Disclaimer: See previous chapters...
Well, here it is, folks. The final chapter to this little McFiclet.
Oh, and I highly recommend visiting the hp(underscore)smutfree livejournal if you are looking for some new fics and/or art.
A week after the incident at the book shop, Severus was sitting in the Headmaster's office as he faced Minerva's frown and Albus' twinkling eyes. He had just received a stern lecture from the Head Lioness herself for his behaviour on Sunday. Apparently, Minerva did not appreciate his 'making a ruckus' in her precious former student's shop.
Never mind that his so-called 'ruckus' was a direct result of said precious former student's deception! Minerva was not impressed when he said as much.
"It was not her intention to deceive you, Severus!" Minerva implored.
Albus hurried to agree when he caught the furious scowl on Severus' face.
"It is true, my boy. Hermione was confused when you did not initially recognize her and she made a rash decision to not spoil the fledgling connection she felt with you," he tried to explain. "She saw a different side of you that she was never allowed to see when she was your student. It intrigued her. So, she made a decision, albeit a bad one, but a decision nonetheless. Hermione just wanted the chance to get to know you without prior prejudices clouding your judgement. Don't fault her that, Severus."
Severus snorted in derision, but part of him felt that Albus was right. He truly couldn't fault her for wanting to get to know him without prejudice...so few people actually wanted to, and he rarely gave anyone the opportunity, he should be thankful that she did.
"She's been through so much, Severus. Don't push her away when we've only just gotten her back." Minerva's tone was pleading as she patted his back before she left the room.
Albus watched Severus as the younger man stared blankly at the fire. He let the silence reign, knowing full well that his Potions Professor had some things to think over.
Two hours later, Albus nodded as Severus rose and left the office without saying a word.
The next morning, the Great Hall was full of excited noise as the students swarmed in for breakfast before it was time to go to Hogsmeade. At the Head Table, Severus sipped at his coffee while he glared at any student foolish enough to look his way.
The arrival of the morning owl post brought the Hall to some semblance of silence as the students watched the owls eagerly, waiting to see if any of the post was for them.
Severus was stunned to see a sleek barn owl narrowly avoid his cup of coffee as he dropped a package on the empty plate in front of him. Feeling slightly suspicious, he glanced around briefly only to meet the knowing gaze of Albus Dumbledore. The old goat's incessant twinkling only seemed to escalate as he glanced at the package before meeting Severus' eyes again. Severus merely glared at the Headmaster before he turned his attention back to the package.
The package was wrapped in plain brown paper with no markings...he had no idea who might have sent it, having completely forgotten about the book he ordered from Hermione's shop.
He gently tore the paper away to reveal a rather thick tome – Early Potions for the Modern Man by Jixer Clarkson. His long fingers caressed the leather cover before he opened the book to flip through the crisp pages. As he did so, a small piece of parchment slipped out from between the pages in the middle of the book. Severus picked it up and unfolded it to reveal vaguely familiar writing. Once he actually read the words, he knew why the writing was vaguely familiar and just exactly whose it was.
SS,
I'm sorry.
HJG
He read the words several times over before the meaning of her initials hit him forcefully.
Hermione JANE Granger.
Severus fancied himself an intelligent, perhaps even brilliant, man, so it was with little wonder that he was suddenly furious with himself for not putting two and two together to get that Jane was Hermione right from the beginning.
All the clues were staring him in the face now.
She seemed somewhat familiar to him when he first met her, but he pushed the thought aside at the time when he had no recollection at her name.
She loved of books.
She had intimate knowledge of both the muggle and wizarding worlds.
And that damn orange fur-ball with the bottle brush tail and bandy legs that roamed the shop every time he was there. That cat alone should have given the truth away – Severus had seen him nearly every day while Hermione was at Hogwarts.
What a fool he was to not see it all.
He realized with sudden clarity that he could no more blame her than he could himself. After all, it was a mere technicality, really, that she gave him her middle name that day rather than her first. Either way, it was, technically, still her name in some form or another.
