AN: I found time to update today. Yay!
Thank you for all the support! It is deeply appreciated!
Was a new wardrobe in order?
Hermione thumbed through the pages of the latest issue of Witch Weekly. Despite her earlier reservations, it was clear Severus was tougher to form a relationship with than she'd believed. She had hoped Severus had been enticed by her academic knowledge, but she had not seen him in four days. Under normal circumstances, this would be of no consequence. When days mattered though, she needed something to capture his interest immediately.
She could try going over to his rooms again, but she didn't want to appear desperate. If a woman was confident, they should know a man will be interested in her, or so Hermione hoped. Then again, she'd only seen women in action with men who were easy to lure away from their partners, men like a certain red head she was unfortunate enough to date...
Expelling those thoughts from her head, she returned her attention to the magazine. Perhaps it would be worth it to brave the stores for some more flattering clothing. It had been a few years since she'd gone on a shopping trip. Most of her things were appropriate for work, but would not capture the interest of most men. Now was as good a time as any to freshen things up. It was unfortunate that she was lacking in significant funds, and had little idea of what to buy. Perhaps Ginny would be of help? This was her idea after all...
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Who is it?"
"Someone who does not appreciate waiting in front of a closed door."
"Shit," she muttered before glancing down at her clothes. Hermione hadn't expected any visitors, hence the black shorts and red t-shirt. Her hair was still damp form the shower. She could tell him to return later, but she'd waited over half a week to hear from him. If she didn't respond to him now, there was no telling when he would return.
"Are you incapable of opening a door?"
"I'm coming." She took a deep breath before complying with his demand.
"Ms. Granger." He was scowling as if Crookshanks had eaten his last piece of sandwich meat.
"Severus." She forced herself to smile. "What brings you here?"
"I was returning from a meeting with Minerva. As I passed by, I decided to ensure that your cat was properly confined."
"Oh?"
"Indeed, I am running a series of experiments, and would be quite upset if it were allowed to run around unsupervised."
"What kinds of experiments?"
"Things too complicated for a bushy haired know-it-all to understand."
"If I'm a know-it-all, how can anything be too complex for me?" She leaned against the doorway.
"Apparently a simply Polyjuice potion proved more complicated than your abilities."
"Perhaps in my school years I was not skilled in potions. I've grown a bit since then though."
"Indeed you have," he drawled.
She stood up straighter and enjoyed the sound of a speechless Severus.
"Anyway, I wanted to ensure Crookshanks was securely locked away."
"Crookshanks is quite confined."
"That is good to hear." He kept his gaze upon her, not moving a centimeter.
"Are you only here to ensure Crookshanks' well-being?"
"I am."
"Then why are you still here?"
He twisted his lower lip as his eyes shifted from her.
"Did you decide to take me up on my offer of help?" She asked.
"Why would I help you when there are far more qualified people to help you?" He snapped. "And far more people who do not despise you as I do?"
"Because nobody would be as perfect or as intelligent as you to discuss my teaching methods with."
"Do not attempt to flatter me. It's unbecoming."
"If flattery does not work, would insulting you be persuasive enough for you to help me?"
"I would prefer brutal honesty."
"Fine," Hermione leaned against the doorway. "I am honestly confused as to why you are here. Surely Crookshanks is not your only reason for coming."
"I may have had ulterior motives." He shifted slightly.
"Oh."
"I wanted to know if any of your textbooks discussed antibiotics."
Her lips curled upwards. So he hadn't been as unreceptive to her musings as she'd feared.
"It seems such an important muggle invention, but I do not remember it ever being taught in Muggle Studies," he continued.
"I do not remember it being taught either," she said. "Then again, I was only in the class for one year, so another year may have discussed it."
"No, they do not discuss it, trust me on that."
"I do. Merlin knows the course is lacking in quality content, at least it was in the year I took it."
"I still do not understand why you took it for even one year."
"I wanted to see how wizards viewed muggles."
"I would imagine their views shocked you."
"Sadly." She shook her head. "Nothing they said was all that surprising given the attitudes I faced."
