Hermione's point of view:

I sat at a table next to Luna in an outside area while we waited for Alice.

"They were so cute," I told Luna, explain how Mr. Snape and Alice interacted at the game. "She was holding his hand and everything. When I asked her to come to lunch, she was afraid of what would happen to him because she would have lunch with us."

"He is very changed," Luna replied. "We've had dinner with them several times, and Severus is smiling, and they always seem to be touching. She seems calmer that way."

"Calmer?" I asked.

"She seems scared of something," Luna said. "She'll barely talk to Draco."

"She didn't really talk to Harry, now that I think of it. Severus requested that we be in a private booth at the next game, which we do anyway," I said.

"I think she had something bad happen to her," Luna said. She was very blunt with her opinion. "And not something with an animal or anything."

We fell silent when Severus and Alice came into view. They were talking quietly to each other, their heads close together, as they held hands. He looked at her with gentleness. I wished he was like that at Hogwarts, and not the unkind, bitter teacher he was. I pushed those thoughts aside, we made peace with him after the war. He even apologized to us when he recovered.

"Hello," Luna said in her dreamy voice.

"Hi, Alice." I smiled at her when she came to our table.

"Hello," Alice relied, and she looked at Severus in question.

"I'll see you after lunch," he said softly to her.

"Would you like to go shopping with us after lunch?" Luna asked. "We want some new clothes."

Alice bit her lip in hesitation.

"We can meet at my shop when we're finished, if you want to go. I need to start making potions anyway," Severus prompted.

"Okay," Alice replied. "I'll meet you there."

Severus leaned forward and whispered into her ear. She flushed a little as Severus strode away. Alice sat down while keeping her eyes cautiously on us. I couldn't help but notice that she sat next to Luna instead of me.

"How are you, Alice," Luna asked her.

"Very good. Severus took me to Quidditch," Alice said with a smile.

"Luna and I were just talking about the game, and how happy I was to meet you," I chimed in.

Alice blushed a little. "I'm very glad you asked me to lunch."

"I'm glad she asked you too," Luna said.

Alice gave a sheepish smile as she looked down at the menu. After ordering, we talked quietly until our food came.

"This is very good," Alice said after taking a bite of her sandwich. "I think I'll save the other half of this for Severus. He'll really like this."

Luna and I exchanged a look. She was taken with him.

"What will you get from the store," I asked Luna. "We're going to a ball next week, so I'll need new dress robes."

"I think some things for Draco and me," Luna and I said rolled my eyes. Last time we went shopping for that, Luna made me see her try on every piece of skimpy underwear for a date they were going on. "We're trying for a baby."

"A baby. Really?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes. We don't want to wait anymore. Draco said he wanted to make something of the both of us."

I tried not to cringe. I didn't want to think about Draco that way. Luna loved him very much, and I wanted to respect that, but he wasn't my favorite person. When I glanced at Alice her face was horrified.

"What's wrong, Alice?" I asked.

"What …" She swallowed hard. "What if Severus wants to have a baby."

"Have you talked about it?" I asked gently.

"No. We haven't." Alice looked worried.

"Are you ready to?" I asked.

"No."

"Well, would you want to one day?"

Alice hesitated. "I don't know. Maybe."

"If he talks about it, you should tell him," I told her gently. "It'll be better for both of you if you're honest."

Luna muffled a laugh. "No laughing at me. Can't help it if Ron and I were too cooped up our fears to be honest with our feelings."

"Why was that?" Alice asked.

I smiled. "We were in love for a long time, but just didn't know how to tell each other."

"Oh." Alice looked around as if she was thinking of something.

I grinned at my new friend. I was glad I invited her. As much as I loved Ron, there was nothing like girl talk. It seems like Alice needed that too.

Severus' point of view:

I missed her. I missed my wife. I worked on my potions with attention that I gave to my customers, but I actually missed her. A lot. What was she doing? Was she safe? What if she became afraid of her surroundings? What if she needed me and I wasn't there? Swallowing, I put another ingredient into the cauldron. A ringing bell made me turn. Miss Granger came into the shop.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing …I just wanted to pick up my birth control," she replied.

"How's Alice?" I asked, turning away from her so she couldn't see my worry and need for her.

"I wanted to … talk to you about her," she said timidly.

"Oh?" I paused as I went through my stores of birth potions.

"She reminds me of the orphans who've been abused," Miss Granger whispered.

"I've had my suspicions as well," he said.

"If she was, and we have evidence, we could press charges," Miss Granger said eagerly.

"Except there is none that I am aware of," I said, finally turning around as I held the potion she used. "No documentation or confession. You know the laws."

"I do all too well." Miss Granger sighed and looked disappointed.

"Trust me, if something does come up, I'll make sure you know," I told her with venom in my voice. "I need to make sure my wife is protected."

"And I'd help her," she said. "She's becoming a friend, and I enjoy shopping with her."

"I'm very glad you offered your friendship to her," I said, smiling. "I think it's good for her, and I want to see her happy."

"You're falling in love with her, aren't you?" Miss Granger.

"Here is your potion, Miss Granger," I replied, making it clear that the conversation was over.

She laughed and paid for it. "I'd better go now. Luna and Alice are next door, buying clothes. I told them I'd be quick."

"Make sure she's careful," I reminded her.

She smiled as she left the shop. Over the next hour, I finished two more potions before I heard the bell ring again. Looking up, I found Alice walking shyly toward me. She looked different. She wore another blue dress, which brought out her sparkling eyes. Her hair was a little shorter and framed her face. I couldn't look away as I recognized her beauty.

"Hermione and Luna took me to get my hair cut," she said softly.

"It looks lovely," I said.

She ducked her head. "I want to have a special night, tonight," Alice whispered when she looked up. "I got you a new shirt. You could wear it when we have dinner."

I grinned, and stepped forward to take her hands. "I'd be honored."

Please review. What did you think of Hermione's point of view?