Chapter 10: In Which the Date is Concluded
Severus tentatively placed his arm around Hermione's shoulders. He needed the contact to be able to direct her apparation, but it was nerve wracking to initiate it. The silky material of her dress rubbed the inside of his arm, causing him to shiver. It would be so easy to just take her in his arms and hold her. Unfortunately such an action might scare her away forever. He could feel the tenseness in her shoulders relaxing under his arm and it brought a subtle smile to his lips. "On the count of three?" he asked.
"That works." Hermione said. She was very aware of his arm across her shoulder, his hand on her arm, his breath in her hair. Shivers chased their way up and down her spine and she had to fight the urge to run.
The restaurant Severus directed them to was classy and the pair fit in very well in their semi-formal clothing. The owner of the place was a squib and so there were special adaptations to make wizards feel as comfortable as Muggles in the building. This was evident in the 'in-house- apparation area, the extensive menu, and in the fact that the lighting came mostly from candles. Hermione ordered a white fish and a glass of Pinot Gris while Severus requested streak and a glass of Merlot. The drinks were served quickly, Hermione's chilled wine causing water from the air to condense into crystals on the glass.
Conversation flowed fairly fluidly between the couple. Hermione talked at great length about her work and friends and Severus made sure to nod and comment in all the right places, and not to drool on the table. The more time he spent with Hermione the more beautiful she became to him. Especially tonight, with her hair styled to perfection and a miniscule amount of makeup accenting her features. He schooled his thoughts in the opposite direction of her dress, knowing if he thought about how it hugged every womanly curve he would loose his control completely.
The food arrived just as Hermione was finishing her story about how Harry and Draco had met and for a few minutes they ate in silence. Hermione found herself amused watching Severus eat, his manners were perfect. He held his knife at the proper angle, cut off one small piece of steak and then placed the knife on the side of his plate before lifting his fork. She hadn't been in the presence of anyone with good table manners in a long while. Harry and Ron both ate as if this was both their first and last meal. Ginny wasn't quite that bad but growing up with the brothers she had it was understandable that she didn't eat like a pampered princess. And then there was Malfoy, on the opposite side of the spectrum from the rest of her friends, Draco's good table manners were preformed to such an extent they were much more like Broadway musical than an act of class.
Severus could feel her eyes on him and felt his mind reeling in panic once again, wondering what she saw, and if she liked whatever it was. His table manners, he knew, were impeccable, but whether that was a good thing in her eyes he hadn't a clue. After all she was friends with Draco Malfoy, who had made good table manners into a joke.
The silence which had begun out of convenience grew rapidly into awkwardness. Only the subtle sounds of eating were coming from their table. Conversations from elsewhere in the restaurant filtered through, a woman to Severus' right was complaining to her friend about her husband's drinking, and two men to his left were discussing the football scores of the day. Hermione was far to busy panicking about the awkward silence to even notice that there were others in the restaurant, let alone to eves drop on their conversations. The awkwardness that had become like a third person in their conversation stretched until both Severus and Hermione had finished their food.
It was broken only by the maître d' asking them if they would fancy any dessert. Hermione, after quickly scanning the dessert menu, ordered her all time favorite dessert; a piece of pumpkin pie. Severus, not recognizing the vast majority of the desserts, said he would have the same. Preferring to make a fool of himself rather than allow the silence to return Severus cleared his throat and spoke; "How was your entrée?" He cringed inwardly at how much he sounded like a waiter.
Hermione suppressed a nervous giggle, she could see by the expression on his face that Severus felt stupid enough without her adding to the awkwardness by laughing. "It was very good, yours?" she asked.
"Excellent."
The silence threatened to overtake them once again. The couple sat in painful awkwardness, each trying desperately to come up with a witty opening, or any opening that would start a conversation.
"How are things-"
"Are you -"
They began at once, lapsing into nervous laughter s their unfinished sentences collided. Severus motioned for Hermione to speak first.
"How are things at Hogwarts?" She asked; trying to make it sound like a fascinating topic rather than the mundane question it was.
Severus allowed himself a small, tight smile. "Things are as always. The students," he fought hard not to say brats or dunderheads instead of students, "are failing miserably in Potions, choosing to spend most of their time gossiping about Quidditch and no time studying."
