A/N: While writing this chapter I was listening to one song in particular. Feel free to listen to it while reading through it:

Carry you - by Ruelle

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The invigorating smell of the lake claimed the man's nostrils as he stood, poised, his hands resting on his back while his eyes remained lost on the horizon's depth, empty. Sounds of birds chirping from the trees surrounding the lake joined the faint note of sighs, weakly audible sobs merging with nature's orchestra. As the seconds ticked the sun's welcoming glow dulled, clouds now covering earth's heat before leaving space to the cold yet soothing moon, engulfing the world into darkness. Like a mirage the man vanished, his long cloak fluttering along the wind until all was left was dust.

The sea of white frozen particles soon had entirely melted away, allowing the trees to bloom while a certain man's heart rot. It was as if nature was mocking him, provoking his sadness by nurturing its beauty, flaunting at him what he sees by cannot have.

Her.

Hermione.

She entered his life with a loud stomp, shattering the walls meticulously build around his heart and melted with his soul, becoming his. It had marvelled him the way her lips, her touch or her smell had mysteriously engraved themselves into his skin, scaring him with the memory of her existence before disappearing under his gaze. Every day of every night Severus's mind wandered to the past - the only place he felt whole again - and allowed himself to surrender to the delightful sensation of love.

Love.

An emotion he would have never thought would enslave him, transform him into a hungry spirit graving its warmth. Although a month had passed since Hermione's younger soul returned to her vessel, Severus could still feel the ardent sensation in his heart whenever she was near, her presence now a trigger to his insanity.

He needed her, graved her tender words and touch. It felt surreal - their love - as if it was all just a dream to which he had unwillingly woken from, into a world where they were mere strangers.

Resentment had converted into his only source of energy, feeding on the powerful loathing pumping fire through his blood as he interrogated Seraphina, extracting the truth out of her shut mouth. The ominous skull and emblem of his own house, branded on his forearm had never felt more welcomed, as if life had ensured his destiny, claiming his future with darkness and sorrow. Deep down in the farthest corner of his heart, he craved freedom - away from evil - yet the words that echoed louder in his head was to accept his fate: a life without love and only death.

Severus Snape had become the epitome of murk and brooding. His ebony eyes had lost their glimmer, leaving space to a void only one person could nurture, while his entire being became a shadow, a projection of who once was Hogwart's potion master.

At night, while everyone was asleep Severus would weep, his eyelashes moistened by the grief flowing through his eyes, a lost heart condemned to live in hell, encountering every day the love of his life without being able to hold her, or even be loved in return. The throbbing in his chest was unbearable, shaking his whole being, moulding him into a weak and vulnerable man. He hated it, this growing weight on his chest, - suffocating him - leaving the man breathless.

As he apparated back inside the castle, his eyes drifted from one corner to the other, ensuring he was alone. He had become an eremite, rejecting any form of human contact. Despicable as he had become, his mind still hunted her when his eyes stubbornly focused away from his desire, silently begging for her attention.

Strolling down the long stairs leading to the dungeon, his cloak swinging with the wind while his form projected a peculiar shadow on the tall walls, Severus clenched his jaw as the faint sound of laughter reached his ears. Happiness had become his enemy, spurning the emotion while quietly begging to felt it, the peace in his heart only Hermione could bring.

Feeling the discomfort in his chest grow stronger, Severus shoulder's began to shake, sending a jolt of cold air down his spine. Like a scolded child, he nestled his quivering hands inside his robe's pocket - ashamed. It had crossed his mind more times than once, wondering if it was Merlin's way of cursing him for his actions as a teenager - siding with sin. He was being punished, it was indisputable. Although Severus hates to admit defeat, the impassive glares from the woman he loves while their eyes met became heart-wrenching.

Like a convicted - head bowed low and shoulder slumbering - Severus continued his walk towards his chambers, the irregular breathing coming from his slightly agape mouth engulfed the corridors as he strode silently.

On the other side of the hallway, Hermione Granger was leaving the library in haste, panic drawn on her usually composed features as the clock ticked.

She was late.

Since she had woken up from her slumber, Hermione felt compelled to always be on time, as if every second mattered. It had taken her by surprise the outlandish way her whole body would shiver in fright whenever she extended her time in whatever activity she was indulging herself in. She wondered what the cause of such curious attitude was. The feeling of always being watched hadn't gone unnoticed by her the first night in the infirmary. Since she had woken up, Hermione had many, and only a few were answered. Yet as the days went by her heart grew heavy, as if she was carrying the most excruciating of weights, leaving her breathless wherever she went. It always felt like she was missing something, someone, yet she couldn't grasp who it could be.

Her body at night would grave for heat, for a touch that seemed so foreign to her yet not to her skin, as if it had a mind and a memory of its own.

She hated it.

