Chapter 24

Piccadilly Circus was as loud and bustling as ever. Hermione stood near the statue in the middle of the plaza and waited for Severus, for he had written her that he would pick her up here.

It had been easy telling her friends that she would spend the holidays with her parents and telling her parents that she would be at the Burrow. Harry and Ron hadn't suspected anything when she had said goodbye at King's Cross Station and had gone into the London streets on her own. She didn't like lying to her friends and family but under the circumstances what other choice did she have?

Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her and knew that it was him. She smiled and relaxed automatically.

"Good day, my dear," he whispered into her ear. "May I take you with me?"

She turned around and beamed at him. "Very much."

He returned her smile, then took her hand and brought her to a nearby alley which was completely deserted. There, they disapparated.

Hermione was curious when she opened her eyes, for he didn't want to tell where they would go on their holidays. Now she found herself in front of a small cottage, almost hidden in the dunes, and behind it she saw the sea. It was sunny, there were seagulls above them and the sea waves rustled calmingly. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Severus gently tucked on her hand and brought her inside. It was small but wonderful cosy and tastefully decorated, with a red sofa in front of the chimney and a nearby kitchen and bedroom.

"Do you like it?" he wanted to know.

"I love it!" she exclaimed happily and flung her arms around his neck energetically. She couldn't believe that she was finally here – alone with him – and that he even wanted to spend his holidays with her. She looked him in the eyes and became suddenly nervous. She wanted to kiss him but they had never done that before – could she just do it now? Or wasn't this the right moment; should she wait?

When she saw him gulping with the same anxiety and nervousness in his eyes that she felt, she released them both by asking: "Do you want to take a walk with me at the beach?"

"Yes," he agreed relieved.

She took his hand in hers and together they made their way to the beach. They went into one direction, only metres away from the sea.

"Where are we exactly?" she wanted to know after a while.

"Cornwall," he replied. "Near Plymouth."

She looked around with sparkling eyes, letting the sun shine on her face and the wind rustling in her hair, taking in the salty ocean air. "It's wonderful here."

"I'm glad you like it. My grandparents once took me to the beach, not far from here, and it was the best holiday I've ever spent."

She knew that his grandparents were already dead so she gave him a smile and squeezed his hand.

They walked on in silence but it was a companionable silence.

Hermione suddenly had a thought that made her giggle slightly. She tried to imagine the faces of Harry and Ron and probably Ginny if they could see her walking along the beach and holding hands with their Potions professor. It was great to know that they were alone here, that no one could detect them, that even Dumbledore wouldn't say anything, that they were free…

Occasionally, she looked up into Severus' face, how even he seemed to enjoy the sun, how strands of his black hair got into his face and then behind his ears again. Yes, she found him definitely attractive, even more so when he returned her gaze and smiled at her. She managed only to blush a little and grin happily back.

It didn't seem real, it was more like a dream and she dearly hoped that she wouldn't wake up, at least not too soon.

When they returned to the cottage, twilight was already approaching colouring the beach and the sea in beautiful red and orange shades. They decided to cook dinner and prepared a stew together in silence. It was like doing a Potion, for they also had to cut ingredients (in this case, however, carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables) and put them in the right moment into the boiling water.

While eating their delicious soup, they discussed Hermione's NEWTs exams and she told him all about her study system.

After dinner (and after having cleaned the dishes with magic), they each read a book on the couch in front of the chimney fire.

For Hermione, it was difficult to concentrate with Severus sitting only a few inches away from her in this romantic atmosphere. When she re-read a sentence for the fourth time without grasping its meaning, she gave up. Instead, she slid over to Severus and softly leaned at his side while still pretending to read.

He stiffened at first but relaxed again only a few seconds later. To probably both of their surprises, he lifted his arm and put it around her shoulders.

She sighed happily and rested her head on his chest while he stroked gently over her back. They stayed like this for many minutes in complete silence, both books forgotten, and enjoyed this being together without having to worry about anything.

All this time, however, Hermione was trying to gather enough courage to make the next step. She wanted to kiss him with all her heart but was afraid of a possible rejection. What if he didn't want to kiss her? But on the other hand, he had even told Dumbledore that he would have kissed her on Christmas Eve…

She finally managed to sit up a bit, turn around and look him in the face.

He stared back at her with a worry line on his forehead.

She smiled lightly and stroked over it which made him relax and close his eyes. Her hand glided to his cheek, his nose, his chin and back to his cheek. Since his eyes were still closed and he looked more peaceful than she had ever seen him, she tried to make this their moment. Slowly she leaned her head in his direction, staring anxiously at his eyes, and at last her lips met his lightly and she closed her eyes.

It took him a few seconds to respond to the kiss but soon his mouth moved with hers, his hands stroked over her cheek or through her hair.

She sighed in content and touched his silky hair. Just when she realised that this kiss was even better than she had ever imagined, he stopped rather abruptly and freed his lips from hers.

She blinked confusedly at first, then looked at him questioningly.

"There is something I need to tell you before we continue," he told her seriously.

She feared the worst but still nodded expectantly.

His gaze fell upon various objects in the room but never her face. "I… I had a date," he finally confessed.

