Thank you to everyone who read and left comments on the last chapter! I really appreciate each and every one.

For those who are wondering if this story will be completed, rest assured that I am working on it! I do have the entire story planned, but most of the writing is still in progress…

Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: No I do not own Harry Potter.

Rating/warnings: Please note the rating. This story is rated M for language and sexual content. There are also mentions of violence.

Chapter 3: Meeting the Malfoys

"Mmmm fantastic stew, Gin." Hermione murmured between spoonfuls of delicious, delicious food.

Ginny sniggered at Hermione's table manners, or lack thereof. She knew that her friend spent far too much time at work than strictly necessary, and tended to skip meals when she got too caught up in her reading, much like she did at school. At least Hogwarts had regular mealtimes. The Ministry, or Casa de Hermione Granger… did not.

Harry smirked. He was stuffing his mouth as well, but did so with slightly more decorum than the obviously famished Hermione. "Remember the times when you used to tell me and Ron off for eating like pigs during mealtimes at school?"

"Shut up, Harry." Hermione mumbled in between mouthfuls of food. He continued to smirk so she aimed a kick at him under the table. Missed. Damn Harry and his excellent reflexes.

"Anyway, speaking of fantastic food, Molly invited us for supper next week at the Burrow –that includes you, of course."

Of course? Invitations to the Burrow had been sparse on Hermione's end in the years after she and Ron had split up. At first, Molly had said that she hadn't wanted Hermione to feel uncomfortable in a house full of her ex-partner's family, and out of respect she had agreed. However, it seemed as though Ron's mother assumed that Hermione would never be comfortable with the Weasleys (despite visiting the youngest Weasley and her husband for supper every fortnight) - it had been years since Hermione had been invited to the Weasley family home.

"R-really?" Hermione stuttered, grateful that she still managed to direct the piece of carrot she had been eating down her throat instead of into her windpipe. "Why now? After so long?"

"George will be there." Ginny cut in and silenced Harry with a look. He had probably been about to say something diplomatic and comforting and not at all true about how Molly had finally forgiven Hermione for giving up someone as wonderful as one of her sons. Harry shrugged and let his wife continue. "That's why Mum asked if you wanted to come. I know you haven't seen him in…ages."

No, indeed. The last time she saw George was almost five years ago, exiting a shop in Diagon Alley, looking like a shell of his former self. Hermione had wanted to call out to him, her arm had already been half-raised when George spotted her. Instead of waving back, he had stopped and stared at her before Disapparating away. Hermione had taken that as a sign that her company had been unwelcome. A knot of guilt twisted in her gut that she hadn't thought of him much at all since then.

"How is he?" Hermione whispered, her mood suddenly turned pensive.

Harry and Ginny exchanged a look. There was a pause before Harry answered, "Better." He grimaced as if dissatisfied with the answer. "Actually, yes. Much better. He actually smiled a few times when he came over a few weeks ago to see James."

All of a sudden, an image rose unbidden to Hermione's mind, almost jarring her with its intensity. Severus Snape, smiling at her at the Ministry, his arm under her hand. The crinkling at the corners of his eyes as he looked at her with affection.

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed before she could stop herself. The Potters stared at her and she flushed. "Sorry, I just thought of something suddenly…"

"That's okay, Hermione." Ginny smiled. Such Hermione-esque behaviour was tolerated with affection in the Potter household. Sudden flashes of inspiration were a particularly Hermione trait. "You should see George for yourself and see how he's doing. What were you thinking of?"

"I met Severus Snape today!" Hermione savoured the surprised looks on her friends' faces – she was sure she must have looked fairly similar this morning. Harry dropped his spoon and gaped at her while Ginny's mouth opened and closed as though she wanted to say something but couldn't. Hermione supposed even the famous Weasley ability to talk non-stop had limits.

"How is he doing?" Harry recovered first, green eyes glinting. After Harry had seen the memories that Snape had given to him at the Shrieking Shack, he had been filled with guilt and self-recrimination for his hatred of Snape all those years. Instead of wallowing in negative emotions, he had channelled that negativity into an indefatigable drive to clear his former teacher of charges relating to alleged crimes committed under the guise of a Death Eater and spy. But still, Harry had not seen Snape since he walked out of St Mungo's seven years ago, opting to leave the older wizard to his privacy.

