A/N: I'm very glad Ron got what he deserved the last chapter. I love Ron bashing, its so much fun. I really don't like his character much if you couldn't tell. Lol. Thank you so much for the amazing reviews. I love them all and I'm trying to respond to them all too. Here is another chapter. As always Read and Review. Take Care.

Special Thanks to my beta,Kristine Thorne for checking over all my stuff and fixing all my errors.

Disclaimer: Still own nothing, still just for fun.

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Chapter 4

Hermione got home from work a few days later. She had let her lawyer know that Ron had been served finally and was getting everything moving along. If all went well she would be divorced in no time at all.

The estate agent had called her saying she had a buyer for her home finally. She was getting her asking price and even a bit more. The estate agent had raised the price by an extra bit in case the buyers argued or tried to haggle. Only they hadn't tried to haggle at all.

She was to meet them the couple buying the home with the estate agent tomorrow to sign all the paperwork. Then, not only would she have her money back and would be able to pay back Harry, but she would be free of it. Ron would have to leave it and it would make things easier with the divorce.

Hermione planned on taking the money from the sale and taking that vacation. If she didn't spend it, then Ron might get part of it. Since she had spent all of her money to buy that house. Ron hadn't given her a dime towards it.

She wouldn't have much left over once she finished paying off what was owed. But she would have enough to take that wonderful vacation she had wanted and saved up for.

She was grinning to herself as she made her way to the kitchen to get dinner started. With a flick of her wand she got everything started. It would be a simple meal really, but it was perfect for her.

Since moving in here, she actually got to eat her meals without feeling sick to her stomach. It was wonderful. The only cleaning she had to do, was the little bit of mess she made. Laundry was easy and took little time at all during the week too.

She found she had more time and less stress all the way around since leaving Ron. She even got around to reading those few books she had allowed herself to buy over the last few years. She curled up in bed, or in an armchair in the library and read the night away. It was glorious.

She ate her dinner, cleaned up the tiny mess, and was about to grab a book to read when there was a tapping at her window. She walked over and opened the window. A big black raven flew inside and perched itself on a chair at the kitchen table.

Hermione frowned at it. Who did she know that used ravens? She wondered as she walked over to it. It went to peck her as she reached for the parchment attached to its foot.

"Now be nice or no treat for you." She told the bird as she glared at it. The bird squawked but didn't try to peck her again.

She untied the parchment and offered the bird a treat. It greedily ate it but didn't move to leave. Hermione sighed. That meant it was waiting for a response. Great.

She unrolled the parchment and glanced at the signature. It was signed Severus Snape. Her heart rate increased but she forced it to calm before she bothered reading any more of it. She would not get all flighty or nervous until she had a reason to be that way. Just him sending her a letter was no cause to be nervous.

The letter could just be him telling her to bugger off or something. She doubted it. Why would he bother with a letter to tell her off? He was the one that kissed her to begin with. Once she was calm, she started to read it.

"Dear Hermione, I figure it would be silly to call you Ms. Granger and I'm not sure if the title of Mrs. Weasley was appropriate anymore. You said we should meet for drinks. I'm writing to see if this Friday evening is convenient for you. I'm free at eight o'clock. The raven is to wait for your reply. Let me know where you would like to meet. Sincerely. Severus Snape"

It was short, formal, and very him. She should have known better than to expect anything less from him. He was a very stiff individual and rarely bended or showed many people kindness. She would do well to remember that.

With that in mind she wondered again what had come over her that night. Why had she let him kiss her the second time? Why had she kissed him and offered for him to owl her to go out? It wasn't really like her at all.

She sat for several moments debating what she should do. With a shrug, she decided one night couldn't hurt. It was only drinks after all. It wasn't like she was going to shag him or anything. She was still officially married. She wasn't that type of person anyway. She didn't shag on a first date. Did she?

She hadn't really dated anyone other than Ron. She hadn't slept anyone other than Ron. She knew she needed a good shagging, but Severus Snape?

She sighed. She didn't have to make any decisions tonight. She should just to wait and see what happened. If things didn't go well, then it didn't matter. If they did...well she'd see where things went.

Pulling out a piece of parchment, she wrote her reply. Telling him Friday at eight o'clock would be fine and that he could call her Hermione if she could call him Severus. Why be so formal? She asked in the letter.

She paused in her writing. Why in deed? He had already felt her up. It would be silly to stick to formalities after that happening.

She smiled as she finished it up and signed her name. Hermione Granger. She would be back to Granger soon enough, so why not start going by it again now?

She tied it to the raven's leg and with another treat for not pecking at her again, she sent it on its way. She grabbed a book and went off to read it in peace. Wondering briefly what she'd wear to meet him for drinks.

Severus saw the raven show up again and took the parchment from its leg. The bird knew better than to try to peck at him and he wondered briefly if it tried to peck Hermione. He smirked as he thought of her reaction. Would she have fussed at the bird, or tried to get the note off without getting bitten too bad?

With a last glance at the bird, he read over her note. A real smile coming to his lips as he read it. He liked that she didn't want formalities to get in the way. He liked too that she signed her maiden name.

He was still smiling as he went to bed. He hoped the week went by quickly. He couldn't wait for Friday.

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Friday came and Hermione was excited. She had signed off on her house to be sold. The payment would be coming through very soon. She would pay off the mortgage and then go on vacation.

The lawyer said it could take another month before her divorce was final, but since they didn't have anything to fight over, it should go very easily. Hermione found she was glad they never had kids together.

She got off of work and was humming as she waited for her turn at the floo. A few of her coworkers looked her way in curiosity, but she merely smiled at them and went along humming softly to herself.

She got home and made herself a light dinner, and then went in her room to take a long bubble bath. Scenting the water with her favorite bath salts. Lavender with just a hint of vanilla. It calmed her and made her feel very feminine.

She soaked until her skin was pink and pruney before she climbed out and wrapped herself in a large fluffy towel. She rubbed the same scented lotion into her skin that matched the bath salts. All the while still humming to herself.

She opened her closet and stared at the mountain of things inside. She really had gone crazy with the shopping spree, but she really hadn't had new clothes in so long.

She pulled out a long diagonally cut black skirt. It started at mid thigh on her left leg and ended just at just below the knee of her right leg. It was fitted and molded to her curves very well. She flipped thru her tops, and settled on a blood red tank top that came up almost to her neck, made of soft and stretchy material. It would hug her body very tightly too.

She wasn't sure that this was the image she wanted to go for. But she hadn't dressed up in a while. She wanted to feel sexy. So she added a pair of three inch, open-toed, black heels with straps that wound around her ankle like a snake.

She paused looking at the shoes. Snakes. Very fitting. She laughed softly as she pulled them on and used a charm to paint her toenails the same blood red as her shirt. She pulled her hair up and away from her face, using another charm to make a few curls hang down her cheeks.

Just a touch of makeup. Then with a final glance she decided she was ready.

She was humming again as she flicked her wand, making sure she had fresh clean sheets on her bed. It was something she had needed to do anyway. She would have done it tomorrow, but she knew that after a night being out late she would appreciate the extra time she took to be comfortable later. Alone and comfortable.

She apparated to a spot close to where she was supposed to meet him. Careful of her steps, she made her way to the local pub she had mentioned. Again she thought she might be too overdressed, but she didn't care.

She walked inside and saw a few heads turn her way. She was smiling as she made her way to the bar. Looking around to see if Severus had shown up yet. Not seeing him, she sat down so that she'd be visible at the door.

She took her time ordering a drink, explaining to the bartender that she had no clue what she'd want. When her drink arrived she took a sip and waited. Taking her time to study the place. Her coworkers had told her of this place a long time ago, but never had a chance to check it out before. It was nice. The music was loud enough to hear, but low enough not to interrupt conversations.

Severus glanced around when he arrived and saw that Hermione was not waiting outside the pub. He walked to the door and inside. Doing a quick inspection of the place. He didn't see her at first. He had been expecting to see her as he always had seen her. Very conservative.

When he finally spotted her, his jaw almost dropped. She was gorgeous. Her hair, her body molded in those tight but fabulous clothes. He had never pictured her this way. He couldn't see her face because it was turned away to inspect her surroundings.

He slowly made his way over to her, forcing his hands to stop shaking. He stopped just beside her, her scent rising up to tease his nostrils. He stifled a groan at the scent. It was everything he remembered. It was a scent that drove him crazy.

"Hello, Hermione." He said, his silky voice making her jump and turn in her seat. He fought a smirk at seeing her eyes widen at being startled.

She smiled gently at him. "Hello, Severus." She signaled for him to sit next to her in an empty chair, making a few men she hadn't noticed frown in disappointment.

She may not have noticed, but Severus did. He fought another smirk at knowing that he was sitting next to the one woman several men would love to be next to.

He glanced at her. "So, I see you already have a drink. What are you drinking?" He asked, curious as to what she liked.

Her smile grew. "Well, its kind of sad really. I haven't done much drinking, so I don't know what I would like. I've decided to try a few that different people I know like. Currently, I have a cosmopolitan. It's not bad."

