• • • • •

"Miss. Granger."

Hermione looked up from her book to see Severus Snape walking by her in the three broomsticks. This was the first time she had seen him since the day in the apothecary, and he looked worn. Like he did when he was teaching.

Come to think of it a new year at Hogwarts must have started, which would explain the look on his face, and the drink he had ordered. It certainly wasn't butter beer...

"Professor." She said turning her page and glanced at him to see his brows furrow. "Oh come on..." she smirked, "You didn't answer me on what I should address you as now..." she reminded him and stood up to walk to his table.

"What are you doing?"

"Sitting with you, or course. I would rather not shout at you from across a table."

"Then don't."

Hermione took a deep breath as wondered if Severus Snape ever had less of a quick tongue. She doubted it because she had known him for years and if there was anything she knew it was that the man was known for his witty come backs. "But I want to." She found herself saying and the look of indifference met hers.

"Of course, you do." Severus said taking a sip of his drink.

"Of course, I do." She agreed. "How is the new year treating you?"

"Excuse me?"

"I said... How is the new year treating you? Any cauldrons decimated? New yearlings learning to fear the great Professor of the dungeons?" She teased with a small smile but the smile didn't reach his face. "Perhaps not? Just another annoying bunch?"

"Much like yourself."

Hermione rose a brow. "Oh? I am annoying?" She asked settling back into her seat as Severus turned his head away from her but she saw the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips that he was trying to hide. "I suppose that is true but hopefully now one takes my pet name." She said closing her book to stand up.

"Pet name?"

Severus nearly choked on his drink at the absurd comment. "Never have I given a student a pet name." He said to clarify any miss conceptions that may have occurred in the past.

"Don't worry, Professor." She smiled watching him cringe at the name still. "I don't day dream about being in your class though it was one of my favorites. But I highly doubt you had a reoccurring name for a student."

"And what might that be?"

" Insufferable know-it-all."

The two shared a look that said they didn't know what the feeling between the two of them was but it was short lived when Harry Potter entered the three broomsticks and called out to Hermione to get her attention. He was here to meet up with her and Ron for the first time in months. Being an auror gave one less time to be with your friends and family. Especially when your friends were both Aurors.

It was as if neither of them needed to make a grand parting. They knew this was it for an exchange.

"Miss. Granger."

"Professor."

• • • • •

Hermione frowned closing her eyes, she lowered her head a bit before regaining her focus to continue working. She really needed to focus on her work and not day dream about the past. There was no point in reminiscing or daydreaming. She needed to let it go, and that would only happen if she accepted the fact that it was over.

It had been three months.

All she had done was cry, forget to take care of herself, and neglected her friends. It wasn't fair to anyone that she was wallowing in self pity and making herself more isolated than she needed to be.

"'Ello 'Mione..."

Hermione lifted her head and was greeted by the warm freckled face of Ronald Weasley.

"Hello Ronald-"

Ron dismissed her calling him by his full name, with a disapproving click of his tongue. "We have known each other for too long for you to refer to me as Ronald... 'Minoe... How are you?" He asked crouching down beside her desk, one arm resting on her desk for balance.

"I'm fine." Hermione said and looked around nervously to see if her supervising manager was around. She wasn't one to have visitors loitering at her worker's desk. Auror or not. "Ron-"

"Lilith Bandith is not here today. I do believe she had a family emergency to attend to." Ron smiled. He knew her all to well to stop by her desk if her boss was around. But he knew Lilith wasn't going to be here today or tomorrow. "You know... I would like to treat you today. Anything you want... Scones, tea, meaty pies... you name it." He said leaning in a little so only she could hear him. He even went as far as to fold his hands on her desk, rest his chin on them and bat his eyes prettily up at her sure that it would make her smile. But it didn't.

She looked distressed.

"Ron-" she started and not wanting to hear a rejection or excuse to not join him he added quietly.

"As your friend."

Hermione looked at him and could see the tenderness of the wound she had created by rejecting him. He had changed everything about himself after that horrible incident. She wondered if he had changed because he wanted to or if because he had to. But either way seeing the gentleness in his eyes, and the small smile pulling at his lips made her smile back.

"Okay." She nodded closing her book of underage wizard magic accountability.

Ron watch as she prepared to leave with him to have an early lunch with him. He could tell something had changed her from deep within. She was more reserved at work. She had less bit and fire behind her, and he knew it was because of her relationship with that mysterious man. He had tried to learn more about that relationship because it prevented him from having one with Hermione, but his attempts seemed futile.

Hermione had been adamant that she would not consider an intimate relationship with him, and iced the cake with informing him she was currently in a relationship. It had hurt his pride and he had to admit he didn't know how to handle it. He also wasn't sure if his move had cause damage to their friendship or if all was well still.

That didn't help in the matter when Hermione started showing up out of sorts a few months ago. He knew what it meant. He wanted to check in on her... But he didn't want to seem like a predator lurking on a weaken prey. He felt as if he was doing that now, but his intentions were otherwise.

He just wanted to know she was okay.

"Ready?" He asked as she turned to him, smiling as he stood up right.

"Ready." She agreed forcing a small smile to her face.

Ron restrained himself from wanting to reach out and force her to smile bigger but he knew if he did that then she would most likely be upset and uncomfortable. So instead he buried his hands deep in his pockets, and walked beside her to the little bakery just outside the ministry.

Baby steps...

He told himself.

He couldn't be hopeful that she would change her mind about being with him. But he could be her friend. Even if it meant watching her suffer from a breakup he would have prevented if she was with him...

Baby steps...