AN: Certain parts of this chapter are from The Paradisio by Dante, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, January and February 2008

Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

Thank you all for the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

You are a grown woman who has faced down the most evil wizard in existence, not some twelve year old girl who's never so much as been hugged by a boy. There is no need to be so nervous.

Hermione looked at Severus. It was wrong to compare him to a boy. He was a man, very much a man.

Her heart fluttered as her mouth dried. His glow was a soft pink, accentuating the desire in his eyes.

Did this man have any idea what he could do to her?

She lowered her head before blushing. "Hello."

"Hello," his voice was just as soft.

She cast a quick glance at the stove. Was she supposed to be cooking something, or did their new romantic relationship not involve cooking lessons? Did she want cooking lessons, or did she just want Severus to hold her hand and gaze into her eyes the entire night?

"Did you have a nice day at work?"

She turned to him. He was staring at a bread crumb on the floor.

"It was fine," she replied.

"Did anything interesting happen?"

"No, except, there were a few new books which are in high demand which came in. I spent most of the day dealing with shelving them and assisting the customers in finding them."

"Oh, how." He twisted his lips. "Intriguing."

"That's probably a strong word for it, but it kept me busy."

"What were the books about?"

"They were the latest installment of a science fiction series and one fantasy bestseller."

"Oh."

"Neither of the books you," she added quickly. "I won't sell any book that inaccurately portrays your life, at least not anymore."

"I appreciate that."

Crookshanks strutted into the room, a scowl etched on his face. He sat in the middle of the room as if to remind them it was he who owned the house. After a few seconds, turned to Severus.

"Did you have a good day?" Hermione asked.

"It was fine." His glow was white. "It was relatively uneventful."

"I suppose that is nice."

"Yes, it is."

Crookshanks glared at Hermione, as if she was the silliest girl in existence. She matched his expression.

"Is something troubling you?"

She startled.

"I apologize for scaring you. You just look upset," he noted.

"Oh no, you're fine, but Crookshanks," she returned her attention to the cat. "Is judging me again."

"Again?"

"Yes," she sighed. "He is constantly judging me, especially if he thinks I am being ridiculous."

"It must be thoroughly unpleasant to be judged by a feline all day."

"He has his moments." She raised the pitch in her voice. "But most of the time he is a very good boy. Yes, he's a good boy"

Severus and Crookshanks rolled their eyes.

"Yes, he's such a good boy," her voice returned to its normal pitch. "Even if he judges me."

"He has no reason to judge you." He floated towards her. "You are wonderful just as you are."

"I wouldn't say that." She grinned. "But I appreciate your sentiments."

"They are not my sentiments, but facts," he replied. "You are amazing. I am lucky to have you in my afterlife."

She exhaled as silence fell between them again.

"I apologize." Severus scratched the back of his head. "I have never been in a proper relationship, so I am at a loss for what to do this evening."

Hermione tilted her head.

"Some would say I should wine and dine you, but I cannot leave this house, so a fancy restaurant is out of the question. We have materials where I could cook things, but you need to learn to be more self sufficient." His glow pulsated. "Not that you are not self-sufficient already. You are a strong and independent woman. I would never imply otherwise."

She couldn't help but giggle.

He frowned as his glow turned red. "What is so amusing?"

"You."

"I'm so glad I can entertain you," he muttered.

"I apologize," she calmed herself. "But you are cute when you're tripping all over yourself."

"Cute?" His glow was a brighter red.

"There's no need to take offense. It's a compliment."

"It does not feel like one."

"No, to you it wouldn't, but for me." She smiled. "It's rather comforting to see you this way."

"How?"

"It makes me feel less alone."

"I don't understand."

"See," She cleared her throat. "I believed I was the only one nervous about this evening."

"What do you have to be nervous about?" His glow returned to its regular, yellow hue.

"It's been years since I've been in a proper relationship. I was honestly at a loss for what to do once we met again."

"There was never a need to be nervous." His glow brightened. "You are perfectly lovely to spend time with."

"To you maybe, but, you haven't been in a relationship with me yet."

"Technically we've had a relationship, but it hasn't been romantic."

"Yes, but romance is where I tend to trip over myself."

"You cannot be any worse than me."

"Do not be so sure." She gulped. "You don't know my history, at least not as well as others do."

"Then please, enlighten me as to why you think you'd make a poor partner."

She took a deep breath. "Ron and I spent so much time arguing when we were friends that it seemed normal to argue with him as a lover. If I got cross with him, that was typical. I was used to him disappointing me, so there was no need to be nervous around him. If it was a given that it would upset or hurt me, then why should I behave well."

"I will do everything in my power to never hurt or upset you."

"I wish I could promise you that I would never upset or hurt you, but I know I cannot," she warned. "I am only human after all."

He kept his attention on her.

"Still, I abhor fighting with you. While I love debating potions with you, I do not wish to tear you down over the slightest thing, especially if you couldn't control it. The last thing I want to do is make your existence worse."

"I hope never to hurt you too."

