Severus and Hermione acted as though the night before had never
happened. It was late June that Hermione finally did something about it.
"Sev, would you call what we have a friendship?" She asked suddenly while they were lounging around by the lake.
"Of course I would, Mione, wherever did you get the idea that it wasn't?" He asked, looking at her concernedly.
"Nowhere. I was just wondering what kind of label to pin on it." She lied.
He wasn't so easily fooled. "Really?" He asked sardonically.
"Yes." She lied again.
"Hermione, you aren't telling me the truth." He accused.
"Err . . ." She said.
"That's what I thought." He said, nodding.
"What're you getting at?" She asked bemusedly.
"What are YOU getting at?" He asked.
"Do you remember that fight we had on my parents' funeral?" She asked, he nodded, rubbing his head. "Well, um, I was thinking back on that and I'm really sorry I hit you with that book." She apologized.
"Well its just one sign that you've changed." He said, she cocked an eyebrow at him, "Well the Hermione who first entered my class so long ago would never have done that to a book." He said and ducked as Hermione launched herself at him, laughing though.
"That's not fair Sev!" She said.
"Of course it is." He replied.
"Arrogant Slytherin!" She said.
"Well, well, well, the brave Gryffindor has suddenly stooped to name calling." He said looking at her.
"Hey!" She said, her voice rising a bit in mock defiance.
"Is for horses. Now Hermione, I never knew I had befriended a horse." He said jokingly.
"I'll turn you into a horse." She threatened.
"Oh no." He said and started to run.
"Oh yes." She called and ran after him.
Eventually she caught him and he made a rather nice thorough bred. She attempted to turn a rock into a saddle but he shied away so she turned him back into the Severus Snape she knew and -yes she would admit it- loved.
They returned to the castle arm-in-arm, both undoubtedly human in form and chatting unconcernedly.
"You know Sev, you make a wonderful horse." Hermione teased.
"Thanks a lot Mione." He said wryly.
"Your welcome." She stood a bit up and kissed him on the cheek just as Minerva McGonagall came round the corner. Minerva froze, blanched, and then turned a bright red with anger.
"SEVERUS SNAPE!" She yelled accusingly. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH HER!"
"Minerva. It wasn't him. It was me. Don't be mad at Severus." Hermione pleaded.
It seemed Minerva McGonagall's heart softened a bit at the sight of her ward pleading with her. "Alright. But only for you, Hermione." She brushed past them shooting Severus a dark glare. Severus returned it just as darkly.
They continued down to the dungeons where they decided to have lunch there instead of going all the way to the great hall. Severus called down a House Elf and soon it brought back a large platter of turkey sandwiches. They ate in silence broken only when another House Elf came down to fetch the empty tray.
Severus muttered something about a new potion that he had to work on and dismissed himself from his quarters. Hermione sighed and walked around and around the starry dungeon. She loved this room if not because it belonged to Severus, than because the stars draped over everything so it looked like if you could just reach the ceiling you could pluck a star from the sky.
She wandered over to her room and sat gloomily upon the window seat. She laughed a bit when she noticed Hogwarts; A History sat on her bed, not to far away. It reminded her belatedly of the last time she had sat there and why the book made it even more hilarious.
Severus walked quietly in some two hours later. He found Hermione asleep on her bed, head resting on folded arms. He watched her for awhile, and eventually she stirred.
"Morning Sunshine." He said.
"Oh. Hi Sev." She responded not to his taunt but to him.
"I just had this great idea." He said, actually he had got the idea sometime before, "Today being as today is, a Friday, why don't we spend Saturday browsing Hogsmeade?" He asked.
"That would be wonderful! I haven't been to Hogsmeade since the last trip for the seventh years. And I could definitely use a trip away from the castle. I have nothing against it, its my home, just . . . I could use a change of scenery." She finished.
"I'm glad you like the idea." He said.
"Is anyone else going?" She asked.
"Well, Albus said he might pop in, your dear guardian will likely as not be there to chomp my head off. Actually, quite a few of the staff members are possibly going." He said.