"He looks… well." Hermione said brightly. They seemed to be echoing their earlier conversation about George, and Hermione was struck by how she seemed so convinced within herself that Snape was indeed doing well, whereas Harry hadn't appeared so sure. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on her part. "Really well, actually… Sure, he's still thin and wears those great big billowing robes and he still does that smirk, but when he showed up at work today, I almost threw my arms around him!"

Harry and Ginny burst out laughing, and Ginny sputtered out between giggles. "I wish I had been there! You should have hugged him. I would have paid good Galleons to have seen his response!"

"Unfortunately I can't tell you what he's there for." Hermione frowned apologetically at the Potters as Ginny got her giggles under control. "Work confidentiality, I'm afraid. But if it gets bad I suppose the Auror office will get involved."

"That's alright – I'll keep an eye out for reports. I trust Snape's judgement anyway. If he's involving you, though… then it must be serious, whatever it is." Harry gave Hermione with a meaningful look. "I don't think he'd get involved with the MLE lightly."

"I'll be careful, Harry." Hermione said reassuringly. We just potentially have a bomber with an intimate knowledge of Dark Arts on our hands, what's the problem?

As they enjoyed the rest of the meal, chatting aimlessly as good friends do, Hermione reflected on how different their conversations about Snape were back during the war and now, with Voldemort dead and Snape's true allegiance revealed. How many times had they said things like "He's a greasy git… bat of the dungeons… filthy Death Eater… he can't be trusted!"

And now…. "I trust Snape's judgement anyway."

Maybe this was why Snape started smiling again, Hermione thought, smiling too.

"Okay, Mr Snape – I think it would be better if you tried talking to Mrs Malfoy without me present… I've hardly ever spoken to her, and I don't think she trusts anyone except her son and old friends now." Hermione rattled off instructions to the man next to her, minutes after they had Apparated to the location a short distance from Malfoy Manor.

Snape glanced at her with an amused glint in his dark eyes. "Agreed, Miss Granger."

They had agreed that the first thing to do was to confront Narcissa about the money from her account that was apparently being used to pay for Snape's potion-making services. Hermione was gratified that Snape seemed to be giving her room to take leadership with this case, but also mildly anxious – wasn't he the master spy here? Shouldn't she be taking advice from him?

In any case, visiting Narcissa with Snape was probably not a terrible idea. Apparently they had not seen each other since Lucius Malfoy's funeral four years ago. And after all, Snape was the only person Narcissa had trusted with her son's life all those years ago during the war. Perhaps she could confide in him if she had inadvertently become entangled with the Dark Arts once again.

Hermione felt wards buzz around her as she and Snape stepped through the threshold onto the lane that led to the front door. Having been to Malfoy Manor several times since the war, as Blaise's date to the occasional party that Draco Malfoy held, she knew that the wards would notify Draco immediately of their coming. Even though it was a weekday morning, Hermione thought the Master of Malfoy Manor would probably be at home – as far as she knew, he didn't think employment was necessary for a Pureblood of his standards.

She smirked. Years ago this would have incensed her. Now she was just glad they were both alive. Strange as it might have seemed to teenage Hermione, she quite liked Draco now. Perhaps they would never really be friends, but he seemed to have gotten over that stupid Muggle-borns are below me policy he used to live by, so they found each other's presence far more tolerable than during their Hogwarts days.

As soon as they reached the front door, it was flung open by a breathless house-elf who attempted to scowl at Hermione and to beam at Snape at the same time. The clash of facial expressions made the creature look rather like a badger trying to vomit.

Snape raised an eyebrow and said to the house-elf in a deep, imperious tone that somehow made Hermione's toes curl slightly. Gods, she needed a good shag desperately if Severus Snape's voice was able to generate that reaction from her.

"Tell your Master that Hermione Granger and Severus Snape are here."

