Disclaimer: It's not mine, I just enjoy messing with their lives!

A/N: Thank you everyone! And I honestly mean that, too. I'm not just saying it because I should. I know I don't take the time or space to go through and say individual thank-you's, but I'd rather just have the story. But I do mean it when I say thanks; your reviews are what keeps me writing this, especially when I'm feeling stressed with the plot line, or when school's bugging me, or just when I feel like life is getting overwhelming. Now enough of the mushiness, onto the story!

Playing Pretend

Chapter Six: Lunch and Learning

"So what sounds good to you?" Percy asked as they emerged from the floo in The Leaky Cauldron.

"I don't know, Italian maybe?" Hermione suggested.

"Sounds great; I know this little place just around the corner," Percy took her hand as they entered Diagon Alley. "Mama Lucia's."

"Oh, I've heard of that, it's supposed to be really good," Hermione said excitedly as they made there way through the groups of people.

"It is," Percy led her in to the small café. "Table for two please."

"Right this way sir," the hostess led them to a corner booth and handed them their menus. "A waiter will be with you in a few minutes. We're rather understaffed today, and we just had a large group come in about ten minutes ago."

"Thank you," they nodded, and turned their attention back to each other.

"Well, I think everyone took the news rather well," Hermione commented.

"Yeah, I was surprised we didn't get teased more over the whole 'future first lady of magic comment' the paper made."

"I have no idea where they got that notion, I'm so sorry," Hermione blushed.

"Why? It's rather obvious to me where they got it."

"Because, the first lady of magic should be stunning, and glamorous, and intelligent, not to mention socially adept."

"And you're not?"

"Well, I'm intelligent, but I'm definitely not glamorous, socially adept, or stunning, unless it comes to hexes," Hermione gave a small smile.

"I disagree-" Percy began, but was cut off.

"Why did you even ask me to go with you anyways? You had the affections of almost every woman in that room, and all more pretty than I was," Hermione looked down at her hands. "I'm just a plain, boring, bookworm with mousy hair and boring features."

"You're anything but Mione," Percy moved closer to her, lifting her chin with his fingers so she was looking him straight in the eye. "You want to know how I saw you, and still see you?"

Hermione nodded.

"I see silky brown waves that I want to run my fingers through. I see smoldering chocolate eyes that I want to ignite with uncontrollable passion. I see a tantalising body full of angles and planes that I was to trace and memorise with my fingers. I see long, lithe legs that I want to feel entwined with mine. I see succulent lips that I want to feel pressed against mine. Simply put, I see an incredibly sexy and beautiful woman in front of me. I want you Hermione, all of you," Percy smiled at the look of complete surprise on her face, and kissed her gently. "Forgive me for being so honest, but I want you, because I am falling in love with you."

"Percy," Hermione breathed out, the shock evident in her wide brown eyes.

"You don't need to say anything," he was quick to say. "I probably shouldn't have said that, but I've been falling for some time."

"I'm sorry Percy, but I have to go," Hermione said standing up. "I need some time to think."

"I'm sorry," he apologised, moving over to let her out. "Take all the time you need. I promise it won't happen again."

"I'll see you later," Hermione gave a distracted wave, and quickly left the restaurant.

"Well I messed that up," Percy muttered, hitting himself mentally. "Should've just kept my mouth shut."

And then with a word to the hostess about their departure, he apparated to his office at the ministry, intent on getting started on some work. Hermione meanwhile flooed back to Grimmauld place, to the surprise of Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny who were playing a game of cards.

"Mione, hey, back so soon?" Harry questioned, looking up as the floo came to life and she emerged.

"Uh-huh," she replied absently as she exited the room, leaving a confused group of people in her wake. She made her way upstairs and into her room where she flopped on the bed, desperately wishing she could have a drink right about now.

"Miss Granger," Professor Snape knocked on her open door.Having heard her go upstairs, he followed since he wanted to double check that she brought all appropriate materials when she came to help him.

"Uh-huh," she replied, just as absently as she had to her friends.

"Is something wrong?" He raised an eyebrow at her response, or lack-there-of. He decided to hold off on potions.

"I need a drink; preferably strong alcohol and now," she replied casually, still staring up at her ceiling.

"Come with me Miss Granger," he ordered and promptly turned and left, leaving a dazed Hermione in a momentary rush to catch up with him as they entered his rooms.

"Professor?" Hermione stared at him semi-coherently as he gestured for her to sit in one of the chairs near his bookcase.

"Here," he replied, handing her a brandy tankard with a little in it.

"Gah! That's horrid!" Hermione spat, wrinkling her nose at the strength of it after she took a sip.

"Well it served two purposes then," he pointed out. "You are now coherent, with an aversion to alcohol I hope?"

"Merlin yes! How do you stand that?"

"With practice," he said, slowly lowering himself into the chair adjacent from hers. "Now, what on earth possessed you to feel as if a drink was warranted?"

"Percy."

"What about Percy?"

"He said he was falling in love with me."

