Song for this chapter: Mid Air by Naama Hill (this song is amazing but you won't be able to find it on youtube, so I think you should take the time to search for it on google)


SPOV


I read the letter twice to let it sink in. It was as close as she had gotten to admitting what she had said when she thought I was unconscious. The thought of trying to say those same words to her was actually terrifying, but I yearned to hear her say it to me. Possibly I just yearned to hear it said at all, having gone without hearing since the early years of my childhood when my mother was still willing to say it aloud. I'd prefer to hear it without idiot attached, but I would take it any way I could get it. Of course it wouldn't do for her to realize just how needy I am.

I would like very much to go on a date with you if you find you are interested. That was what she had said, and my immediate urge was to run up to her chambers and accept. When did I become so… not me? I actually had to force myself to sit down. To wait and give it some time before I accept the date. I wanted to make the right impression. I wanted to impress.

Severus Snape wants to impress a woman, a former student of his no less. What would people think? Who cared honestly? I only cared what she thought honestly. So I sat through the rest of the night after receiving her note. I went to bed, and waited half the way through Christmas eve before I penned a note in response to her. I kept it short and to the point while trying not to come off like the old surly potions professor.

Hermione,

I would like very much to take you out for the evening. Would you be so inclined to join me for a night on the town in London to ring in the New Year? Should you agree I will be waiting for you in the entrance hall at six in the evening.

Yours Truly,

Severus

And then I had to wait some more. Only now I allowed myself to occupy my time with arranging the perfect evening out. I made reservations for the most romantic restaurant in muggle London. I was surprised to discover that making your reservation on Boxing Day, for a well booked Holiday only five days away was essentially impossible. Well, if you weren't me. I made a trip into the restaurant and drug out the old dungeon bat persona until the poor girl gave me the reservation just to get me out of the building. It wasn't the nicest way to do it, but it was certainly better than using an unforgivable to procure the table.

When I had arranged the meal I saw to booking a moonlit carriage ride through Regents Park before joining the celebration around the center pond with fireworks and a bit of music. I wasn't one to watch a romantic film or really give much credence to what was romantic, but I wanted this night to be perfect for her. I'd gathered enough from little witches tittering amongst themselves before lessons to gather bits and piece together a general idea of what women found appealing on a date. Most of it had to be tossed out for the magical nature or magical locations. This first date was all about making Hermione happy, making it perfect for her, so no magic this time.


The days of waiting for New Years to come were far too long, and I was rather ridiculous in how frequent I checked the time. I began to worry over things to the point that I did not even recognize my own behavior.

Would she like the food? Would she even want to go for a carriage ride in the park? Did she want to go out on New Year 's Eve? She hadn't said anything about the date even though I knew she must be in the castle having returned on Boxing Day. Of course I hadn't requested a reply. I had simply assume she would want to go out on New Year's eve. What is she already had plans?

My mental turning was put on hold when Winky appeared in my chambers with a note clutched in her hand. I focused in on it, but heart naturally speeding up a bit at the assumption that the note was from her. I maintained a stern façade as I reached to snatch it from her hands.

"Missus says to wait for a response," she said quietly as she curtsied back a step to wait patiently.

Severus,

You've forgotten to tell me how to dress.

Yours,

Hermione.

It was short and quite pointed, but still I was pleased. Yes, she did want to go. Yes, she was invested in the evening and wanted her attire to reflect that. Yes, she was still calling herself mine. Yours, it was such a simple word, and yet now it was my favorite in the entire language.

"Tell her to dress for dinner, but to bring a jacket," I told the elf with a voice that sounded much nicer than she was likely to have expected from me.

"Yes Master Snape," Winky said with a sweeping bow before she popped out of existence.

With Winky gone I just had to wait a few more hours until it time.


By the time five o'clock rolled around I was dressed, rather uncomfortably if I were being honest, and waiting for Hermione in the entrance hall. I had dressed like a muggle since that was where we would be dining, but the change in color I had done for Hermione. Without my frock coat covering, it, I felt exposed in my white oxford. Though my wizarding robes had a high neck and were not at all uncomfortable, the silken blue tie around my neck felt as if it were trying to strangle me slowly. I pushed all thoughts of being a fake or an idiot from my mind and focused my ears to listen for the sound of approaching feet.

