CHAPTER EIGHT
Halloween found Professor Snape beginning to heal from what Dumbledore was calling his "romantic year from hell." Half of Severus wanted to hex the old wizard into the middle of the next century whenever his eyes would twinkle and he would attempt to tease the potions master out of his depression and melancholy. The other half was immensely grateful for the gentle jibes and lightheartedness - after all, his colleagues reminded him, if he and Hermione had wanted to keep things secret they never would have ventured out publicly in the wizarding world. So he supposed he had asked for the sympathy and teasing now that it was over.
Amazingly enough, it was getting easier as the days went by. Another scene with Catherine had been dealt with and survived. The snickers from the students and the prank love letters and flying enchanted Cupids were dealt with easily - house points and a few detentions with Filch always seemed to do the trick. Severus was still uncomfortable with his sudden status as a romantic figure with the female students, however. Even after he had become a hero in the war the adoration wasn't this bad, he mused as he prepared for the Halloween feast. Perhaps he should forget to bathe for a few days, as he used to when he was under so much pressure and working for the Ministry, he thought, chuckling to himself and buttoning up his favorite frock coat. 'Or perhaps, you should follow Sinistra's half-joking advice and find a willing seventh year Slytherin girl to take your mind off of Hermione for the rest of the year,' a traitorous voice in the back of his head said.
Severus stared at himself in the mirror and shook his head. No, he was a lot of things but that type of man wasn't one of them. Besides, even though just getting through the days was becoming easier, it didn't mean he felt anything less for Hermione. It would still seem like a betrayal, somehow. He hadn't seen or heard from her since their Floo conversation, more than a month before. He had been tempted to write her more than once, but had decided against it every time. And a meeting regarding new potions for blood illnesses at the corporation Hermione worked at had been successfully avoided - unfortunately, an upcoming meeting would not be so easy to slip out of. He was still trying to figure out why Hermione hadn't pulled him from the brainstorming committee she had formed for her project. She had asked him to participate during their brief affair, and he had been shocked to receive a reminder owl before the first meeting in September. Surely she didn't want him there. Or did she? Perhaps -
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and for one silly moment, he thought perhaps it was Hermione. Laughing at himself as he crossed the stone floor of his chambers to the door, he made a mental note to stop fooling himself on a regular basis.
"Ah, Harry," he said, upon opening the door. "What can I do for you?"
"Nothing, really," said Harry. "I just thought maybe we could go to the feast together."
Severus shot him a questioning glance.
"Let's see, we're both single. Both fairly miserable with our love lives. Despite that, we both seem to be these romantic figures - which is ridiculous. I know I haven't gotten laid in months. Neither of us have dates for this huge celebration Dumbledore has planned. I hate going places alone -"
"Mr. Potter, I will admit that we have become close over the past few weeks and I do not deny that I appreciate the help and friendship you have offered me since the end of my relationship with Hermione," said Severus, with a hint of a sneer. "But, I swear that if you have come down here to confess your true feelings for me and 'ask me to the dance' so to speak, I may just end it all right now with the nearest poison. I do believe that I have had enough bad luck in my love life, I don't need to be propositioned by the bloody Boy Who Lived."
"Don't want to try 'beating for the other team' as they say, Severus?" said Harry, grinning and flopping down on the older man's sofa.
"Merlin, no. I've spent the better part of the last decade trying to figure women out, I don't plan to start back at zero," joked Severus, turning back to the mirror over his fireplace and adjusting his neckcloth. "Besides, I'm a breast man."
"Well, you're safe with me, big boy," said Harry, earning a glare from Severus. "I don't exactly play for that team myself. I just don't happen to have good luck with women. I also just didn't relish the thought of walking into a room full of alumni, students and colleagues alone. But, I guess I'll survive. Maybe we can terrorize some students after the feast together instead of having that date?"
"Perhaps," chuckled Severus.
"I am betting that between the two of us, we know every hiding place in this school," said Harry. "Did I ever show you the Maurader's Map, Snape?"
Severus' face suddenly lit up with curiosity. He gestured to the door of his chambers and he and Harry headed off to the feast, deep in conversation.
November is colder than normal this year, mused Hermione as she prepared to apparate from Diagon Alley to her apartment one Saturday afternoon, mid- month. She had spent the morning looking for - well, she just didn't know what. She just knew that she had to get out of the house for a few hours before The Meeting. Clutching her package of wizarding pastries and two shrunken jugs of pumpkin juice, she apparated into her living room.
