Chapter 16 - Morning

Severus sat up suddenly, and rubbed his eyes. As always, when he woke up before dawn, there was this nightmare that had waked him up. As he saw a few couple of sunrays outside the window, he decided there was no way he could fall asleep again. Instead he dressed himself and made his bed. He looked at the wall which was connected to Hermione's room and to his surprise, he found her at her desk, studying.

"Why the hell is she studying at 5 o'clock in the morning?" He mused. "And on a Saturday."

Severus walked out of his room and knocked at her door. After just a few seconds she responded with a simply "Come in".

"Good morning, Severus." Hermione smiled at him. She closed her books and turned around to meet his eyes.

"Morning." He nodded shortly. "Had a nice sleep?"

"Err… Not exactly. I didn't sleep very well. What about you?" She retorted.

"So that's why you're up studying at 5 'o'clock? You really should rest. It's Saturday, after all. I'm sure you're not behind in school." Severus said and sat down on the edge of her bed.

"Well, I had these essays I had to do. You know, I want to double-check everything too. It takes a lot of time. Since I couldn't sleep, I thought it would be insane to waste the time on worthless thoughts. Why are you up this early, if I may ask?" She questioned.
"You don't may ask, Miss Granger." He said curtly and then frowned. "Why do you think thinking is worthless?" He added in a deep voice.

"I didn't say thinking in itself is worthless, I said my thoughts were worthless. Never mi..." She was interrupted by a soft kiss on her lips. 'Gods, those rough lips are wonderful', she thought.

"Hermione…" He spoke in a low voice. "I do not think your thoughts are worthless."

"Kiss me again…" She answered.

"As you wish, Miss." He bent forward and kissed her passionately. "Let's get out to the living room. I'd like to have a cup of coffee." He said and offered her his arm, leading the way out to the living room.
"Oh, right."

"Sit down. Do you want coffee or tea?" Severus asked politely.

"Tea, please." She answered and sat down.

"Here you are." He handed her a cup of hot tea which he'd made with a swing of his wand.

"Thanks." The student giggled as she saw the liquid in his cup.

"What's so amusing?" He eyed her suspiciously.

"Your coffee, it's black."
"Thanks for stating the obvious." He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I just think it suits you." She smiled cunningly at him.
"Actually, it doesn't. I hate it; I just drink it to waken." He retorted dryly.

"Oh… right. I see."
"Yes." He sipped on his coffee.

"You like muggles, don't you? I mean, look at your books. And you even have some mugglepaintings on your walls." She smirked.

"I cannot say I fancy muggles in any way, they're way too boring. But I like their literature, art and also some music. Have you ever been to a musical or an opera?" He answered, smiling slightly, obviously loosing up quite a bit.

"Oh, yes! Many times. I love it. Which is your favourite one?" She beamed at him; it was so obvious he liked this topic, she thought, pleased with herself.

"Well, I like many of them. 'Les Miserables' is pretty good. I've seen 'Fame' too. The music isn't really my kind but it's quite all right. 'Cats' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' are wonderful. 'West side story' is nice. I've seen loads of operas which I don't remember the names of. But I think the one I like the most have to be 'The Phantom of the Opera'. The music is magnificent." Severus smiled at her and took a big gulp of his coffee and then grimaced.
"Oh! I love it. I've been to 'The Phantom of the Opera' as well. I think I've seen it for like four times. I just love the music. I wish I'd seen it with the original cast. Sarah Brightman must have been great…" She said, excited.

"She was. Actually, I saw it on the opening night, in 1984. Since then I think I've seen it ten times. The cast has always been great but the original cast was the best. No one can be compared to Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford." He said simply.

"Lucky you. I saw it my first time when I was nine years old, in 1989. Which is your favourite song?" She asked thoughtfully.

"'The Point of no return' and 'Wishing you were somehow here again' but I like all the songs. And your?"
"'Wishing you were somehow here again' and 'Think of me'. Actually, I can sing them both pretty well; I guess that's why I love those two the most." She smiled shyly. 'Gods, talking about musicals with Severus… How…odd.'

"Sing for me." He demanded and nodded encouraging to her.

"Now? No…" She blushed, slightly embarrassed.
"Hermione let me hear you sing 'Wishing you were somehow here again', please."

'Whoa, it isn't often he begs someone to anything', she thought.

"Um… okay. Don't laugh or I'll kill you." She joked.

"There will be no need for that."
"Err. Right."
"Sing." He urged.

"You were once my one companion, you were all that mattered. You were once a friend and father, then my world was shattered. Wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somehow near. Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here. Wishing I could hear your voice again, knowing that I never would. Dreaming of you won't help me to do all that you dreamed I could." Hermione became silent.

"You've a wonderful voice, Hermione." He whispered, astonished. "Have you been singing somewhere, like in a choir? Or have you been appearing somewhere?"
"Not really. I use to join a couple of talent shows during the summer break but except for that, no. I don't have time for it, unfortunately." She sighed.
"I suppose you've won many of them?" He asked.

'Oh, one of those Snape-compliments' "I've been competing in around 15 I think, I've won at least ten of them."
"I'm not surprised at all. You've an amazing voice. Too bad you're not singing anywhere. You'd be a great artist."

"Sure." She rolled her eyes. "Thank you, but I don't believe that. My voice is average."

"Too bad you've such bad self-confidence. So what are you gonna do today? You're not gonna study all day, are you?"

"No, that'd been way too boring. I'd been planning to take a walk, with you. It isn't time for breakfast yet, anyway."

"I'm not in a mood for a walk now. Way too tired. I think I need another cup of coffee."

"You don't even like it." She protested.

"So?" He added in a sharp voice which no one ever argued with.
"Never mind." She mumbled. "You wanna go for a walk later?"

"Maybe." He shrugged and sipped on his coffee.