"And that's a bad thing Miss Granger?" He looked at her curiously.

"Oh would you stop with the 'Miss Granger' already? Please, if I'm going to be working with you, have the courtesy to call me Hermione. All my other professor's do when not in class," she snapped at him.

"Fine Hermione," he stressed her name. "And don't change the subject. Answer the question; is it a bad thing that Percy is falling in love with you?"

"Yes…No…well, I don't know, that's the problem!" She said exasperatedly.

"Think out loud."

"What?" She looked at him.

"Think out loud. Let your mouth speak what your mind is tripping over," he said slowly, as if she were a first year Hufflepuff.

"We were at lunch, or about to get some, and we were talking about everyone's reaction to our news. We got to talking about the ball, and a few comments people had made about me being future first lady of magic, and I asked him why he had even asked me as I'm hardly the type who moves in the wizarding social circles, and that there were a hundred other witches much prettier and more appropriate for the future Minister to bring. And he went on to describe how he saw me through his eyes, that I was beautiful and so on. And then he said that he wanted me, and the reason he wanted me is because he was falling in love with me."

"And that brings us back to my original question."

"Yes I know. And I guess it isn't bad, it's just he sounded so serious! I've never had a boy look at me like he was, and I guess it scared me a little. I mean, we've only been 'dating' a night, and it just seems so sudden for him to say he's falling in love with me."

"Well I'm sure you must realise that he has held you in his affections for quite some time," Severus pointed out. "And the heart is said to work in mysterious ways."

"Well I knew he had liked me yes, but that much?"

"As I just stated, the heart is said to work in mysterious ways," Severus reiterated. "He may not have been able to control the fact that his heart chose you to love. He also probably didn't mean to frighten you with the depth of his affections; I'm sure that he sought to reassure you instead. And even if he is falling in love with you, I'm sure he hardly expects you to feel the same. If he does, then it shows he doesn't know you at all, and you shouldn't be with him to begin with."

"Oh bloody hell," Hermione dropped her head into her hands. "Considering I'm supposed to be a know-it-all, I was pretty stupid, wasn't I?"

"Yes, but as we've already established that Percy cares for you a great deal, I'm sure he'll overlook your shortcomings," Severus commented before continuing bitterly. "Men will do most anything for the woman who holds their heart."

"Professor?" Hermione turned her head to look at him curiously.

"Men will go to any length when they fancy themselves in love," Severus continued to mutter, ignoring Hermione. His eyes had a glazed looked, but Hermione wasn't sure if that was from the brandy he had consumed, or the fact that he appeared to be in an entirely different place in his mind. Memories, no doubt.

"Professor," Hermione tried once more.

"She told me she loved me, and I believed her. I gave her my love, my heart, my soul. I would have given her the world if she had but asked. Instead, she said to prove my love I only had to swear allegiance to the one she too served. Lord Voldemort. So I did," Severus turned silent, now have completely forgotten about the girl in his rooms as his mind took him to places and events he had too long ignored and pretended didn't exist. "And when I showed her my mark and proposed, she laughed in my face. Told me I was a weak, pathetic man. And besides, she said, she was already engaged to Rudolphus Lestrange. A man who I had despised for years, and couldn't possibly love her as she deserved. Because of her, I have been cursed, damned to hell for my actions. Because of her I shall forever live alone."

"Professor, that's not true," Hermione whispered, tentatively, as if afraid to speak. "You're not alone."

"Bella," he breathed out, looking over at Hermione as she said those last words.

He stood up swiftly and suddenly, coming towards her. His eyes were fierce and filled with rage as he advanced upon her. Hermione had a sudden and horrible feeling of déjà vu as he grasped her by the arms and roughly pulled her out of the chair so she was pressed against him.

"Why did you do it!" he hissed, shaking her.

"Professor it wasn't me," she got out through her chattering teeth.

"Why did you break me like that? You sadistic bitch, why? Damn you, answer me!"

"SEVERUS!" Hermione all but shouted at him, getting an arm free and slapping him hard across the face.

"Oh god," she heard him whisper as he suddenly came back to his senses.

"Severus?" Hermione repeated, but much more gently this time.

"Not again," he whispered, looking everywhere but at her. He ran to the bathroom. "Please tell me I didn't hurt you again."

"Shh, it's all right," she soothed him, holding his hair back as he was violently ill. "Get it all out, you'll feel better."

"Get away from me girl," he hissed, shoving her off as he stumbled into his bedroom.

"You know, you're not nearly so scary when I know there's no malice behind the words."

"Bloody know it all," Severus attempted to glare at her, but she was right. There was no malice; just guilt and anger at letting himself bring up a part of his past, especially in front of her, and hurting her again.

"So you've said Severus," she replied, watching as he lay down on top of his bed, curling up on his side and facing away from her.

"When did I give you permission to use my Christian name?"

"You didn't but as your friend, I'm going toanyways, so get used to it," she grabbed a quilt from the foot of his bed and covered him with it. "Get some sleep. I'll be back to check on you later. And don't even think of arguing with me."

