"Severus?" Hermione asked.
"Yes?"
"Why did we come outside?" Lying on her back, Hermione was talking to the clear blue sky. It was not very hot, and Hermione wore a windbreaker over her T-shirt and black pants. Severus sat on the blanket, and raised an eyebrow.
"Because it is a nice day to eat outside," he answered simply. Hermione rolled over onto her side, matching his previous expression.
"Do you mean to tell me, you actually notice when the weather is nice?"
"Why would that be surprising?" Severus demanded. Hermione just laughed.
"I was teasing. You do know that people think you never go outside unless you absolutely have to."
"And they are correct. I usually have very little desire to leave my potions research. However, circumstances have changed," he noted, giving her a significant look. She blushed.
If he was not so afraid of discovery, Severus might have smiled. As it was, he was beginning to suspect that most of the staff already knew. The summer was nearing its end, and Severus knew that there was something he still had to tell Hermione. He wondered what she might think of his secret.
"Severus?"
"Yes," he asked.
"Why have you refused to look at my homework?"
"Because it is still my break. And contrary to popular opinion, teachers do not live, breathe, eat, and drink school. Although some of the students might," he said, eyeing her. She glared.
"Not anymore I don't. Except for a few subjects I really like." Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, and then turned back to staring at the sky.
Severus shook his head, but more in amusement than disagreement. The way she had rejected studying so completely had blown away most of the school. Then they found out that she had taken up more muggle pursuits, such as muggle math, and then a foreign language. True to form, Hermione chose difficult things. The language was Japanese- very complicated to attempt to self-teach- and the math was advanced.
Still, he admired her. People who dedicated themselves to the furtherment of their own education were rare. Ones like Hermione were gold, he knew. Her Aunt Tiff was a character as well, but a character that believed in giving people the things they needed most. Which was why she had insisted that Severus not be too protective of Hermione, even if it meant letting her be insulted by Malfoy.
Malfoy. The little arrogant. . . Severus could not stand his father, and the same was becoming true of his son. Speaking of Lucius, that brought Severus right back to his secret. If he told Hermione, would she believe him? Futhermore, would she be safe with that secret? This secret was difficult and complex enough without adding another variable to the mix. However, he would not change this for the world.
Looking over at the girl who had further complicated his life, he found her sleeping. With a small smile, he reached out a hand to shake her shoulder. Stopping himself, he allowed her to sleep. He wanted to watch her in this moment of absolute relaxation. There would be few oppurtunities to do so once the school year began. He would be caught up in school duties, and his. . . and Hermione would have plenty of duties as prefect and homework.
Sighing, he allowed himself to relax and lay back. Staring up at the eternal blue of the sky, Severus thought back to his secret. It had only been his secret for a little over two years. And those who knew had just left last year. It was not as if it was a dirty little secret, just. . . Well, she might take it wrong.
Glancing back over to Hermione, he smiled. Carefully, he began packing up the picnic things. With a frown, he regarded how little she had eaten. He had thought she was over her losses, but of course the pain never went away. How much she reminded him of-Stop thinking about it, he ordered himself silently. There would be time enough later.
"Hermione," he said gently. She opened her eyes slowly.
"Did I fall asleep?" she asked, mildly dismayed. He gave her an amused smirk.
"You did. I think we should get back inside now. I have potions that need to be attended to, and my lesson plans should be finalized."
"Oh. Okay." Hermione sat up and stretched. She helped him fold the blanket, and carried it inside. They parted at the entrance, she for the library, and he for his dungeons, and his secret.
"Yes?"
"Why did we come outside?" Lying on her back, Hermione was talking to the clear blue sky. It was not very hot, and Hermione wore a windbreaker over her T-shirt and black pants. Severus sat on the blanket, and raised an eyebrow.
"Because it is a nice day to eat outside," he answered simply. Hermione rolled over onto her side, matching his previous expression.
"Do you mean to tell me, you actually notice when the weather is nice?"
"Why would that be surprising?" Severus demanded. Hermione just laughed.
"I was teasing. You do know that people think you never go outside unless you absolutely have to."
"And they are correct. I usually have very little desire to leave my potions research. However, circumstances have changed," he noted, giving her a significant look. She blushed.
If he was not so afraid of discovery, Severus might have smiled. As it was, he was beginning to suspect that most of the staff already knew. The summer was nearing its end, and Severus knew that there was something he still had to tell Hermione. He wondered what she might think of his secret.
"Severus?"
"Yes," he asked.
"Why have you refused to look at my homework?"
"Because it is still my break. And contrary to popular opinion, teachers do not live, breathe, eat, and drink school. Although some of the students might," he said, eyeing her. She glared.
"Not anymore I don't. Except for a few subjects I really like." Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, and then turned back to staring at the sky.
Severus shook his head, but more in amusement than disagreement. The way she had rejected studying so completely had blown away most of the school. Then they found out that she had taken up more muggle pursuits, such as muggle math, and then a foreign language. True to form, Hermione chose difficult things. The language was Japanese- very complicated to attempt to self-teach- and the math was advanced.
Still, he admired her. People who dedicated themselves to the furtherment of their own education were rare. Ones like Hermione were gold, he knew. Her Aunt Tiff was a character as well, but a character that believed in giving people the things they needed most. Which was why she had insisted that Severus not be too protective of Hermione, even if it meant letting her be insulted by Malfoy.
Malfoy. The little arrogant. . . Severus could not stand his father, and the same was becoming true of his son. Speaking of Lucius, that brought Severus right back to his secret. If he told Hermione, would she believe him? Futhermore, would she be safe with that secret? This secret was difficult and complex enough without adding another variable to the mix. However, he would not change this for the world.
Looking over at the girl who had further complicated his life, he found her sleeping. With a small smile, he reached out a hand to shake her shoulder. Stopping himself, he allowed her to sleep. He wanted to watch her in this moment of absolute relaxation. There would be few oppurtunities to do so once the school year began. He would be caught up in school duties, and his. . . and Hermione would have plenty of duties as prefect and homework.
Sighing, he allowed himself to relax and lay back. Staring up at the eternal blue of the sky, Severus thought back to his secret. It had only been his secret for a little over two years. And those who knew had just left last year. It was not as if it was a dirty little secret, just. . . Well, she might take it wrong.
Glancing back over to Hermione, he smiled. Carefully, he began packing up the picnic things. With a frown, he regarded how little she had eaten. He had thought she was over her losses, but of course the pain never went away. How much she reminded him of-Stop thinking about it, he ordered himself silently. There would be time enough later.
"Hermione," he said gently. She opened her eyes slowly.
"Did I fall asleep?" she asked, mildly dismayed. He gave her an amused smirk.
"You did. I think we should get back inside now. I have potions that need to be attended to, and my lesson plans should be finalized."
"Oh. Okay." Hermione sat up and stretched. She helped him fold the blanket, and carried it inside. They parted at the entrance, she for the library, and he for his dungeons, and his secret.