AN:
BY THE WAY, THE QUIET PROFESSOR NOW HAS OVER 100 REVIEWS.
This is my first time so give me a moment to be ecstatic :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)Okay I'm done.And a congrats to Allergic-to-Paradox, she is a loyal reviewer and the person to submit the 100th review. Hoohah!
This chapter did just stop with them going home but then I figured it wasn't long enough.You should loveeee me. :)
Quote:
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.
Emily Bronte
Disclaimer: I own nothing but plot, and amazing reviews. :)
Hermione felt a bit anxious as she dressed herself in a white dress; it clung to her hips and fanned out giving her a sensual look, yet casual. It had been a splurge that she had made with Natalie and Ginny pushing her to make the purchase. She brushed her hair until it shined, and rested curling past her shoulders, and she applied light make-up, that accented her big brown eyes. She then left the bedroom with Phantom curled up sleeping.
When she came downstairs she found Severus in what she figured was the living room, with its large chairs and huge fireplace. He looked dashingly handsome she realized as she surveyed him. He was no longer wearing those wretched teaching robes, but instead had on some tan pants and a button up black long sleeve shirt, that was tucked in loosely. It gave him the all too easy out of bed look.
He noticed her looking at him, and motioned towards the fireplace, "Since I doubt you would want to walk to a point where we could apparate," a smile tugging at his lips.
"Hardly," she replied walking past him, before she went in she glanced at him smiling, then she was gone with a muffled, "Leaky Cauldron."
He shook his head, 'Damn she looks gorgeous,' he thought bitterly as he followed her.
They walked into the dining area of the Leaky Cauldron, finding an area to sit and wait. Hermione looked at Severus as he scowled at some of the occupants in the room who was paying too much attention to Hermione. She smiled, as she watched him pull up the dreaded Potion Master's act, yet after the few days of being with him when he was so unguarded his glare no longer fazed her. Instead she could look him straight in the eyes and smile, and she did so. Coaxing out a small smile from him before she heard a loud, "Hermione Granger, is that you?"
Hermione whirled around to see Natalie Goldsmith running towards her, in light khakis and a teal shirt, her pretty face shining with delight as Hermione stood up. They embraced happily, as Natalie squealed, turning Hermione around so she could look at her dress.
"I never thought you would wear that thing, oh but wasn't it worth it?" Natalie said happily as they sat down.
"I suppose it was worth that month's paycheck," Hermione added with a smile.
Natalie whirled around to look at Severus Snape suddenly, he looked a bit startled as he tried to regain his cool composure as she analyzed him before she let out another squeal, "And this is your very attractive fiancé?"
Hermione felt herself go red, as Severus smirked slightly, before he answered, "The pleasure to meet you Ms. Goldsmith but I'm sorry to inform you that I am not Hermione's fiancé, merely her bodyguard for the time being."
"Oh, now I feel like a fool," Natalie said as she blushed, "Um, Hermione then where is your fiancé?"
"He's late." Hermione said.
"As always." Severus added, as Hermione shot him a glare.
"And why do you need a bodyguard?" Natalie asked her eyes full of concern as she swiveled towards Hermione.
"You remember Voldemort?" Hermione asked uncertainly as Severus leaned slightly towards her, causing his arm to press lightly into hers, reassuring her.
"Yes, even in America we heard about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Natalie said.
"He had followers called Death Eaters, and after the final war Voldemort was finally destroyed so we managed to send most of the Death Eaters to Azkaban, our jail. Yet the other night I was at home and I heard something meowing outside in the alley next to me, well naturally I went to go look and found a kitten…then out came a Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy to be exact who is notorious and…he would have killed me… but Severus managed to rescue me in time." Hermione smiled at this as she rested a hand on Severus's arm, "Thus Dumbledore felt I would be safest with Severus." She removed her hand at this when she saw Natalie look at it expectantly.
"Oh Hermione," Natalie gasped as she reached over to hug Hermione. "Thank God you are safe then."
"Yes, quite." Spoke a voice from behind Hermione, startled she turned around to see the handsome Ronald Weasley standing there in a light blue shirt with jeans. Giving Hermione a slight peck on the cheek, he turned his attention towards Natalie, "A pleasure to meet you, the name is Ronald Weasley. I'm Hermione's fiancé."
"Oh so you're the lucky rascal," Natalie said with a slight blush on her face as Ron smiled taking a seat.
"Professor Snape," Ron said glancing towards Severus with a cool gaze, as Severus merely raised an eyebrow. Ron surveyed the distance between his fiancée and his previous potions professor and glowered at the pair before meeting Hermione's wide brown eyes.
"Hermione, how are you?" He asked earnestly as he reached over to grab her hands into his, she reached back startled at his sudden movement. He immediately sat back offended, but tried to hide it.
"I'm doing well," Hermione replied.
Meanwhile Severus watched as Hermione avoided Ron's touch and was actually quite pleased. He also wondered if Hermione knew that Ron was glaring at him because of the close contact Hermione was remaining with Severus's shoulder. He didn't mind though, actually he was quite content yet he didn't like the way Ron kept stealing glances at Natalie. True the girl was pretty, but she wasn't the natural beauty Hermione radiated, and certainly didn't have her intelligence. As a matter of fact Severus thought, 'I suppose Weasley and Goldsmith would make a good couple with their inferior I.Q. s.' He smiled smugly.