At one minute to six I heard the click of a heel on the top of the marble steps and I turned my head toward the sound. My breath hitched momentarily in my chest when I saw her. She was wearing a bluish green dress that reminded me of the ocean both in the color and in the way the skirt of the dress seemed to flow around her. There was a gathering on her hip that made it look like a waterfall, but I found my attention seemed to linger on the barely there straps and the way the dress clung to her chest.

As she drew closer I could see that much of her skin was now flawless, only further adding to her beauty in the way her smooth peach skin contrasted her dress. The scar on her face was still visible even though it had faded, and the scar wrapping around her right bicep still drew a bit of attention if you were looking for it. I noticed that tonight the word that had been carved in to her arm was hidden, and I wondered if the glamor was for my benefit or hers.

"You look stunning," I told her when she stopped in front of me leaving a two foot gap between us. "You have however forgotten you jacket, and I suspect it will be quite cold tonight."

"My jacket is hidden as well as my wand is Severus," she said cheekily before giving me a quick once over. "I see that you do not appear to be in possession of a jacket either."

"No mine is shrunken and stowed in my pocket, I chuckled. "Are you ready to leave witch?"

"Gladly," she smiled and I offered her my arm.

It was a good thing there were no students around in the entrance hall to see the dreaded potions master with an actual smile on his face. I was not one to smile often, but the ease with which Hermione wrapped her arm around mine warranted at the very least a smile. I kept one hand firmly on top of Hermione's hand on my arm, and used the other to turn my cuff link which I had arranged to have turned into a portkey for tonight's use. One turn to the left sent us into a designated arrival point in London not far from the restaurant, and a turn back to the right would deposit us once more in the entrance hall of Hogwarts. Securing the portkey meant alerting Minerva to an outing with Hermione, but I had refrained from calling it a date in order to avoid further acknowledgment of the twinkle that had appeared n her eye when I had asked her to speak to the ministry on my behalf.

There was a tugging behind my navel and I tightened my grip infinitesimally on Hermione's hand to ensure she was not left behind. It was the only magic I was requiring for the evening, but I was still a bit nervous that she might pull away in a moment of skittishness and rather ungracefully end the date.

"Severus," Hermione gasped as our feet made contact with the pavement of the alley a few streets down from Ledbury. "How did you get permission for a portkey out of Hogwarts? You did get permission right?"

"Yes I got permission woman," I sneered, but there was no real menace to it. "The headmistress is rather pleased with me at the moment, so it did not take much wheedling to get her to agree to speak to the ministry on my behalf."

"And why is the headmistress so pleased with you?" she asked as I deftly steered us out of the alley and down toward the restaurant.

"I may or may not have agreed to extend my contract beyond the initial two years I agreed to give her," I said lightly as I nodded my head to the gentleman in a waistcoat who opened the door for us.

"Why did you only agree to two years in the beginning?" she asked, her left brow climbing slightly like it was wont to do when she was curious about something.

"That is a story for another time," I said in a light voice, hoping to keep her off the scent for now in order to keep the night from falling apart.

"Do you have a reservation sir?" a young woman in a black dress asked as she glanced up from her book to look at Hermione and myself.

"Yes it is under Severus Snape," I said formally, watching Hermione from the corner of my eye to gauge her reaction.

Her eyes were bright as they flitted around the restaurant taking in the low lighting and the black drapes that obscured most of the dining room from our view in front of the podium. I wasn't sure if she saw the signage for The Ledbury when we entered, but I felt certain that having grown up in muggle London she would have heard of it.

"Right the way," the hostess said when she found my name in her ledger and led us through the gap in the black velvet curtains and lead us in a weaving path through the tables.

"I assume you used magic to get a reservation at the Ledbury on a Holiday with short notice," Hermione whispered conspiratorially as we followed the hostess to the table on the edge of what appeared to be a dance floor that was speckled with a couple here and there.

