Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine. I just play with them.

A Summer at 12 Grimmauld Place
Part Six

Hermione seated herself in the corner of the Library for this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. She liked sitting here on the outer edge of the crowd. Harry and Ron were usually towards the middle of the group, but Hermione had always considered this logical. Harry was always to be found sitting on the right hand side of Dumbledore and Ron, the ever present sidekick, was always seated beside Harry. She supposed she might possibly come next in the hierarchy if she were to bother with such things. Instead she sat herself in her corner where she was comfortable, and where she could observe everyone and not be observed herself.

She was early to this meeting, coming in long before most of the others did. Not long after she entered, Dumbledore did and seated himself in the large chair before the fire. Harry followed soon after, and then the others starting coming in hordes. The time prior to meetings was often used for socializing, but Hermione preferred to remain in her seat, limiting her conversations to simply politely greeting those who said hello to her.

After a few minutes, people began to find their seats, indicating the beginning of the meeting was approaching. Nobody really noticed Severus Snape slip into the room at the last minute. Only one noticed him glance around the room for a seat. Only one noticed that the only seat available was next to hers: the empty spot on the loveseat she occupied. Only Hermione watched with baited breath as he crossed the library to her usually solitary corner and seated himself beside her.

"Hermione," he whispered softly in greeting.

"Severus," she replied, just as quietly.

"Well, now that everyone has arrived, let's begin," said Dumbledore from his spot near the fire.

The members of the Order who worked as Aurors were the first to do their reporting. Hermione was quite sure what they had to say was very interesting, and under normal circumstances she would have paid attention to every word they said, but at the moment all she could focus on was the man beside her.

He seemed to be sitting attentively, his gaze focused on the headmaster and the proceedings of the meeting. Hermione knew she should be doing the same, but she just couldn't. She couldn't when he was so close that she could smell him. Oh goodness, she could smell him and the light herbal scent of potions ingredients emanating from him. The scent combined with the nearness of him was terribly intoxicating. Their knees were only a few centimeters apart; if she were to shift accidentally, his knee and thigh would brush against hers. What would happen if they did? Would he look at her? Would he feel that jolt she knew would travel through her if they made contact?

"… by Miss Granger," she heard the Headmaster say, drawing her attention to him immediately. He and more than half of the Order were looking over to where she and Severus sat, smiling at them.

She felt a blush rise on her cheeks and she directed her gaze to her knees. Had she really just been caught daydreaming in a meeting of the Order?

"So, Miss Granger," the Headmaster continued, and she raised her eyes to look again to where he sat. "Though I am sure Severus has done so already, I must thank you on behalf of the Order for taking care of one of our most valuable members when he was in need."

Hermione was very surprised when he began clapping, and the rest of the Order followed suit, save Severus who she was aware was gazing steadily at her. She looked up at him, letting her eyes meet his, and was surprised with what she found there.

Not only was his gaze steady, but she thought she could detect a certain tenderness in it and maybe even something that almost looked like fondness. She smiled shyly up at him, and was pleased when he grinned in response.

"Yes," he said a moment later, loud enough for the rest of the gathered company to hear, "Thank you, Miss Granger."

"You're welcome, sir," she replied automatically, wondering what on earth he was thanking her for. When he had been in need? That could be just about anything. The third night that he had fallen asleep in library and she had woken him, sending him off to his bed; when she mended the plate he'd dropped when they were washing up one morning; when she had brewed the coffee for him that morning he was too drained to do it himself. Why, the possibilities were endless.

The rest of the meeting passed without incident, and Hermione was able to drag her mind away from the Potions Master on her right and focus on the meeting. It was relatively short, and before long, Dumbledore was declaring it over. Snape left her side almost immediately, leaving Hermione quite alone in her little corner.

After saying good bye to a few people who had to leave immediately, Harry and Ron wandered over to her corner. "Gee, Hermione," said Ron as he took the seat Severus had occupied earlier, "you could have told us you did all that."

"All what?" Hermione asked. Perhaps Ron would tell her exactly what they had all been smiling at her and thanking her for.

"For taking care of Snape after he was caught out, of course!" Ron exclaimed. "You should have come and gotten us; we could have helped."

"Ron, you were asleep, and you know as well as I do how difficult you are to wake from a deep slumber. Nobody was in any real danger, so I just took care of Severus on my own. It's not a big deal," she finished, shrugging.

"But it is, Hermione," said Harry. "You heard Dumbledore. You saved Snape's life, really. Who knows what could have happened if you hadn't kept him here all night. And who knows what could have happened if you hadn't treated his injuries."

Hermione blushed. "Don't make me out to be a hero, Harry, because I'm not. Severus was hurt, but not that badly. He just had a few scratches and bruises, and he needed a bit of pain-relief potion. That's all. I did what anyone would have done for him. It's not that important."

"Maybe not to you, but I'm sure it is to him," said Ron, in a tone that made him sound far too wise for Hermione's comfort.

"Sure," she said, brushing his words aside. "What are we doing for supper?"

"Oh!" said Ron excitedly. "Mum thinks we should have a nighttime picnic. We thought it was a great idea. It'll just be her, Dad, Ginny, and all of us, though, but it should be fun."