"Ah. We'll have the whole of Hogwarts with us." She commented.
"Yes. About that." He started to laugh. "Don't give me that 'Severus- its-not-fair' look. I can't change it." He laughed a bit more.
"I know. Its just, whenever the rest of the staff is around, you sorta . . . I dunno, I guess you just close up." She finished lamely.
"You know there's a reason I do that." He said quietly.
"Yes. Everything you do has a reason behind it." She said just as quietly.
"The Severus Snape you know, lets just say, he's a very different person when it comes to the staff. This person that you know is a very rare personality change for me indeed." He said.
She cocked her head at him in a show of lopsided understanding, and they went around to collect the things they would need for the next day. There wasn't long to think about anything much as Nemesis came flying through Hermione's bedroom window with a pouch tied to her leg. Hermione had sent out a plea for money from her bank account to Gringotts, and she had sent her key along with it. Now the pouch was filled with a large amount of wizard money and the small golden key right on top.
"Thank you Nemesis." Hermione said, stroking the bird fondly.
Nemesis hooted contentedly. Hermione sighed. She missed having a pet of her own. Crookshanks had died on her seventh year at Hogwarts in a fight with some creature or other from the forbidden forest.
"What?" Severus said in response to her sigh.
"Nothing. I just miss having an animal of my own. Nemesis here somehow reminded me of Crookshanks." Hermione said.
"Oh." Was the only response this brought up.
~~*~~
The next day Hermione, Severus, Minerva, Madam Hooch, Silvia Sprout, Professor Flitwick and Albus Dumbledore all made their way to the somewhat small town of Hogsmeade.
Minerva, Silvia and Hooch dragged everyone along to Glad Rags Wizard Wear. Albus and Flitwick pulled them along to Honeydukes. Severus and Hermione didn't have any particular place to drag everyone off too, but the had bought some things from Glad Rags and Honeydukes. Hermione found a rather nice cloak on a clearance rack in Glad Rags, it looked rather like Severus' walls in his chambers. (Decked with stars, I mean. ;) ) Severus had bought some miscellaneous sweet or other at Honeydukes as well as a rather attractive sugar rose for Hermione, detailed to the last petal, but she wasn't to know about that just yet.
Severus glided off for some time and everyone thought him to be in the potion shop down the road. (Actually he's not.) And thinking so, they didn't worry.
Hermione finally ended up bringing them all along to the bookshop. Her favorite place in Hogsmeade to go. She purchased a copy of Hogwarts; A History for Severus, only meant to tease him a bit.
They returned to the castle some hours later, hands heavy with purchases, money bags much lighter.
Severus returned a short while after the rest, walking down as casually as he could while his pocket was emitting soft "meows". He made it down to his dungeon without many people getting in his way (He had put on his best Potions Master walk that clearly stated in large letters "HEY, I'M BUSY AND IMPORTANT, DON'T MESS WITH ME IF YOU VALUE YOUR HIDE!").
"Hello Sev." Hermione said upon his entrance.
"Hello Hermione." He said in turn.
"I got you something in Hogsmeade." She stated.
"What a coincidence. I got you something as well. You first." He responded.
Hermione pulled out the new copy of Hogwarts; A History and watched him. She had to fight back a large burst of hysterics. She settled with a small smile and a light of amusement shining in her eyes.
"Hermione, you, you know perfectly well how I feel about that book." He said, one hand absentmindedly coming to rest on his somewhat dented skull.
"Oh, but Severus, have you ever really read it?" She asked.
"No. And I don't plan to." He said stubbornly.
"Please?" Hermione said, pleading puppy-dog eyes and all.
"Alright . . ." He gave in.
"Thank you!" She said happily.
"And I have something for you. Close your eyes." He pulled out the delicate sugar rose from one of his inner pockets. "Hold out your hand." He ordered, she did. He then placed the intricate sweet into her open palm. She opened her eyes and gasped.
"Oh my god Severus, I didn't know Honeydukes made things like this."
"Normally they don't. I have something else as well." He said and reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a small black and white calico cat.
