Disclaimer: J.K.ROWLING Weeee...

Chapter 12 : The Day Before

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About a week after, the trio had managed to gather much information about Adam Loahn and had told Dumbledore about their journey. He agreed on it with much reluctance but he knew that Hermione had set her mind on doing so and there is nothing much it can do to change her mind. The trio then informed the rest of the Order about their journey so as to let them know where they will be going. Sirius was unhappy about it at first but...does anyone really paid attention to him? So it was set then. In about two days, the trio will be setting off to a journey like the old days.

It was the day before the journey. Hermione, Ron and Harry went on packing their bags until Sirius dragged each one of them out and apparated to the nearby park where the rest of the friends were waiting. The park was very quiet and serene. Sirius said that it's a family park and nobody else could see it except for them. Remus, Tonks, Snape, Emmaline, Bill, Fleur, Molly and Arthur were there, relaxing. Some were lying down on the ground; some were eating and drinking, chatting animatedly. Sirius got the three of them some butter beers and pushed them down on the ground for a seat and plopped himself in front of them, smiling.

"It's the last day we are spending together... let's have some fun and do some cheers first before you go off!" Sirius said, spreading his arms wide.

"Dude, you're talking as if they aren't coming back. It's only a journey..." Remus said. He was lying down with his head on Tonks lap, reading a book while Tonks was listening to her Weird Sisters tape and singing along with it. Sirius merely rolled his eyes at Remus and ignored him.

"Come on guys, let's have some fun!! Please..." Sirius ended it with a puppy dog look. The three of them had no choice but to agree with it.

And so that afternoon, everyone was at the park having the time of their life. Harry, Tonks, Bill and Ron got on their brooms and played tag. Molly, Arthur, Fleur and Emmaline were chatting with each other. Remus and Sirius played Frisbee with each other and lastly, Snape and Hermione were sitting side by side, watching the rest and held each others hands.

Remus was staring at the Frisbee beside him, quite mad at Sirius for cheating. It was his fifteenth miss and he just loved to wipe that smirk off Sirius's smirking face. Whenever Remus threw the Frisbee at Sirius, he would transfigure himself into a dog and chase after it. Of course there's nothing wrong with it but if the game depends on how many misses and catches you get, of course Sirius will win. Remus thought up of a plan and smile wickedly. Few days before the full moon really is helpful when you wish to be naughty at that moment.

"Oh, Si-ri-us... I'm going to throw the Frisbee now." Remus said in a sing-song voice.

"Alrighty then! Bring it on, Remus!" Sirius said, smiling wide.

Remus was waiting for it. He spat on both his palms and picked up the Frisbee. He swirled it in his hands and smile at Sirius.

"Get on with it, Remus!" Sirius growled.

Remus smirked and, with all his wolf strength, threw the Frisbee into the air. Sirius quickly transfigured himself into the black, scruffy dog and fixed his eyes on the Frisbee. He ran forward and jumped up to catch the Frisbee...

...Only to be hit by Ron on his broomstick. Sirius gave a yelp before both of them fell tumbling on the ground. When the rest of the broom riders planted their feets firmly on the ground, they saw Ron sprawled on his front, the crooked broom beside him. Far left from Ron, Sirius was sprawled on his back. It was quite a scene actually. Sirius, with his hair flat on the ground, his hands spread out and legs crooked to the side. Both Ron and Sirius groaned in pain as the rest came running towards them.

"Oh Gosh! Ron! Are you alright?? Sirius??" Molly asked, kneeling down beside them.

"What happened??" Tonks asked.

Sirius held up a hand which was still holding onto the Frisbee and led it fell off.

"Who threw it??" Tonks asked again.

Sirius pointed to Remus, who was smirking. When everybody turned to look at him, Remus looked innocently at them.

"Whoops..." He said, and smiled apologetically. When they turned back to Sirius, Remus gave an evil grin and if he was a wolf at that moment, he could be wagging his tail hard.

Snape took that opportunity to pull Hermione back and indicated for a walk. She agreed and they went on, leaving the rest behind. Sirius was propping himself up when he saw that Snape and Hermione was walking off, holding hands and he felt his mischievous streak woke up in him...

