Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, nor the location their are camping in. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. I'm making no money from this story.

A/N: Thanks to all of you who have reviewed my story so far and are eagerly awaiting each chapter. Due to the encouragement of one of my reviewers, I will try to continue this story on in a sequel once their camping trip is over and they return to Hogwarts. I'm not sure how many chapters I have left to write as I'm making up this story as I go. So if any of you have any particular scenes you would like to see played out, let me know, of course keep in mind that I want this story to stay at a PG-13 rating. Again, let me know what you think. Thanks.

Anything between two *, indicates a thought.
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A Camping We Will Go

Chapter 5 - Into the Evening

The remainder of the afternoon went smoothly, no one drowned at the spring and Snape was his usual silent, snarky self, which thankfully he kept mostly under wraps. Once in a while though, he would shoot a sneer at the Gryffindor trio as they all walked back to the camp. Both Harry and Hermione caught most of his looks their way, while Ron was oblivious to them. Harry was perplexed by the sneers, as he thought they were behaving quite well given the situation, while Hermione wasn't perplexed at all.

She knew exactly what Professor Snape was trying to say with his sneers and glares, for she knew it was all smoke and mirrors, just plain old camoflauge. She was sure that soon enough, Harry and Professor Snape would get over this hurdle their relationship had come up against.

*Well, relationship isn't exactly the right word, but it will have to do. All they both need is some honest, plain speaking with each other. I've noticed how Harry's slowly trying to understand the man, trying to be friendly to him, instead of being like Ron, who constantly places Professor Snape in the evil villian's role. Not that Ron is entirely incorrect in doing so, as Professor Snape has gone out of his way to be cast as such. Ron just can't look beneath the surface, perhaps it's because he's trying to be loyal to Harry, and thinking that's what Harry wants.*

Hermione silently shrugged her shoulders. All she could do was hope that before the weekend was over, Harry and Professor Snape would come to some understanding. She knew that once they got back to school, they would fall back into their all too familiar roles as adversaries and with N.E.W.Ts just around the corner, things would degrade rapidly into a finger pointing tirade within the classroom.

The sun lowered behind the trees and the temperature slowly dropped. The students changed back into some warmer clothing and gathered back around the now roaring fire.

Instead of having a fourth meal for the day, one of the muggle born students had the foresight to bring some traditional camping treats -- ingredients to make S'mores, while another student had brought along their portable radio. The student tuned it and found some popular muggle station that was in the area, they seemed to be playing pop rock, the muggle born mentioned. Snape was not overly pleased with the noise the contraption was producing, but it seemed to make the students happy and once more self-involved, therefore leaving him in relative peace to read the potions book he'd brought along on the trip.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had volunteered to go out and find some long, slim sticks to use for roasting the marshmallows and were now just coming back to camp.

****Begin Flashback****

"You know, as much as Neville wanted to come with us, it's a good thing he didn't," Harry told his friends as they were walking through the forest looking for roasting sticks.

"Yeah, poor Neville would have fainted at the sight of Snape being chaperone," Ron agreed. "And if he did manage to make it as far as the campsite, he would never have come out of his tent long enough to enjoy himself, what with Snape hovering over us all the time."

"I must say, this weekend is going much better than I expected it to, especially with Snape along," spoke Harry.

Hermione shook her head in agreement, "Professor Snape has been fairly decent this trip. Just a few sneers here, a few well placed put downs there, but still tolerable for him."

Ron decided he needed a change in the subject, actually hearing anyone compliment the git made him queasy. "How many sticks do we need again, 'Mione?"

"We need sixteen, fifteen for the students and one for the professor, Ron."

"Um, we have fifteen already. I don't think Snape is going to be roasting marshmallows with the rest of us. It's just not something he'd lower himself to do."

"Be that as it may, do you want to be the one to point that out to the man? Give him the courtesy of declining, even snarkily as I'm sure he will, versus just being plain rude and inconsiderate, which would be even worse."

"I'm afraid Hermione is right, Ron. It's a lose-lose worse situation. I'd take the lesser of the two evils, personally."

Ron gulped, as much as he hated the slimy git, he always tried to avoid incuring Snape's anger. Then Ron replayed Harry's last statement in his head, he grinned mischievously.

"Well, fine. If you'd rather take the lesser of two evils, you try to give the professor a roasting stick." Ron smiled at having placed the duty onto Harry's shoulders. They may be best friends, but Ron still had some sense of self-preservation.

Hermione giggled at the two of them. Harry just rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement.

