Disclaimer: It's not mine. If only.

A/N: Hello again! Thanks so much for all the reviews- you know I love them! Anyways, I'm glad you all enjoyed it. I have a lot of fun writing the Slytherins, cause like Severus, I believe they have two sides. The one they show in public, and then the one they show amongst each other. Also, thanks to Cheyannefor pointing out that I got my timeline messed up. But, I went back and fixed it, so it should make sense now! And to MGoddessyes, you won brownie points, so I hope you like this chapter! Now onto the chappie.

Playing Pretend

Chapter Twenty Two: Let's get it Started!

"Hello Ron," Hermione sighed, sitting down in front of her friends.

"Hermione," Ron's voice was low and dangerous sounding.

"Yes?"

"WOULD YOU CARE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON!" His voice suddenly boomed, causing her to wince with the high volume.

"I thought it'd be obvious Ron," Hermione decided to try the whole innocent routine. "I'm simply promoting inter-house relations."

"LIKE HELL YOU ARE!"

"Mister Weasley, I suggest you keep your language as well as your temper in check," Professor Snape called from the high table. "And ten points from Gryffindor."

"You've been corrupted by the Slytherins," Ron hissed, dramatically lowering his voice.

"What is your problem Ron?" Hermione stared at him in shock. "You didn't give a damn this summer that I was working with Professor Snape, so why start now?"

"Well you weren't friends with those deatheaters then!"

"Things change! They've been nothing but nice to me since I've become Snape's apprentice."

"Only because they don't want to get on his bad side!"

"Maybe so, but they're still being nice to me. And it's not so different from your situation when you were a first year, was it? People only talked to you and became your friend because of your friendship with Harry! And you don't seem to mind too much," she snapped in anger, and instantly regretted it. "I didn't mean that."

"Well obviously you did if you said," he snapped back, trying to use anger to hide the hurt he was feeling.

"Ron-"

"No, obviously you meant it on some level, so just go back over there where you're welcome!"

"Fine then," Hermione stood up, nodding to Harry and Ginny who both gave her a small smile. "I'll talk to you later once you've cooled down."

"Weasel, I would suggest that you show more respect to our head girl," Draco's drawling voice came from behind her.

"And I would suggest that you get your ferrety-arse away from here before I hex you," Ron glared up at him.

"With pleasure. I wouldn't want to stink up my robes anymore than they already are," he smirked at Ron, then turned to Hermione and held his arm out. "Shall we?"

"Thank you," Hermione rested her hand in the crook of his elbow as they began to walk back to the Slytherin table. "You didn't have to do that."

"Pansy was worried," he replied nonchalantly. "And when she says jump, I say how high."

"She's got you on a short leash," Hermione teased. "And I know you have appearances to keep, but is there any way you could refrain from insulting my friends?"

"But it's so easy to get a rise out of him," Draco pouted slightly.

"At least when they're around me then, could you lighten up?"

"Possibly, if he does, though I'm not making any promises," he nodded, taking his arm back as she took her seat, once again, at the Slytherin table.

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"Go away Mione, I don't want to talk to you," Ron's voice was still angry, but at least he was using his nickname for her, so she knew it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

"No, we need to talk," she replied stubbornly.

"Fine, I'll leave then," he stood up.

"SIT DOWN RONALD!" She yelled, pulling her wand and pointing it at him. The shock of hearing her raise her voice so, and at him, caused him to promptly sit back down. Not to mention she was scary with a wand when she so chose.

"All right then," he replied weakly.

"And the rest of you!" Hermione turned to survey the other students in the common room. "Clear out of here! I don't want to see anyone for at least an hour or you'll have detention with Filch, is that clear?"

A chorus ofyeses was heard from all the students who quickly scrambled to gather their things and go to their dorms or elsewhere in the castle. Once they had cleared out, she turned back to Ron, and also saw Harry and Ginny were sitting nearby, grins on their faces. Giving them a grateful smile, she sat down on the couch next to Ron.

"Intimidating all the younger years; how very Slytherin of you," Ginny teased.

