Four drinks later, Snape was slumped back in his chair.
"Well, Granger, now that you've got me, what do you plan to do with me?" he asked, words stumbling out of his mouth. Hermione, who was much more sober than Snape, grinned. She was watching him as he traced the rim of his glass with a fiercely intense expression on his face. She giggled but covered it by clearing her throat.
"Well, professor--" She began, but Severus interrupted her.
"For god's sake, Granger, I'm not a professor, I'm not a sir; I am just Severus. My name is Severus." He said, still tracing the glass. Hermione nodded.
"Alright. Severus then." She smiled at him.
"I was hoping that you would like to come back to the wizarding world."
Severus stopped his tracing, but said nothing.
"With me." She continued.
Snape took the glass in hand and looked up at Hermione's face.
"Tell me, Miss Granger, because this is thoroughly befuddling to me, why you think I would be at all accepted back into that world."
Hermione was expecting this. She flipped opened her file and pulled out some clippings taken from the Daily Prophet. One headline read "Missing: One War-time Hero". Another, "Clearing The Air: Dumbledore Death Explained!" Severus didn't even bother with the other articles. He stacked and slid them back over to Hermione who was watching him anxiously. His head was swimming with thoughts, questions he needed to know the answers to. There were so many! He couldn't possibly focus on one...
"Professor Snape...Severus" She corrected.
He looked at her, slightly startled by her voice.
"I want to apologize for not being diligent enough to find you four years ago. If you're going to blame anyone, please blame me. I was the one chosen to find you, and I didn't pull through for my colleagues or for you. I am truly sorry." She told him.
The guilt she felt had overridden her joy of finding Snape. This small triumph was beaten down by the fact that she hadn't found him soon enough. She was surprised when he waved his hand in the air and tsked her.
"Don't go placing blame. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I am just too damn good a hider." He said poking himself in the chest, nodding. Hermione sighed. Yes, he was drunk, but he was partially right. He hadn't exactly been the easiest person to track down. He was the reason behind the many headaches she had suffered throughout these years.
"What we need to do now," he continued; so suddenly that it made Hermione jump.
"Is figure out just what the hell I am going to do." Snape looked at the wallpaper border of the kitchen and his eyebrows knotted together.
"Why are those pears dancing? Better yet, why weren't the grapes invited?"
Hermione stifled her laughter.
"C'mon, Severus, let's get you to the couch so you can sleep on those deep, philosophical questions." She said with a smile.
"Are you mocking me, Granger? I wont have it, I tell you." He informed her as she stood him up.
"Of course not, merely a suggestion." She held his arm as she directed him to her couch. Severus flumped down on the cushions and slipped side ways, putting his head at a very awkward angle. Before Hermione could say anything, he was already snoring. She giggled to herself and pulled the shoes off his feet. She steered them onto the other half of the couch and covered him with a quilt. She looked at the clock on the wall: 1:43AM. Hermione gave Severus one last look before she disappeared into her own room and closed the door.
A.N.: Yes, yes I know it's short...but I have this other story in my head as well and it is making any progress in this story quite difficult. Thanks to GinnyFan5 for the article Headline XD