Chapter six: In Which Severus Seeks Advice
"Good morning Severus!" Remus Lupin greeted his friend cheerfully. "You're up early!" Remus motioned for him to sit. "Coffee?" he asked. When Severus shook his head stiffly and remained standing he decided this must be serious. "Now what can I do for you?"
"I need some advice," Severus began, his eyes darting nervously about the room. "It's a rather personal nature."
Remus motioned for him to continue, "You can tell me anything Severus, you know that."
"Yes, indeed." He moved to sit, only to stand again.
Remus couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his friend so agitated.
"You see, I've met this. young woman."
Remus felt his shoulders tensing and told himself to relax. He had always known Severus was bound to find someone eventually, even if he hand been dreading that moment. It wouldn't have been either reasonable or fair for him to expect the man to remain single the rest of his days, but that wasn't exactly what he wanted, he just didn't want Severus to be with anyone who wasn't Remus Lupin. He pushed these thoughts aside and gave Severus an encouraging smile. "Well, who is she?"
"Hermione Granger." Severus answered, much to Remus' shock.
"Hermione?" he exclaimed loudly. "She's an ex-student for fuck sake Severus!"
"I realize that Remus," Severus replied stiffly, "and it's not the reason I came to you for advice."
"But she's half your age. And she's not even attractive!" Remus continued, desperate to dissuade the man he was certain could be the love of his life from making this particular mistake.
Severus narrowed his eyes and when he spoke again his voice was dangerously low. "Remus, I don't care what you think about Hermione, or about me seeing her. Do you understand?" he moved to the door, "I had hoped you would be able to give me some friendly advice, obviously I was wrong. Goodbye."
Remus watched as Severus stalked out of the room, his heart heavy. The man had so much going for him, he was wickedly clever and handsome, in his own way, and in every way the perfect man, at least as far as Remus knew. This was the reason he was so against Severus' infatuation with Hermione. Judging by the fact his friend had come to him for advice he assumed the lady didn't return the favor, but knowing both Severus and Hermione as he did he knew that she wouldn't resist him for long. He sighed, live would still go on.
~
"Severus, might I have a word with you?"
Snape turned to find Minerva McGonagall striding towards him with a stern look on her face. "Of course Minerva," he replied giving her a rare smile. Despite the long standing blood feud between their houses they had always gotten on well. "Your office or mine?" he asked as she fell in step beside him.
"Well," she said, "Yours is closer, so lead the way."
They walked in silence, reaching the Potions Master's rooms in a matter of minutes. Once inside Severus' office they took seats and Minerva began. "I couldn't help but overhear you debate with Remus this morning," she said, looking apologetic. "And normally I would simply pretend I hadn't heard a thing, but I have some advice for you, if you'll let me give it."
Severus nodded briefly, "Anything useful would be appreciated."
Minerva smiled to herself; things must be bad if he was already accepting her help though she was glad he was. She had known him for years and had always thought he deserved a special someone, and Hermione was definitely special. The girl had been her prize pupil every one of her seven years at the school and she was wise beyond her years. She would be the perfect match for Severus. "Hermione was always such a clever girl. I haven't seen her since her graduation, but she's already made a name for herself with the ministry. She writes me on occasion, sounds happy but I think she's a little lonely. I always hoped she'd meet someone who wouldn't be intimidated by her mind, which is why I'm so thrilled to see you two have connected."
She continued to sing her former student's praises for several minutes before turning to what Severus considered the important part. "I myself haven't been on the dating circuit for many years of course, but there are some things that never change." She said with a wistful smile. "Women love to be told how youthful they look. Even though aging isn't a bad thing, it's something most women fear slightly, especially in the Muggle world. Try to find ways to compliment her, tell her how beautiful she is, but be sure to make the comments sincere. She'll be able to see straight through a lie, even that of a Slytherin. Buy her gifts, though it's true that love cannot be bought, affection is easily swayed by trinkets. A good choice for a first gift is a bouquet of flowers it's sweet and romantic, but not too intimate." She grinned at the lost look on Severus' face he was in way over his head and he knew it. "I only have one other piece of advice to give you and that is to be yourself. You're intelligent and sweet, let her see that side of you; don't put up those hostile barriers you're so used to using. I'm sure she'll realize the prize she's found in you." She stood to leave.
"Thank you," Severus managed. "I hope you're right about all of this." She left with a wave, and he returned to his desk. If he was going to pursue Hermione he would have to set up a date.
~
Hermione threw down her quill in frustration. Work was not going well today. It had started out fine; she had picked up a pile of books at the library and returned to her office to work. By lunch she had accomplished more than she had expected, and had uncovered a new angle that she planned to explore in further detail that evening, everything was going well. But then the owl had arrived.
She was wolfing down a chicken salad in her flat when a gorgeous Tawny owl landed beside her. She removed the scroll from its leg and, slipping the owl a piece of chicken, began to read.
Hermione,
I had a terrific time last night and would
be most honored if you would join me for
an early dinner on Friday evening. You
pick the restaurant.
~ Yours truly
Severus Snape
The next hour had been spent deciding whether or not to accept the invitation, and once she decided that she should, she spent another two hours composing her response. Now, at five o'clock in the evening she had only managed to get through one document since she had taken her lunch break. She felt restless and actually found herself looking at the clock every two minutes, willing it to move faster. At six thirty she gave up on accomplishing anything more and headed home. For reasons she was unsure of, she was desperately looking forward to Friday night.
