AN - I own nothing! I'm just borrowing from J.K. Rowling!

-----

Chapter 2

"Greg, I need a break," Hermione stammered as she stood up from her seat. She couldn't take her eyes of Severus. She was afraid that if she did, he would suddenly disappear. Quickly, she made her way towards the man, or was he a ghost, or a figment of her imagination?

Greg, who was busy talking on the mobile, signaled to the security and to the manager of the bookstore to put on the line on hold. The fans that waited in line didn't seem disappointed that they had to wait a little longer. Soon enough, they would get Hermione's autograph.

---

"Looks like you've seen a ghost Miss Granger," Severus said as he looked down at her. He looked at the woman that was staring up at him, pale, with her mouth open like a gaping fish. The usual signature smirk that he had was on his face. "It surprises me to see you speechless for once."

"You-you're supposed to be dead," Hermione stuttered.

"A stuttering know-it-all, now I've seen everything. Now I can actually die," Severus said as the corner of his mouth lifted a little bit.

Hermione's eyes narrowed up at the man. Dead or not, he was still the same man that made fun of her, and pushed at her buttons. "What are you doing here? And how the hell did you survive Nagini's bite? Harry saw your body at the Shrieking Shack—dead." Then, her eyes spotted two identical scars, like punctures close to the side of his neck. She concluded that those marks were from Nagini.

Reaching behind her for a book, Severus showed it to her and replied, "I wanted to get this signed by you. And apparently, if I was dead, I wouldn't be standing here. How I survived though is none of your business."

"So no one knows that you—Severus Snape is actually still leaving and breathing?"

"You are partly correct. It's Samuel Snape. No one knows I'm alive… Well, that has changed. Now you do."

"You changed your name?"

"For obvious reasons. I didn't want to be found, and needed a new name."

"So," Hermione frowned as she thought, "you faked your death all along?"

"Correct Miss Granger." He then arched a brow and looked questioningly down at her. "Is it still Miss Granger, or are you married to someone? Weasley perhaps?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm single," she said firmly, raising her chin up.

"Pity," Severus simply said.

"Hermione!" a male voice called from the distance.

"Oh no!" Hermione groaned as she rolled her eyes to the back of her head. It wasn't Greg that called her name.

"There you are," a young man, around the same age as Hermione said as he turned and walked towards her. "Hi Sweetcakes!"

Sweetcakes? Severus looked at the man, and then frowned as Hermione took a step and stood, standing right next to him. He felt her grab his hand, entwining her fingers with his tightly behind his back. What was she up to?

"Hi Adam," Hermione said as she plastered the fake smile on her face. Good for her, it always looked real. "This is Snape. Samuel Snape."

"Good to meet you Samuel. Adam Michaels," he said as he shook Severus's hand. "My mother is Ellen Michaels, governor of this New York State."

"Pleasure," Severus drawled. For some odd reason, he didn't like Adam already. Severus was a good judge at character, even though he had to admit that he himself wasn't a good person.

"So anyways, I was wondering if you had a date to the cancer charity auction next week at the Plaza Hotel?" Adam asked Hermione with a smile.

"Actually, Samuel is going to accompany me," Hermione said as she placed a hand on Severus's chest. Before he could interject, she dug her nails into his hand, signaling him to play along.

Severus gritted his teeth in frustration, and then pulled Hermione closer to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "I actually just arrived back in town, and wanted to catch up with Hermione here."

The smile on Adam's face faded. He pointed at the two. "You and him are an item?"

"For now, yes," Hermione replied right away. "It's really an on and off thing. Isn't it?" Hermione asked as she tiptoed and kissed Severus on his cheek.

"What the bloody hell are you playing at?" Severus whispered into her ear.

"Play along, Snape!" Hermione hissed back at him.

Severus thought of something sly. "Sometimes, it's hard to resist a woman such as Hermione," he said and then pulled Hermione roughly against him. He bent his head and let his lips meet hers.

Hermione was too surprised to think. Before she knew it, Severus's tongue had entered her mouth. Her hand was still on his chest, she could have just pushed him away, but no. She kissed him back, enjoying the softness of his lips against hers.

As Severus pulled away, he smirked at Hermione again. She was left breathless, her eyes fluttering open.

Adam shrugged. "I'll just see you there then," he said. He turned away, walking off. He was going to leave the bookstore.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" Severus asked as he slipped away from Hermione. He brought his hand up to his chin and rubbed it. He let his tongue wipe along his bottom lip, as he remembered how sweet Hermione tasted in the kiss. What was unexpected was that his body responded to the kiss.

"Who told you that you could stick your tongue down my throat?" Hermione said angrily. She had come to her senses, and remembered that he had just kissed her. It made her feel warm, and tingly—on a heated rush, like a drug. The kisses that she shared with Ron were never like that.

Severus shook his head, and pointed a finger at her. "Don't deny it, you liked it." Part of himself was denying that he too liked the kiss.

"You cocky prick!" Hermione snapped back at him. Was he reading her mind?

"Well, I sure as hell am not going to accompany you on that charity auction of yours."

"What? No!" Hermione moved forward and pulled his hand into both her hands. "Please Professor, you have to be my date for the night."

"And pretend that we are an item? I think not," he scoffed.

"I've never asked you for anything before, and I'm asking you now. Just this one favor, please."

"Are you really that desperate, that of all people, you are asking me?"

"Hermione, your fans are waiting," Greg said as stood at the edge of the aisle, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.

"I'll be there in a minute," Hermione said as he turned back and looked at him. She then turned her attention back to Severus. "I have to go. Can I meet you later on tonight at ten? Starbucks on Church Street in Tribeca."

"Hermione," Greg said impatiently.

"Please, be there tonight," Hermione whispered. She kissed Severus on the cheek and smiled as she pulled away. She turned on her heels, and walked towards Greg, looking back only once.

"Who's the weird looking dude?" Greg asked as he walked at Hermione's side, leading them back to the signing table.

"An old friend from London," Hermione replied.

Soon enough, Hermione was back down on the chair behind the table signing autographs again. She turned her head to look at the aisle where Severus was earlier. He was no longer there. Hermione had so many questions that she wanted to ask him. She hoped that he would actually show up tonight at Starbucks.

-----

AN – Entertaining? Amusing? Funny? Review!