Whuuuuut?! Two chapters in one day?! Craziness!~

;P enjoy

Chapter 7

The inside of the house was thankfully much more subdued than the outside, and Severus let out a sigh of relief. Hermione shot him an accusatory look over her shoulder. They were lead to a small seating area with a couch and two arm chairs. Severus bypassed his usual choice of a solitary chair to sit on the couch with Selene.

A tug on Hermione's hand from Selene ensured that the witch take the empty spot beside them. With a chuckle, Hermione did as she was told.

"Before she comes back, I just wanted to go over some things to make this easier for everyone," Hermione began. Severus motioned for her to continue. "It's nothing big, but it'll help Margaret understand you better. She can hear, but it helps that when you talk to her your facing her directly, and that you don't speak too fast. You don't have to exaggerate or yell, but a nice even pace is perfect."

"Sounds reasonable," Severus responded, beside him Selene nodded gravely, causing Hermione to grin. Even if the request wasn't directed at the girl, it was nice to know she was considerate enough to listen to it seriously.

Margaret, who had disappeared down the hall, came back with a tray of tea, small sandwiches and cookies, setting them down on the coffee table in front of her guests.

Selene immediately perked up, her hand already moving towards the cookies.

"No," Severus said with finality, and Selene wilted back into the couch cushions looking like a kicked puppy.

Margaret shared a concerned look with Hermione who just smiled. "Selene's already had three cookies before lunch today."

"Five actually," Severus corrected her.

Hermione blinked in surprise. "Five? How did you manage that, Selene?"

Severus snorted. "She is not nearly as innocent as she appears. She's as cunning a Slytherin as I've ever seen."

"I see," Hermione chuckled. Selene seemed to sink further into the couch, a pout forming on her lips.

Seeing the childish look on the girl's face, Margaret chuckled as well, and nodded. She turned to Hermione, her hands moving slowly.

Hermione followed them as best she could, but realized the speed was still too much for her. She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Margaret, it's been awhile. Could you repeat that a little slower."

Margaret nodded with a patient smile, and started again.

"Oh, I see." Hermione turned to Severus. "She wanted to know what happened. I gave her a run down of the situation earlier but she just wanted to get a better grasp on what we're asking of her."

"That's perfectly understandable," Severus replied and turned to Margaret. "Selene was unfortunately caught in a burning building and only just barely managed to get out. Unfortunately, she was in the building long enough to sustain a number of injuries, most are healed now except for her voice."

Margaret signed something. "Why her voice?" Hermione translated.

"The smoke damaged her lungs and throat so severely that talking is a painful endeavor for her," he explained. "Thus we are looking for an alternative, so she can still communicate."

"We've been out buying books on sign language this morning, but you know that it's easier if you have a teacher to help you along," Hermione finished.

Margaret nodded, her hands moving again.

"She wants to know if you'll be learning too," Hermione said.

"Naturally," Severus drawled. "I would not be here otherwise."

Margaret beamed, signing at Hermione who smiled in turn.

"She says, 'that's good. It's always easier when the family is supportive.'" Hermione paused watching her cousin's hands again. "She wants to start on the basics today. Greetings and short answers like 'thank you,' and 'yes and no' and things like that."

"Not the alphabet?" Severus asked.

Hermione shook her head. "We'll be doing that too, but she wants to make sure Selene can start communicating for herself as well."

Margaret grabbed a stack of plastic flash cards from out of a bag by her chair and held them up in the air.

Hermione turned to them, and grabbed a sandwich for herself. "We'll start with a couple of pictures."

Hermione stood in the hallway with Margaret. The two had gone back to the kitchen to clean up, catching up on their lives. Hermione had to do a lot of creative verbal aerobics, since Margaret knew nothing of the magical world and she couldn't just come out and say that she would be working in an enchanted castle teaching children how to make feathers float.

Thankfully, her cousin didn't pry, even when her answers became vague, and Hermione could have hugged her for that alone.

And now they were back in the hallway, watching Severus and Selene as they hunched over the flash cards laid out on the coffee table. Selene was now in his lap again, having managed to subtly slink her way there during the past hour with Severus none the wiser. She was pointing to a card and making a rocky attempt at the gesture for 'sorry.'