_________________________________________
A/N: Thank you everyone for reading this! Special thanks to jenbachand for being so amazingly quick to read and review my last chapter!! And for your suggestions!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
"Good morning Severus!" Remus Lupin greeted his friend cheerfully. "You're up early!" Remus motioned for him to sit. "Coffee?" he asked. When Severus shook his head stiffly and remained standing he decided this must be serious. "Now what can I do for you?"
"I need some advice," Severus began, his eyes darting nervously about the room. "It's a rather personal nature."
Remus motioned for him to continue, "You can tell me anything Severus, you know that."
"Yes, indeed." He moved to sit, only to stand again.
Remus couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his friend so agitated.
"You see, I've met this. young woman."
Remus felt his shoulders tensing and told himself to relax. He had always known Severus was bound to find someone eventually, even if he hand been dreading that moment. It wouldn't have been either reasonable or fair for him to expect the man to remain single the rest of his days, but that wasn't exactly what he wanted, he just didn't want Severus to be with anyone who wasn't Remus Lupin. He pushed these thoughts aside and gave Severus an encouraging smile. "Well, who is she?"
"Hermione Granger." Severus answered, much to Remus' shock.
"Hermione?" he exclaimed loudly. "She's an ex-student for fuck sake Severus!"
"I realize that Remus," Severus replied stiffly, "and it's not the reason I came to you for advice."
"But she's half your age. And she's not even attractive!" Remus continued, desperate to dissuade the man he was certain could be the love of his life from making this particular mistake.
Severus narrowed his eyes and when he spoke again his voice was dangerously low. "Remus, I don't care what you think about Hermione, or about me seeing her. Do you understand?" he moved to the door, "I had hoped you would be able to give me some friendly advice, obviously I was wrong. Goodbye."
Remus watched as Severus stalked out of the room, his heart heavy. The man had so much going for him, he was wickedly clever and handsome, in his own way, and in every way the perfect man, at least as far as Remus knew. This was the reason he was so against Severus' infatuation with Hermione. Judging by the fact his friend had come to him for advice he assumed the lady didn't return the favor, but knowing both Severus and Hermione as he did he knew that she wouldn't resist him for long. He sighed, live would still go on.
~
"Severus, might I have a word with you?"
Snape turned to find Minerva McGonagall striding towards him with a stern look on her face. "Of course Minerva," he replied giving her a rare smile. Despite the long standing blood feud between their houses they had always gotten on well. "Your office or mine?" he asked as she fell in step beside him.
"Well," she said, "Yours is closer, so lead the way."
They walked in silence, reaching the Potions Master's rooms in a matter of minutes. Once inside Severus' office they took seats and Minerva began. "I couldn't help but overhear you debate with Remus this morning," she said, looking apologetic. "And normally I would simply pretend I hadn't heard a thing, but I have some advice for you, if you'll let me give it."
Severus nodded briefly, "Anything useful would be appreciated."
Minerva smiled to herself; things must be bad if he was already accepting her help though she was glad he was. She had known him for years and had always thought he deserved a special someone, and Hermione was definitely special. The girl had been her prize pupil every one of her seven years at the school and she was wise beyond her years. She would be the perfect match for Severus. "Hermione was always such a clever girl. I haven't seen her since her graduation, but she's already made a name for herself with the ministry. She writes me on occasion, sounds happy but I think she's a little lonely. I always hoped she'd meet someone who wouldn't be intimidated by her mind, which is why I'm so thrilled to see you two have connected."
She continued to sing her former student's praises for several minutes before turning to what Severus considered the important part. "I myself haven't been on the dating circuit for many years of course, but there are some things that never change." She said with a wistful smile. "Women love to be told how youthful they look. Even though aging isn't a bad thing, it's something most women fear slightly, especially in the Muggle world. Try to find ways to compliment her, tell her how beautiful she is, but be sure to make the comments sincere. She'll be able to see straight through a lie, even that of a Slytherin. Buy her gifts, though it's true that love cannot be bought, affection is easily swayed by trinkets. A good choice for a first gift is a bouquet of flowers it's sweet and romantic, but not too intimate." She grinned at the lost look on Severus' face he was in way over his head and he knew it. "I only have one other piece of advice to give you and that is to be yourself. You're intelligent and sweet, let her see that side of you; don't put up those hostile barriers you're so used to using. I'm sure she'll realize the prize she's found in you." She stood to leave.
"Thank you," Severus managed. "I hope you're right about all of this." She left with a wave, and he returned to his desk. If he was going to pursue Hermione he would have to set up a date.
~
Hermione threw down her quill in frustration. Work was not going well today. It had started out fine; she had picked up a pile of books at the library and returned to her office to work. By lunch she had accomplished more than she had expected, and had uncovered a new angle that she planned to explore in further detail that evening, everything was going well. But then the owl had arrived.
She was wolfing down a chicken salad in her flat when a gorgeous Tawny owl landed beside her. She removed the scroll from its leg and, slipping the owl a piece of chicken, began to read.
Hermione,
I had a terrific time last night and would
be most honored if you would join me for
an early dinner on Friday evening. You
pick the restaurant.
~ Yours truly
Severus Snape
The next hour had been spent deciding whether or not to accept the invitation, and once she decided that she should, she spent another two hours composing her response. Now, at five o'clock in the evening she had only managed to get through one document since she had taken her lunch break. She felt restless and actually found herself looking at the clock every two minutes, willing it to move faster. At six thirty she gave up on accomplishing anything more and headed home. For reasons she was unsure of, she was desperately looking forward to Friday night.
_________________________________________
A/N: Thank you everyone for reading this! Special thanks to jenbachand for being so amazingly quick to read and review my last chapter!! And for your suggestions!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!