Author's note

I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe for they all belong to JK Rowling. All I have done was borrow from her, and had a little fun with my ideas.

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Chapter 21

The couple looked very different once they had apparated into Diagon Alley. Severus had short waivey hair, a shorter nose, and a tanner complexion. His clothes of course were still dark colored; a dark green long sleeved turtle neck and black jeans. Hermione on the other hand had straight brunette hair, a stout nose, and a pale complexion with a hint of pink on her cheeks. She wore blue jeans and a green t-shirt. The only thing that could be recognizable between the two was their eyes. They didn't decide to change them for they both loved looking at each others eyes. At least they still felt like they were looking at each other.

As they walked around, Severus had am arm wrapped around Hermione protectively as he held her close against him. Whenever someone would almost bump into her, she would stiffen as if she were afraid that she would get hit. Clearly, she still wasn't used to being with a lot of people yet.

They stopped by a few shops in which Hermione could get her supplies for school. Severus thought that it was best since they were already in Diagon Alley, and there were no students in which crowded the stores. He on the other hand stopped by the potions store to replenish some of the ingredients that he needed. When it came to the bookstores, Severus purchased books that he or his wife would enjoy reading.

They were walking down the main street when something had caught Hermione's eye. She stopped and turned to look at the shops display and noticed various muggle electronics being sold in the store; from laptops to radios. The store's name was called 'Muggle IT.'

"Would you like to go in?" Severus asked her.

"Just to look," she answered.

He nodded and opened the door for her, and the both stepped inside.

As they entered the store, there were a number of flat screen televisions, stereos, cellular phones, and more. Severus looked around a little, and he knew what they were. He too was knowledgeable of muggle technology. He even had some around his manor. Soon enough, Hermione led him to one area in which various MP3 players were sold.

"There's so many to pick from," Hermione stated as she looked at the different players that were displayed on the shelves. There were players in different shapes and sizes. It was difficult to pick one if you didn't know exactly what you were looking for.

"I must agree with you," Severus said as he too looked at the different players. "I suggest that you best get what suits your needs Love, and what's best of course." He looked at one player and held it in his hand. It was a Sony, and it was shaped like a small ball pen. He then placed it back on the shelf.

"No Severus, it's too much to ask for," Hermione shook her head. "Like I said I was just looking, and you bought me lots of books already."

"You want one, yes?" Severus asked as he raised his brow.

"I do," Hermione nodded. "It is not the same as needing one. There is a difference."

"Can't I play the indulgent husband?" Severus purred into her ear, as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Can't I spoil my wife?"

Hermione leaned against him and then answered, "You already spoiled me enough even though I wasn't your wife."

"All the more to spoil you my dear," he said in a silky voice. "Go on now and pick one."

Hermione gave in. She knew that Severus wouldn't have them leave the shop without her getting an MP3 player. She trudged over to the iPod section of the shelf with Severus still firmly holding her. Her eyes then spotted the new iPod nano. It was small and able to play not just music, but videos as well, and even store some photos—muggle photos. The black colored on caught her eye, and she took one.

"I love black," Severus reminded her.

"I know. It looks simple and sleek," she said as she examined it closely. "There even is a tiny parchment in the packaging with the charm to place in whatever music and videos I like. And also, we need to take some muggle photos to put in as well."

"I hate having my picture taken," Severus groaned as he rolled his eyes.

Hermione turned around in his arms. "For me please? A few photos won't bite," she said as he cinnamon eyes looked like a puppy dogs, begging. "We don't even have any photos of us together."

Severus gave in himself. He would do anything for Hermione and couldn't say no with her puppy dog eyes. How they looked so cute, that he couldn't resist. So he just nodded and kissed her. Their tongues slid against each other for a moment before parting.

"How much?" Severus asked her.

"Um, two hundred ten galleons," Hermione answered as she looked at the price sticker at the bottom.

Severus pulled out enough galleons, and handed it to Hermione. she gave him a quick thank and a kiss on his cheek before she headed to the cashier to pay.

Some time later, after taking a few muggle photos in a small picture booth at one corner of the store, they were in the ice cream parlor. While they were enjoying their ice cream, Hermione was leaning her back against Severus, busy putting in her music and photos in her new iPod. She had one ear bud in her ear, so that she could hear Severus when he was talking to her.

"I like that photo," Severus stated as he looked at the iPod's screen over her shoulder.

