Alenor, Alexandra Warkel, Amanda, Ashley, AubreyElla, candycane, Cattibrie393, Coriel, CrissCrossAcross, Diadora, Emma-Kitty, excessivelyperky, fearsomdiety, Fiona McKinnon, firelegs, GoddessofDestiny419, IrishLass6, Jaid Ziaen, latinachikita, lilcutieissa, Lyssa Snape, Magical MA, magically, Mrs Luna Potter, Nichalia, Nicole, Paranoid Sarcasm, Pathatlon, prissygirl, prongs, RachL8, reitashnehelena, Rosh, Shdwcat27, Sindie, sinj, soul chaser, SnapesMistress005, Strega Brava, Thefarsideofthemoon, The Insane Imortal Dragon, Transylvanian, XXxnefertarixX – Thanks!
Alex25, Ezmerelda – Thanks for your comments…
crissy – Thanks – yes, I certainly wanted them to become more comfortable with each other – to start feeling like a couple rather than a former teacher/student to the other.
Gucia, Severusgirl – Thanks – I admit I had a few OMG! WTF? moments after reading book 6 but I like to think that Snape is an undercover good guy…
KatsunoCZ, Krirobe – Thanks for liking my writing…
LadyShard – Thanks – I'm glad you liked their animal forms (and their mutual chasing).
Moonie – Thanks – you'll soon see…
MyStOrIeS – Thanks – I think it would be quite logical for Hermione to address him as Severus once she had left school – she would have the right to after all if she wanted.
prin69 – Thanks – yes, Severus on a sugar high would be a scary thing…
Severus-Fan – You can stop yanking your hair now (grin) – here is the update.
Song Angel – Thanks – something had gone wrong with the loading process last time to make it look like I had updated two chapters…
A/N: Whew, I finally found some time to finish this chapter which wasn't easy writing at times, and seeing the great 'Goblet of Fire' worked wonders as well. I hope you like this chapter - do be advised that there is a definite lemony-flavoured warning for it.
Chapter 24
The next morning when Hermione arrived at the library she was pleasantly surprised that when Severus rose from his chair he revealed that instead of wearing his usual outer robes over his frock coat and trousers he was wearing a simple yet elegant coat of black wool. There was an odd, wistful ache inside her when she remembered how it had felt to hold him yesterday when he fallen asleep in her arms. She wanted to feel that sense of closeness to him again but with regret Hermione knew this was hardly an easy thing to ask of him.
"Hello, Severus…your coat looks nice," she said sincerely as she approached him.
Severus gazed at her and saw an intense look in his eyes for a moment.
"Thank you…I see that you brought other clothes with you as well," he replied, telling himself sternly not to gape at Hermione like a foolish schoolboy. It was hard for him though not to do this for her masses of brown hair were pinned up upon her head and she was wearing a dark red robe that clung gently to her form. Part of his mind sneered that it was just the kind of colour a Gryffindor like her would choose but he ignored it. However, it was harder to ignore the fact that he could see that some wayward tendrils of her hair were brushing against her neck…
Severus then folded his arms across his chest and glowered down at her.
"How am I supposed to keep my hands off you when we are out today?" he said irritably.
Hermione blinked and then smiled mischievously as she deduced from his Snape-speak that he had said he liked her outfit.
"I'm sure you'll manage," she said readily. She was glad she had transformed the colour of one of her black robes to its current shade as well as modifying the style ever so slightly – she sometimes got tired of wearing sensible black robes all the time.
Severus eyed her darkly and then remembered that she approved of his coat before. He had felt like wearing something different when he took her to the Egyptian lecture today, wanting the chance to stop like feeling like a professor for a while. Very well, so it was pleasant to have her approval of his attire but he didn't really need it, of course. She thought it – and he by default – looked nice…
"I should mention that the word 'nice' is not usually associated with my clothes, Hermione," he remarked and because he couldn't resist teasing her he added in a tart tone, "So what you are saying is that up to now my appearance has not looked 'nice' at all?"
Hermione noted the gleam in his black eyes though and she huffed at him.
"I am not saying anything of the kind," she said and to prove her point she approached him, eyeing his familiar black frock coat. An interested hand of hers made its way to his chest. "Mmm…buttons," she said sweetly as she patted one and then another of his black buttons.
Severus promptly seized the warm and offending hand. "Stop that," he said severely. "I have never known a woman with such bold hands…a Gryffindor trait, no doubt."
"All right – from now on I shall always keep my hands to myself," Hermione assured him in a demure tone, not quite hiding the sparkle in her brown eyes.
Severus eyed her darkly again and his mouth twitched before he brought her hand up to his mouth so that he could kiss it gently.
"However," Severus said as he pointed refused to reply to her comment – the impudent minx - "the colour of your robe does become you. Even if it tells the world that you are undeniably a Gryffindor," he added.
