Ron and Harry had given her a number of strange looks that morning at breakfast. Obliviously, she continued to mull over the events of the previous night, still smiling to herself. Perhaps it meant nothing that he had given her a sprig of asphodel; he was just simply carrying it with the rest of the herbs he had harvested. Or perhaps it meant everything - though it had been dark, she had not seen him actually carrying any other plants, nor were his robes unusually bulgy. Nor had he said that he was out picking herbs, come to think of it. He had just said that the moonlight was good for harvesting certain herbs. And then he had offered her his hand, and held it all the way back to the castle.
Perhaps it hadn't been Severus Snape at all! Maybe someone had taken Polyjuice Potion, and... No. Hermione ignored the nattering thoughts in her brain. It had been him, she was sure. But there was one way to find out for sure what his intentions were, she mused while packing her schoolwork carefully into her schoolbag. Quickly she took the Potions essay back out again, unfurling it gently. She pressed a few small violets and gardenia flowers in between the rolls of parchment. If he knew flowers as well as any potions master should, that would send him a pretty clear message.
She placed the roll on his desk with a barely perceptible smile, one for him alone. He caught it, and responded with a smile that only she observed. Little did she know that he had lay awake all night, torturing himself over the encounter. She was still his student, first and foremost. Secondly, he doubted it was he whom she had wanted to hold hands with in the moonlight. If anything, he had probably made her uncomfortable by interrupting her solitude. And, goddamnit, she was his student. Even if the unthinkable happened - that she did care for him in some way - that was a taboo that could not be broken. 'She was probably mooning over Potter or Weasley anyway,' he remorsed as he barked out instructions for today's class. They were going to make a fairly simple potion that aided the user with clear thinking. Merlin knew he could use some right about now.
He sat down to read essays as the class bustled around him. Would he read hers first, or save it for the end to cheer himself up? He opted to get it out of the way so that he would have to stop thinking about her sooner rather than later. A half-foot in, he found the blossoms and could almost feel a blush creeping to his cheeks. The shrewd little lioness... He knew exactly what she was saying. Goddamn her, she was clever. Not only was she returning his affections, she made allusions to their meeting last night. Violets were used in night magic, after all.
He rolled it back up before anyone else could see. He debated calling her out on it in the middle of class, but decided that was unnecessarily cruel. After all, it had been he who gave her a flower first. Judging by a lack of death threats from Potter and Weasley, she had probably not told anyone about their encounter last night. He moved on quickly to the next essay, but Hermione had noticed his studious glare at her submission.
She worried her lip as she mixed ingredients. He noticed this too, under hooded eyes as he skulked between desks. Finally, class was over, a million subtle glances later. She lingered just a few moments longer than anyone else. "Professor, I've always meant to ask. What do you do with our potions after you grade them?"
"I usually Scourgeify them. They're not worth keeping, to say the least." He curled his lip in a show of distaste, just for the benefit of anyone else around.
"Is there any chance I could have mine?"
"Perhaps, if it is satisfactory. Come back and check with me later, Miss Granger. I'll let you know of a convenient time." He would be greatful to see her briefly out of class, he realized. Perhaps it would give them a chance to talk, alone. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have these sorry excuses for essays to mark." With that he turned away coldly, and she hurriedly packed up her bag.
Hermione hardly ate anything at lunch or supper that night. Again, Harry and Ron cast worried looks between themselves, but she wasn't paying them the slightest bit of attention. She planned how quickly she could get her homework done while pushing her meal around on her plate. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be there again.
Between lines of homework she counted the minutes. When it was sufficiently late she slipped on her robe, then cast a simple Disillusionment charm so that people would not notice her. When she reached the outside she let the charm fade away, while slowly meandering toward the place that they had met last night. She cast subtle glances in a number of directions, trying to see if he was around again. Not being able to find him, she sat down on in the grass.
The night was cooler than the last, and the moon hung close to the horizon. The stars were more visible tonight and Hermione's idle comments about walking hand in hand swirled in Severus Snape's mind. He watched her from the shadows, feeling torn. He wanted to go to her again, as he had last night. But then she would begin to expect it of him, he feared. What was worse was that he did not know how long he could remain stone-faced around her. For now, they must remain apart - it would be easier on the both of them. Maybe, if things did not change down the road... He sighed as he placed a small package in his owl's claws, and watched as the bird sailed on the night breeze.
Hermione was startled as a large black owl landed in the grass beside her. Almost affectionately, it hooted softly as it dropped something small into her hands. As she unwrapped it, the owl climbed up her arm and began nibbling her hair, rubbing his large inky head against hers. Snape watched from the shadows with a twinge of jealousy, but allowed himself to smile a bit when Hermione had unwrapped the bundle, and immediately looked around for him. In her hand was a brilliantly polished rose quartz. She ran her fingers over it a few times, then pressed it to her lips. Satisfied, he called softly to the owl, and slipped back inside the castle.
She realized he was not going to come to her tonight when the owl had given her a final nuzzle and flew off. Still, Hermione stayed out long enough to watch the moon set completely before trudging back to bed. It disappeared in a brilliant blaze of orange. 'Funny,' she contemplated to herself, 'that something so icy from far away can glow so warmly when seen closer.'
She tucked the gemstone into her front shirt pocket, constantly reaching to make sure that it actually was there. Just before bed, she slipped it under her pillow after making a chain for it. From now on she would wear it under her robes, close to her heart.
AN: Gardenia eases attraction of friends/lovers, and violets also symbolize faithfulness, pure love and night magic. Rose quartz is the gemstone of gentle love, it adds positive energy to relationships. smiles