Hermione laughed appreciatively. She was very glad to hear that little had changed at her old school. There was something comforting in the thought. "Is there another Neville Longbottom?" she asked, a wicked grin on her face. It was a well advertised fact that Neville had managed to pull off very good marks on his potions NEWT and worked with potions in his current job. His school time fear had disappeared the moment he had been removed from Snape's hostile glare.
"No, no one as accident prone as him," Severus replied, the memories of the boy's potions accidents making him grateful for the classes he was currently teaching. "The current bunch could probably be passing if they would apply themselves." Feeling as thought they had exhausted that particular topic he changed it with his earlier question. "Are you working on anything interesting at the moment?"
Hermione launched into a full explanation of her current research project. Her cinnamon eyes lighting up in excitement as she told Severus of the weeks of in-depth study she had done before even attempting to write her paper. Her hands moved in graceful gestures, illustrating her points.
All this Severus watched eagerly, drinking in the sight of her enthusiasm and allowing her melodic voice to wash over him soothingly. This was the Hermione he had discovered at Draco's dinner party, the girl he could feel himself falling for. A contented smile crept onto his lips and he simply watched her, quite certain he could spend the rest of his life sitting as he was now, listening to her talk.
From that point on conversation flowed effortlessly. They discussed everything from Wizarding Pop-culture to Muggle literature, to World Politics. They left the restaurant still talking and Severus walked Hermione back to her flat.
"Well," Hermione said, gazing up at Severus' dark silhouette.
"I had a terrific time, thank you for agreeing to come," Severus said, captivated by the way her lips moved as she breathed.
"That you for taking me," Hermione tried to convey sincerity in the words, "I guess this is goodnight." There was intensity in his gaze that made it hard for her to pull her gaze away, but she did anyways.
"Goodnight," it was almost a whisper as Severus watched her retreat into her home.
A/N: THANK YOU! To everyone who read and reviewed this story so far! I know this chapter's not the best work... but I was getting horribly sick of the date and it's never-ending-ness. Next chapter: We'll find out Hermione and Severus' thoughts about the date.
Severus tentatively placed his arm around Hermione's shoulders. He needed the contact to be able to direct her apparation, but it was nerve wracking to initiate it. The silky material of her dress rubbed the inside of his arm, causing him to shiver. It would be so easy to just take her in his arms and hold her. Unfortunately such an action might scare her away forever. He could feel the tenseness in her shoulders relaxing under his arm and it brought a subtle smile to his lips. "On the count of three?" he asked.
"That works." Hermione said. She was very aware of his arm across her shoulder, his hand on her arm, his breath in her hair. Shivers chased their way up and down her spine and she had to fight the urge to run.
The restaurant Severus directed them to was classy and the pair fit in very well in their semi-formal clothing. The owner of the place was a squib and so there were special adaptations to make wizards feel as comfortable as Muggles in the building. This was evident in the 'in-house- apparation area, the extensive menu, and in the fact that the lighting came mostly from candles. Hermione ordered a white fish and a glass of Pinot Gris while Severus requested streak and a glass of Merlot. The drinks were served quickly, Hermione's chilled wine causing water from the air to condense into crystals on the glass.
Conversation flowed fairly fluidly between the couple. Hermione talked at great length about her work and friends and Severus made sure to nod and comment in all the right places, and not to drool on the table. The more time he spent with Hermione the more beautiful she became to him. Especially tonight, with her hair styled to perfection and a miniscule amount of makeup accenting her features. He schooled his thoughts in the opposite direction of her dress, knowing if he thought about how it hugged every womanly curve he would loose his control completely.
The food arrived just as Hermione was finishing her story about how Harry and Draco had met and for a few minutes they ate in silence. Hermione found herself amused watching Severus eat, his manners were perfect. He held his knife at the proper angle, cut off one small piece of steak and then placed the knife on the side of his plate before lifting his fork. She hadn't been in the presence of anyone with good table manners in a long while. Harry and Ron both ate as if this was both their first and last meal. Ginny wasn't quite that bad but growing up with the brothers she had it was understandable that she didn't eat like a pampered princess. And then there was Malfoy, on the opposite side of the spectrum from the rest of her friends, Draco's good table manners were preformed to such an extent they were much more like Broadway musical than an act of class.
