*** CURRENTLY BEING REWRITTEN ***

The next day found the Parlor more crowded as the publicity from the 'incident' paid off. Severus and Hermione sat comfortably in the 3rd floor's common room that afternoon sharing tea and some small talk. She had told him about how she knew Daimion as a child and how he went to school in America.

"What about you? What school did you go to?" Severus asked her as he sipped his tea. Hermione blanked for a moment, but faked a yawn to think.

"Umm, well, I was taught in a small school in the country. It was sort of like home-schooling, but there were a couple of other kids there," she had managed to lie rather easily. After all, her muggle neighbors were home-schooled in such a manner.

"Really? That's quite interesting! I had heard about such things, but I thought they were just a myth," he went on and she sighed a great sigh of relief on the inside.

"What about you?" she quickly asked, hoping he wouldn't ask her to elaborate.

"I went to Hogwarts, of course."

"What was it like?" She hoped her question would bring more belief.

"Oh… Well, it…" He paused to clear his throat. "It was like any other school, I suppose," at this Hermione gave him a look like that she hoped would convey her complete confusion. It worked. "Well, you have classes and teachers and… You went to muggle school before, didn't you?" He quickly realized and raised a brow at her. She mentally slapped herself and blushed a little.

"Of course! I just meant, well, umm, I dunno, was it 'different', I suppose I'm trying to ask…"

"Not really. Aside from the magic, I mean," she snorted here and he ducked his head and chuckled slightly. "Stupid, I know. But it really wasn't much different."

"Did you always want to be a teacher?"

"Not particularly."

"Why did you decide to become a teacher?"

"What? Oh, I, uh, had my reasons, I suppose."

"Well, if you didn't want to teach, then what did you want to do?"

Severus felt a little awkward. He wasn't used to people being interested in getting to know him, but he felt that perhaps it was just the way normal people were. He played with his teacup as he answered, a little nervous. "I wanted to research and develop potions, maybe even publish my findings."

"Wow. That sounds so much more interesting than teaching," she smiled. She knew he didn't want to continue talking about his reasons for teaching, so she swiftly moved on. "I've often thought about much the same thing. The research and developing, I mean."

Severus' head shot up and a genuine smile began to nervously spread across his face. "Really?"

Hermione nodded. "I love to read and learn and create, but I figure there will be a time for that."

"What subjects, if I may ask, are you interested in working with?"

"Charms, arithmancy, and, mostly, potions." She saw his eyes light up at this and smiled shyly.

"I would be more than happy to assist you in the field of potions," he offered hopefully. Hermione beamed at this excitedly.

"Oh! But that would be wonderful, Rude! I had never dreamed of being able to work with an esteemed potions master!" She laid it on thick, and his ego was brilliantly stroked. They talked about books and potions for some time before she introduced Severus to her library. He took this as an intimate gesture, much like being shown someone's bedroom, and returned the favor. Hermione gasped and cooed over his collection and ended up leaving with the several books that Severus allowed her.

After dinner they sat talking some more, oblivious to the other tenants coming and going. It was only when they had to stifle simultaneous yawns that they knew it was time for bed. With a hug goodnight, they were both off to their respective rooms to dream about the other.

When Severus finally awoke and headed downstairs it was almost lunchtime. The large table was not present and the band was onstage rehearsing. He noticed that part of the room, which included the stage and some of the floor area, was closed off to only them.

Daimion waved him over to one of the smaller tables on the floor and a house elf promptly took his order. Hermione had her back to him as she spoke with the other band members, but as soon as she turned around she waved excitedly at him. He smiled and waved back, feeling self-conscious and like an idiot for a moment, before he remembered where he was.

"Oh, good, you're up! Now you get to see all the shit-work that goes into one of these shows," she finished with a wink. She turned and said something to the band before a quiet few notes began the song. As the bass, guitar and drums picked up, Hermione began swaying her hips, and Puck was singing in hushed tones ('Tried to save myself but myself keeps slipping away'). Suddenly, Hermione began to sing.

'Talking to myself all the way to the station
Pictures in my head of the final destination'

She strutted closer to the end of the stage, before stopping and belting out:

'All lined up
All the ones that aren't allowed to stay'

And then purred out the next line, her hand running down the front of her body, tugging the bottom of her shirt.

'Tried to save myself but myself keeps slipping away'

She inserted a couple of moans and some rhythmic calls, before strutting about the stage, making jerky movements to the music.

