Snape took a right up ahead of Hermione and she jogged to catch up. The area they were heading towards looked industrial rather than residential. Snape walked up to a thick door belonging to what appeared to be a factory building made of brick. He punched a code into the number pad on the door panel and the light above the handle turned green. Hermione was struck by how muggle this all was.
Snape pushed the door open with his left hand and nodded for Hermione to step in. She found herself on the concrete landing of a windowless stairwell. Snape closed the door behind him and Hermione heard the electric grind of a lock sliding into place. The tight space was illuminated by the red exit signs hanging above the doors. Snape led her up three sets of stairs before pushing open a door to a long hallway.
He quickly paced down the hall to a door on the end, grabbing keys out of his pocket. Hermione also heard him whispering a spell to disarm the protective wards he must have put up. The thought that had been bouncing around her head for the last ten minutes surfaced yet again. You're making him uncomfortable. You're putting him out. You need to leave now.
As much as she wanted to act on these thoughts she did not know how to politely and effectively tell her Professor that she did not need his assistance, especially when that was a complete lie.
Snape had unlocked a heavy metal door and it swung open soundlessly on well tended hinges.
Hermione came to a halt in front of the open door. She cleared her throat and gathered up her courage. Squaring her shoulders, Hermione spoke out, "Actually, Sir, I…"
If looks could kill, the look Snape threw her as a result of her protest could've been far more effective than any unforgivable curse.
"Right then…" Hermione said, stepping into his flat.
Hermione could feel Snape behind her as he followed her into the flat, flicking on a light to the left of the door.
The first thing Hermione noticed was the smell of the room. A pleasant fragrance of sandalwood and old books met Hermione's nose. She looked around the flat, which was one big open room. To her left the whole wall was made up of floor to ceiling windows looking out on the river and city. To her right there were large book cases, overflowing with hard covered books. There was a black leather couch and a glass table facing a sleek television mounted on the exposed brick wall. The room continued to an island which separated the living area from the kitchen. All the appliances were silver and state of the art. The counter tops appeared to be made of black marble. Then to the right of the kitchen was a winding metal staircase that lead up to a loft. While the loft was visible from the entrance where Hermione stood, there was a tapestry hung from the ceiling to the railing of the loft, blocking much of what she assumed to be the bedroom from view.
Hermione stood transfixed with her surroundings as Snape moved pass her, striding over to the kitchen island and dropping his keys onto a metal plate.
"Professor…" Hermione began, eyes still traveling across the room. "What is going on? Why are you in muggle London? What it this place?"
Snape turned his back to Hermione, opening the fridge and pulling out a pitcher of water, then pulling two glasses from the cabinet. Snape turned back to look at Hermione. He nodded his head toward the couch.
"You first, Miss Granger."
Hermione was still somewhat shocked but made her way to the couch. She pulled her small clutch from the inside of her jacket and placed it on the table, then removed her jacket to reveal a soft white t-shirt which hung loosely from her small frame. She slowly fell onto the couch as Snape approached the living area with the water on a tray. Hermione's eyes were taking in this sight but her mind had a difficult time accepting that Severus Snape was so… human.
Snape handed her a glass and sat on the opposite side of the couch, bringing one ankle to his knee and turning to face Hermione. His dark eyes bore into her. He settled in, prepared to initiate an awkward silence until Hermione spoke about the events that lead her to that blasted bar.
Hermione took a sip of the cold water and collected herself. She took a deep breath, the drunken state she had been in earlier this evening was giving way to exhaustion.
"Sir," Hermione began, doing her best to appear collected under the current circumstances. "I apologize for catching you off guard tonight, I didn't realize you were located in this area. I came here by chance, I swear I was in no way searching for or following you."
Snape rolled his eyes. "I can assure you that had you been searching for me, you would not have found me. I have made certain of that. I have no doubt that we came across each other this evening by chance. But that doesn't explain how you ended up in that bar." Snape dropped his eyes and added more quietly, "This is not a safe area for a young woman to be alone."
Severus watched Hermione process this information. She couldn't meet his gaze. She glanced out the window and took another sip from her glass. Snape watched the tendon of her throat flex as she swallowed, following the movement to her exposed collar bone. Snape looked away. Hermione Granger was a beautiful woman. He wouldn't bother trying to deny it. She was beautiful without even trying. Beyond that, she was kind. Kind to a fault, in his opinion.
"I was in need of… I just was looking for some place to go." Hermione stated.
"Where are you currently staying?" Snape inquired, getting right to the point.
"I was staying at the Burrow." Hermione advised, looking down at her glass and running her finger over the droplets of water that fell from the lip.
Snape picked up on the past tense, but simply stated, "Is that where the Golden Trio has been shacked up since the war?"
Hermione choked out a small scoff before she could stop herself. Snape raised an eyebrow. "Uh, yeah." Hermione answered.
"So why is it you cannot return?" Snape asked, uncrossing his legs and bringing his elbows to his knees.
Hermione was scrambling to think of an appropriate answer. "Actually, I mean I can go back. I should go back. It's not like they wouldn't allow me back."
Snape threw her a look that brought an end to her rambling. Hermione groaned and stood from the couch, walking toward the massive windows. Snape stared at her back, waiting.
Hermione placed one hand on her hip, bringing the other up and raking it through her hair. She turned to Snape. "I broke up with Ron, okay!?"
Snape snorted out a laugh. It hurt his throat to do so but he couldn't help it. He kept laughing.
"You ended up with Weasley?"
Hermione threw him a glare that could rival his own. "Excuse me?" She said in a deathly low voice.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Snape said, grabbing his glass and standing to meet Hermione by the window. She turned on her heel and looked out the window. He stood beside her, taking in the same view.
"It's just, a witch of your talent…" Snape began. He closed his eyes and shook his head, forcing that thought away. He was not going to follow that train of thought.
"Okay so the Burrow is out." Snape redirected, "How about your parents? It's my impression they made it through the war unscathed."
Hermione grew still beside him. He cast his eyes over to her. She crossed her arms and rubbed her upper arm with her left hand. Snape paled for a moment but was sure that if Hermione's parents had fallen victim to Voldemort, he would have known.
"That's not exactly an option." Hermione stated plainly.
"Why?" Severus pushed. He couldn't explain why, but he felt a strong need to understand what exactly was going on in Hermione's head.
Hermione stared at the water for some time. Snape was comfortable with the silence, allowing her to collect her thoughts. He couldn't picture her parents being cruel people, not with a product of their care standing in front of him. Had they passed of natural causes? He was weighing options in the silence.
"I obliviated them, before the war." Hermione stated after a pause.
Severus stiffened and turned to Hermione, taking in the young witch in light of new information.
"Why?" He breathed.
Hermione shook her head and then rested her forehead on the glass.
"I wasn't suppose to make it out of the war alive, Professor."
The words that left Hermione's mouth echoed Snape's own subconscious. He had dozens of questions, but could only throw a sideways glance at the incredible witch beside him.
Hermione shook her head and composed herself, turning to face Snape.
"Your turn." She smiled.