Chapter Four – Reaching

Hermione Granger laid in the bath tub, listening to the soothing music she had put on. She again thought of how pleased she was to be muggle born. It was as if she had the best of both worlds. She knew how to work the T.V., the alarm clock and the hair dryer in their muggle hotel, while Ron just looked at the appliances and shook his head.

As she washed her body, her hands lingered on the scar below her left knee. She hadn't thought about how she received the scar in years, but seeing Professor Snape here in China was causing all sorts of unpleasant memories.

She bit her lip as the memory of Theodore Nott pushing her down on the floor and ripping her robe crossed her mind. Even though he didn't actually rape her; he was killed before penetration, the fact that he came so close haunted her.

Harry had been the one to save her. He cast a powerful fire charm. Unforunately, he had been hit with a wheezing jinx and the exact same time, causing his aim to be off. The charm hit Hermione right in the leg. But the fire caused Nott to jump up, and an Auror killed him instantly.

Hermione knew she would never forget the look of disappointment on Harry's face as she stood up in her torn robe. The great Hermione Granger proved fallible after all. She never had a chance to tell Harry that her wand had been broken; she had no way to defend herself until she took Nott's wand out of his dead hand. That had been the last time she ever saw Harry Potter alive.

"Stop it," Hermione said out loud. She didn't want to think about that anymore. Her thoughts turned to Ron, and how unhappy they both were. But both were unwilling to be the first to voice the issues.

She had hoped that they could use this trip almost as a second chance. They never did take a Honeymoon. They married two weeks after their Hogwarts graduation, much to the disapproval of her parents who thought they should wait a year or two at least. But at the time, neither Ron or Hermione wanted to wait. Harry, who should have been Ron's best man, was dead. So many of their friends had died just a month before in the Final Battle.

And they were alive. Both Ron and Hermione thought that waiting a second longer to start their lives together would seem ungrateful to all the sacrifices that had been made.

Of course, five years later, Hermione knew they should have waited, at least for a little bit. But survivor's guilt had overcome both of them at the time. causing the hasty wedding in the backyard of the Burrow.

Hermione forced herself to the present. She knew she had two choices tonight. She could wallow in self pity, or she could go downstairs to the bar and listen to the jazz combo that was advertised.

With a sigh, she stood up, dried herself off, and went to choose an outfit to go downstairs.

-

Severus Snape sat at the bar and took a drag of his cigarette. He would have to switch seats soon. There was a couple sitting next to him, touching either other far too much in a public place. Several times, he thought to say 'Get a room,' or better yet, take out his wand and distreectly throw some sparks their way when they touched again. But he stayed where he was, nursing his drink by himself.

Just when Severus thought he could tolerate the couple no longer, they stood up and left the bar. He sighed, grateful for not having to watch their display anymore. They reminded him of Granger and Weasley when they where back at Hogwarts. Speaking of, there hadn't been a sign of either one of them tonight, which was another thing to be grateful for.

He looked over to the end of the bar, and watched the jazz trio set up. For the looks of it, there was a pianist, a bass player and a vocalist. Severus couldn't help but notice that the vocalist was quite good looking.

Fifteen minutes they started playing. Nothing too loud or too flashy. The vocalist had a soothing voice, and Severus found himself taking a large sip of his brandy and feeling the tension in his shoulders begin to ease.

For almost an hour, Severus sat there, just listening to the music. He didn't even allow himself to think. He simply listened.

But then he got a shock. Hermione Granger entered the bar by herself. She was wearing an oversized sweater and an ill-fitted pair of jeans. She sat down near the band and wrapped her arms around her body. Severus couldn't help but notice how unhappy she looked. He briefly wondered where Weasley was.

Granger made no notice of him, so Severus stayed where he was and enjoyed the music. After a while, Granger started looking around the bar, and their eyes locked. Severus nodded his head, trying not to encourage her. He preferred to be by himself tonight.

She looked down and played with the label she had torn off of her beer bottle. Severus could see her struggling with herself. Then, much to Severus' disappointment, she stood up, picked up her beer bottle and walked over towards him.

Severus simply took another drag on his cigarette as she settled down on the barstool next to him. He would not be the one to start the conversation. She fumbled with her purse, and much to his surprise, took out a pack of cigarettes and a pack of matches.

Granger lit one quickly and inhaled deeply. "Filthy habit," she said after a minute. Severus nodded in agreement.

Together, they sat in silence, smoking, drinking and listening to the music. Severus realized that the companionable silence pleased him. But then Granger spoke.

"What brings you to China?" she said after finishing her beer. In one quick movement, she motioned that she wanted another drink to the bartender.

"Lecture," Severus said slowly, taking a puff of his cigarette. "You?"

"Ron's here for Auror training," she said quickly. "I'm just tagging along."

Severus nodded, not wanting to extend the conversation. The bartender placed the beer in front of Granger and before he could stop himself, Severus said, "Put that on my tab."

Granger folded her hands in her lap. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Just returning the favor," Severus told her, remembering that she had indeed bought him a drink the other night.

Granger nodded and took a long sip of the beer. Severus let his attention drift back to the music. Without realizing it, he tapped his forefinger on the bar in time with the music.

She re-crossed her legs and took out another cigarette. Granger opened the book of matches and saw that she had already used her last one. Severus reached into his pocket and brought out his own lighter.

"Here," he said, bringing the small flame up to the cigarette in her mouth. She puffed a few times, and the cigarette was lit.

After a deep breath, Granger turned to him and said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Severus said briskly, hoping they wouldn't have to talk again. He wasn't a fool; he knew how much Granger and Weasley had hated him at Hogwarts. Severus remembered the Final Battle; how he was slightly indecisive when he had the chance to save Weasley's life. But in the heat of the moment, the hero in him came out, and he chose to do the right thing.

Granger started tearing off the label of her beer bottle, something which Severus found highly annoying for some reason. It seemed she had a ritual. The four corners were torn off first, followed by the rest of the label.

"How's Hogwarts?" Granger asked softly. Severus sighed. He had so hoped that Granger wouldn't be in the mood for a conversation.

"Thing's are fine. It's back to how it was before…" Severus trailed off, and cursed himself for bringing the Final Battle up. If Granger started talking about that, he knew he would simply get up and leave.

Granter seemed to realize that he didn't want to talk. "Good," she said simply and took another sip of her beer. Severus took a long swallow of his brandy.

They must have sat side by side in silence for almost an hour. Finally, Granger stood up and looked at him. Severus turned his head and matched her gaze.

"Good night," she said quietly.

Severus nodded and watched her walked out of the bar.

-

As soon as Hermione was out of the bar, she practically sprinted to the elevator. How had she just managed to spend almost two hours with Professor Snape? She couldn't quite believe it. And more, she enjoyed the silence that lay between them. Hermione had found herself glad when her attempts at conversation were silenced.

It had been a comfortable silence, so unlike her silences with Ron. Ron always seemed to get fidgety when they didn't have anything to say to each other. But not talking to Professor Snape right then…just felt right somehow.

Hermione let herself into her room quietly. She walked out onto the balcony and looked to the north, towards Mongolia. She briefly wondered what Ron was doing now. Was he thinking about her at all? Or was he so enamored with his new friends that they took up all of his thoughts?

The cool night air caused goose bumps to form on her arms. Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, trying to get a bit of warmth. She awful tonight, she knew it. Her clothes didn't fit right, and she hadn't even bothered to brush her hair.

But maybe, she found herself thinking, maybe if they met tomorrow night, she would take some care.

If they met tomorrow night.