"Good," Hermione replied lightly, refusing to be baited by him.
The Potions Master snorted and then drew her closer to him. Hermione went to embrace him with her free arm, realising too that with the absence of his outer robes it was easier for her to see Severus today as the sardonic, dark-haired wizard who was her partner rather than as Professor Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin. Not that he hadn't worn the same clothes all the time at Hogwarts of course – sometimes when he was watching Quidditch matches with the rest of his House and on days where there were special occasions at the school he would wear different outfits if need be. But when that was the case it was hardly as if she, a Gryffindor student, would be right beside him to have a closer examination of his clothes.
Hermione leaned up to give him an appreciative kiss, her lips gently slanting over his. There was enough time for a proper kiss before they went, Severus thought as he allowed himself the indulgence of letting her take the lead, his eyelids shutting though his hand tightened upon hers for a moment. Feeling a delightful - and heady - sense of power over him at times like these Hermione teasingly nibbled his lower lip and then tried to coax him to open his mouth to her. Severus refused to oblige though this time and she sensed rather than saw his smirk that implied she would have make a better effort to persuade him. Very well, if he wanted to play then she could as well, she thought.
She teasingly brushed her hips against his for a moment and then felt his hips flex against hers in swift response.
"Wicked girl," Severus growled and excited at her boldness he moved to wrap his arms around her and kissed her fiercely, demanding and gaining entrance into her mouth. His tongue delved into her sweet depths, groaning when her tongue sought and then boldly entwined with his. To punish his beloved further a hand of his then quickly sought her bottom, giving it an appreciative pat first before he held her in place against him while he pressed and ground sensually against her for a few glorious moments.
"Oh!" a startled Hermione said, clutching at Severus' arms as heat coursing through her veins. "Oh…"
Severus then moved his dark head. "Admit it," he said in a harsh whisper beside her ear, excited at the way she had sounded.
"Admit what?" Hermione said in a tone she realised in chagrin sounded dazed and breathless. Damn him for doing something like that to her, she thought ruefully. However, she had probably deserved it.
She was rewarded with a nibble to her ear.
"Admit that you are a wicked girl," Severus breathed.
Hermione thought it over for a moment. "Yes - when you're around," she mumbled.
She then felt herself embraced again and heard a rumble of laughter from Severus. "An honest one, too," he murmured and then he kissed the top of her head. "We are supposed to be going out, I believe," he said in an attempt at sternness but couldn't resist giving her a final, brief kiss on her mouth.
When they were sure that they both looked like a presentable couple rather than two slightly dishevelled lovers Severus took her arm and then they both Apparated to the London street where the lecture hall was. It was a pleasant day there, and the sun shone down upon the cobbles. Severus immediately released her hand and once she had recovered Hermione couldn't help but eye the various shops upon the street with some interest – most of them were Muggle ones but the occasional shop was a wizarding one - the rents in Diagon Alley could be quite high for shop owners at times. Certainly she had brought both Muggle and wizarding currency with her today…
The various Muggles in the street walked unseeingly past the wizard shops and did not give the various witches and wizards (many with a scholarly appearance) walking into the lecture hall a second glance.
"Do come along," Severus dryly informed her. "This is not the time for shopping."
"I didn't say anything about shopping," Hermione was swift to reply.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "You did not have to – your face is an open book to me," he said silkily.
Hermione contented herself with good naturedly huffing at him before she followed him into the lecture hall, the trace of edginess she had been feeling again at being seen with Severus in public fading away. In the foyer a witch in a pretty blue robe was sitting at a table collecting money from the attendees lining up before her. Once she issued them their tickets she would indicate a nearby door that presumably led to where the lecture was being held.
Hermione and Severus didn't have wait too long in the line before they reached the table and Severus imperiously said, "Tickets for two adults, please."
The witch – who, according to a small brass nametag on her robe was called Silvia – matter-of-factly stated the price and Severus brought the required amount from a small leather pouch that came from a pocket within his coat. Once he was given the tickets he gave one to Hermione and then they followed the stream of people who had already paid for their tickets into the hall.
"Thanks again for paying for me," Hermione said sincerely in an aside to him.
Severus glanced down at her and his black eyes warmed slightly. He never took it for granted when he was thanked for something, especially from her. "The pleasure is mine, I assure you," he murmured. "Now let's see if we can get some spare seats without using charms – or hexes as the case may be," he added in a sardonic tone.
The hall could hold quite a few people and it was mostly full, but fortunately Hermione and Severus were able to find some spare seats towards the back. Once they both sat down Hermione found herself acutely aware of Severus' presence beside her for the chairs were fairly close to each other. She tried to view him objectively as a stranger in the hall would and was satisfied with the results, for today Severus' black hair hung in clean black curtains on either side of his angular face. His skin had lost some of its pallid look and had a healthier olive tint to it. He even looked as if his body had put on a pound or two and his mouth had lost some of its sour look when it was in repose. As though aware of her covert scrutiny Severus turned slightly to look at her, a black eyebrow sharply raised in question. Aware that they were both in a public setting Hermione restricted herself to let her eyes sparkle at him for a moment, smiling to herself when his mouth quirked at her in response.
