Sitting where he was, Severus couldn't possibly imagine why he had ever agreed to accompany Hermione to the Burrow for Sunday lunch. It was so loud, there were too many things going on and there were so many redheads. The only bright spot so far was when he and Hermione came through the Floo together. She had tumbled and he had caught her, never feeling so gentlemanly. Her body was warm and her cheeks had blushed so prettily.
But now Hermione was nowhere to be seen, and he was seated on an old couch beside a rambunctious Harry Potter and Ron Weasley on one side and a very glum George Weasley, who seemed so empty without his twin. He was not even up to discussing the potion in his latest product.
Instead he was forced to listen to Weasley prattle on and on and on about how the Chudley Cannons were going to win the game later that afternoon against the Wigtown Wanderers. He couldn't help but snort when Weasley predicted a shutout victory.
The redhead's face became as red as his hair at hearing Snape's noise of derision. "What? And I suppose you know better?"
Severus resisted rolling his eyes before finally deciding to tell Weasley off. "There is no way that the Cannons can manage a shutout against the Wanderers. Not with Marcus Flint as Chaser."
Harry Potter's eyebrows shot up to his hairline and Weasley sputtered a while before spouting about Flint was a dirty cheat.
"You are just mad because the Cannons can't get away with anything. Maybe if they showed a little more tact a penalty would slide here or there."
"Professor, I had no idea you enjoyed Quidditch. Do you play?" Harry Potter asked, eager to have something more in common with the man.
Severus had to keep a small smile from appearing on his face as he remembered with fondness his time as a youth playing Quidditch. "I haven't played in years. But I did play when I was at Hogwarts. I wasn't on the team though." No, he thought, somewhat bitterly, he wasn't the excellent Quidditch player that James Potter had been.
"You should play with us next week." Potter blurted out. "We play pickup games usually, just for fun. You will be back next weekend, right? You'd be more than welcome."
Severus frowned. The Weasleys had been very enthusiastic to see him. Molly had given him a huge hug and Arthur had shook his hand and gave him a pat on his arm. It was almost like they had forgotten how coldly he was treated in his years in the Order when his allegiance couldn't be proved. But now everyone saw him as this great man, he thought cynically. What did they want from him? He would have to see if Hermione invited him back. "I will think about it."
Speaking of his favorite know it all, where was she? How dare she invite him here and then leave with Ginny Weasley, soon to be Ginny Potter if the large engagement ring was anything to go by, to talk to her numbskull friends? He had half a mind to go find her.
Ginny had cornered Hermione almost as soon as the pair had arrived. She didn't believe it when her mum had told her that the Potions Professor would be accompanying her brunette friend until they had tumbled through the Floo together. It had been rather cute, the way that Snape had caught her before she could fall, the way his hand and lingered at her waist and the way her friend blushed.
Ginny needed to know the details and so she'd wished Hermione upstairs to the bedroom that they sometimes shared. "Alright, spill. What's going on between you and Snape?"
Hermione blushed again. "Nothing is going on between myself and Severus."
Ginny smirked. "Severus, is it?"
"I am his apprentice. And since his potions accident, McGonagall has asked me to look out for him. Introduce him to people whom he might be friends with now that he is much younger again." Hermione replied, trying to sound aloof.
"And now that he has a second chance at love. Tell me the truth Hermione, are you interested in him?" Ginny prodded. "He definitely has the tall and dark thing going for him, and although he isn't classically handsome, his eyes make you want to know more about him."
Hermione but her lip before deciding to tell Ginny about her budding feelings. How he was such a good conversationalist and how they were rather suited in personality. And how she was a little more than attracted to him.
"So what's the problem then? Why don't you make a move?"
"Oh, I don't know...half the time I feel as through he doesn't even like me. That he still thinks of me as an insufferable know it all."
"Well, maybe he is just nervous. I mean, he doesn't really have that much experience with women. And see, he came here with you today, so he must like you a little. I think you should ask him out."
Hermione bit her lip again. Ginny did make some good points. "Alright, I'll think about it. So what's new with you? How are the wedding plans coming along?"
Ginny just smiled. "Oh speaking of that. We need to move the wedding up."
Hermione was surprised. Ginny and Harry had been planning on getting married the next June. "Alright, when were you thinking?" Ginny had been so set on a June wedding. She couldn't imagine why she would want to change it.
"December. Over winter break." Ginny said, seemingly unperturbed.
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. "That's less than three months away. Why?"
"Well, I am pregnant and I want to get married before I start showing too much." Ginny smiled.
Hermione panicked. She quickly sat down on the bed, her head spinning. Ginny was pregnant. Ginny was going to have a baby. Harry was going to be a father. Oh, of course it was exciting, but it was so soon. "How are you so calm about this?" Hermione was certainly not calm.
