Chapter 8

Severus was more than stunned. Hermione's touch was not so much a kiss but it was as gentle and comforting as anything could be. For a flitting moment, he imagined Hermione doing this to him everyday, before he recollected himself. This spell of spending too much time in London had wrought some irrevocable damage to his head.

And possibly, a thought wriggled stubbornly into his mind, his defences too. Defences he had subconsciously built around him throughout his life.

They were in a busy street, and in public eye. It was true that Muggles did not know who he was and a couple being intimate was a commonplace affair in the Muggle world. He was safe from prying or inquisitive eyes. If he was not mistaken, such… demonstrations were common enough in the wizarding world too. More than once, he had unintentionally overheard both the boys and girls in his class exchange experiences and techniques, which he had found bewildering. Madam Hooch had aptly described them as blundering idiots on a hormone rampage by the age of fifteen.

But that was not the point. No, the point was that, he, Severus Snape, was a private man, not prone to outward displays of affection, let alone doing them in public. At least Hermione had not put it in her head to do, er, what she had just done in Hogsmeade. They were safe from scandal and fainting students. Askance parents too perhaps, for the more conservative ones would surely be concerned about their teacher/student relationship. So Severus decided that it was best to tell Hermione primly and properly like the disciplined man that he was that her action had been entirely inappropriate.

So, naturally, when his first and only word when he spoke was "Oh.", Severus was suitably ashamed of himself. Contrary to what he had planned, he had uttered an utterly useless monosyllable. Things worked out differently when your brain refused to cooperate with the tongue. Or was it the other way around? He waited for Hermione's reaction.

Whereas Hermione was also waiting patiently for Severus to go on talking, not knowing that he was currently tongue-tied. When time lapsed for a while, and she was aware of Severus's , she asked uncertainly, "Was it okay? I… hope it isn't… It isn't surprising for you is it Severus? We've known each other for so long. And we… got along so well when you'd lost your memory."

"Yes… we got on… then." Actually, Severus remembered that they had gotten on quite well in her seventh year too, that year when everyone knew one way or another, that the time of reckoning had come. Hermione's wand work was powerful and she had trained herself intensively should the need to fight arose. But she had preferred to apply her many and varied skills to the classroom, where she had helped Severus and Filius enhance the power of potions and search the tomes for forgotten Charms. Then, Severus had been too busy preparing for war and he was not inclined to heap scorn on Hermione. She was a talented witch and he had need of her cooperation. Curious how everything all worked out. Hermione had not been as chatty as she was wont to in class. Instead, she had worked on the side and observed, only opening her mouth when he had thrown her a question. Now that Severus thought of it, Hermione had been remarkably attentive to him and there had been occasions when he chanced upon her worried expression that had been focussed on him.

Had she cared for him then and he had not realised it?

Hermione continued talking. "I… thought that we had come to a sort of…" Damn the man, why can't he contribute a little more to the discussion.

And Hermione next wondered with a pang, whether Severus had ever been kissed before. If she were to believe Remus, Severus had always been on his own in school, more alone than Remus was in fact. And in the night, when she had stolen into the staff room, she would overhear the staff's conversation on each other's private lives. But there was a stark absence of interest regarding Severus's. Everyone knew that inquiring about Severus's past, including his family, was dangerously close to inviting his or her death-warrant.

Hermione looked at Severus. "I thought that I've shown you quite well that I want us to be more than what we were… before. Severus, don't look so shell-shocked please. It is all right?"

Was it? Where did this leave him? The thought that someone other than Albus, who cared for everyone, could love him, was incomprehensible. And that he could love, was even more shocking. Did he love her? Yes, of course he did. He had always loved her, even when she was only his student and they had not even had a friendly conversation or memory to call their own. He did not know how and when it started, but Severus could not now remember not ever loving her. Whether it was teaching her, protecting each other from harm, or working side by side. And Severus remembered what it was like when he was just Sev the Muggle pianist, when there was no fear or self-doubt. He had fallen in love with her twice over.

Oh… Albus was going to have a field's day with this. He would probably congratulate himself for bringing them together.

When Hermione repeated her question, this time unsteadily, Severus decided he could not have her looking this wretched.

"I don't know." He said carefully, "Can you do it again?"

At that, Hermione relaxed and giggled.

"If you say so Professor." She was relieved Severus was not finding any difficulty coping with his restored memory and his innate shyness, which she had witnessed when he was only a pianist in Daniel's. And she gave him a real kiss this time. She felt his arms wrap tightly around her.

"Oh…" Severus gasped after a while. "Will it be terribly greedy of me if I ask for it again?"

Before Hermione could respond, they heard someone shout at them, "Get a room guys." His companion followed suit, "There's one two streets away." And they left the surprised couple laughing.

"Do you… do you think we're too prominent?" Severus was alarmed.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, fighting hard not to grin. "Does it matter?"

They settled for holding each other, with Severus leaning against a wall and Hermione leaning against him.

Hermione spoke softly. "Harry said I've gone round the bend, thinking of this. Said you'd skin me alive if I kissed you. Apparently he's wrong."

"Apparently. But it is no surprise. Potter always strikes me as amazingly dense."

"Hm… do you know? I don't believe you?"

"Very wise of you Miss Granger." Severus said gravely, falling back to the old habit of addressing her formally as he had done in Hogwarts.

"I missed you you know. Severus I don't want you to think this is just a whim."

"You know, I never doubted that? You always are the most sensible witch I've ever known. You're a little like me in that way. We take things seriously. But… that's all we have in common Hermione." Severus said, "I'm not a likeable man, and even without the fact that I've been a Death-Eater, I'm not a very good man. You know how many my faults are. Hermione… You have considered the implications of all these factors?" There was a hitch in his voice that suggested that under his calm tone, he was frightened.

"Severus, I have."

"Yes?"

Hermione hugged him reassuringly. "Yes."

They remained in their restive position, watching the activity of London fly past them. And they were happy and content.

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A/N:

One more chapter and that'll be it! Thank you so much for your reviews.