Severus realised that he felt proud to have Hermione with him in public like this – he had been quietly edgy again at the thought of receiving stares from those who thought he was too old and unattractive to be with a young witch such as Hermione, but he had hardly received any like that at all. He had been aware though of some wizards in the audience eyeing Hermione with interest when they had come in which had made him bristle inside. However, when he had been aware of Hermione studying him he had turned to see affection in the sparkling brown eyes looking at him. Such devotion surely deserved a reward later…
They didn't have to wait long until the lecturer arrived at the front of the hall, a plump, beaming wizard with the tanned complexion of one who looked as though he had spent quite a while in Egypt. Once he launched into his subject Hermione quickly found herself enthralled with his words, though she had to admit it did feel a little bit peculiar to be listening to a lecture with Severus beside her in an audience setting for a change. She could almost imagine herself in the hot desert land of Egypt, hearing the sonorous chants of the magicians in their temples as they cast their spells. When the subject of cats was briefly touched upon and the way they were venerated and protected from harm with charms in ancient Egypt, Hermione couldn't help from bumping Severus' knee briefly with her own, restraining the urge to chuckle when she heard Severus snort underneath his breath.
Once the lecture was over Hermione was all too eager to discuss what they had been listening to as they left the hall, and rather than finding her chatter tiresome or annoying as he once would have done Severus found himself motivated to counter and discuss various points with her in return.
"I am surprised you weren't raising your hand all the time to ask questions," he said smoothly as they stepped outside on to the street, smirking to himself when her eyes promptly flashed brown sparks at him.
"You would say that, wouldn't you?" Hermione grumbled.
"Of course," Severus said. Then he eyed her.
"I need to go to Gringotts for certain reasons and then," he added meaningfully, "you will be obliged to show this place of yours that sells chocolate cupcakes and some proper food I hope." He told himself that he wasn't really that willing to eat such things as cupcakes. Well, perhaps he was but he certainly wouldn't say it to Hermione, of course.
"All right," Hermione agreed lightly and then Severus took her arm and when they Apparated again they arrived outside Gringotts. She wondered what Severus meant by 'certain reasons' – but then Severus often used a lot of cryptic words when a few common sense ones would do, Hermione thought wryly.
Severus released her arm. "Come along," he said briskly.
When they walked up the white stone steps the goblin guarding the burnished bronze doors in his scarlet and gold uniform was quick to bow towards Severus as they walked inside.
However, when they walked inside they both paused when they saw Harry and Ginny on their way out of the bank. It was obvious to Hermione that Harry and Ginny had just shared an amusing story, but she then saw a startled look in Harry's green eyes when he saw her and the smiles on both of Harry's and Ginny's faces faded at the sight of the Potions Master beside her.
Severus knew that at times good manners could be a weapon in themselves.
"Good day Miss Weasley," Severus said smoothly and inclined his dark head ever so slightly to the auburn haired witch. He had no quarrel with her, after all. However, he wondered at her decision to be in Potter's company…but then the Weasley family were hardly known for their outstanding intellect.
"Potter," he then added almost as an afterthought.
"Hello Professor Snape," Ginny replied in a careful tone, hoping that she didn't sound too awkward - what did you say in this kind of situation apart from the pleasantries? "Hello Hermione."
Ginny had already had an earful from Harry about how Hermione had had the gall to become friendly with Snape ("as if she had forgotten about the way he had treated us through the years,") but actually seeing them together now as if they were out on an actual date was surprising. You would hardly think they could stand to be in the same room together given their various personalities, she thought. Also, Slytherin and Gryffindor pairings were rare – it was often said that the deviousness of one clashed with the forthrightness of the other. However, a pang went through Ginny's heart for a moment when she remembered how thoroughly she had become ensnared by Tom Riddle's beguiling ways years ago through his diary – Tom's willingness to listen to her in his own way had hardly seemed at that time like a plot by surely the most devious Slytherin of all.
Though Snape looked more presentable than usual at the moment – another surprise – Ginny was privately perplexed as to why Hermione would willingly want to be in Snape's company anyway for she seemed comfortable at being out in public with him. But they were both intellectuals so that was probably the basis of whatever their friendship was. Frankly, Ginny found it better when she didn't think of Snape and Hermione being in more intimate situations…surely Hermione would not stand to have someone like Snape actually attempt to kiss her or anything like that. But Ginny had to admit that deep down she was relieved that Hermione had obviously stopped regarding Harry as a romantic interest. Hermione had also made some effort to look presentable as well, and Ginny was curious to know where they had been, and where they were going after visiting the bank.
