A/N: Everything recognisable belongs to JKR

When Hermione informed Severus of Healer Potts' interest, he seemed somewhat pleased - he said all the right things, but always seemed on the verge of saying something to her and changing his mind at the last moment. It left her feeling slightly unsettled, and when she tried to broach the subject, he simply shrugged it off. Now that they had reached some sort of success, he turned his mind to other things and preferred to fill their conversations with talk of the future and life after Hogwarts, but she found that topic slightly uncomfortable and did her best to avoid it. It was nice to help him work out the best suppliers for bottles and vials and to go over the various benefits and disadvantages of having a shop in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, but anytime he began to seriously discuss the possibility of her working alongside him, she would resort to giving him vague answers. Severus didn't take it seriously, though - he simply thought she was being coy. And she was in a way, but there was a little voice in the back of her head that kept reminding her that now that she had something that worked on a level, how much longer could she justify staying here in the past? How much longer could she interfere in his life? She had given him a few hints of the danger he faced in the future - surely that would be enough to save his life. He was a smart man. But what if she returned to the future and found that had suffered the same fate? Anytime those thoughts rose, she had to wipe them from her mind before she spiralled into a ball of anxiety and shut herself away in her bed for days.

She was doing her best to live in the moment and to enjoy her time here, despite the pressure and stress of their upcoming NEWTS. She also savored her time with Severus, and did her best to avoid upsetting subjects, instead enjoying his touches and kisses and giving them eagerly in return. She encouraged him and teased him and even enthusiastically supported his venture into Quidditch. The foul mood he had been in since their run-in with Sirius and James in the corridor seemed to have finally fully lifted.

She had just watched him play another Quidditch game, and though his team lost, he seemed to be in bright spirits. He grabbed her hand eagerly when she met him at the entrance to the pitch and they took a meandering walk back towards the castle, following the boundary wall towards the Forbidden Forest and around the back of Hagrid's Hut approaching the greenhouses. He was letting her chat away about his performance when he suddenly interrupted her with a squeeze of her hand.

"Are you going anywhere for Easter holidays?" His voice broke slightly at the end of his question and a slight blush rose in his cheeks.

Hermione gave him a thoughtful smile, aware that he knew full well that she had no home to go to. "No."

He cleared his throat before he spoke again. "What if I can convince you to sneak away?"

"With you to yours?" She knew he didn't have an ideal home life, and he already told her that he didn't usually go home for the holidays - what was he thinking?

"Well, no, not exactly," he cleared his throat again, eyeing her hopefully. They had stopped walking now. "I was thinking we could have a few days together… alone. Maybe go to London. Visit some of the wizarding history there. We could use that travel guide I bought you."

Her heart beat quickly at his implication and heat flooded her chest. Time alone together - days alone - nights alone. Though she had been hesitant before, everything in her being wanted to agree to join him. If she could not give him the promise of the future with her, she could at least give him this - and she could have this with him. The heat had moved up into her throat and cheeks by the time she could gather her thoughts to reply.

"Oh, London! That would be lovely. Yes! I'll speak to Dumbledore -" he paled at her mention of the headmaster. Dumbledore had all but disappeared since their last meeting, cancelling all further catch-ups until further notice, and she had not had a chance to broach the subject of his warning to Healer Potts. She hoped that an owl would be able to reach him. She rushed to explain her reference to Severus. "I need his permission to leave - I'll just say I have some errands - I'm sure it will be fine. Just let me know when. Is it safe, do you think?"

He nodded. There hadn't been an attack on Muggle London in a number of weeks and the newspapers built up so much tension that it felt as though something could strike at any moment. She didn't want to ask exactly how he knew it would be okay, but she was sure that he was in regular contact with Lucius Malfoy and several others who would come to be in Voldemort's inner circle. He had become more tightly bound with a number of faces she recognised from Azkaban posters. She shook herself free of those thoughts and basked in the glow of his holiday plans for the rest of the term.

Hermione had become nearly drunk with the power she found she had over Severus - she knew that she would never be a woman who could use her looks or charms to get her through life, but she could quickly see why the ones who had that advantage used it. It was addicting, exhilarating, and she found pleasure in it.

It also helped that Severus was a teenage boy.

