Past, Present, and Future.

After the night Severus surprised Hermione with his new career path, Hermione had been too busy at work to spend much time contemplating the changes. The next weekend, Severus invited her out again. Her rapidly developing Slytherin senses were tingling; he had something planned but wasn't telling her what.

Hermione sang in the shower and hummed in the bathroom as she tamed her hair into two barrettes, picked a bottle of perfume, and applied her makeup. She was glad it was a warm spring day-she would have a chance to wear the floral print dress she'd got on sale at the beginning of winter.

Hermione was excited that their relationship was no longer hampered by prying eyes at the school or by their distance from each other. She was especially happy that Severus had finally found something he liked to do and, of course, it was an added bonus that he was closer to her now.

Hermione smiled to herself. The fact that Severus wanted to be closer to her spoke volumes. Also, Hermione was secretly glad she didn't have to take Minerva up on her offer and move from her little flat back into that dreary castle. She had fond memories there but it was time to move on- for both of them.

With one last look in the mirror, Hermione walked down the stairs, locked the door behind her, and made her way down the cobbled street to Severus' shop.

Hermione was greeted with a kiss when she stepped into the Apothecary.

"You look lovely, Hermione."

Hermione laughed. Severus really was a changed man if he was willingly doling out compliments. When she pointed it out, he assured her it wouldn't happen again for at least another week.

"So now will you tell me where we're going?"

Severus shook his head and picked up a basket. He smirked and led her out of the shop and up the hill behind it.

/

Hermione followed by Severus' side as they made their way through the streets towards the back of the town where the buildings opened out to the countryside. His mood suggested she'd get away with taking his hand in hers once more and she smiled as Severus squeezed her hand in return.

They talked of mundane things and a new potion Severus was working on as they left the wall of the city behind and began to climb the incline of a grassy hill dotted with trees above.

As they reached the summit, Hermione's heart lightened with each step. The idea of a picnic with Severus on a secluded spot overlooking her new town, their new town, was a memory she knew she would treasure forever.

When they reached a small area outlined by trees, Severus let go of Hermione's hand and placed the basket on the grass.

"What do you think?"

Hermione spun in a circle, tossed her head back, and laughed. All the cobwebs of the past cleared in her mind. It was blissful.

She gave her warmest, sunniest smile to Severus, skipped over to him, and kissed him, laughing again at his bemused expression.

"It's wonderful." She squeezed his hand again.

"Shall we eat?" He asked, slightly uncomfortable. He was in unfamiliar waters, but they were by no means unwelcome.

Hermione hungrily eyed the basket and nodded.

/

Hermione leaned back against the tree. She had been so busy in the past week that it had felt as if she hadn't ever found the time to feed herself. That wasn't strictly true but her stomach was protesting the amount of food she had just tried to stuff in it. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

It had been a delicious luncheon. Cold meat and fresh bread (she suspected Severus had baked it fresh but perhaps he had gone further afield and found a baker) accompanied by small pies, white wine, fresh strawberries, yoghurt, grapes, a cheese platter, and a small morsel of chocolate cake.

Hermione breathed in deeply. It was as if the world had slowed its spinning. It felt like everything that had happened over the past years had just melted away and she was on a new planet with a new Severus and a brand new life stretching ahead of them.

She opened her eyes only to find his dark ones searching her face. She felt slightly hot. It wasn't normal for her to relax completely in other people's presence. Hermione was a bookworm for a reason and she was, she admitted to herself, just sometimes a little highly strung. But today was the most relaxed she had felt in a long time.

Severus had been watching Hermione as she closed her eyes. She looked so peaceful and content. Severus was surprised to see someone so relaxed in his company. He hadn't even needed a potion for it. She looked like an angel. Her hair framed her face and curled down her bare shoulders.

He suddenly felt self-conscious; Hermione had caught him staring at her. He cleared his throat and busied himself with the wine bottle.

"More wine?"

"Mmm...no thank you." She gave him another one of her charming smiles. "Severus, this was absolutely lovely. I…there are no words for how much I've enjoyed today."

"Well-" But just as Severus was about to form some sort of appropriate response, there came a crack of thunder. They had been so engrossed in their picnic, they hadn't noticed how the clouds had been darkening and moving in.