"Whemmy will tell Master Malfoy that the Dark wizard and his low-born friend are visiting." The house-elf bowed deeply to Snape and hissed at Hermione before leaving.

Whemmy? Hermione mouthed at Snape. He rolled his eyes and shrugged. He didn't seem discomfited by being described as the Dark wizard. Maybe he took it as a literal description – he was dressed in all black, after all. Hermione didn't mind being referred to as the low-born friend either. It seemed rather tame compared with some of the insults that had previously aimed at her.

A moment later, Draco Malfoy emerged from a dark corridor, hair still tousled with sleep. He was wearing a deep green dressing gown and was carrying a cup of tea. At the sight of Snape and Hermione, he grinned and tossed the tea down his throat quickly.

"Severus, Hermione, what a surprise!" Draco charmed the teacup away and reached out of shake Snape's hand and to give Hermione a peck on the cheek. "My apologies if the house-elf insulted you. I keep telling her that the war is over and that we're all friends now, but she ignores me. Whemmy is rather old – I think it's possible that she's going a bit senile, if that can happen for house-elves."

If Snape was surprised at the friendliness of the greeting between these former school rivals, he didn't show it. He just gazed warmly at his godson. "It is good to see you, Draco. However, I am afraid that we are not here purely for a social visit." Draco raised his eyebrows in a way that clearly said "Well, obviously". "I must speak with your mother. Miss Granger is here to see her on a… professional visit, and we believed that it would be best for me to speak with her alone."

Draco's assessing gaze flicked between his two unexpected guests. He knew that Hermione worked for the MLE, therefore a "professional visit" as Snape had put it could not be for a trivial purpose. For a moment he hung by the door, hesitating as he continued to study them. But then he sighed, eyes darkening as he stepped aside to let them pass. "I knew our quiet days could not last. I have no idea what it is you need to see my mother about, Severus, but I know that it cannot be good news."

For a moment Hermione wondered if it was Draco who had masterminded the whole scheme, using his mother's name to hide behind. But then she remembered the sadness in his eyes as he said I knew our quiet days could not last, and she knew that he was as desperate to hang on to their fragile peace as she was.

The stepped through the corridor, which brightened with magical light as the Master of the manor walked along. "She is in her sitting room." They stepped through another corridor, and another, and another, until they reached a light mahogany door. The Lady's rooms. Draco knocked lightly and twisted the doorknob, turning to face them without opening the door fully. Beneath his calm façade, the slight tremble of his fingers on the door betrayed his anxiety.

Here Draco reached out a hand and grasped the taller wizard's shoulder in a tight grip. "Severus, whatever it may be, please be gentle with her. She is not who she once was."

Snape nodded with understanding. "I will, Draco – you have my word."

With that, Snape disappeared into the room in a billow of robes. The two younger people stared after him.

"Merlin's beard, I keep thinking I should get robes like that. They're so… impressive." Draco gaped after his godfather. He seemed to have recovered from his earlier anxiety.

"I was just thinking the same thing! Do you think he gets them at Madame Malkin's?"

"No idea." Draco walked away slowly from his mother's rooms and signalled Hermione to follow him. "I suppose you're not going to tell me what all this is about."

"Not till after Snape finishes talking to your mother, I'm afraid."

Draco gave a grunt of assent. "Hmm. It's fortunate that you're here actually, I could use your advice…"

"Trying to remove your head from up your arse, Draco? Not sure I can help you there. Seems pretty firmly stuck to me." Sure, they were being civil to each other, but… old habits die hard. Hermione grinned to show that she was joking, just in case the ferret didn't have a sense of humour.

"Ha-ha. Very funny, Granger." Draco held the door open to another sitting room only a few doors away and waved Hermione in. There was already a pot of tea there, piping hot. He Summoned a tea cup and saucer and handed it to Hermione before helping himself to tea. "Look – I met this girl at a party last weekend. She's beautiful, sweet, intelligent… the only problem is, she's Muggle-born."

Oh, Merlin's left testicle… If he was going to say what she thought he was going to say, Hermione was going to hex him.