Severus very patiently redid the word for her, guiding her hands through it with a certain confidence that belied the fact that he was a novice himself.

He's picking up on it, really fast, Margaret signed. They both are.

"I know, almost puts me to shame," Hermione replied.

Margaret looked at her curiously. What do you mean?

"I'm terrible at it. I've forgotten so much."

You seem to be following me just fine.

"That's only because you're moving at a snail's pace. And reading a language is always easier than speaking a language. I'm barely proficient."

You mean how you're 'barely proficient' at French, and Spanish, and what was that other language you just learned, Russian?

"Bulgarian, actually. It's shares a slavic root, but the two are still fairly different. And I am barely proficient at them. Except for French, my friend Fleur has really been helping me with my pronunciations."

Margaret rolled her eyes, ribbing her cousin. Barely proficient to you, is the same thing as fluent to a normal non-genius.

Hermione blushed, lowly muttering, "Shut up. I'm not a genius."

Yes, you are. And from the looks of it, you brought me more geniuses to work with. I'm not surprised you're dating someone who has your level of intellect. Even if he is a bit older.

Had she been drinking something, Hermione was sure she'd have spat it out in shock, unfortunately all she could do was sputter incoherently, like a lunatic.

Beside her, Margaret threw back her head in near silent laughter.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hermione insisted.

Sure you don't. That's why your as red as a tomato right now.

"He's just a friend. I've known him a long time."

Long enough to make eyes at him, and check out his behind when he got up to go to the bathroom. Margaret waggled her eyebrows at her, and Hermione groaned in mortification.

"It's not like that…"

But you like him, right?

"Doesn't mean he feels the same way."

Margaret patted her shoulder with a sigh. Hermione, I'm deaf, not blind. I can see the way he looks at you.

"What do you mean?"

You really are obtuse sometimes, cousin. Margaret shook her head. But I'll let you figure it out.

Margaret left her, returning to the pair in the living room. Hermione stared after her utterly confused.

"Figure out what?"

It was a little after 8 by the time the trio returned to Hogwarts. They had made plans to meet every Saturday and Sunday at noon time and Margaret had leant Selene her beginners flash card set, instructing her to pick ten cards a day and try to memorize them. And that if she needed any help, Hermione was 'proficient' enough that she could help her. (The jab had earned her a soft glare over Selene's head).

She had then instructed both Severus and Hermione to try and incorporate as many words and phrases they could in their conversations. Even if they weren't talking to Selene, the exercise would help them get comfortable with it, which would then help Selene.

They walked through the castle silently, a pleasant lethargy, from a long but enjoyable day settling on their bones. Selene, who had tuckered out on the cab ride back to the London, was currently asleep in Severus' arms. Her quiet breaths the only noise from the group.

They had just made it to the staircase, that would take Hermione up to the third floor, and Severus down to the dungeons, when they paused.

Hermione glanced over at Severus, her mouth almost reluctant to say goodbye. She'd had a wonderful day and was sad to see it ending so soon. As ridiculous as it was, she wanted to just stay there and bask in the comforting presence of this man and this little girl.

"I suppose," Severus began, drawing out the words carefully, "You are not hungry?"

"I'm sorry?" Hermione responded turning to him.

Severus looked away from her, as if inspecting the hall. "It is past dinner time, and the Great Hall would have stopped serving food about a half an hour ago, but if you were hungry we could have the Elves bring us something to eat in my quarters."

A smile bloomed on her face. "That…that sounds lovely, thank you."

Severus coughed softly, readjusting Selene in his hold. He motioned towards the stairs. "Then, if you would…"

"Do you need help with her?"

"No, I have her," he murmured back, descending the stairs after her.

When they got to his quarters, Severus turned into another room, and set Selene down on her bed, tucking the blankets around her. She squirmed in the bed, snuggling against her pillow before she settled back into a peaceful sleep.

Hermione was standing awkwardly in the middle of the sitting room when he rejoined her.

"Um, I set in a order to the kitchen for a platter of finger foods. I figured since we had a late lunch…" she said, chewing at her lip.