"Hello Ginny…hello Harry," Hermione replied, privately surprised at how calm she sounded considering that she and Harry had previously parted on bad terms (and it looked like he hadn't forgotten either), with Ginny stopping just short of outright staring at her (not surprisingly, Ginny was showing no inclination to start staring at Severus). But a situation like this where she and Severus ran into her friends was going to happen sooner or later, she thought with an internal shrug. Either her friends accepted it, or they didn't. But she couldn't help feel but uncomfortable at the way Harry was regarding her at the moment as if she was a traitor – it wasn't blatant but it was nevertheless present in his current demeanour.
Harry felt far from willing to being able to accept actually seeing Hermione out in public with Snape as if it was no big deal on her part. He had always thought of Snape as ugly with his lank black hair, pallid skin and hooked nose – indeed, the kindest word that Harry could have used to describe his looks (if Harry had felt so inclined) was homely. But now, seeing that Snape's hair was cleaner than usual and his pallid skin now a healthier colour (he would bet five Galleons that some charms had been involved, Harry thought derisively to himself) he felt this was not a good sign in his mind. You said that they would soon get tired of each other, he said silently in his mind to Remus in anger as well as honest bewilderment. Why had Hermione changed in this way – what had happened to his friend? The way she was standing beside Snape was almost protective…as if one barbed comment from either Harry or Ginny would make her leap to Snape's defence. Harry didn't know how to get through to her that going out with someone like Snape was wrong. What could he do to change her mind? He realised he missed her…but she had put this gulf between them.
However, as if Snape knew the turmoil that his mind was in Harry saw a faint but nevertheless a mocking – and malicious even - look in his black eyes for a moment. I've won, that look said. She's mine, and Hermione was never yours to have in the first place. Harry's jaw tightened and anger flooded through him. He longed for nothing more but to bring out his wand and hex Snape where he stood, to yell at him…but this was a public place, and certainly coming to the attention of the goblins of this bank was never a wise idea. But Snape wasn't going to get away with having seduced Hermione in his own way, Harry thought grimly. When it was the right time and place he would make that quite clear to Snape. As for Hermione, until she came to her senses he didn't want anything to do with her right now, Harry thought with cold finality. She couldn't go out with Snape and be friends with him at the same time. He didn't think that Ron would disagree with that sentiment either as he was firmly convinced that Hermione had gone around the bend with her interest in Snape. The three of them had had arguments in the past but this…this situation was unforgivable. Hermione wasn't even looking ashamed at the moment.
"Hello, Hermione," Harry said curtly to Hermione. "Hello…sir," he said equally curtly to Snape, his tone to the older wizard just this short of being insulting. "If you will excuse us, we're on our way to a party."
"What…" Ginny began then stopped, a faint flush appearing on her pale skin. "Yes, well, I'll see you later, Hermione," she said awkwardly, not wanting to contradict a Harry who obviously wanted to be anywhere but here. Besides, she didn't know what else to say with Professor Snape regarding both her and Harry now with faint and dark amusement.
"See you Ginny…Harry," Hermione replied, not knowing what else to say and feeling a sense of hollowness as Ginny and Harry walked away from them and left the bank. Harry had just said what he had as an excuse to get away from her, she thought tightly. As if she was tainted.
She turned to look at Severus but he had an inscrutable look on his face. He was clever enough to know that to show on his face his amusement at the whole situation – and his satisfaction at having scored a victory over Potter for once - would not be in his best interests at all. Severus couldn't help feeling irate on Hermione's behalf for she was a good person – not the sickly-sweet kind but the kind he realised that really mattered – and Potter chose to overlook that because Hermione had chosen to go out with him. The next time he had the misfortune to run into Potter he would take great pleasure in telling him that he hadn't deserved to have a friend like Hermione in the first place. When he saw a sense of bleakness in Hermione's eyes his hand reached out automatically to touch her arm, to soothe her…then stopped, remembering that they were in a public place.
"Come," Severus said and realised as he spoke that the word had had a questioning tone to it, as if he was asking, "Will you come with me?" Come with me even though your friends – who may not deserve the title – disapprove.
Hermione's eyes had softened slightly at his gesture, aborted though it was and nodded. "Yes," she said quietly. Were things destined to get ugly every time she ran into Harry now? She found she missed the camaraderie she had had with Harry as well as Ron but she didn't know how to get back to the way things used to be. She didn't know how she could convince them both that Severus cared for her and was good company to be despite his various personality quirks. Hermione didn't think a letter would help and she balked at the idea of being humble and trying to justify herself in such a way to Harry and Ron.
In a pensive mood she followed Severus as he swept up to the long counter in the bank and addressed a goblin that had not been serving anyone.
"Good day," Severus said imperiously as he took out a small golden key from a pocket within his coat. "I wish to withdraw some money from my safe."