The swish of her wand sent the packages flying into the kitchen. Soon, she had primped a bit and changed into her favorite jeans and a snug-fitting, cream-colored sweater. A few minutes in the small kitchen had the pastries on serving platters and a good portion of popcorn in a large bowl. She quickly set out the jugs of juice and some glasses and was finished. She glanced at the clock. She had plenty of time to pace.
And pace she did while holding a very interesting conversation with herself about the state of her sanity. Or lack thereof. During one of her and Severus' lazy mornings in bed, she had brought up her work and they had come upon the idea of forming a braintrust, of sorts. She had invited wizards from around the world to come once a month and chat about leukemia and other blood-illnesses. And even though she and Severus had already stopped seeing each other, she couldn't in good conscience leave him out. He was brilliant after all. Even though he was also the bastard that was haunting her dreams and filling her with both anger and regret.
There was a sharp knock at the door - early, she noted, looking at the clock. She didn't have to open the door to know who it was. Severus had skipped the September meeting, but she assumed he would be there today. And it would be typical Snape for him to show up early and get the pleasantries out of the way, she mused crossing to the door. She took a deep breath and opened it.
And there he stood. Muggle jeans and a black turtleneck sweater with a black leather pea coat over all. 'Damn, does he have to look good,' she thought. They stood looking at each other uncomfortably for several moments before Severus decided to break the ice.
"May I come in, or have you decided that it is not a good idea for me to be here?" he said, softly.
"Come in, come in," she said. "I'm sorry I - I was just startled for a moment. It's - it's nice to see you, Severus. Coats can go in the bedroom, if you like."
She stepped aside and gestured him into the room. Her eyes were so easy for him to read - and he could see she was still angry and hurt. He sighed in frustration. Nervously, she went to the coffee table and poured him a glass of pumpkin juice. Severus smirked a bit at her discomfort and went to lay his coat on her bed. He took a moment to look around; it looked the same, except he suspected that the stack of books on her nightstand had grown. Gently, he ran his hand over the soft, cotton comforter - lost for a moment in his memories. Suddenly, she was behind him in the doorway.
"I wasn't sure you would come," she said, softly.
"I wasn't sure you wanted me here," he replied. He picked up a small throw pillow and traced its toile pattern with a shaking finger and refused to look at her. "That's why I came early, so if we were going to have a row, we got it over with. Are we going to have a row, Hermione?"
"No," she said simply. She walked to stand beside him at her bed. She hoped he didn't notice that she was enjoying his scent - expensive and subtle Muggle cologne, the potion ingredients he worked with and the underlying scent that was just Severus.
"That's good. I'm not sure I'm up to it. Just being here is bad enough, to tell you the truth," he said, honestly. "The last time I was in this room we were lovers and I thought I would be married with a child on the way in a years time."
He sighed and looked at her intently. "You know, my niece owled me last week to tell me she's expecting her first baby in the spring? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more jealous of her than I am happy. But, perhaps I am destined to play the doting uncle instead of father? And perhaps I am rambling and I should quit while I'm ahead."
They shared a small, tense laugh.
"I miss you, Hermione."
"We need your mind on this committee," she said, not knowing what else to say.
"Thank you. I'll try to contain my bastard tendencies and instead contribute something," he said, grinning slightly and looking up at her through his lashes. To his surprise, she laughed.
"And I'll try not to be a hysterical female that would still be amused by your castration," she said. He gave her a sharp glance. "No, I don't mean that, Severus. I'm sorry. You are forgiven, you know. It's just -"
"It's just that after catching your fiancée in bed with another woman, I couldn't have picked a quicker and more effective way of ending the relationship, I know," sighed Severus. "I can't be trusted."
An awkward pause followed in which Snape continued to closely examine the pattern on the pillow and Hermione closely examined his sad eyes. It was interrupted by a knock at her door.
She turned to leave the room and answer it, but Severus moved with his usual catlike grace. Grabbing her arm and pulling her back hard against his chest, he growled "I still love you, Hermione." Before she could gather her shocked thoughts together enough to formulate a reply, he had slid his arms around her waist and crushed her roughly to him - capturing her mouth in a desperate and hungry kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck and she returned it passionately, her tongue dipping into his mouth to duel madly with his.