"Severus . . ." She moaned, "He's adorable, where did you get him?" She said, gazing at the small creature in her hands.
"When I was gone I took a small detour from the potions shop to go to the little store where they sell only animals and things that go with them. I picked up this little one there." He said.
"What should we call him?" She asked excitedly, conveniently over looking the use of "we".
"What do you want to call him?" Severus asked, pointedly ignoring the plural word.
"I think I'll call him . . . Cavan." She decided finally.
"I think it'll suit him." Severus decided.
"Thank you Sev!" She said and threw her arms around him (after putting down Cavan on a nearby chair, of course.) in a bone-breaking hug.
Severus was somewhat stunned but grew warmer quite fast and hugged her back. Hermione pulled away after a moment and looked up at him.
"You should be happy." She commented.
"Why's that?" He said, attempting to sit down and almost squishing Cavan.
"I think I'm almost ready. Well, ready enough that you're now one of my best friends." She said.
"Really? How did that happen?" He said bemusedly.
"You tell me." She said.
"Is that a challenge?" He said, looking her straight in the eye.
"Yes." She said simply.
"Well, I think it has something to do with our families." He said. "Both of them have been murdered because of Voldemort, and we seemed to have been pressed together because eof it." He commented.
"It does seem likely." She said.
"Yes, it does indeed, it does indeed . . ." He lapsed into silence. Hermione scooped up Cavan and walked around the spacey (Pardon the pun, I mean spacey as in lots of room, not in the stars and such.) dungeon. She then walked to her room, pointedly leaving the door open so that he wouldn't be afraid to come in.
Nemesis flew through the window to her master; he had obviously summoned her, and hooted on her way out.
Hermione sighed. It was good to have a cat curled up on your lap, but Cavan just wasn't Crookshanks. She sighed. Hermione knew perfectly well that she wanted Severus Snape, she just wouldn't admit it to her self.
Severus himself had walked past her door, stopped a moment, then continued to his own door when Hermione made no reaction to his presence. Severus had sent an owl to Albus Dumbledore asking permission to take Hermione on somewhat frequent trips to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and the like.
Nemesis returned some ten minutes later saying that yes, he could, and should not be afraid of Minerva McGonagall, whatever she may threaten. This did little to calm his racing pulse though.
"Cavan!" Came a startled cry from Hermione's room, Severus jumped up immediately to see what exactly the young cat had done.
Cavan had jumped off Hermione's lap to chase after Nemesis who had stopped to see Hermione. Cavan was attempting to get up onto Hermione's bed where the great bird had taken refuge. Severus chuckled a bit. Nemesis heard him and immediately flew over to him. She perched on his arm and looked dutifully down upon Cavan, still trying to get on Hermione's bed.
"Severus." Hermione said, and blushed a bit.
"Hello." He said.
Hermione picked up the struggling cat and held him to her chest.
"Hermione, are you all right?" Severus asked, concerned.
She laughed hollowly. "I remember the last time you said that. Yes though, I am all right." She said.
An owl suddenly swooped through the open window and dropped a letter at Hermione's feet. Cavan happily jumped from her arms as she bent to pick it up. She read it, then sighed.
"What?" Severus asked, walking behind her to look. He had to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her waste.
"My Grandmother wants me to come to her house sometime this month. She says I can bring anyone I want. I'm just not sure if I want to go." She said carefully. She personally wouldn't have minded if Severus had given in to his urge and wrapped his arms around her anyway.
"Oh." He said, "You will go though, won't you?" He asked.
"Well, yes, probably, I just can't bear leaving my best friend for two weeks. That's how long she would like if I stayed." She said, noticing his puzzled look.
"Well . . . She said you could bring anyone . . . Why don't I go as, shall we say, either emotional support, or . . . your personal body guard." He offered.
"I suppose that would work." She said thoughtfully.
"Am I to take it that we're going?" He asked.
"Yes." She said after a moment's pause.
"Good. Write back and we can send it with Nemesis." He said.
"Alright." She wrote out a quick note that she could go and would be bringing one 'other'. She watched as Nemesis flew off.
