Chapter 5: In Which Dinner is Eaten and More Pool is Played
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"Hello." Severus took a long sip of wine to allow himself time to adjust to the two surprise guests. He hadn't really tried to guess who the guests would be, but if he had, he never would have come up with Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. He stood and smiled as graciously as he could, "It's nice to see you both again, and please call me Severus."
Hermione thought she would keel over form shock, Severus Snape, her old potions professor. This was the surprise guest? She forced a smile, "It's a bit of a shock for me I must say, Draco didn't even tell me you two had been in touch." She sent Draco a mock glare.
He smiled back sweetly, "Now Hermione dearest." she glared at him for real this time. "What fun would we have had if you weren't a little shocked to see each other?" He steered her to a chair across the table from the Professor, "I dare say neither of you would have come if you'd known in advance who I was inviting." He grinned wickedly at his stunned dinner guests and took his own seat, beside Harry.
"You're horrible." Hermione said with a laugh, "but no matter, we'll enjoy ourselves anyhow." She sent a mischievous smile to the man across form her, and received a hesitant one in return.
"Would any one like a drink?" Draco asked, deciding to ignore Hermione and continue his role as the perfect host. The group gave their drink orders and Draco hauled Harry away to help him mix them.
"So, Hermione, what have you been doing? I believe Draco said something about you working for the ministry." Severus had decided to start on a neutral basis. He found himself intrigued by the young woman across from him. She didn't look much different then she had three years ago, a little older, and her hair appeared calmer but he was certain the hair was just a charm, other than that she looked the same. She was wearing dress robes of a beautiful shade of blue, or were they purple? He had never been good with clothing colors which was one of the reasons he had stuck to a solid black wardrobe.
"Yes. I've been doing research for the Ministry for a while now. It will be three years this November." Hermione said in her soft voice.
Severus found himself captivated by her. She wasn't overly pretty, she never had been, but intelligence shone from her brown eyes and she was so very mature for her age. Probably barely half his age, but the difference in seniority seemed so much less when she was speaking. "Do you enjoy it?" he asked, already knowing the answer, but not wanting the conversation to stop.
"Oh yes." Hermione's eyes lit up as she explained in detail what she did every day.
She speaks with her hands, Severus noted with an inner smile, and when she's excited her eyes sparkle. He sat back in his chair, his drink forgotten on the table, watching her talk and letting her voice wash over him. Occasionally he would nod, smile or ask a simple question that would lead her of on another subject completely.
This was how Draco and Harry found them when, at long last, they returned with a tray of drinks. "You two kids getting along alright?" Draco asked, making a theatrical show of handing each person their beverage, and earning a hostile glare from Snape.
"We were doing quite fine until you arrived," Hermione teased, "But now that you've returned we'll go back to sulking and hating each other." She winked at Severus.
Shocked by her easy-going manner Severus managed a weak smile before turning his full attention to the drink in front of him in an attempt to gather his wits. It seemed that this girl was always at least two steps ahead of him, while he was still trying to adjust to the fact that Draco was buddy-buddy with three quarters of the Dream team, Hermione seemed comfortable enough with his presence that she was teasing him. Severus's admiration of Hermione's poise on increased as the evening progressed. Nothing seemed to faze her. Not even Draco and Harry's brief spat over what to do after dinner, Harry wanted to play pool whereas Draco thought a game of poker would be better, which ended with a kiss. Severus had watched the entire affair with his mouth gaping open in a truly unattractive manner but Hermione had just smiled indulgently, as if they were a pair of curly haired toddlers fighting over a lolly.
Hermione carried the conversation throughout the meal, peppering Severus with questions about Hogwarts, the teachers, the students and of course the lessons he was teaching. By the time the main course was finished Severus had caught her up on all the school's news, and outlined what he would be teaching most of his classes for the rest of the year.
Once the plates were cleared away Draco stood and tapped his glass dramatically to gain everyone's attention, "There is dessert, but first Harry and I challenge you, Hermione and Severus, to a game of eight ball." He smiled down at Harry, who was beaming triumphantly, having won their earlier fight decisively.
Hermione rose and moved to follow Draco and Harry to the Game Room, but a gentle hand on her arm stopped her from proceeding. She turned and found herself face to face with a rather nervous looking Severus Snape. "Yes?" she asked, raising one eyebrow quizzically.
"What exactly is eight ball?" he asked, looking uncomfortable.
She beamed at him, and proceeded to give him a succinct description of the rules of the game, and a few pointers on how it was supposed to be played, finishing with, "Don't worry that you've never played before. Harry's horrible, we'll win for sure." Then she wrapped her arm through his and all but dragged him across the house to where Harry and Draco were waiting.
