The next morning Snape awoke with a start. He had been dreaming, well he had forgotten that particular period of his life for a reason. He rolled onto his back and sighed remembering.
She had been teaching at Hogwarts for several years before he had found the guts to approach her. He caught her in the hallway, "Miss Abbott, do you have a moment? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
Miss Abbott responded "Why yes Severus, I always have a moment for you."
Severus took her into a hallway that was rarely used by the students. "There's a Wizard musical coming to Hogsmeade next week and I was wondering if you would like to accompany me."
Miss Abbott, a little surprised, "Why Severus, that sounds wonderful. I would love to go."
Severus continued, not quite believing his good fortune. "Would you like also to accompany me to The Chateau for dinner before hand?"
Miss Abbott, her laughter tinkling through the hallway, said, "Dinner and a show-how could a girl refuse!"
"Yes, well, I will pick you up at your portrait at 5pm then. Until then, Miss Abbott" Severus turned and walked away.
Miss Abbott hid her smile and fairly drifted off to her rooms.
Severus sighed, thinking back on how the date went and the 6 months afterwards. They had a wonderful time and had continued to see each other over the next several months. Then she had been called upon to teach at a wizarding school abroad.
"Severus, I do care very much for you, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. Surely you can understand that." Miss Abbott stated as she packed the last of her robes.
"Jane, yes-I do understand, but surely you can tell me whether or not we can continue this relationship."
"I can't make you a promise I'm not sure I can keep right now." Jane sighed. She walked over and took his hands in hers. "Severus, I care about you very much, but the timing just isn't right at the moment. Maybe someday."
Severus looked at her, disappointed in how things had turned out. "Jane, I won't be sitting here waiting for you to make up your mind. I will leave it at that. Good luck in your future." He got up and walked out of the room.
He gave a heavy sigh as the last of his memory faded. He got up and went through his morning ritual. His remembering his experience with Jane Abbott, made him wonder whether or not he should go through with asking Hermione to accompany him to Muggle London. He hadn't been very timid when it had come to facing Voldemort, but when it came to women, well looking at his track record.
He wandered down to breakfast knowing she would be there as she was every Saturday before she began working on her next week lessons. He stalked into the Great Hall and noticed that she was just beginning to scoop some eggs onto her plate.
"Good morning Severus!" Minerva raised her eyebrow at him, "To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?"
Snape snapped back at her. "Surely Minerva, you can understand that occasionally my body does require some type of sustenance."
Hermione looked up at him and just shook her head. To be seen giggling at their exchange would not be considered proper of a professor in front of the students.
Snape sank into the chair next Hermione. "Good morning Hermione, would you please pass the bangers and mash?"
Hermione shuddered at the thought of all that congealed mess going into someone's stomach and passed it along. How anyone could stand that this early in morning-she would never understand.
Severus took some of it on his plate. He then turned and asked, "I'm heading into Muggle London today, would you like to accompany me?"
Taken off guard by him yet again, Hermione hesitated for a moment.
"Very Well, Miss Granger-I just thought you would like to scour your home turf, considering you have lived like a hermit since you have gotten here."
Severus turned away.
"Severus, wait-I'm sorry, I was just surprised that you would ask me of all people to accompany you. I would like to go. I like to start my Christmas shopping at the beginning of November and since that's next week." Hermione responded, recovering her manners.
"Very well, be ready to leave within the hour. I will meet you in the Great Hall." Inwardly, he gave a sigh of relief. Maybe he would succeed after all.
He soon headed down to his quarters to change into one of his muggle outfits. As he was finishing getting ready, he heard a knock at the door. He rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming. "Yes Albus, you may enter."
The Headmaster opened the door and entered Snape's sitting room.
"Severus, I won't keep you long. I know you have plans in..." He consulted his pocketwatch, "Yes well, I just wanted to ask what your intentions towards our Miss Granger are?"
"Surely Albus, even you aren't that stupid!" Severus looked at the headmaster in borderline disgust.
"Well, Severus, after her experiences and yours-just be sure of what you are doing. I would not want to see either one of you get hurt in some way. After all, I value both of your teaching skills." Dumbledore turned to leave, muttering under his breath, "nasty business love can be sometimes."
