By the way, I do not own one single solitary character or setting portrayed
in this fic. I have no claim upon any part of the wonderful works of
fiction created and owned solely by J.K. Rowling.
**************************************************************************** **
They apparated directly into one of the busiest sections of Times Square and landed in the middle of a sea of people. Their sudden appearance in the middle of a crowd seemingly made no impression on anyone. Hermione had spent a considerable amount of time in London with her parents; however, she was not prepared for the claustrophobic conditions of New York during the holiday season. There were tourists everywhere rudely jostling others as they fumbled with their cameras to take pictures in the middle of the crowd. In addition to these nightmares, New Yorkers continued about their business with a relentlessness that seemed rather dangerous.
Hermione suddenly realized that Professor Snape was no longer walking beside her. She looked around frantically, and finally located him in the swirling crowd. He had dropped quite a bit behind her, but his imposing height allowed her to detect him. He looked rather concerned himself.
She was facing the main flow of the sidewalk traffic and watched as he steadily progressed towards her. While she could see him, he had not yet found her. He began looking about him worriedly. When he was within a foot of her, she lunged to her right knocking into several people. A chorus of "hey lady's" assailed her from several directions as she made a grab for Snape's arm. She was relieved when she was certain it was him who she had successfully pulled into the sheltered doorway of a "Gap" clothing store.
"Oh my!" cried Hermione. "Professor Snape, I thought for sure we were separated for good."
"I know," replied Snape shivering from the cold. "This is living up to every nightmare I have ever had about life as a muggle. Also, it's freezing here. I thought New York would at least be warmer than Hogwarts, but I see there will be no end to my suffering until February."
"Oh! Do stop complaining," said Hermione with a groan. "The reason you're cold is because we left our robes behind. Remember? Fortunately, we've stopped in front of a 'Gap.' Can you manage to get some money out, so we can buy coats."
"Didn't we already discuss at length the money you secured before leaving Hogwarts?"
"Well, yes but, HELLO PROFESSOR, one hundred dollars is probably not enough to buy two coats. Besides, I'm going to need to buy toothpaste, a new toothbrush, hair brush, shampoo--"
"Please, stop. Please. Your personal needs are of no interest to me whatsoever."
"Not even my tampons?"
"Ms. Granger!" He was bellowing at this point, and it was loud enough to draw attention to them, even in New York City. Hermione suppressed her naughty grin and began to write an imaginary letter in the air.
"Dear Professor Snape,
Please accept my most abject apologies for referencing such naughty things as shampoo and tampons. I promise never to subject you to a discourse on my personal habits ever again. Futhermore, I will never ask you to go to the chemist for me during my monthly flow.
Sincerely, Hermione Granger."
"Are you finished you odious child? Yes? Well take this damned extra money and let's get this over with."
Hermione tried to look serious as he peered suspiciously into the entrance of the store before making the first move to enter. But he looked so completely ill at ease that she had to cover her mouth and lower her head so that he would not see her laughing.
It was almost as crowded inside the store as it was outside of it, which made Snape even more miserable. Hermione stopped to roll her eyes at him and then quickly assessed the mad holiday scene before her. "Well then, it seems to be split into two floors. Look. There's a sign pointing up the stairs for men's clothes. Shall we go there first?"
"Miss Granger," replied Snape with annoyance, "Oddly enough, I have managed to shop for my own clothing for many years without your, er, assistance in choosing them for me. I think I can manage on my own."
"Well, I just don't want to take the chance that we will accidently separate before we even find our flat," said Hermione logically. "I really do think we should stick together."
Snape turned abruptly toward the stairway without a backward glance at Hermione. He therefore missed the smug smile that briefly crossed her face. She realized as she watched him that she had never seen him before without robes. She saw for the first time his legs moving in a vaguely familiar long stride. This explained the reason his robes were constantly billowing around him. As they reached the landing he went directly to an area with coats and began to casually sort through them.
Using the façade of looking along with him, Hermione took advantage of an opportunity to examine him up close and full out. She was surprised to realize that he was attractive. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time. His jet-black hair seemed less greasy, probably because of the cold air, and waved about his face almost to his shoulders. His face was masculine, chiseled. And, she realized in amazement, that he was not as old as she had assumed. "Why, he is younger than my parents," she assessed with wonder.
