Just ask her you fool, Severus thought as twenty three year old Hermione Granger smiled at him.
Hermione had just completed her training as a Healer, and Severus was enjoying the first week of summer holiday, and, naturally, they had both been in Flourish and Blotts. Severus could not help but think what a beautiful woman she had become.
"Miss Granger, I was wondering…. Would you perhaps like to accompany me to dinner tonight?"
She blushed.
"Certainly," she said, and scribbled the address to her flat on the back of his receipt.
"I'll pick you up around seven," he told her as she turned to leave.
They were seated at a small table in the back of a quaint restaurant.
"I still cannot believe I tripped over that cat on the way here," she told him, still looking thoroughly embarrassed. "How did I not see it?"
He smirked.
"Perhaps it's time we ordered."
"Yes, let's."
When their soup came, Severus excused himself to the bathroom.
Hermione tasted the soup and made a face. This needs some kick, she thought, reaching for a bottle of pepper sauce. She unscrewed the cap and the bottle slipped, pouring sauce into Severus' bowl.
Hermione's face grew white.
Maybe he won't notice, she reasoned, sprinkling a few drops of the sauce into her own soup.
When Severus returned, Hermione looked away as she ate her soup, her face ablaze.
"Is something the matter?" He asked her.
Hermione shook her head no, unable to speak.
Severus shrugged and ladled some of the soup into his spoon, then brought it to his lips. Suddenly his face turned red and his eyes began to tear.
Looks like he noticed
He looked around wildly, locating his glass of water that was half empty. He drained it within seconds.
"More, I need more!!" He growled.
He held the tip of his wand to the glass, and water cascaded into it in a turrent. He gulped the water hungrily, and when his tongue had successfully cooled, he sighed deeply.
"I am going to berate the management for serving such spicy soup without a warning," he said looking at Hermione.
"Um," she squeaked.
"What is it?"
"The soup wasn't hot when they brought it to you," she said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I accidentally poured pepper sauce into it."
"And you didn't feel the need to tell me about this?" he asked her incredulously.
"I, well, I hoped you wouldn't notice," she stammered.
"I must say, Miss Granger, what has gotten into you? You were never so clumsy and careless at Hogwarts ," he said surveying her.
"I guess I am just really nervous," she said.
"Why on Earth are you so nervous?"
"Well, um, it-- it's because I, well, I really like you," she said in a rush.
Severus laughed, a sound Hermione had never heard before.
She smiled. His laugh was nice.
"I really like you too," he said. "Perhaps next time, I shall order the salad."