The knock sounded once again and they broke apart hastily. Hermione was breathing heavily and looked as though she were on the verge of tears. Severus' dark eyes were glittering with emotion, although his face had returned to its usual impassivity. One tear began a slow trek down Hermione's cheek.
"I'll get the door," he said gently. "You take a moment."
She nodded and watched him hurry to her front door. Damn him, she thought. She wiped her cheek to dry it and took a deep breath before following the wizard into the living room. This was going to be a long afternoon, she groused.
Surprisingly, the meeting went well, mused Severus later as it drew to a close. Each brain in Hermione's braintrust specialized in different areas of potions and each brain was eating out of her hand. The group of mostly elderly men were all wrapped around her little finger and she was using that fact to assign the distinguished gentlemen assignments for the next month. He chuckled to himself as he gathered up the dishes and carried them to the kitchen sink. He leaned against the counter for a moment and watched some of his discipline's greatest minds follow the directions of a twenty- something girl with pride -- she was the most amazing woman he had ever met. He only hoped that the kiss they had shared meant something to her. She had certainly responded as if it had. He caught her eye and grinned mischievously at her, causing her to nervously blink back at him. 'Maybe I should have waited to kiss her until after the meeting,' he mused, 'if we hadn't been interrupted who knows what could have happened.'
Hermione was walking the last of the potions masters to the door and he lifted his hand in a brief goodbye to his colleague. Hermione closed the door and went to gather the juice glasses and napkins from her coffee table. Silently, they took care of magically cleaning the dishes and began putting them away together. Soon, the chore was complete and her kitchen was again spotless.
"Well, thank you for helping me clean up, Severus," she said. "You didn't have to."
"I was hoping we could talk," he ventured.
"I don't know," she said, backing out of the kitchen. "I'm just getting over you. I don't think this is a good idea. I need to get on with my life, Severus. I just don't know about this --"
"This?" he said, silkily, advancing on her. "You mean this?"
He slid his arm around her waist once again and softly brushed her lips with his. She whimpered and closed her eyes. He then began to drift over her face and hair, dropping gentle kisses in his wake.
"Please, Hermione, I can tell you still have feelings for me," he whispered.
She took a deep breath and stepped away from him. The anger he had seen hints of when he arrived was completely gone from her eyes. Pain and love were the only things left.
"I do, but I need some time to think about this," she said pleadingly. "I - I have trust issues, Severus."
"I think I noticed that," he joked. She granted him a small smile before he placed a gentle hand on her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. "I promise that nothing like that will ever happen again. I was foolish and I think a little scared by how fast we were moving, Hermione. But, when I become your husband, I will mean it when I vow to you my faithfulness."
"When you become my husband," she repeated dazedly. "Severus, why don't you let me get past letting you back into my life first - before you start talking marriage."
He smiled and nodded.
"Understood."
Severus dropped a small, gentle kiss on her lips before stepping away from her and retrieving his coat from the bedroom. Moments later he emerged and walked to her door. She met him there and smiled nervously.
"It was good to see you," she said. "And I'll think about what you had to - say."
"Do that."
"Goodbye, Severus."
"Goodbye, my love."
Another brief brush of a kiss on her lips, and he was out the door. She closed it and leaned against it for a few moments with a soft smile on her face. He still loved her. She shook her head in amazement and decided to think about it tomorrow. It was dinnertime and she needed to meet Harry and Ron in 10 minutes.
She scurried into the bathroom to touch up her makeup and hair. She then ran into the bedroom to find a bit dressier outfit to change into. She slipped on a dress and cardigan then turned to grab her watch from the nightstand.
And stopped dead in her tracks. There, next to her watch was a single red rose and a small worn, green velvet jewelry box. She picked it up with a shaking hand and opened it. Three rings were nestled in the box -- an engagement ring of sapphires and diamonds and a pair of wedding bands wrought from platinum. She pulled the engagement ring from its velvet bed and slipped it on her finger. The band reduced to fit her perfectly.
She blinked and couldn't decide whether to cry to giggle like a schoolgirl. A glance at the clock told her it was past time to leave, so she gathered up her things and prepared to apparate. A last glance at her hand and the ring produced a small smile. She impulsively decided to wear the ring - just while she was making up her mind. Not that she was taking him back yet, it was just a tool in her decision making process.
