Wink
Hermione met Severus again at his house in the early spring, this time under a sunny sky. Once again, they sat in his living room, teacups in their hands as they talked.
"...So then Mr. Fisher's cauldron exploded," Severus was explaining, telling a tale from one of his potions classes. "This wasn't surprising. The boy is a complete buffoon. Why, he would mix up salt and sugar if given the chance. I had almost expected for his cauldron to blow-up. But then, Miss Ellens' cauldron bursts. While Fisher might be an idiot, Ellens is not, and I'm ashamed to say that it took me a moment to figure it out."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "And what, pray tell, did you figure out?"
A smirk crawled across Severus' face as he finished his tale. "The two of them had a bet, you see. A bet on who could blow up their cauldron the fastest."
"No!"
"Oh yes." Severus took a sip of his tea. "Unfortunately for them, I don't allow that sort of impertinent behavior in my classroom, and so they are each currently suffering through a months detention."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Only you could uncover some nefarious plot in a class filled with a bunch of first years."
"It was relatively simple to figure out," Severus said, setting his cup on the table before him. "No, in comparison to some of the schemes the Weasley twins had cooked up, this was downright childish."
Hermione laughed. "Well, they're finally starting to grow up. Or George is, at least."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Really? And how is that?"
"You haven't heard? He's getting married this weekend. To Angelina Johnson, as a matter of fact."
Severus shook his head. "That poor girl."
"Oh, hush," Hermione laughed, setting her cup down on the table as well. "I think the two of them are rather cute together."
"That is perhaps the most overused cliché by females in the history of mankind," Severus said with a roll of his eyes.
"And what is the most overused cliché by males, then?"
"Do I look like I frequently utilize clichés? No, I wouldn't have the faintest idea what it would be, though I can assure you it has something to do with sex," Severus said, tilting his head to the side.
Hermione laughed again. It was so lovely to be able to see him again. What with his job, they really hadn't been able to meet for tea as often as she would have liked, so this was a real treat for her. She didn't want it to end. "Hey," she said suddenly as a thought struck her. "Come with me."
"I beg your pardon?"
"To the wedding. Come with me."
Severus scoffed. "My dear, I wasn't important enough to be even considered for the guest list, much less invited."
"So? You can come with me. They said I could bring a guest, though in all honesty I think they only did so because they figured I'd have no one to bring," she admitted. George had kept dropping hints to her, saying how she and Ron should pick out their dress robes together. "But who cares? Come with me."
Severus frowned. "You want to drag me to a Weasley wedding? Are you trying to kill me?"
But Hermione just held up a finger, indicating a point she was about to make. "There's an open bar."
A pause, and then, "Are you sure it's wise? Won't you bringing me cause trouble?"
Hermione shrugged. "So? You could go as my date. It will be fun. We can worry everyone. Come on, what do you say?"
Severus Snape was very conflicted. On the one hand, this was a Weasley wedding. In other words, it was to be avoided at all costs. But on the other hand... He liked spending time with his, dare he say it, friend Hermione. They had fun together, sharing banter and stories about their lives and their pasts. She was entertaining, and he therefore loved to visit her. If she wanted him to go... He sighed. "When is it, again?"
Hermione smiled, knowing she had won. "This Saturday. I'll come pick you up-" She was interrupted by a heavy pounding on the door. Her eyes widened. "What-"
But Severus just sighed. "I'd recognize that bloody knock anywhere," he muttered as he left the room. "I'll be back!" he called over his shoulder. Hermione sat frozen, slightly amused over Severus' reaction to the knock, and also partly curious as to who it could be.
She heard the door open, and Severus growl out, "What do you want?" A low voice answered, one whose words she couldn't understand. Severus answered. "I'm busy."
"Please," she heard this time, the voice distinctly male and sounding strangely familiar.
"Not right n- Hey!" Hermione looked up in time to see Draco Malfoy push his way through the hallway and into the living room, coming to a sudden stop upon seeing her. Severus grabbed his arm, jerking him around. "What part of 'no' do you not understand, boy?" he snapped.
Malfoy ignored him, though. "What is she doing here?"
"Why, can't you see?" Severus said, his tone light and airy, as if he was having a casual conversation. "The two of us are madly in love and have just finished having a few rounds of hot, sweaty sex, so if you don't mind..."
A faint blush grew on Hermione's cheeks. She knew Severus was just mocking Malfoy, but that didn't make the topic any less personal. She was a virgin and proud of it, and she didn't want her sexuality alluded to in front of Malfoy of all people.
He slapped Malfoy on the back of the head, his voice growing hard once more. "You imbecile! What right do you have to barge into my house and question my company? It doesn't matter why she's here. She doesn't concern you."
"But I need to talk to you-"
"Not now!"
"Oh, let him talk, Severus," Hermione said, waving her hand for the blond boy to continue. "This should be amusing."
Draco blanched. "I'm not going to talk in front of her!"
"Then get out!"
Draco bit his bottom lip, as if weighing his options. Did he really wish to speak to Severus that badly?
Apparently, he did, because the next thing Hermione knew, he was pacing up and down the length of the living room, his hands clasped behind his back. "I don't know what to do. If I should talk to her, or if it was a coincidence-"
"If what was a coincidence?" Hermione asked.
But Malfoy just ignored her. "Why would she do that? Was it to send a signal-"
"Who, Malfoy?" Hermione inquired.
But Malfoy still would not speak to her. "Or maybe she was pitying me. Maybe it had nothing to do with-"
"Malfoy, who?"
"Maybe it was because-"
"Draco, if you don't answer Hermione's questions and speak to her like a civil human being, then that money you need will be used to pay for your tombstone," Severus threatened, glaring at the young boy.
"But-"
"I personally don't care about any of your problems, Draco. However, it appears that the ever so Gryffindor Hermione does. So you will treat her with respect. Or you can try and find a new benefactor."
Draco stopped walking, giving his godfather an annoyed look before he sighed. "I don't know what to do."
"That much is apparent, Malfoy. What happened?" Hermione asked.
"She winked at me!"
Hermione and Severus exchanged glances, neither really sure what was going on. "What?"
"Astoria! I was working at the Hog's Head, and she came in, ordered a butterbeer in her own glass, drank it, and then bloody winked at me! What on earth does that mean?"
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Are you telling me that you came in here unannounced, forced your way into my house, ruined my plans, and insulted my friend all so you could receive advice about some bloody girl?"
Draco froze. "Um, yes."
"OUT!"
"But Professor-"
"It's simple, Draco," Severus snapped as he began to push the boy towards the door. "Do you like her?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then ask her out," he said, giving the blond one final push before slamming the door shut behind him. He turned around to find Hermione standing in the entrance to the foyer, a small smile on her lips. Severus shook his head. "Daft fool. He almost makes Potter look bright."
Hermione laughed, reaching out with her hand to pull him back towards the living room.
So here's the next chapter!
Thank you to my reviewers from the last chapter! I really appreciate it!
Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this.! So please, do me a favor and RER: Read it, Enjoy it, Review it... I Love it!
Lurve,
-Selene