Severus could feel her eyes on him and felt his mind reeling in panic once again, wondering what she saw, and if she liked whatever it was. His table manners, he knew, were impeccable, but whether that was a good thing in her eyes he hadn't a clue. After all she was friends with Draco Malfoy, who had made good table manners into a joke.
The silence which had begun out of convenience grew rapidly into awkwardness. Only the subtle sounds of eating were coming from their table. Conversations from elsewhere in the restaurant filtered through, a woman to Severus' right was complaining to her friend about her husband's drinking, and two men to his left were discussing the football scores of the day. Hermione was far to busy panicking about the awkward silence to even notice that there were others in the restaurant, let alone to eves drop on their conversations. The awkwardness that had become like a third person in their conversation stretched until both Severus and Hermione had finished their food.
It was broken only by the maître d' asking them if they would fancy any dessert. Hermione, after quickly scanning the dessert menu, ordered her all time favorite dessert; a piece of pumpkin pie. Severus, not recognizing the vast majority of the desserts, said he would have the same. Preferring to make a fool of himself rather than allow the silence to return Severus cleared his throat and spoke; "How was your entrée?" He cringed inwardly at how much he sounded like a waiter.
Hermione suppressed a nervous giggle, she could see by the expression on his face that Severus felt stupid enough without her adding to the awkwardness by laughing. "It was very good, yours?" she asked.
"Excellent."
The silence threatened to overtake them once again. The couple sat in painful awkwardness, each trying desperately to come up with a witty opening, or any opening that would start a conversation.
"How are things-"
"Are you -"
They began at once, lapsing into nervous laughter s their unfinished sentences collided. Severus motioned for Hermione to speak first.
"How are things at Hogwarts?" She asked; trying to make it sound like a fascinating topic rather than the mundane question it was.
Severus allowed himself a small, tight smile. "Things are as always. The students," he fought hard not to say brats or dunderheads instead of students, "are failing miserably in Potions, choosing to spend most of their time gossiping about Quidditch and no time studying."
Hermione laughed appreciatively. She was very glad to hear that little had changed at her old school. There was something comforting in the thought. "Is there another Neville Longbottom?" she asked, a wicked grin on her face. It was a well advertised fact that Neville had managed to pull off very good marks on his potions NEWT and worked with potions in his current job. His school time fear had disappeared the moment he had been removed from Snape's hostile glare.
"No, no one as accident prone as him," Severus replied, the memories of the boy's potions accidents making him grateful for the classes he was currently teaching. "The current bunch could probably be passing if they would apply themselves." Feeling as thought they had exhausted that particular topic he changed it with his earlier question. "Are you working on anything interesting at the moment?"
Hermione launched into a full explanation of her current research project. Her cinnamon eyes lighting up in excitement as she told Severus of the weeks of in-depth study she had done before even attempting to write her paper. Her hands moved in graceful gestures, illustrating her points.
All this Severus watched eagerly, drinking in the sight of her enthusiasm and allowing her melodic voice to wash over him soothingly. This was the Hermione he had discovered at Draco's dinner party, the girl he could feel himself falling for. A contented smile crept onto his lips and he simply watched her, quite certain he could spend the rest of his life sitting as he was now, listening to her talk.
From that point on conversation flowed effortlessly. They discussed everything from Wizarding Pop-culture to Muggle literature, to World Politics. They left the restaurant still talking and Severus walked Hermione back to her flat.
"Well," Hermione said, gazing up at Severus' dark silhouette.
"I had a terrific time, thank you for agreeing to come," Severus said, captivated by the way her lips moved as she breathed.
"That you for taking me," Hermione tried to convey sincerity in the words, "I guess this is goodnight." There was intensity in his gaze that made it hard for her to pull her gaze away, but she did anyways.
"Goodnight," it was almost a whisper as Severus watched her retreat into her home.
A/N: THANK YOU! To everyone who read and reviewed this story so far! I know this chapter's not the best work... but I was getting horribly sick of the date and it's never-ending-ness. Next chapter: We'll find out Hermione and Severus' thoughts about the date.