"… And I have no idea what Muggle-born girls like! I've only ever dated Purebloods! Does she like… flowers? Romantic poetry? Chocolates? Long walks on the beach? Come on, Hermione – help an old school mate out." Pausing to sip his tea, Draco perched elegantly on a chair and stared at her intently.

Huh. Well that was not what Hermione had thought he was going to say. She settled down opposite him and stirred her own brew. "Well…"

"Narcissa, please excuse my unexpected arrival." Severus reached out to receive Madam Malfoy's hand and bowed over it respectfully. "I am afraid something has occurred of a serious nature."

They sat in a beautifully decorated room painted in a light grey, silver curtains hanging from tall windows facing the gardens of Malfoy estate. The lady was dressed impeccably despite apparently not being ready to receive guests, draped in dress robes of fine silk in mourning black, with her hair arranged in a precise chignon. Severus noticed that the dress robes seemed to hang rather more loosely around her figure than they used to – and she had already been slender when he last saw her, years ago. The lines around her eyes were etched more deeply than he remembered, and as he noticed a tremor in her hand as she held it out to him.

"I gathered that." Narcissa Malfoy smiled wryly, grasping the hand of the wizard before her. "My house-elf has informed me that you arrived with Hermione Granger. Since Draco is not having a gala this evening, I assume that you are both here on Ministry business."

Severus nodded, dark eyes holding her gaze intently. "Narcissa." He paused as she directed him to his seat. "I must speak bluntly. Some days ago, I received information that your Gringotts vault is being used to finance a potential criminal act."

Narcissa's serene countenance faltered. Her eyes widened and Severus saw that her grip on the arm of her chair tightened. "My Gringottsvault? You must be joking. I have not dealt with my finances in years. Lucius," her voice trembled slightly as she whispered the name, so tenderly it was like a caress, "he used to handle all of that. Now my son does. To make things simpler for him, I believe that Draco has combined our amassed fortunes into a single vault. I do not think that I have accessed the account in my name since my marriage –and only then to inform the Goblins to change my name from Narcissa Black to Malfoy."

She broke eye contact, and for a moment appeared as though she was about to rise to her feet. Then she spoke, softly, as though afraid of the words that escaped her. "You can… you can look, if it would comfort you. I assume the Granger girl would not be convinced by my word alone."

There was a pause, and then, in a stronger voice she added, "I will do what it takes to protect my family."

Neither spoke for several moments. Then, a gentle baritone responded, "If you wish."

Narcissa turned back to face Severus, and he was struck suddenly by the steeliness in her gaze. "Do it."

Their gazes met.

"Legilimens."

And he delved into her mind.

"You're still not going to tell me what this is all about."

It had been scarcely more than a quarter of an hour since they had arrived. Hermione knew that Draco was getting restless. Talking about the new love interest of his had taken up his attention for most of that time but… well, there was only so much that she could say about how to win a witch's affections. It wasn't as though Hermione was or would ever be particularly invested in researching romantic gestures.

"I'm afraid not, Draco." Hermione aimed her wand at the kettle and it started to boil again. "More tea?"

"It is as I feared, then."

Severus pulled back from Narcissa's mind gently, knowing the immense strain that had been placed on the already fragile woman. She gasped at the sensation of the intrusion leaving her mind. Narcissa pressed trembling fingers to her forehead as she attempted to steady her breathing. "I… My apologies – what did you say?"

"I said that it is as I feared…" Severus put a long-fingered hand into his robes and pulled out a small phial. He handed it to her gently, like a groom handling a spooked horse. "Take this." The woman sitting across from him looked up with wide eyes and stared at him and his offering. He added,
"I brewed it myself."

Narcissa took the phial with numb fingers and glanced at the label, written in Severus' hand. "Headache Solution…" She managed a wry smile. "You sly fox. You knew. You were always too clever for your own good."

"You flatter me, Narcissa." Severus leaned back and pressed the tips of his fingers together, holding her gaze until she uncorked the bottle and sipped its contents gradually. "I am sorry to have had to pain you."

