True Identity

Chapter 6

It had been two weeks since she had given up on her dream. Two weeks since she had seen him at the Leaky Cauldron. Two weeks since he had torn her heart out and thrown it away. He hadn't given her a chance after she confessed in a letter who she really was; what made her think he would give her a chance now, after all this time?

When the owl arrived that morning with a small square package, she barely noticed it. She wasn't expecting anything and she couldn't imagine the package being worth her time. Still, she dutifully opened it, fully intending to discard it.

Instead, her heart lodged in her throat as a Muggle CD fell from the package. The same CD she had carried with her for the past two years. It was silly, really, but she couldn't seem to leave it behind. It was her only reminder of the man who had once loved her.

Her hands trembling, she opened the accompanying letter.

H. G.,

It seems that you left this at the Leaky Cauldron. I am returning it to you.

You asked me if there was no one whose company I desired. I told you there was not, but that was not entirely true. There was a woman once; her name was Helen Garnell. She was intelligent, witty, and beautiful. Now that I think about it, she was a lot like you.

I fell in love with Helen. I would not have admitted it at the time, but I know now that I did. The two years that have passed since I have seen her have been filled with loss and regret, for Helen was not who she pretended to be. She wrote me a letter which I have read and reread several times since then. When I left her that morning, I was angry at being deceived. But I realize now that I deceived her as well. I pretended to be someone I was not. I could not possibly return her love because surely if she knew my past, she would not love a man like me. Surely the only reason she had fallen in love with me was because she thought that I was someone I was not. The thought occurred to me that perhaps she feared the same thing.

The only person who knew Helen's true identity was killed in the final battle. I had lost all hope of ever finding her, of giving her the chance she deserved. When I saw you at the Leaky Cauldron, it only made me bitter. You were yet another reminder of the woman I had lost, the woman I had let slip through my fingers because of my own foolish pride.

Perhaps neither of us are who we seem to be. Perhaps there is still a chance.

S. S.

Hermione's heart and mind reeled at the words before her. He knew. He knew and he as not rejecting her. He was giving her a chance.

***

It was almost 8 pm when there was a knock on his dungeon door. No one interrupted Snape in his private rooms without paying for it. He stormed to the door and threw it open, the most intimidating look he could muster plastered on his face. He expected to see some sniveling first year student cowering before him, begging for an extension on an assignment or some such nonsense.

"Severus."

Her melodious voice sent tingles up his spine. He closed his eyes, his knees weakening beneath him. She had come to him. She had given him the chance he denied her so long ago.

"Helen. Hermione."

She stepped forward at the same time he did. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent. It was Helen's scent. Hermione had changed her appearance, but not her scent. He would know that scent anywhere. He tightened his hold on her.

"I have missed you."

"Oh, Severus, you have no idea. I've wanted to come to you for so long but I was afraid..."

"I should have given you a chance. I will never forgive myself for walking away from you that morning. I lost you for two years because of my foolish pride." He pulled back to look into her eyes. "I will not make that mistake again, Hermione, not if you will have me."

Her smile and the warmth of her lips touching his was all the answer he needed.

in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete