Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to J.K. Rowling; anything else is
mine.
Secrets – Chapter 4
(Still Severus' POV)
The next day actually went rather smoothly…complications didn't arrive until the evening. We got to the New London Theatre very early. She had gotten the times mistaken. So we decided to go find somewhere to eat before the show. We walked as far as the Bonnington; there we discovered the wizard half of the hotel. It even had a nice little restaurant inside. Dinner passed by in silence. Not that either of us cared; the quiet was nice. Then out of nowhere Remus Lupin and Sirius Black swooped in on Hermione. Now I know he's been cleared of the murders, but I still hate him. Black was his usual self…didn't apply an ounce of tact to his conversation with Hermione. She began crying again and ran out of the restaurant. I had spent the entire day with her, and she hadn't come close to crying. Yet Black was around for five bloody minutes and she was bawling again.
"Brilliant, Black. Fabulous way to approach a sensitive subject."
"I didn't realize. I heard from Harry…"
"…who heard from Weasley, who heard from his mum, who heard from me."
"Why is she with you, Severus?" Remus piped up.
"Potter and Weasley are in Romania and I accidentally found her in the Underground. I couldn't leave her there, could I?
"No, I suppose not."
"Now, if you'll excuse me…I have to go clean up Black's mess. Plus we're supposed to see 'Cats' this evening."
Remus' eyes grew large and Black opened his mouth to say something, but I left before he could say it. I found Hermione a few blocks away, near the British Museum.
"How are you feeling?"
"Confused." I wasn't prepared for that one. Sad, yes; angry, definitely. But confused, no.
"Why?"
"I always thought you were a heartless bastard. I guess I'm having problems adjusting to the new you, you know? I'm just confused."
"I know the feeling. It's surprising to hear 'the know-it-all' admit that she doesn't understand something." She glanced at her watch while I was talking and grimaced. "What's wrong?"
"We've missed over half the show."
"Perhaps we'll see it some other time. I think we should return to Hogwarts tomorrow."
"Oh, no. Please can't we stay? I'm not ready to deal with everyone yet. You saw what happened with Sirius and he's Harry's godfather. Couldn't we just stay in London for now and return to Hogwarts next week when everyone else does?" I should tell you now that Hermione has a certain face she makes when she asks for something she really wants. I should also tell you that I fall for it every time. It's difficult not to.
We returned to my flat and played a few games of chess. She really is quite skilled at it, not that I expected any less of her. She didn't solve my logic problem when she was just a first year. Later, while she was taking a shower and changed into pajamas and prepared the sofa for the night. Once again I was sleeping on it. Hermione had tried to give me my bed back, but I refused. She needed all the comfort she could get, physical included. She came out of the bathroom wearing dark purple pyjama pants, a light purple tank top, tear stains on her cheeks, and red, puffy eyes. She came and sat down on the other end of the sofa, still crying. I had to take her in my arms. Like I said before, crying women are not my strong point. I moved so I was lying down, and just held her; her hot tears spattered on my shirt. She eventually fell asleep and I didn't want to wake her up. I know this sounds terrible but she looked so peaceful and she smelled so good, all I wanted to do was hold her. I watched her for what seemed like hours, and then I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up she was still in my arms, only now she was awake. I wondered why she hadn't moved to the bed. She just stayed there, looking at me. The emotion that played across her face was unfamiliar to me. I would later learn that it was love. She moved forward and placed her lips on mine. One hand ran through my hair. She pulled out of the kiss.
"Your hair? It's not greasy, like it is at school." I smiled at the confusion on her face; this was the first smile that had shown my teeth. "Your teeth, they're…."
"Charms. I was the youngest professor at Hogwarts ever. The appearance detracting charms help students focus on schoolwork instead of me. The only work at Hogwarts and Hogsmeade though."
"Oh."
She kissed me again; this time allowing her tongue to participate. I pulled her closer, holding her tighter. Then someone knocked on the door.
