Disclaimer:- I neither own nor earn anything from this story. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and associates.

sSs

A/N:- Thank you all for your wonderful reviews, especially those containing Christmas wishes. Now, having said that this story was fluffy, I need to say that the next two chapters are a bit angsty, but once Hermione and Severus are together it is pure fluff (well fluff with substance). Please enjoy :-)

hHh

Chapter Two –Becoming Friends Regardless

As the term got under way, on top of everything else that Hermione was dealing with, it didn't take long for Ron to take exception to her study habits. "Geez, 'Mione, this is bloody boring," he groused.

"Perhaps for you, Ron, but you know I always spend this much time on my school work; it is very important to me," she explained, patiently, without putting her quill down.

"Yeah, for you, but how about us," he complained.

"We're together now aren't we?"

"But in the bloody library," he hissed, irritatedly. "You know what I mean by together," and he waggled his eyebrows at her.

Now Hermione had been trying to forget about their sex life, it was just messy and, well she didn't quite know what, but she was certain that sex was supposed to be wonderful. Ginny was full of tales about how Harry pleasured her and what a stud he was. Hermione could find no pleasure in Ron's groping and his technique was… well quick and painful even when she asked him to take it slow with her.

Hermione gave Ron a hard look. "Then use the time to do your homework," she suggested irritatedly. She had no patience for his petulance tonight she had a lot of work to do, in fact she was currently very much over his attitude completely.

However, not to be deterred, his answer to this was to grab her hand and rub it on his already semi-hard dick. "I'd much rather you do this," he replied in a husky groan.

This only made her jump. "Ron!" she exclaimed in a panicked whisper. "Stop that, someone will see," and she snatched her hand away, her eyes darting around the library.

"You're such a bloody prude," he huffed and gathering his stuff together he stormed out.

Hermione sat there dumbfounded, what had just happened. He knew she was a private person, she firmly believed that the intimacy that happened between a couple should happen in private. He also knew how much this opportunity to finish her schooling meant to her, so why was he being so nasty about it.

From that point on he did not come to the library with her, and Hermione couldn't find it in herself to be upset about it, on the contrary, she was relived, she got her work done and was now ahead of everyone again.

The only time she saw Ron now was when he wanted help—that is, for her to do—his homework. It was only the second week of term when he started badgering her about having too much Quidditch practice and not enough time to do everything.

Hermione had point blank refused. "No Ron, I'm not completing your homework, how are you going to learn if you don't do it yourself?"

His answer was almost comical, because he puffed his chest out and said, "Don't need to learn, I'm goin' to be goalie for England," and he high-fived several Quidditch team members.

Hermione just glared at him, he was being entirely childish, and she turned on her heel and left without answering. As she'd left though, she heard Ron say to Seamus, "See, she had no come back for that," and she went on an angry march around the castle to blow off her excess anger.

Her tirade ended when she came face to face with a huge mirror. She looked up and down the hallway to ascertain her position. Yes I'm where I thought I should be, but I don't remember a mirror here, she thought as she regarded her still scowling face in it.

Unbeknown to Hermione, Severus had seen her stomping angrily away from Gryffindor tower, muttering under her breath, and he had been curious to know what had happened. It gave him no small amount of joy to think that Weasley may have put himself further into her bad books, and since then he had been shadowing her, listening to the stream of insults bubbling forth from her mouth as she walked.

However, as he followed her, another problem started to make itself known as well, and he knew Hermione needed an outlet for the magic he could see building up around her. He stepped out of the shadows just as she noticed the fine blue arcs snapping around her head, and as she raised her hand to her crackling hair he smoothed, "Miss Granger, allow me to introduce you to my duelling mirror."

Hermione's startled eyes turned to Severus' in the mirror as he walked up behind her, and she saw him raise an eyebrow elegantly. "D-duelling mirror?"