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Snape and Hermione walked slowly onwards up the hill, hand in hand, wind blowing softly and the sight of the village right below them. They saw a boulder a few feet away and lean back on it. Hermione looked up at Snape and saw that he was frowning. She knew that look. It was a look which indicated that he had something in his mind and he could not fathom it. He could not answer what was it was that he was pondering about.

"Anything the matter?" She asked him. He pouted his lips and stood up. He took a few steps forward before turning to her.

"Why do you love me?"

Hermione was taken aback by the question.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Was I a bad person? I mean... before all this happened."

Hermione shook her head.

"You weren't bad. You were just... snarky and... A little terrifying."

"Then why does everyone seem so nice to me? Why do they treat me nicely? If I was what I heard I was from them... Why do they still side me?" He asked, pacing back and forth.

"It's because they know that inside... you are a nice person. They spent a lot of time with you lately and they know what you are capable of being... A human being."

"Then why do you love me? How can you love me! I mean... Look at me!" Snape said, pointing at himself, "I don't have the looks, I don't have the personality, I don't have the attitude for women to love me let alone to even stay with me... but you... You are willing to do so? For me? Why?" he stopped pacing right in front of her.

Hermione gave him a sad smile and shrugged.

"I don't get it... How old am I?" he asked her.

"You'll be forty one this coming ninth of January." Hermione answered. Snape turned abruptly towards her, wide eyed.

"Now... see! I'm old enough to be your father! How can you be in love with me? Now I feel perverted..." Snape leaned back down on the boulder.

Hermione look down at her feet and smile. She got up and stood in front of Snape, in between his legs. He was tall and even though he was leaning back onto the boulder, she was the same height with him. Hermione look straight into his eyes and set her arms around his neck. She leaned forward and gave him a chaste kiss on his lips. Snape closed his eyes and felt her lips on his. They both stayed that way for a few seconds before Hermione pulled back and look straight into his eyes...

"Do you doubt my love for you?" She asked. He shook his head lightly.

"Then know this, Severus Sylverian Snape... I love you for who you are... not what you are. I love your body..." she palmed his chest, "... your mind..." she ran her fingers through his hair, "... and your heart and soul..." she palmed his chest where his heart was and smile.

Snape sighed and look straight into her eyes again. Her dark hazel green eyes were looking into his soul and he felt that whatever doubts he had about her love, vanished into thin air. He gave her a smile before kissing her lips again. He deepened it for a while and pulled back.

"Come then... we must go." He said, standing up and took her hand into his. They turned to walk off when Snape saw movements at the corner of his eyes. He turned to where that movement was and saw it dodged into some bushes. He slowly pushed Hermione behind him before reaching for his wand.

"Inflatus!"

He pointed his wand to the bush and it exploded. A few shadows ran out from behind the bushes, screaming and shouting. Snape was about to blast them again when he saw that it was actually the Six Noseys. Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Harry, Ron and Ginny were coughing and flicking their clothes for dust and debris from the explosion.

"What are you guys doing here!!?" Hermione shrieked. They all stopped whatever they were doing and turned to the couple.

"Er... Having some... fresh of breath air... I mean breath of fresh air!" Sirius said, turning to Remus. "Right Remus?"

"What? Oh yeah, breathe breathe..." Remus started to inhale exhale deliberately.

"Stop that... I know you all were listening to our conversation, you prats." Snape sneered.

"No we weren't, you Bat!" Sirius snapped.

"You were too, you Imp!" Severus snapped back.

"Were not, you Goblin!" Sirius growled.

"Were too, you Troll!" Severus sneered.

"Were not, Snivelly!" Sirius sneered back.

"Were too, you son a..."

"Black! Son of a Black..." Remus quickly intervened.

"I may be a dog and my name initials may say so but that doesn't give you the right to call me one! I don't care what my mum is but I will never admit that she gave birth to me... I might have been adopted, I swear!"

"Whatever. Now will you all leave us alone or shall I hex you guys with my wand?" Snape asked, his usual tone of voice returning to normal.

Sirius held back a very strong urge to stick out his tongue at Snape and turned to walk off. The rest of them set their clothing right and followed him.

"You know, Hermione doesn't have to go and find a cure. I have a feeling Snape is becoming himself again." Sirius gritted his teeth and walked off.

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