"Perhaps," I said noncommittally, pulling out her chair when the hostess gestured to the table we were to be sitting at. "I take it you know the reputation of the restaurant."

"Yes my parents used to come her once a month," she said with a light smile, and it was nice to see her mention her parents without seeming to be in pain. "I only joined them once, but I remember the food to be quite good."

"Well let's hope they outshine your memories," I said as I took my own seat.

The conversation stalled momentarily while we perused out menus and a server appeared to pour water for us. There was not much banter while we made our decisions, but I found it quite interested when we both ordered the Roast Quail with Peas, Iberian Ham and Mousserons. The waiter brought us a white wine to enjoy with our meal and I fell into an easy conversation with Hermione about how her attempts to alter how muggle studies was going.

"My third years are far more receptive than the older students," she explained between bites of quail. "I think each year will be a little easier as the students with their prejudices so firmly in place have graduated. For now I think that's the best that I can hope for."

"Old habits do die rather hard," I nodded. "All we can do is try though. I am interested in readdressing the combined potions and muggle studies sometime this term if you are still interested."

"I would like that," she gushed before gently shaking her head at the dessert menu the waiter was holding out to her in offering.

I watched as her eyes lingered momentarily on the dance floor before returning to mine. I saw the little glimmer fade back into a determined scholarly look and I realized as she propositioned hosting a joint lecture that what she really wanted to do was join the couples that were dancing. It may well be my best kept secret that I did know how to dance, and the prospect of seeing that playful glimmer return to her eye had me contemplating revealing it.

If I revealed that I could in fact dance, would she expect me to tell her where I had learned? It was just a hunch I suppose, but revealing that my dancing lessons had come from some of the more benign revels that had been hosted by Narcissa at the Malfoy manor. While I thought she might enjoy the fact that I knew how to waltz, it might leave a bitter taste in her mouth to know that after such a dance I was often expected to join a hunting expedition sent out to round up the nights 'entertainment.'

"Would you like to dance Hermione?" I asked her after tossing back the last of my wine and throwing caution to the wind.

"I would love to," she smiled.

I stood quickly from my seat and slid around the table so I could offer her my hand before she stood, like a proper gentleman. She set her napkin down on the table and placed her hand in mine. As she casually placed her palm against mine I remembered a time when she would have been terrified to do even that. I reveled in the comfort that existed between us now and I lead her through the gathers of black curtains out onto the small dance floor where two other couples danced. Once we set foot on the floor cleared of tables we could better here the string quartet that was playing softly.

A waltz I thought as the music hit my ears, and I couldn't help but smirk just a bit as I offered my hands out prepared to take her hand in mine, and lay my other hand on her upper back should she allow it. She offered me a brief shy smile, and then she placed her right hand in mine, and gently laid her left hand on my shoulder. I slid my hand into place, and began to move in an even three count step that created a small circle.

Hermione moved easily with me, so I to a chance, and turned gently guiding with my hand to spin us, and she easily tiled her hips and let her feet follow me around the dance floor. It was clear that she had waltzed before, and I too more liberties in using more advanced steps. She followed me so smoothly that I suspected she might actually know how to waltz better than me, but was simply allowing me to lead.

"You have danced before," I said quietly when the music increased in tempo and she swiveled her hips in time with my turning causing her dress to twirl between us.

"Yes," she smiled, her cheeks alight with a happy pink blush. "Dancing was about the only thing that made the debutant parties my mother insisted on dragging me too bearable."

I followed the melody the violin was singing out and added a bit of a spring to my step bringing us rather effortlessly through the most difficult and intricate waltz steps that I knew as I thought about what she had said. I wondered if it would be inappropriate to ask for clarification on if what I suspected she had just admitted was accurate. Unless I was very much mistaken on how I understood the muggle word, Hermione had just admitted to me that she came from money.

"You are gentry?" I asked finally as I lifted my arm and spun her under it to temporarily break eye contact as I grimaced at how inelegant my question had been.