"Oh no!" Hermione exclaimed. She quickly started to magic their lunch remnants and plates back into the basket as rain began to splash down upon them.

Severus stood up and grabbed the basket. He watched in horror while the fabric of her dress darkened as the rain soaked it through.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry… I didn't even think to check the weather."

Hermione shook her head and noticed her hair was already plastered to her face. The rain was now pouring down. "It's okay- come on. I know a place."

She grabbed Severus' hand and ran with him around the clump of trees and up an incline until she almost slid down the other side and pulled Severus under a rocky overhang, the thunder and lightning dueling in the sky above their impromptu shelter.

Hermione pulled out her wand and twirled it a few times, getting the majority of the damp out of her hair. Severus gazed around the small enclosure. "Impressive. How did you know about this place?"

"Oh, my parents used to camp near here when I was younger. I got bored a lot and wandered off. This was my favorite place…" She trailed off and frowned. "Actually, come to think of it…"

Hermione walked towards the back of the alcove, running her eyes over the rocky wall. After a minute, she knelt down. "Yes, it's still here." She waved her hand, beckoning Severus to come take a look. "See there?"

Severus bent down and looked at a few crude drawings.

"You know, I must have done them with magic," she mused, running her hand over the drawings.

Severus had no idea what he was looking at. He frowned at what he could only describe as an earless cat with a party hat. Was Hermione waiting for him to say something? He glanced down at her quickly. "And…what exactly-"

"Well, on second thought, they're not very good. They're supposed to be unicorns. I remember them being a lot more realistic..." She pointed to one of the stick animals. "It sort of looks like a demented camel, doesn't it?"

Severus straightened up and smirked, on the brink of chuckling at her comment. "On the contrary, Hermione, it's a masterful expression of childhood innocence. Very impressive for someone that age, actually, especially with wandless magic."

Hermione stood up and faced him. She raised an eyebrow at him, not at all convinced. "You just made that up to make me feel better about my demented camel!" She tried to act offended but hardly succeeded as she, too, felt like laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

Severus smirked. "Perhaps. But the bit about impressive wandless magic was true. I'm sure I only managed to set ants on fire with mine."

Hermione shook her head. "Not good enough. I was very proud of those unicorns. I was going to be an artist." She looked up at him, daring him to say anything.

Severus stopped his teasing and looked down at the woman who had enchanted him for months now and found himself thinking she must have been an enchanting child also.

He raised his arms and placed them gently on her waist then leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. She tasted of cream and fresh rain.

Hermione closed her eyes and leaned into him, kissing him back.

Regrettably, they both had to break away for air. Hermione smiled up at Severus but she stopped when she noticed he was frowning at her.

"Severus?"

"I'm sorry." He muttered, his hands still upon her waist.

"For what?" Her eyes searched his face.

"I thought today would be… I'm sorry it ended like this." He seemed genuinely troubled at the sudden end of their picnic.

"You mean, with us secluded in a cave, with the rain coming down outside, and you standing here, kissing me?" She gave him a gentle smile. "I'd say it ended quite perfectly." She lifted a hand and stroked his cheek. "It's been a lovely day Severus. Please don't feel bad. I can't remember the last time I've had such a wonderful time. In fact, I probably haven't ever had such a wonderful time."

His brow relaxed a little.

"Besides," Hermione smirked looking down at him, "I rather like this 'drenched romantic hero' look you've got going."

Severus quirked his lips. "So…"

"So… I don't want it to be over just yet, do you?" Hermione hazarded the question, wondering how he would take it. They had been friends for quite some time, but she was still afraid to take anything too fast, lest he be scared off.

Severus took in her hopeful face, eyes wide, a smile just for him and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

"My place?" She asked quietly, taking his hand in hers, trying to ignore that her heart suddenly seemed to be beating within her throat.

Severus couldn't formulate words at this point. This wonderful, albeit drenched, angel had taken his hand and was going to take him home. He nodded and closed his eyes as Hermione Apparated them away. His last thought before the familiar feeling of Apparition overcame him, was that her wet dress was really his undoing.