It wasn't her fault that he couldn't put the pieces together.
Perhaps she deserved an apology as much as he did?
With that thought, Severus swiftly rose from his seat and swept toward the doors leading out of the Great Hall, book and parchment grasped tightly in hand.
His mind was so occupied with what he should do that he seemed to forget all about having to chaperone the students on their journey to Hogsmeade.
He also did not seem to notice the knowing blue-eyed gaze that followed his movements as he left the Hall.
The Book Worm was quite busy, since it was a Hogsmeade weekend for Hogwarts students. The crowd was nothing compared to what it was just before term started, but there was definitely a good crowd of students strolling leisurely through the shelves of books.
Hermione watched happily as some of the students selected books and settled into the armchairs that she had Jacob place sporadically throughout the shop the day before. The muggle book shop she worked at gave her the idea for the chairs and it seemed to be a good investment, if the fact that they were quickly becoming occupied was anything to go by.
She glanced about the shop to see if anyone needed help, but it seemed that Jacob and Jenny had everything under control. Well, there is that new shipment that came in that I need to inventory and stack on the shelves before the end of the day, Hermione thought as she turned to head for the storage room.
As she walked towards the back of the shop, she passed a young girl – about third-year or so – who sat on a particularly large chair reading Hogwarts, A History and she could not contain a broad grin at the memories that sight brought back.
Hermione had only just begun unpacking the boxes in the storage room when someone cleared their throat to get her attention. She figured that it was just Jacob or Jenny and she didn't bother to turn around as she called out, "What's up?"
No response came and after several moments Hermione turned around only to see it was Severus who interrupted her work. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest as he leant against the door frame. His face was expressionless and she wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.
They seemed to stare at each other for a long time before either one spoke, and then they both spoke at the same time.
"Hermione, I..."
"I'm so sorry, Prof..."
Hermione laughed nervously while Severus merely quirked his lips. After a few seconds, Severus spoke again, alone this time. "Let's try that again. Ladies first."
Hermione nodded and took a deep breath before the words rushed from her mouth. "I am truly sorry for not being honest with you about my name. It was wrong of me to assume that things would have been different if you knew who I really was. Though, you should know that my name was the only lie – well, really it was just a misnomer – everything else was real. I just wanted you to know that."
She studiously avoided looking at Severus as he took a few minutes to absorb what she just said. When she finally did look up, Severus was but a foot away and he was watching her carefully.
"Professor?" Remembering the last thing he said to her that fateful day, she made it a point to call him by his title - at least until he told her otherwise.
Severus gazed directly into her russet eyes as he reached out to gently touch her face with his fingertips. "It's Severus, Hermione." His voice was like velvet-wrapped iron – soft yet strong – and it conveyed so much behind those three simple words.
Hermione smiled as she unconsciously leant into his touch.
"Forgive me for my behaviour last week. I let my temper get the better of me before I stopped to consider the reasons behind your actions," Severus explained.
He hoped that Hermione would find that apology acceptable because that was about the best he could do. Severus Snape was not one known for apologizing.
Luckily, Hermione was more than willing to accept his apology and wasted no time in telling him so.
"Well, my dear, where do we go from here?" Severus asked as he pulled her close to him.
"Well, we could start over..." Hermione stepped back only far enough to stick out her hand as she said, "Hi, I'm Hermione."
At Severus' scowl, she let out a soft laugh, dropped her hand, and shook her head.
"Or we could go upstairs," Hermione said cheekily causing Severus to drop the scowl and let out a deep chuckle.
"As you wish, you cheeky little minx." His voice was low and smooth as it washed over her.
Hermione smiled before closing the minimal distance left between them and capturing his lips in a soft kiss that was promptly deepened by both participants.
Neither of them noticed the old man with twinkling blue eyes smile broadly as he spied from the doorway. Hmm, Severus Snape apologizing AND kissing a former student all in one day …who would have thought that would ever happen? Albus was quite amused with that thought as he silently closed the door to give the couple some privacy.
-FIN-
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