If she grew tired of brewing, or if she wanted to distract him from his studies, she knew just the type of breathless sigh to let escape that would cause his quill to still or his shoulders to stiffen, and he would go still, so still and watch her as though he was hypnotized. She enjoyed finding the tender spot just below his ear that caused him to moan. Wetting and biting her lips were no longer a nervous habit, but a tool of seduction that would cause Severus' eyes to stray to her mouth no matter where they were. It was especially fun to test that particular theory in one of Slughorn's classes. He nearly tipped a whole vial of pufferfish powder into his cauldron, and though he had been annoyed, he wasted no time in finding an empty classroom for them to have several intense kisses in after.

That isn't to say that he didn't find the same power over her. He had begun to explore her thoroughly in anticipation of their trip and Hermione found that she somehow kept forgetting that there as a potion she wanted to be working on and NEWTS to be revising for.

Nips on her fingertips drove her up the wall, and he always seemed to find a way to run his fingers lightly over her lower back that immediately gave her goosebumps everywhere, and the soft spot just above her ear that would relax her instantly and send her into near sleep. But they always, always stopped short of where she knew he most wanted it to lead.

It was beautiful and frustrating, and even more so now that they knew they would be indulging soon.

The owl Hermione sent Dumbledore took ages to return and only reached her just before the end of term, but contained a scribbled response granting her permission to leave. She waved the note at Severus over breakfast the morning she received it, beaming at him. He broke into the biggest smile she had ever seen grace his face, and she noticed he had a new spring in his step when they rose to go to their lessons for the day. Before he left for the holidays, they made arrangements to meet at the Leaky Cauldron, that being the easiest place to access both Wizarding and Muggle London. The few days in between were agony, though, and Hermione found herself wandering the corridors of Hogwarts aimlessly, wishing time would pass by more quickly.

The appointed day finally arrived and when she could justify apparating to Diagon Alley, she nearly ran down to the castle gates and disappeared with a twirl, clutching her stuffed rucksack and beaded bag to her. The crack echoed in her ears but was quickly replaced with the hubbub of voices from the high street. She ducked into the pub and was pleased to see Severus seated at a table clutching his own rucksack, his right leg bouncing against the chair from nerves. They were both a good half hour earlier than what they had agreed and she couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she approached him.

"Great minds think alike?" she asked.

His whole face lifted at the sight of her and she could visibly see the tension ease from his body as he rose to greet her. She leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him and he enclosed his arms around her and returned it eagerly. "I'll take these," he said, grabbing her rucksack, and disappeared upstairs.

When he returned, they agreed to that Gringotts would be their best first stop as they needed to exchange some wizard money for muggle money. It didn't take long - the goblins were efficient, and they were released onto Charing Cross Road before long.

"Where shall we start?" she asked, pulling out her guidebook. Hermione had never actually visited wizarding London, despite growing up so near. Her parents were always going abroad for holidays, craving blue skies and sunshine after so long indoors looking in people's mouths.

He pulled it open and flipped it to the section on London. The first site recommended was the Tower of London. "Why not at the beginning?"

She nodded and grabbed his hand, pulling him in the direction of Embankment station. She found that the London of this time was not so different from the London of the future and was able to navigate the underground with ease. She could tell that Severus felt a bit out of place but did her best to lead him in her suggestions so that he would know how to go about things without revealing that he clearly had no idea what he was doing.

They emerged from Tower Hill towards the Roman ruins and took a few moments to inspect them before turning to their right. Hermione purchased their entry tickets and they spent a few moments wandering around the site before they spotted anything particularly magical. "Look," pointed Severus, his eager eyes spotting a plaque that, just as the monument in Godric's Hollow changed, formed into a statue of a woman as they approached. "That's where Anne Boleyn was executed." Hermione had passed Anne Boleyn's portrait on Hogwarts staircases hundred of times during her stay in the castle and although she had known that she had been accused of being a witch, the story never had as much impact on her as it did now. The statue of the queen smiled at them serenely, her hand touching her signature necklace in a thoughtful manner. Hermione noticed that only one other person had stopped to observe her.

"I wonder why she didn't save herself - so many witches saved themselves from burning," she wondered.

Severus shrugged. "She was quite high profile. Maybe she knew there was no way to really escape."

They queued to see the Crown Jewels, but Severus seemed keen to move on after that, desperate to get away from the crowd.

Hermione flipped open the guidebook. "How about Highgate Cemetery? We can just hop on the tube - it won't take too long. And I think there's supposed to be a vampire there?"

Severus shook his head. "We aren't going near there. There were some inferi a few years back, and they've had trouble with them since. We'll try again in a few years." His nervous energy seemed to be returning. "Let's just walk back toward the Leaky Cauldron. It's a nice day."

