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"Hermione!"
Her vision was obstructed as large things crashed into her, squeezing her so tightly she could hardly breathe.
"Guys," she gasped. "Great to … feel you."
Arms slid off her and she found herself face-to-face with a beaming Harry and a laughing Ginny.
"We've got a table over there." Harry pointed in what seemed to be a vague direction which he headed off towards while Ginny linked her arm through Hermione's and walked her over.
Ron was already at the table and gave her a wave. "Hey Hermione. Happy birthday. Well, late birthday." He broke into a goofy smile. "Lav can't make it."
"I'd be surprised if she could." Hermione rolled her eyes as she slid into the seat opposite Harry.
"Luna said she'll be coming but I haven't seen her yet," said Harry.
"Hello, everyone." Luna materialised next to their table, her earrings in the shape of cherries swung wildly as she sat next to Hermione.
"Where did you come from? I didn't even see you walk over." Ron gawked.
"Not everyone can see beyond," replied Luna, her voice tinkling amongst the rumble of chatter throughout the pub. "Happy birthday again, Hermione."
"Thanks."
"What do you guys feel like having?" Ron scratched his ear as he turned to read the chalkboard hovering behind the bar counter.
Ginny held a hand out to stop Ron from rattling off the entire menu. "Hermione should pick."
"Go ahead," added Harry.
Luna tapped Hermione on the shoulder. "I'll help."
Hermione smiled and both witches made their way to the counter.
"Hello, ladies." Madam Rosmerta was wiping down some glasses and grinned at them. "What can I get you?"
Luna and Hermione chatted with her for a bit before they ordered some nibbles to share and drinks for the table. As they made their way back, Hermione thought she saw a familiar figure. When she turned to take a proper look, she couldn't spot the person she had in mind.
"What is it?"
Hermione turned to Luna. "I thought I saw someone."
"Professor Snape is here."
Her eyebrows flew to her hairline. "What?"
"Yeah, he's with that gorgeous blonde over there," butted in Ron as he jerked his head to the other side. "Beats me how he managed to score that."
"Ron!"
"Ouch! Don't kick me, Gin!"
"You're lucky your wife isn't here."
The two of them continued bickering but Hermione tuned out. A sinking feeling entered her gut as she found her eyes settling on a table at the far corner in the shadows. Chérie Dujardin was alone but sipping a tall flute of some drink. While 'gorgeous blonde' was Ron's descriptor, Hermione had to admit that it was apt for tonight.
Dujardin wore a set of dark blue robes - infinitely more modest than the weird garb from the other night - but the lengthwise slits on the sleeves exposed her arms that were now resting casually on the table. Her hair was half-up and half-down, giving her a sort of regal look. Her entire ensemble was simple but it emphasised her finer points; a quick survey at the nearby tables was enough to confirm that Dujardin had managed to pique the interest of most of the male patrons. Hermione looked away, not wanting to witness the moment when Severus would return to that table.
"You alright there, Hermione?" asked Harry, frowning.
"Never been better." She forced a smile. "Thank you all for this impromptu gathering."
"We should be thanking you, instead, for coming out of the castle, Your Highness," said Ginny, grinning.
"You kept turning down all the meetups," put in Ron. "I thought it was because of me." Then he cried out again. "Gin!"
"I can't believe you're my brother. No tact at all!"
"I did wonder as well," admitted Harry.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Both of you!"
Hermione smiled. "It's fine." Turning to her ex-boyfriend, she said, "Not everything revolves around you, Ronald."
"You're busy with the anniversary event, aren't you?" Luna piped up, fingering her hair absent-mindedly.
"Have the invitations been sent out?" Hermione was surprised.
"I heard it from Neville. He said you two met for dinner."
Hermione was a little surprised. She was aware that Neville and Luna had formed a close friendship while she, Harry and Ron had been on the run back in the days but wasn't aware that they still communicated regularly. Neville hadn't mentioned Luna even once during the dinner.
"What anniversary?"
"What dinner?"
"Neville?"
The other three spoke at the same time, all bearing different expressions and Hermione found herself having to briefly explain how she ended up meeting Neville. She left out the other parts though; parts that didn't bring excitement to her anymore. The kind of excitement that a certain someone else was able to evoke within her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise it was a secret."
Luna sounded genuinely regretful that Hermione felt bad for a moment. "It's not a secret."
Before Luna could respond, Madam Rosmerta came by with the food and drinks, and that distracted the rest of the table. Ron yakked away, retelling stories from work. Hermione was only half listening because she was busy reflecting on her feelings meeting Ron and the rest tonight. She neither missed her work as an Auror nor felt bitter about Ron and Lavender's relationship. Perhaps, she really had matured a bit more and moved on from the events in her past. Well, almost. Until Dujardin had mentioned the French Alps.