"Yes, it is how I keep my reactions sharp," he leaned in closer to her. "Work off excess… energy," he whispered, and then moved back and off to the side. His gaze panned back up to her hair, and both eyebrows rose before he continued speaking. "Whatever spell you fire at it, the mirror will bounce it back at you from a different angle, and believe me at the moment you appear to need to work off a lot excess emotion. Try a Stinging hex to start with," and he swept his hand towards the mirror in a please start gesture.

Taking a step back from the mirror Hermione pulled her wand from her sleeve, tentatively raised it and cast the spell. She squealed when her hex ricocheted back at her, but this was followed by a grin when she shielded herself in time and avoided it.

After some minutes she got the hang of it quite proficiently and was sending a flurry of spells at the mirror and dancing and twirling around to avoid them while Severus looked on with a half smile plastered to his face, as he totally enjoyed the show.

It took twenty minutes but eventually she sank to the stone floor exhausted and puffing. In the process of duelling the mirror Hermione had shed her cloak and jumper and her blouse was now soaked with sweat. She looked up at Severus as he moved towards her. "Thank you," she puffed as he conjured a towel. "Please, would you sit with me a moment?" She saw him stiffen and just wanted to cry. It prompted her to say, "I know I'm not supposed to say it, but I've missed talking to you."

He smirked stiffly, "Indeed… things were… easier before," he conceded, slowly.

"Is it really that different?"

"Yes," her professor replied plainly. "Yes, it is… I had best go," and the mirror vanished. "Good evening, Miss Granger."

Hermione swallowed hard. "Sir," she replied, and she sat with her head resting back against the wall as she listened to his retreating footsteps until they were just echoes in the distance. It was only then that the first tears fell. "I miss you, Severus," she murmured, "I wish it was like it was before."

As Severus walked away he was measuring every step precisely, he missed Hermione more than he cared to admit, and watching her let go tonight while no one was watching was a wonderful experience.

He had wanted nothing more than to take her up on her offer of sitting next to her. More than anything he had wanted to sit with her; talk to her… kiss her. Don't think that, his panicked brain screamed at him. You have a whole year before you can even start thinking things like that, and besides she's still with someone else, and anger surged through him. A whelp who doesn't deserve her, who takes her completely for granted.

xox

The next week was Hermione's birthday, and of course Ron didn't remember it? Hermione was livid with him yet again. Harry and Ginny had remembered, so had Molly and Minerva, but Ron, not a chance.

Harry and Ginny had quietly given her their best wishes and a lovely heart-shaped ruby pendant before they went off to Quidditch practice, but Ron had just brushed straight past her, ignoring her completely, leaving her blinking owl-like at his thoughtlessness.

As soon as they were outside the Gryffindor common room, Ginny got stuck into him. "Oi, you, idiot," and she slapped him across the back of the head.

Protecting himself, he roared, "Ay, watch it Gin. What the fuck did I do?"

She reared up in front of him. "Hermione's birthday… ring any bells," she shrieked at him.

"Oh," he puffed, glancing back at the portrait covering their tower entrance. He didn't say anything else, but by the time practice was over Harry found out he had arranged alcohol and invited the whole Quidditch team.

"Ron mate, I don't think this is a good idea, you know that Mi hates things like this. You know how quiet she is, and what a stickler for the rules."

But Ron would not be deterred. "Nah, she'll be sweet. What can she do, it's all for her," he said, in his usual casual way.

To tell the truth, Harry was surprised that Hermione had not told Ron that she no longer wanted to be with him, as it was obvious in her body language, but he guessed that all the shocks she'd had recently had stopped her from saying the words. However, Harry still wasn't certain that a drunken party was Hermione Granger's idea of an ideal birthday celebration. Hermione always seemed very ill at ease at parties. He didn't say anything to Ginny about it, because that would just have more sparks flying around before they even got back to the castle, and she'd find out soon enough.

xox

Hermione surveyed the gathering from the foot of the stairs. She had been studying in her room for once, instead of the library. She was tired, and sick of having to escape to get peace and quiet.

From beside her Ginny grabbed her arm. "I'm sorry, Mi, I didn't know that the stupid burke had organised something like this," and she turned to her brother, but Hermione beat her in speaking.

