The next morning they shared breakfast in the deserted dining hall. When the staff started giving them pointed looks, they left so the place could be closed for the day.
"Well, where do you want to go now?"
"Is there anyplace you had in mind?"
Hermione shrugged. "Outside, maybe?" A clap of thunder punctuated her words, and when they looked out the next window, a steady drizzle of rain greeted them. "Alright, scrap that."
"The library? I was assuming you would have more studying to do this morning."
"Actually, even the library is closed on Sunday. I usually study in my room on Sundays. We could always go up there, if you don't mind the cramped quarters. No funny business, I promise."
He stared at her long and hard as if to discern whether she really meant it, then agreed. Inside her room, Hermione settled at the desk while Severus attempted to make himself comfortable on her woefully small bed. He ended up propped against her pillows, one leg stretched out and dangling off the bed, the other bent up with his book resting against his knee. If not for Hermione's enormous willpower, she would have gotten none of her studying done and instead would have stared at him the entire time.
It was hard to believe that only a short time ago, they meant so little to each other. Even a year before, the picture of him in her room as he was now would have been comical. Now, it seemed... right. Even if he was so cramped it looked uncomfortable. Even if he was out of place in the student dormitories.
"I doubt you'll find the proper way to care for a flubber worm written on my forehead," he said without looking up from his book.
"Maybe I should check a little bit lower," she suggested with a wink.
"That has been called many things, but never flubber worm, I assure you. You'll have to stick to your text book."
"Oh fine," she huffed with a laugh.
By lunch, the clouds had moved off and the sun was doing it's best to dry the ground. Hermione grabbed her spare blanket and suggested a picnic before she realized the kitchens were closed and there wasn't any place to get food on campus at the moment.
"I can procure us something if I can use the floo for a moment," Snape offered. Hermione showed him the one in the common room and in only a few minutes, a picnic basket popped into his lap. "Shall we, then?" He offered her his arm, which she took, and they headed out to the orchard behind the library.
The house elves- whom she assumed were responsible for their lunch- had packed them an abundance of food along with an excellent bottle of wine. Normally, Hermione would have frowned upon imbibing before going to class, but Snape would be leaving soon and she couldn't bring herself to be upset about a simple glass of wine.
When they were finished eating, while Hermione was packing away the last remnants of the meal, Severus pulled the little silver wrapped box from his pocket. It took a few minutes for Hermione to realize that he was holding it. When she did, he offered it to her, his face a mask of insincere indifference.
Slowly, Hermione untied the ribbon and pulled back the paper. When she lifted the lid off the white box inside, she gasped. Nestled on a bed of cotton was a beautiful opal pendant. She lifted it, watching the way the sun lit the flecks within the gem and made them seem to catch fire. The delicate chain twisted and she realized there was an engraving on the back. Out loud, she read, " in luce nix." Then she turned back to him, puzzled. "What does it mean?"
He knew she was fluent enough in Latin to know the literal translation. But now that he was faced with it, he realized that he wasn't quite ready to explain to her just what 'sunshine on snow' meant to him. "I'll tell you someday," he promised. She nodded, not totally understanding him, but trusting him that he had his reasons. With trembling fingers she tried to put the necklace on but couldn't get the clasp to catch. Severus put his hands over hers and guided the tiny loop through. Then he picked up the pendant, turned it slightly to watch the sunlight dance across it, and laid it back on her chest.
"It's beautiful, Severus. Thank you," she whispered.
"You're welcome." They were silent for a moment while Hermione looked from him, back down to the opal. "I want you to know that I'm grateful." She searched his face, puzzled.
"Whatever for?"
"For seeing something within me that you feel is worth waiting for. For being willing to go through all this. For respecting my boundaries with making this work." He shook his head, thinking of all the ways it could have gone wrong. "It would have been far easier to simply give up on me and take your classes with no rush. Or to stay with those tutoring sessions and try to break my resolve. Eventually you would have, you know. And I would have hated myself for it. But you didn't do either of those things. You chose the more difficult route, because it would be better for me." He searched for the words, knowing that he was baring his soul to her and feeling terribly vulnerable because of it. "No one has ever done something harder for themselves just to make things easier for me before. The idea that you are willing to, especially for something so huge, is astounding to me. Each day that you keep true to your mad plan is a new surprise. I know that I am not an easy man to care for. And the time will come when you'll find that I am an even more difficult man to live with. But I can promise you that I will never take your efforts for granted. Your affection is a precious gift, Hermione, and I will always treat it as such."
"Oh, Severus." Hermione threw herself into his arms and kissed him. What else could she do? There weren't any words to say. She knew how much it had taken for him to confess that to her. He didn't often speak of his feelings, and such sweet sentiments came even less frequently. He had to be feeling terribly exposed, but he'd opened himself up to her because he wanted to make sure she understood just how much she meant to him. That, in itself, was a precious gift.
All too soon, the time for her afternoon class came upon them. Hermione stayed wrapped in Severus' arms as long as possible, loathe to let him go even one moment sooner than she had to. They kissed again, and Snape set her away from him gently.
"Try and take better care of yourself," he reminded her. She nodded.
"You, too."
"Of course."
"And you'll write me this evening?"
"I will."
"Thank you for coming. Thank you for... everything."
"You are most welcome. Goodbye, Hermione." He brushed the pad of his thumb down her cheek and then apparated away. Hermione stood for long moments staring at where he'd just been. Things had gone so well during his visit, so much better than she could have hoped. Somehow, it made all the waiting ahead of her seem even longer. She wouldn't be going back to an awkward greeting and uncomfortable silences, but to the tactile, caring man who'd just left.
Slowly she gathered her books and headed to her class, thinking of just what the future held for them.
/
Severus Tobius Snape, where did all these books come from?!
H
I would say Blackwell, but I get the feeling you already know that much.
S
Don't be sarcastic with me! The delivery boy wouldn't take them back and when I called the shop they said they were non-returnable!
H
Indeed they are. I made sure of it.
S
Why would you do such a ridiculous thing? This is far too extravagant. You've already given me an expensive gift. If you keep this up, I shall begin to feel like a kept woman!
H
I did it because it pleased me to do so. Just as it pleases me to give you anything else you desire.
You would have to be earning your presents with sexual favours to be a kept woman, and since we have never even technically had sex, I think you are in the clear.
Enjoy the books. Don't think of them as gifts, but as investments in your future.
S
You haven't heard the last of this, Severus, I mean it. You are not to keep spending money on me at such a reckless pace. I forbid it.
H
Forbid? Don't you know that forbidding a thing only makes it more appealing? Besides, what makes you think that I'll listen to your orders?
S
You will, or else I will start buying you expensive gifts and we will see how you handle it.
H
You will do no such thing. What money you have is meant to go to providing you with food and school supplies. You're already getting far too little of the former, and I am certain there is hardly enough for the latter. You will not purchase anything for me, Hermione Jean Granger. Not a single orange pip. Do I make myself clear?
S
See? It's hard to be on the other end, isn't it?
H
The difference is that I will not be going without basic sustenance by buying things for you. You are not in a position to say the same.
S
Well then you'll have to content yourself to inexpensive, home-made gifts until I am. Tit for tat, remember?
H
Fine. But the books are still non-returnable.
S
I knew they would be. Thank you for them, Severus. They are wonderful. I'm so happy to have them.
H
You are more than welcome.
S
