Chapter 20: First Date

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

Calpernia's Cafe, Seventh Street, Muggle World...

After a long and grueling two weeks of consistent schooling and more than a few rows with Ronald Weasley, Hermione had been glad for the weekend. She managed to shake both Ron and Harry as she took off from the school following Professor Snape's swift departure to the Muggle World. As far as she could tell nothing about the day seemed out of the ordinary for him. He treated the students with the same indifference he always had even assigned extra homework. Ron grumbled about wanting to hex him a time or two but there were empty words. Harry had been inquisitive as to what kept calling the dour Professor away from Hogwarts. The amber eyed witch down played her interest a bit despite asking to use the Marauder's Map once again to visit a book sale in the muggle world. She gave no specific detail but Harry allowed her to use it knowing how much she enjoyed reading. Unlike Ron, Hermione was the most responsible out of his group of friends.

"We'll cover for you." Harry had said as he turned his attention toward his rather interesting comic.

A quick stop by her parent's house and a bit of raiding her mother's closet for an outfit and heels saw her out before they even knew she came by and back into the elements to meet up with Professor Snape at Calpernia's Cafe. From the moment the Polyjuice potion took effect, Hermione Granger focused all her efforts on being Virginia Holton. It was a necessary step if she were going to remain beneath Professor Snape's radar. It had not escaped her notice that the last time she saw him, her nervous attempt at flirting had caused her to inadvertently refer to him as a "handsome wizard" instead of simply saying "handsome man."

She had been relieved that he did not seem to pick up on it but this was Snape she was dealing with. Sooner or later he would revisit the conversation given his near perfect memory despite his previous years of heavy drinking. It always impressed the young witch that he had been so intellectually sound despite everything that had happened to him. She supposed it was his intellect that propelled her constant need to know as much about him as possible in a bid to gain some understanding of him.

Truth be told it was the thrill of obtaining "forbidden knowledge" as a whole that seemed to thrill her. Discovering something that no one else had been privy to and basking in the glow of having something above all others was definitely something that attracted her to even the most dangerous of circumstances.

At the moment however, Virginia Holton had easily made her way into the cafe.

She had been delighted to find that he had been sitting at the exact same table they had chosen the first day they arrived here. He had looked quite different from the man whom stood before an entire class of Slytherin and Gryffindors with a scowl on his sallow pale face and a glint of annoyance behind his obsidian eyes. To be honest, he appeared quite handsome in her eyes as she noted he had cleaned up well before greeting her.

Severus Snape wore a causal black suit with no tie which had been slightly unbuttoned at the collar, a risk as far as he had been concerned given the scars where Voldemort's serpent Nagini had bitten him.

He wore his hair down at his shoulders this time but it was kept up well and slicked back to reveal his clean shaven face and seemingly hypnotic obsidian orbs. He got up from the table and reached out his hand toward her.

"I'm rather pleased that you came." he said his voice dripping with something akin to silk as he spoke to her.

"Well we said we'd meet did we not?" she replied unsure why she suddenly felt the familiar sensation of fluttering within her belly as he lead her to her seat and pulled back the chair.

"That we did." he replied looking her over with a glint of heat behind his obsidian eyes. "I confess I had no idea what to make of this...date...I've not had a decent one in quite some time."

Virginia sighed in relief. She had been so nervous about the prospect of going on a date she hadn't even considered how he must have felt.

"I haven't had much luck in that department either it seems." she replied.

"Would you like to order anything?" Snape asked. "I-I will take care of the costs."

"That's very sweet of you Professor..." she began.

"Please...call me Severus." he urged. "I hear the title of Professor quite enough at the school where I teach."

"Alright." agreed Virginia. "I insist we split the cost of this date...I have funds of my own you know."

"As you wish." replied Snape fighting off a wave of nervousness. "I suppose...neither of us are very good at this dating aspect."

Virginia smiled at him.

"What do you say we simply enjoy the afternoon together and worry about the date aspect some other time." she said.

"That sounds...quite splendid actually." he replied as if a good deal of pressure was off him.

After a few moments of silence, Snape seemed occupied by whatever it was that bothered him internally unable to keep silent about it for very long, he broke the silence.

"Virginia." he began. "Before at the bookstore when you were...shamelessly flirting with me...you called me a..."handsome wizard"...what did you mean by that?"

Virginia simply smiled meeting his eyes and addressed his question.

"Well...it was a terrible and as you put it shameless attempt on my part to address the utterly spell-bounding aspect of your charm." she replied evenly. "I've never met a man quite like you let alone one that shared some of my interests so either you are some type of mental wizard or you just happen to be in the right place at the right time."

Snape seemed to accept this and sat back into his seat at ease for the firs time since the date began.

"What do you say we get some pastries?" asked Virginia.

"I believe I'd like that." he said returning her smile.

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Open Street, London England, Muggle World...

The cool breeze that had found them did little to dampen the mood as Severus Snape walked with his hands behind his back and the woman whom had captivated his attention since their very first encounter. She had been a lovely sight draped in white despite her attire being no real shift in terms of style than her usual skirt and blazer approach to the day. The white heels did a good deal to draw attention to her rather enticing legs as they casually strolled down the street taking in the sights and enjoying each other's company.

The Potions Professor had found himself entranced by the sound of her voice. It had a familiar yet matured quality to it that he had been impressed with. She spoke of many books she had the pleasure of reading and her former Primary school experiences. Snape had done the same aside from the fact that he read a good deal more than she had they were delighted to note they enjoyed many of the same classic literature tales.

As they continued their walk, the sky had darkened and before they knew it...it was time to part ways.

"I want to see you again." said Snape looking into her eyes of amber. "I know that we'll both be busy during the week but on weekends I can make time for you."

Virginia took a moment to consider this. While she had enjoyed spending time with Severus and she discovered they had a great deal in common, it was quite risky to get this involved with him.

"I..." she began.

Snape fearing that there was a possibility he'd be rejected, he took her hand in his and pressed his pale lips against the soft perfumed flesh of her hand.

"I would like very much to see you again Virginia." he said meeting her eyes once more. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since the day we met and I have to know if there is something to this...something to us...we don't even have to call it a date...just two mutual acquaintances chatting or going for pastries is fine by me."

Noting the hopeful look on the otherwise saddened wizard's face, Hermione had no choice but to agree.

"When and where?" she asked finding it difficult to refuse him despite the increasing risk.

"Saturday next...same place for starters." he replied. "This may come as a shock to you but I've never had the pleasure of an interesting conversation with a woman until you came along and I shall very much like to continue these...meetings."

Virgnia seemed to relax a bit more and treated him to another smile.

"Well...alright." she replied. "Saturday next it is then...same place."

Snape had been truly grateful for this chance as he kissed her hand once more before their mutual parting.

"Until next time then." he said.

"Until next time." she agreed.

With that the two of them parted and unbeknownst to one of them, they were both bound for Hogwarts.