Hermione grabbed his hand and they meandered through the streets, twisting and turning, peering up at St. Paul's as they passed, wandering up Fleet Street and through Middle Temple Gardens towards the river. Hermione checked her watch. The walk had only taken an hour and it was still the afternoon. "I don't want to head to the Leaky just yet - is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"

He shrugged lightly.

"Shall we go in the National Gallery?" she asked. "I read there's a special wizarding section."

He nodded in agreement, though he seemed a bit reluctant, and she led him to Trafalgar Square. "I don't know how to access the wizarding bit, though…" she admitted as they approached the doors. "Does the book say anything?"

He consulted the guide. "No, nothing. We'll still go in."

Severus looked uncomfortable from the moment they stepped through the doors. Hermione wasn't stupid - she knew there were lots of families who couldn't afford trips to France, holidays abroad, but walks, culture, trips to local manor houses, especially when they were so plentiful and so many of them free…

"Have you never been to a gallery before?" she asked.

He shook his head, looking embarrassed. "Just Hogwarts."

"Come look - this is my favorite," she grabbed his hand and dragged him through the rooms until she spotted it. She pointed him toward a Holbein of two men standing at a table. "Isn't it amazing?"

They walked around the painting, trying their best to find the perfect angle to see the skull.

"It's just so odd that they don't move," he explained. "Of course I know they don't in the muggle world, but..." he trailed off, becoming embarrassed.

"The artist has to depend on their skill to convey their message," Hermione broke in. "The painting can't explain it for them. I think that's why some of the paintings at Hogwarts are so rubbish and some of the muggle ones are so amazing."

He nodded, turning his attention back to the work. "Not everything muggles touch turns to rubbish," he said quietly.

They stared at the painting for a few more minutes before moving on.

Snape gawked at each painting as though he were a starving man staring at food. Her comment about the differences between muggle and wizard artists seemed to have struck him.

They wandered through the rooms, admiring some of the portraits and comparing them to the ones hanging in the halls at Hogwarts when they overheard a couple behind them. "On loan to Gringott's bank? Never even heard of it! What does a bank need a painting for?" a man said in an offended voice. Severus squeezed her hand and they turned nonchalantly, pretending to be studying a statue near the couple. They moved away, the wife promising her husband a cup of tea in the cafe, and there, tucked away behind some pillars, was an empty space with a sign explaining that the current artwork was on loan to Gringotts Bank.

"This must be it." Severus hesitantly reached out to touch the sign, and, seeing his fingers move through the plaque and into the wall, looked around to make sure no one was watching and pulled Hermione through the wall with him.

They could have just as easily walked down another corridor - the space they were in fit into the building comfortably. It reminded Hermione of the halls of Hogwarts, but there were portraits of both magical and non-magical subjects. All of them were moving in their frames, and it was almost as though each portrait was holding court. There were a surprising number of witches and wizards wandering through and if one portrait was alone for too long, began yelling at the patrons to look upon their portrait instead. One woman was telling a portrait of Henry VIII off, which caused him to stalk moodily out of his canvas and a member of staff to encourage the woman to move on so he would return.

In other rooms, there were paintings that commemorated the Goblin Wars and the discovery of the Philosopher's Stone. They had the opportunity to see Arthur under Merlin's tutelage and John Dee raising the dead. Each painting took a surprising amount of time to appraise - each one was like watching a short film. They stayed until they were ushered out at closing time.

They walked back to Charing Cross Road, discussing their favorite parts of the day. Severus had booked for them to stay at the Leaky Cauldron, and, after having a meal downstairs, they climbed the stairs to room number seven.

It was cosy - much like Harry's room when he stayed just before the start of their third year. She could hear the buses and traffic from the London street on one side, and the bangs, whizzes and pops from the wizarding side of the building.

"I'm sorry it's nothing grand -" he started.

"It's perfect."

There was tension in the room that wasn't there when they first arrived. Severus picked up his rucksack and slowly began unpacking it. Hermione took his cue and did the same. When she finished, she sat on the bed and watched as he seemed to try to smooth out the same crease from a set of robes over and over.

Hermione flicked her wand at it and the crease disappeared. Severus finally turned his attention to her. He gave her an awkward smile, and she tried to return one that was much more confident.

"Sit next to me, Severus." She patted the bed next to her, which he occupied shortly thereafter. "You know, we don't have to do anything."

He nodded, but leaned toward her.

