from his memories, Harry had found it difficult to Professor Snape had still been quite intimidating when he wanted to be and this was clearly one of those times.

"I-I came to see how you were doing sir." said Harry evenly.

"As you can see I am fine Potter." replied Snape. "You needn't have concerned yourself."

Harry looked down at his feet.

"I-I just wanted to say that I'm sorry sir." he said.

Snape sighed. Of all the times for Gryffindor guilt to annoy him.

"Potter, what happened between Miss Granger and I was through no fault of yours." he said. "While the it is a nice sentiment, it has no place here...I have told you and the other bleeding heart Gryffindors that I am fine...what happened was suppose to happen and we are both free to move on with out lives...I am her Professor and she is my student...nothing more."

Harry nodded.

"I know sir." he said. "I-I just think it's kind of sad...you both seemed to really like each other and now this."

"Potter, leave now before you say something that will make me hex you." said Snape in a dangerous tone.

Harry sighed.

"Well, as I said before...I'm sorry sir." he said sadly feeling a good deal of pity for the older wizard.

The green eyed Gryffindor took his leave of the dour Professor. Snape closed the door behind him and walked over to his desk. He sat there for a moment thinking of nothing in particular before he pulled out a stack of ungraded parchments. Graduation was just around the corner for much of the 7th year students.

If only he could hold out until then.

Potter would be out of his hair forever.