Chapter 3: The Dinner Date

Severus was in his chambers, berating himself for his behavior in the corridor. How could I take advantage of her like that? No matter that she drew me down on top of her for the kiss, I should have had more control than that! She's 20 years my junior, for crying out loud! Besides, if she didn't know of my secret desire for her, she does now. He glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. "Damn! It's already 6:45!" He had already had a cold shower when he walked in, but that wasn't a shower for him to actually bathe in. He ran to the closet to find his new terry/cotton silver and green bathrobe. He pulled it off of the hanger and a note fell out of it. He picked it up and recognized Hermione's flowery handwriting on the front. He opened it shakily, wondering how she had gotten it into his room without his knowing. He read it through once, gasped, then reread it at a slower pace to grasp the meaning of it. He folded it, put it into the pocket of his dress robes, and ran to take a shower.

Hermione hoped he had gotten her letter. It had taken a lot of convincing to get Winky the house-elf, to help with the many buttons on her dress. She had bought it on her last trip to Hogsmeade for her graduation party back home; however, with the few alterations she had done, it would serve both to celebrate her new position and to seduce Severus. When they had finished the buttons, she glanced in the mirror. There was something missing. But she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Then she had an idea. She took a small rosebud from the vase beside her vanity table, tucked it behind her ear, and rearranged her hair around it. There, she thought, perfect. She heard a knock on the door, so she checked the clock. 7:30. Was he ever not on time? "Come in."

Severus opened the door and stepped inside. His breath caught when he saw her there in front of the vanity, self-consciously smoothing the front of her dress. My god, she's beautiful! He thought. He began to walk towards her, hoping that she wasn't just an illusion.

She visibly jumped when he started towards her. When he walked in she turned to face him, a greeting on her lips. When she saw him she thought her heart had stopped and would never start again. I thought he didn't wear any color other than black! He had come in pale lavender dress robes, with a cream-colored muscle-shirt beneath them. He's so handsome! His robes were just form-fitting enough to see a hint of the strong muscles in his arms just waiting to be called to action. He started forward so quickly she hadn't expected it.

He walked to her side and offered her his arm. "Hermione, I fear if we dawdle any longer we will be late for the meal. Shall we take our leave? All the good seats may be taken if we don't hurry." He waited hesitantly, hoping she would accept his proffered arm.

Hermione looked up into his wonderfully cosmic black eyes. Instead of taking his arm, she slipped her hand into his. He jumped, but didn't release her hand. They started upstairs to join the other teachers in the Great Hall for dinner.

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When they walked in he let go of her hand, then moved up to the teachers' table. Knowing he was just trying to keep up appearances, she said nothing but followed meekly, as a student should. He surprised her by pulling out her chair. She smiled up at him gratefully, then glanced up the High Table. Oh my God! They were all staring at them. So much for this going unnoticed! She sat up straighter and hoped that no one would comment on it.

Severus sat beside her and looked around to see what had caused her to go pale. Damn! He had forgotten about Minerva and Trelawny. He could see Minerva's withering scowl and Trelawny's approving smile. Great. That was just what he needed: Minerva and Trelawny ambushing him in the corridors with questions, and "prophecies", about this budding relationship.

Dumbledore smiled into his water goblet. It was beyond his reasoning why they would be attracted to each other, but they did make a beautiful couple. He stood up and announced "Tonight is a fine night. It is our first night free of those we call our students. We will enjoy this time together this evening, then, beginning tomorrow, we will begin to clean this castle from the top of the astronomy tower to the very bottom of the dungeons and cellars." He paused and turned to Snape. "I trust you will concoct our cleaning potions as usual, Severus? With Miss Granger's help of course."

Severus met the headmaster's eyes and saw they were twinkling again. "Yes, Albus, we will help, as is our duty." He glanced at Hermione, indicating she should respond also.

This is bloody weird! No wonder the teachers are so uptight when we first come back! "Yes, professor. I will be happy to help."

With them both agreeing to help they would have to work closely together, working out their differences in the meantime, while growing closer. He nodded. "Now I believe it is time for our supper." He tapped the goblet against the table and watched the food appear before them. "Enjoy your feast this night. We will meet at 10:00 am after breakfast to begin cleaning." He picked up his goblet, now filled with pumpkin juice, and watched everyone sitting at the table.

Severus turned to Hermione. "He set the time so late in the morning so that we wouldn't have to get up so early to begin brewing the potions. As it is, we'll have to start the fires and begin brewing at the crack of dawn. While everyone else is cleaning, we will be in my classroom all day stirring the potions. We will have our meals after everyone else is finished and gone back to work."

All the while he was talking she was scarcely paying attention. She was busy looking at him. Lavender really was a good color for him. It made his skin look slightly tanned and brought out his eyes. He had done something with his hair. It no longer fell limply around his shoulders, but had some volume in it to make it bounce slightly when he moved. It looked . . . clean. He was just sitting there, watching her fill her plate. "Aren't you going to eat? You must be hungry. I'm starved." To make her point she bit into a juicy chicken leg.

He watched her, smiling, then pulled a plate of turkey towards him.

She watched him make his sandwich. I never knew he ate so little. No wonder he's just skin and bones. Maybe if he ate a little more meat . . . She reached over and dropped two chicken legs and a scoop of mashed potatoes in his plate. He looked up questioningly. "You need some more meat on them bones. Eat." She saw surprise in his eyes. "Eat, or I'll put more fattening food on your plate!"

He obediently took a bite of the potatoes. That's all I need, he thought, someone to be my mother. I can't believe she's trying to fatten me up. I think I look quite good. He finished his potatoes and picked up a drumstick. Taking a bite, he tried to think of a way to get back at her. "Since I am eating what you gave me tonight, tomorrow you will not touch any food other than what I fix for you. Understood?" When she nodded, he continued "Good." He finished off the second drumstick, saw she had finished, then stood. "I will retreat to my chambers until morning. Good night, Albus. I shall rejoin you tomorrow." He glanced at Hermione. "You would do well to do the same. It will be a busy day, tomorrow." With that, he took his leave, his cloak billowing behind him.

Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at the way he left. Good ol' Snape. Couldn't walk through a door without slamming them dramatically. He didn't walk, either; he swooped like an eagle spotting its prey. However, she did have to get up early in the morning. And Snape did tell her to leave early, didn't he? "I'm sorry everyone, but as Severus said, it's going to be a long day tomorrow. I'd better go and rest." With that she turned and walked to the doors, slipping through the crack Snape had left in them.

Albus followed her departure with his eyes. They made a funny pair, those two, but he could sense the feelings between them. He only hoped they wouldn't realize the connection too late. He stood. "Attention, everyone. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Please go and rest. We will meet back here at 10:00 am. Good night." He watched them all leave, then, with a flick of his wand, turned off the lights. He sat in the darkened silence, thinking.

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