"I suppose we should call it a night." She said, just now realizing that it was about ten o'clock.
"Yes, I suppose your right." He said and walked out of the room with but a sparse 'Goodnight'.
~~*~~
Nemesis flew back in the room at dawn only to find that Hermione was awake reading a book. She dropped the letter next to her and flew off to her secluded perch.
Dear Hermione, It will be good to have you back at the house for part of the summer. I will be pleased to meet this person that you are bringing, and will welcome them as a part of the family if possible. Can you get here on Wednesday next week at about noon? I'll talk to you later.
Gran
Wednesday, four days till then. She would have to tell Severus. She walked across the hall in hopes of him being awake, but only found him deeply asleep. She watched him for a moment, then walked into the room. She had never gotten a very good look at his bedroom and was happy to take the chance now. This room was furnished in (if you couldn't guess) Slytherin colors.
A true Slytherin to boot then. She thought to herself. She soon found herself right up next to his bed, looking at the sleeping form that lay there. He looked slightly thoughtful and worried this night. His brow furrowed in a sleeping frown. She decided it was best not to wake him and started to creep towards the door when a soft head bumped against her leg.
"Cavan!" She exclaimed softly. She bent to pick him up but he dodged and continued towards Severus. He jumped up onto the bed and snuggled so close to Severus that se couldn't risk catching him without waking up Sev.
"Fine!" She muttered to herself, walking away, "Sleep there!" then she walked back across the hall to her room and found her own sleep not far away.
~~*~~
Severus awoke to find Cavan asleep down by his feet. He smiled. He knew the cat had made some sort of attachment to him, and he knew it would give Hermione an excuse to come into his bedchambers more often.
It was about seven o'clock and he decided to see if Hermione was awake yet.
He walked across the hall and knocked on her door, "Hermione?" He called, he then opened the door to find her dozing on her bed. He walked over to her and watched her for a moment. She really is beautiful, isn't she? He thought to himself. Her hair was spread out over the pillow and her hands rested in the close vicinity of her head. Of course she is. He answered himself. He didn't have long to think though as she began to stir from her light sleep.
He was sorely disappointed in the greeting he got. Her fist came out of nowhere and smashed into his nose.
"OH MY GOD SEVERUS! I'M SO SORRY!" She screeched. "You scared me. I didn't expect anyone in here . . . I . . . I thought someone was trying to attack me . . . I'm so sorry."
"Its all right." He said. His nose seemed to be broken and he ended up muttering a quick healing spell and his nose snapped back in place. It remained forever though, slightly crooked.
"Are you alright?" She asked finally after about three minutes of shocked silence.
"I'll be fine." He said stiffly.
"Is there anything I can do?" She asked.
Well . . . there is this one- STOP!!! He yelled at his brain. Now was not the time to have his mind in the gutter. Out loud he said:
"No." He said shortly.
"Severus, I'm sorry." She said, her eyes getting oddly bright.
His heart softened a bit, "I'm sorry Hermione, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. Can you forgive me?" He said hopefully.
"Of course!" She said and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
Severus smiled and stroked her hair comfortingly. He knew she hadn't meant to hurt him.
She looked up at him, her arms still tightly wrapped around his waste. He smiled down at her and she tucked her head lovingly upon his chest. He wrapped an arm rather protectively around her and felt his stomach give a telltale jolt. Not again! He moaned silently to himself.
"Um, Sev, I think we have a slight problem." Hermione said, pulling away ever so slightly.
"Not really a problem really, its commonly called an erection. Most men wouldn't specify them as a problem." He said, chuckling inwardly.
"Well, um . . ." She stuttered to a halt, not really having anything to say.
"Right! Well, I guess we should . . ." He too trailed off, having nothing to say.
"We should go to breakfast." Hermione said suddenly.
"Yes, I suppose your right." He said, reluctantly pulling away.
~~*~~
A/N: Ok! I am rather stuck. I've got the next bit planned, but their immediate future is a blank. Any ideas can be emailed to me at mo_maise@yahoo.com, so REVIEW OR EMAIL!!
