When she awoke to a luxurious breakfast the next morning, Hermione felt like the normality was just a bit too close to the week they'd spent together as a couple. However, Severus seemed to be reserved and not compelled to make anything uncomfortable as he sat and enjoyed the meal before him without a word spoken.
He looked extremely unprepared for the swimming she had in mind.
"Are you going to the beach with me?"
"No," Severus said immediately, his blunt answer even more so for the morning that still clung to his voice.
Hermione wasn't sure why she ever assumed he would be a morning person without her waking besides him.
"Your guest room was lovely, I had no trouble sleeping."
"Any discomfort from your disease? It's hard to know when you are not sleeping next to me."
There was the stab at her, but she let it go. She probably deserved it anyways.
"No," Hermione said, not daring to look at him for fear she might tell him everything. "The view was pretty, I left the curtains open."
"Brilliant."
"Right... are you sure you don't wish to join me for my swim?"
Severus shook his head.
"I appreciate your want for me to do so, but I don't think I can handle seeing you that way, being so close, yet so very far."
Hermione understood.
She wasn't in her swim things yet, but there would be time for that later, for now she was enjoying her deliciously sweet crepes.
"Did I ever tell you how wonderful you are at making meals?"
"Plenty. You should feel bad for your friend, though. Draco cannot cook for anything, I am sure you might have heard?"
"Yes, Harry can't complain enough."
Severus gave her a slight chuckle, and her day brightened, even if there was a little bit of cloud cover. Typical.
Still, the weather was nice, and she was more than excited to spend a day free in the waters. What Hermione dreaded most was going back, to have to leave the comfort of Severus' home and his breathable air, then coming back and eventually feeling the same here as she did everywhere else. What a horrid cycle it was.
When she finished her breakfast, Severus insisted that she go, considering her eyes were darting outside almost every moment, and she took the offer, heading outside with her towel, changed into her bathing suit. The warmth and smell of the water intoxicated her, having nearly forgotten the feeling of sand and cool waves.
Hermione had no idea if Severus was watching her from his home, but she most certainly hoped not, for both of their sake. He was still attached to her, that was for certain, and none of this would be a problem to her if it wasn't for her untimely death in the upcoming future. She wanted for them to be together.
Submerging herself entirely under, Hermione wondered on a whim if she should merely expedite the process. To let the water fill her lungs take her life right there in the one place where she'd felt peace so overcoming. But she came back up, rather dying of her curse than the painful episode that drowning was, knowing it would burn and suffocate her in her last moments.
Her hair was never appreciative of activities like this, and it showed when she went back to her towel, warmed by the sun and sand. The curls were frizzy, and none of them were uniform in the slightest, falling about her shoulders like a wet rag. It was truly tragic.
She closed her eyes and breathed in, wishing to stay in this state of comfort for as long as possible.
Hunger came faster than Hermione hoped. The lovely beach wasn't enough to sustain her throughout the entire day, though there was something in Hermione that had prayed for such an outcome. Or, maybe, she could die out there, in the sand, so close to the edge of everything. It truly was a prominent thought in her mind that day... to be taken out of this world by anything other than her bloody disease.
Regardless, she packed up her things and went back towards the small house that also was more welcoming than any other of her other options of places to rest. Going back to her flat after a full twenty-four hours on the coast would quite possibly off her before the curse did. It just wasn't where Severus was, and to be away from him again was going to drive her mad. This entire situation was going to do it, and nothing seemed to be working out.
Lunch was ready for her when she returned.
"You're going to spoil me, and then I will never want to leave."
"That's the plan," Severus said curtly, his expression smug as she glared back.
"I've told you-"
"Don't," he cut in, "Please. You needn't be so cruel. How were the waters?"
"Refreshing. I couldn't ask for a better place to swim, if I am being honest."
Hermione seated herself back at his table, her dry, water-soaked skin protesting. The sea had not been kind to her cells, but she probably couldn't have cared less if she tried.
"I am glad you enjoy my privileges."
Biting into her sandwich, Hermione felt a rush of pure bliss. He could even make a sandwich taste positively decadent.
"You should open up a restaurant."
"No," came the curt reply. "No, thank you."
"Right, you're retired."
"Exactly."
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued to devour her lunch, the appetite after a swim aggressive.
"I was working on your potion while you were out for your swim and-"
"Wait!" Hermione had nearly choked on her drink when she heard him speak. "You're still working on my cure?"
"What else would I do?" He asked her, not even moving from his spot across the table, staring at her without a single qualm.
"I don't know."
She really didn't. Part of her argued that he wouldn't dare let her out to just die, yet another part of her said that now they weren't together, he would cease to want to be reminded that she was in need of any type of help. It was a cruel assumption of her.
Whatever it was she was expecting, it was not the low rumble of his voice scolding her. "You don't know? Maybe you are as dense as the rest of the students you attended school with, for the girl I know who went through the years could have easily surmised why I would do anything for you at all. How dare you assume that simply because you have ceased to see reason, that I have ceased to care! It may have escaped your notice in your three week absence, but there is nothing I would not do for you, Hermione. I am appalled to even think that there was a doubt in your mind which led you to believe I would simply let you die."
As though someone had just thrashed her violently over her chest, she stood from the table and ran into the bathroom where a prompt coughing fit came on.
Tears were the company she was provided as she fell to the floor of the bathroom, choking on her cries and fits of coughs that would not cease. She had been terrible to him! What else did she deserve other than this?
Leaving the door open was a poor decision however, as she heard him come down the hall, calling to her in a slightly frantic voice. Yet it was drowned out even as he neared when, unlike her many petals that she now tended to create outside of this place, a single petal fell into her hands like the first time she had discovered her illness. Apparently they were already growing stronger.
"Hermione?" His tone was no longer angry, but soft as he knelt down and took her into his arms, cradling her to his chest as she fisted the petal in her hand.
She cried for as long as their bodies allowed them, Hermione being the first one to even feel remotely sore.
"Thank you, Severus," she mumbled as he helped her stand, guiding her up as gently as possible.
"You are most welcome."
His hand caressed the side of her face and the petal in her hand fell to the floor, forgotten.
A/N
Well... I did not expect to update this late!!! I wanted to do it a few days ago but it's been a bad week. I have HIGH hopes for this week however, and I also hope to get a couple more chapters out too!!!