Severus was rather relieved that the headmaster had let him off that easily. He left his rooms and raised his wards and swept off to the Great Hall to meet Hermione.
Hermione nervously paced the Great Hall. What had she done! She was going to London with Severus Snape of all people! Sure, she enjoyed their evenings playing chess, but to go off the grounds with him and all day? What had she been thinking?
As Severus approached the Great Hall and saw her pacing, he very nearly turned back, wondering if he had done the right thing. Well, only time would tell. "Are you ready Hermione?" He stalked out of the dungeon stairway.
She turned, rather stunned. "Why yes, yes let's go..." she stuttered. They walked out of the Great Hall and down the grounds, past the anti-apparition wards.
With a crack, they apparated to an alleyway in Muggle London. It wouldn't do if they had suddenly appeared in a large crowd. He turned to Hermione and asked, "Would you like to get a cup of coffee before we proceed?"
Hermione laughed, enjoying the smells and sights of, well what was close to home for her "I would love to Professor!"
He offered her his arm and they headed to what was one of his favorite coffee shops. Hermione paused, looking at the board "What would you suggest Severus?"
He smiled at her "Why don't you find us a table and I will order you the best coffee this side of the Wizarding world."
She merely raised her eyebrow in an attempt to impersonate him and walked away. Moments later, he was carrying over two steaming cups and several pastries. "This is one of the first places I always come. " He told her.
"I can see why, it's rather comforting" she looked up at him. He busied himself setting the tray on the table and placing her coffee in front of her. She sipped it and sighed. "AHHHH, that is very good."
He smiled and took a sip himself. "Pastry, Miss Granger?" He offered.
"Why, yes, I think I will. MMMMM, wonderful-I absolutely adore chocolate." She sighed passionately.
They soon finished their snack and exited the shop. They spent the morning poking in and out of bookstores and Snape even purchased several well cut pieces of clothing for himself. As lunch approached, Hermione began to wonder if she could talk him into going to McDonald's. A Big Mac sounded absolutely heavenly to her at this point, and she was willing to bet he had never tried one.
She maneuvered them towards one. "Oh Severus, you have to have a truly muggle experience today." She said.
"Oh really? Surely just being here is a truly muggle experience." He answered in kind.
"Severus-have you ever had a Big Mac?" She asked him straight out.
"A Big, what??" He looked at her as if she had just fallen off the moon.
"Oh come on, you have to try this-it is a truly interesting experience." She dragged him into the McDonald's.
He got a slightly distasteful look on his face as they walked in. "Very well, Miss Granger-I shall learn from you today."
She smiled, excitedly and went up to the counter to order. She brought back the tray and the look on his face continued to deepen. "What. is. that?" He sneered, looking at the tray.
"Oh quite being so snotty and just try it!" She picked up a fry and stuffed it into her mouth.
He tentatively took a fry and contemplated it, before placing it in his mouth. A rather greasy, but well, hmmm. It was rather good. "Now try the sandwich!" She pushed it towards him.
His nose twisted even further in the air when he saw what it was she was raving about. Surely she didn't expect him to! "Go on Severus, TRY it!" She goaded him.
He took a bite into the sandwich and the most interesting combination of flavors filled his mouth. Hmmm, he chewed thoughtfully and absently took another bite, while trying to decide what he though. "Okay, Miss Granger, you win. It is good."
She laughed. "I knew you would like it."
After they finished eating, they left the restaurant and she spent part of the afternoon dragging him into this store and that trying to decide what she should buy people for Christmas. Finally, he had had enough. "Hermione! Christmas is two months away. You don't have to decide now!"
She looked at him, disappointed. "But I like to get it done!"
"Always the overachiever-aren't you Miss Granger?" He smiled in response. "Come, it is time for us to head back."
She sighed. "If you insist."
He just shook his head and took her hand, intending to lead her back to the apparition point. He felt a slight tug, and then she gave in and wrapped her fingers around his. They walked in silence back to the alley where their day had begun.
With a crack, they appeared before Hogwarts main gates. She turned and said, "I had a wonderful time today." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek and walked away.
