A/N: Omg guys, I'm so sorry I've kept you waiting so long for this chapter. I genuinely wasn't sure where I was going to go with this! Big shout out to Darren for helping me out. I really will try to be more efficient with chapter 12!

Hermione was taken aback at the words she had just heard. She looked him in the eyes, seeing a range of emotions flash through them in a split second; regret, relief, anger, pain, disappointment, sadness and finally, they lingered on tenderness.

She felt tears welling up inside of her, and she couldn't explain why. She did not protest when his hands cupped her face, his lips meeting hers in a gentle manner. He did not stop as her tears fell onto his face. He did not stop as the rain began to pour. He ran his left hand through her hair. Her arms were wrapped through his, her hands resting on the back of his shoulders. All thoughts had left her mind.

They pulled apart, Hermione a little breathless. Her eyes fixed briefly on the floor before she looked up at him, the ghost of a smile etched upon her face, rain dripping from her eyelashes, and Severus could not tell whether it was rain or tears that dripped from the end of her nose, from her chin, but to him, she looked adorable and he wanted to spend the rest of his life in this moment.

Over the months that had passed since Ron's death, the thought of moving on had often wracked Hermione with guilt. After all, Ron had been the only one she had imagined the rest of her life with. But Severus' gentle kiss, his passionate embrace had only filled her with warmth.

Severus licked his lips. Hers had been slightly sticky from the alcohol she had consumed that day. He looked at the ground between their feet, contemplating what had just happened. He wasn't sure he'd done the right thing, but was pleased she didn't push him away, slap him, ask him what the hell he thought he was doing.

He knew this wasn't the place to be, especially as he could feel tears stinging the back of his own eyes, something he'd not felt in such a long time. He took Hermione's hand in his, and apparated into his own living room. Sitting her down on his couch, he closed the curtains and switched the lights on. He poured some Firewhiskey for them both before sitting next to her.

"I must apologise for my recent behaviour. It seems I have allowed myself to feel again," he said, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

Hermione looked him in the eyes. "There is nothing wrong with being able to feel. It's what makes us human."

"I have spent so long shielding myself from that kind of nonsense though, because I know it always ends with someone getting broken."

"But if we don't allow ourselves to feel, what would be the point in living? We'd all just be empty souls waiting for death. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance."

She touched his thigh gently, to show him that she was okay with what was going on.

"Do you want me to take a chance, Granger?"

Nervous as she was, she leant towards Severus and kissed him softly on the lips. He closed his eyes and pulled her close to him.

"Granger, would you do me the honour of allowing me to take you to dinner this evening?" he asked afterwards.

"Yes, of course," she replied smiling.

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

They left the muggle restaurant arm in arm, deep in conversation. Both felt lighter and happier than they had done for some time, but neither admitted it to the other.

They walked around London for a few hours, discussing everything from house elves' rights to Severus' favourite potions, before eventually stopping outside number 12, Grimmauld Place.

"Thank you for walking me home, Professor," Hermione said, blushing slightly.

"Granger, you know by now that it is Severus. And it was my pleasure. I hope to be able to do this again soon."

"Me too, Severus." She tip-toed to kiss him on the cheek before going inside.

Once inside, she made her way to the kitchen to make a hot chocolate, fully expecting Harry and Ginny to be in bed already. She was surprised to see the pair of them sitting at the table, in conversation with George.

"Hey!" he said, turning to look at her.

"Hi," she said, hesitantly. "Well, I'm off to bed, anyway. Shattered." She pretended to stifle a yawn before exiting the kitchen and walking upstairs to her room.

She was just getting into bed when there was a light knock on the door and George slowly entered the room, closing the door behind him.

She was about to tell him to leave when he spoke. "Look, Hermione, before you tell me to get lost, I feel we need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," she replied without looking up.

"Nothing to…? But, I just thought that-"

"Thought what, George?" she cut across him. "That we could make a go of things? Go on dates, picnics in the park, get married and live happily ever after? Let's just ignore the fact that the love of my life was killed a few months ago, not to mention the fact that he's YOUR BROTHER! What happened between us was a horrible mistake, and I regret every minute of it."

George was taken aback by her sudden outburst, and could feel the anger bubbling up inside of him.

"For your information, Hermione, I wasn't coming here to try and 'make a go of things'. What I wanted was to know that this wouldn't ruin our friendship. But it's good to know what page you're on and where I stand. Goodnight!"

He left the room, slamming the door behind him. Hermione stared at the door taken aback by his sudden rage. Eventually, she turned her lamp off, and lay in the darkness in the foetal position, staring out of the window. A million things ran through her head and thoughts of Ron haunted her to sleep.