****End Flashback****

Ron and Hermione took the majority of the sticks to the rest of the students, while Harry cautiously stepped his way over to where Snape was sitting. Snape looked very uncomfortable sitting on the ground with his back to a tree, a book held in his hands right in front of his face, as if trying to block out the unsightly view of the students enjoying themselves. *He won't be able to read for too much longer sitting over there, with the sunlight fading. I'm almost surprised that Hermione hasn't followed his example and brought her textbooks along. Of course, who's to say she hasn't, especially since she's not really had a quiet moment to sit down and do so.*

Harry cleared his throat as he stood looking down at the professor. Snape looked up from his book and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Yes, Mr. Potter? To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Snape asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Would you like to join us in roasting marshmallows, sir?" Harry held out a stick to Snape.

Snape looked at the stick with disgust, and then back at Harry as if he were insane to make such a suggestion. Snape was about to utter another sarcastic abuse at Harry, when Harry interrupted him. "Sir, the light is fading, and well, you won't be able to read for too much longer. Plus, I'm sure it will be warmer sitting closer by the fire. You don't have to roast marshmallows, if you don't want to." Harry gulped.

"I'm sure the others won't mind your company." *Who am I kidding. The others will probably shoot venomous glares in my direction for encouraging the man to join them.*

"Very well, Mr. Potter. I will join you by the fire as it does seem to be getting chillier." Snape sounded reluctant, but he did rise from his position under the tree. He brushed past Harry and sat down closer by the fire. Harry trailed after him, and sat down between Snape and Hermione, as that was the only spot left. The others did shoot looks of surprise at Snape and Harry, but Harry ignored them as he turned towards Hermione, as she was holding out the bag of marshmallows.

"Here you go, Harry. Have you ever roasted marshmallows before?"

"No, the Dursley's have never gone on a camping trip in their life. I mean if they did, Dudley would need a tent all on his own, and so would Uncle Vernon." Harry shuddered at the picture of Dudley trying to pitch a tent, with all that fat jiggling. "Ugh! Besides, I can't seem them willing having me tag along, unless it's to have me do all the work -- pitching the tents, cooking the meals," Harry trailed off to a whisper

Harry took out a marshmallow and followed Hermione's example and pierced it with the end of one of the two sticks he still held. Then did the other stick as well.

Harry turned towards the professor and held the second stick out to him. "Sir, are you sure you don't want to try it as well?"

Severus turned away from gazing into the fire and looked at Potter. *What is Potter trying to do? He's being awfully civil towards me. Does the boy have some ulterior motive?* Severus glared at Potter, trying to scare him into withdrawing the stick. *I must be losing my touch, or Potter is just too desensitized to my glares, or it's that foolish and stubborn Gryffindor bravery or Merlin forbid, Potter is actually trying to be friends with me. I don't make friends. I make enemies.* Severus growled at Potter, and Potter just cocked up an eyebrow in amusement and continued to hold the stick out.

"I'm sure it's delicious, Professor. Just try some. You won't know if you like or hate it until you do," Harry smirked at Snape.

Snape grabbed the stick out of Harry's hands and yelled at him through clenched teeth, "Fine!" The rest of the students had stopped what they were doing to look at the two, there jaws dropped when they saw Professor Snape take the stick from Harry and thrust the marshmallow over the fire. Harry followed the professor and held his marshmallow over the fire as well.

Harry watched Hermione as she slowly rotated her marshmallow around and it turned a lovely golden brown all over. He did the same, as did Snape, who was watching under lowered eyelids.

Once Hermione pulled the marshmallow out from the fire, she blew gently on it and pulled the nicely roasted marshmallow off the stick and plopped it into her mouth. Again, Harry and Snape followed her example. Harry thought the dessert quite nice, and sweet. *I wonder what Snape thinks.*

"So, how is it?" he asks the professor.

Snape ponders his response for several long seconds. "It's adequate. However, one is enough, thank you." *I can't believe I just said 'thank you' to Potter. Again! What is happening to me?*

*I can't believe it, that's two times today he's said 'thank you' to me. Merlin! This day needs to be noted in Hogwarts: A History.* Harry looked at Snape with mild surprise, which was clearly evident in the large emerald eyes that peered up at Snape. Harry turned back towards Hermione and Ron, and noticed they had heard Snape's comment. Ron looked shell shocked, which was quite a funny expression to be seen on Ron's face and Harry chuckled. Hermione just gave a small secret grin which she aimed at the ground.

The next few hours passed with ease, some of the students got up and danced to the slower tunes that played on the radio, while the others slipped down to the ground and just peered up at the clear night sky.

Snape continued to gaze into the fire.

tbc