The Odd Couple
A three part Series on the odd couple…
Hermione Granger & Severus Snape
Part One: Fire Whiskey
She was drunk. Salsa music played from the hidden radio, and people around her were merrily on their way to becoming plastered, and buzzed out on various types of alcohol. Being that it was a Wizard Bar, the main choice of drink was Fire Whiskey. It came in a red bottle, with a yellow label, looking comically like Muggle ketchup bottles, but once you opened the top, steam came out of it, and for good reason. She stared at the bottle, and tried to focus on the letters. She had downed almost half the bottle herself, and the bartender was now looking at her with concern in his face.
"Miss, don't you think you've had enough of that for tonight?" he asked while wiping a glass. She lifted her glazed eyes up to meet his and she grinned.
"Enough? You can never have enough!" she said, downing the rest of her drink in one shot. "Also, I've been meaning to ask, why the bloody hell are you playing SALSA?" she asked. He shrugged and motioned to a group of dark haired men sitting at a table in the corner.
"They requested it, and since they're paying quite a lot of money for their drinks, I granted their wishes, they seem to be visiting from somewhere," he said picking up another glass. Hermione shrugged. The bell jingled and she turned around to see who came in. Perhaps, it would be someone she knew.
It turns out that it was someone she knew. She saw the familiar face of her ex professor of Potions, none other than Severus Snape.
His face was still the same, somewhat sunken cheeks, his greasy hair framed is face, and his robes were the same, all black. She laughed and he turned his gaze toward her. He cocked an eyebrow. His shoulders were lightly covered in snow.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Granger, what are you doing here?" he asked sitting next to her. "Dragon ale," he murmured to the bartender, paying attention only to Hermione. She turned her head and looked at him.
"I was…passing through Hogsmeade, and felt like a drink," she said. He glanced at the bottle of Fire Whiskey.
"A drink? You call half a bottle of that, a drink?" he asked.
"Oh, whatever, Snape," she said. The bartender came back with a glass mug of a sickly looking green ale. Snape took a sip and placed it on the wooden counter. Hermione made a face.
"Dragon Ale? How can you drink that? I had it once and it was positively nasty," She clumsily poured herself another shot of Fire Whiskey. Drinking it in one shot she sighed happily as the warmth coursed through her body. Snape took another sip of his ale. "How's Hogwarts?" she asked. He shrugged.
"The same, same foolish students who can't seem to brew the simplest of potions," She laughed.
"Ah, Potions, the feared potions master, if only you knew how much people despised you," she said with a giggle. He rolled his eyes.
"Oh, believe me, I knew how much people hated me," he muttered.
"Correction, sir, Hate," she said. He looked at her.
"Are you drunk, Miss Granger?" he asked. She seemed to think about it for a moment and then nodded.
"Yes, I believe so," she said. He shook his head.
"Well you shouldn't be here, I don't think the Ministry of Magic would approve of one of their top Wizard Lawyers drunk in a Bar, and not to mention, alone," he said. She shrugged.
"I could care less, you know, sometimes you need this," she said motioning to the bottle. "Life can be disappointing," He raised his eyebrows.
"What are you talking about, you're young, your life is ahead of you, you have a successful career," he said sipping his ale again. She sighed.
"Yes, yes, I know, things are all fine and dandy, but sometimes…as bad as it sounds…you find yourself wanting…"
"More?" he asked silkily. She looked at him and nodded.
"Yes, more," She heard him sigh.
"Yes, I have been…living my life as if I am a ghost, I don't remember the last time I actually got the more that I wanted," he said. She looked at him. He was staring down into his mug of Ale; its green content was almost finished.
"Why don't you have a shot of this? Warms you up, and its cold outside," she said. He looked at the bottle and then shrugged lightly.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt," he said. He pulled out his wand and magicked a glass. He poured a shot of Whiskey for her, and then a serving for himself. When he closed the bottle, their glasses steaming, they looked at each other.
"A toast," she said lifting her glass.
"A toast to wanting more," he said. She inclined her head and their glasses clinked together.
They both drank the Whiskey in one shot and his cheeks flamed.
"It's been a while," he said. He reached for the bottle and then stopped. "Do you mind?" he asked. She shrugged. He took the bottle and poured another shot.
"Tell me, Snape—"
"Call me Severus,"
"Severus…that sounds so weird, what are you doing for Christmas?" she asked. He looked at her.
"Christmas?" he asked.
"Christmas," she echoed. He stared at her, apparently at a loss for words.
"I…I didn't think about it," he admitted. She shook her head.
"Christmas, is one thing you should ALWAYS, have something to do, or some company at least," she said. He nodded and stared off into space.
"Yes…company," he said. They were silent for a few minutes. "What happened to you and Weasely?" he asked. She shrugged.
"Life happened, arguments and whatnot, but I didn't come here to think about Ron," she said with a crooked smile. He found himself staring at her face, at her lips. Her hair was pulled back into a simple bun, and she looked the same as she had years ago when she was in his classroom, except her face seemed lined with a little more experience. He turned on his stool and glanced outside. The snow was falling harder now, and there were several inches of the white stuff on the ground.
"Miss Granger, the snow storm is getting worse outside, I advise you to find yourself in your home," he said getting up. He laid some money on the counter. She looked up at him. He saw the glazed look in her eyes, and felt the need to do something, to help her home, but that would be awkward, he though. She looked at him and blinked furiously, and then laughed.
"Alright, Sevvy, I suppose I should…" she said getting up. She rose from the stool and stumbled. He reached forward and caught her before she hit the floor. She seemed unfazed by the mishap she nearly missed and laughed again. "Oh my, thank you, excuse me," she said with a burp. He steadied her on her feet but still she swayed dangerously. She fell hopelessly against him and he tried to push her away.
"Merlin's beard, Miss Granger, pull yourself together," he said angrily. She giggled.
"Oh, I could show you a thing or two about Merlin's beard," she said with a laugh. With an angry sigh, he dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out more money. He left it on the counter for the bartender and he nodded.
"I suppose I could take you to my home," he muttered. Her eyebrows rose.
"Your home? Is it old and dirty, and greeeasy?" she asked laughing even more. He felt color rising in his cheeks.
"You will compose yourself, Miss Granger," he said. She attempted to stand straight and did a mock salute.
"Alright sir," she said. He sighed and shook his head. What a fishnet he had gotten himself tangled into. He grabbed her hand in an attempt to steer her away from the counter and to an empty spot so they could apparate out of the bar. She pulled him back, however, just as he had closed his eyes to apparate and grabbed the bottle that still stood on the counter. There was still some Whiskey left at the bottom. He opened his eyes and as she swirled out of his vision, he saw her with the bottle in her hand, laughing madly. He felt butterflies in his stomach. Something he thought he would never feel again in his lifetime, especially after an entire mug of Dragon Ale.
A/N: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed part one of this little series I'm doing on Hermione and Snape. This is my first ever HG/SS story, so forgive me if it's not as fabulous as the others!
However, please review and tell me what you think! All reviews are greatly appreciated.
LB.