Under normal circumstances he would never stoop to apologizing to anyone. His entire life's purpose was born out of guilt and remorse, how could any living being compare with something so pure? Even so, it only seemed right to at least try and appease the girl. Double agent or not the Headmaster would toss him out of the school quicker than anyone for that sort of misconduct, and rightfully so. Self-disgust was eating away at him for even laying a hand on someone under his authority, and even more so that he had allowed himself to enjoy it. Did that truly make him any better than the ones he stood with in Selwyn Hall?
Hermione laid a hand on his arm, unsure what was going through his mind specifically but it was clear he was as uncomfortable as she was. There were far too many other things to focus on in life than sensuality, but she was certain that even under different circumstances most witches weren't so… responsive. She was embarrassed about it to a point, but it was impossible to deny she was also intrigued. No one had ever made her feel that way in her life, and while it might be impossible to convince him to do it again, she wasn't upset that they had to pretend.
"In third year Professor McGonogall gifted me with a Time Turner, one that I'll admit only to you to have used a bit more than what's on record. So I am not a child, and here I am not a student…" That may not have been on his mind at all, as she knew she wasn't anything to look at, but at the very least their bases would be covered. On a technicality there was nothing wrong with what they did, though the boys would absolutely fly through the roof if they ever found out about it.
The relief that washed over him was quickly followed by shame. One side of his mind was humming with gratefulness that she was legal, but reason didn't allow him to be happy about it for more than a moment. Of age or not, she was still a student of his and he couldn't possibly be considering - but was she? No, that was ridiculous. His luck would never hold out to have a girl - woman - like Granger respond out of anything other than heightened hormones. "Just what are you implying?"
Her nerves were quickly failing her, but the witch pulled on all of her Gryffindor courage to answer with her head held high. She had just stated she was an adult, and now it was time to act like it. It wasn't as if she would be doing something so bold as inviting him back to her hotel, after all. "I had planned to spend most of my afternoon at the Louvre. You're welcome to join me if you don't have other.. engagements." Taking a page out of his playbook she nodded once before quickly stepping out of the alley, willing her pace to slow down to something more casual.
Severus was gobsmacked. In a matter of moments Granger had whisked the control right out of his hands, inverted and stretched what he knew about the world to be true before flouncing off as if she had simply made a comment about the weather. It was one thing to begrudgingly admit she was a woman - his eyes on her swaying arse made no doubt about that - but to believe she actually wanted to spend time with him? That made even less sense than anything leading up to this point.
He could hardly allow her to go traipsing off all over Paris with Voldemort sympathizers afoot. Even though the gentlemen he had been tasked with speaking to weren't close enough to the Inner Circle to recognize her face with no context, there was always a risk. And the vexing little witch acted like she knew she had him between a rock and a hard place. If something were to happen to her and Dumbledore found out she was even in the area, he would be blamed. As if it were his fault she decided to go country hopping without an escort.
Well, he didn't quite know if she was entirely alone or not. Supposedly she wasn't going to tell anyone that he was here, but he was still expecting to turn around the corner and run face first into someone he really didn't want to see because she found some sort of loophole. No, if she had made it this far, the girl would be fine. Even with that reassuring mantra playing in his head, before long he found his feet stalling in front of the museum, muttering a disillusionment charm under his breath before slipping in along with the crowd.
Hermione gazed up at the painting in front of her, not certain whether Snape would actually come with or not until he sat down beside her. He was impossible to miss even out of the corner of her eye, and even though she could very much take care of herself it did feel a little comforting to have someone she knew there as well. Smiling a little she chanced a look in his direction, sure that he noticed even though his face didn't move an inch in her direction. Flustered feelings aside, she was curious what he could be like outside the setting of Hogwarts.
The very fact he was sitting here in muggle clothes, gazing up at a painting of some long ago battle, allowed her to acknowledge like any human he wasn't just one-dimensional. Though she had always defended him to Harry and Ron, it was hard to keep some perspectives from sinking in when they were reinforced by his own actions. But maybe even just for a little while, they wouldn't have to worry about all of that. Britain felt far away now, this city a little bubble away from the worst of it. Oh… and his hand settling against hers felt pretty nice too.