Chapter 15: Well, that was Awkward

"So I can stay?" Hermione asked, drinking her water a bit over zealously.

"Yes...sit." Severus said gesturing to a black chair. Hermione sat down again and folded up the invisibility cloak.

He sat down across from her on a green sofa and began to adjust his feet. He couldn't find a secure position and reconsidered mentally, having her come down.

She watched him fiddling with his clothing and laughed inwardly. It was good to know he was also edgy. When he finally found a pleasing position he looked up to find Hermione watching him. Startled, he scowled.

"So... Professor," Hermione wished to end the inept silence but didn't even know where to begin.

"I suppose I should explain why I asked you to come down," Severus opened.

"Actually... I thought it was because you wanted to talk about the dreamscape," Hermione said.

"Miss Granger lets keep the backtalk to a minimum... and actually I wanted to talk about us."

"Us?" Hermione choked out as she struggled to swallow.

"Yes... our history." Snape said confused about her bizarre behavior.

"Our pasts?" Hermione asked, regaining control of her self.

"Yes. Who should start?"

"Umm... Well, I do have a question," Hermione said, feeling her body relaxing once again.

"I will answer if I feel it's appropriate," Severus nodded, pouring another shot.

As Hermione watched the man drink she asked the question she had wondered since Harry had told her of Snape's boyish image in the pensieve, so many years before. "When you graduated from Hogwarts, did you return here immediately?" The question had haunted her, making her wonder why this stubbornly strong man would return to the place that had held so many awful times for him. She couldn't fathom his actions.

As the question when through his brain, he contemplated ignoring it altogether. But when he looked up into her questioning eyes, he knew he couldn't. Severus cursed his conscience as he through back yet another shot. As the alcohol burned his throat he was flooded with childhood memories.

"To Hogwarts? No."

"Sop what did you do? If you don't want to answer that's... okay." Hermione added quickly.

" I guess you could say went traveling."

Hermione's eyes flashed with recognition. How could she have been so stupid to ask a question so close to his death eater past?

"What do you plan on doing once out of Hogwarts? It is only two months away..." He said hoping to draw attention away from the awkwardness.

"You've asked me that once before," Hermione remembered with a smile on her face. His black eyes swam with amusement as her spine instantly straightened at the question.

"I have?"

"Yes, once in the dreamscape."

Severus thought inversely, trying to remember all of the conversations the two had had while in the dreamscape.

"And what, perchance, was your answer?"

Hermione's eyebrow raised at the quirkiness of this side of Snape. Perhaps it was merely all of the alcohol he had consumed, but maybe, he was trying to have a real conversation. She also found it amusing how easily they had moved from the dark topic of his past, to the lighter topic of her future.

"Oh, well I said I was intending to go into medicine." Hermione said, "and you asked why I did not plan on teaching."

"Did I?" Now it was Snape's turn to raise eyebrows. He noted her frothy voice, and withheld a smirk as he observed her face.

"Yes. I then told you that I hadn't aimed on taking your job, because potions is by far, the only topic I would consider teaching."

"Is that so? Well, to be fully honest Granger, you could never even attempt to take my job, because although you are good, I am better."

"You said that too," Hermione laughed.

This time he did not withhold his smile, but let it out freely. Hermione basked in the glow of his smile for a brief second before re-gathering her senses.

"Listen, it's getting late. I hadn't expected on showing up later than midnight... and now... well I'm tired and have to get up in the morning. I should leave." Hermione said quickly, trying to break away from the honestly good time she was having within the presence of Severus Snape.

"Yes... you are right. Besides I think I've had a bit too much of this," he said, gesturing towards the liquor bottle. "I'm getting a bit tired myself."

As she rose to leave, she glanced back once more, and saw his smile fade and his grimace return as, he too, stood.

"Thanks for the water," she added, her hand on the doorknob.

"You're welcome Miss Granger," Severus said watching her leave.

IIII

Alone... He couldn't imagine how he could be their place, alone. Where was she? Shouldn't she be there? He tried telling his mind to wake himself up from the dream, but he just couldn't.

He sat down, trying not to think of Hermione. The moment she had left his chambers, he had readied himself for bed. Maybe hoping to meet here. But here he was, and she was no where to be seen. He closed his eyes and saw hers. Looking at him the way she had done before she had left.

Maybe it was better that she was not here. He had to tell himself not to want to be around her. Hermione's company was poison. She was his student. He was her teacher. And she was leaving Hogwarts behind in just two months. She had said so herself.

Dejected he laid down upon the nothingness that was the dreamscape, hoping to be taken to another place.

IIII

Turning on his side, he wondered what had been out there. Ron had wondered the halls looking for whatever had pulled him from his thoughtful state, only to find nothing. He had returned, tired, to his bedchambers. Finding Harry in his warm bed, Ron knew that it couldn't have been him. Besides, he thought, Harry would have told him if he was planning on making a midnight stroll.

He didn't really care what it was to be perfectly honest. It just struck him as strange. He had been thinking of Hermione was all. He knew the situation was hopeless. He knew if he had ever wanted it to go anywhere, he should have tried ages ago. Not just tried... he should have showed her how amazing she was. That was what he had thought of doing time and time again within his head. Truly though, every time she came near him, his heart would beat faster, his palms would be sweaty. It was as if the way he felt for her had popped out of an angst-filled teenage novel. He couldn't help it though. He had fancied her forever. And probably would for a very long time.

IIII

She sat still. Her head rested on the headboard and her eyes drifted closed. The back of her eyelids played out the night. The image of him smiling honestly had struck a chord within her and she hadn't liked it. She knew that if she went to sleep the dreamscape would surround her in all of its emptiness. She couldn't go there again. Not because she didn't want to be around him. The exact opposite to be precise. She wanted to see him smile like that again. But she knew that within the dreamscape, that was were her hopes and dreams rested... along with her fears.

The dreamscape had brought them to each other because of their loneliness. Why would she continue to return, when she no longer felt lonely? She shook the image of Snape right out of her head. Her mind was no longer grounded and she didn't like it.

Reaching for a book she began to read. She didn't care what it was as long as it distracted her. The last thing she needed now, so close to end of the year exams, was a distraction like a silly school girl crush. She found herself scowling and not really reading at all. As much as she may deny it, she was beginning to like the presence of Severus Snape.

Sinking into her pillows she smiled. Well, she thought, what she couldn't deny, she might as well indulge in. She snapped off the lights, hoping to enter the dreamscape.