Chapter Five—Goodnight

Hermione was surprised to discover that Professor Snape was quite the conversationalist. Although his favorite topic was complaining, his caustic wit, when not aimed at her, could be rather humorous.

And the book he had bought her for Christmas was one she had been eyeing at Flourish and Blott's for several weeks now. She wondered how he had known; Professor McGonagall must have given him pretty good advice.

The conversation flowed smoothly even as they walked back to Hogwarts.

"So the pictures move, telling a story?" he asked.

"Yup, it's called TV," she said. He seemed interested in the muggle technology she had been describing.

"Why not just read a book?" he asked derisively.

"I usually do," she reassured him, "but remember that muggle books don't have moving illustrations like wizard books do."

"Ah yes, well here we are," he said almost sadly, Hermione noted as they reached the front hallway of the castle. His rooms were down and to the left while hers were up the stairs and to the right. She too was a little disappointed that the evening was coming to an end. And then fear struck her. Would he want to kiss her? Did she want him to kiss her? These were questions that would want answering in mere moments.

"Well, ummm, tonight was nice," she stammered. Why suddenly couldn't she put together a proper sentence? It wasn't like this was a real date, this was Snape after all.

"Yes, thank you for the thoughtful Christmas present," he said. At least he seemed nervous as well; it made Hermione feel a little better—but only a little.

"Thank you for inviting me along and for the book. I can't wait to read it."

"I'm glad you like it."

They stood there in awkward silence for a few moments more until it was more than Hermione could bear.

"I…" she started but just as she opened her mouth to speak so too did Snape.

"Well…"

"Sorry, go ahead," she offered.

"I…I just thought…well there is a lecture on the properties of nightshade and its use in Potions next Wednesday and I thought you might be interested. We could grab dinner before or after…on me this time," he said very quickly. She had seen the posters advertising the lecture and had been planning on attending, but with Snape?

"That sounds wonderful," she heard herself saying before she had time to think through the consequences.

"Good, well then….goodnight," he stammered before finally turning quicklyand starting down the stairs to the dungeons.

Hermione stared after him in shock at what had just happened. Dinner tonight hadn't been too bad but was this what she wanted, to start a relationship with Professor Snape outside of class? He was mean, sarcastic, and cruel. She couldn't count how many times he had belittled her or her friends in the past. And besides that he was her professor. She was his apprentice. Any sort of personal relationship might damage their professional one—or more to the point, her professional one. People might assume things.

Well she had already said yes; she couldn't take it back now. Maybe she would come down with a deadly illness before then and be unable to go…but then that would mean she would miss the lecture as well.

'No,' she thought, 'I'll go, but I'll be prepared to say no if he asks again.' And with that she turned and headed upstairs for bed, chuckling to herself at some of the funnier tales about the staff members he had regaled her with.

&&&&

Severus kicked himself mentally as he headed to his rooms. What had he been thinking asking her to dinner again? He certainly hadn't been planning that when he had opened his mouth, but there it was all the same. What she must think of him—a man twice her age and her professor asking her to dinner.

'I don't even like her,' he reminded himself, 'She is loud, obnoxious, bossy, irritating and she has horrible taste in friends.' There would be no more dinners he decided, not after Wednesday night. And he would treat her no differently in the lab or in their tutorials. She would soon learn that there would be no easy way through this apprenticeship; she would work hard and long despite the fact that they might have a personal relationship.

Gah! They would not be having a personal relationship, he reminded himself and just to make himself feel better he began thinking of all the arduous tasks he would require of her in the coming week. He had some particularly boring and simple potions to make for Madame Pomfrey that she could do and then there was always reorganizing the supply closet. With those thought in his mind he readied for bed, although as he drifted off to sleep he couldn't help but think about her wide smile and musical laughter at his stories.

Their next meeting he proved true to his word. He treated her no differently than he had before. He ignored her indignant look as he explained that she would be reorganizing and taking inventory of the supply closet.

"But it's the middle of the year," she protested.

"You will do as I say," he said coolly, hiding a look of satisfaction as she understood the underlying meaning of that statement. Though the way she was glaring at him was mildly unsettling. He hoped she was over her little fit of temper by Wednesday; otherwise he would not be enjoying their meal. And neither would she if he hexed her. Perhaps he could come down with a debilitating disease midway through the week or be overcome with exams to mark…but that would mean missing the lecture.

'No,' he thought, 'If I can endure the Cruciatus at the hands of the Dark Lord, or Harry Potter for seven long years then I can handle Hermione Granger for one more night.'

TBC