Hermione nodded and stood from the loveseat. "Then maybe I should go see if she needs help," she said, giving them both a smile before crossing the room and walking out the door.

Hermione arrived in the kitchen only to discover that Mrs. Weasley had already made most of the picnic meal on her own, and had assigned the men the task of creating light outdoors for them to dine with Ginny acting as supervisor. All Hermione was left to do was help Mrs. Weasley with the finishing touches and plating up the food.

"How have you been getting along with Severus?" Mrs. Weasley asked Hermione casually as they began working.

"Oh," said Hermione, taken aback by the question. "Fine, I think. We get along fairly well."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "I noticed that you seemed quite distracted by him at the meeting."

Hermione froze, holding the sandwich she was transferring from platter to plate in midair. She shook herself out of this rigidity quickly, though, hoping Mrs. Weasley hadn't noticed. "Did I?" she replied, hating the squeakiness of her tone.

"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley, giving her a very knowing look. "You did."

Hermione felt her cheeks flush a bright red. "Oh."

"You know," Mrs. Weasley began casually a few seconds later. "I think if Severus let more people get to know him, he'd have quite a few admirers. I know I fancied him for a time."

Hermione felt her eyes double in size. "You…you fancied Severus?"

"Yes, I did," she replied. "For a time. He certainly has that tragic, brooding, romantic presence. It's rather appealing."

"Yes," Hermione squeaked.

Mrs. Weasley smiled at her. "He's not your professor anymore, you know, Hermione."

"Yes," Hermione replied, feeling her cheeks continue to burn, "I was aware of that."

"Then it might be wise to think more about your feelings for Severus. Maybe try to pinpoint exactly how you feel about him," Mrs. Weasley said in a very casual tone.

"I don't hate him," Hermione said softly.

Mrs. Weasley patted Hermione's shoulder lightly. "Well," she began, continuing to smile at Hermione, "that is certainly a start."

Hermione was seated next to Ginny on one of the blankets the boys had spread on the ground for their picnic and was discussing Ginny's long term relationship with Dean Thomas when Severus finally walked out into the garden.

"Oh Severus, I am very glad you've come," said Mrs. Weasley. "I've left your plate next to Hermione. I put a shielding charm around it to keep the insects away, so you'll want to remove it before you try to eat."

"Thank you, Molly," he said, and Hermione watched as he seated himself on the blanket with she and Ginny.

"Would you like some pumpkin juice, Professor?" Ginny asked after Severus had made himself comfortable.

"Yes, please, Miss Weasley," Severus replied.

"All right," Ginny said, standing and preparing to go inside to the kitchen. "And more for you, Hermione?"

"Oh, please," Hermione said, handing her glass up to Ginny to be refilled. Ginny took it from her and immediately set out towards the kitchen, leaving Hermione and Severus alone on the blanket.

Severus removed the charm from his plate, and they sat in silence for a few moments while they ate. Hermione tried desperately to think of something they could discuss, but could come up with nothing as her brain kept replaying the conversation she'd had with Mrs. Weasley.

"Miss Granger," Severus said eventually, causing her to look at him. "Were you feeling quite well today?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "Yes, why?"

"You were uncharacteristically quiet at breakfast this morning and when the Weasleys arrived, you barely said a word. And at the meeting you seemed a bit distracted," he said.

"Oh," Hermione began, hoping the blush on her cheeks was difficult to discern in the low light of the garden. "I suppose I was slightly distracted but I'm fine. That is to say, I wasn't ill or anything. It's nothing serious, I suppose. Nothing abnormal anyway…" she stopped herself when she realized she was rambling, and felt the warmth on her cheeks grow.

"Indeed," Severus said, smirking at her.

"How was your experiment?" Hermione asked, shoving a crisp into her mouth to stop herself from rambling on again.

"Fine, thank you. I've completed it and was happy to come to the conclusion that my hypothesis regarding it could be rejected."

"Happy that you could reject it?" Hermione echoed after she'd swallowed her food. "Why would you be happy about that?"

"Well," he said softly, smiling at her, "that means I can begin again. I do enjoy experimenting, Miss Granger."

Something about his voice and the way he had pronounced the word 'experimenting' caused Hermione to shiver involuntarily. "What," she began, hoping Ginny would hurry back with the pumpkin juice as her mouth had suddenly gone quite dry. "What sorts of experimenting do you enjoy, Severus?"

"Oh," he said lowly, shifting towards her slightly, "all sorts, Hermione. All sorts."

She could not stop herself from shivering again, and watched as he shifted even closer. "I like experimenting too, you know," she whispered.

"Then we should experiment together sometime," he replied.

"Sometime soon?" she asked, unaware that she was sliding herself closer to where he sat.

"Yes, Miss Granger," he said, his voice barely audible, "sometime very soon."

"All right," said Ginny from somewhere above them, "here is your pumpkin juice, Professor. And here's yours, Hermione."

"Thanks Ginny," Hermione said, looking up at her friend and taking the glass from her. She immediately took a huge gulp of the drink while Severus thanked Ginny for his own glass, busying herself by looking anywhere but at Severus.

Hermione's eyes landed on Molly Weasley who gave her a very knowing smile. Hermione could not help but blush.