A Day in the Park

By Katia

Legal stuff: I don't own anything. It's all JK Rowling's. Please don't hurt me, I'm little.

Rating: T for some language

….

He just needed some fresh air, to clear his head before he returned to Hogwarts. Some time to breath would do him well. He reached the large park in no time and began to walk around it. It wasn't the nature surrounding him that calmed him, it was the absence of people, or at least people he might be forced into talking to. He hated Diagon Alley for just that reason. He was constantly being stopped by former students and their parents. Well, he reasoned to himself, at least he managed to scare off a good majority of those who intended to approach him simply be sneering.

In the park he was only surrounded by muggles. It was worth it to him to transform his robes into something more suitable just to have the luxury of peace. He strode at his usual pace through the park, past mothers with prams and the elderly trying to stay in shape. His mind was able to clear and he was at peace.

This had become almost a regular addition to his Diagon Alley outings. Although he limited his visits as much as possible, it was often necessary to visit London, and when he was finished he nearly always walked the few blocks to the park to clear his mind.

He had found it after one absolutely infuriating visit. Mr. Longbottom had cornered him just outside Flourish and Blotts and insisted on showing him his children. He had three of the nasty little runts, and that night he had made a note as to what year the first would be entering Hogwarts.

The run-in had so affected him that he had taken off down a street into Muggle London. He had no idea why, but it had seemed like a good idea at the time. He had seen the park within a few minutes of walking, and had decided it was the best place for him to continue his brooding. There would be fewer Muggles clogging up the paths and he would be able to walk at a reasonable pace without trampling anyone.

Today the park was even more deserted than usual. The air was crisp and the leaves were beginning to turn. His mind began to wander to another fall day, when he had lain under a tree with her and they had-

He stopped himself short, clearing his mind of the images that had surfaced. If he let himself go very far down that path he would ruin the whole point of his coming to the park.

He mentally shook himself and redirected his thoughts to more pleasant things. His attempts to find lycanthropy cure were becoming increasingly promising. He hoped to have the final analysis finished by the end of the month, and have a write-up ready by the end of the following.

Everything had gone according to plan. In fact, he had been quite amazed at how simple the solution really was; only a small adjustment of the wolfsbane potion seemed to be necessary.

Of course, he calmed his thoughts, more testing needed to be done to see if his hypothesis was correct.

He suddenly collided with something- or someone- solid. He looked down at the thing that had fallen to the ground.

"Watch where you're going!" The thing- woman, he corrected himself- spat at him.

"I would apologize, but I believe it was you who ran into me." He stepped back a bit from the woman so as not to be touched by her any further. He was about to walk away when she looked up at him.

He was unable to recognize the expression that was on her face, but he did recognize the face.

….

She was sitting at her workstation, methodically working through the instructions. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. She had been one of the most annoying students to enter into his classroom, and yet she had grown in the last seven years into a beautiful young woman. She wasn't just beautiful though. It was her intellect that truly pulled him to her. She was amazing. He felt sorry for her this year that she was stuck in the Advanced Potions class with all the regular students. She had to be terribly bored by the work.

She pushed a piece of hair that had escaped her bun behind her ear. The motion caught his attention back to the present and he scanned the rest of the room.

He sighed. Everything was fine, but he would need to keep a better hold on his thoughts during class in the future.

….

She was wearing a navy dress of sorts, with long sleeves and a turtleneck type collar. Her hair- well, it was different, all smooth, soft curls, not at all bushy as it had once been. He had liked the bushy hair actually- He stopped that line of thought and looked at her face. That same unreadable expression, he simply couldn't figure out what was going on inside her head. It was quite a change from the girl he remembered who could not prevent even the slightest thought from showing on her face.

"Professor Snape," She slowly picked herself up off the ground and dusted off her dress. "What in the world are you doing in Muggle London, especially in a park?"

He still couldn't read her expression, although a bit of amusement and anger were visible. "I suppose I could ask you the same question, Miss Granger," he said simply.

