We studied Harry Potter in my literature lecture yesterday. Snape wasn't mentioned once – it's criminal!

Thank you to IND520 for the reviews x

Hermione gave Severus the name of the bar and said she would be a little late, so Severus made his own way. He got into the back of a cab and told the driver if he knew where the bar was.

The driver grinned at him. "So you want a good time tonight, sir?"

Severus looked confused. "I guess."

The driver dropped him off outside of a building with blaring music coming from it. Severus felt even more confused when he saw red lights outside it, but he went inside anyway.

Edward was at the bar and waved at him. "Hey Sev! Over here!"

Severus joined him at the bar, trying his best to look enthusiastic as he really was not taking to this guy. Edward introduced him to a few friends he was there with. He also said how he had just texted Hermione and she was on her way, which Severus was glad about, feeling awkward amongst people he barely knew.

Edward gestured towards a stage in the middle of the bar. "So how do you like our entertainment for tonight? Pretty nice, huh!"

Severus looked towards the stage and his jaw dropped.

O

Two minutes later, Severus hurried out of the bar. He saw Hermione about to enter and he grabbed her by her wrist, dragging her away.

Hermione giggled. "What's going on? I was supposed to meet Edward…"

Severus cut her off. "It's a strip-club!"

She gasped. "Are you serious?"

"Completely. There were girls dancing about with everything on show. I didn't know which tit to look at!"

Hermione burst into laughter. "I can't believe Edward would organise for us to see strippers."

"I can. I'm not letting you stay in there. It's just not the place to take a lady."

Hermione felt quite pleased with his protectiveness of her.

Hermione texted Edward and said she was not keen on the idea of the club and said she would see him another time. Severus and Hermione found a quiet place to have a drink and left fairly early.

O

It was 1.30 in the morning and Hermione stayed up looking at pictures of her and Ron. It had seemed like such a long time since he left for Osaka and she wondered how he was getting on. She did not trust this Candy girl, but she liked to think she could trust Ron to behave himself whilst he was away from her.

Hermione lay down on her bed and breathed a heavy sigh.

Her phone beeped and she saw that she had a text message. It said simply, "are you awake?"

Hermione grinned and made her way downstairs to Severus' room.

O

Severus filled Hermione's glass with Sake and poured himself one.

They sat on the floor in front of the TV, only half-watching the film that was on.

"I really think I'm taking to this Sake," he said.

Hermione smiled and thought of when she sent him the Sake in the bar. "Good. I'm glad I got you into it."

"You do spoil me. I don't deserve it."

"Before I saw you out here in Tokyo, I would have agreed with you. We weren't exactly bosom-buddies, were we. Who would have thought we'd strike up a friendship."

"I know. We're near-enough dating now."

They looked at each other and blushed slightly.

When the film finished, Severus and Hermione were a little more tired, so they crashed out on the bed, each of them keeping their own space.

After a few moments of silence, Hermione said, "let's never come here again because it would never be as good."

"If you wish," said Severus.

"I'm dreading going back to London. I'm so stuck. I don't understand why it's so hard to sort my life out. I don't know what I'm supposed to be."

"Keep trying things out. You'll figure it out eventually."

"I feel like I don't belong outside of Hogwarts."

"I definitely don't, but there's no going back. No occupation inspires me here. I only work to make a living…but that's what most people do."

Hermione nodded. "I guess so. But what about my marriage?"

Severus chuckled. "Only you can answer that one. Have you not missed him?"

"Well, I've been spending a lot of my time with you," Hermione answered, slightly uncomfortable.

"I haven't got long left in Tokyo, so see if you miss him when I'm gone."

Hermione felt a little sad, knowing full-well that it would only be Severus that she would miss when he leaves.

"Why aren't you married?" Hermione asked, generally curious.

Severus snuffed. "There's only ever been one woman for me and that didn't turn out too well."

"Lily? But it's been so long…"

"True love never dies." Severus' voice had a hint of bitterness in it.

"But Severus," Hermione placed her hand on his arm, desperate for him to take what she was going to say the right way. "Lily is dead."

Severus tensed up and looked at her bitterly "I know that. I was the one who found her."

Hermione let go of his arm and pulled away, feeling she had gone too far. "Look, I'm sorry okay?"

Severus took a deep breath and let his mind wander free. He closed his eyes and pictured the beautiful girl with red hair, who he went to school with all those years a go.

"I could never forget Lily. She was the most perfect girl I had ever seen. Her hair, her smile, her eyes… Every time I saw her, I felt the strongest pang in my heart. She was like something from a dream. She wasn't like me…her soul was clean. She had never done anything to anyone, which makes me all the more angry…"

Hermione looked at him, shocked by his revelation.

"The night I went to the Potter house, I had never been more terrified. My heart was thumping through my chest as I climbed the stairs. I saw James – dead, obviously. I then went to Harry's bedroom. I went inside and…my heart ripped in two. Lily was on the floor, completely lifeless. My body collapsed…I thought I was going to pass out. The child was screaming his head off and I wanted to do the same. I picked Lily up and held her, desperately trying to cling on to her and begging her not to leave me. But it was too late…she was gone…dead." Severus shut his eyes and put his hand over his face, feeling the pain once again.

Hermione felt tears well up and put her hand on her own face to hide them.

"That's heart-breaking," she said, her voice shaking.

Hermione's words brought Severus out of his trance. He watched her, slightly mortified by her reaction.

"I've never really spoken about this before. I don't mean to upset you," he said.

Hermione shook her head. "I'm upset for you."

Severus laughed bitterly. "Don't be. Pain is all I know. The last time I held Lily, I died with her inside…that was when my life stopped."

Hermione felt confused and slightly hurt by his words. "But these past few days here with you have been some of the best of my life! You make me feel more alive than I have been in a while. Don't I have any inspiration on you?"

Severus looked at her, feeling a bit selfish. "Of course you do."

"Severus, I know you can't hold Lily anymore, but…would you like to hold me instead?"

A rare smile crossed his face as he realised what Hermione was saying. He immediately took her into his arms and they held each other tight. They did not know how long the fantasy would last, but that night they just knew that everything felt perfect because they were together. The couple stayed lying in their embrace until sleep claimed them both.

Aw The next chapter will mix things up a bit. Only I wont make Snape do the obscene thing that Bill Murray did - that was the only part in the film that really annoyed me!