"They have been nothing but nice to me, and whether it's for personal gain or not, I'm going to take it," Hermione replied, but she was looking at Ron while she spoke.

"Still doesn't explain why you were all buddy-buddy with those sluts!" Ron exclaimed.

"First of all Ronald, they are not sluts," Hermione hissed. "Secondly, they were talking to me as a favor to Severus. I was…upset…and needed someone to talk to."

"Hello! Who do you think we are?" Ron gestured to himself, Harry, and Ginny. "I know I'm a git sometimes, but you can talk to me. Or Harry."

"It was a girl issue."

"Then why not Ginny?" Ron questioned, curious as to why she was being so short with him.

"Because I broke up with Percy, that's why!" She burst out, then looked down at her hands. When she spoke again, it was much more softly. "I was afraid you'd be mad at me. Maybe you're right, maybe the Slytherins are up to something, or have ulterior motives, but I don't care. They were there when I needed someone to talk to, and I'm just going to take them at face value and believe they were sincere. Because you know what, I like them, I really do."

"But Malfoy-" Ron started.

"I know, he was a jerk, but I think he's changed. I hope he's changed. And did you ever stop to think that maybe they have a reason for acting like they do?" Hermione looked up at him.

"Yeah, because they hate us!"

"And you've given them a reason to like you?" She retorted.

"Well, I haven't given them a reason not to," he replied defensively, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Think about it Ron. Ever since Bill went to school, all you've grown up hearing was that Slytherins were evil, that they weren't to be associated with, and so on. You made up your mind about them without even taking the time to get to know them. Just think how different things might have been if you had extended the hand of friendship in the first place."

Ron was quiet for several minutes before he spoke. "I really hate it when you're right."

"You think you'd be used to it after seven years," she gave a little laugh. "Are you still mad at me?"

"No, I was never mad at you," he sighed. "I just can't seem to keep my temper from getting the best of me. I just saw you being all friendly with them, and I guess I just sort of snapped. I have a bad habit of doing that."

"I'm aware," she nodded, a small smile creeping across her face. "But it's just one of the reasons we love you."

"Speak for yourself," Ginny interjected. "Personally, it's one of the reasons I can't stand him."

"Well that's nice of you sister dearest," Ron retorted sarcastically, punching her lightly in her arm.

"Hey, hands off my girlfriend," Harry protested.

"My hero," Ginny smiled, turning her face up for a kiss.

"As well as the world's," Harry rubbed his knuckles against his chest, puffing it out with mock pride.

"I didn't mean what I said earlier," Hermione apologised suddenly, not looking at any of them. "About people only talking to you and befriending you because of Harry."

"It's forgotten," Ron tried to shrug it off, but Hermione knew her words had cut deeper than he was letting on.

"Not by me," she took his hand in hers. "You know what I said wasn't true. Everyone who's your friend is sobecause of the awesome, kind, strong, and thoughtful person you are. Not because of Harry, or anyone else, but because of who you are."

"Well I see why you're head girl and why the Slytherins like you," Ron said suddenly, throwing Hermione off balance by what she thought was a quick change of subject.

"Huh?"

"Because you're the one who's kind and thoughtful," Ron gave her a toothy grin. "You give people a chance, and you've got a wicked way with words, not to mention hexes."

"And don't you forget it," she waved her wand threateningly at him.

"So are we all good again?" Harry asked.

"We're good," Hermione nodded, after glancing at Ron's nodding head.

"Lovely, the gleesome threesome is re-united," Ginny laughed. "Now, if we're done having this heart to heart, how about we go flying? It's such a gorgeous night."

"I'll watch you guys," Hermione stated firmly as Ron and Harry promptly agreed.

So after watching the boys dash upstairs two at a time to grab their brooms, and then almost fall down the stairs, they made their way out to the quidditch pitch. Dusk was her favorite time of day; not quite day, yet not quite night. The sun was setting, and the temperature was deliciously chilled. Taking a seat at the front of one of the bleachers, she watched Harry, Ron, and Ginny fly around, tossing a quaffle back and forth, obviously having fun. Part of her wished she could fly, but after first year, she just never found anyone with the patience to teach her. Sighing, happy that she and Ron had fixed things between them, she leaned back in her seat.