"Well, being a muggle-born, I do have a bit more of an excuse than you do, Professor." Was she smiling? Damn her, how dare she mock him…if she was, he couldn't tell.

"I suppose then that a better question would be why did you find it necessary to come hurtling at me from out of nowhere and nearly knock me over?" Yes, she was definitely smiling this time. And biting her lower lip. She knew how that got to him, or at least she had known at one point. Perhaps she had forgotten how that simple movement affected him.

….

She had stayed over the Holidays to work on her project to become a potions apprentice. Minerva had forced him to allow the girl to use the classroom to work on her project, and he was supposed to check on her to make sure the girl didn't kill herself in the process.

She had not asked to apprentice under him, but rather had applied with a potions mistress in France. With or without a successful project she was sure to be accepted, but the girl worked unbelievable hours over the holiday.

When Christmas Day came he was surprised to see her still in the classroom.

"Miss Granger, missing Christmas Dinner is certainly ridiculous." He cut off the remark she was about to make. "Potions apprenticeship or not, Minerva will be very upset if you do not appear." He glared at her and she quickly stood and moved towards the door.

Then, for some reason he could not fathom, she turned around and stared at him, biting her lip. "Will you accompany me, Professor?" She held out her arm as an invitation. An all too tempting invitation.

He had actually intended to try to avoid the feast, but with her eyes on him like that…Well, he quickly crossed the room, took her arm, and led her to the feast.

….

"This is a little silly, isn't it?" She stared at him, the unreadable expression driving him mad.

"In what way, Miss Granger?" He scowled, hoping for some sort of affect, but alas, there was none. He hadn't really expected anything visible, but perhaps…

"Well, we haven't seen each other for oh, probably six years." Six years, four months and twenty-two days. She left on May 15th. "And now we run into each other in of all places Muggle London, and we argue of silly things like who bumped into who."

"I believe the correct phrase would be 'who bumped into whom,' Miss Granger." Did she just roll her eyes? No, she couldn't have. That-

"Must be the teacher in you, always having to correct someone. Although I didn't know they had you teaching Grammar these days."

He was seething inside. How was he supposed to respond to that? She didn't force him to.

"I hear you are working on a lycanthropy cure." It was an open statement, he could answer simply, or he could easily extend it.

It intrigued him that she knew of his work. Very few people did, he had only begun this past summer. He wondered why she knew. Had she been asking about him?

….

"Professor, I hear you are replenishing Madame Pomfrey's supplies this weekend. Would I be able to assist you?"

Term had started again and he had not seen her outside of class. Seeing her now, on a Friday night in his office, well it surprised him, but he was also glad. He knew he should respond with something along the lines of 'I have met Madame Pomfrey's needs without your assistance for the past fifteen years, Miss Granger,' but he found himself saying completely different words.

"Of course, Miss Granger. Many are very simple, but you should know them before you begin you apprenticeship.

Her face had clouded a little, and he wondered what was passing through her mind. In true Gryffindor style she promptly blurted it out. "I'm sorry I didn't apply to apprentice under you, Professor. I didn't think you'd want me, but I should have applied to be polite." She turned red and looked away form him.

"Courtesy has never bothered me, Miss Granger. I am glad you did not waste my time." She looked like she might cry then. "I will expect you in the classroom at eight tomorrow morning. Good Evening."

….

"Yes, I am nearly finished. And what, pray tell, Miss Granger do they have you working on at the Ministry? A cure to baldness, or perhaps you've just invented the miracle potion that seems to have tamed your hair." Oh gods, he had gone too far. He had let her know in that small way, that he had noticed her hair. He could see it in her eyes. She knew that he was still attracted to her. Damn it! He had not wanted to reveal anything to her.

She smirked. She smirked at him! "No, Professor, I'm not working on anything quite as silly as that. In fact I am currently researching a self-adjusting blood-replenishing potion that will independently keep the patients blood levels at safe levels without the need for repeated dosages."