"Indeed." For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of sympathy in his eyes.
"All that being said," Hermione relaxed. "I am pleasantly surprised to see you at my doorstep. It is nice to know you care."
"I do not care about you in the slightest. I was simply bored," he replied. "In the future, I must find better ways to amuse myself."
"Why not amuse yourself with me?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"At times I am quite amusing."
"If one's idea of amusement is a raging migraine, then I will concede that you are quite amusing."
"I was wondering when the insults would return," she opened the door a little more. "I quite missed them."
"I do not mean to insult you, but to convey my emotions towards you."
"And I am honestly amused by you coming here, attempting to make small talk, and then revert to being a snarky bastard."
"I have no idea why I came here." He turned around.
"I won't pretend to know how your complex mind works," She replied. "But I have some lovely tea if you're interested."
He face her once more.
"I make a good Passion herbal tea," she said.
"With or without arsenic?"
"Whichever you prefer."
"I would prefer to shove nails into my nose than converse with you for an hour."
"I would hate to see your nose injured," she said. "It is your most striking feature after all."
He furrowed his eyebrows.
"I mean it," she said. "Your nose is uniquely you."
"Hence the name Snivellus," he muttered.
"The marauders were idiots."
"I thought you admired them."
"My admiration for them has waned over the years."
He stared at her, debating on whether or not to believe her.
"They were all idiots."
"They were who every Gryffindor desired to be."
"I must not be like other Gryffindors, because the more I learn of them, the less I want to be like any one of them."
"Indeed," he drawled.
"They were boorish and quite frankly idiotic. I think a big nose could be an asset, especially in certain lines of work."
"How?"
"For one thing, you could be a wonderful cologne sniffer, should you ever decide to no longer be a potions master."
"Do I look like the kind of man who would ever waste his money on something as frivolous as cologne?"
"Yes."
He glared at her.
"Why not enhance your scent? I think in your own way, you could be quite dashing," she continued.
"If you believe I am dashing, you are in desperate need of an optometrist."
"I saw one a few months ago." She stepped closer to him. "My vision is perfect."
"You are a terrible liar."
"And you are terrible at accepting compliments."
"And you are terrible at giving them."
"Am I?"
"Anyone who must outright lie to another person is no good complimenter." He argued.
"If you want to hear my true thoughts, why don't you stay with me?"
His expression did not change.
"Come have tea with me," she lowered her voice. "You may find that you enjoy it."
"I would love nothing more than to to waste my time listening to you babble, but I fear it would take time away from you planning your course," he replied. "Besides, one should enjoy tea with someone one likes."
"Why would I have tea with someone who likes me when I can bask in your pure unadulterated hatred?"
"I never would have thought to accuse you of masochism."
"I never would've thought to accuse you of a person who could turn down tea with a friend."
"We are not friends," he snapped.
"Perhaps not yet, but we could be."
"If I am ever mentally unwell I will consider your offer of friendship."
"If I am ever mentally unwell I will cease enjoying your charming presence."
"I'm as charming as Nagini."
"Every snake has its own charms," she replied. "Including you."
He rolled his eyes. "This was a waste of my time."
"Conversations are rarely a waste of time, especially when one converses are little as you do."
Severus huffed.
"Did you only come over to ask about Crookshanks and antibiotics? She asked. "Or did you want to discuss my offer to have you help me with my classes?"
"I had a couple of simple questions. They were answered, which is fortunate because I would have needed to wait longer for you to leave the shower if I came any earlier. Truly you are improperly dressed as you are. How could you have asked me for tea in such an outfit?"
"I would have changed my clothing," her lips curled up. "Unless you secretly enjoy seeing me like this."
"I do not enjoy seeing you like this. To be frank, I don't like seeing you in any outfit, in any way."
"Yes, you despise me so much you came to my quarters just to spar with me."
"Goodbye Ms. Granger." Severus turned around.
"Goodbye, Severus."
She heard him mutter a few choice words under his breath, but did not dare to speak up. Instead, she allowed herself to relax.
Things may not be as dire as she feared.