"What the-" she sat back up when her head hit something warm.

"Careful Hermione," Severus' voice was filled with humor. "Language."

"I wasn't going to curse," she protested, turning around to see him holding a broom. "Going flying?"

"I was planning on it. But it seems your friends," he nodded towards the pitch. "Are already using it."

"Well you could always just order them off," she reminded him with a smile. "Or join them. They're rather used to you hanging around after this summer."

"I suppose," he conceded, sitting down next to her. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah. Pansy, Daphne and Millicent were a big help," she nodded, reaching a hand over and squeezing his quickly. "Thank you for that."

"You're welcome. Now why aren't you out there with your friends?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"I failed flying in our first year, and neither of the boys has enough patience to teach me," she admitted. "I don't usually mind, since most flying deals with quidditch, but there are times…"

"Times…what?"

"It sounds silly and childish, but there are times I wish I knew how. I'd like to know what it feels like to fly; nothing holding me back, no restrictions. It always looks so free."

"That's not silly at all," he stood up and mounted his broom, looking down at her. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are you going to get on or not?"

"I never got on a broom again because I have this irrational fear of them. Harry and Ron have tried to get me to do it before, but I never could find that famous Gryffindor courage."

"Do you trust me?" He looked her in the eye, holding out a hand.

"Of course I do," she answered immediately. He was a little surprised by the sincerity of her answer.

"Then you trust me when I say nothing will happen? That I won't go fast, and I won't perform any tricks? Just slow, leisurely flying," he continued to hold her gaze.

"All right," she whispered, and taking his hand, allowed him to help her on the broom. As they lifted off, as slow as they were moving, she let out a gasp and wrapped her arms tightly about his waist, burying her head into the back of his shoulder.

"Look around you Hermione," he chuckled, using a hand to slightly loosen her grip around his mid-section. "We're moving very slowly. There is no chance of you falling, especially with the way you're holding on to me."

"I know," she mumbled into his shoulder, but after a moment he felt her head shift, presumably turning to look out.

"Then relax," he murmured comfortingly as they continued to rise, coming to the typical height the quidditch games were played at. "We're going to move forwards now, out to see your friends."

"Okay," she nodded against his back, and he was happy to hear a good deal less nervousness in her voice.

"Hello Professor!" Ginny called, seeing him approaching slowly. Then she noticed who was behind him, barely visible. "Hermione?"

"Mione? You're on a broom!" Harry exclaimed, stopping short on his broom.

"Oh well spotted," she retorted snidely, causing Severus to smirk at how much she sounded like one of his Slytherins.

"I know, but, you've never gotten near a broom since first year," Ron's tone betrayed his disbelief.

"Well, Severus ordered me as part of my apprenticeship," she explained.

"Really?" Ginny looked at her.

"No," Hermione laughed, feeling herself relax by the second. Talking was helping her keep her mind off what she was doing. "He just wouldn't take no for an answer, and I decided maybe it was time for me to try again."

"And you're doing very well," he complimented. "Perhaps next time you'll sit in front and I can instruct you on the basic steering practices."

"Don't push it Sev," she warned. "You're lucky you got me this far."

"Yes, so you've reminded me," he nodded before turning to her friends. "We'll let you get back to playing. I'll be taking her for some slow laps around the pitch."

"All right, have fun Mione," Harry and Ron each flew over and gave her a kiss on the cheek before zooming off to continue their quaffle tossing with Ginny.

"Thank you," Hermione said as they slowly began to fly towards the edge of the pitch, and lower too.

"For what?"

"Being nice to them. For doing this in general," she shrugged slightly. "Oh I'm not supposed to do that. Or wait, does it matter?"

"What?" he asked, confused.

"Shrug. I'm not supposed to shrug in public. The second part was just me wondering if it would matter since I'm not exactly in public."

"Ah, I see the Slytherins have been instructing you in some of our societal customs."

"A few. Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne mentioned a couple of things as we were walking down to dinner. I figure that if I'm going to be interacting with them a lot more, I should make a point to learn some of their customs."

