Hermione got ready for the day slowly. She had a nice long shower, moisturised every inch of her body, picked out her clothing deliberately. A lacy white bra and matching underwear, a white button up blouse, a blue pleated skirt that came down to just about her knees and white patterned stockings. She put on her laced up thick healed shoes and a heavy blue jumper and a navy coat over that, along with a white scarf wrapped around her three times.

When she was ready to go she took a deep breath before leaving her quarters. She walked slowly, not really caring if she was a bit late and made her way through the corridors until she reached the entry way. Snape was waiting for her near the door among the young kids waiting for dates or friends. Hermione took him in as she approached, startled to see that he had deviated from his usual black on black style choices. He was wearing black slacks and a white shirt under a tan jumper and a tan coat with a black scarf.

"Hi." She said as she stopped in front of him, having to tilt her neck back to look him in the eye.

"Hello." He said in return, an amused expression on his face.

"Shall we go?" Hermione said, unsure what else to say.

"We shall." He said and held out his arm for her to take. She stared at it for a moment before taking it, her fingers light on his arm. They walked in pleasant silence down into the village, enjoying the beautiful nature that surrounded them. When they got into the middle of the town, Hermione automatically gravitated towards Tombs and Scrolls. She found that Snape did also.

"The smell hasn't changed." Hermione said as Snape held the door to the book shop open for her and she stepped through, taking a lung full of the pleasant aroma.

"You've been here before then?" Severus asked her and Hermione nodded her head as she spun around taking in the store. It was exactly the same as in her world. The books were stacked in crooked piles and haphazardly on bookshelves with seemingly no order. She loved searching for something interesting to read in here, it was like a maze of wonder.

"I used to visit with my friends." She said, telling a fraction of the truth. She supposed she would have to fabricate some kind of story to tell him in order to keep her world jumping a secret.

"And where did you visit from?" He asked, obviously fishing for information about her.

"I lived in London." She said, which was also true once upon a time. She had lived there with her parents, in one of the out suburbs of the city.

"And where did you attend your school?" He asked her as they moved further into the stacks, looking at the books in front of them and not each other as they talked. Hermione ran her finger along the spins of the books, reading the titles and pulling one out every now and then to read a blurb.

"I was home schooled." She said and she was, until Professor McGonigal appeared and informed her family that she was a witch. She supposed she would have to say she was a halfblood instead of a muggleborn to sell that story fully.

"That must have been very isolating." Severus commented.

"TO an extent I suppose, but I had some great friends that lived in my building. They were about the same age as me." Hermione said.

"What about you?" Hermione asked, internally laughing at the thought of having to pretend to not know anything about the man. "Did you attend Hogwarts or another school?"

"I did indeed go to Hogwarts, along side Remus in fact." He said and she was surprised that he would bring that up.

"Oh, what is that like; working along side a school mate?" Hermione asked.

"Remus is pleasant enough. Though we're not particularly good friends." Snape said, his long graceful fingers lovingly stroking a copy of Hogwarts; A History.

"Why not?" Hermione asked, her eyes on his hands, enthralled.

"His friends were dicks." He said simply and Hermione looked up into his eyes in shock before she burst out laughing. She couldn't help but laugh at his bluntness and ease with which he labeled the Marauders, so much like his opinion of them in her world. She was glad that some things stayed the same.

"I'm sure they were." Hermione said as she composed herself, catching a glimpse of his fond smile. They stayed in the book shop for another hour making idle small talk about school, classes and certain students they both found amusing.

"Find anything good?" Hermione asked as she hauled her stack of books up to the counter, Severus trailing behind her.

"Several things actually. I'm rather pleased." He said as he placed his stack down next to hers.

"Would you like to get lunch?" He asked her.

"That would be lovely." Hermione responded.

They made their way to the three broomsticks, their books shrunk down to fit into their pockets so they didn't weigh them down. The tavern was packed with school kids, and teachers alike and Hermione saw only a few free tables left.

"I'll get us some drinks and menu." Severus said as he made his way through the crowd and up to the bar. Hermione weaved through the throngs of people and to a booth in the corner that was blessedly free and out of the way. She hated not being able to see everyone in a room, always on edge about it from the war. A war that would never happen in this world. She was glad that they wouldn't have to suffer through all the things she had. It was a blessing really.

"Fancy seeing you here Professor Granger." Said a ginger haired someone.

