Chapter 7

"We're going to miss you Sev." Daniel lamented.

"He's going to miss the business you bring to the restaurant, that's what he means." Opal said flippantly. She received a nudge from her boss, who was signalling his displeasure.

"Are you going to miss me Opal?" Severus smiled at Opal. He really was grateful to her, although he knew that if he had not lost his memory he would not even have given himself a chance to find out. If she greeted him with "What are you doing out in the lonely rain love?" like the way she had when he had first stopped outside the restaurant, Severus would have most certainly answered, "Trying to get away from interacting with dreaded people like you." As it was, Opal had been able to look after Severus when he was just starting out and adapting to his new life, and Severus had grown to be fond of the woman.

Opal shook her head at his question. "No. I'll have no time to. And I know you'll visit us."

"Dear Opal, always the practical woman you are."

"You will visit us, won't you?"

Severus hesitated. Much as he would like to visit London occasionally, he wondered at the wisdom of it. Besides, his return to his wizarding life will surely hinder his coming back. There was an unwritten rule that the magical community mixed as little with Muggles as possible. It was almost an instinct to distrust Muggles for a pureblood like he was. But that rule was an ancient one, best left buried. With an increasing number of Muggleborns, it really was useless for witches and wizards not to acknowledge that it was better to learn more about the Muggle world. One should step out of isolation, daunting as it sounded.

"I shall try to," Severus said.

"You must promise." Opal said firmly.

Severus felt a reassuring touch on his sleeve. He could not conceive how it was that Hermione had a calming effect on him. Absurdly happy that she was nearby, he replied Opal with more than his usual lightness. "On my honour then." Severus turned to his former employer, "Thank you for keeping me Daniel."

"You should have informed us that you were with your friends and that you've recovered your memory." Daniel chided again. "We were frantically looking for you. Well, I'm just glad to see you're all right. But it's a strange going-on here. Nothing was stolen here but the furniture damaged. Are you sure everything was fine when you left the place? You didn't see anything?"

"The deuce I know what has happened to the restaurant!" Severus exclaimed. "Vagabonds, tramps perhaps. It's a job for the police, not me."

"They're not going to find anything, those brainless twits." Daniel shrugged, "Thank god for insurance."

"What are your plans now Severus?" Opal asked.

"I'll go back to Scotland to teach I suppose." Severus said.

"How like you to be a professor. Although I would have thought music was your subject."

"So I would think." Severus heard Hermione giggle and he glared at her.

Opal gave a quick glance at the both of them, "Do you two know each other before?" She knew the answer when Hermione and Severus looked startled and started blushing.

"Yes." Hermione replied. She refused to elaborate.

"I see." And Opal looked at them so critically until they squirmed under her relentless gaze.

Will you look at us? Hermione thought. We're behaving like a pair of fifth-years caught behind a bush. At that, she giggled again and looked at Severus apologetically when he scowled in her direction.

The woman's not helping matters. Severus glared at her, trying to subdue her to no avail. Maybe a year's absence had rendered him unskilled in intimidating his students. Then he remembered that Hermione was not his student anymore, and he saw her as a woman. Not just any woman, but one whom he had loved without knowing it, until fate brought them together in Daniel's.

When he and Hermione left the restaurant, Opal turned her attention to Daniel, who was contemplating the baby grand in the middle of the room.

"What do you think?" she ventured.

"I think we need a new pianist. Or we can sell this baby for the market price."

"No. I mean them."

"Oh," Daniel laughed. "Them. I shouldn't worry. They'll work things out between them."

"What makes you so sure?" Even Opal was sceptical. "I think there are going to be obstacles." She had seen Severus for only a few hours after he had disappeared, only to emerge out of nowhere unscathed. Yet she had noticed a change in his demeanour. Something more guarded and sinister. She could tell he was still friendly with her but to the patrons of the restaurant, he was colder, and appeared infinitely more arrogant. He remained civil, but the distrust was evident in his eyes. The oft-seen grin was gone and when he smiled, it was strained. When one of his "fans" had touched his arm, Severus had immediately flinched, his expression one of disgust. He had been about to say something snide, Opal was sure, but his manners had checked him in time. This was not the Sev Opal and Daniel had known. And Opal was worried.

Daniel said confidently, "With that kind of look, they'll be smooching in no time."

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Hermione puffed out a gust of warm air and watched as water vapour condensed on it.

"Cold?" Even as Severus asked, he took off his coat.

"That's a gentlemanly gesture Severus. I appreciate it."

"I wonder if I'll get used to you calling me that."

"You'll have to. Minerva said I'm going to take over Madam Pince as librarian for a year. Something about family matters taking up her time. So we'll be colleagues."

"And perhaps friends?" Severus smiled tentatively.

"Perhaps more than that." Hermione stopped. They were standing in a corner of a busy street. People were rushing pass them, and taking no note of them. If she was to confess, this would be the safest place to carry out her plans.

"Severus." At her gentle tone, Severus's heart missed a beat. It missed another one when Hermione took his hands.

If she makes another move, I'm going to run…

"One year ago I lost you. And I swore to Harry… don't look so alarmed."

Severus did not realise until now that the merest of touches could send electric jolts throughout his body.

"You swore to Potter… What?" In his mind, Severus conjured all kinds of punishment. But Hermione was being too gentle. And if Hermione was anything, it was honesty. That woman stood up for everything and everyone, even if she understood that it would get her into trouble. How many times had she defended Longbottom in his Potions classes? The only time he knew Hermione to be in a deliberate act of deception was when she had tricked Umbridge into the Dark Forest, and he applauded her for her cool headedness, which was wanting in most of his students.

When Severus interrupted her, Hermione realised how uncertain and (she could rub her eyes several times just to check) scared he looked. She said softly, "Well, I was about to say… I swore to Harry I'm going to do this, whether you like it or not." Hermione tiptoed and her lips brushed Severus's.

Severus's legs failed to kick off and run like he was supposed to.

"I'm glad you're back Severus. Very glad."

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A/N: To those going to watch Harry Potter 3, you'll enjoy it. To those who have watched it, don't you just wuv Snape and his aborminally large nose? And David Thewlis and Gary Oldman so rock.