It began slowly, tentatively. His kisses were hesitant, lingering. She let her fingers play in his hair, teasing his skin with her nails. It wasn't long before there were lights extinguished, buttons undone, clothing shedded, and when it was over, there was a tangle of sheets and limbs. There was much more giggling and throaty laughs than Hermione expected throughout the whole ordeal.

But it was perfect.

"Thank Merlin we saw stuff today," said Severus as he lazily ran his fingers over her bare shoulder. She could make out his silhouette from the light streaming in through the window. She was tucked into his chest. "I don't think I want to leave the room now," he confided.

Hermione placed a kiss on the underside of his chin. "I think we can do whatever we would like."

"I would like to stay like this forever, I think. No school, no exams, no Daily Prophet to remind us of the world outside..." His words trailed off as Hermione placed more and more kisses along his jaw, down his throat, onto his chest.

They once again dissolved into gasps and soft moans and fell asleep in one another's arms.

When Hermione opened her eyes, she was back in Malfoy Manor. Someone was screaming - it was her. She felt something tracing over her arm, and she looked down. The word "Mudblood" slowly appeared, the lines deep and jagged and pouring forth with blood. She could hear Bellatrix's laugh somewhere behind her. She tried to pull her arm away from whatever was holding it, but she couldn't move. The word grew deeper and deeper, and began to shine.

It wasn't her arm that was shining, though - there was light that was lifting her out of her dream.

"Hold still, Jean." The voice morphed from Bellatrix's and took on Severus' deep tone. When she opened her eyes, it was him holding her wrist down, light emitting from his wand. It must have been sometime around dawn - there was weak light permeating their curtains, shedding more light in the room than there had been the evening before.

"What are you doing?" She wrestled her arm away from him. She could hear the panic rising in her voice.

"I'm trying to help. Who did that to you?" His brow was furrowed with concern. His voice cracked with the question and he was shaking.

This was not how she expected to spend their first evening together - or morning. She could hear the birds chirping through the windows. She clutched her arm to her chest, hiding the scar from him. "Nobody. It's nothing." How could she have been so stupid? In her haste and anticipation, she hadn't thought of him finally seeing her unclothed. Of course he would - how else do you go about doing it? She had so carefully concealed her arms and made sure they stayed covered at every opportunity over the past few years. She hadn't expected to fall asleep in his arms afterward - and naked, nonetheless!

She reached out and grabbed the shirt she had discarded the night before.

"No - don't." he stopped her. "It's clearly not nothing, Jean. I was just trying to heal it," he pursed his lips in frustration at the situation.

"It can't be healed. They've tried."

"Well, clearly 'they' are incompetent dunderheads," he alleged, his disgust with whoever "they" were evident in his tone.

Silence filled the room, but she could feel Severus bristling to ask more questions.

"It happened before I came here," she explained.

"It's a shame. I would hunt down and kill the bastards." He reached out to grab her shirt and dropped it to the floor. He reached out to grab her arm once more, gently extending it toward him. He bent over it and kissed the scars gently. "And this here," he ran his fingers gently along the scar on her chest.

Hermione settled herself against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. His body was still tense with emotion.

"I wish I could tell you more, Severus. You will find out eventually. I will tell you. I just can't right now."

"Is this related to your bad dreams?" he asked, stroking her arm.

"Yes."

His arm tightened around her. "I'm glad you have the Dreamless Sleep."

"Does it bother you?" she asked, lifting her arm so it was in his sight once more, running her hand over it.

"The fact that you have it? Of course - I just told you. It makes me angry -"

"No - the fact that I'm not pureblood. I know you've never asked, but you must have known. Now you have your proof."

He took a deep breath. "No. No - it doesn't matter. To me it doesn't. My father is a muggle." He explained a bit too forcefully.

"Do your friends ever ask you?"

"It doesn't matter to them. I've proven myself worthy, just as you have." He avoided her eyes as he said this. It obviously did matter - why else would they call him "Prince" rather than "Snape"?

Hermione bit her tongue at a response. She was tired, she was emotional, and, as much as she wanted to argue with what he just said about being worthy, she knew she couldn't. He had to keep on the path he was heading down.

"Shall we try to get back to sleep or do you want to go watch the sunrise?" he asked.

"Let's get up," she answered. "I can always nap later."

They woke up and decided to walk through Covent Garden Market, watching the traders hawk their wares and ready their stalls for the day. They then walked down to the river where they breakfasted at a small cafe and watched the boats sail by.

