AN: I do not own these characters as always if I did the stories would have ended rather differently

Chapter 13

Concern

Harry and Ginny landed in Hermione's front garden. As they caught their breath and took in their surroundings they were shocked to find the street quiet and the building Hermione's flat was in to be seemingly to be seemigly in the midst of getting ready to retire for the evening.

"It's too quiet," Harry whispered to Ginny.

"Or perhaps nothing happened and the line simply went dead for a moment making you lose the call," Ginny suggested.

"Perhaps," but Harry still felt that something was off and moved towards the door to Hermione's unit.

He placed his hand on the door knob and the charms Hermione placed upon her home recognized his presence and let him in as a friend. With his wand drawn Harry entered the flat with Ginny right behind him. The hall light was on, Hermione's denim coat was carefully hung upon a hook next to her Gryffindor scarf, her keys were in a bowl on an entryway table, and everything was quiet.

"Harry, I really don't think anything happened," Ginny said as they made their way towards Hermione's kitchen. "Look her phone is on the receiver," Ginny pointed out as they continued towards Hermione's bedroom and bathroom.

THe sound of the shower shutting off could be heard and the squeaking of the shower curtain being pushed open reached their ears. There was silence as Harry and Ginny stood outside the bathroom, Ginny wanting to go home before Hermione saw them and Harry wanting to talk to Hermione about the abrupt end of the conversation.

"Harry, I have a game tomorrow and clearly she's fine," Ginny whispered as quietly as she could but no sooner had the words left her mouth then they heard a muffled cry from the other side of the bathroom door.

Without hesitation Ginny pushed Harry aside and knocked on the door in front of her. The crying immediately stopped and both Harry and Ginny knew that Hermione was now waiting three feet away from them with a vice like grip upon her wand. Leaning against the door Ginny softly said, "Hermione, it's Ginny and Harry. Are you okay?" Hermione relaxed for a second. "Harry said the call ended abruptly and he was worried."

Hermione got up from the floor and grabbed her laundry before opening the door. There standing in the dimly lit hallway were Harry and Ginny concerned looks spread clearly across their faces.

"I'm okay; the phone lines cut out when it's windy sometimes. I'm sorry that you two rushed over here," Hermione said before heading into her room.

Ginny gave Harry a look telling him to give her some time with Hermione alone. Harry nodded and went into the kitchen as Ginny followed Hermione into her bedroom.

"Honestly, Gin, I'm okay," Hermione said as she tossed her jeans and underthings into the hamper and contemplated putting the flannel back on. Instead she tossed it onto her bed and slipped a baggy jumper on over her head and the towel that was still firmly wrapped around her body before pulling a pair of sweatpants on. She slipped the towel off and tossed it into the hamper with most of the day's clothes. Hermione decided to sleep with the flannel in hopes the smell of Severus would offer her some comfort.

"Mione, are you sure you're okay? It's just between that call the other week when you asked those weird questions about the war and then the call tonight and the fact that I'm sure I heard you crying in the bathroom just now, I'm just not convinced you're doing as well as you're letting on. Not to mention I've never seen you only toss half of your clothes into the laundry and leave any of it out and we used to be flatmates," Ginny said pointing to the flannel that had landed on Hermione's otherwise prestinely made bed.

Hermione swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, "There's a button that needs replacing on it. I don't want to forget to do that," Hermione lied through her teeth, "Seriously, Gin, I'm fine."

Ginny studied her friend a bit. Hermione's cheeks were a bit flushed, a sign she was lying and not lying very well."Why were you crying in the bathroom?"

Hermione turned to look at Ginny before walking past her to the vanity to grab a hair tie, "Stupid reasons."

"The last time you said you were crying over 'stupid reasons' those reasons were Ron. So? Who is it this time?" Ginny asked as she watched Hermione toss her hair into a messy bun atop her head revealing her neck where an angry circular red mark was forming 'Is that a? No… Hermione wouldn't have a hickey… would she?' Ginny inwardly questioned as she waited for Hermioen's reply.

Hermione on her part began to pace in front of Ginny. They had been best friends for twelve years, sharing a room for several summers, and a flat for a year before Ginny moved in with Harry. Ginny knew her like a sister. Hiding her infatuation with Severus would be difficult to say the very least.

"There is a guy, Ginny, but it wont work out."

"Why?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow at such a dismissive notion.

"It's not written in our timelines to work. There's too many obstacles in our paths," Hermione blurted out before thinking, 'you know like the whole him being dead thing… that's a bit of an issue.'

Ginny gawked a bit, "Honestly, since when do you let obstacles stop you? You're the most methodical, analytical person I know. If you put your mind to it I'm sure you'll find a way to make things work with this guy." Ginny flopped herself onto the bed to lay on her stomach. The flannel shirt was close beside her.

Hermione continued to pace, "I don't know, Gin."

"Do you love him?" Ginny asked seriously.

The question stopped Hermione in her tracks. She had admitted to herself, sure, but out loud?... "Yeah… I do, I do love him." Hermione looked at Ginny and bit her lip. She hadn't admitted this outloud yet.

"And does he love you?" Ginny was looking at the shirt beside her as Hermione began to pace again. She was close enough to the shirt that she was able to detect the smell of sandalwood and sage mixed with parchment that came off of the fabric. It was an oddly familiar scent, but why?

"Yes, he actually just told me that he loves me the last time I saw him," Hermione replied as she sat in the chair at her vanity and stared at her reflection and quickly realized that Severus had left a rather noticeable mark on her neck. With a tug on the elastic Hermione pulled the hair tie out of her hair letting the curls fall and cover her neck.

"Then Hermione, I say that you and this guy need to try to match up your calendars and make a go at it," Ginny said as she rose from the bed and went to Hermione at the vanity. She tossed her arms around her friend and gave her a hug making eye contact with ehr in the mirror, "Now, all that said you're alive, "she let go of Hermione and squeezed her shoulders, "Get some sleep, Harry and I will see ourselves out."

Ginny gave Hermione one more hug before she left the bedroom and joined Harry in the hall. Harry was already waiting for her at the door to the apartment.

"How is she? Is she alright?" Harry asked as he held the door open for Ginny.

Ginny steeped out of the quiet apartment and into the night, "She's in love," Ginny replied with a shrug.

"Oh? With who?" Harry asked a bit surprised as they made their way to the apparition point.

"She didn't say," Ginny responded as she thought about the familiar smell clinging to Hermione's discarded flannel. 'Where do I know that smell from?' and then as if being struck by lightning the realization hit her, "Sna- no…" she said out loud.

"What?" Harry asked as they stopped at the end of an alley.

Ginny turned to Harry with total shock and disbelief written across her face, "This is going to sound absolutely nutters, love, but I think 'Mione has been seeing… Snape…"

Harry dropped Ginny's hand and stared at her, "That's impossible… Snape's dead."

"Yeah… I'm not too sure he is, Harry."