She laughed at her own excuse. So did Harry and Ron when the trio finally met up for beer and pub food. They both teased her mercilessly for the entire evening about the very large and expensive looking ring on her finger. Ron didn't buy her excuses anymore than Harry did. "It's helping me think," suddenly became an excuse to order another beer or plate of chips. Hermione just smiled and rolled her eyes - repeatedly. Later, as they were saying their goodbyes, Harry pulled Hermione aside for a quick word.
"Come back with me to Hogwarts," he said, eyes sparkling. "Surprise Severus. Show up at his door wearing nothing but that ring."
She sighed for the millionth time that day.
"I can't," she finally said. "I love him, Harry. And I know at this point that it is my problem. I know he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I just need more time, I guess."
"And I have a feeling that he'll wait as long as you need him to," said Harry, smiling.
Twenty minutes later, with a giant grin plastered on his face, Harry Potter was pounding on his former professor's door. Several minutes and muffled curses later, a disheveled Severus Snape in pajama pants and slippers opened the door.
"Ugh, Snape, put some clothes on man, you're killing me," said Harry as he waltzed into the older wizard's chambers.
"No, no, Harry, of course you didn't wake me. It's only two in the morning. And why don't you come on in and make yourself at home?" drawled Severus. "A student had better be dead or bleeding, Potter, or I may have to kill you when I finally wake up."
Harry just stood grinning like he didn't quite have a tight grip on his sanity.
"What?" Severus asked, irritably.
"I just got back from seeing Hermione," he gloated.
"And?" The black eyes were suddenly alert and awake. "What did she say?"
"That she loves you but she needs some more time," Harry said.
"You woke me up for that? She told me as much earlier today," Severus groaned.
"Oh, then, I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Professor," said Harry, walking to the still-open door. He put a hand on the doorknob and walked out the door before peeking his head back in for a final parting shot.
"By the way, you wouldn't be interested in knowing that she was wearing your engagement ring, would you?" teased Harry, enjoying the way Snape's head whipped around in shock. "She said it was helping her think."
With that, Harry shut the door with a firm click. Severus sat down on the couch heavily, an idiotic grin plastered on his face.
"Well, Mrs. Snape, you can have as much time as you need," he said softly. "I can wait."
He just hoped she didn't make him wait for very long.
Halloween found Professor Snape beginning to heal from what Dumbledore was calling his "romantic year from hell." Half of Severus wanted to hex the old wizard into the middle of the next century whenever his eyes would twinkle and he would attempt to tease the potions master out of his depression and melancholy. The other half was immensely grateful for the gentle jibes and lightheartedness - after all, his colleagues reminded him, if he and Hermione had wanted to keep things secret they never would have ventured out publicly in the wizarding world. So he supposed he had asked for the sympathy and teasing now that it was over.
Amazingly enough, it was getting easier as the days went by. Another scene with Catherine had been dealt with and survived. The snickers from the students and the prank love letters and flying enchanted Cupids were dealt with easily - house points and a few detentions with Filch always seemed to do the trick. Severus was still uncomfortable with his sudden status as a romantic figure with the female students, however. Even after he had become a hero in the war the adoration wasn't this bad, he mused as he prepared for the Halloween feast. Perhaps he should forget to bathe for a few days, as he used to when he was under so much pressure and working for the Ministry, he thought, chuckling to himself and buttoning up his favorite frock coat. 'Or perhaps, you should follow Sinistra's half-joking advice and find a willing seventh year Slytherin girl to take your mind off of Hermione for the rest of the year,' a traitorous voice in the back of his head said.
Severus stared at himself in the mirror and shook his head. No, he was a lot of things but that type of man wasn't one of them. Besides, even though just getting through the days was becoming easier, it didn't mean he felt anything less for Hermione. It would still seem like a betrayal, somehow. He hadn't seen or heard from her since their Floo conversation, more than a month before. He had been tempted to write her more than once, but had decided against it every time. And a meeting regarding new potions for blood illnesses at the corporation Hermione worked at had been successfully avoided - unfortunately, an upcoming meeting would not be so easy to slip out of. He was still trying to figure out why Hermione hadn't pulled him from the brainstorming committee she had formed for her project. She had asked him to participate during their brief affair, and he had been shocked to receive a reminder owl before the first meeting in September. Surely she didn't want him there. Or did she? Perhaps -
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and for one silly moment, he thought perhaps it was Hermione. Laughing at himself as he crossed the stone floor of his chambers to the door, he made a mental note to stop fooling himself on a regular basis.