"Fine," Severus acquiesced with a sneer, though she couldn't see it, trying to hold on to some shred of dignity around her. "But only because I'm too tired to waste the energy."

Hermione left the room, laughing quietly, and headed to the library. She had something she wanted to investigate; more specifically, someone she wanted to investigate. Bellatrix Lestrange, or Bellatrix Black, as she would've been known at Hogwarts. Severus had called her Bella, and she could only wonder if she bore any resemblance to the deatheater witch. Entering the library, she looked around for quite some time trying to find a yearbook, however her efforts turned up nothing. Of course, it didn't help that she kept getting distracted by other books she found. Collapsing into one of the chairs, she gave a sigh of exasperation. Running her fingers through her hair to brush it out of her face, her eye caught site of a large tome sitting on the desk in the corner.

"Of course!" Hermione squealed happily. "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black- Toujours Pur."

The afore mentioned book with the same information and title as the family tree tapestry had been discovered some months earlier by Harry, who had been ecstatic to find that it contained a rather extensive photo history of the Black family. While he could care less about most of the people in the photos, he of course was happy to see several of Sirius at various stages in his early life, before he 'betrayed' the family. Hermione knew that there would be pictures of Bellatrix Black in there, so going over to the book, she flipped to where the photos were.

"Oh my," Hermione said with surprise, looking at the late school photos of Bellatrix, the girl sneering as she was studied.

The woman was rather striking, physically, that is. Tall and aristocratic, she had the typical Black good looks. Her hair was dark brown or black, it was hard to tell, her eyes were heavily-lidded, and her photo self had a definite air of arrogance around her. Except for her hair colour, Hermione could see how Severus mistook her for Bellatrix. They had similar shaped oval faces. Their noses were both slightly Grecian in style. Her eyes were brown, and even though she couldn't tell what colour Bellatrix's were, they were both set a similar distance apart. Their lips were similarly thin, yet slight pouty at the same time. Yes, Hermione decided. In his anger, it wouldn't have been difficult for Severus to mistake her for Bellatrix.

"Hermione?"

"Oh Remus, you startled me," Hermione smiled kindly at her DADA professor. He had finally been swayed to come back and teach again by Professor Dumbledore.

"Sorry, but Molly just wanted me to find you and Severus for dinner," he grinned at her apologetically.

"Goodness, is it really dinner time already?" Hermione looked at her wrist out of habit, forgetting that magic didn't allow watches to work and she had long sincestopped wearing one.

"Time flies when you're having fun. What are you looking at anyways?"

"Photos of Bellatrix Black," Hermione moved aside so he could see. "Remus?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I look like her at all?"

"There's a resemblance I suppose," he said, looking back and forth between Hermione and the picture. "Your hair though is quite different from what I remember her's to be, and I think that distracts from the similarities. Why?"

"No reason," Hermione said unconvincingly. "Just something someone said."

"All right, now let's gotell Severus though I doubt he'll come, and then we can join the others."

"We can just go on down," Hermione replied as she closed the book. "He's not feeling well."

"Oh?" Remus raised an eyebrow, wondering how she knew that, but didn't say anything more as they entered the kitchen and sat down to eat.

"Where's Snape?" Ron questioned. Not that he wasn't happy about Snape not being there, but still.

"He's in bed," Hermione answered. "He wasn't feeling well."

"Oh the poor thing, he's working too hard," Molly clucked her tongue as she finished setting out dishes of food and sat down.

"Something like that," Hermione agreed evasively, not wanting to betray Severus' confidence.

"Hey Mione, where's Percy?" Charlie asked.

"I'm not sure. I had some things to take care of after lunch, and didn't get a chance to speak with him. Work maybe?" Hermione answered, feeling slightly guilty about having run out on him without thinking through everything he had said, why he had said it, and what his intentions might be. She lost her appetite as she thought about what Percy must be thinking, and decided to just go ahead and fix a bowl of soup for Severus.

"What are you doing Mione?" Fred questioned as she began fixing a tray.

"Severus wasn't feeling well, so I'm fixing him a tray," Hermione replied, absently letting his name slip. "I'm going to take it up now, but I'll be back down in a little while.

"That was weird," Bill commented after Hermione left the room.

"Yeah," Ginny agreed. "Since when does she call him by his name?"

A/N: Okie dokie, that's it for this chapter. Sorry if it's a little shorter than usual, but I'm not feeling very well if you want to know the truth. The flu, a stomach virus, and food poisoning have been going around my campus, and I think I'm fighting against getting virus. Got a bit of a fever, but I'm not throwing up like half the girls on my dorm floor are, so thank God for that! With my diabetes, it could put me in the hospital. Anyways, to all my HG/SS shippers, lots of interaction between the two. A little Percy, a little Remus, a little of Hermione's thoughts, and a little of the ever-present Weasley's. Hope you liked it, and as always, review if you want.