"It must be important, whatever it is." Narcissa looked surprised at the taste of the potion. "This doesn't taste as bad as the potions I order from Diagon Alley. What in Merlin's name have you done to it?"

"Only a few small editions here and there to improve the flavour." Severus smirked and Narcissa's hard gaze relented as she released a short breathless laugh. His expression turned grave as he continued. "Yes, I am afraid that the situation is rather serious. I suspected that you knew nothing about how your funds are apparently being used, but I had to know for certain. I will return to Miss Granger and provide her with the memories as required to clear your name."

"And then…?"

"And then the real trouble starts." Severus said gruffly.

They sat in silence for a few moments, no other noise in the room save for the gentle chiming of a clock.

"I neglected to say…" Narcissa sipped the last of the potion and placed the phial on the side table. "You look very well, Severus. In fact… you look wonderful. I cannot remember a time when you appeared this way."

Severus didn't reply immediately. He reached forward and recovered the empty phial, placing it back into his pocket. "Thank you."

Narcissa surreptitiously brushed unshed tears from her eyes. "I cannot believe it has been so many years since we last saw each other… and I hardly spoke to you at Lucius' funeral. How long did it take you to… recover?"

"From Nagini's bite? More than a year." Severus looked away to brush some invisible dust from his robes. "From the darkness of my own creation? I am still… as they say, working on it."

"How do you do it?" Narcissa reached forward, her gaze seeking his with something akin to desperation. "How do you… move on? How does one be happy… aft- after all we've seen? After all we've done?"

A bark of laughter – Draco's voice – followed by a peal of silvery giggles – Miss Granger – the sounds were muffled through the walls, but in the sudden silence of Narcissa Malfoy's sitting room, they rang as clear as a bell.

Severus smiled. Narcissa raised an eyebrow as his expression. "Listen to them. Miss Granger and Draco… they were children during the war. They were even - as much as children can be – considered enemies. And now, they talk and laugh and share each other's company. They have moved on." He leaned forward. "They understand that the world has changed. It is no longer as dark as it once was. We are free now."

Narcissa opened her mouth as if to speak, then stopped and pursed her lips. Finally she managed to say, "I feel selfish… thinking of one day being happy without my husband." Her fingers stroked the cool metal of her wedding band, never once removed from her finger after more than twenty-five years.

"Lucius would not see it in that way. He would want you to be happy." Severus said gently, "And for what it's worth, I miss him too."

"It is difficult to move on… as you suggest. Sometimes I feel as though I do not wish to." The words were spoken so softly, as though she did not mean to say them aloud.

"I know. I, too, have suffered great loss. At times it feels as though the only reason for living is to feel more grief."

They sat once again in companionable silence. It was broken by Narcissa's sigh. She looked curiously at Severus. "You certainly seem to have moved on." From Lily. The words remained unsaid, but the meaning was clear enough. "Could it be that you have found… somebody else?"

Severus let out a sound that from a coarser man would have been a snort. "Hardly. Women look at my nose and run in the other direction."

"Don't be ridiculous. It is a noble nose. Anyway, you know what I mean, Severus."

"Do I?" He raised a dark eyebrow, smirking.

Narcissa glared at him. After he continued smirking, unfazed, she threw up her hands in defeat. "Fine, be mysterious."

Severus' smirk widened momentarily before his expression grew more serious. "I should take my leave, Narcissa. There is work to be done. I fear."

She nodded and rose. Severus followed suit, unfolding gracefully from his seat. "I wish you every success, my old friend." She raised her hand and he bowed, grasping it gently. "Please send my regards to Miss Granger."

He nodded. "I will." Opening the door, Severus paused and turned his shoulders to face her again. "By the way, I sold that awful house on Spinner's End. So when you and Draco come by for tea at my new cottage, I think you will be rather proud of the improvement. Just, please, do not involve me in any more Unbreakable Vows."

A small smile bloomed over Narcissa's severe countenance. "I look forward to the invitation."

