A/N: It's really short, I know, but I didn't want them to be too rash. This chapter is just about clearing the air, finally.

Hermione felt the wards shift outside her flat moments before she heard the knock at the door. She glanced at herself in the mirror. She looked an absolute fright. She knew the party was tonight, and that fact had broken through the walls she'd been building with her work. Tonight she wasn't able to soldier through it. Her eyes were red; her hair was a wild mess. She crossed over to the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Severus. Hermione, we need to talk." He heard the lock click definitively.

"No, Severus, we don't. You need to leave me alone."

"Hermione, you don't understand. I didn't either until a little while ago. I talked to Potter. Open the door. I need to explain something."

She flung the door open. "What could you possibly have to say to me? Haven't you embarrassed me enough? Is this fun for you? Really, Severus, is it? Was it fun to watch me fall for you and make me think you had feelings for me as well, only to learn you are marrying someone else? Is this some bizarre holdover from when I was a bratty student?" She paused, her eyes aflame. Her hair seemed to be growing wilder by the second. She was an absolute mess. He thought she was the most gorgeous mess he'd ever laid eyes on. He was torn between guilt over her pain, amusement at the absurdity of the situation, and raw desire to show her just how wrong she was about his feelings for her.

"Hermione, stop … "

"No, I will not stop! You hurt me, Severus. You led me on. And then when I finally learned the truth, you continue to make a mockery of my disappointment and embarrassment!"

"Hermione, listen to me … "

"Why? Why should I listen to you? So you can make some ridiculous excuse for making me think you had feelings for me … "

Her words were cut off by his lips on hers. She squealed and fought against him for a moment, but he did not yield. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and his other hand tangled into that wild hair. He felt her melt into the kiss. She felt exquisite in his arms. Her small hands were pressed against his chest in a very weak sign of protest, but she was no longer resisting. He didn't want to break the kiss, but he knew he must.

"I'm sorry. That probably wasn't the best way to get you to stop talking, considering how angry you are with me. But, now that I have your attention, let me explain something." She looked up at him, breathless. He could see that she was thoroughly confused.

"I am not engaged to Lyra. I am not involved with her romantically. I have not been for years. We are still close, and I still care for her very much, but it isn't a romantic love. It never really was. I won't deny that there was an attraction, but it has long since evolved into a companionable working relationship."

"But, Lucius said, and the ring, and the party? I don't understand… "

"Lyra is engaged. But not to me."

"Then who? Why would they think I would be upset? Why did she think it would be awkward?"

Severus hesitated. He thought that the news that it was Oliver would be welcome to her, but given all of the confusion, he wasn't sure anymore. "She is marrying Oliver Wood. Draco dragged her to one of the Quidditch games Oliver was coaching a while ago. I think it was a month or two after you and he ended your relationship. I think Draco was concerned about you, because he knew you and Oliver have history. With the amount of time that the two of you were together, Draco expected someone would have residual feelings. "

"No. Oliver's girlfriend is a Muggle. That's what he told Ginny."

"Oliver told Ginevra Potter that Lyra was non-magical. Ginevra assumed Muggle. That was back when Lyra was reluctant to get serious with Oliver because she thought that her family wouldn't approve. He didn't want to deal with Weasley ire over being involved with a Malfoy if Lyra wasn't prepared to take their relationship public."

"Why wouldn't they approve of Oliver? He's Pureblood, well-mannered, wealthy, and a former professional athlete."

"Who knows, Hermione? Lyra always expects her parents to disapprove of her choices. She still faults them for not knowing all the answers when she was a girl."

"It can't have been easy growing up as a Squib and a Malfoy. "

"I don't want to argue about the Malfoys and their parenting skills, Hermione. I have tried, on more than one occasion, to approach you about a social relationship. Obviously, if you thought I was involved with someone else, my advances were confusing to you. So, I'm here to clear things up, once and for all." He tilted her face up to look at him.

"I'm attracted to you, I enjoy your company, and I'd like to see if there's a chance that can lead to more. I'm not romantically involved with anyone. You're an adult, I'm an adult, and neither of us is beholden to anyone. If you aren't interested, I will leave you alone. But I'm not going to allow this ridiculous comedy of errors to continue. Yes or no, Hermione? Did you mean what you said earlier? Do you have feelings for me that you want to pursue?"

"I, yes, I still don't understand how things got so messed up. But yes, I am also attracted to you and want to see where this might go."

"Excellent." He leaned in and kissed her again, this time much more deliberately. There was no resistance this time, she leaned into him and enjoyed every moment of the kiss. She pressed her petite body up against his, and he had to fight the urge to moan out loud right then and there. He reluctantly tried to disentangle himself from her.

"Come inside," she breathed. She was shocked at herself, but there was nothing more right at this moment than the two of them.

He sighed and took a breath, "I don't think I should." She looked disappointed, and slightly hurt. "Oh, trust me, the desire is there. But we've started things off on the wrong foot here. As much as I want to, I don't think we should take this any further tonight. Have dinner with me tomorrow. Let me take you out properly, when your head is clear of thoughts of Lyra and Oliver and all of this confusion."

She nodded shyly. He was right. The last thing they needed was to make a rash decision they might regret later. He was interested. She was interested. For now, it was enough.

"That sounds lovely, Severus. What time tomorrow?"

"I will owl you, if that is acceptable." She nodded.

"Thank you for coming by and clearing things up. I am sorry for attacking you like that."

"I am sorry that I hurt you. Please know that it was unintentional. I will talk to tomorrow." She leaned up and kissed him again, this time on the cheek. She knew that another intense kiss would test her resolve more than she could probably handle, and she suspected that he might feel the same.

"Have a good evening, Severus."

"Until tomorrow, Hermione."