A/N: Yay here is the edited version thanks to my beta Shannon
I have finished this story. There will be only 10 chapters in this one so the countdown has begun. There is a plus side though. There will be a sequel so don't worry.
Chapter 6: You're My Best Friend Right?
Over the next few months Severus and Hermione both were on the lookout for Draco. Fortunately he had not done anything rash. Every time Hermione saw Dumbledore, she couldn't help wondering why he was really grinning. She still couldn't get over the fact that he knew about her sex life, that is, what was her sex life. She and Severus hadn't slept together since the party five months ago. She liked that their relationship wasn't burdened by sex. Not that she didn't think about it. She wouldn't admit it to him but she often thought about that night on Christmas Eve.
Now that it was May, both Severus and Hermione had been much more busy than before. Hermione was busy studying for her N.E.W.T.s and Severus was busy grading the piles of review homework he had assigned.
One Friday night, Hermione decided to take a break from studying and headed down to Severus's office. She no longer knocked since she visited so frequently. Severus was mixing a potion in the corner of the room, his hair falling in his face. She loved seeing him like this, in his "natural habitat". He worked so quickly but everything was so precise. He made potion making look easy. She walked up to him and brushed his hair out of his face. He looked up at her, smiling.
"I'm not interrupting you am I?"
"No, not at all. Actually, I'm just about done for now." He turned to face her and put his arms on her waist. "What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you." She put her arms around his neck and played with his hair.
"I wanted to let you know that I'm gonna hang out with Ron, Harry and Ginny tomorrow."
"Okay. It'll be good for you. You need a break from studying."
"Yeah, that's what they said too. What are your plans tomorrow?"
"Grading papers, as usual."
"You should take a break too. Why don't you go out somewhere? It'll help you relax. You deserve it."
"Yes, maybe I'll go." Hermione gave him a kiss and left. She headed to the Gryffindor common room. When she walked in she saw Harry and Ron playing chess by the fire. Ginny was sitting next to Harry. Hermione smiled. She was glad that Harry had finally asked Ginny out. They were so cute together, and Ginny had had a crush on Harry since she met him.
"Who's winning?" Hermione asked, sitting next to Ron.
"Ron is," said Ginny.
"Hey, guess what. I've decided I can go with you guys tomorrow."
"That's great, Hermione. It'll be so much fun. It'll help you relax before N.E.W.T.s. You deserve it, you've been studying way too hard."
"Yeah that's what Sethe teachers have been saying too. And I could use a break. So what are we doing?"
"Well, Harry and Ron have Quidditch practice in the morning, so we can watch them, and after that we can just all hang out like we used to."
"That's sounds great, Gin. I can't wait." Hermione and Ginny caught up while Ron beat Harry at chessagain.
The next day Hermione got up early and met Ron, Ginny and Harry in the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry and Ron were already in their Quidditch robes. They talked and ate before headed out to the field. Hermione and Ginny said good bye to the boys as they headed to the field and the boys went to the locker room. Hermione and Ginny went up to the stands and talked until the team came out.
"Whoo! Go Harry!" Ginny yelled. She and Hermione cheered for Ron and Harry. They laughed every time someone would mess up and Harry would have to stop practice and yell. (He was the new captain.) After practice, Hermione and Ginny waited outside the locker room for Harry and Ron to finish with their showers. Finally the boys emerged.
"It's about time," Hermione joked.
"Come on," Harry said, pretending to ignore Hermione, but then sticking his tongue out at her. He put his arm around Ginny and they headed outside.
"So, what should we do?" Hermione asked.
"Well, it's a Hogsmeade weekend. How 'bout we go?" Ron suggested.
"Sure, that sounds like fun. It's been ages since we've all gone together," Ginny said. When they got there, they headed to the Three Broomsticks. They ordered a round of butterbeers and took a seat. They chatted about school and Quidditch and Ron and Harry got into an argument over the best play of the Chudley Cannons.
While Harry and Ron were up ordering more butterbeers. Hermione looked up and saw Severus walking through the door. She started to wave but, realizing who she was with, stopped. She smiled, glad he had taken her advice and gone out. He must have seen her because he came over.
"Miss Weasley. Miss Granger."
"Hello, Professor Snape," Ginny said.
"Hello, Professor." Hermione was trying to hide her smile at the way he had said "Miss Granger." He looked Hermione in the eyes for a second, a short but powerful second, and then walked away.
After they left the Three Broomsticks, they looked around in some of the shops. Hermione bought a few things. They walked around Hogsmeade, shopping and laughing. She had almost forgotten how much fun hanging with the gang was. They returned to the castle and headed up to the Gryffindor tower.
Hermione decided to stay in Ginny's room that night, for old time's sake. They were lying on Ginny's bed when Hermione said, "Hey, Gin?"
"Hmm?"
"You're my best friend, right?"
"Of course I am, Hermione."
"Well, then I can tell you anything right?" Ginny sat up and looked at Hermione.
"Of course you can. Is something wrong?" Hermione also sat up.
"No nothing's wrong. It's just thatokay, if I tell you this, you have to swear you won't tell anyone. Not even Harry or Ron."
"I swear. What is it?"
"And you have to promise to let me finish before you say anything."
"Okay, I promise. Just tell me."
"And you have to promise that you won't hate me forever."
"Hermione! Just tell me already." Hermione took a deep breath and began.
"Ok. Ihave a boyfriend." Ginny gasped and grinned, but kept her promise and didn't say anything. Hermione got up and started pacing the floor.
"You know him. You see him almost everyday." Just say it Hermione. Get it over with. "And before I tell you who it is, I just want you to know that I love him. I love him and he loves me. It's it's Professor Snape." Hermione couldn't force herself to look at Ginny. After a few moments of silence Hermione decided she should face Ginny. When she turned around she saw Ginny smiling. Hermione was very confused.
"Why are you smiling?" she said curiously. Hermione eyed Ginny carefully as she stood up to hug Hermione.
"What was that for? You're not mad? You don't hate me?"
"Of course I don't hate you Hermione. Frankly, I'm relieved. It's about time. I always knew you liked him."
"What! You too? My god, did everyone know except us?" Ginny laughed.
"No. I'm pretty sure that Ron and Harry don't know. I'm your best friend. I kind of caught on when I caught you staring at him, and always defending him. And then today when you blushed when we saw him. It was kind of obvious for someone who knows you like I do."
"So you're not mad?"
"No. I'm glad that you decided to tell me. So what's he likeyou know outside of school?"
"He's very sweet. He's smart and funny and"
"So have you two you know?"
"Ginny!"
"Sorry." Ginny grinned. "So have you?" Hermione blushed.
"Wellif you must knowyes."
Ginny screamed. Hermione started blushing again. "So how did it happen?"
"Well, actually, I was drunk that night. And I started it. That was before we started going out. But we haven't since." Hermione told Ginny the whole story of the Christmas party, how Dumbledore had known everything, and pretty much everything else. Finally they fell asleep, arm-in-arm.
A/N: Ok go review and tell me what you think. Be prepared for some drama coming up wink-wink