He had nice body out of his robes. He was lean yet broad shouldered; his waist was narrow; and his legs looked muscular. She couldn't quite tell to what degree however. "Now this is a wizard," she thought, "who should never wear an overly large robe."
As if to confirm her assessment of his person, an appreciative looking young, clerk approached him. She was petite, red-haired, and attractive. She looked him up and down in a tarty, bold manner. Despite the cold weather, she was wearing a tight-fitting tank top with a neckline so low that Hermione was certain Snape could see a large portion of her chest. Yes, he definitely could see it because he was not even trying to disguise the fact that he was taking his time in enjoying the view so freely presented to him.
"Do you need any help finding something attractive to wear?" the girl asked in a ridiculously coy manner. "I think I can help you." Her expression suggested that she would like help him with something naughtier than selecting clothes.
An unfamiliar feeling consumed Hermione prompting her to step in front of Snape with her back to him. "That's alright," she said crisply. "I am perfectly capable of assisting him."
"Oh," the girl replied innocently as she slithered away toward another customer. But oth Hermione and Snape heard her mutter, "Bitch" under her breath.
"Jealous?"
Hermione whipped around indignantly to face Snape who was actually grinning. He looked triumphant and wicked. Hermione was offended by his assumption, but enthralled by the first smile she had ever seen on his face. It didn't matter that it was a leering sort of a smile, but its effect when turned upon her was more than her limited experience with the opposite sex had prepared her for. She felt confused and embarrassed. Her face was suffused with color as she muttered, "Hardly," and then turned and briskly walked away.
Professor Snape watched Hermione as she marched over to a rack of quilted jackets. "She's such a little girl," he mused. "She's clever, but she's so young. How am I ever going to get through the next month with only a teenager for company?" He had been lost in thought for several minutes when he suddenly realized that was speaking to him. He was embarrassed that she had caught him, her teacher, not paying attention.
"Well?" she asked impatiently. "How about one of these?" She was holding up a puffy, black coat that looked like it was made from a down quilt.
"I don't think so," he replied with his usual sarcastic tone. He marched over to a rack of black pea coats and began to look through them. Suddenly, he turned to her uncomfortably. "Ms. Granger," he said, "I am unfamiliar with muggle clothing. Would you mind helping me choose a size?" It had killed him to ask for her help, but he really hadn't a clue how to proceed.
Hermione, noticing his reluctance to ask for help, said with mock innocence, "Oh! Having chosen your own clothes since what, the 1930's, I thought you didn't need my help."
"Nevermind," Snape said as he turned abruptly away.
Hermione felt ashamed. Assuming his negative behavior wasn't the right way to behave at all. Besides, she was at her best when instructing. "No, I'm sorry," she said. "I think I'm just tired and stressed out. I don't feel at all myself." Having said that, she proceeded to help him purchase, not only a coat, hat, gloves, and scarf, but an additional change of clothing for the next day as well. He also selected a pair of pajama bottoms. She could feel her cheeks redden when he didn't show any interest in purchasing a coordinating pajama top, and she'd wished she could crawl into her own skin when started selecting underwear.
They then proceeded downstairs where Hermione indulged herself in a mad fit of muggle shopping. She much preferred her muggle clothes, and purchased two full shopping bags for herself. Snape waited patiently while she tried on several outfits, including a low cut tank top. "They seem to be all the rage here," she responded when he raised his eyebrows questioningly at her choice.
In her innocence, she didn't notice the assessing, and very surprised, glance he gave to her chest which filled in the skimpy top quite admirably. "Well, maybe 'little girl' is not quite the right way to describe her," he thought sarcastically. "Perhaps young woman would be more correct."
They had the clerk remove the tags from their newly purchased outdoor wear. Just as they were ready to leave, Hermione placed a hand on Snape's arm to detain him.
"I think we should hold hands," she suggested gravely.
"What?" he asked as if shocked by the suggestion. He was so surprised his eyebrows looked as if they were going to disappear into his hairline.
"Well, as distasteful as I find the idea of holding hands with you, even with gloves on, I prefer it to becoming separated. What would we do if that happened?" she asked.
