Much thanks to my editor, Gwen McCormick, and to my dear friend DUJ. All mistakes are mine. Obviously, I am not JKR and am making nothing from this.

The Course of True Love

Chapter 15

Monday, December 21, 1998

"Aren't you done shopping yet?" Ron complained. "I'm hungry, and my feet are tired." He swapped two bags from one hand to another. "I can't believe I took the morning off for this," he grumbled under his breath.

"No, Ron," Hermione told him, as she continued walking, "and I don't want to hear any more complaints since you promised to come instead of going to-"

"The ballet," he said. "And, no, I haven't changed my mind." He tilted his head. "Um, you did get someone go with you, didn't you?"

Hermione stopped in the doorway of Slug and Jiggers Apothecary and turned to face Ron. "I did," she said, "Professor Snape-"

"Yes, how astute of you. Now, if you'll kindly remove yourself from the doorway, I'll be able to exit this building," Professor Severus Snape drawled.

Hermione, long since used to Severus' unique brand of humor, snorted a laugh and stepped back, but Ron's face clouded with anger. He refused to move. "Think you're funny, do you?" he blustered.

Dark eyes flickered rapidly from Hermione to Weasley. "I have things to do, and this is the second time you've blocked my egress," he announced.

"Ron, he was only joking," Hermione told him, pulling on his arm. "Move out of the way."

Severus paused, watching the blood rise in the younger man's face, and saw him snatch his arm away. Weasley's macho posturing is normal, but that violent wrenching away from Hermione – The later thought came rushing on the heels of the first, and it angered him.

"Come now, Mr. Weasley, surely even your limited intellectual ability has had time to ascertain that you're blocking a public thoroughfare." He took a half step forward until he was nearly chest to chest with the younger wizard and uttered a single word in his most menacing tone. "Move."

"Ronald! Severus!" Hermione hissed. She tried to insert herself between them. "You're drawing attention. Stop this-"

Shouldering her aside, Ron scowled and attempted to imitate Severus' deeper voice. He jerked his chin up, making obvious the fact that he was a good two inches taller than the older man. "Make me," he ordered.

How dare he push her like that! Severus seethed with anger. "As you wish," he hissed. Then, like an American footballer, he lowered his shoulder and plowed through Weasley. "Good day!" he shot back as he continued down the street.

The young wizard did not expect such force from the other and staggered back against the wall, dropping packages like fruit from a tree. "Did you see that?" he shouted. "The Greasy Git nearly killed me, here in broad daylight in the middle of Diagon Alley!"

Hermione knelt and rapidly began stuffing items back into the bags. "Hardly," she snorted. "I can't believe you acted that way!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you!" She shoved the bags at him. "You were blocking the door of a store, Ron. No one could get in or out."

"Yeah, but he started it, 'mione," Ron argued. "He made that rude comment to you, and then he outright insulted me!"

"I told you he was joking," she shot back. She picked up a potion kit, the kind used by first year students. "This isn't mine," she said, and held it up. "Severus must have dropped it. Did you see where he went?"

"Severus must have dropped it," Ron muttered, imitating her and earning a glare. "You mean did I see where he went after he threw me into a wall? No, I didn't." They walked along in silence for a while. "Hermione," he finally said with a sigh, "let's take a break. The Leaky Cauldron is up ahead. Let's have lunch and talk, okay?"

"Okay, Ron," she agreed. "I am getting a bit tired, and I need to rest before tonight. Oh, wait, there's Severus now. He's right there in the second-hand book shop. I'll just run in and give him this."

Ron glowered at the other man through the window for a moment, and then he nodded. "Okay, 'mione," he said. "You return the kit and meet me at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Professor Snape," she called out with a smile, "I think you dropped this." She held out the potions kit.

He raised an eyebrow, handed her the book he was perusing to tuck the kit carefully back into his pocket. "Thank you, Miss Granger," he said. "I hope Mr. Weasley is well."

"Not funny." She frowned at him. "Since when have you been interested in Magical Medical Maladies?" she asked, thumbing through the book.