"So to speak," she said quietly as she spun back to me and returned her hand to mine. "Does that bother you?'

I looked into her eyes as I thought about that question. Did it bother me that she came from a wealthy family and I came from the family that had squandered away what was left of the Prince family fortune? Perhaps a generation or two ago it would have bothered me. But I lived in a time where gender roles were not so strict, and I agreed with them. No, I could accept that she was far more wealthy than I had ever dared dreaming to achieve.

"No it doesn't bother me," I answered finally as we slowed to a gentle sway as the music faded to a conclusion. "You've managed to keep that under wraps for quite some time. As a spy I must salute you."

She dipped her head in acceptance of my rather ridiculous salute and then she laugh a great full laugh with her head tilted back, and for a moment all I could think about was how beautiful she was. As her laughter faded the next song began, and as the low and reverberating chords were struck I realized what type of dance the song was meant to elicit and I wondered if Hermione would be up for such a dance.

"Dare you?" I asked her, looking at her hand still clasped in mine and wondering if she would actually agree to tango with me.

She placed her other hand back on my shoulder and turned her head to the left. I thought for a moment she was simply going to endure the dance for me, and decided to release her from the request all together when she gave a subtle tug. I allowed her a moment to lead as she pulled our shoulders right then left with a turn of the head silently telling me yes, and giving a physical instruction to begin leading in a broken tango.

I slid into action, my feet leading us with more purpose around the dance floor that I might have noticed had emptied if I was looking anywhere other than the profile of the woman in my arms who was looking off to the side like I should have been. Our steps bobbed slightly, and our eyes met when whe instinctually turned out heads in the manner that was expected during a tango. For a moment I saw her eyes, and there was a heat in them that made me hungry while at the same time made maintaining my dancing frame that kept distance between our bodies that much more difficult.

The music trilled, and I spun her out and away from me, before bring her back into my embrace, her chest grazing mine as her dress fluttered around our legs.

She surprised me by kicking her leg up, and while her wait was shifted, I braced her shoulder in the crook of my elbow and leaned her slowly toward the floor. Her leg folded into the other so effortlessly you would have thought we did this dance every night. When I brought her slowly back to a standing position, and her face was close to mine, I nearly lost all self-control. Maintain your dance frame I shouted at myself in my head, to keep myself from giving into the urge to claim her lips with mine.

I backed her up through the empty space of the dance floor, spinning her once more, and for a moment she had both arms wrapped around my neck and her mouth was so close to mine I swear I could taste her already. She released her hold on me, and placed a hand on my chest, taking her turn to back me across the floor before I took her hands back in mine and we danced.

When the cello music swelled I slid my hand into the delicate curls she had loosely secured at the nape of her neck and supported her while I leaned her into a deep dip that left her neck exposed in the most tantalizing way. She pulled instinctively slower to me when I brought her back to her feet once more and we twirled once more around the dance floor before the music began to unwind into the end of the song. I spun her into a deep dip that left her leg wrapped around my thing for support before I pulled her up with the ending of the song. There was a beat of silence where her mouth was a mere inch from mine and I wanted so badly to claim her.

I was debating if I should just lean in and do it when applause interrupted me, and I broke eye contact with her to see that the other couples that had stopped dancing as well as those seated near the dance floor were clapping for the performance we had just put on. Hermione's face flamed red with embarrassment, and I thought it best not to add to it by kissing her now.

"I think that is just about enough dancing don't you," I said, surprised by how breathy my voice sounded.

She nodded, and I took her hand in mine and lead her off of the dance floor. While I settled with the hostess of our bill Hermione discreetly slipped into the bathroom and returned out jackets to their normal sizes so we might put them on before I took her on to the next portion of the date I had planned.

My blood was still pumping hot through my veins when we stepped out into the chilled night air and found the carriage that I had arranged sitting in the street directly in front of the restaurant waiting for us.

"Severus, you amaze me," Hermione gasped as I helped her into the carriage. "First you reveal to me that you dance, and well at that, and now this? What else don't I know about you?"

"I must guard the secret that I can play the romantic, or I would be unable to uphold my reputation as an evil git," I chuckled at her as I slid into the carriage beside her.

The carriage driver mostly ignored us as he set the horses into motion and we made our way slowly to the park. I decided that the tango had gone so well that it wasn't too likely that Hermione would be afraid of my touch and took the liberty of casually resting my arm around her shoulders and pulling her into my warmth as the night grew steadily colder around us.

"It's beautiful out tonight," Hermione said looking up through the trees of the park to try and see the stars as we entered the park.

"It is," I agreed, but I doubted that she realized I was only looking at her.

There was still snow on the ground of the park, and twinkling lights were strung between the lanterns that stayed in the park year round. It cast a slightly amber light on the winter wonderland around us, and I couldn't think of any way I could have made it more perfect for her. She seemed blissfully happy as she sat snuggled against me watching the couples who walked the smaller paths and the flash of the occasional firework shot off somewhere nearby.

We rode in the carriage until we arrived at the pond in the center of the park where the firework display was set to start any minute. I slid out of the carriage, not worrying about the driver who had been paid ahead of time for his services, and helped Hermione down onto the path which was thankfully clear of snow. I hated to think of her trying to walk through now in the strappy black heels she had chosen to wear with her dress.

We walked around the pond until we found a spot that had a clear view of the center where a boat sat waiting to shoot the fireworks into the air. Hermione stood in front of me, her body a few inches from mine, and did not flinch when I first cast a wandless warming charm over us, and then casually draped my arms around hers to keep it wrapped around us. At least that was how I mentally justified pulling her into my arms, and she didn't seem to have a problem with it. There was a minute of quiet where we had to wait for the spectacle to start, and I couldn't help that my mind wandered to how often I had yearned for a simple affectionate embrace like this one. My heart felt light with the joy of finally finally receiving it after all this time.

Then the fireworks began, and I missed most of the show. Hermione tilted her head back onto my shoulder so she could angle her head up to the sky to see the light show, but I subtle turned my head so I could breathe in the scent of her hair and watched the flashes of light reflect in her eyes. I was too mesmerized by her easy smile, and the way her face was illuminated with each flash of light to really bother with watching the fireworks.

The show came to an end, and through the night air filtered the sound of many people counting.10 her eyes met mine from where her head rested on my shoulder. 9 she turned slowly in my arms, not breaking my embrace but turning around so she could face me. 8 her chest pressed into mine and she looked up with me her eyes shinning with happiness. 7 I slid my hands into the curve of her lower back and gentle caressed her through her jacket while I looked into her eyes. 6 her breathing accelerated and I naturally matched her feeling almost lightheaded with my excitement. 5 she snaked one hand up to tangle in the hair at the base of my neck and I nearly purred with how pleasurable it felt. 4 I brought my hand up to cup her cheek. 3 I gently caressed the scar that lead to her eye with my thumb. 2 she tilted her head further into my hand angling her mouth slightly open her exhaled breathe dancing on my cheek enticingly. 1 the night air filled with the cheers of other people celebrating, but my focus tunneled in to the pin point view of her lips as I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers.

Our lips danced together, and my chest seemed to expand with a tingling feeling that I couldn't explain. I felt as if I needed to pull her inside me and never let her go, but I somewhat begrudgingly released her from the kiss and stood before her, my hand still holding her face, and panted for air.

"I've never felt anything quite like that," she said breathily as she her hand gripped my hair rhythmically three times before she released her grip and allowed her hand to fall to her side.

"Neither have I." I admitted. "A rather fitting way to ring in the new year if I do say so."

"Yes," she agreed, a brilliant smile breaking out on her face once more. "Take me home Severus."

Gladly, I thought as I wrapped her up tightly in my arms and turned my cufflink one more time.

So this chapter wouldn't come either, I still blame the bomb. But when I only had two pages and it had been days since an update I said "Fuck it, where's my rum." I then had two glasses and found I suddenly was not to freaked out to write. So if you noticed a decline in the English language after first two pages… well congrats you're sober. Poor you :P