Hermione swallowed. She didn't expect this at all… And it hurt, more than she wanted to admit. She hoped, however, that the circumstances were not as she feared so she asked calmly: "When?"

"A couple of weeks ago."

"Before or after Dumbledore forbid us to see each other?"

"After."

"Before or after Dumbledore allowed us to spend the holidays together?"

"Before."

She nodded absent-minded. That wasn't too bad, right? "With whom?"

"Charlotte of Avenham."

She frowned. "Who is she?"

"A member of the Potions Club."

She swallowed again – if this woman was a member of the Potions Club, this meant that she had to be great with the subject, didn't it? Probably more knowledgeable than Hermione…

Remained only one question, the most important of it all. "Why?" she asked.

He sighed, still not looking at her. "Many different reasons. First, she was suggested to me by a dear friend of mine who constantly tries to marry me off… Second, I've not been on many dates before so my ego was proud to have someone interested in me. And third, I was curious and wanted to know what would happen."

"And what did happen?" She tried to ask as calmly and un-reproachfully as possible but it was difficult. What if he would tell her that he had fallen in love with this woman?!

He snorted. "It didn't go very well."

"Didn't you like her?"

"No, that wasn't it. She was as beautiful and intelligent as described to me. But," he continued quickly and now for the first time since he had mentioned the word date, he finally looked her in the eyes, "I wasn't very attentive to her because I had to think of you the whole time." He smiled slightly.

"You-You thought of me while having a date with a beautiful woman?!" she asked incredulously.

He nodded. "It was so obvious that she discontinued the date and left me."

Hermione grinned joyously and quickly flung her arms around him.

He hugged her firmly back, relieved that she wasn't angry with him. "I told her," he whispered into her ear, "that I had already given away my heart and that I was quite certain that I should never take it back."

That was too much joy in one moment, so tears formed in Hermione's eyes. She looked at him once more and with only an ounce of nervous hesitation she kissed him again, more fiercely and passionate than before, and she was overfilled with happiness when he responded in quite the same way.

What now followed was one of the most wonderful weeks that Hermione had ever had. They walked along the beach, cooked together, read in silent companionship, cuddled in front of the chimney, talked about anything and everything that came into their minds, got to know each other even better – and kissed whenever possible.

He told her that it was easier for him to be completely honest with her and talk about his feelings than with any other person he had ever met, including Dumbledore, Lily, and his mother, and she had smiled at this and kissed him with all her love.

He had also asked her why she knew when his birthday had been, and she had told him how she had found Eileen Prince in the Prophet, next her marriage announcement and then his birth announcement.

"Is it possible that you know the library better than Madame Pince?" he had asked her mockingly.

"I certainly hope so," she had laughed back.

They had also slept together in one bed although there had been another room and bed in the attic, for they wanted to have as much time with the other as possible given the fact that they were only allowed this week… However, they didn't even try to have sex. Not yet, anyway. Without even talking about it, they both had the feeling that it would have been too soon and that they should wait. It was, after all, a very new situation for both of them and though they tried to hide it, they were still quite nervous. And, although they didn't care this week and very often forgot, they were still student and professor…

Unfortunately, everything must end, also this delightful week. On the last day, they sadly packed their things, took one last stroll at the beach, looked at the magnificent cottage, held hands – and disapparated.

They appeared again in the small alley next to Piccadilly Circus.

She looked up at him trying not to cry.

"Your train is leaving in an hour," he said matter-of-factly although she could see that their farewell was hard for him, too. "That should be enough time for you to get to King's Cross Station."

She could only nod.

"Come here," he whispered and put his arms around her.

The tears fell down her cheek, leaving watermarks on his black robes, and a sob left her throat occasionally.

"We'll write each other letters," he tried to soothe her, rubbing her back. "We'll see each other in class. It's only a few more weeks before you're no student anymore." In fact, it was over two months but that sounded worse.

She nodded, trying to be a responsible adult instead of a disappointed child. "Yes, I know," she finally said, taking deep breaths and wiping the tears away. "Yes, we'll see each other and write letters and soon I'll have my NEWTs." She even managed to smile at him.

He nodded. Then he leaned forward and whispered into her ear: "I love you." It was the first time he said it.

"I love you, too," she replied quickly and kissed him.

He soon freed himself from her, leaning his forehead against hers. "Goodbye," he said quietly. "I'll see you at dinner."

She nodded, new tears beginning to fill her eyes.

He stepped a few steps back and with one last loving smile at her, he disapparated.

When he was gone the tears and sobs began anew and all the way to King's Cross Station she didn't care that the other underground passengers regarded her with questioning or annoyed glances. Only when she arrived at Platform 9 3/4 and met with Harry, Ron, and Ginny, she tried to compose herself. During the train ride it was easy to concentrate on their lively chatter and be consumed by their joy and excitement as they told her all about their holidays at the Burrow.

But as soon as the tales were told, the food was brought and it became still in the compartment, Hermione was alone with her thoughts. She looked out of the window and tried to remember every little detail of the past week because she knew the next time she saw Severus again, they would be professor and student once more and the last week would seem like nothing more than a wonderful dream…