He took the book from her and closed it with a snap. "Nosey Parker."

"Perhaps," she replied with a smile. "You're still going?"

"Yes," he said. "Muggle formal attire?"

"I think a suit and tie will be sufficient for a matinee," Hermione said. "Meet at 1:30 at the front gate? The curtain opens at 2:00, and it should be over by 4:00 at the latest."

"Giving us enough time to do some shopping in Muggle London if you'd like and have dinner," he suggested. "I'll see you there."

"Good timing, 'mione," Ron said, "I've just ordered. Two fish and chips and two butterbeers." Reaching over the table, he took her hands and squeezed them. "I think it's time we talked, you know, really talked." He traced tiny circles on the backs of her hands.

"You're right, Ron," she told him. "There are some things we need to get straight." She drew back her hands as the waitress set down their meal and drinks. "Thank you."

"You're right," he said, popping a chip in his mouth. "We need to set a date and start planning our wedding." He paused to take a long drink. "Unless you're wanting to do the justice of the peace thing 'cause that would be easier and cheaper."

Do you ever listen to me? Hermione thought angrily, but she swallowed back her first words. "Ron," she said gently, "I've told you that I don't want to get married until my education is complete."

He took a bite of fish and chewed thoughtfully. "And just how long do you think that's gonna be?" he asked looking up at her.

"I don't know," she said with a sigh. "But I know that I have to complete one responsibility before I take on another."

"You mean like being a proper stay-at-home wife and mother?" he asked. "Well, I suppose that makes sense."

Hermione clenched her fist around her fork, but pushed down her anger. "Thank you for that," she replied evenly, "but I don't want to stay at home and be supported. I am perfectly capable of supporting us, too. What about your staying home with our kids while I go out and work?"

Ron frowned. "I'm not going to be a kept man, Hermione, not even by you." He balled up his napkin, tossed it onto his plate, and glared at her.

"Then you understand how I feel," she told him. "I know it's traditional for the wife to stay home while the husband supports them, but, Ron, I need to make my own security. What if you weren't there? What would I do? How would I support myself and the children?"

His eyes widened in shock. "You think I'd leave you? You think I'd just walk out on my wife and kids?"

"Well, you walked out on Harry and me during the war!"

A long silence followed that comment.

"I came back," he stated, his words like brittle ice. "So, that's it then. You don't trust me."

"Of course, I trust you!" she insisted. "But what if something happened to you? How would I support our family if I didn't have an education, a set of skills, a job?"

"All right," he conceded slowly, "I can understand that, but I want you to stay at home when the kids are little." He nodded his head. "I won't give on that, Hermione. Until they are in school, I want you to stay at home with them. No Muggle cay-dare for my kids."

Oh, I promise, Ron, not a one of our children will go to cay-dare, she thought sourly. "Well, that brings us to the subject of children. Ron, I don't want seven children. I want two, three at the most."

"Well, we'll just compromise," he suggested. "Your three plus my seven equals ten. Divide that by two and get five. We'll settle on five kids." He smiled at her. "See how easy that was."

"It is not that easy, Ron," Hermione insisted. "I can't possibly take care of five children and a house, not if I want a career. That's completely absurd."

"My mum took care of the seven of us, kept the house clean, and cooked great meals, too, Hermione," he told her. "If she can do it, I know you can. Why, you can do anything you put your mind too." He grinned. "And I'll help! In fact, I'll make certain you'll have help any time you want. I promise."

"Ron-"

But he cut her off. "Sorry, 'mione," he said as he stood up, "but I've got to go. You know I only took the morning off, and Guthridge expects me back by 1:00." He kissed her and tossed a couple of galleons on the table.

Severus wanted to rip off the tie, but he didn't. I don't mind jeans and a T-shirt on occasion, but a suit and tie – He scowled at the mirror, but then he smiled and surprised himself at how presentable he did look. Black trousers, socks, and dress shoes were standard men's wear. He'd opted for a crisp, white shirt beneath a forest green vest with a matching green and silver striped tie.