The goblin took the key and peered at it. Once he was satisfied it was a legitimate key he nodded at Severus.
"Very well," he said in a ponderous tone. "I will fetch someone to take you down." Then he glanced at Hermione.
"The lady…" he said in questioning tone.
Severus replied in a cool tone, "Yes, she will be accompanying me."
"Very well," the goblin said again. "Dugwith!"
Another goblin hurried up to them in an officious manner and once the key was handed over to him Severus and Hermione followed him to one of the doors leading off the hall. Hermione hoped that the ride down to the vaults wouldn't be too rough, for on an occasion when she had gone down with Harry she had felt a bit giddy afterwards. Once they were in the sloping stone passageway with the small railway tracks on the floor a cart was summoned to them and they climbed in without too much loss to their dignity. The cart then promptly rushed off down the twisting passageways and Hermione was too concerned with trying to keep some sort of balance to think about Harry and Ginny. She was certainly glad she had put her hair up otherwise it would have been flying around her in a mad tangle by now.
After making a particularly sharp turn Hermione went to clutch Severus' arm for support, not caring what he or the goblin thought. Severus glanced down at her, a faint smile upon his face and seemingly unbothered by the ride even though his black hair flew in all directions at times. Perhaps it was something he did, or perhaps it just seemed that way but Hermione then found herself enjoying the ride too and being in his company in this way. It didn't matter what her friends thought. The cart eventually stopped beside an unassuming door set into the passage wall and the goblin was quick to clamber out and unlock the door. Hermione hastily released Severus' arm and after swiftly pushing some of his black hair out of his face Severus then got out of the cart in his turn.
"I won't be a moment," he assured Hermione and after bringing out his wand he said "Lumos!" in a sharp tone before opening the door and slipping through, shutting the door behind him. The goblin stood at attention by the door, giving Hermione the occasional watchful look as if he thought she would try and storm the door.
Hermione couldn't help but wonder how far they were underground. She could hear a faint 'drip, drip' from an unseen leak nearby and faint rumbling noises from other carts in the vast caverns occasionally reached her ears.
After a little while Severus opened the door and came back out, an enigmatic expression on his face as he went to lock the door before stowing the golden key back into a pocket upon his person. Hermione was curious to know what he had retrieved from behind the door and how much money he had in there, but she knew it was none of her business to ask such things. She was able to enjoy the ride back up to the surface, though she was quite relieved when they were both back out in the light of day again.
On the street outside the bank Severus eyed her. "Now Hermione, about this food…" he said pointedly.
Despite his tone he couldn't help but look for a moment like a teenage boy looking forward to a promised treat and Hermione found herself smiling at him. "Yes, of course," she agreed. "Come with me."
Not caring who might be watching Hermione went to clasp his arm and then she Apparated with Severus to a quiet alley just off Diagon Alley. Severus found himself eyeing with some misgiving a dainty looking shop that had been painted a chocolate brown colour.
"I'm sure you'll like it," Hermione said encouragingly.
Severus looked down his nose at her. "I believe you do not know me that well," he pointed out as they walked up to the front door.
"I know you well enough to know you won't dislike it," Hermione said patiently.
However, when Severus opened the door he was taken aback when the door gave him a low female whistle. He turned to look back at Hermione with his eyebrows sharply raised.
There was sheepish expression on Hermione's face. "Erm…it only does that if it likes you," she confessed.
Severus' mouth twitched for a moment as he held the door open for Hermione to come through.
"I see," he said smoothly. "And you were going to warn me about this…when?"
"Well, I wasn't sure if the door would whistle at you or not so I decided not to say anything," Hermione said earnestly.
Severus shook his head in a way that implied that there was no hope for her at all.
He gave the premises a suspicious look but nothing was too offensive to his eyes – the floor was polished wood and the walls were painted cream with a high brown shelf that ran along the length of the shop covered with teapots of all shapes and sizes. There were booths of dark wood set on one side of the shop and the polished wooden counter with a serving witch behind it had a range of food covered with gleaming glass covers spelled to keep the contents fresh or warm as the case may be. The shop was not too crowded and there was a muted hum of conversation to be heard.
Hermione was already moving briskly up to the counter and following her Severus saw without hesitation Hermione order a drink of hot chocolate, a piece of meat pie and a cake with what looked to be far too many strawberries on it.
"I'll be paying for us both," Hermione calmly told the fair-haired witch behind the counter who then looked enquiringly at Severus for his order.
Severus studied the food before him before impassively he requested some sandwiches, a cup of coffee…and two of the cupcakes with yes, chocolate icing he had noticed under a glass cover. Once Hermione had paid for their food and they had taken it on trays to a spare booth she gave him a curious glance once she was sitting down.
"Two cupcakes?" she enquired in a low tone, a corner of her mouth twitching.