"Ah, Harry," he said, upon opening the door. "What can I do for you?"
"Nothing, really," said Harry. "I just thought maybe we could go to the feast together."
Severus shot him a questioning glance.
"Let's see, we're both single. Both fairly miserable with our love lives. Despite that, we both seem to be these romantic figures - which is ridiculous. I know I haven't gotten laid in months. Neither of us have dates for this huge celebration Dumbledore has planned. I hate going places alone -"
"Mr. Potter, I will admit that we have become close over the past few weeks and I do not deny that I appreciate the help and friendship you have offered me since the end of my relationship with Hermione," said Severus, with a hint of a sneer. "But, I swear that if you have come down here to confess your true feelings for me and 'ask me to the dance' so to speak, I may just end it all right now with the nearest poison. I do believe that I have had enough bad luck in my love life, I don't need to be propositioned by the bloody Boy Who Lived."
"Don't want to try 'beating for the other team' as they say, Severus?" said Harry, grinning and flopping down on the older man's sofa.
"Merlin, no. I've spent the better part of the last decade trying to figure women out, I don't plan to start back at zero," joked Severus, turning back to the mirror over his fireplace and adjusting his neckcloth. "Besides, I'm a breast man."
"Well, you're safe with me, big boy," said Harry, earning a glare from Severus. "I don't exactly play for that team myself. I just don't happen to have good luck with women. I also just didn't relish the thought of walking into a room full of alumni, students and colleagues alone. But, I guess I'll survive. Maybe we can terrorize some students after the feast together instead of having that date?"
"Perhaps," chuckled Severus.
"I am betting that between the two of us, we know every hiding place in this school," said Harry. "Did I ever show you the Maurader's Map, Snape?"
Severus' face suddenly lit up with curiosity. He gestured to the door of his chambers and he and Harry headed off to the feast, deep in conversation.
November is colder than normal this year, mused Hermione as she prepared to apparate from Diagon Alley to her apartment one Saturday afternoon, mid- month. She had spent the morning looking for - well, she just didn't know what. She just knew that she had to get out of the house for a few hours before The Meeting. Clutching her package of wizarding pastries and two shrunken jugs of pumpkin juice, she apparated into her living room.
The swish of her wand sent the packages flying into the kitchen. Soon, she had primped a bit and changed into her favorite jeans and a snug-fitting, cream-colored sweater. A few minutes in the small kitchen had the pastries on serving platters and a good portion of popcorn in a large bowl. She quickly set out the jugs of juice and some glasses and was finished. She glanced at the clock. She had plenty of time to pace.
And pace she did while holding a very interesting conversation with herself about the state of her sanity. Or lack thereof. During one of her and Severus' lazy mornings in bed, she had brought up her work and they had come upon the idea of forming a braintrust, of sorts. She had invited wizards from around the world to come once a month and chat about leukemia and other blood-illnesses. And even though she and Severus had already stopped seeing each other, she couldn't in good conscience leave him out. He was brilliant after all. Even though he was also the bastard that was haunting her dreams and filling her with both anger and regret.
There was a sharp knock at the door - early, she noted, looking at the clock. She didn't have to open the door to know who it was. Severus had skipped the September meeting, but she assumed he would be there today. And it would be typical Snape for him to show up early and get the pleasantries out of the way, she mused crossing to the door. She took a deep breath and opened it.
And there he stood. Muggle jeans and a black turtleneck sweater with a black leather pea coat over all. 'Damn, does he have to look good,' she thought. They stood looking at each other uncomfortably for several moments before Severus decided to break the ice.
"May I come in, or have you decided that it is not a good idea for me to be here?" he said, softly.
"Come in, come in," she said. "I'm sorry I - I was just startled for a moment. It's - it's nice to see you, Severus. Coats can go in the bedroom, if you like."
She stepped aside and gestured him into the room. Her eyes were so easy for him to read - and he could see she was still angry and hurt. He sighed in frustration. Nervously, she went to the coffee table and poured him a glass of pumpkin juice. Severus smirked a bit at her discomfort and went to lay his coat on her bed. He took a moment to look around; it looked the same, except he suspected that the stack of books on her nightstand had grown. Gently, he ran his hand over the soft, cotton comforter - lost for a moment in his memories. Suddenly, she was behind him in the doorway.