They were standing at the front door of Malfoy Manor. Hermione was buzzing with nerves, wanting desperately to know how the conversation between Snape and Narcissa Malfoy had gone. But now was hardly the time, with Draco looking so anxious.

"Draco, please accept my apologies for not coming more often to visit your mother." Snape's face gave barely anything away, but his gentle tone to his godson suggested to Hermione that he believed Madam Malfoy to be innocent. She restrained herself and continued to wait patiently.

"It's alright, Severus. I don't think she would have been ready… before now." Draco's lips quirked to make a small smile. "Perhaps we can expect you for supper one day? Whemmy may be a senile old harridan, but she still cooks excellent meals."

"It would be my pleasure." Snape shook Draco's hand warmly.

"You too, Granger. I'll regale you with tales of my romantic success, and you can tell me more about how sad your life is."

"Sod off, you ferret."

With those delightful words, the two visitors turned to leave. As soon as they passed through the wards at the threshold of Malfoy estate, Hermione whipped her head to the side to examine Snape's face more closely. His expression was closed, and he seemed deep in thought. By the time they reached the Apparition point, Snape had still not said a word. Hermione thought it best not to interrupt his thought process. Although he had been mellow enough since they had met the day before for the first time in years, there was a not insignificant part of her that was still a little bit terrified of him.

"Let me buy you lunch." He said finally.

Lunch? I want to know about Narcissa Malfoy! Hermione almost exclaimed, but she stopped herself in time. She was hungry, and she realised that she desperately needed the lav. How many cups of tea had she drunk in Draco's company?

"Alright – there's a Muggle pub close to the Ministry entrance. I'll Apparate us there. Hang on…"

"Well… I suppose that was not a particularly huge surprise."

Hermione rubbed her fists into her eyes and stared solemnly at her fish pie. They had entered a Muggle pub after quickly Transfiguring their wizarding robes into some more appropriate. Once they had sat down and ordered, Snape casting a wandless Muffliato, he had told her everything that had passed between him and Narcissa at Malfoy Manor.

Narcissa doesn't know anything, after all. Her stomach rumbled and she poked at her pie half-heartedly. It was strange to feel both discouraged and relieved at the same time.

"I suppose you are disappointed to have lost your only lead." Hermione glanced up as Snape spoke. Damn Legilimency! She opened her mouth to scold him for looking into her mind, but he chuckled and said, "There's no need for Legilimency, Miss Granger. Your thoughts are written all over your face."

Curse her Gryffindor openness. Hermione sighed and continued poking her food. Across the table, Snape tucked into his own pie with far more decorum. "Yes, I am disappointed. But also relieved, mind you. I didn't want Narcissa Malfoy to be involved. And neither do I want Draco to be. I thought perhaps we shouldn't interview him today, and I am glad you didn't insist upon it... I just think the Malfoy's have been through rather a lot already." She paused, thinking. "But it may be worth checking with the Auror department to see if any former Death Eaters have been doing anything suspicious lately. I'll arrange a secretive meeting with Harry."

"That sounds reasonable. I will check in on my old contacts and see if anything interesting has been happening in their lives. Perhaps some of them have become bored in middle-age." There was a note of surprise in his voice as Snape continued speaking. "I confess, I was unaware that you were so… intimate with the Malfoys, particularly Draco."

"Oh, Draco and I aren't best friends or anything like that." Hermione swallowed a forkful of her pie. Suddenly realising how hungry she was, she started eating with renewed vigour. After a few moments of blissful eating, Hermione turned back to the conversation. "I dated Blaise Zabini for a while - you remember him – Slytherin… friends with Draco?" Meant to be good in bed… "I went to Malfoy Manor as Blaise's date a few times when Draco held parties. They were pretty fabulous parties. Actually, the house has been wonderfully redecorated, if you ask me. Draco tore down a good few rooms and refurbished them completely. The room where Bellatrix Black tortured me… I told Draco about that and he got rid of that room entirely. I think it's –"

"Good gods, she used the Cruciatus on you?"

"Yes?" Hermione stopped eating to stare at him. All her chatter and that was the one thing he picked up on? "It was when we were searching for the Horcruxes… Harry, Ron and I were captured, and, well… she wanted to know what we were up to."