"Very well," he replied, as he grudgingly grabbed her hand and practically dragged her through the door and into the swelling crowd of Christmas shoppers and tourists.
**************************************************************************** **
They apparated directly into one of the busiest sections of Times Square and landed in the middle of a sea of people. Their sudden appearance in the middle of a crowd seemingly made no impression on anyone. Hermione had spent a considerable amount of time in London with her parents; however, she was not prepared for the claustrophobic conditions of New York during the holiday season. There were tourists everywhere rudely jostling others as they fumbled with their cameras to take pictures in the middle of the crowd. In addition to these nightmares, New Yorkers continued about their business with a relentlessness that seemed rather dangerous.
Hermione suddenly realized that Professor Snape was no longer walking beside her. She looked around frantically, and finally located him in the swirling crowd. He had dropped quite a bit behind her, but his imposing height allowed her to detect him. He looked rather concerned himself.
She was facing the main flow of the sidewalk traffic and watched as he steadily progressed towards her. While she could see him, he had not yet found her. He began looking about him worriedly. When he was within a foot of her, she lunged to her right knocking into several people. A chorus of "hey lady's" assailed her from several directions as she made a grab for Snape's arm. She was relieved when she was certain it was him who she had successfully pulled into the sheltered doorway of a "Gap" clothing store.
"Oh my!" cried Hermione. "Professor Snape, I thought for sure we were separated for good."
"I know," replied Snape shivering from the cold. "This is living up to every nightmare I have ever had about life as a muggle. Also, it's freezing here. I thought New York would at least be warmer than Hogwarts, but I see there will be no end to my suffering until February."
"Oh! Do stop complaining," said Hermione with a groan. "The reason you're cold is because we left our robes behind. Remember? Fortunately, we've stopped in front of a 'Gap.' Can you manage to get some money out, so we can buy coats."
"Didn't we already discuss at length the money you secured before leaving Hogwarts?"
"Well, yes but, HELLO PROFESSOR, one hundred dollars is probably not enough to buy two coats. Besides, I'm going to need to buy toothpaste, a new toothbrush, hair brush, shampoo--"
"Please, stop. Please. Your personal needs are of no interest to me whatsoever."
"Not even my tampons?"
"Ms. Granger!" He was bellowing at this point, and it was loud enough to draw attention to them, even in New York City. Hermione suppressed her naughty grin and began to write an imaginary letter in the air.
"Dear Professor Snape,
Please accept my most abject apologies for referencing such naughty things as shampoo and tampons. I promise never to subject you to a discourse on my personal habits ever again. Futhermore, I will never ask you to go to the chemist for me during my monthly flow.
Sincerely, Hermione Granger."
"Are you finished you odious child? Yes? Well take this damned extra money and let's get this over with."
Hermione tried to look serious as he peered suspiciously into the entrance of the store before making the first move to enter. But he looked so completely ill at ease that she had to cover her mouth and lower her head so that he would not see her laughing.
It was almost as crowded inside the store as it was outside of it, which made Snape even more miserable. Hermione stopped to roll her eyes at him and then quickly assessed the mad holiday scene before her. "Well then, it seems to be split into two floors. Look. There's a sign pointing up the stairs for men's clothes. Shall we go there first?"
"Miss Granger," replied Snape with annoyance, "Oddly enough, I have managed to shop for my own clothing for many years without your, er, assistance in choosing them for me. I think I can manage on my own."
"Well, I just don't want to take the chance that we will accidently separate before we even find our flat," said Hermione logically. "I really do think we should stick together."
Snape turned abruptly toward the stairway without a backward glance at Hermione. He therefore missed the smug smile that briefly crossed her face. She realized as she watched him that she had never seen him before without robes. She saw for the first time his legs moving in a vaguely familiar long stride. This explained the reason his robes were constantly billowing around him. As they reached the landing he went directly to an area with coats and began to casually sort through them.
Using the façade of looking along with him, Hermione took advantage of an opportunity to examine him up close and full out. She was surprised to realize that he was attractive. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time. His jet-black hair seemed less greasy, probably because of the cold air, and waved about his face almost to his shoulders. His face was masculine, chiseled. And, she realized in amazement, that he was not as old as she had assumed. "Why, he is younger than my parents," she assessed with wonder.
