Runaway

Would it be my fault if I could turn you on?

Would I be so bad if I could turn you on?

When I kiss your mouth I want to taste it

Turn you upside down, donít want to waste it

I jump on you, you jump on me

You push me out and even though I love you

Iíd be inclined to slap you in the mouth

When I kiss your salty lips ~ Mouth by Merril Bainbridge

"Itíll be alright Hermione, Iím not going to leave you ever again. Iíve come to take you home."

Hermione froze in Severusís warm arms. Home. Sheíd wanted to go for years secretly but she could never go. It was too hard and there were too many memories. Severus sensing Hermioneís anxiety tightened his grip on her, breathing in the apple scent in her hair. It was marvellous and intoxicating. Hermione tried to relax to him but there were so many questions, so many things that hung in the air for them. He just expected her to take him back at the drop of a hat.

"Hermione I know how you feel but we need you, all of us, your friends, your family. Your absence was heartbreaking to all of us."

"That makes it alright does it?" Hermione said bitterly. Severus sighed. Memories of the burnings still tore them apart. That terrible night. She had almost died, he had almost let her die so how could she ever trust him again?

"No but I miss you, I need you. I am sorry you know," Severus said tiredly. He felt old and she felt older. They both wished they could turn back time but they couldnít. Hermione was still tense in Severusís arms he slowly let go of her, she relaxed a little but also felt her heart break once again.

"Do you?" Hermione asked looking at him almost hopeful before putting a sterner face on. "Are you really? You were going to let me die, Severus. Thatís hardly the most loveable thing to do. Oh darling I do love you but I have to let them kill you ." Hermione raged. He had hurt her, he had almost let her die before his conscious got a hold of him, he would have let her die. He would have let them kill her.

"It wasnít just about you Hermione or are you still too selfish to realise that? It was about the cause. I did what I had to do for the cause!" Severus said loudly, snapping at her. The two were so stuck in the past, on that fateful night, the night of the burnings.

*September 18th 1996*

Hermione Granger, a fifteen year old girl ran out of Hogsmeadeís book shop with several books in her arms and one brightly wrapped parcel. It was her birthday tomorrow and the parcel she held was from her best friend. His name was Harry Potter, and to say he was having a bad time at the moment was a bit of an understatement. For all his fifth year he was plagued with bad dreams of a corridor with a door in it and the new Defence Against Dark Arts teacher, although relatively sane was harsh on Harry for some bizarre reason, and even more so on Hermione. Hermione during her fifth year had developed a close relationship with her Potions professor and they were slowly learning how to live and to love. Hermione couldnít have been happier she had good marks, good friends and she was slowly falling in love with her Potions Master.

A witch not on her guard was not a wise witch but a Muggleborn witch not on her guard could be fatal to the witch and the four cloaked Death Eaters took advantage of the witch struggling with her books.

Severus Snape, Potions Master and professor, lay in his bed staring at the ceiling. He was thinking about the strange relationship he had begun with Hermione. Helping her with a research project in her fifth year the two had grown close from this their secret relationship had begun. Although Hermione was of legal age, their relationship would be frowned upon so they had kept it a secret. But he also kept it a secret so she was protected from his other job. As a Death Eater. Severus was brought out of his silent reverie by the sharp throbbing pain in his arm, another meeting with his favourite man. Voldemort

Apparating, after telling the headmaster quickly about his plans, Severus appeared in a field were large pyres had been erected. He had dressed in the Death Eater garb they all had to wear and wore the cruel blank mask with disgust. Voldemort, his ëlordí and ëmasterí sat in a roughly carved throne in front of it all. Severus walked towards the Lord with his head bowed and crouched low as a sign of respect.

"Ah Severus, how wonderful to see you again," Voldemort said, his voice was almost cheery. Something was wrong, something was very wrong, this was not like the usual revels.

"My Lord. May I ask why we are here," Severus said respectfully, Severus noticed something move behind him and then heard the screams and pleas.

"We are here, Severus, for fun. I thought you might enjoy this particular revel of mine," Voldemort said with a malicious grin as the prisoners were brought in: nearly naked Muggle women, a few Muggle men and one beautiful creature. His Hermione. Severus swallowed the rising bile. The gig was up. Voldemort knew and was testing his loyalty. Severus faltered, not realising his lord had asked him a question. "You are my loyal servant, are you not, Severus?"

Severus looked sharply at Voldemort and nodded calculatingly. It took Severus a while to find his tongue

"Yes my lord." Severus said curtly.

"Good, then you may be the one watch your precious little mudblood witch burn," Voldemort said cruelly as Lucius Malfoy tied a beaten up Hermione to the stake surrounded by kindling and wood. She was to burn to death. She didnít have her wand. It was ironic in a sense. A real witch couldnít burn to death, they always escaped. But Hermione, who in the eyes of Voldemort was scum, would burn like the Muggles. She would be scarred forever. "Do it."

Severus looked at Hermione. He was hesitating. He couldnít reveal his position as a spy. Too many lives depended on it. Severus watched as the flames slowly rose and started to burn at her feet. Hermione was screaming, pleading. The fire was so hot and it hurt her so much but he wouldnít move. Then like a black knight in shining armour Severus swooped in to save her, cursing several people simultaneously. Severus grabbed Hermione breaking her bonds before Apparating out of the field, Severus and Hermione collapsed just outside of Hogwarts. They were home and they were alive but the cost had been too great. The cost of this had been their relationship.

*Hermioneís sitting room*

Hermione looked at Severus who stood opposite her, she was tired, he was tired. She was tired of running, tired of fighting, she just wished it could have been different. Hermione knew he was right, it had been because of both of them that there relationship had failed. They had doomed it from the start. Hermione started to cry again, Severus went to hold her.

"Donít! Just leave me alone Severus, just leave me alone," Hermione said turning once again away from him.

"Do you really want that?" Severus asked sadly and received his answer with a curt nod. Severus sighed picking up his cloak and putting it on. Severus took a bundle of letters out of his pocket and left it on a small side table with a card. "If you change your mind-"

"I won't," Hermione said curtly interrupting him.

"If you do Iím in Sydney for a few days. Iíll be leaving next Friday. Goodbye, Hermione Granger." Severus said Apparating from the house. Hermione turned around quickly. He had sounded so hurt, so empty, so lost. Hermione noticed the bundle of letters addressed to her and picked up a card with the name of his hotel and an address and phone number. Hermione sighed, sitting down on the lumpy couch. Hermione looked at the card and stroked it slowly.

"Goodbye, Severus Snape."