"What the hell are you thinking? Why are you bothering so much with your appearance?" he asked the reflection in the mirror. You're thirty-eight years old, and she's barely nineteen. You're old enough to be her father. He tied his hair back. This isn't a date. Quickly, he donned his suit coat, threw on his outer coat, and hurried to the front hall.

Hermione had chosen a soft, wool dress of gray. She wore heeled black boots, and her hair was pulled up. "Wow!" she told him. "Severus, you look amazing. And I love the pop of green with the vest and tie. No, really, don't frown like that."

But he did frown, spoiling the effect. He took her black coat and helped her slip into it. "We'll apparate to the Leaky Cauldron and take a cab from there," he told her. "Let's go."

"So? How did you like it?" Hermione asked, her eyes glowing with excitement. She stopped on the sidewalk to tie the belt of her coat.

Taking her elbow, Severus guided her out of the crowded path. "I must admit it was very enjoyable," he declared. "The grace, the music, the story – all of it. I will certainly be making this one of my Christmas traditions from now on."

"I think it was incredible!" Hermione exclaimed. "And I agree, this should be a yearly tradition. Oh!" She was slammed into him by a passerby.

Severus moved her to the inside of the walkway and placed his hand protectively against her back. "Perhaps we should walk faster," he suggested as he steered her down the street. "Did you wish to do any shopping this afternoon?"

"Thank you," she said, "and, yes, I still have a few things left to get. There's a large department store around this corner." She tugged at his sleeve. "You really don't mind?"

"Not at all," he answered as he held open the door for her. "I have a few items to get as well."

She stopped to look through a jewelry case as they passed. "Oh, look! Charm bracelets! Don't you think they're cute? I always wanted one! Let's see, there's a Star Wars bracelet, one with the Disney princesses – oh! And The Wizard of Oz! I love that movie!"

He gave a short laugh. "You should get Minerva the Wicked Witch charm. It looks just like her."

"Severus Snape!" She glared at him. "That's not funny."

"Perhaps not," he agreed, good naturedly.

"Look, Severus, are you sure you don't mind browsing through the women's department, do you? Or would you rather meet me somewhere else? Sporting goods, maybe?"

"Sporting goods sounds like a good place," he replied, "perhaps in an hour?"

Severus held up four large bags full of brightly wrapped Christmas gifts. "I believe two of these are yours."

"Thank you, Severus," Hermione said, helping him sort out the packages. "Would you do me one more favor? I have a portkey for Sydney, and I'm leaving at midnight to see my parents."

"You were lucky to get a portkey this time of year," he told her. "There's usually a waiting list for one."

"I know," she said with a sigh. "I put in for it in October when I wrote them asking if their British exchange student could visit."

"I can only imagine how you must miss your parents," he added softly. "Especially around the holidays."

"I do miss them, and I hate that they don't remember me." She shrugged, trying to push away the hurt. "It's lucky, though, that they are in Australia. With the time difference, I'll be able to spend part of Christmas Day with them and portkey back for Christmas Eve here."

"Do not be hard on yourself, Hermione," he told her. "If you hadn't obliviated them, they would not be alive." He touched her gently on the shoulder. "And, do not give up hope. One day their memories may return."

"I know," she replied. "Severus, would you tell Minerva that I'll be back Christmas day?"

"I will," he told her. "But you aren't on duty for all of Christmas day, are you?"

"Just until noon," she answered. "I'm having supper at the Burrow. I'm sure Molly and Arthur wouldn't mind if you-"

"I'm on duty through Boxing Day," he said quickly. "But thank you."

"All right," she said slowly. "Good night, Severus."

"Good night, Hermione." He watched her heading down the corridor. Hermione is a friend, he told himself. She's just like Minerva or Albus or Aurora. I'm lucky that I can now claim to have friends.

He smiled to himself and began to hum a Christmas carol as he headed towards his quarters. Lily started out as a friend, too, another side of him slyly suggested. And Hermione's worth ten of Lily.