"Well, I only found out yesterday, so it hasn't really sunk in yet." Ginny was so calm, so serene. "You are actually the first person I've told."
That really shocked Hermione. "You haven't told Harry?" Ginny shook her head. "Or your mum?" Again, Ginny shook her head. Hermione took a deep breath. "Well congratulations Ginny! This is such exciting news of course. If you need help with absolutely anything with changing the wedding, I am here for you."
Ginny smiled and hugged Hermione. "Thank you for being so supportive. I wanted to make sure that you could still be a part of the wedding. You'll still be my maid of honor? I know you will be busy with your apprenticeship."
"Of course I will Ginny. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now, let's go back down. I am sure our absence has been noted."
When Hermione and Ginny came back downstairs, Mrs. Weasley was calling everyone to gather around the table for dinner. Hermione waved Severus over to sit next to her at the table. Ginny and Harry chose seats across from them.
The food smelled and looked delicious. Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, all manner of vegetables. Hermione hadn't been to a Weasley dinner in a while and she had forgotten just how much food there was. She turned to face Severus, to tell him to take as much food as he wanted right away because there might not be much left after it went around the table.
He was frowning at her. "Please don't invite me here, if you are just going to hide away with Miss Weasley, and leave me to talk with your friends about Quidditch!"
Hermione instantly felt bad. She had left him for a very long time, but Ginny had such exciting news to share with her. Before she could comment, Harry piped up. "Oh, come on Professor. It wasn't that bad! And I am determined to get you on a broom next weekend. What position do you prefer?"
Hermione's cheeks were bright red, thinking of Severus in any position. Ginny just smirked at her over the bowl of mashed potatoes.
"Beater." Severus responded quietly next to her.
"I didn't know that you enjoyed Quidditch, Severus!" Hermione was truly surprised. She had always thought that he was quite bookish, like her, but she supposed she didn't know him quite as well as she thought.
"It's not one of my favorite pastimes, but it's better than some. I haven't played in over twenty years." He told her. "Not something I'm sure I'd like a repeat performance of."
The rest of the meal passed without much event, except for Ginny kept making eyes at Hermione across the table whenever she laughed at something Severus said. Luckily, it seemed that Ginny was the only one who'd noticed. Even Harry, who was surprisingly good at reading situations sometimes, seemed to think nothing of it. It was better that way, Hermione thought. She wasn't even sure of her own feelings, no need to get ten opinions from her friends about the matter.
Soon it was time for the pair to return to Hogwarts and they stepped into the fireplace together. Hermione relished the brief closeness and took the time to study her old professor. He looked so much friendlier now and he wasn't eternally sneering. He smelled nice too, Hermione thought, like old wood and parchment and pine.
When they returned to the quiet comfort of Professor Snape's parlor, they stood together in silence that was somewhat awkward. It seemed that something more than friendship stood between them, but neither person wanted to make the leap. Hermione didn't want to leave, as there was something that drew her to him, but it was also uncomfortable to stay, not knowing what would happen next.
Finally, Hermione decided she had to speak. "Thanks for coming with me. I hope that you had a good time."
Severus nodded. He did have a good time, but he thought it was just that he was spending time with Hermione, the Weasleys had nothing to do with it. "It was...more tolerable than I expected." He said with a small smile. "Thank you for inviting me."
"Well, I'm off to bed then, I think." Hermione told him. "Oh, but before I forget, I think Neville and I are going to head down to the Three Broomsticks again next Friday, if you wanted to come with?" Hermione's heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't sure if he would recognize it, but it was practically a double date.
He nodded again. "Thank you, I will think about it and let you know later this week."
"Of course. Goodnight Severus." Hermione nodded and turned to enter her room, and Severus couldn't help but watch her go. He didn't want the day to end, didn't want to stop spending time with her, but he couldn't think of a reasonable explanation to ask her to stay. He couldn't very well just tell her he enjoyed her company. That would make him too vulnerable.
Instead he made his way to his own bedroom and changed for bed. He couldn't stop replaying the scene where she fell into his arms when exiting the floo. She felt so wonderful in his arms. She was much shorter than he was, but he didn't mind. And she had been so warm and soft and...
He had to stop himself from thinking of her this way. She had her secret admirer and...well, he didn't deserve her. She was too pretty, too kind, too generous, too witty.
And still, she spent time with him. Went out of her way to include him and invite him places. Maybe there was a chance for him after all. And why shouldn't there be? He had been given a second chance at life. He was young again. He only need to admit it. "I like Hermione Granger."
He wouldn't know until he tried.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but I hope that you enjoyed chapter nine! I would love to hear what you thought of it! Please try to keep it constructive, though. I have had a few rude reviews lately, and unless it's constructive, I can't do much with it.
Thank you to all of you who reviewed chapter eight! Please let me know about chapter nine and be on the lookout for chapter ten soon!