"I wasn't sure you would come," she said, softly.
"I wasn't sure you wanted me here," he replied. He picked up a small throw pillow and traced its toile pattern with a shaking finger and refused to look at her. "That's why I came early, so if we were going to have a row, we got it over with. Are we going to have a row, Hermione?"
"No," she said simply. She walked to stand beside him at her bed. She hoped he didn't notice that she was enjoying his scent - expensive and subtle Muggle cologne, the potion ingredients he worked with and the underlying scent that was just Severus.
"That's good. I'm not sure I'm up to it. Just being here is bad enough, to tell you the truth," he said, honestly. "The last time I was in this room we were lovers and I thought I would be married with a child on the way in a years time."
He sighed and looked at her intently. "You know, my niece owled me last week to tell me she's expecting her first baby in the spring? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more jealous of her than I am happy. But, perhaps I am destined to play the doting uncle instead of father? And perhaps I am rambling and I should quit while I'm ahead."
They shared a small, tense laugh.
"I miss you, Hermione."
"We need your mind on this committee," she said, not knowing what else to say.
"Thank you. I'll try to contain my bastard tendencies and instead contribute something," he said, grinning slightly and looking up at her through his lashes. To his surprise, she laughed.
"And I'll try not to be a hysterical female that would still be amused by your castration," she said. He gave her a sharp glance. "No, I don't mean that, Severus. I'm sorry. You are forgiven, you know. It's just -"
"It's just that after catching your fiancée in bed with another woman, I couldn't have picked a quicker and more effective way of ending the relationship, I know," sighed Severus. "I can't be trusted."
An awkward pause followed in which Snape continued to closely examine the pattern on the pillow and Hermione closely examined his sad eyes. It was interrupted by a knock at her door.
She turned to leave the room and answer it, but Severus moved with his usual catlike grace. Grabbing her arm and pulling her back hard against his chest, he growled "I still love you, Hermione." Before she could gather her shocked thoughts together enough to formulate a reply, he had slid his arms around her waist and crushed her roughly to him - capturing her mouth in a desperate and hungry kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck and she returned it passionately, her tongue dipping into his mouth to duel madly with his.
The knock sounded once again and they broke apart hastily. Hermione was breathing heavily and looked as though she were on the verge of tears. Severus' dark eyes were glittering with emotion, although his face had returned to its usual impassivity. One tear began a slow trek down Hermione's cheek.
"I'll get the door," he said gently. "You take a moment."
She nodded and watched him hurry to her front door. Damn him, she thought. She wiped her cheek to dry it and took a deep breath before following the wizard into the living room. This was going to be a long afternoon, she groused.
Surprisingly, the meeting went well, mused Severus later as it drew to a close. Each brain in Hermione's braintrust specialized in different areas of potions and each brain was eating out of her hand. The group of mostly elderly men were all wrapped around her little finger and she was using that fact to assign the distinguished gentlemen assignments for the next month. He chuckled to himself as he gathered up the dishes and carried them to the kitchen sink. He leaned against the counter for a moment and watched some of his discipline's greatest minds follow the directions of a twenty- something girl with pride -- she was the most amazing woman he had ever met. He only hoped that the kiss they had shared meant something to her. She had certainly responded as if it had. He caught her eye and grinned mischievously at her, causing her to nervously blink back at him. 'Maybe I should have waited to kiss her until after the meeting,' he mused, 'if we hadn't been interrupted who knows what could have happened.'
Hermione was walking the last of the potions masters to the door and he lifted his hand in a brief goodbye to his colleague. Hermione closed the door and went to gather the juice glasses and napkins from her coffee table. Silently, they took care of magically cleaning the dishes and began putting them away together. Soon, the chore was complete and her kitchen was again spotless.
"Well, thank you for helping me clean up, Severus," she said. "You didn't have to."
"I was hoping we could talk," he ventured.
"I don't know," she said, backing out of the kitchen. "I'm just getting over you. I don't think this is a good idea. I need to get on with my life, Severus. I just don't know about this --"
"This?" he said, silkily, advancing on her. "You mean this?"
He slid his arm around her waist once again and softly brushed her lips with his. She whimpered and closed her eyes. He then began to drift over her face and hair, dropping gentle kisses in his wake.
"Please, Hermione, I can tell you still have feelings for me," he whispered.
