A/N: So Hermione and Severus have to have their first real fight as a couple, right? Even if it is over something petty and stupid:D This is that glimpse.

Disclaimer: I don't own HP or "Meet in the Middle." J.K. and Diamond Rio do.

if we don't see eye to eye there's something we can do

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No, Hermione, absolutely not," Severus said firmly, stalking from the bedroom to the living room.

"But why? What's the problem?" she said furiously, jumping off the bed and running after him.

"What's the problem? I said no, does there have to be a reason?" he asked angrily as he poked at the fire stubbornly.

"Well, yes! You can't just tell me 'no' like I'm a child!" she said indignantly, crossing her arms.

Severus sighed loudly. "Fine, Hermione. You cannot bring Crookshanks here because I loathe cats. Is that reason enough for you?" he said, stalking to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee for his raging headache. Hermione laughed bitterly.

"No! You can't tell me no, just because you hate cats! Have you ever even had a cat?" she inquired, seriously doubting that he had.

He didn't answer her question. He sipped his coffee calmly and replied, "I can give you any reason I want to, Hermione. These are my living quarters and I say no. Crookshanks can stay at your parents' house. He seemed quite content there running around outside like a wild banshee."

"But Severus!" she wailed. "I miss my cat! He isn't happy there! He wants to be with me!" she said, turning away from Severus and hanging her head.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Hermione. He is a feline. He doesn't have feelings. He doesn't care where he lives as long as he has food, water, and something to scratch those evil claws on," he said insensitively. This angered Hermione. She whirled around to face him. She pressed a finger into his chest and backed him against the counter.

"Don't TELL me my cat doesn't have feelings. That cat and I have been through a lot together. Don't forget; he was the one who knew that "Scabbers" was really Wormtail in Animagus form!" she said loudly.

She had a point. But he wasn't giving up that easily.

"Hermione, that's true, but… I just don't want it here, okay?" he said, pushing past her into their bedroom. She followed him. He set his coffee down on the bedside table and laid down on the bed, rubbing his temples.

She sat down in the cushy chair in the corner, not about to try and help him feel better. Crookshanks was going to come and live with them, if it was the last thing she did.

"Severus, just tell me why you don't like cats," she said gently, trying to coax it out of him.

"No, I'd rather not talk about it, okay?"

"Ah-ha!"

"'Ah-ha' what?" he asked.

"There IS a reason you don't like cats!" she said triumphantly. He set his jaw and stared straight ahead. "What is it?" she asked, moving from the chair to the bed next to him.

He sighed, knowing she wouldn't let it go until he told her. "I had a cat when I was a little boy, okay, and it died," he said, his voice losing some of its annoyance. Her face immediately softened. "I loved that cat. His name was Alexander, and he was always there for me when my parents were fighting, or when my dad was feeling particularly abusive," he said, looking away from her. She swallowed, her eyes filling with tears. She reached for his hand; he didn't move it. She didn't say anything, she just waited for him to go on. He did, eventually. "He was my best friend… and then one day, he just… died. I found him under my bed… he was probably about 14 years old; I had had him my whole life," he said, his eyes finally meeting hers. She immediately felt bad for badgering him.

"I'm sorry, Severus," she said quietly.

"It was a long time ago, Hermione, it's okay," he said.

"No, I mean, I'm sorry for badgering you about it," she replied, lying next to him and putting her head on his chest. "But Crookshanks is a good cat… he might not be Alexander, but he likes you, Sev. I've seen him jump in your lap, and he doesn't do that for most people," she said. She felt his chest contract as he sighed concededly. She knew then she had him.

He didn't say anything for a few minutes.

Finally, "We'll get him the next time we visit your parents," he muttered. She grinned and jumped up to kiss him.

"Thank you, Severus!" she shrieked, kissing him over and over on the lips. He smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, yeah. But you're changing the litter box," he said, pointing a finger at her. She threw her head back and laughed.

Severus wouldn't have dared admit it to Hermione, but he couldn't wait for their next visit to her parents' house.

there ain't no road too long

when we meet in middle

tbc

I wanted to have them fight, but not about anything too serious! I was annoyed with my cat this morning (who reminds me strongly of Crookshanks) and this glimpse came to mind. Please review:D Love, love!

By the way, if anyone has a request for a couple of song lyrics they'd like to see a glimpse set to, just let me know!

-r