"Fred, George, nice to see you." Hermione said, as she sat down in the booth. The twins slid in opposite her.

"We were wondering, " Fred started,

"If you could help us with something?" George finished.

"Depends on what it is." Hermione responded, wary of the two trouble makers.

"We need to get some mandrake leaves. The apothecary won't sell them to any one under the age of seventeen." Fred explained.

"And what exactly are you going to be using them for?" She asked. Hermione was a smart witch. She knew exactly why the twins wanted the leaves, she herself had gone through the process just last year.

"Ah..." Fred said

"If we told you, we'd have to kill you." George said with a wink.

"I'd like to see you try." Hermione said with a snort. They gave her a disbelieving look, as if she wasn't as intimidating as she seemed.

"We'll save that for another day, shall we?" Fred asked.

"So will you do it?" George said. Hermione gave them a considering look. She knew they would be able to do it. They were powerful wizards and their intelligence was beyond the average, given all their accomplishments with their shop in her world.

"One condition," She said, "You be supervised the entire time you try undertaking the transformation." She watched their surprised faces util they answered her.

"How did you know?" Fred asked her.

"I knew because I'm not an idiot. Anyone would connect those dots. You boys need to learn to be more subtle than that if you want to get away with more in the future." Hermione said.

"I thought for sure that you would tattle on us." Fred said.

"I told you she wouldn't." George said with smug satisfaction.

"What makes you think I won't?" Hermione taunted them.

"Because you just offered to help us." George said.

"Mmm." Hermione said.

"We accept you offer by the way. Totally down with the help." Fred said.

"Great. Come to my office Monday after class and we'll get started." Hermione told them just as Severus appeared with drinks.

"Are these little ginger's annoying you Hermione?" Severus asked her teasingly, a small smile on his face.

"Oi, who are you calling little?" Fred asked the man.

"And since when has ginger been an insult? My hair is fabulous." George said as they both got up and vacated Severus's seat.

"They're not wrong." Hermione told the dark haired man.

"Mm, I was trying to be nice." He said as he sat down across from her, sliding her drink across the table.

"You two kids have fun." The twins said in unison. Hermione rolled her eyes at them.

"It's not a good look on you." Hermione told him and Severus's nose scrunched up in confusion.

"What isn't?" He asked.

"Trying to be nice." She said with a grin.

"And why is that?" He asked her.

"I prefer you all growlly and unpleasant." She told him. He raised an eyebrow.

"Well then you're in luck. That's my default setting." He said with a wink and Hermione laughed.

The rest of the day went quickly as they talked and drank. Soon, they had walked back to the school and were standing outside her rooms. Hermione leaned back on her door as she looked up at him, watching as he ran a hand through his hair. He leaned down over her and ran a hand up her arm lightly making her shiver.

"Severus..." Hermione said, unsure what she was doing, what he was doing. She thought of Remus and the almost kiss they shared down near the lake and maybe this wasn't a good idea.

"Hermione..." He whispered, his breath blowing over her face. His hand moved up her neck and cupped her cheek, moving down to claim her lips. He kissed with a fierce intensity that made her knees weak and her head spin. She was completely possessed by him. His fingers slid up to the bun in her hair, gently pulling the hair tie out and running his fingers through her hair. Soon Hermione ran out of breath and she pushed at his shoulders to get a break. She gasp as his mouth only moved down to her jaw to her neck.

"I think we should stop." Hermione said and as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Severus's hands and lips off of her and he was on the other side of the hallway.

"I'm sorry I just..." Hermione said and Severus smiled at her.

"You don't have to apologising for saying no." He said and stepped closer once more.

"I'm not very good at this kind of thing." She admitted.

"What kind of thing?" He asked her.

"Dating, kissing, sex, all of it." She said with a blush on her cheeks. His brow furrowed as she spoke and she saw the exact moment he realised what she was saying.

"I... I didn't know..." He said looking guilty.

"Because I didn't tell you. Because I didn't know what we were doing until you kissed me. Because I'm socially awkward." Hermione said.

"It's okay. I... We should do this again some time." Severus said after a long pause.

"Really?" She asked. She had enjoyed spending time with him and found that they had a lot in common.

"Yes really." He said.

"Good." She replied.

"Great." He said.

"Okay then." She said. And then he kissed her again, softly this time, tenderly and with passion that made her feel weightless.

"Okay then." He said against her lips before stepping back once more and walking away, down the hall.