They spent the next few days in relative bliss, only leaving the room to get food or try to expand their cultural experience, but they were both wrapped up in one another's company and they were young and in love and enjoying every minute of it. They never spent more than a few hours out at a time, and, to Hermione's embarrassment, Tom the barman wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at them every time they returned.

When it came time for them to separate and make their way back to their own lives, Severus home to Cokeworth and Hermione back to Hogwarts, it was clear that something had changed between them. Severus had a contemplative look in his eyes that kept Hermione from prying too much. Hermione was relieved he knew, though. She had always been so careful to censor any sort of muggle inclinations out of her explanations and conversation with him, and he reacted to the news far better than she had thought after all of Lily's warnings.

Despite having been in his presence constantly for the past few days, Hermione missed his company when she once more returned to Hogwarts and waited for the new term to begin. It was nice having their escape from the world - they didn't have any sort of worry or headlines from the Daily Prophet reminding them of the world and the way things were progressing. She was immediately confronted with it when she returned. Dumbledore had sought her out almost immediately to confirm her safety. There had been an attack in muggle York. Unfortunately, he had vanished again before she had a chance to ask him any questions.

She was pleased when students began reappearing the day before the start of the new term, eager to see Severus. She had hoped that he would seek her out as soon as he arrived, but it was nearly dinner and she hadn't heard anything from him at all. She eventually decided to head back to Gryffindor Tower to see everyone. Hermione could hear high-pitched squeals as she climbed the stairs to their dormitory, and when she opened the door she quickly discovered the source of the noise. It appeared as though Lily was holding some sort of court - she was seated on her bed, and the other girls were arranged around her, each emitting different variations of high pitched noises in delight.

"Oh, Jean, wait until you see!" Sita gushed. "Show her, Lily."

Hermione gave Lily a curious glance. "Show me what?"

Lily sheepishly held out her left hand toward Hermione. There, on her fourth finger was a ring that shone in the watery late afternoon sunshine. "James asked me to marry him," she admitted shyly.

"Oh, that's lovely! I'm glad - really happy for you," Hermione smiled. "It's a really lovely ring as well."

"Isn't it? Rings aren't usual wizard things, I know, but James knew it was a muggle thing and wanted to stick with some muggle traditions."

If the girls were back, then that meant that a majority of the students would be back as well. Severus had to have appeared by now. Hermione decided to make her way down to dinner early, and just as she was coming down into the entrance hall, she saw Severus ascending the stone steps that she knew led to the Slytherin dormitories. His eyes landed on her almost instantly and a smile broke out across his face. Hermione nearly ran down the rest of the steps to meet him.

She wanted to hug him but he grabbed her hands and squeezed them before she could do anything. "Hello," he smiled.

"Hello," she replied.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," he whispered, lowering his head to hers and squeezing her hands.

"Severus, I…" She had so many thoughts fill her head of things she wanted to say to him, but the image of the ring on Lily's hand jumped into her head immediately. She paused. "I need to speak with you later." There was a hum of voices that was growing consistently louded. "In your lab after dinner?" she asked.

He nodded, his brow beginning to furrow with concern.

She leaned forward to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before they headed into the Great Hall and parted toward their respective house tables.

Hermione watched him all through dinner and he kept watching her as well. She was surprised that his attention was not drawn to the loud conversation taking place a few feet away from her: various people giving James a slap of congratulations on his back and Lily kisses. After finishing off a few spoonfuls of trifle, she saw him get up and make his way out of the Great Hall, pausing at the entrance, to make sure she had spotted him.

"Go ahead," Remus motioned with his head towards the door. "Better he hears it from you than someone else."

She gave Remus' hand a quick squeeze before jumping up and running up the stairs that would lead to Severus' private potions lab.

When she entered, he was seated on the couch, his thin form rigid and tense. "Are you going to let me down gently?" he asked," Or just get it over with?"

"What?" she asked. How could his demeanor change so much in just an hour?

He refused to meet her eyes, his jaw was stiff.

"Just get it over with, then."

"Severus, what are you talking about?"

"You dumping me, telling me it's not working, that we should just be friends." He waved his arm around as though it should be obvious.

Her heart dropped.

"Oh - Sev - is that what you thought?" she nearly ran to the couch and threw herself down next to him. He winced and was hesitant to look at her.

"Isn't it normal to assume the worst if someone says they need to talk?" he asked.

"Dear God, Severus, I hope you have a higher opinion of me than that." She grabbed his hand. "I wouldn't have given myself to you if I was going to end it. I don't play games like that."