Severus gave her one of his patented looks designed to instantly quell idle chat from students.
"Since you recommended these cakes I thought it only wise to have two – to ensure that both of them taste as good as you have implied they would," he replied tartly.
Hermione wasn't fooled. "If you say so," she said gravely, hiding a smile before turning her attention to her food.
However, during the meal Severus couldn't help but see the occasional pensive look on Hermione's face while she ate. Suspecting that she was still thinking of her friends he sought to distract her by discreetly moving a leg to rub it gently against one of her shins.
Hermione glanced up at him in surprise and then made a slight face at him, a hint of colour in her cheeks. Nevertheless a few moments later Severus felt her leg bump gently against his. He pursed his mouth at Hermione and gave her the look of one who had just been strongly offended. He was then rewarded with her smile and for once couldn't help but return it.
Severus took care to thank her afterwards for paying for his meal, admitting in the process that the cupcakes had been tolerable. He saw that she strove to show no expression on her face when he bought another one to take back with him.
That night he brought a bowl of fruit with him to the library and fed her with the utmost care, wondering as he noted her willingness to submit to him if he had been motivated to bring her the fruit out of tenderness or in an effort to bind her more closely to him. But when with a light in her eyes she took charge and started delicately feeding him the remainder of the fruit he realised it didn't matter – for surely she was binding him ever closer to her as well.
On Sunday morning Hermione went to meet Lavender at the Three Broomsticks, the memory of Severus' whispered words in her ear that he would look forward to seeing how she would greet him later still in her mind. She ruefully thought that with their slow and tender seduction of each other it was starting to get to the point where Severus could ask to what he pleased with her and she would immediately say yes…
When she arrived and greeted her friend Hermione found herself initially thinking that Lavender's pleasure in seeing her again was overshadowed by an avid look in her eyes. The inn was only moderately crowded and so they were able to sit in a quiet corner of their choosing, with Hermione managing to discreetly cast a charm to prevent anyone from overhearing their conversation.
After the initial small talk Lavender wasted no time in getting down to business. "So I was right all those months ago wasn't I? Snape really was jealous of Harry and Ron's interest in you," Lavender said bluntly, a look of both thoughtfulness and disbelief on her face. Hermione was relieved that Lavender hadn't shown any overt signs of disgust or revulsion…yet.
"Yes," Hermione admitted. She found herself imagining how infuriating it must have been for Severus to no doubt feel dark jealousy over the boys interest in her - even though he had probably been trying to deny to himself back then that he had any interest in her all…
"So were you and Snape actually…you know…" Lavender said in a deliberately off-hand manner but with curiosity in her eyes.
"No!" Hermione said more sharply than she intended. "There wasn't anything going on while I was at school."
Lavender looked at her quizzically. "It can't be as simple as that – there has to have been something going on then for you both to be…friendly now," she pointed out.
Hermione looked back at her and knew that Lavender wouldn't be easily fobbed off with a bland explanation.
After a moment Hermione said quietly, "Do you remember the time when I had those two future visions of life with Harry as well as Ron thanks to you?"
Lavender nodded, showing a momentary perplexed expression on her face by this direction of the conversation.
Hermione hesitated and then went on. "There was a third vision I didn't tell you about – and it was with Severus."
Lavender blinked and sat up straight, looking more taken aback for a moment at Hermione's casual use of the first name of the Potion Master than at what she had just said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lavender then burst out. "I thought we were supposed to be friends – didn't you trust me not to tell everyone?"
"It wasn't that," Hermione was swift to say. "It was because it had come as such a surprise – I had a hard time believing that it had happened let alone tell anyone that I had seen a possible future where I was actually married to him! You would be too."
Hermione looked at her earnestly, hoping that Lavender would believe that she was telling the truth.
Lavender was silent and then nodded after a moment with some feeling. "Yes, I know I would be shocked if I saw myself married to Snape, ick."
Hermione glowered back at Lavender. "It wasn't a case of 'ick'."
Lavender raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Come on, you can't tell me you weren't shocked at least a bit at first."
Hermione nodded reluctantly. "Yes, I was. He was asleep at first and my own first instinct was to get out the bed as fast as I could before he woke. But then I saw he was having a nightmare and it looked like he was reliving a horrible experience."
"Which one?" Lavender said cynically in response to the fact that as an ex-Death Eater, the Potions Master would have had a list as long as his arm of horrible and no doubt terrible experiences to choose from.
"Do you want to listen or not?" Hermione retorted.
"Yes I do," Lavender said hastily, backing down.
Hermione eyed her for a moment before continuing but was clearly hesitating over what to say next. "I tried to get him to wake up so he could calm down – you know how bad some nightmares can be when you feel trapped in them. Severus woke up and…and he was glad that I was there when he woke. He was glad to see me."