"I have a book you may borrow that discusses appropriate protocol and various societal dictations," he offered. "I'll give it to you tomorrow after class."

"Sure, thanks Severus," she squeezed her arms briefly in a hug.

"HEY MIONE, WE'RE RACING BACK TO THE CASTLE NOW, SO WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW AT BREAKFAST!" Ron yelled across the pitch. Hermione simply waved in response.

"I don't see how they can do that," Hermione watched as they raced back, blurs against the darkening sky.

"Once you buy a broom and begin to ride it, after a number of times it tunes itself to your body and your body language. Watch," he said, and gently pulled up on the broom.

It immediately came to a stop. He gently nudged it with his knee to the right, and it promptly turned in that direction. Leaning forward slightly, it began to move forward ever so slowly. Stopping it again, he nudged it to the left, and it immediately turned to the left.

"You see, it almost reads my thoughts, moving with the slightest touch from me," he explained. "So your friends, who spend a great deal of time flying for quidditch purposes, their brooms have attuned themselves to those needs; speed, balance, and agility."

"I see. Interesting."

"To a degree," he conceded, gently setting them down on the grass. "I figured you would appreciate the knowledge behind it."

"Yes, thank you," she nodded, happily climbing off. Crooking a finger at him, he knew she wanted him to lean down. Climbing off his broom, he accepted the hug she gave him, and made to climb back on his broom.

"Wait," she called, and he turned to see her biting her lip.

"Yes?" He raised an eyebrow, wondering if something was wrong.

"I didn't get to kiss you," she said softly, almost as if she were afraid to ask him. He didn't see why; she had done so before, and without asking in any sort of way.

"And I suppose you'd like to now?"

"If you don't mind."

"You've never asked before, so why start now?"

She shrugged once again, and the wicked thought crossed his mind that he should remind her it was a social don't, but he didn't feel it was appropriate. Sighing internally, he wondered what was up with her, but he didn't think too long. He had never understood women, and probably never would. Climbing back off his broom, he walked back over to her and leaned over slightly, just enough so she'd be able to kiss his cheek without straining herself.

She placed one hand on his shoulder to brace herself, and the other hand on his other cheek. He closed his eyes out of habit as he felt her pull him down a bit further, and was shocked to feel her lips not on his cheek, but gently on his lips. His eyes shot open for a moment, but closed again at the emotion that ran through him. He heard a voice in the back of his mind telling him to pull back, but he ignored it. His hands came up of their own volition to cup her face as the pressure increased. A moment later, she pulled back, looking him in the eyes.

"We shouldn't have done that," was the first thing that came out of his mouth, and he almost winced at the harshness of his words and tone.

"You can't tell me you regret it," she said, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. Now he knew why she had seemed so 'off' a minute ago.

"No, I can't," he sighed. He had learned not to lie around her, as she could tell from a mile away. "But you're my student, and I'm your professor."

"And my friend," she reminded him, wrapping her arms around him, pulling herself fully against him. "And a man. I'm asking that you look at me with the same regard."

"I can't," he tried to protest, but found himself wrapping his arms around her, his chin resting on her head. It had been so long since he had truly held a woman, and felt this comfortable and relaxed, that he couldn't deny himself the pleasure it was sending coursing through his veins.

"You'll learn," she whispered confidently, turning to watch the sunset.

They stood there together, still embracing, and watched the sunset. Even after it had set, they simply stood there, enjoying the warmth each provided, committing the moment to memory.

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A/N: Hey everyone. Well, there's their first real kiss- kinda sweet, with a dash of awkwardness, cause that's how I picture it. For those people who thought I've been rushing stuff a bit, I hope you don't think this is too fast. The way I see it, Hermione's broken up with Percy, and she wants to find out if there's any chemistry, hence her taking the initiative to kiss him. And he responded, and didn't push away, because this is such a rare moment for him. And he's feeling a whole well of emotions bursting inside of him that he's not quite sure what to do about them. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it, and leave a review if you're so inclined, to let me know what you think.