Title: Dictionary Definition

Chapter Title: Why?

Disclaimer: If you seriously think I own them, then you need to get checked out by a doctor. I don't even own the computer I am typing on.

Rating: T (Some Mild Language)

Summery: Legitimate adj. 5. Born to legally married parents. Bastard n. 1.An illegitimate child. –adj. 1. Born of unwed parents. (HGSS) (Not HBP compatible)

Author's Note: Thanks for all the fabulous reviews! Seriously, they make my day. I kept checking my email during work to see if I had gotten another one. Band Camp starts tomorrow morning and on Thursday the "two-a-days" begin (once in the morning and once in the evening) so updates will less frequent due to my hectic schedule but bear with me. I am going to finish this story.

"Mom, I just wanted to know who he is. I never meant to hurt you. I…I just wanted to know." She says before biting her lip. But her mother still refuses to look at her. "Mama, please." No response. All Hermione does is trace her finger on the rim of her tea cup. Around and around. And around.

The Firewhiskey bottle is almost empty and there is probably only a glass or two left. Staring at the stupid book, his concentration is unbroken as he traces the rim of the bottle. All he can think about is her. This isn't suppose to happen. For twelve years his way of forgetting her has been to get drunk. And slowly kill his liver. That's what she would tell him. 'Why do you drink that vile stuff? All you are doing is destroying your liver.' He can almost hear her voice. For twelve years he's been hearing her voice and for twelve years he's been missing her.

Damn whore!

He flinches at his words. She was never a whore. She was his Hermione. She still is his Hermione. He hadn't fallen in love with a whore. The woman he fell in love with was intelligent, beautiful, and confident. Sure, she had her moments of self-doubt but she would never jump into bed with just anyone.

Or so it had seemed. She never loved him.

The glass bottle shatters against the wall and he sinks back into his chair defeated. He had pored his heart into what he knows recognizes as a sham of a relationship. Teachers and students could never have relationships. That's why there are rules against them, you dim wit, he thinks to himself. She had left him without warning and had found someone she really loved. She had no intentions of continue their relationship after she graduated. Hell, she had no intentions of continuing it while she was still in school! He was just someone for her to shag and tell all the details to her immature friends.

But some part of him doesn't believe that reason. And for some reason he picks up the book and opens it to a random blank page. He snatches the quill out of the jar of ink and hastily scratches one word.

Why? His breathing becomes labored as he waits for a reply from the mysterious writer and when none comes he pushes the tip of the quill into the pages. And huge black mark appears and he holds his breath as writing appears across the page.

Can't a book get some rest around here without being damaged?

Why?

Why what?

Why did she leave me?

Severus, I'm not allowed to tell you that.

Then what good are you.

All I can do is show you.

Then show me what made her decided to leave.

I am not privy to that information. All I can do is show you her leaving and any event after that.

Then do it. Show me her leaving.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Severus, you don't understand. You only got her note. I can show her actually leaving and you must the consequences of watching that. Such as depression.

Just show me! Now!

Alright. Alright. Tap your wand three times on the…

His head pounds when he ends with a thud on the stone floor in front of her feet. Hermione. Tears are rolling down her face and her body is shaking. She's crying. He stands up and reaches out to touch her but his hand goes right through her. His heart aches to see her so upset. He looks around to see if he can identify why they are. It doesn't take him long to realize they are steps away from the Head Boy and Girl's Dormitories. But why she is standing out here instead of in her room is a mystery to him. He sits down beside her after she slides down to the floor against the wall. After a couple more minutes she stands up and whips away the tears from her eyes. She walks up to the portrait that is guarding her room and the portrait swings open after she mumbles the password. He slips in behind her and watches as she begins to pack…the Muggle way. She's quick about it though and before long the room is empty of any trace of her. Just the way he found it when he went there twelve years ago. She scoops up her cat and locks him in the case she used for traveling. She whips away a few stray tears and grabs a piece of paper before sitting down at her desk. He walks over to stand behind her while she writes.

Severus,

I can't be with you any more. I'm sorry but we wouldn't work out.

H. G.

She drops her head onto her arms and begins to cry on top of the desk. "I still love you Severus."

He backs away and stumbles over the bedding that was tossed haphazardly onto the floor. The room starts to spin and he finds himself back in his chair.

She was upset. She didn't want to leave him. She still loved him. So whyhad she done this to them?