While the moon dominates the sky, Hermione could feel her hands moving at their own volition around the bed, seeking desperately for an unknown presence.

She felt out of place, misunderstood.

This morning Hermione couldn't stand the worried glances her friends would exchange whenever she would look around the Great Hall, searching for whatever made her skin crawl in singular delight. They knew something, there was no doubt on that, but they refused to indulge in revealing whatever piece of information she was missing. It unnerved her to the point she decided to spend the day at the library hidden between endless rows of books, shielding her while she searched frantically for the missing puzzle.

Him.

She knew there was someone her heart craved, yet it seemed like a distant and unreachable memory that left her feeling empty, shattered.

Her dreams were invaded with flashes of a tall man kissing every inch of her body, bowing to her grace while ravishing her with the most wonderful of attention. She had never felt so loved and full before, and deep down she was disappointed it all happened in the realm of her dreams.

Rushing as noiselessly as she could towards the Gryffindor tower, Hermione didn't notice the tall figure coming from the opposite direction, his own attention elsewhere.

All it took was an impact, clothed covered bodies and books scattering on the marble ground to awake the confused wizards.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was..." she trailed off, her breath caught in her throat when her amber orbs met the obsidian eyes of her potion master. "Professor forgive me I-"

"- no need to justify yourself, Ms Granger," he interrupted her, his hands grasping her shoulders and lightly pushing her away from his body, "we were both not paying attention."

Her chest was heaving, the feeling of his firm fingers on her had left the witch wide-eyed. Instantly her body responded to his touch by leaning against it. Severus watched the way she felt hypnotised by his presence and couldn't help but experience the fluttering sensation of hope huddled inside his rib-cage.

"Ms Granger?" He whispered, having lost his voice to her sudden reaction.

While his eyes were transfixed on hers, Severus couldn't help but seek for the one he had shared countless nights, making love until their body slumbered down on the bed, awaiting the morning with a feeling of anew. She was there, he could see it, the light flicker of innocence and courage that had enamoured him. However, something different was there, a cocktail of fright and curiosity.

A grand battle was taking place inside her head and heart, refusing to accept that the man standing in front of her was only the potion teacher who had tormented her over the years. Her heart was throbbing painfully, nearly ripping through her skin in search for his other half, while her head refused to bulge.

"Stay away from him, he's your teacher what's wrong with you!" The voice in her head mused while her heartbeat reached her ears, drumming in a unique symphony at the sight of the mysterious man whose hands were still securely enclosed on her shoulders.

Noticing a crease forming between her eyebrows, Severus clenched his jaw, the veins on his neck protruding violently as he contained himself from reaching towards the wrinkle and soothing it with his fingers. He bit his lip, the desire to kiss away the torture occurring in the depths of her mind growing stronger as her gaze lowered to his teeth-engaged lips.

"Professor..." she breathed, her mind fogged by the obvious temptation before her eyes.

It had never occurred to her until now how handsome he was. Before, all she could see was his protruding nose and scowling face, marvelling at how it was possible to appear mysterious and angered all at the same time. Yet as her eyes roamed each speckle of his skin Hermione's eyes glimmered as she registered those unmistakable details that seemed to have gone unnoticed to her before. His dark eyes nestled small lights that appeared to contain an infinite amount of stars while his flawless alabaster skin reminded her of a porcelain doll. She wanted to reach forward and touch it, curious to see if it felt as smooth as it appeared to be. The instant he bit his lip her eyes flashed to his unexpected movement, his plump lips sending her a silent invitation that made her shudder.

"How can you possibly want him? Have you lost your mind? Get out of here, now!" Her inner voice screeched, causing her to jolt and push him away as she bolted up the stairs back to her chambers, confused and worryingly warm.

Severus was left frozen on the spot. How was it possible? He had heard her thoughts, howling at him as clear as day. It daunted on him until the gears in his mind regained function and pieced the missing information together. This Hermione had never learned the art of mastering one's mind which inevitably allowed him to hear her strongest thoughts.

He couldn't help but giggle at the apparent rush of confusion in her. As he continued his walk down to his chambers, a smile now drew on his face, something glowing within him, a feeling he had long forgotten.

Hope.

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A/N: I'm sure some of you might be wondering what happened since she awoke. The future chapters will answer these questions so don't worry.🙈🔥🔜

There will be a build up of their romance and might happen at the same rhythm as the previous book. I don't want to rush through their relationship for a particular reason you will understand as the story unravels itself.😍🤩🧐

I know I promised 20 chapters on the get-go, the issue is I wrote 10 chapters and then realised that between them I needed to write other ones, or else I would have created unwanted gaps within the plot.📝📚That's why I will be uploading every time I finish a chapter, it would definitely be easier for me too.

Thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting ♥️💗🌸