"Sev, would you call what we have a friendship?" She asked suddenly while they were lounging around by the lake.
"Of course I would, Mione, wherever did you get the idea that it wasn't?" He asked, looking at her concernedly.
"Nowhere. I was just wondering what kind of label to pin on it." She lied.
He wasn't so easily fooled. "Really?" He asked sardonically.
"Yes." She lied again.
"Hermione, you aren't telling me the truth." He accused.
"Err . . ." She said.
"That's what I thought." He said, nodding.
"What're you getting at?" She asked bemusedly.
"What are YOU getting at?" He asked.
"Do you remember that fight we had on my parents' funeral?" She asked, he nodded, rubbing his head. "Well, um, I was thinking back on that and I'm really sorry I hit you with that book." She apologized.
"Well its just one sign that you've changed." He said, she cocked an eyebrow at him, "Well the Hermione who first entered my class so long ago would never have done that to a book." He said and ducked as Hermione launched herself at him, laughing though.
"That's not fair Sev!" She said.
"Of course it is." He replied.
"Arrogant Slytherin!" She said.
"Well, well, well, the brave Gryffindor has suddenly stooped to name calling." He said looking at her.
"Hey!" She said, her voice rising a bit in mock defiance.
"Is for horses. Now Hermione, I never knew I had befriended a horse." He said jokingly.
"I'll turn you into a horse." She threatened.
"Oh no." He said and started to run.
"Oh yes." She called and ran after him.
Eventually she caught him and he made a rather nice thorough bred. She attempted to turn a rock into a saddle but he shied away so she turned him back into the Severus Snape she knew and -yes she would admit it- loved.
They returned to the castle arm-in-arm, both undoubtedly human in form and chatting unconcernedly.
"You know Sev, you make a wonderful horse." Hermione teased.
"Thanks a lot Mione." He said wryly.
"Your welcome." She stood a bit up and kissed him on the cheek just as Minerva McGonagall came round the corner. Minerva froze, blanched, and then turned a bright red with anger.
"SEVERUS SNAPE!" She yelled accusingly. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH HER!"
"Minerva. It wasn't him. It was me. Don't be mad at Severus." Hermione pleaded.
It seemed Minerva McGonagall's heart softened a bit at the sight of her ward pleading with her. "Alright. But only for you, Hermione." She brushed past them shooting Severus a dark glare. Severus returned it just as darkly.
They continued down to the dungeons where they decided to have lunch there instead of going all the way to the great hall. Severus called down a House Elf and soon it brought back a large platter of turkey sandwiches. They ate in silence broken only when another House Elf came down to fetch the empty tray.
Severus muttered something about a new potion that he had to work on and dismissed himself from his quarters. Hermione sighed and walked around and around the starry dungeon. She loved this room if not because it belonged to Severus, than because the stars draped over everything so it looked like if you could just reach the ceiling you could pluck a star from the sky.
She wandered over to her room and sat gloomily upon the window seat. She laughed a bit when she noticed Hogwarts; A History sat on her bed, not to far away. It reminded her belatedly of the last time she had sat there and why the book made it even more hilarious.
Severus walked quietly in some two hours later. He found Hermione asleep on her bed, head resting on folded arms. He watched her for awhile, and eventually she stirred.
"Morning Sunshine." He said.
"Oh. Hi Sev." She responded not to his taunt but to him.
"I just had this great idea." He said, actually he had got the idea sometime before, "Today being as today is, a Friday, why don't we spend Saturday browsing Hogsmeade?" He asked.
"That would be wonderful! I haven't been to Hogsmeade since the last trip for the seventh years. And I could definitely use a trip away from the castle. I have nothing against it, its my home, just . . . I could use a change of scenery." She finished.
"I'm glad you like the idea." He said.
"Is anyone else going?" She asked.
"Well, Albus said he might pop in, your dear guardian will likely as not be there to chomp my head off. Actually, quite a few of the staff members are possibly going." He said.
"Ah. We'll have the whole of Hogwarts with us." She commented.