His eyes followed her thoughtfully as he absently raised his hand to rub the place where she had kissed him.
She had been teaching at Hogwarts for several years before he had found the guts to approach her. He caught her in the hallway, "Miss Abbott, do you have a moment? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
Miss Abbott responded "Why yes Severus, I always have a moment for you."
Severus took her into a hallway that was rarely used by the students. "There's a Wizard musical coming to Hogsmeade next week and I was wondering if you would like to accompany me."
Miss Abbott, a little surprised, "Why Severus, that sounds wonderful. I would love to go."
Severus continued, not quite believing his good fortune. "Would you like also to accompany me to The Chateau for dinner before hand?"
Miss Abbott, her laughter tinkling through the hallway, said, "Dinner and a show-how could a girl refuse!"
"Yes, well, I will pick you up at your portrait at 5pm then. Until then, Miss Abbott" Severus turned and walked away.
Miss Abbott hid her smile and fairly drifted off to her rooms.
Severus sighed, thinking back on how the date went and the 6 months afterwards. They had a wonderful time and had continued to see each other over the next several months. Then she had been called upon to teach at a wizarding school abroad.
"Severus, I do care very much for you, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. Surely you can understand that." Miss Abbott stated as she packed the last of her robes.
"Jane, yes-I do understand, but surely you can tell me whether or not we can continue this relationship."
"I can't make you a promise I'm not sure I can keep right now." Jane sighed. She walked over and took his hands in hers. "Severus, I care about you very much, but the timing just isn't right at the moment. Maybe someday."
Severus looked at her, disappointed in how things had turned out. "Jane, I won't be sitting here waiting for you to make up your mind. I will leave it at that. Good luck in your future." He got up and walked out of the room.
He gave a heavy sigh as the last of his memory faded. He got up and went through his morning ritual. His remembering his experience with Jane Abbott, made him wonder whether or not he should go through with asking Hermione to accompany him to Muggle London. He hadn't been very timid when it had come to facing Voldemort, but when it came to women, well looking at his track record.
He wandered down to breakfast knowing she would be there as she was every Saturday before she began working on her next week lessons. He stalked into the Great Hall and noticed that she was just beginning to scoop some eggs onto her plate.
"Good morning Severus!" Minerva raised her eyebrow at him, "To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?"
Snape snapped back at her. "Surely Minerva, you can understand that occasionally my body does require some type of sustenance."
Hermione looked up at him and just shook her head. To be seen giggling at their exchange would not be considered proper of a professor in front of the students.
Snape sank into the chair next Hermione. "Good morning Hermione, would you please pass the bangers and mash?"
Hermione shuddered at the thought of all that congealed mess going into someone's stomach and passed it along. How anyone could stand that this early in morning-she would never understand.
Severus took some of it on his plate. He then turned and asked, "I'm heading into Muggle London today, would you like to accompany me?"
Taken off guard by him yet again, Hermione hesitated for a moment.
"Very Well, Miss Granger-I just thought you would like to scour your home turf, considering you have lived like a hermit since you have gotten here."
Severus turned away.
"Severus, wait-I'm sorry, I was just surprised that you would ask me of all people to accompany you. I would like to go. I like to start my Christmas shopping at the beginning of November and since that's next week." Hermione responded, recovering her manners.
"Very well, be ready to leave within the hour. I will meet you in the Great Hall." Inwardly, he gave a sigh of relief. Maybe he would succeed after all.
He soon headed down to his quarters to change into one of his muggle outfits. As he was finishing getting ready, he heard a knock at the door. He rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming. "Yes Albus, you may enter."
The Headmaster opened the door and entered Snape's sitting room.
"Severus, I won't keep you long. I know you have plans in..." He consulted his pocketwatch, "Yes well, I just wanted to ask what your intentions towards our Miss Granger are?"
"Surely Albus, even you aren't that stupid!" Severus looked at the headmaster in borderline disgust.
"Well, Severus, after her experiences and yours-just be sure of what you are doing. I would not want to see either one of you get hurt in some way. After all, I value both of your teaching skills." Dumbledore turned to leave, muttering under his breath, "nasty business love can be sometimes."