"No, that's fine," Severus grumbled. An awkward silence stretched out between the two as he struggled to find something to say. He hadn't really thought too far ahead with his plans when he made the invitation. The words just fell from his lips as they stood on the stairs, and he suddenly realized that he didn't want to part just yet.

He hadn't thought she would actually say yes.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he seemed to remember his manners and asked, "Would you like something to drink?"

Hermione straightened, a relieved smile on her face. "Yes please."

He went to his small kitchenette where his wine cabinet was and opened it. "I have both red and white, or if you'd like something stronger there's bourbon and whiskey." He pointed to a small trolley of liquor glasses in the corner of the room.

"White wine is fine thanks," she answered, taking a seat on the couch.

He brought over the wine bottle and two glasses, uncorking it and pouring hers first, then his.

"Thank you," she said, and with a grin she made the sign for it with her hands as well.

Severus snorted in amusement, before moving his hands in reply. "You're welcome."

Taking a sip of her wine, she laughed. "You know Margaret was right, you are catching on really quick. Both you and Selene. She seems to already have a few words mesmerized."

"We'll see how she fairs in the morning. Whether or not she can remember what she learned," he replied, his eyes trailing towards her bedroom door. "But she's a smart girl."

The fire place whooshed to life and a House Elf stepped through with a large platter of cheese, crackers, tiny sandwiches and fruit.

"You can just put it on the coffee table," Severus told the Elf. The Elf bowed, set it down and left.

Hermione looked after him with a sigh. "You know, it's sad but I'm almost used to having House Elves around now."

"Giving up on your SPEW campaign?" Severus teased her. "Perish the thought."

She glared at him, pursing her lips in a rather attractive manner. His thoughts wandered off, wondering how they would taste.

"Just because I understand the mindset of Elves better now doesn't mean that I still completely agree with the practice," she said. She picked up a strawberry and chewed on it thoughtfully. "The entire system relies too heavily on the character of the 'owners,' and their so called nobility. It's appalling really, the lack of legal ramifications present for abusing magical beings and creatures."

"It sounds as if you've lost all faith in humanity." He smirked. "How unfortunate."

"Maybe I have," she commented airly. "Most people do seem to have an incurable ineptitude when it comes to grasping the concepts of morality and altruism."

"That was remarkably cynical of you, Miss Granger."

"Hermione, please."

"Pardon?"

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, and took a sip of her wine. The low light of the room seemed to make her skin glow, and he found he couldn't look away from her.

"Call me Hermione," she repeated with a wry smile. "After all, we'll be taking classes together now."

"Hmm, I suppose you're right. We will be peers of a sort. Very well…Hermione," he drew out the letters of her name, savoring the way they rolled off his tongue.

She gave the faintest shiver, a light blush heating her cheeks. Encouraged, he moved closer. "Then you must call me Severus," he invited.

She blinked up at him, her large brown eyes pulling him in. Unconsciously she leaned towards him, her face just a breath away from his. "Right…Severus."

His eyes dipped down to her mouth, and he moved closer, the need to taste those soft lips clouding his mind.

There was a small clink, a barely there noise, but it was enough to shatter the moment and return the two back to reality. Their wine glasses, which they were both still holding, had brushed against each other as they had moved closer.

She was the first to move back, swallowing thickly as she looked awkwardly away. Clearing his throat, Severus followed suit.

He looked down, noticing that at some point their free hands had met on the cushion, tangling together. He looked back up to see that Hermione was watching their hands as well. Their eyes met and she seemed to be silently asking, 'is this okay?'

Severus imperceptibly moved his thumb, running it along the side of her fore finger in answer.

With a small smile, Hermione shyly asked, "Have you read anything interesting lately?"

"As a matter of fact, I have," he responded, and began to tell her about an interesting Potions article about Manticore blood he'd read last week.

Throughout the night as they talked, their hands stayed clasped together.

A/N: I love the awkward moments. Those two are so adorable sometimes. And Selene forever trying to sneak treats like a cunning little Slytherin. tsk tsk

Hope you enjoyed and review~