He frowned in puzzlement. "How have you not figured out what you like to drink? Haven't you gone out with friends or whatever girls do?"

She laughed a little. "No. I was busy working and then...well I got married very young. Silly really when you think about it. But now that I'm free again, I intend to change a few things. Going out for drinks is only one of the things I plan on changing."

He signaled the bartender and ordered a fire whiskey. Within seconds he had a drink in his hand. "I think that would be a good start. Assuming you have plenty of hangover potions handy." He said before taking a small sip of his drink.

She eyed him curiously. He paused noticing her scrutiny. "What?" He asked not sure what exactly she was looking at.

She motioned to his drink. "Is that any good?" She asked.

He looked down at his drink then back at her. "Its what I drink. Why?"

She smiled. "I gathered that is what you drink, but is it any good without anything else in it."

He understood and smirked lightly before handing her the drink. "Give it a try."

She brought it to her lips, but he stopped her with his hand on hers holding the drink. She raised her milk chocolate eyes to his in confusion. "I would suggest you sip it. Its rather potent and might be a bit much if you do anything other than sip it." He said in his low deep voice that sent a tiny shiver down her back.

She nodded and he pulled his hand away, watching her. He didn't normally let anyone share his drinks, but he was curious himself. She took a tentative sip and wrinkled her nose as the taste hit her tongue.

He waited, then her eyes grew wide and she coughed just a bit after setting it back down. He chuckled softly. "That is why I said sip it. Its not called fire whiskey for just any reason."

She gasped as she felt a flame ignite that burned down her throat and into her stomach. Severus was smirking as she reached for her own drink to calm the burning.

Taking a deep breath after the burning stopped she frowned at him. "That is awful. Why do you drink it? It feels like it's scorching you all the way down." She said, taking another drink of her cosmo.

Severus shrugged. "I like it. It's what I drink. I don't like fruity drinks, or drinks with so many different types of alcohol you cant tell what you're drinking."

She set her now empty drink now. "You're a potions master. I thought you would be all for interesting mixes."

He smiled again. Something she was surprised to see but something she liked on him too. It made him seem softer, though she doubted anyone would call this man soft. It made him look younger too.

"I may like mixing things with a cauldron, but I like my drinks simple. Not everything has to be an exotic concoction." He said. She thought about this for a moment. He had a good point.

The bartender asked what he could get her to drink now since she had already explained earlier her problem. He had suggested the cosmopolitan. She puckered her lips as she thought about it and Severus fought the urge to brush his fingers over those same lips.

"Mojito?" She asked.

The bartender smiled. "Sorry love, we don't have any mint."

Hermione frowned then suddenly smiled as she was inspired. "Long Island Iced Tea?"

The bartender nodded and was gone to make her drink. Severus was chuckling softly at her and she gave him a pretty smile.

"So, I'm sure you know why I was in Madame Laura's the last time I saw you." She said.

He smirked. "To give the moron his walking papers it seems."

Hermione laughed softly. "Yeah. I've been trying to get him served by the lawyers for six months. I finally had to do it myself or I'd probably be waiting another six months."

When he didn't say anything, she went on. She had been curious, and it seemed as good a time as any to ask. "So...why did you kiss me?"

Severus tried not to sigh. He didn't want to tell her the truth. That he hadn't been aware that it really was her. That he thought it was one of the girls that he had paid to see looking like her. So what could he tell her that was acceptable?

"It...was dark. I thought you were...someone else at first." He said. It was kind of true.

She smiled and looked down at her drink that arrived. "And the second time?" She asked, still not looking at him.

This time he did sigh. "I'm not really sure." He wasn't. He hadn't intended to, but he hadn't been able to resist.

She glanced at him with a small frown gracing her lips. "Did you not...want to?"

He smirked. "No, I wanted to. I just wasn't sure if you'd want me to."

She bit her bottom lip. Something too he found he missed seeing over the years. "I guess I wasn't sure I wanted you to either. At least until you did. I...I liked kissing you. It was...nice." She took a drink and shuddered. Whoa, that had a lot of alcohol in it.

He opened his mouth but paused when he saw the shudder and wasn't sure what to make of her response. He saw her make a face and push the drink away and smiled. So she didn't like her drink. It hadn't been the memory of his kissing her that made the her body tremor like that. He signaled the bartender again.

"I think the lady would like something else." He said. Hermione's eyes met his dark ones and she smiled before nodding at the bartender.

"I would indeed. How about..." She wasn't sure what to order.

The bartender smiled, he liked her and decided to give her a hand. "What do you like? Sweet or sour? Potent or light?"

Hermione thought about it. "I like sweet, maybe a bit tart and light. I don't want to taste loads of alcohol."