"Ronald, do you know nothing about me? I detest drinking like this."

"Oww, don't be like that, 'Mione, I even got you a present," and he handed her a box hastily wrapped in brown paper.

Hermione gave him a suspicious look.

"Go on, open it," he encouraged.

She really did want to think the best of him, but when she opened it and found the necklace he detested, the one that Lavender had given him in sixth year inside the box. She glanced around at everyone waiting for her reaction, and she reacted, "What the hell is this?"

"It's your present, love," he said, trying to look innocent.

"This is the same necklace that Lavender gave you for Christmas in sixth year."

"What?" shrieked a voice from behind Hermione.

Hermione turned and smirked at Lavender, happily handing her the parcel before turning back to Ron, "I'm through, I've had enough," she looked around the common room. "Not one of these people are my friends, even Harry's standing away from it all," then her eyes met Ginny's and she knew there would be hell to pay, but she didn't even have the interest left to care. "No more, Ron. This is not working."

There she'd done it, it was over, and on her birthday as well. Brilliant, she scoffed internally, and she left. "I'll be in the library," she muttered to Harry as he and Ginny turned towards Ron.

"You're an idiot," Ginny stated. "As head girl, I order you to remove all this." When Ron just crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her, she turned to the younger students who were all watching the standoff avidly. "Right, to bed, the lot of you, Nev, make sure they're not here when I get back," and she glared at Ron still standing looking at her, as Neville started hunting everyone in sight. He had a fair idea of where Ginny was going and he was also planning to make himself scarce by the time she returned.

Ron simply watched her leave with Harry following her. He shrugged and picked up two Butterbeers. "Silly bint must be on her monthly, she's so hard to get on with sometimes."

"B-but you gave Miss Smarty-pants the present I gave to you, how could you?" Lavender asked, as he slung an arm around her shoulders.

Ron thought for a moment and then grinned. "Lav, the good part is that you got it back ay?"

"What?" the confused blonde witch said.

"I knew she wouldn't want it."

"Oh… yeah, you're right, Won Won," and she kissed him, "You're so smart," she simpered.

"Yeah," he sighed, like it was a well known fact reconfirmed.

Seeing Lavender capitulate so easy the party in general lost interest, especially when Ron sat her in a corner and they started snogging in earnest. Those who were left quickly went about their own business, even if some of them shook their heads at the exchange. Who were they to say anything, Ron was providing the party and inviting them to partake.

Harry and Ginny stopped once they were in the hallway and saw Hermione off in the distance stalking in the direction of the library. "She's probably going to pull an all nighter," Ginny muttered.

"Mmm," Harry agreed. "So we're going to McGonagall and Snape, right?"

Ginny grinned, "Cross me will he, little shit."

Harry laughed. "Have I ever told you that I love that devious expression you get on your face when you're out for revenge?" he said, giving her a kiss, as they started walking towards the headmaster's office. "Then after, we'll make sure Mi is okay, yeah? She probably just needs to blow off a bit of steam, but I think she thinks she just broke it off with him."

"Yeah," Ginny agreed, "But I'm not so sure that he understood the message."

"Mmm," Harry replied thoughtfully.

Ginny squeezed his side, "Then once we've told on him, I thought we could go to my room while everyone else is occupied."

"Now that is a great idea," Harry agreed.

"I thought you might like that idea," Ginny giggled, giving him a kiss before they arrived at the gargoyles.

xox

In the library Hermione was slightly lost. How could this have all come to a head on my birthday?

Sitting in the darkened library trying to fathom all of this, she didn't see the pair of dark eyes watching her from the shadows of the restricted section. Severus had left the Gryffindors to Minerva; he was more concerned about Hermione. She looks so lonely, and it's her birthday. I want to help her… but how can I? Even if she is a student, she is an adult.

Severus didn't realise that as he'd been thinking all this, his feet had unconsciously carried him closer to her, and now he saw the tracks of her tears, and he spoke, "No one should be this unhappy on their birthday, Hermione."

