Looking back, he was not entirely sure what kept him coming back. That's not to say he didn't know completely why, but there was a part of him that questioned his own motivations. One thing was certain, no one dared question him on the matter. He was a hero of the war, once all the controversy and shadows cleared anyway. Without him Voldemort would have been much stronger when Potter finally decided it was time to take the Dark Lord down. However, Snape's intervention from the inside weakened Voldemort enough that Harry was able to do what he could not for years: destroy Voldemort once and for all. But something still remained. Harry Potter was gone from the wizarding world while he still remained. The thought often bothered him to no end. Some said it was because he was a compassionate man after all. Others thought he had cracked under the extreme pressure of being a double agent. He knew it was something else. Harry would be destroyed in the process of destroying his nemesis. Snape could only watch as The-Boy-Who-Lived-Only-To-Suffer-A-Horrible-Fate saved everyone from the evil of He-Who-Formerly-Must-Not-Be-Named-But-Was-Called-Voldemort-Since-His-Demise.

: P

Hermione drank to get away from everything. She was not sure how much further away from all she knew that she could get, but drinking seemed to help, at least in her mind. Her parents never understood why she left the wizarding world. None of it mattered to her anymore though, not since Harry suffered such a horrid death by all accounts, well, one account. She had been every which where during the war, but none of it came to much except exposure to death and destruction. The worst part was not being there for Harry when he needed her. Except that Ron had needed her at the time too and Harry forced her to safe him. So all she heard was what Snape told everyone about Harry's last minutes. With him it was never the whole story. She knew there was more, much more.

She never had the opportunity to say good bye. They all knew they should have said it. They didn't. If she could have it all back again, she would just for the opportunity to let Harry go properly. So the following weeks she would go to the same bar at the same time and hope he would show up. It didn't matter to her what brought him back, just that he came, which he did week after week. He was the only connection to her past, and it all had come out of nowhere. By no means did she even come near to trusting him, but she allowed him to walk her the distance home each week. Of all the people who had a chance of bringing her back, he was the only one.

: P

He knew that she was flirting with him. He figured she probably was well aware of that fact as well. Each passing week she did it with an increasing intensity. He also knew why she kept coming back. That was no mystery to either of them. By all accounts, she did not seem to care as long as he was there.

"Granger, you can't drink that," he said, glaring at the concoction in front of her.

"Why not, Severus?"

At this point it must be state that both of them were really quite drunk. Also, she used his given name rather freely when drunk, probably to annoy him all the more. He, for his part, was unsure but let it go in an attempt to not completely alienate her.

"Because, Hermione, it's glowing." He stressed her first name out of annoyance.

She smiled mischievously and downed the drink in one swallow. Snape made a face in disgust. She responded by licking her lips in a mildly seductive manner.

"That's disgusting!" He made a face to go along with the comment.

"And that's not?" she pointed with her thumb to the couple making out in the corner behind her. "I mean, he's totally trying to undress her. And in public no less!"

Snape chuckled at the face she made. Hermione definitely did not have complete control of her faculties when drunk. And she hated it when he laughed at her. It only caused her to make more faces at him.

He quickly downed the shots on the table to suppress his laughter a bit. He knew there was something to be said about being drunk, he just was not sure what it was at that exact moment. Of course, he did not particularly care either. Not to mention that Granger looked that much better when he was drunk.

Her womanly features had not been lost on him. He was a man after all. He was bound to notice such things eventually. He just was not about to pay someone to satisfy his urges anytime soon. He also was not about to jump in bed with any woman. Enough of them threw themselves in his direct path, but it was for his fame and the fact he had been present at the end of Potter's life as he knew it. Snape would not allow himself to be used when he was also using someone else. It seemed beneath him somehow. He did have his dignity after all . . . except when it came to Granger.

Snape rose to get himself more to drink. As he walked past Hermione, she pulled him back. "Granger," he growled.

"Sit down. You've had enough."

He raised an eyebrow but acquiesced nonetheless. "You've had more," he responded logically, amazed that his logic was still mostly intact after how much he had actually imbibed.

"And it was too much," she replied as seriously as she could.

He got up again. She tried to prevent him again but stopped after taking note of the look in his eyes. In a low voice he said, "I must have BOOZE!" and stalked off in the direction of the bar. He returned with two shots of whisky. "Talk to me, Granger."

"What?" Confusion was clearly written on her face.

"Say anything. I don't care what. Just talk to me, Granger," he commanded a bit forcefully.

She stared at him for several minutes not saying anything. He slammed both shots down, nearly shattering the glasses on the table.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"Don't be," he responded.

They sat for several moments in silence desperately avoiding each other.

Quietly, he inquired, "Are you ready to go home?" She nodded. Grabbing their coats, he held hers out to her as she put it on.

"Thanks." He nodded almost imperceptibly. They walked most of the way in uncomfortable silence. The last drinks were beginning to kick in and they leaned on each other to maintain balance. It was the closest they had ever been physically speaking since the beginning of their encounters. Between being drunk and everything else, both knew things could go further than intended. Just as they turned the corner toward Hermione's her stomach rumbled loudly. She smiled out of embarrassment. From nowhere, she asked, "Can I eat your nose?"

He glared down at her briefly before responding, "Granger, I doubt you'd enjoy eating my beak of a nose."

She laughed at his poking fun of his own appearance.

Seriously, he made his own inquiry. "Can I bite your shoulder?"

Hermione stopped and turned to face Snape. He was by no means good looking. He never was and never would be, but she was not after his looks. "You can do a lot more if you tell me what I want to know."

It was a sobering comment for both of them. "I can't do that, Granger. I won't be used for information regarding Potter's last minutes."

"Then do it because you want to. I know you want me, Severus. Take me."

Her desperation was shining through at that very moment. It bothered him to no end that she would go that far to try and get information out of him about Harry. As such, he stopped things before they went any further. "Hermione, I'm going to walk you to your door and make sure you get into your apartment safely. After that I am going to apparate back Hogsmeade. Perhaps when we're both not drunk I will consider something more. Neither of us is thinking straight at the moment and it would be best if we avoid something we will come to regret in the morning."

She tried to protest briefly but his words made sense. He no sooner saw her through the door to her apartment then he was gone. She set her forehead against the cool door and groaned loudly. It was a good thing one of them had been the voice of reason. In the past, it would have been her, but so much had changed and there was so little she knew. Hermione took a shower and tucked herself into bed. It was late and she had class the next morning. Surely, had he not stopped her, she would have done things she would come to regret. At least she would be able to live with herself when she woke up instead of having to deal with yet another costly mistake.

End Chapter 2

A/N: Confused yet? Yeah, me too, but things'll get better as the fic progresses, have no fear. If there is something really bothering you though, please do let me know and I don't mean grammar issues. I know there's bound to be some. Please review.