"How very interesting. I'm sure you will save the mediwitches at St. Mungos so much time. It will truly be life-changing for us all." In actuality he was very impressed by her work, and had read her early theories in Potions Monthly earlier in the year. If she had a break-through it could affect the whole potions community. Self-regulating potions would be a huge advancement for the field.

"I actually believe it may have an impact, Professor." She was back to her unreadable expression. He didn't know what to make of it. He had always been able to read her emotions!

….

She was staring at him, he could feel it across the room. She might as well say out loud every thought that crossed her mind. She did do that fairly often to be honest, but the way the girl let her emotions out was simply ridiculous!

He wasn't going to take away House points this time though. No, he wouldn't because he liked the emotions that he was feeling coming from her. She had begun to help him with basic potions, and he was beginning to enjoy her company. She's a student, he had to remind himself more than once a day. They both explained the extra time together by saying it was preparation for her apprenticeship the next year.

He was reorganizing the student supply cupboard, but the knowledge of her eyes on him was distracting. He couldn't seem to focus as well when she was around.

….

"Well, how are the children, Professor? Anyone as terrible as Harry and Ron come through lately?"

"You should most certainly add yourself to that list, Miss Granger." He glared at her in silence.

"I am simply trying to have a polite conversation, Professor. Could you avoid throwing insults every chance you get?" Was she irritated? She looked irritated. Gods, the woman ruined his concentration.

"I believe you know how I feel about politeness." He paused and she didn't speak. "It's overrated."

She laughed. Actually laughed. Was she laughing at him? Of course she was, he had been stupid somehow. He forced his body to remain outwardly calm, to not change expression one millimeter.

"May I ask what is so amusing, Miss Granger?" She slowly calmed herself under his glare.

"Other than this entire situation? I can't believe I never noticed your dry humor before." He was dumbstruck. In his mind he knew it was an amusing thought, but he had never had anyone else appreciate his personal sense of humor. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

….

He slowly pushed the hair back from her face, letting his hand brush her cheek. She moved into his hand, closing her eyes. He cupped her face, tilted it up towards his, and watched as she slowly opened her beautiful eyes to stare into his. He leaned in and kissed her, softly.

It was graduation day, and she had come down to personally thank him for his tutoring over the past year before she left. Somehow she had ended up far too close to him, and he hadn't been able to stop himself. The voice that had constantly repeated 'she's a student' over the past few months was suddenly gone, and with it his restraint.

….

"What are you doing in this park?" She queried him. He stared at her for a moment, and she stared right back.

"I was trying to get away from everyone. Wanted to clear my head or some such rubbish." He couldn't think of anything else to say, so he told her the truth.

She continued to stare at him. For once he was unnerved by the silence. He supposed it could be called awkward. He began to feel uncomfortable, but could think of nothing to say.

"I suppose in a way I came here for the same reason." She finally looked away from him and up into the leaves. "Fall is my favorite season."

"Winter is mine."

"I should have known," she said with a slight smile, still looking at the leaves. "I should get going. Places to go, people to see." He was confused. "Sorry, must be a muggle thing. I'm sure you have other places to be as well, or at least you will want to finish your walk."

"Yes."

"It was good to see you, Professor."

"It was good to see you, Hermione." She looked surprised, and then smiled as she walked away from him.

He was going to need more than just another lap around the park to clear his head after what had just transpired. He was almost certain he could see a large battle of Firewhiskey in his near future.

….

A/N: Well, this fic is a one shot, although I am considering adding a chapter from Hermione's POV, tell me if I should or not! I got the idea from my Theatre 100. We had to perform a small scene with a partner, less than two minutes, and my partner and I acted out being two former lovers who bump into each other in a park years after they ended it. I loved the whole concept, the awkwardness, the uncertainty. It was a wonderful theatre exercise, and I kept thinking about it until I realized that I could turn it into a fic!

I hope you all liked it! Please Review if you did (or if you didn't!), and let me know if I should add Hermione's side of things!!