Hermione then flushed for a moment and stared down at the table with its dark wooden surface worn smooth in places by countless hands and scrubbings. Lavender guessed by her unspoken words that Snape had clearly shown his appreciation for her which Hermione had appreciated in her turn…so that was how it had all started. It had been her own fault too for showing Hermione that balm that showed visions of the future...or perhaps it was meant to be if you believed in such things, and the visions Hermione had had of Harry and Ron were really nothing but vague possibilities. Now her head hurt.
Lavender looked pensively at Hermione.
"He was a person that you liked more than Harry or Ron," Lavender pointed out.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat for a moment. "It was as if he was a completely different person," Hermione said, hating the defensive note in her voice as she looked back at the face of her friend.
"As I said, a person you found yourself liking more than the usual Potions Master…and more than Harry or Ron," Lavender continued in a remorseless tone.
This is what it came down to essentially for Hermione – admitting out loud to her friend that she had chosen the Head of Slytherin, a wizard twice her age and her nemesis for many years over Harry and Ron.
"Yes, I did," Hermione admitted. There was a part of her that felt like a traitor for a moment for saying so.
Lavender sighed. "I've heard from the others and they think you're mad for even wanting to be in the same room as Professor Snape.
Hermione gave Lavender a tight smile though she felt like the bottom of her stomach had dropped. So all of her friends knew now. Gossip – and scandal – always spread fast. For a moment she felt as if she was back at Hogwarts for the first time where she had struggled to make friends, feeling as if she was doomed to be on the outside of every group. Was losing the friendship and regard of her friends the price she had to pay for being with Severus?
"You don't have to say that – we ran into Harry and Ginny yesterday at Gringotts. It was…awkward to say the least."
Lavender stared with fascination at Hermione.
"You mean Harry didn't challenge Snape to a duel right then and there?"
Hermione grimaced. "Don't even joke about that – I think Harry was nearly that close." She sincerely hoped that such a thing never happened, but she reasoned to herself that it was hardly likely that Harry and Severus would often run into each other by accident in the future now that Harry had left Hogwarts. Well, she hoped that would be the case…
Lavender then caught up with the rest of what Hermione had said and leaned forward. "You were out with Snape and you were at Gringotts? Were you out on a date?"
Hermione thought that Lavender was looking as eager as Rita Skeeter on the trail of a hot scoop for her newspaper.
"We were out," she said repressively, because Severus had asked me to go with him to a talk on Ancient Egyptian magic."
Lavender fell back in her seat, a look of disappointment on her face and grumbled, "You did something like that in the holidays? Were you nuts? No, don't tell me – it was your idea of fun. Was that his idea of a hot date too?"
Hermione glowered at her friend. "If you want to know we both had a good time."
"It sounds like you're both well suited then," Lavender muttered under her breath.
"As a matter of fact he paid for me to attend," Hermione pointed out.
Lavender blinked. "Really? He must like you then," she added thoughtfully. It was hard to imagine Snape going out of his way to pay for an outing with someone unless he was getting something in return. But he was, she thought. He was going to get Hermione…
"And you?" Hermione asked Lavender in a quiet voice. "Do you still like me?"
Lavender stared at her for a long moment. "Hermione, you're my friend," she said in an unexpectedly gentle manner. "Yes, I think you're a bit barmy for seeing anything really worth liking in Snape – but if you have, then maybe it's really there. You always were the perceptive one."
"So, you're enjoying seeing him at the retreat?" Lavender then said in an offhand manner.
Hermione nearly fell off her seat.
"What – how?" Hermione spluttered.
"I knew it," Lavender said in triumph. "I thought it was a wild guess but I was right after all."
"Then please don't tell anyone," Hermione said in a low but insistent voice. "We're busy enough trying to keep it a secret at the retreat." Gods, it would only complicate things further if it became common knowledge that Severus was staying at the retreat as well!
"But was this something you both planned?" Lavender said in a sober voice, ignoring Hermione's previous question. "I have to ask."
"No!" Hermione said indignantly.
"Look, you can't blame me for asking – you have to admit it does seem a little coincidental that you should both be there at the same time," Lavender said defensively.
"It was the Headmasters suggestion that he have a holiday there," Hermione said quietly.
Lavender calmed down. "Oh," she said. "It was just a coincidence then."
Hermione was silent, being in two minds whether to tell Lavender that there was a strong possibility that the Headmaster had been playing matchmaker.
Lavender then eyed her suspiciously. "It was a coincidence, wasn't it?"
Hermione gave up and smiled ruefully. "Severus doesn't think so, and to tell you the truth I don't think so either."
Lavender stared at her in disbelief. "You mean the Headmaster thought you were both suited? Now I've heard everything."
Nettled at that, Hermione said crossly, "We do have a few things in common, you know."
Lavender hesitated and then said gently, "But remember that he's still older than you, he's the Head of Slytherin and a devious one at that…how do you know he's not just playing his own game with you?"