"Yes. About that." He started to laugh. "Don't give me that 'Severus- its-not-fair' look. I can't change it." He laughed a bit more.
"I know. Its just, whenever the rest of the staff is around, you sorta . . . I dunno, I guess you just close up." She finished lamely.
"You know there's a reason I do that." He said quietly.
"Yes. Everything you do has a reason behind it." She said just as quietly.
"The Severus Snape you know, lets just say, he's a very different person when it comes to the staff. This person that you know is a very rare personality change for me indeed." He said.
She cocked her head at him in a show of lopsided understanding, and they went around to collect the things they would need for the next day. There wasn't long to think about anything much as Nemesis came flying through Hermione's bedroom window with a pouch tied to her leg. Hermione had sent out a plea for money from her bank account to Gringotts, and she had sent her key along with it. Now the pouch was filled with a large amount of wizard money and the small golden key right on top.
"Thank you Nemesis." Hermione said, stroking the bird fondly.
Nemesis hooted contentedly. Hermione sighed. She missed having a pet of her own. Crookshanks had died on her seventh year at Hogwarts in a fight with some creature or other from the forbidden forest.
"What?" Severus said in response to her sigh.
"Nothing. I just miss having an animal of my own. Nemesis here somehow reminded me of Crookshanks." Hermione said.
"Oh." Was the only response this brought up.
~~*~~
The next day Hermione, Severus, Minerva, Madam Hooch, Silvia Sprout, Professor Flitwick and Albus Dumbledore all made their way to the somewhat small town of Hogsmeade.
Minerva, Silvia and Hooch dragged everyone along to Glad Rags Wizard Wear. Albus and Flitwick pulled them along to Honeydukes. Severus and Hermione didn't have any particular place to drag everyone off too, but the had bought some things from Glad Rags and Honeydukes. Hermione found a rather nice cloak on a clearance rack in Glad Rags, it looked rather like Severus' walls in his chambers. (Decked with stars, I mean. ;) ) Severus had bought some miscellaneous sweet or other at Honeydukes as well as a rather attractive sugar rose for Hermione, detailed to the last petal, but she wasn't to know about that just yet.
Severus glided off for some time and everyone thought him to be in the potion shop down the road. (Actually he's not.) And thinking so, they didn't worry.
Hermione finally ended up bringing them all along to the bookshop. Her favorite place in Hogsmeade to go. She purchased a copy of Hogwarts; A History for Severus, only meant to tease him a bit.
They returned to the castle some hours later, hands heavy with purchases, money bags much lighter.
Severus returned a short while after the rest, walking down as casually as he could while his pocket was emitting soft "meows". He made it down to his dungeon without many people getting in his way (He had put on his best Potions Master walk that clearly stated in large letters "HEY, I'M BUSY AND IMPORTANT, DON'T MESS WITH ME IF YOU VALUE YOUR HIDE!").
"Hello Sev." Hermione said upon his entrance.
"Hello Hermione." He said in turn.
"I got you something in Hogsmeade." She stated.
"What a coincidence. I got you something as well. You first." He responded.
Hermione pulled out the new copy of Hogwarts; A History and watched him. She had to fight back a large burst of hysterics. She settled with a small smile and a light of amusement shining in her eyes.
"Hermione, you, you know perfectly well how I feel about that book." He said, one hand absentmindedly coming to rest on his somewhat dented skull.
"Oh, but Severus, have you ever really read it?" She asked.
"No. And I don't plan to." He said stubbornly.
"Please?" Hermione said, pleading puppy-dog eyes and all.
"Alright . . ." He gave in.
"Thank you!" She said happily.
"And I have something for you. Close your eyes." He pulled out the delicate sugar rose from one of his inner pockets. "Hold out your hand." He ordered, she did. He then placed the intricate sweet into her open palm. She opened her eyes and gasped.
"Oh my god Severus, I didn't know Honeydukes made things like this."
"Normally they don't. I have something else as well." He said and reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a small black and white calico cat.