"So do I," Hermione agreed. "It's the one with you smiling the widest. You look so much better when you smile." She looked at the photo and was happy that they were able to remove their charms privately inside the photo booth with no one noticing.

"I also like the one in which we are both kissing," Severus added as Hermione pressed the button to show the other photos.

When Hermione was going to turn and say something, she was surprised when he had captured her lips. She tilted her head to the side just a bit to allow their kiss to deepen.

"Exactly what I was talking about," Severus smirked, as he licked the corner of his lip. "I really love chocolate fudge, most especially when I can taste it on you."

"I don't even think that you'd kiss me in public if you weren't wearing your charms," Hermione smiled. "Your reputation as a bastard would have completely gone out the window."

"I agree, that is why I don't mind wearing these charms actually. We can almost do whatever we want without the worry," he said and kissed her again.

Suddenly something caught both of their attentions. It was the voices of two people that they recognized. They turned their heads to notice that it was coming from the booth behind them. Harry and Ron had just arrived in the ice cream parlor.

"I'll have a pecan ice cream with nuts on the top," Ron told the waitress.

"And I will have the brownie madness with double extra hot fudge," Harry added.

"Your orders will arrive shortly," the waitress said, and walked towards the counter.

Severus and Hermione continued to eat their ice cream, and briefly glanced at the two once. They could see Ron up front, and all they saw of Harry was the back of his head and shoulders. The two boys would have never recognized them thanks to their charmed appearances.

"I can't wait till this school year starts. I can't believe that it'll be our last year at Hogwarts," Harry said.

"Yeah. And we get to play loads of Quidditch again," Ron added. "I miss her though you know. Even though I am mad at her you know." The tone in his voice changed, sounding somewhat down.

"Relax Ron. I'm sure that there are other girls that would like to go out with you."

Severus and Hermione's ears listened into the conversation of the two. They both knew that the person that they were talking about was Hermione. Couldn't he for once just stop thinking about her? He's misses her, but he's mad at her. What's that? Ron is so confused.

"Do you think that she's coming back this year?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Harry replied. "Professor Dumbledore said that she might not. I wonder why she had to leave in a rush at the end of January. She didn't even reply to the owl that we sent her."

"Can you believe that she dumped me right after we snogged each other?" Ron asked in disbelief. "First she liked me and then, whatever know. I can't understand her, that girl."

"Neither can I," Harry shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

Hermione shot her head back, and looked at the redhead. It was only a short glance since Severus placed a hand on her neck to turn her head away. They're lips didn't even touch. What the fuck was he talking about?! No wonder she seemed like the bitch in the whole school. He twisted the story all the more I his favor. Everyone felt sorry for Ron and took pity on him. Asshole! She left because of you. Haha! She wished.

"She doesn't know what she's missing. I'm a great catch you know," Ron complimented himself.

Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust as she looked at Severus.

"Whatever Ron," Harry said. "For once, can we not talk about Hermione? You need to move on."

"She broke my heart mate. How can I move on with a broken heart?"

"Whatever," Harry said.

"Let's get out of here," Hermione said as she grabbed Severus's hand, dragging him out of their booth, and out the parlor. She had enough of Ron babbling and complaining about her. Damn. He was lying. It was supposed to be her complaining about Ron.

Severus held onto Hermione's shoulder as she walked briskly in front of him. "Slow down will you," he told her.

"Did you just hear what he said?" Hermione said as she stopped in her tracks and turned to face Severus. "Me snogging him?! That's complete crap!"

"Come on, let's head back home," Severus said as he took her hand. He led them to an empty alleyway and apparated back to Hogwarts.

Hermione was getting irritated over something that was supposed to mean nothing. He once told her that she shouldn't be bothered by what other people say. And she did get bothered. He needed to have her calm down.

Hermione was surprised when Severus had apparated the both of them in the middle of the rose garden. After he cast a spell to drop their charms, be took hold of Hermione's waist before she could walk away.

"Let's stay here for a while," he said softly.

He then took hold of her iPod and placed one ear bud in her ear and the other in his. He then pressed the play button and smiled down at her, planting a small kiss on her brow. Hermione placed her arms around his neck as her head was tucked under his chin. They both were slow dancing to the song that they were listening to.

'Our song' they both thought together as they swayed to the music. Both of them, lost in the moment—their moment. Nothing else mattered in the world except their love for one another.

Please do review my story. Thank you!

AN – The song being played at is entitled "Never Saw Blue Like That" by Shawn Colvin.