"He's not playing games with me," Hermione was quick to reply.
"I hope so," Lavender said sincerely, "or I'll turn him into a toad and give him to Neville."
Hermione involuntarily smiled at the thought of a horrified Severus-Toad being handed to a beaming Neville who would see him as a companion for Trevor.
Then she sobered. "I know what I'm doing," she said quietly.
Lavender gazed at her. "I hope so…for your sake."
The days passed. Hermione continued to find working in the garden therapeutic – not just for its own sake but also for dealing with the absence of her friends in her life. When she was in Hogsmeade during one lunch hour she saw Ron coming towards her on the footpath but his face tightened when he saw her and he deliberately crossed the road. Remus had not replied to her letter. The experience of running into Neville at one time was so awkward that Hermione had found herself glad when he had said a hasty goodbye, his face red with suppressed anger. After all, Neville had certainly had good reason to hate the Potions Master. Hermione was glad though that Lavender often wrote to her and sometimes they would meet somewhere for lunch. Lavender was still concerned to a certain degree about Hermione's relationship with Severus, but her doubt would fade by degrees when Hermione would relate things such as how he had thought to make cream to rub upon her hands. To Lavender's credit she had tried to convince the others that Hermione's relationship with the Potions Master didn't mean she had betrayed everything that being a Gryffindor had stood for, but it had only met with stubborn resistance. It might have been easy for Hermione to forget what Snape had been like, but their various memories of him weren't about to go away.
Hermione knew that Harry's birthday was fast approaching…but she knew the chances of actually being invited to his party were slim now.
So Hermione threw herself into her work and her body continued to change, becoming wiry and fit with the work she was doing. She would never start looking like a bodybuilder of course but nevertheless her muscles became stronger, her physical endurance greater. She had a pleasant working relationship with James, and when he would give her praise for a days work she had done it would give her a sense of pride. It was only the cream that Severus made that kept her hands from being callused and he regularly took the opportunity to study her hands and grumble over them at times – even going back to Hogwarts at one time to fetch more of the cream for her.
Severus…he had become a constant in her life as the imperious crow that kept her company at times during the day and the sardonic wizard she would come to at the end of the day to talk and play chess with. Things weren't perfect of course – sometimes he would be snappy or grumpy and she would sometimes be too tired at the end of the day to respond to his often passionate kisses and caresses but they still had an unspoken commitment to make their unlikely relationship work. He would only have to look at her in a certain way and she would feel like a woman who was truly wanted for herself. As for Severus, he would find it hard to feel sour towards the world when Hermione would smile at him or decide that tonight she was going to kiss him senseless.
They continued to keep their employee-guest relationship from being discovered and to deflect suspicion as to why people would feel compelled to avoid the library they met in every night they would sometimes agree to meet in another place in the many-roomed house. In the presence of his black gaze she would find herself talking about all kinds of things – often Muggle related - to him which often led to interesting discussions. It was harder at times to get him to talk about himself, but sometimes he would relent and let his guard down to her. She didn't discuss her friends with him and he didn't ask – after having run into Harry and Ginny with her he didn't need to be a Seer to know that her relations with strained with them. But on the days she found herself attacking the garden more vigorously than usual or knowing that Severus-Crow was sharply watching her face when she felt it to be tight with the things she was feeling she would find Severus paying her more attention than usual in his own way that night.
A week passed by, and then they were into the next. Hermione would find her desire for Severus growing and sometimes she would wake up in the morning with a flushed face from having dreamed of being with him. Or of having seduced him in her turn, his body writhing under hers, his eyes black fire. However, she found herself feeling tongue-tied when she wanted to say that well, she wanted a bit more from him. Otherwise she would be tempted – strongly tempted – to jump on him and…well, get rid of his black buttons for a start. But how could she ask such a thing without making a fool of herself in the process – or come across as being far too shameless for a wizard like Severus…
Perhaps Severus had been looking as well for an ideal way (short of outright asking) to push the boundaries between them so it was with an obscure sense of relief rather than trepidation when she came to meet him in the library one night and saw a look in his black eyes that simmered as he nodded towards the chessboard that was all set up and ready. He had made doubly sure that there were wards to both keep people away…and to prevent them from hearing anything.
"Tonight the rules are different, Hermione," he said softly yet with an undertone that made her quiver inside.
"Oh?" Hermione said enquiringly as she approached him. "In what way?"
Her brown gaze upon his face was intent and clear, and despite himself Severus felt his words choke up in his throat. The desire between them had strengthened and grown to the point where he knew it needed an outlet or he would go mad. Or they both would.
Authors Note: - if you wish to read the rest of this chapter which gets a bit more-but-not-quite-fully 'intimate' for our couple it's probably safer if you go to read it if you wish at the Ashwinder site (a great site for Hermione/Snape stories) which is at 'ashwinder.