'Tried to save a place from the cuts and the scratches
Tried to overcome the complications and the catches'

She dropped to her knees and cried out the next line, before stretching herself backwards and writhing about as she repeated the last line.

'Nothing ever grows and the sun doesn't shine all day
Tried to save myself but myself keeps slipping away'

She hopped back to her feet and stomped about the stage, stopping at every metered interval to dip her body down low and glide right back up with accompanied moans and calls. She continued with more energy as Puck went back to repeating the last line until the music stopped just before he did. Severus and Daimion both applauded and Hermione bowed and blew kisses before huddling with the band again.

The week continued on like this, with practice in the early afternoons, Hermione making appearances in the bar on evenings, dinner and intellectual discussions between her and the professor, except on Thursday, when everyone who wasn't in the band was barred from attending practice ("Just practicing a song in case of another incident with Black," Hermione later told them with a wink).

Saturday came upon them quicker than anyone realized, and people began showing up to the Parlor early. Upstairs, Severus was sitting on Hermione's bed with Flint on his shoulder as she rifled around in her closet. He was always curious about the dressing rituals of the female species and after letting that fact slip he was invited to join her as she prepared.

"God fucking DAMN IT!" He jumped a bit as she flung things about, digging in piles of clothes and shoes in her closet.

"Min? You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry, just URGH! I can't find the shirt I was going to wear tonight! You know, that black one with the lace on it?" He had no idea what she was talking about, but nodded his head anyway. "I swore I put it here after I tried it on! Why is it that I can never seem to find what the hell I'm looking for when I need it!" Severus was both shocked and amazed that something so cute and small as her could be so angry and violent. She ditched the closet and decided to do her makeup and worry about her dressing later.

Severus followed her into her bathroom and to the vanity where she waved to a seat for him. As he settled in Flint decided to walk around the counter, inspecting the makeup and brushes before devouring one of the fairy lights. Hermione admonished him sternly before lifting him up and tossing him. He spread his wings and glided to the sink where he slid to a landing and entertained himself in the mirror. Severus chuckled and she shot him a grin before picking out make-up items.

As strange as it sounded, watching Hermione do her make-up was fascinating to Severus. Hermione didn't mind at all, as Daimion had gone through this whole thing as well. She picked up a rather large brush, moved it around on some flat thing (which he thought looked like dried mud) and then dusted it onto her face while turning to see different angles in the mirror.

She finished after a moment (Severus saw no change, but decided not to press the subject) and began the process again, this time with a very small sponge-y looking brush and colored flat things. He noticed the color change to her eyelids and was in awe. Hermione caught sight of him in the mirror and giggled, causing him to close his mouth and sit up with a slight blush.

He was a little worried when she picked up a metal contraption, though, and held it up to her eyes giving it little squeezes. She replaced it and pulled a sticky-looking brush from a tube, sweeping it over her lashes before fluttering them. 'Merlin!' was all he could think as he noticed her eyes looked bigger and brighter. His sharp intake of breath caused her to have to bite her cheeks to keep from laughing as she began lining the inner rims of her eyes with a black pencil. His jaw dropped as he watched the process thinking she was going to poke her eyes out. He heaved a loud sigh of relief as she set it down and she laughed.

Sweeping a blood-red tube over her lips, her look was completed and Severus blinked a few times as she began fixing her hair. He had no idea how such simple things could make such a difference and was most enthralled. Hermione finished her hair and opened a drawer to see if there were any other accessories she wished to add to her look. Severus almost jumped at her sudden gasp and looked to find that she had found her missing shirt. Though neither of them had any clue as to how or why it was in a drawer in her vanity. She looked at him and shrugged before returning to the room.

Severus resumed his post on the bed as she milled around in the closet. He examined the walls and paintings in more detail as he picked at his fingers. A loud "TADA!" brought his attention back to her and his eyes almost popped at what he saw. She stood there in a fitted black top with short lace sleeves and lacing up the front, a short flouncy black tulle skirt, tall knee-high boots and thigh-high stockings. She bounced as she spun around for him and he opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

"That bad?" she asked with a slight pout. 'Gods, how can anyone be so sexy?' he thought.

"The exact opposite," he managed to get out through his suddenly dry throat. She smiled brightly at him, threw on a black velvet cloak with a jeweled clasp and held out her arm cheekily. He quickly got to his feet and offered his arm to her, which she happily took, and the pair made their way from the room.

I thought this was a good place to stop for now. The chapter after next will bring about Hermione's second performance. What surprises lie in wait? You'll just have to see. The song from this chapter was 'Into the Void' by NIN. Please review!