** I don't own these characters or the stories they belong to **

Severus had apologized to her, but Hermione knew, sorry as he was for what he had done, the path to Severus Snape's heart was still as deadly as any arena filled with a hundred vicious dragons, and she was determined to keep a distance between them. She had no intention of trying to get under his shields until he had eradicated the guard dragons, so to speak. Not knowing what it would take to accomplish that monumental feat, Hermione resolutely maintained the distance between them and withheld her heart.

But maintaining that resolution in the course of the subtle war that they were waging was taking a heavy toll on them both. By August, the situation was becoming desperate. Both of their tempers were suffering for the constant state of wound-up-and-frustrated that they worked each other into. Hermione knew this state of affairs could not go on forever, but not having been able to map out a clear solution, she took no steps to change the pattern.

Poor Severus felt increasingly unhinged. Much as he loved Lily, making amends to her had never involved being worked up into this kind of lather while being unable to vent his frustration or fulfill his longing. Hermione was so much closer, and teasing, while being just beyond reach that his torture was compounded by an almost-hope, and it was well and truly intolerable.

It was at this somthing's-gotta-give point that Ginny and Harry decided to surprise Hermione with a visit and early birthday celebration before Ginny had to head back to Hogwarts. Harry coordinated the arrangements with Severus who, in turn, collaborated with Mel and Cal to put together the surprise party.

Hermione arrived home on the evening of August 19th to a raucous "SURPRISE!" shouted from an assorted gathering of her friends and neighbors. There was a banner stretched across the wall that read, "Happy Birthday, Hermione!" and just as she was hugging Mel and telling her, "My birthday's not till next month," she spotted Harry and Ginny beaming at her in the crowd.

"Ginny! Harry!" Hermione shrieked, running at them for a hug, "What are you doing here? How did you do this?" she asked with happy-tears in her eyes.

"Early Birthday surprise, so Ginny could come before start of term. Severus helped, of course," Harry nodded over to the man standing by himself in the corner.

Hermione looked over at Severus and mouthed "Thank You."

Severus gave her an acknowledging nod, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

"Everybody, help yourselves!" Mel called from the kitchen. Heath, one of Hermione's friends from the coffee shop, turned the music up and the room began buzzing with conversation. Hermione went through the crowd, thanking everyone and introducing Harry and Ginny to her friends. Everyone milled around, talking and eating sandwiches and finger foods until Severus carried in a cake lit with 19 candles. After "Happy Birthday" was sung, "make a wish" was demanded of Hermione. She looked into the eyes of the man holding the cake, and could she help it, after that, if he was her wish?

Cake and ice cream were had and presents opened. Hermione received an assortment of things from her friends and neighbors which included a gift certificate for a spa day from Mel and Cal, a wonderful leather-bound, gilt-edge paged book of Shakespeare's works from Severus (and that thank you hug was like a fluster-making present in itself), a beautiful dress (which looked almost haute couture to everyone in the room who wasn't a witch or wizard) and an empty animal carrier from Ginny and Harry.

"What's this?" Hermione asked Harry about the carrier. "Did you get me an invisible pet?" she laughed.

"Do invisible pets leave scratch marks all over you?" asked Harry, showing his arms.

"What happened?" Hermione asked him, half-laughing, half-concerned.

"Crookshanks," Harry said. "We acquired the carrier when we discovered, after the first leg of the journey, that Crookshanks did not, at all, appreciate our method of travel."

Hermione laughed and gave them a hug. She asked Harry quietly, "What did you do, try to hold him and apparate?"

"Yes," Harry grumbled. "I do not advise it."

"I'm going to miss him at the Burrow" said Ginny, "but he did sire a litter with Katie's cat, so I'll have plenty of little furballs around, no worries. With that lot around, it's been an age since we had to de-gnome the garden. They've gone into hiding, I think."

Hermione glanced around to see if anyone had heard Ginny's mention of garden gnomes. Not many had, but there were at least two or three that were looking at Ginny like she was touched in the head. Hermione gave an exaggerated laugh as if to suggest Ginny had been joking and waited until their attention was diverted before giving Ginny a 'be-careful' look.

"Woops," Ginny said quietly.

The end of gift-opening seemed to have signaled time-to-go for about three-quarters of the party. The crowd was thinning down when Hermione noticed something on the other side of the room that made her blood run cold, and then hot. Aubrey, a friend from church, who she had liked previous to this very moment, was leaning over a seated Severus from behind, her long auburn hair swung forward like a curtain around them. She had her hand on his shoulder and she was speaking so closely into his ear that she might as well be kissing it.

Hermione's face went terribly pale. In the instant before she turned around to walk out the back door, Mel and Ginny followed her gaze to find what had caused her reaction. They saw, with a sinking feeling, what Hermione had seen, and were filled with trepidation for what might result. Mel followed Hermione outside and Ginny stalked towards Severus, telling Harry, "Move everyone away from the back door and windows," as she went.