"I've never been in a romantic relationship where I cared so much about not hurting my partner, so I am at a loss for what to do as well."

Crookshanks gave her a small smirk before raising his tail and sauntering towards the food dish.

"So long as you do not plan on kicking me out I am fine with doing whatever you would like to do this evening," he replied.

"As odd as it sounds, I want to cook," she answered.

He raised his eyebrow.

"I enjoy cooking with you, and I want to work my way up to baking."

"You are actually almost to where I feel confident of you baking a simple recipe."

"Yes, you were quick to catch on, so you can progress sooner than any other student I'd teach."

"I have a great teacher."

"I would not go so far as to say that," he chuckled. "But it is pleasant to have a student who is not a dunderhead."

Her eyes sparkled.

"I will teach you how to make a delicious beef vegetable stew, and then I will give you a small treat."

"A treat?"

His glow brightened.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Be patient and I will show you."

Before she could respond, he touched her hand. She moaned as the ecstasy filled her body.

"Would you like to get out the carrots?" He released her.

"If it means you'll touch me that much sooner, then yes."

There was a spark in his eyes as she began retrieving her supplies from the refrigerator.

Tonight was promising to be quite pleasant.

Something wasn't right.

As much as Cormac tried to forget his botched attempt to seduce Hermione, the scene had replayed in his head multiple times that week. The more he thought about it though, the less it made sense. There was playing hard to get, and there was assaulting someone with a Champagne bottle. It was clear that Hermione did not want him, but why not?

Cormac stood over the golden pensieve and took a deep breath. Watching this would be painful, but it needed to be done. As difficult as it was to believe, Cormac had gone wrong somewhere. If he could analyze his mistake, then he could seduce Hermione the proper way, or at least get her close enough to drink his Amortentia.

After taking a deep breath, he put his head into the penseive. A smile tugged at his lips as he watched himself approach her. His clothes were perfectly pressed, his hair perfectly parted, and expression perfectly imitating prince charming. How could she have resisted?

It was clear from her expression she wanted him. She was trembling in desire, her knees weak with want. What was holding her back?

Before he could act on her want that stupid purple pillow materialized. Once it was ripped away Cormac's attention turned to her.

"Grab the Champagne bottle!" She shouted.

Wait, why would she need to order someone to grab the bottle if she was controlling it with her magic? Who else was there?

Cormac scanned the memory. There was nobody else around. Who was she talking to?

"Severus, don't kill him!" She shouted.

Cormac tore himself from the memory.

So that's what happened! Her new invisible boyfriend was there, and he interfered with Cormac's attempts to woo her! He must have used an invisibility cloak, or an unknown spell! It made all the sense in the world!

Also, her new love's name was Severus.

Cormac's stomach fell. Poor guy. Nobody should be saddled with that name, especially given that they shared it with the surliest potions professor who had ever walked the halls of Hogwarts. May he burn in hell!

Cormac tensed as he remembered the month's worth of detention he suffered for having the nerve to get sick and vomit on the other man's boots. Did he have no compassion?

Before Cormac could go down that train of thought, a realization hit.

He knew the other man's name was Severus.

At long last he had a name to attached to this man.

Cormac could find him.

His lips curled into a predatory grin as he rubbed his hands together.

Hermione would be his in no time.

"The glory of Him who moveth everything/Doth penetrate the universe, and shine/In one part more and in another less."

Hermione sighed as Severus sat beside her on the couch, a book in his hand.

"Within that heaven which most his light receives/Was I, and things beheld which to repeat/Nor knows, nor can, who from above descends…"

She considered asking Severus if this is what he hoped heaven to be, or if he wished for something else. If she spoke though, he would fall silent. The last thing she wanted was to silence his sensual voice.

"Because in drawing near to its desire/ Our intellect ingulphs itself so far, That after it the memory cannot go."

She hummed before shutting her eyes.

"Truly whatever of the holy realm/I had the power to treasure in my mind/Shall now become the subject of my song."

She relaxed, only to open one eye once she heard him stop.

"I knew this was a terrible idea." Severus set the book down on the coffee table. His glow was blue "All I am doing is putting you to sleep."

"No," Hermione sat up, both eyes open. "I'm not sleeping. In fact, it's the opposite."

His glow was yellow.

"Your voice when you're reading is one of the sexiest things I've ever heard."

"Truly?"

"Yes." She swooned.

He smirked. "I think you're the only person who's ever been happy to hear my voice."

"If you read like that to other women I would have some very stiff competition."

"No, you wouldn't," his voice was soft. "Even amongst the angels, I will only see and want to dwell with you."

She gave him a soft grin. "Perhaps, but surely you want to see the angels, with or without me."

"I only want to see them if you are at my side."

She swallowed.

"You are the Beatrice to my Dante." He leaned towards her. "Every time I think about heaven, I imagine you beside me."

"You're assuming I'll make it to heaven."

"If Remus Lupin can enter, you're a straight shot."

She took the book and set it on the table. Then she leaned over and whispered, "Touch me."

Severus did not need to be asked twice.