Hermione quickly hid her face and wiped at her eyes. She swallowed hard. "Hello, sir. I thought I was alone."

"Evidently," his silvered voice smoothed. He glanced around the library and found that they were indeed the only people there, it was well after curfew. He made a decision and pulled the chair out opposite her. "So tell me, why so sad?"

Her expression pinched, and she just looked at him for a long moment. "Did you know that I was adopted?"

"No, I did not."

"Well, I was. The Grangers started out as my foster parents, and they decided to adopt me."

"Really?"

There was no sign of sarcasm or malice in his voice, only interest, so Hermione continued. "I've never told anyone this," and she glanced at him, to see him watching her calmly, he was always calm, she loved that about him. No matter what might be going on in his mind it was never betrayed on his face. She ducked her head again, "I hate what hard liquor can do, it is evil…" she thought for a moment, "perhaps as evil as Voldemort was, because it also robs us of those we love, and it hurts and maims, just like he did."

"Many would disagree, Hermione, but I will not, I know what it's capable of," Severus added quietly.

Hermione's eyes shot up to his at his use of her given name again. She had missed it the first time, but now she swallowed thickly, and whispered, "I've missed my name from your lips."

"I shouldn't have said it… but it is your birthday," and his mouth tilted up slightly before turning serious again. "However, at the moment I'm more interested in why you have just admitted something like that to me. What happened to you?"

Hermione knew she would have to get it out in one go, and she took a deep breath. "When I was eight I watched my drunken father beat my mother to death, it was the night I found out that I was a witch, but I was too late. Thankfully the neighbours called the police before he got to me."

"Oh Hermione, no!" it was said in a strangled whisper.

To her surprise a warm hand covered hers, drawing her eyes to his. She quickly laced their fingers together. Her lip quivered, "While Ron does not know why I hate hard liquor so much, he does know that I do not approve of drinking to excess, and still he organised a drinking party for my birthday without my permission."

Severus' eyes narrowed. "I am aware of this, it is part of the reason why I came searching for you."

"Y-you are," she stuttered.

"Yes, I believe Argus will be overjoyed with the results of tonight. Minerva does not take kindly to breaches of the rules such as this."

"W-who told you?"

"Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter," and without letting go of her hand, he got up, bringing her eyes up to his. She felt a small tug on her hand. "Would you care for a walk?"

"Yes…" and she smiled. "Yes, I would, but I thought you couldn't."

He sighed. "You see," and he glanced around, "You have just told me something very personal, and it's actually something that will prove very helpful."

"What?" Hermione gasped.

"Let us walk to where we can see the stars, yes, a birthday walk."

"Oh," she felt him give her hand a squeeze and release it.

He clasped his hands behind his back as they started walking. As they walked they talked.

"You see, the same thing happened to my mother," he took another breath, "and this knowledge gives me a platform to argue a case for us to be friends… should anyone question me."

"Oh," Hermione gasped quietly.

They walked in silence for some time, and as they started climbing stair, Severus spoke. "Where is your biological father now?"

"Still in prison," Hermione said, her lip curling up into a sneer.

"I dealt with mine," Severus told her plainly. "He took away the one thing that had stopped me from becoming what I became, so I showed him what he'd caused."

Hermione glanced at his face, but still it was calm, not betraying any emotion. "How old were you when it happened?"

"Fifteen," he replied. They had arrived on to the Astronomy tower, and Severus called his elf, but looked to Hermione. "I have come to see that a good wine—in moderation—is very relaxing, however, I will refrain if you are against the idea."

"No, I too have occasionally had a glass of wine; it is drunken parties that I do not approve of. T-they scare me."

Severus nodded, "Indeed," then turning back to the elf he said, "Two glasses of Chardonnay and a selection of soft cheeses and crackers."

Now, this is more like it, this is the kind of celebration I wanted. I wish we could have gone out for dinner.

As she was thinking this, Severus said, "This was one of the things that would have made our first excursion to view the night sky even better."