"Severus . . ." She moaned, "He's adorable, where did you get him?" She said, gazing at the small creature in her hands.
"When I was gone I took a small detour from the potions shop to go to the little store where they sell only animals and things that go with them. I picked up this little one there." He said.
"What should we call him?" She asked excitedly, conveniently over looking the use of "we".
"What do you want to call him?" Severus asked, pointedly ignoring the plural word.
"I think I'll call him . . . Cavan." She decided finally.
"I think it'll suit him." Severus decided.
"Thank you Sev!" She said and threw her arms around him (after putting down Cavan on a nearby chair, of course.) in a bone-breaking hug.
Severus was somewhat stunned but grew warmer quite fast and hugged her back. Hermione pulled away after a moment and looked up at him.
"You should be happy." She commented.
"Why's that?" He said, attempting to sit down and almost squishing Cavan.
"I think I'm almost ready. Well, ready enough that you're now one of my best friends." She said.
"Really? How did that happen?" He said bemusedly.
"You tell me." She said.
"Is that a challenge?" He said, looking her straight in the eye.
"Yes." She said simply.
"Well, I think it has something to do with our families." He said. "Both of them have been murdered because of Voldemort, and we seemed to have been pressed together because eof it." He commented.
"It does seem likely." She said.
"Yes, it does indeed, it does indeed . . ." He lapsed into silence. Hermione scooped up Cavan and walked around the spacey (Pardon the pun, I mean spacey as in lots of room, not in the stars and such.) dungeon. She then walked to her room, pointedly leaving the door open so that he wouldn't be afraid to come in.
Nemesis flew through the window to her master; he had obviously summoned her, and hooted on her way out.
Hermione sighed. It was good to have a cat curled up on your lap, but Cavan just wasn't Crookshanks. She sighed. Hermione knew perfectly well that she wanted Severus Snape, she just wouldn't admit it to her self.
Severus himself had walked past her door, stopped a moment, then continued to his own door when Hermione made no reaction to his presence. Severus had sent an owl to Albus Dumbledore asking permission to take Hermione on somewhat frequent trips to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and the like.
Nemesis returned some ten minutes later saying that yes, he could, and should not be afraid of Minerva McGonagall, whatever she may threaten. This did little to calm his racing pulse though.
"Cavan!" Came a startled cry from Hermione's room, Severus jumped up immediately to see what exactly the young cat had done.
Cavan had jumped off Hermione's lap to chase after Nemesis who had stopped to see Hermione. Cavan was attempting to get up onto Hermione's bed where the great bird had taken refuge. Severus chuckled a bit. Nemesis heard him and immediately flew over to him. She perched on his arm and looked dutifully down upon Cavan, still trying to get on Hermione's bed.
"Severus." Hermione said, and blushed a bit.
"Hello." He said.
Hermione picked up the struggling cat and held him to her chest.
"Hermione, are you all right?" Severus asked, concerned.
She laughed hollowly. "I remember the last time you said that. Yes though, I am all right." She said.
An owl suddenly swooped through the open window and dropped a letter at Hermione's feet. Cavan happily jumped from her arms as she bent to pick it up. She read it, then sighed.
"What?" Severus asked, walking behind her to look. He had to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her waste.
"My Grandmother wants me to come to her house sometime this month. She says I can bring anyone I want. I'm just not sure if I want to go." She said carefully. She personally wouldn't have minded if Severus had given in to his urge and wrapped his arms around her anyway.
"Oh." He said, "You will go though, won't you?" He asked.
"Well, yes, probably, I just can't bear leaving my best friend for two weeks. That's how long she would like if I stayed." She said, noticing his puzzled look.
"Well . . . She said you could bring anyone . . . Why don't I go as, shall we say, either emotional support, or . . . your personal body guard." He offered.
"I suppose that would work." She said thoughtfully.
"Am I to take it that we're going?" He asked.
"Yes." She said after a moment's pause.
"Good. Write back and we can send it with Nemesis." He said.
"Alright." She wrote out a quick note that she could go and would be bringing one 'other'. She watched as Nemesis flew off.