He had nice body out of his robes. He was lean yet broad shouldered; his waist was narrow; and his legs looked muscular. She couldn't quite tell to what degree however. "Now this is a wizard," she thought, "who should never wear an overly large robe."
As if to confirm her assessment of his person, an appreciative looking young, clerk approached him. She was petite, red-haired, and attractive. She looked him up and down in a tarty, bold manner. Despite the cold weather, she was wearing a tight-fitting tank top with a neckline so low that Hermione was certain Snape could see a large portion of her chest. Yes, he definitely could see it because he was not even trying to disguise the fact that he was taking his time in enjoying the view so freely presented to him.
"Do you need any help finding something attractive to wear?" the girl asked in a ridiculously coy manner. "I think I can help you." Her expression suggested that she would like help him with something naughtier than selecting clothes.
An unfamiliar feeling consumed Hermione prompting her to step in front of Snape with her back to him. "That's alright," she said crisply. "I am perfectly capable of assisting him."
"Oh," the girl replied innocently as she slithered away toward another customer. But oth Hermione and Snape heard her mutter, "Bitch" under her breath.
"Jealous?"
Hermione whipped around indignantly to face Snape who was actually grinning. He looked triumphant and wicked. Hermione was offended by his assumption, but enthralled by the first smile she had ever seen on his face. It didn't matter that it was a leering sort of a smile, but its effect when turned upon her was more than her limited experience with the opposite sex had prepared her for. She felt confused and embarrassed. Her face was suffused with color as she muttered, "Hardly," and then turned and briskly walked away.
Professor Snape watched Hermione as she marched over to a rack of quilted jackets. "She's such a little girl," he mused. "She's clever, but she's so young. How am I ever going to get through the next month with only a teenager for company?" He had been lost in thought for several minutes when he suddenly realized that was speaking to him. He was embarrassed that she had caught him, her teacher, not paying attention.
"Well?" she asked impatiently. "How about one of these?" She was holding up a puffy, black coat that looked like it was made from a down quilt.
"I don't think so," he replied with his usual sarcastic tone. He marched over to a rack of black pea coats and began to look through them. Suddenly, he turned to her uncomfortably. "Ms. Granger," he said, "I am unfamiliar with muggle clothing. Would you mind helping me choose a size?" It had killed him to ask for her help, but he really hadn't a clue how to proceed.
Hermione, noticing his reluctance to ask for help, said with mock innocence, "Oh! Having chosen your own clothes since what, the 1930's, I thought you didn't need my help."
"Nevermind," Snape said as he turned abruptly away.
Hermione felt ashamed. Assuming his negative behavior wasn't the right way to behave at all. Besides, she was at her best when instructing. "No, I'm sorry," she said. "I think I'm just tired and stressed out. I don't feel at all myself." Having said that, she proceeded to help him purchase, not only a coat, hat, gloves, and scarf, but an additional change of clothing for the next day as well. He also selected a pair of pajama bottoms. She could feel her cheeks redden when he didn't show any interest in purchasing a coordinating pajama top, and she'd wished she could crawl into her own skin when started selecting underwear.
They then proceeded downstairs where Hermione indulged herself in a mad fit of muggle shopping. She much preferred her muggle clothes, and purchased two full shopping bags for herself. Snape waited patiently while she tried on several outfits, including a low cut tank top. "They seem to be all the rage here," she responded when he raised his eyebrows questioningly at her choice.
In her innocence, she didn't notice the assessing, and very surprised, glance he gave to her chest which filled in the skimpy top quite admirably. "Well, maybe 'little girl' is not quite the right way to describe her," he thought sarcastically. "Perhaps young woman would be more correct."
They had the clerk remove the tags from their newly purchased outdoor wear. Just as they were ready to leave, Hermione placed a hand on Snape's arm to detain him.
"I think we should hold hands," she suggested gravely.
"What?" he asked as if shocked by the suggestion. He was so surprised his eyebrows looked as if they were going to disappear into his hairline.
"Well, as distasteful as I find the idea of holding hands with you, even with gloves on, I prefer it to becoming separated. What would we do if that happened?" she asked.
"Very well," he replied, as he grudgingly grabbed her hand and practically dragged her through the door and into the swelling crowd of Christmas shoppers and tourists.