Despite Hermione's predictions Severus started out almost as horrendous at the game as Harry was and their first match was a close one, with Hermione pulling a win by only one shot. Harry was thrilled to find that someone was almost as horrible as himself at pool and challenged his former potions master to a one on one game of nine ball which lasted for nearly an hour. And in which Harry didn't sink a single ball.
~
Severus leaned over the table lining up for an easy shot, when Draco hauled his boyfriend off to play a game of cards Hermione had challenged him to a game of straight pool and, after she explained the rules, he had agreed. That had been nearly twenty minutes before. There was a resounding crack as the cue ball made contact and a slight plop told him he had sunk another one. The score was currently 21 to 24 for Hermione, but it had been see-sawing all game. He lined up for another shot, his silky black hair fell over his eyes, and he missed.
Hermione laughed merrily at the creative curses that came from his mouth after the missed shot, "Now, now Severus," she chided, "It's only a game."
He rolled his eyes, recalling telling her the exact same thing minutes before when a bad shot of her part had set him up for an easy double. "True enough," he said, taking a seat on a nearby stool and watching her play her turn. Her hair had fallen out of the tight bun, and the loose pieces formed a frizzy halo around her face. To most people this ball of fuzz would have been truly unattractive, but Severus was not most people and he found himself more and more drawn to the young women every minute.
~
"It was very nice meeting you again Severus," Hermione said, extending her hand.
"Yes," Severus said, reaching a little hesitantly for her hand. "We should do this again sometime," he made the suggestion sound very casual, but inside he was a nervous wreck. He hadn't had so much fun in a woman's presence in a very long time, if he ever had.
"Possibly," Hermione said, smiling politely. She had had a good time, but didn't want to commit to anything. She knew Harry and Draco had probably wanted her to fall madly in love with Severus, but she regarded him as a potential friend and nothing else. "Well, goodnight." She said, shaking his hand firmly before aparating back to her apartment.
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A/N: Thanks everyone for reading!! I hope the Dinner scene lived up to everyone's expectations! If anyone has and suggestions on how I can improve any of this PLEASE tell me in your review!
Special thanks to Bluehoax, QueenBonnie, and Jenbachand for being so quick to review chapter four!!
And of course:
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"Hello." Severus took a long sip of wine to allow himself time to adjust to the two surprise guests. He hadn't really tried to guess who the guests would be, but if he had, he never would have come up with Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. He stood and smiled as graciously as he could, "It's nice to see you both again, and please call me Severus."
Hermione thought she would keel over form shock, Severus Snape, her old potions professor. This was the surprise guest? She forced a smile, "It's a bit of a shock for me I must say, Draco didn't even tell me you two had been in touch." She sent Draco a mock glare.
He smiled back sweetly, "Now Hermione dearest." she glared at him for real this time. "What fun would we have had if you weren't a little shocked to see each other?" He steered her to a chair across the table from the Professor, "I dare say neither of you would have come if you'd known in advance who I was inviting." He grinned wickedly at his stunned dinner guests and took his own seat, beside Harry.
"You're horrible." Hermione said with a laugh, "but no matter, we'll enjoy ourselves anyhow." She sent a mischievous smile to the man across form her, and received a hesitant one in return.
"Would any one like a drink?" Draco asked, deciding to ignore Hermione and continue his role as the perfect host. The group gave their drink orders and Draco hauled Harry away to help him mix them.
"So, Hermione, what have you been doing? I believe Draco said something about you working for the ministry." Severus had decided to start on a neutral basis. He found himself intrigued by the young woman across from him. She didn't look much different then she had three years ago, a little older, and her hair appeared calmer but he was certain the hair was just a charm, other than that she looked the same. She was wearing dress robes of a beautiful shade of blue, or were they purple? He had never been good with clothing colors which was one of the reasons he had stuck to a solid black wardrobe.
"Yes. I've been doing research for the Ministry for a while now. It will be three years this November." Hermione said in her soft voice.
Severus found himself captivated by her. She wasn't overly pretty, she never had been, but intelligence shone from her brown eyes and she was so very mature for her age. Probably barely half his age, but the difference in seniority seemed so much less when she was speaking. "Do you enjoy it?" he asked, already knowing the answer, but not wanting the conversation to stop.
"Oh yes." Hermione's eyes lit up as she explained in detail what she did every day.
She speaks with her hands, Severus noted with an inner smile, and when she's excited her eyes sparkle. He sat back in his chair, his drink forgotten on the table, watching her talk and letting her voice wash over him. Occasionally he would nod, smile or ask a simple question that would lead her of on another subject completely.