Was Severus back yet? She couldn't help but wonder if he really was here with Dujardin. Hermione pretended to drop her fork on the floor and turned discreetly as she bent to pick it up. Sure enough, he was sitting across the Frenchwoman. Both of them seemed to be engaged in a rather intense conversation with Severus gesturing as he spoke and Dujardin looking on edge with her right fist clenched tightly. That definitely did not give off any vibes of a date – if they had been on one. Unless they were having a lovers' spat. Hermione straightened up.
"-getting any," Ron was saying.
"That's a bit rude," replied Harry, taking a swig of butterbeer.
"But who'd want to snog him?" Ron shook his head as he threw a handful of crisps into his mouth.
"I wouldn't mind." Luna rested her head on her hand. "Only as an experiment. I know he's not the one for me. Apparently, you'll be able to see Qronglers when you meet the one you're meant to be with."
"Qronglers?" Ginny frowned.
That was all the encouragement Luna needed to start explaining about yet another fascinating type of creature that supposedly existed. Hermione wasn't sure what they had been talking about but Ron's next words sent her choking on a piece of breaded fish.
"Well I'm glad I don't see any of these Qronglers when looking at Snape." Ron shuddered.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Luna thumped her on the back.
"Yeah," she replied, covering her mouth with a napkin as she coughed. "Just these breadcrumbs."
Harry caught Hermione's eye. "Speaking of Snape, is he treating you like a proper colleague?"
"Of course."
"Let us know if he's giving you a hard time. We'll talk to him."
Hermione found herself smiling. Harry was still protective as always. "You'll be the first to know."
"Say, Hermione, do you know who that woman is?" asked Ginny. "She's looking at this table. Oh, now she's walking over."
"Who?" Hermione turned and saw a smiling Dujardin approaching the group.
"'ermione!" The witch exclaimed.
Hermione stood up and moved towards the witch, angling her body away from the others so that Dujardin couldn't get any closer. "Chérie."
"Wonderful to see you 'ere. Are they your friends?"
"Yes." But Hermione didn't feel like introducing them.
The other woman continued, "I was just 'aving a drink with Se-veh-roos."
The man was now at the bar in conversation with Madam Rosmerta and turned on cue as if he had heard his name.
"Right." Hermione couldn't stop herself before she added, "A date?"
Dujardin laughed merrily, bearing perfect, white teeth. "No, no. I 'ave my 'eart quite set on another. Even though Se-veh-roos really is quite, ah, how should I say it? Quite something."
She turned to give the wizard an appreciative look that Hermione wanted to wipe right off her face. Then she turned back and winked at Hermione, who didn't know if she should be happy that there was supposedly nothing going on between the two. Although, why should Hermione care if Severus was seeing Dujardin? And why did she feel a twinge of annoyance each time the woman used his given name?
Nevertheless, Friday night still didn't make sense. Hermione couldn't bring herself to ask Severus about it simply because she didn't know how to face him. But Dujardin was here in front of her now and the topic hung open in the air.
"Then, what was that on Friday night? You both looked ... intimate."
If she had been mildly inquiring before, this was outright prying.
"Friday night? At 'is rooms?" Dujardin's face lost all trace of laughter. There was something in her eyes that Hermione couldn't quite identify. "The details, I cannot tell you. If you want to know, it is 'im you should ask."
Hermione didn't get a chance to follow up because Severus slid up beside Dujardin that instant. He nodded in greeting and flashed Hermione a quick smile.
"Vee are going now. Good evening, Hermione." Dujardin smiled gently.
"Good evening, Chérie." Then she turned to face the wizard. "Severus."
There. Hermione had finally said it aloud. And on purpose too. Why should she not call him by his given name if someone like Chérie – who claimed no intimate relationship with him and knew him for far less of a time than Hermione did – could address him with so much familiarity, his name rolling off her tongue with ease?
If Severus had been surprised, he didn't give any indication. But the slight twitch in his jaw was enough to confirm that he noticed. "Good evening … Hermione."
Then, he left with Dujardin in tow. It was only when Hermione heard Ginny calling her repeatedly that she realised she had been standing where they had left her.
"Merlin, you know her?" Ron gaped openly at Hermione when she re-joined them.
"She teaches Muggle Studies at Hogwarts." Hermione's insides still felt wobbly as the sound of Severus' voice enunciating her name echoed in her ears.
"So she's Muggle-born?" asked Ginny.
"Half-blood."
"Dating Snape?"
"Doubt so."
"Can't imagine him dating." Ron grimaced as he gulped his Firewhiskey.
"I don't think that matters," said Harry quietly. He lowered his voice. "Hermione, you and Chérie seemed pretty tense there. Is everything okay?"
"Perfect."
"Don't worry, Hermione. Not everything is as it seems." Luna placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled in her special way.
"I hope so."
The others began talking about topics that Hermione usually had no interest in but she decided to shove aside all thoughts of a certain wizard and focus on the gathering with her friends. The matter regarding Severus could wait until she had the time and space to properly think and decide what she would do next.
Right now, there was something in the conversation that just took place which bothered Hermione but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.