Hermione smiled, as she was drawn back from her thoughts, and she smiled, "Yes," and she raised her glass to him. "Thank you…" she paused, she wanted to call him by his name, but she was unsure. "S….S," but she couldn't finish saying it. She ducked her head away and studied her glass intently.

Severus took pity on her and leaned over to lift her chin. "Severus, but only when we're alone, Hermione."

Her smile was beautiful, "Thank you, S-Severus."

"You are most welcome, but only in private," he repeated, and they sat back to watch the stars in comfortable silence.

xox

In the aftermath of the party detentions there was a contingent of Gryffindors who marked Hermione as the person who had squealed on them; and for some reason Lavender Brown was being more unpleasant than usual, but on the whole, once the detentions were over the whole thing seemed to fade.

Hermione didn't see much of Ron which suited her fine, but she also hadn't seen much of Severus either, and that truly did bother her a lot.

It was soon nearing Christmas, two weeks from the end of term and tonight she was holding up in the library. Even the librarian had gone to her quarters. Hermione knew that the wards would allow her out when she was finished, but not back in, so she was doing as much work as she could here alone before the last Hogsmeade day for the term tomorrow.

It was well past curfew as she continued to work quietly alone in the cavernous room. She had only a few candles hovering over her work, and she almost jumped out of her skin when a silky voice said near her ear, "You'll ruin your eyes working like that."

Hermione threw her quill in the air and jumped so sharply that the essay she was working on ended up covered in ink. She had only just realised what had happened when the problem had been righted. Severus stood over her with his arms folded across his chest, and examined her closely. "Why are you not safely up in Gryffindor Tower?"

She curled her lip in derision. "We won Quidditch, this afternoon. I could not work up there even with earplugs, and I'll more than likely be dragged off to Hogsmeade tomorrow, so I wanted to get as much homework sorted as possible before then."

"I see, so you're held up here burning the midnight oil." He watched her nod, but then yawn. "And are you almost finished?"

"Yes," she glanced down at her Charms essay that the ink had spilt on, "Thank you for cleaning my essay, S-Severus."

"Think nothing of it, Hermione. Come, I will walk you back to Gryffindor Tower."

"I can…"

"No, I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower," he repeated emphatically.

Hermione collected her things; she was just pleased to have him talking to her, after her birthday she had missed him acutely. Smiling she put her bag on her shoulder. Then looking back to her companion she noticed that his expression remained unchanged, but his eyes had softened measurably.

"How are you, Hermione?" he asked, as they started to walk.

"Umm, I am fine, Severus. How are you?"

"That is not what I meant."

"Oh, then what did you mean?"

"Hermione, you recently turned twenty, you are resident in a school, surrounded by children, completing your final year of study which you should of completed two years ago. You also lately found out you'd lost your parents and you are a war veteran, no doubt with issues there as well. The question is a simple one, how are you?"

"Oh, I see. Well, I think the reason I gave you for being in the library covers one answer. I am viewing my time here, simply as a means to an end and I wish to achieve that end with the minimum of fuss, and again that explains why I'm in the library at this hour. I actually wish there was a way of accelerating it. As for my p-parents," and he watched her swallow hard. "I'm trying not to think about it," and she sighed.

"I thought as much." He took a breath, "You have not come to see me in my office since your birthday."

"No… oohhh," she gasped, as she suddenly recognised what an idiot she'd been, "Oh, I'm such a twit," and she was surprised to hear Severus chuckle.

"Yes, little know-it-all, I can hardly come and visit you, now can I?" He produced a slip of parchment. "Here, these are the times I am resident in my Potions office." They were now approaching Gryffindor Tower, and he masterfully stood in front of the fat lady so the nosy portrait could not see anything. "Good night, Miss Granger," he stated in his usual, gruff voice. "See that you are in before curfew next time," but he smiled and offset his tone of voice by winking at her.

Hermione felt her blush soaring up her neck to her cheeks, but she managed to say, "Yes sir, good night," but he was already billowing off into the distance.