Disclaimer: I do not own or ever will, the rights and such to the Potter Universe. Please don't sue me, I'm poor. I don't know if anyone is actually reading this story, but I hope many who are writers like me understand that even though someone doesn't necessarily read your work, it still had to be written. Thanks.

Chapter 5: Getting to know you...Severus Style

The month of November was quite uneventful, though some interesting things did occur. Hermione ran out of practically everything in her pantry, which was disastrous for a pregnant woman craving everything from filet mignon to pickles with chocolate sauce. She vowed to slow down on super fattening stuff and also started a dancing regimen from her younger days. Not many people knew that Hermione had once been a very talented ballet dancer. It was something muggle that she had let go once she entered Hogwarts. Henry wrote often and though nothing terribly important had changed in his life, he did have a girl he liked by the name of Athena Rogers.

Hermione remembered her second year and couldn't recall getting on with anyone well enough to date them, aside from Gilderoy Lockhart (she tried to forget him as often as possible). Henry had also written about enjoying transfiguration more during the year. He despised the new potions master, but little had changed in that sentiment over the years. After one unnerving Friday afternoon, Sallie invited Hermione over for tea after work. At first, Hermione didn't want to accept because she knew she would be in Severus Snape's house again and although she had come to terms with their somewhat odd neighbourly relationship, she wasn't quite sure if she wanted to spend high tea with him. After much encouragement from Sallie, Hermione went with her to the old home.

"Uncle Severus told me about your days as a student." Sallie said as they walked up the pathway.

"Did he, I am sure none of what he remembers is true." Hermione snidely replied, imagining Severus from her school days and wondering what he could've possibly told her.

"Actually, he said you were the smartest, if annoyingly so, witch that has graced Hogwarts since Minerva McGonagall. He told me about Ron too, but he was less than kind." Sallie sighed, her face becoming sour thinking of her Uncle's dislike for the Weasley family. Hermione remained quiet and did not comment on Severus's words. She simply walked beside Sallie, glad to have a lady friend and someone to spend a Friday with.

"Harrison and Atticus are working on their astronomy project in the north tower. They will not join us for tea." Hermione heard as she entered the ornately designed tea room.

"This is the breakfast room, Hermione. All of the children and Uncle Severus have meals here. We don't use the formal dining room more than necessary." Sallie motioned for Hermione to take the seat next to her and then remove her coat.

"Good afternoon, Madame Stuart." Severus bowed to her and took his own seat, disregarding society rules and pouring his own tea. Sallie took two cucumber sandwiches from the lazy susan and then poured her tea and then Hermiones'.

"Do you think the shipment will come early this week, Hermione?" Sallie asked, pouring cream into her tea and stirring it with a spell.

"I doubt it, last month they came a week late and I lost Mr. Gardiner's order information. I suppose he won't wait for this months shipment, so that's another customer lost over the shipping." Hermione's hands rattled against the cup as she realized she hadn't eaten much that day. Her stomach growled and grunted as she sipped more of her tea.

"Ron has therapy in the morning, is there any way you can come in? He had to reschedule with Rhonda last minute and I have my own appointment with the healer."

"That's no problem as long as Harrison can tag along for a bit."

"Perfectly fine. And thank you again, I know this schedule must seem so disorganised." Severus snorted in response to Hermione's comment and finished his tea.

"I'll be in after twelve and then you are free to leave if you have plans. I was going to close around four anyway." Hermione ate the last cucumber sandwich and wiped her mouth. She didn't truly enjoy the sideway look of uneasiness Severus was giving her, but she hadn't really expected pleasantness. She never expected anything from Severus Snape whose entire life seemed like a façade of unhappiness and despair. She respected him and that was the only thing she could freely admit.

"Thank you for tea Sallie, Master Snape, but I must be getting home." Hermione stood and waited for them to stand as well. When Sallie stood and Severus did not, Hermione grabbed her cloak and walked with her through the rather large doorway and into the foyer. "

Uncle Severus does not like me to invite people to tea when he is not aware of their invitation." Sallie explained noticing the offended look on Hermione's face.

"That's quite alright, it's not as though we're great friends or anything." Hermione's scarf wrapped itself around her neck and rested like a snake on a tree over he shoulders. Severus stood in the shadow of the foyer and watched as Hermione talked with Sallie. He wondered why she was trying so desperately to have him like her, as she had when she was his student.

"I hope you'll come again. It's sometimes hard here without someone to talk to." Hermione nodded and faced the coldness with a mission in mind; to make a friend of Sallie Jordan and to make Severus Snape see that she was a good person, even if it took a lifetime. Over the course of the last three weeks of November, Hermione had tea at Snape Manor seven times and with each tea, she learned more about Severus Snape and also about his true nature. Sure he was definitely cruel, sometimes heartless and vague, but what surprised her the most was his shyness and love for his family. He seemed to become more comfortable and pleased when Atticus and Harrison joined them for tea. November thirtieth, Hermione and Ron joined Sallie, Severus, and Harrison for tea in the breakfast room and although it was quite cold outside, they felt quite comfortable indoors.

"Henry wrote me recently and said that Michael was ill, have you heard from him?" Hermione asked Sallie as they spread marmalade on their scones.

"He wrote us last night that he felt better, but Madame Pompfrey refuses to release him from the hospital wing." Sallie replied, sadness in her voice for her brother.

"Henry was himself sick not too long ago and wanted to make a visit, but I didn't let with my own condition and I hope that is not what has made Michael sick." Ron laughed a bit at the hysteria of the women, but quieted his voice noticing Severus's dangerous stare.

"Michael has always been sickly since I can remember. Mum and Da worried that Atticus would be the same way, but he's never even had a simple cold." Sallie said, thinking fondly of her deceased parents and placing her hand on her Uncle's, though he remained quite the same unemotional figure he had been.

"Christmas will come soon and our boys will he home. Henry wants to come home this year, which surprised me because last year he stayed at Hogwarts. I guess he misses his father and I know I'll need him here."

"Yes, yes...You two women talk of nothing but depressing and melancholic blabber. Does anyone have anything remotely worthy to talk about?" Severus interjected severely.

"Pardon, sir." Hermione wiped her mouth and sat back in her chair, her middle becoming quite heavy and burdensome against the wooden table. She sipped the last of her tea and folded her arms across her chest. Ron picked up on the signal that she would like to leave and wiped his own mouth and finished his own tea.

"We should be going." He bowed as much as he could to Sallie and Harrison and cast a very irritated look towards Severus. Hermione stood sharply and wrapped her large cloak over her heavy clothes trying to appear grateful for the tea. Until that moment, she had enjoyed their teas and felt that she was truly beginning to understand Severus Snape, but nothing had changed really. He was self-serving and she couldn't help but express her herself in her own way.

"Until tomorrow, Sallie." Hermione turned from them and left the home, resigning to decline the next time Sallie offered to have her for tea.