Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from it. Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling.

Bookstore Surprises

Chapter Seventeen

Lucius chuckled as he read the letter from Hermione. "Hermione Granger always full of questions and the need for answers. I suppose this is why you're still here." Lucius commented as he looked at the owl. It was a handsome specimen, that looked slightly similar to a barn owl. However, instead of having white plumage on its facial disc the plumage was more gray, akin to ash. The plumage on its breast was a golden color while its wings and back were a dark brown with bits of the golden color mixed in. Lucius reached out a hand and stroked the owl's head and it leaned into his touch making Lucius smile. "You're a rather affection thing, just like your human. You two clearly suite each other." He stroked the owl a couple more times before sitting down at his desk to pen a response to Hermione.

Hermione tried to read the book in her hands, but she kept looking at the window. Hoping to see her owl returning with an answer. 'Perhaps I shouldn't have written.' Hermione thought to herself as she stared out the window. 'What if he was asleep and my owl woke him up? After all its well pasted midnight. I should have waited to ask him until next time we met at Bōchord. Now, I'm going to appear just as annoying as I was as a little girl. Completely impatient and unable to keep a question to myself. He might not want anything to do with me now. Shit. Just when I started to feel comfortable with getting to know him, truly know him, and not what I've heard about him. I've ruined it haven't I?' She gave a frustrated huff, tossed the book onto the bed next to her, and stood. "I need to calm down. I'm probably over-thinking this."

Just as when she received a note from Lucius after they first ran into each other at Bōchord she made her way to the kitchen to make some tea. It was very late, so she did not expect see anyone in the kitchen. She was therefore shocked to see light coming from the room as she approached it. She glanced inside and saw Severus and Harry sitting at the long table. Both had steaming mugs in front of them and something on the table between them. But she could not tell what it was.

They both looked up as she entered, looking as shocked to see her as she felt to see them. Hermione gave them a small wave as she went to the kettle, intent on making her tea.

"You okay, Hermione? I thought you went to bed hours ago."

Hermione turned around to see Harry looking at her with concern on his face. She smiled and nodded. "I'm fine. I've just been reading and thought some tea sounded nice." She set the kettle on the stove to begin heating and went to the cupboard to grab a mug and the tea she wanted.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Of course, I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?" Hermione asked giving Harry a questioning looked. However, it was Severus who responded.

"Because you are making jasmine tea, again. All of us know you only drink jasmine tea when something is troubling you."