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A/N: It's been about two years since I was in London, so my memory may not be completely correct. I stayed at the Bonnington and the New London Theatre was within walking distance, as was the British Museum; unless my brain is completely defective today. *smile*
Secrets – Chapter 4
(Still Severus' POV)
The next day actually went rather smoothly…complications didn't arrive until the evening. We got to the New London Theatre very early. She had gotten the times mistaken. So we decided to go find somewhere to eat before the show. We walked as far as the Bonnington; there we discovered the wizard half of the hotel. It even had a nice little restaurant inside. Dinner passed by in silence. Not that either of us cared; the quiet was nice. Then out of nowhere Remus Lupin and Sirius Black swooped in on Hermione. Now I know he's been cleared of the murders, but I still hate him. Black was his usual self…didn't apply an ounce of tact to his conversation with Hermione. She began crying again and ran out of the restaurant. I had spent the entire day with her, and she hadn't come close to crying. Yet Black was around for five bloody minutes and she was bawling again.
"Brilliant, Black. Fabulous way to approach a sensitive subject."
"I didn't realize. I heard from Harry…"
"…who heard from Weasley, who heard from his mum, who heard from me."
"Why is she with you, Severus?" Remus piped up.
"Potter and Weasley are in Romania and I accidentally found her in the Underground. I couldn't leave her there, could I?
"No, I suppose not."
"Now, if you'll excuse me…I have to go clean up Black's mess. Plus we're supposed to see 'Cats' this evening."
Remus' eyes grew large and Black opened his mouth to say something, but I left before he could say it. I found Hermione a few blocks away, near the British Museum.
"How are you feeling?"
"Confused." I wasn't prepared for that one. Sad, yes; angry, definitely. But confused, no.
"Why?"
"I always thought you were a heartless bastard. I guess I'm having problems adjusting to the new you, you know? I'm just confused."
"I know the feeling. It's surprising to hear 'the know-it-all' admit that she doesn't understand something." She glanced at her watch while I was talking and grimaced. "What's wrong?"
"We've missed over half the show."
"Perhaps we'll see it some other time. I think we should return to Hogwarts tomorrow."
"Oh, no. Please can't we stay? I'm not ready to deal with everyone yet. You saw what happened with Sirius and he's Harry's godfather. Couldn't we just stay in London for now and return to Hogwarts next week when everyone else does?" I should tell you now that Hermione has a certain face she makes when she asks for something she really wants. I should also tell you that I fall for it every time. It's difficult not to.
We returned to my flat and played a few games of chess. She really is quite skilled at it, not that I expected any less of her. She didn't solve my logic problem when she was just a first year. Later, while she was taking a shower and changed into pajamas and prepared the sofa for the night. Once again I was sleeping on it. Hermione had tried to give me my bed back, but I refused. She needed all the comfort she could get, physical included. She came out of the bathroom wearing dark purple pyjama pants, a light purple tank top, tear stains on her cheeks, and red, puffy eyes. She came and sat down on the other end of the sofa, still crying. I had to take her in my arms. Like I said before, crying women are not my strong point. I moved so I was lying down, and just held her; her hot tears spattered on my shirt. She eventually fell asleep and I didn't want to wake her up. I know this sounds terrible but she looked so peaceful and she smelled so good, all I wanted to do was hold her. I watched her for what seemed like hours, and then I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up she was still in my arms, only now she was awake. I wondered why she hadn't moved to the bed. She just stayed there, looking at me. The emotion that played across her face was unfamiliar to me. I would later learn that it was love. She moved forward and placed her lips on mine. One hand ran through my hair. She pulled out of the kiss.
"Your hair? It's not greasy, like it is at school." I smiled at the confusion on her face; this was the first smile that had shown my teeth. "Your teeth, they're…."
"Charms. I was the youngest professor at Hogwarts ever. The appearance detracting charms help students focus on schoolwork instead of me. The only work at Hogwarts and Hogsmeade though."
"Oh."
She kissed me again; this time allowing her tongue to participate. I pulled her closer, holding her tighter. Then someone knocked on the door.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A/N: It's been about two years since I was in London, so my memory may not be completely correct. I stayed at the Bonnington and the New London Theatre was within walking distance, as was the British Museum; unless my brain is completely defective today. *smile*