Ron smiled, and Hermione saw Natalie blush again lightly. Hermione sat there waiting for the jealousy to wash over her yet nothing came, she felt apathetic to the whole scene.
"So you never introduced yourself to me," Ron said becomingly towards Natalie.
"I'm Natalie Goldsmith, a friend of our Hermione," Natalie replied.
"And how did you and Hermione meet?"
This started a great conversation between Ron and Natalie, both talking with great enthusiasm, both sharing much in common. Hermione sighed, subconsciously leaning closer to Severus as he looked down at her. He saw conflicting emotions in her eyes, and wanted nothing more than to reach over and take her in his arms. He could nearly feel his arm twitch in the relentless desire.
Natalie suddenly stopped midway in a sentence as she looked at her watch, "Oh shoot, I was suppose to meet my father at his office twenty minutes ago!" She hastily stood up to hug Hermione, "It was so nice to see you!"
"Yeah it was," Hermione said with a small smile as she stood up, Severus standing up behind her with a protective stance.
"And it was a pleasure to meet you Severus and Ronald," Natalie said beaming brightly as Ron smiled back, while Severus merely nodded at her.
"Well I'll be leaving the same way as you so I'll walk with you," Ron said as he reached over and kissed Hermione lightly on the lips, "I'll write." Hermione nodded.
Then Ron and Natalie were gone leaving Severus and Hermione. "You do know we also have to apparate back to the cottage," Severus said smirking lightly as he watched Hermione groan.
"Can we not floo back?"
"I have it one way only. We can leave, but nobody may enter. Safety reasons, you should know that."
"Of course, you have to be difficult."
"It's nice to see you talking again." He said as he started towards the door smiling at her, she laughed and followed.
Hermione sat on her bed that night, her hair brushed to a shiny gloss. She was in some pajama pants with a tank top, deftly braiding her hair staring into a mirror she had resting on her lap. It was a beautiful ancient mirror that Mrs. Weasley had given to her, as to, "check up" on her fiancé, it was the one who first showed her of Ron cheating.
She ran her hand over its cool surface as it reflected her face, she calmed herself before whispering, "Show me Ronald Weasley, mirror."
With that the surface rippled ever so before focusing on an image of Ron at a café laughing in bemusement with Natalie, he looked relaxed and at peace, as he sat there attentively listening to her story. It was apparent to Hermione that Ron was smitten with Natalie; she waved her hand over the mirror the image leaving her.
She felt hot tears come to her eyes, as she struggled to keep in the tears, but she was failing as she let out a sob, the tears coming even faster as her shoulders began to shake. Twinkie popped into the room at the time to bring up some warm tea before bed but seeing Hermione in such a state she quickly went to fetch Severus.
Severus came bursting into the room, "Hermione what is the matter?" He asked as he went to her bedside, he rested a hand on her shoulder causing her to cry even more. He sat on the edge of the bed, and instinctively pulled her towards him, nearly causing her to sit on his lap as he held her. He rocked slowly back and forth, as he stroked her hair, "Hermione, what's wrong?"
Hermione felt the tears slowly dwindle as she wiped her eyes ruefully, dimly aware of the fact she was sitting on Severus's lap. "Ron is smitten with Natalie," she started, "I mean he is smitten," she pulled out the mirror and pulled up the image of Ron, "we never have conservations like this…Natalie is perfect for him. And I don't mind, I don't care, and it took me today to realize I don't and will never love Ron." She sat the mirror down.
"Then why were you crying?" Severus asked as he turned her to face him.
"Because, I don't think I'll ever find love," she whispered as the tears started to roll, "I'm not an amazing beauty, I'm a bookworm… and girls like me we never find Prince Charming."
"Now, Miss Granger, you are an intelligent lady and I see no resemblances between you and a worm," Severus said earning himself a small smile from Hermione, "but it's not you that is at a fault, it's Mr. Weasley for passing up a…beautiful young woman like you." He finally said, tilting her face up to reach his.
Hermione felt her heart start to pound as she looked up into Severus's dark eyes, his pupils narrowing down on her, his head starting to lean forward, and she felt him responding, her breathing getting heavier as she went to lean up towards him, spell bound.
Then Twinkie popped it, ruining the moment as they both separated from the close contact they had been sharing, a faint blush tingeing Hermione's cheeks. Severus hastily stood up, Hermione nearly tumbling from his lap, as he went to walk out the door he turned back, "Don't let Mr. Weasley bring you down." Then he was gone.
Twinkie bustled around Hermione, handing her tea, and clucking as she pushed Hermione underneath the covers. "Twinkie hopes Mistress feels better, Master was worried, Twinkie could tell. Master cares a lot for Mistress."
Hermione couldn't help but to smile.
Meanwhile Severus was in his room cursing himself, 'You nearly kissed her, and you were going to, if it hadn't been for blasted Twinkie! You were going to kiss her in her moment of need…and she would have been horrified afterwards. You need distance from her…distance. Till she has enough time away from Ron.'
Dear Ron,
We have had our times together, and we will always remain friends, but the truth is this...I don't love you, and I fear that I never will truly love you. So enclosed is your ring back, I'm sorry once again.
Sincerely, Hermione
AN:
Ron is history. : )
Or is he?
Please review, it keeps me going.