She took a deep breath and stepped away from him. The anger he had seen hints of when he arrived was completely gone from her eyes. Pain and love were the only things left.
"I do, but I need some time to think about this," she said pleadingly. "I - I have trust issues, Severus."
"I think I noticed that," he joked. She granted him a small smile before he placed a gentle hand on her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. "I promise that nothing like that will ever happen again. I was foolish and I think a little scared by how fast we were moving, Hermione. But, when I become your husband, I will mean it when I vow to you my faithfulness."
"When you become my husband," she repeated dazedly. "Severus, why don't you let me get past letting you back into my life first - before you start talking marriage."
He smiled and nodded.
"Understood."
Severus dropped a small, gentle kiss on her lips before stepping away from her and retrieving his coat from the bedroom. Moments later he emerged and walked to her door. She met him there and smiled nervously.
"It was good to see you," she said. "And I'll think about what you had to - say."
"Do that."
"Goodbye, Severus."
"Goodbye, my love."
Another brief brush of a kiss on her lips, and he was out the door. She closed it and leaned against it for a few moments with a soft smile on her face. He still loved her. She shook her head in amazement and decided to think about it tomorrow. It was dinnertime and she needed to meet Harry and Ron in 10 minutes.
She scurried into the bathroom to touch up her makeup and hair. She then ran into the bedroom to find a bit dressier outfit to change into. She slipped on a dress and cardigan then turned to grab her watch from the nightstand.
And stopped dead in her tracks. There, next to her watch was a single red rose and a small worn, green velvet jewelry box. She picked it up with a shaking hand and opened it. Three rings were nestled in the box -- an engagement ring of sapphires and diamonds and a pair of wedding bands wrought from platinum. She pulled the engagement ring from its velvet bed and slipped it on her finger. The band reduced to fit her perfectly.
She blinked and couldn't decide whether to cry to giggle like a schoolgirl. A glance at the clock told her it was past time to leave, so she gathered up her things and prepared to apparate. A last glance at her hand and the ring produced a small smile. She impulsively decided to wear the ring - just while she was making up her mind. Not that she was taking him back yet, it was just a tool in her decision making process.
She laughed at her own excuse. So did Harry and Ron when the trio finally met up for beer and pub food. They both teased her mercilessly for the entire evening about the very large and expensive looking ring on her finger. Ron didn't buy her excuses anymore than Harry did. "It's helping me think," suddenly became an excuse to order another beer or plate of chips. Hermione just smiled and rolled her eyes - repeatedly. Later, as they were saying their goodbyes, Harry pulled Hermione aside for a quick word.
"Come back with me to Hogwarts," he said, eyes sparkling. "Surprise Severus. Show up at his door wearing nothing but that ring."
She sighed for the millionth time that day.
"I can't," she finally said. "I love him, Harry. And I know at this point that it is my problem. I know he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I just need more time, I guess."
"And I have a feeling that he'll wait as long as you need him to," said Harry, smiling.
Twenty minutes later, with a giant grin plastered on his face, Harry Potter was pounding on his former professor's door. Several minutes and muffled curses later, a disheveled Severus Snape in pajama pants and slippers opened the door.
"Ugh, Snape, put some clothes on man, you're killing me," said Harry as he waltzed into the older wizard's chambers.
"No, no, Harry, of course you didn't wake me. It's only two in the morning. And why don't you come on in and make yourself at home?" drawled Severus. "A student had better be dead or bleeding, Potter, or I may have to kill you when I finally wake up."
Harry just stood grinning like he didn't quite have a tight grip on his sanity.
"What?" Severus asked, irritably.
"I just got back from seeing Hermione," he gloated.
"And?" The black eyes were suddenly alert and awake. "What did she say?"
"That she loves you but she needs some more time," Harry said.
"You woke me up for that? She told me as much earlier today," Severus groaned.
"Oh, then, I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Professor," said Harry, walking to the still-open door. He put a hand on the doorknob and walked out the door before peeking his head back in for a final parting shot.
"By the way, you wouldn't be interested in knowing that she was wearing your engagement ring, would you?" teased Harry, enjoying the way Snape's head whipped around in shock. "She said it was helping her think."
With that, Harry shut the door with a firm click. Severus sat down on the couch heavily, an idiotic grin plastered on his face.
"Well, Mrs. Snape, you can have as much time as you need," he said softly. "I can wait."
He just hoped she didn't make him wait for very long.