"I suppose we should call it a night." She said, just now realizing that it was about ten o'clock.
"Yes, I suppose your right." He said and walked out of the room with but a sparse 'Goodnight'.
~~*~~
Nemesis flew back in the room at dawn only to find that Hermione was awake reading a book. She dropped the letter next to her and flew off to her secluded perch.
Dear Hermione, It will be good to have you back at the house for part of the summer. I will be pleased to meet this person that you are bringing, and will welcome them as a part of the family if possible. Can you get here on Wednesday next week at about noon? I'll talk to you later.
Gran
Wednesday, four days till then. She would have to tell Severus. She walked across the hall in hopes of him being awake, but only found him deeply asleep. She watched him for a moment, then walked into the room. She had never gotten a very good look at his bedroom and was happy to take the chance now. This room was furnished in (if you couldn't guess) Slytherin colors.
A true Slytherin to boot then. She thought to herself. She soon found herself right up next to his bed, looking at the sleeping form that lay there. He looked slightly thoughtful and worried this night. His brow furrowed in a sleeping frown. She decided it was best not to wake him and started to creep towards the door when a soft head bumped against her leg.
"Cavan!" She exclaimed softly. She bent to pick him up but he dodged and continued towards Severus. He jumped up onto the bed and snuggled so close to Severus that se couldn't risk catching him without waking up Sev.
"Fine!" She muttered to herself, walking away, "Sleep there!" then she walked back across the hall to her room and found her own sleep not far away.
~~*~~
Severus awoke to find Cavan asleep down by his feet. He smiled. He knew the cat had made some sort of attachment to him, and he knew it would give Hermione an excuse to come into his bedchambers more often.
It was about seven o'clock and he decided to see if Hermione was awake yet.
He walked across the hall and knocked on her door, "Hermione?" He called, he then opened the door to find her dozing on her bed. He walked over to her and watched her for a moment. She really is beautiful, isn't she? He thought to himself. Her hair was spread out over the pillow and her hands rested in the close vicinity of her head. Of course she is. He answered himself. He didn't have long to think though as she began to stir from her light sleep.
He was sorely disappointed in the greeting he got. Her fist came out of nowhere and smashed into his nose.
"OH MY GOD SEVERUS! I'M SO SORRY!" She screeched. "You scared me. I didn't expect anyone in here . . . I . . . I thought someone was trying to attack me . . . I'm so sorry."
"Its all right." He said. His nose seemed to be broken and he ended up muttering a quick healing spell and his nose snapped back in place. It remained forever though, slightly crooked.
"Are you alright?" She asked finally after about three minutes of shocked silence.
"I'll be fine." He said stiffly.
"Is there anything I can do?" She asked.
Well . . . there is this one- STOP!!! He yelled at his brain. Now was not the time to have his mind in the gutter. Out loud he said:
"No." He said shortly.
"Severus, I'm sorry." She said, her eyes getting oddly bright.
His heart softened a bit, "I'm sorry Hermione, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. Can you forgive me?" He said hopefully.
"Of course!" She said and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
Severus smiled and stroked her hair comfortingly. He knew she hadn't meant to hurt him.
She looked up at him, her arms still tightly wrapped around his waste. He smiled down at her and she tucked her head lovingly upon his chest. He wrapped an arm rather protectively around her and felt his stomach give a telltale jolt. Not again! He moaned silently to himself.
"Um, Sev, I think we have a slight problem." Hermione said, pulling away ever so slightly.
"Not really a problem really, its commonly called an erection. Most men wouldn't specify them as a problem." He said, chuckling inwardly.
"Well, um . . ." She stuttered to a halt, not really having anything to say.
"Right! Well, I guess we should . . ." He too trailed off, having nothing to say.
"We should go to breakfast." Hermione said suddenly.
"Yes, I suppose your right." He said, reluctantly pulling away.
~~*~~
A/N: Ok! I am rather stuck. I've got the next bit planned, but their immediate future is a blank. Any ideas can be emailed to me at mo_maise@yahoo.com, so REVIEW OR EMAIL!!