"I am so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." For the second time in two days, Hermione felt as though she had to comfort him. What had changed so much about this man? Had he always been so… complicated?

Well, of course he had. Not for the first time, Hermione reflected that she really didn't know him at all.

"Perhaps not directly… and yet at the same time, in many ways, they were." Snape mused, half to himself.

"Anyway," Hermione began to change the subject. She started to realise that she did not like it when Severus Snape looked depressed. "I started talking to Draco again since he and Blaise are such good mates. He's changed a lot since school. He isn't the stuck-up git he was then, anymore. I mean, he's still an arrogant git, but he's a lot more tolerable now."

Snape smirked at that. He was probably remembering all the times he caught them hexing each other back at Hogwarts. "To answer your earlier question, yes I do remember Mr Zabini. Although I hardly thought he was your type – intellectual pursuit was not high on his list of priorities."

"And you think it was for Ron?" Hermione grinned, raising an eyebrow. Snape let out a bark of laughter at that. "No, actually, Ron is a lot more intelligent than people give him credit for. He just wasn't very committed to studying back at school. But you're right. Blaise wasn't exactly a fountain of intellect. But that wasn't the reason I dated him." Realising suddenly that she had revealed more than she had initially intended, Hermione almost clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Now you have me really intrigued, Miss Granger." His grin revealed whiter teeth than she remembered. Hadn't he always had yellow teeth?

"Er –" What does one normally say when questioned about one's love life by a former professor? "Let's just say that Blaise had certain qualities, according to my former schoolmates, that made him attractive for certain… physical aspects of a relationship? Pleasedon't make me spell it out, Mr Snape."

"Alright." That grin was almost predatory. But then he chuckled and she was off the hook.

At least he didn't start harping on about how I should start finding a nice young man to settle down with and start a family. Hermione mused. Her mother would certainly have found a way to introduce that into the conversation, bless her loving heart.

They lapsed into silence as they continued eating. Hermione finished her pie rather more quickly than Snape, and she sat back in her chair feeling satisfied with a full belly. Now that it was quiet, she began to study the wizard whose company she shared. It was hard not to stare at him – at the hard angles of his face, the prominent nose, the dark expressive eyes – after so long of not seeing his face. After his near-death in the Shrieking Shack, after his time at St Mungo's, whenever Hermione had tried to draw a picture of Severus Snape in her mind, it had depressed her that all her memories of him were bathed in distrust and unpleasantness. She wanted to replace all her old memories of him, angry and tense and mistrustful as a Potions Master surrounded by students who hated him, a spy swearing fealty to two masters who asked him always for too much. And at the end, covered in blood, thinking that it was his last breath and whispering to Harry … Hermione didn't want to think about Snape in those times. She wanted to remember him like this – contented, healthy, and unafraid.

Even with the threat of a mad bomber lying under our noses.

Even so. This was how she wanted to remember him. To think of all the things they had said about him… all that the thought that he was – traitor, murderer, Death Eater – how much they hated him after Dumbledore's death. Hermione shuddered at the memories. Up till now, she had not realised how grateful she was that she could have a second chance to know the man Severus Snape really was.

Snape seemed discomfited with her scrutiny. He had stopped eating. "What's the matter?"

"Just remembering… how it used to be." Hermione scrunched her nose and tried to articulate herself more clearly. "I keep thinking about how awful we were to you, and how isolated you must have been. You must have felt so alone. I'm so-"

"Please do not apologise, Miss Granger." Snape said abruptly, but in a gentle tone. "Believe me, the isolation was necessary. If I spent too much time around people who cared, I might have cracked and revealed everything, which would have been catastrophic for our side. For what it is worth, you were very young when you became involved in the War. You were very impressionable, and I was easy to hate."

"I don't hate you now." Hermione blurted out.

The look on his face made her stomach flutter pleasantly, and Hermione told herself that it must be the pie.

"I am glad." He replied.

Next chapter: Hermione has a steamy encounter… but with whom?

Hee hee hee…