This was how Draco and Harry found them when, at long last, they returned with a tray of drinks. "You two kids getting along alright?" Draco asked, making a theatrical show of handing each person their beverage, and earning a hostile glare from Snape.
"We were doing quite fine until you arrived," Hermione teased, "But now that you've returned we'll go back to sulking and hating each other." She winked at Severus.
Shocked by her easy-going manner Severus managed a weak smile before turning his full attention to the drink in front of him in an attempt to gather his wits. It seemed that this girl was always at least two steps ahead of him, while he was still trying to adjust to the fact that Draco was buddy-buddy with three quarters of the Dream team, Hermione seemed comfortable enough with his presence that she was teasing him. Severus's admiration of Hermione's poise on increased as the evening progressed. Nothing seemed to faze her. Not even Draco and Harry's brief spat over what to do after dinner, Harry wanted to play pool whereas Draco thought a game of poker would be better, which ended with a kiss. Severus had watched the entire affair with his mouth gaping open in a truly unattractive manner but Hermione had just smiled indulgently, as if they were a pair of curly haired toddlers fighting over a lolly.
Hermione carried the conversation throughout the meal, peppering Severus with questions about Hogwarts, the teachers, the students and of course the lessons he was teaching. By the time the main course was finished Severus had caught her up on all the school's news, and outlined what he would be teaching most of his classes for the rest of the year.
Once the plates were cleared away Draco stood and tapped his glass dramatically to gain everyone's attention, "There is dessert, but first Harry and I challenge you, Hermione and Severus, to a game of eight ball." He smiled down at Harry, who was beaming triumphantly, having won their earlier fight decisively.
Hermione rose and moved to follow Draco and Harry to the Game Room, but a gentle hand on her arm stopped her from proceeding. She turned and found herself face to face with a rather nervous looking Severus Snape. "Yes?" she asked, raising one eyebrow quizzically.
"What exactly is eight ball?" he asked, looking uncomfortable.
She beamed at him, and proceeded to give him a succinct description of the rules of the game, and a few pointers on how it was supposed to be played, finishing with, "Don't worry that you've never played before. Harry's horrible, we'll win for sure." Then she wrapped her arm through his and all but dragged him across the house to where Harry and Draco were waiting.
Despite Hermione's predictions Severus started out almost as horrendous at the game as Harry was and their first match was a close one, with Hermione pulling a win by only one shot. Harry was thrilled to find that someone was almost as horrible as himself at pool and challenged his former potions master to a one on one game of nine ball which lasted for nearly an hour. And in which Harry didn't sink a single ball.
~
Severus leaned over the table lining up for an easy shot, when Draco hauled his boyfriend off to play a game of cards Hermione had challenged him to a game of straight pool and, after she explained the rules, he had agreed. That had been nearly twenty minutes before. There was a resounding crack as the cue ball made contact and a slight plop told him he had sunk another one. The score was currently 21 to 24 for Hermione, but it had been see-sawing all game. He lined up for another shot, his silky black hair fell over his eyes, and he missed.
Hermione laughed merrily at the creative curses that came from his mouth after the missed shot, "Now, now Severus," she chided, "It's only a game."
He rolled his eyes, recalling telling her the exact same thing minutes before when a bad shot of her part had set him up for an easy double. "True enough," he said, taking a seat on a nearby stool and watching her play her turn. Her hair had fallen out of the tight bun, and the loose pieces formed a frizzy halo around her face. To most people this ball of fuzz would have been truly unattractive, but Severus was not most people and he found himself more and more drawn to the young women every minute.
~
"It was very nice meeting you again Severus," Hermione said, extending her hand.
"Yes," Severus said, reaching a little hesitantly for her hand. "We should do this again sometime," he made the suggestion sound very casual, but inside he was a nervous wreck. He hadn't had so much fun in a woman's presence in a very long time, if he ever had.
"Possibly," Hermione said, smiling politely. She had had a good time, but didn't want to commit to anything. She knew Harry and Draco had probably wanted her to fall madly in love with Severus, but she regarded him as a potential friend and nothing else. "Well, goodnight." She said, shaking his hand firmly before aparating back to her apartment.
______________________________________________
A/N: Thanks everyone for reading!! I hope the Dinner scene lived up to everyone's expectations! If anyone has and suggestions on how I can improve any of this PLEASE tell me in your review!
Special thanks to Bluehoax, QueenBonnie, and Jenbachand for being so quick to review chapter four!!
And of course:
PLEASE REVIEW!!!