It was too late. He had done things he would never forgive himself for, and asking for forgiveness from someone like Hermione Granger... it was wrong. Everything about the situation was broken and useless. There was a time, in fifth year, when he thought maybe something could happen between the two of them. He had even tried to be better for her. Of course, he had been forced to join Umbridge’s ridiculous snooping squad, but he had done what he could to distract the other members when he saw Granger sneaking around. But then she had been caught, and he knew there was no evidence to show he had been trying to protect her. 