He visibly relaxed, easing into the cushion behind him. "Oh, thank Merlin," he sighed finally meeting her eyes. "I was afraid that one of the best moments of my life was about to become one of the worst."

They sat in silence for a few moments but something about his demeanor still didn't sit right with her. "Are you alright, Severus?" she asked.

He hesitated in his answer. "I have some injuries. Would you be able to assist me in applying some salve?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, of course - why didn't you ask me sooner? What happened?" If James Potter and Sirius Black had done something…

"My father found out that I'd been to London," he explained. "I accidently dropped my ticket to the Tower."

"Go on…" she urged.

"I was at the top of stairs when the argument started and the bottom of the stairs when it was finished," he explained. He motioned for her to give him some space and gingerly removed his robes. She understood what he meant. He was covered in bruises and from the wince he gave as she ran her hands over his abdomen, had at least one fractured rib.

"Oh, Severus - but surely someone - your mum?"

He shook his head, his face hard.

"My mother healed my face so the neighbors wouldn't talk," he explained.

"But what about everything else?" she asked. "Didn't she even…?"

"My father wouldn't let her."

Hermione's anger surged through her. How dare they - how dare they! If she ever ran into either of them, Merlin help them…

She lifted her wand to his rib and muttered a spell and then rose to gather some salve from his stores. She rubbed it gently on the various cuts and bruises that covered his torso. A majority were on his back which explained his difficulty in healing them himself. They faded within moments. "Better?"

He nodded, lifting his arms above his head and stretching. "Much. I can do this now." He put an arm around her and pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head.

"Forgive me for earlier. I hope you understand that considering this, it was like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now, what did we need to speak about?"

Hermione pulled away from him slightly and looked into his eyes. After what he just said, she really didn't want to have this conversation with him, but she knew it would be better to get it out of the way now."I know I've spoken to you about Lily Evans before, and you've let me know your history together."

"Yes…" he agreed, his eyes searching her face.

"I just wanted you to know that Lily and James Potter are engaged to be married."

"Oh," she could tell he was trying to sound nonchalant, but there was a tightness around his eyes that betrayed him. "Is that all?"

"Well, yes."

Severus shrugged but they sat in silence. Hermione wanted to urge him to speak but bit her lip to hold back her words.

Severus kept rolling his wand from hand to hand.

He finally took a deep breath to speak. "You know - you know I like you, right?" he asked. "I don't - Lily's just -" he struggled to find the words to explain but Hermione understood completely. It would be as though Ron was getting married without telling her. She would be hurt. And she knew now that their relationship would be forever changed when she returned, she having moved on with Snape, and he… well…

"I just didn't want - I don't want you to think that you are second best or that I'm only with you because I couldn't be with her. It's not like that -" Severus struggled to explain.

"I know -"

"Jean, I didn't think that I could possibly ever have feelings for anyone after Lily."

"Severus, you don't have to explain."

"But I don't want you to think - Potter said -"

Hermione leaned up and kissed him, cutting him off. "I wouldn't have spent the holiday with you if I thought you were in love with someone else," she said when she withdrew.

He nodded. "I wouldn't have asked you if I was."

She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I think that's the most you've spoken to me about your parents - or your home - in, well… ever."

"What can I say?" he asked. "My dad's a muggle and hates magic. My parents argue too much to give any sort of impression of being happy. We don't do much. I spend most of my time at home confined to my room. I won't be there much longer. That's part of the reason I went - to pack."

"Oh, Severus - I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "I only plan on going there one more time, and then I'll be free."

Her heart hurt for him, and she was suddenly hit with a wave of appreciation for her own parents.

"Don't worry - we'll make up for it," she said. "What do you think of Blackpool? Looking for fossils in Lyme Regis?"

"Will it involve you in swimwear?" he asked, reaching up to play with the collar of her shirt.

She giggled.

"Oh, I nearly forgot -" he rose and pulled something from his pocket and tapped it with his wand. The object in his hand grew until he needed to set it on the floor. It was a green plush stool, most likely taken from his common room. "I borrowed this." He made a complicated movement with his wand and it grew large enough for both of them to lounge on.

She raised an eyebrow at him, covering her mouth to hide her amusement.

"It's more comfortable than the couch. It's not like I can sneak you into my dormitory," he continued, sitting on the transfigured stool to prove its comfort. "But - we don't have to -"

She climbed onto his lap, pushing him down onto the cushion. "Just make sure the door is warded," she whispered, smiling when she felt his wand make a movement at the door before hearing it drop on the stone floor.