He nodded and left without another word. Hermione looked back at Severus. "So you were about to say something before the terrible drink."

He tilted his head and looked at her. She was flushed from the drinks, proving that she didn't drink much. Why beat around the bush? Why not just say what he was thinking? Or at least a tiny bit of it. He doubted she'd appreciate him saying he wanted to shag her brains out right this moment.

"I liked kissing you too. I hope to kiss you again before the night is over as well." He watched her, gaging her reaction. Surprised when she smiled at him.

"I think that can be arranged." She said as the bartender came back with her drink. She looked away to take a drink and smiled. She looked at the bartender. "I love it. What is it?"

The bartender smiled, glad he found something she liked. "It's a Malibu Bay Breeze. Sweet but a little tart and very light."

Hermione took another drink. "Perfect. Thank you."

When the bartender walked away Hermione turned back to Severus and found he was still watching her silently. She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. She wasn't used to being so thoroughly watched before. Ron had barely looked at her after the first year. It was unnerving, but slightly erotic too.

Finding her voice again, she spoke. "I'm glad I finally found one I liked. I was running out of drinks. The only other thing that I knew to ask for is sex-on-the-beach." She laughed softly.

He tilted his head again, a smile curving his lips. Why not? He thought. "I think that can be arranged." He said, using her earlier words.

Her laugh slowly died on her lips, her smile fading just a bit as a blush creeped up her cheeks. She pulled her eyes away, but his hand on her chin gently made her look at him again.

"Does that idea bother you?" He asked, curiosity mixing with a slight fear that it did.

Hermione licked her lips again. How did she answer that? If she said yes, he would pull away. If she said no, he might take that the wrong way. "I...It doesn't bother me, per say. I'm just not sure I'm ready for that yet."

He seemed to like her answer since he gave her another smile. "I can live with that."

She tilted her head like he had earlier, studying him. She hadn't expected him to take it so easily. She expected to have to convince him as to why she wouldn't sleep with him. "So what are you looking for Severus? Are you the one night shag-fest kind of guy? Or are you looking for something...else? Something more?"

He let go of her chin, but she slipped her fingers into his, not letting him go just yet. He looked down at her hand entwined with his before returning his gaze to hers. How much did he risk telling her? What was she ready to hear? "I guess I've been known to have my one-night stands here and there. I've never really had a chance to have more, so it's kind of new for me. What are you looking for Hermione?"

She didn't answer right away. The only word that came to mind was what she said. "More."

When he didn't speak she went on. "I want more than I had. I want...heat...and passion. I want...to be wanted. I haven't really been wanted in a long time. I want to want too. I haven't actually been excited to be with a man in a long time either. So I want more. If it's just one night that I can have right now...I guess I'll have to accept it for now. But...I want...it all, I guess. Home, family, passion, love, happiness. Lord knows that has been in short supply and that's partly my fault. I settled. I wont settle for anything less than what I want again. Ever."

When she was done, he sat just taking her in. Deciding how best to respond by the look in her eyes. He saw she was getting nervous the longer he didn't speak. He took it as a good sign.

Finally he bent slightly towards her and let his lips graze hers gently before pulling back again. Just a touch, a tease really. When her eyes met his he saw what he wanted to see. Passion. Desire. Yearning.

"Sounds like a good thing to want. So who do you want it with?" He asked softly.

Hermione swallowed with her eyes still locked onto his. "Depends on who is offering it really."

He motioned to her drink. "Do you want to finish that?"

She looked down at her half empty glass. It didn't seem appealing anymore but was she really ready for this, for him? She looked back at him and smiled as the answer hit her, as heat filled her eyes. "No, I don't want to finish it."

He nodded and signaled the bartender for the bill. He quickly paid and took her hand to help her stand. Always the gentleman, she thought, though she never really knew him to be that way with her before. He kept her hand in his while he walked her out of there.

He went for his wand, but she stopped him. She gave him another smile and reached for her own. "My place." She said softly, fighting another blush.

He paused. "Don't you live with Potter and his family?" He asked confused. He certainly didn't want to deal with that when he went to leave later in the night or sometime in the morning.

She grinned. "No, Harry lives in Godrick's Hollow, I'm at Grimmauld Place. Its all empty, except for me of course."

His lips curved into a smirk. "All right then."

She pulled him close and he suddenly gave her a searing kiss that fogged her mind. When he pulled back, he smirked again when he saw she needed a moment before focusing on apparating them anywhere. Then they were both gone with a crack

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A/N: So here come the lemons that were asked for. Real lemons and not fake ones with fake Miones. lol. As always Read and Review. Take Care.

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