Severus was rather relieved that the headmaster had let him off that easily. He left his rooms and raised his wards and swept off to the Great Hall to meet Hermione.
Hermione nervously paced the Great Hall. What had she done! She was going to London with Severus Snape of all people! Sure, she enjoyed their evenings playing chess, but to go off the grounds with him and all day? What had she been thinking?
As Severus approached the Great Hall and saw her pacing, he very nearly turned back, wondering if he had done the right thing. Well, only time would tell. "Are you ready Hermione?" He stalked out of the dungeon stairway.
She turned, rather stunned. "Why yes, yes let's go..." she stuttered. They walked out of the Great Hall and down the grounds, past the anti-apparition wards.
With a crack, they apparated to an alleyway in Muggle London. It wouldn't do if they had suddenly appeared in a large crowd. He turned to Hermione and asked, "Would you like to get a cup of coffee before we proceed?"
Hermione laughed, enjoying the smells and sights of, well what was close to home for her "I would love to Professor!"
He offered her his arm and they headed to what was one of his favorite coffee shops. Hermione paused, looking at the board "What would you suggest Severus?"
He smiled at her "Why don't you find us a table and I will order you the best coffee this side of the Wizarding world."
She merely raised her eyebrow in an attempt to impersonate him and walked away. Moments later, he was carrying over two steaming cups and several pastries. "This is one of the first places I always come. " He told her.
"I can see why, it's rather comforting" she looked up at him. He busied himself setting the tray on the table and placing her coffee in front of her. She sipped it and sighed. "AHHHH, that is very good."
He smiled and took a sip himself. "Pastry, Miss Granger?" He offered.
"Why, yes, I think I will. MMMMM, wonderful-I absolutely adore chocolate." She sighed passionately.
They soon finished their snack and exited the shop. They spent the morning poking in and out of bookstores and Snape even purchased several well cut pieces of clothing for himself. As lunch approached, Hermione began to wonder if she could talk him into going to McDonald's. A Big Mac sounded absolutely heavenly to her at this point, and she was willing to bet he had never tried one.
She maneuvered them towards one. "Oh Severus, you have to have a truly muggle experience today." She said.
"Oh really? Surely just being here is a truly muggle experience." He answered in kind.
"Severus-have you ever had a Big Mac?" She asked him straight out.
"A Big, what??" He looked at her as if she had just fallen off the moon.
"Oh come on, you have to try this-it is a truly interesting experience." She dragged him into the McDonald's.
He got a slightly distasteful look on his face as they walked in. "Very well, Miss Granger-I shall learn from you today."
She smiled, excitedly and went up to the counter to order. She brought back the tray and the look on his face continued to deepen. "What. is. that?" He sneered, looking at the tray.
"Oh quite being so snotty and just try it!" She picked up a fry and stuffed it into her mouth.
He tentatively took a fry and contemplated it, before placing it in his mouth. A rather greasy, but well, hmmm. It was rather good. "Now try the sandwich!" She pushed it towards him.
His nose twisted even further in the air when he saw what it was she was raving about. Surely she didn't expect him to! "Go on Severus, TRY it!" She goaded him.
He took a bite into the sandwich and the most interesting combination of flavors filled his mouth. Hmmm, he chewed thoughtfully and absently took another bite, while trying to decide what he though. "Okay, Miss Granger, you win. It is good."
She laughed. "I knew you would like it."
After they finished eating, they left the restaurant and she spent part of the afternoon dragging him into this store and that trying to decide what she should buy people for Christmas. Finally, he had had enough. "Hermione! Christmas is two months away. You don't have to decide now!"
She looked at him, disappointed. "But I like to get it done!"
"Always the overachiever-aren't you Miss Granger?" He smiled in response. "Come, it is time for us to head back."
She sighed. "If you insist."
He just shook his head and took her hand, intending to lead her back to the apparition point. He felt a slight tug, and then she gave in and wrapped her fingers around his. They walked in silence back to the alley where their day had begun.
With a crack, they appeared before Hogwarts main gates. She turned and said, "I had a wonderful time today." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek and walked away.
His eyes followed her thoughtfully as he absently raised his hand to rub the place where she had kissed him.