Redefining Nothing
Ch 3. Hogsmeade
A/N: Hope you're all still interested and sorry it's taken so long to get new chapters typed up. I have all the way through most of 5 written, so it will keep coming I promise.
For the next week Hermione and Ron didn't speak. The highlight of Hermione's day was Potions. Even if Snape couldn't, and didn't, openly acknowledge that she'd been there Saturday, she knew it. It was a moral boost for her during the time Harry spent with Ron. It felt much like her first year at Hogwarts. She spent her breaks in the library and ate alone, and through it all she dreaded the Hogsmead trip. Harry and Ron would disappear off to some romantic hideaway and she'd be left alone. Nothing about the trip appealed to her.
Saturday morning came too quickly. Hermione laid in bed extra long debating whether or not to go at all. At last she decided that the fresh air would do her good. She rose and since uniforms weren't necessary she pulled on a pair of jeans. Looking out the window at the semi-cloudy day, she chose a crimson turtleneck sweater. A black cloak and her Gryffindor scarf completed the outfit. She ran a brush through her hair and headed out.
She grabbed a quick breakfast in the nearly empty hall and then joined the throng leaving the castle. She trapsed through the cold air deep in thought. For a while she walked alone, then someone joined her.
"Hello, Hermione." Luna Lovegood cooed in her dreamy, absent voice.
Hermione looked up. "Oh, hello Luna." She said vaguely. She really didn't feel like talking to anyone.
"Is it true that you assisted Professor Snape last weekend?" Luna asked in her usual blunt, but innocent manner.
"Yes," Hermione said, anger tinging her tone. "Ron told you, did he?"
Luna looked shocked. "No, Professor Snape did."
It was Hermione's turn to be shocked. "He did?"
"Oh yes. You see, I wanted to come in to work on an experiment, but he said he couldn't be there. A sixth year was coming in to act as his lab assistant." Luna explained.
"How did you know it was me?" Hermione pressed.
"I asked him." Luna made it sound as though people asked Snape for specific information on his weekend doings everyday.
"And he told you?"
"Yes." Luna shrugged. "He seemed quite happy about it actually. Odd for Professor Snape don't you think?"
"Quite odd." Hermione muttered. Inside she was smiling to think that he'd been happy to have her coming.
"Hmmm." Luna was quiet for a moment. "Did you read last week's 'Quibbler'?"
"Umm, no sorry." Hermione said distractedly. She should have trusted that Luna wouldn't be in it for the gossip.
"Father interviewed a man who has seen a Snarckle. It was quite interesting." She said dreamily.
"Fascinating." Hermione commented as the conversation drifted off to the realm of the imaginary.
Not long after, Luna spotted Neville and drifted off after him. By now they'd reached the main road in Hogsmeade and the crowd was breaking up. Couple's drifted to Madame Pudifoots Tea Shop. Meanwhile the single's gravitated to either the Three Broomsticks or the new Hogsmeade branch of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Wanting to be alone, Hermione avoided the main haunts and ducked down a side street. She wandered aimlessly around looking at various lesser known shops. Occasionally she saw a fellow student of another pedestrian but mostly the steets were empty. Eventually, she found a potion maker's shop that looked interesting and not too creepy.
She pulled open the glass door and stepped into the warm interior. As was her nature, she immediately gravitated to the book section. She found that, like in a library, several padded chairs were provided to read in. She browsed the shelves for a few moments. At last she settled for one called Truth Potions A to Z and settled into the nearest chair. She wasn't sure how long she'd been reading when the door opened. She didn't bother to look up. Rather she let the book absorb her once more.
"Miss Granger? What are you doing here?"
Snape's silky voice cut into her focus. Her heart immediately began to pound, despite her attempts to quiet it. She paused and then looked up calmly. "Oh, hello, Professor. I'm just doing a little reading. I didn't feel like facing the crowds on the main street." It was probably more explaination that he really cared to have, but she couldn't help over talking around him.
Smiling, his own heart leaping, Snape strode over to her. "And what are you reading?"
Hermione closed the book to show him the title.
"Do they interest you?" He asked.
Hermione smiled. "Yes. They're very complex and I love studying the various ways that the ingredients combine."
"Only a truly brilliant mind would look at that aspect of it and enjoy it." He praised as he came to a halt in front of her.
Hermione swallowed hard and forced herself to be normal. "What are you doing here, Professor?" She asked.
Snape smiled again. "I was informed that some ingredients that I'd ordered had come in. I came here to get them."
As if on cue a thin, blonde witch of middle age came out of a back room. "Welcome to Brewer's Dream!" She exclaimed. The she gve her partons a more thorough look and she recognized Snape. "Oh, Professor Snape! You'be come for your order! Just a moment. I'll fetch it." She bustled off again, leaving Snape and Hermione alone again. They were silent and a few minutes later the blonde witch returned.
"Thank you, Amelia. It's a pleasure doing business here as always." Snape said pleasantly.
Amelia turned to Hermione then. "Can I help you with anything, Miss?"
"Oh, no thank you. I'm just looking." Hermione said.
Amelia nodded and disappeared again. As soon as the office door clicked Snape turned to Hermione. "You left last week before we could have lunch together. Shall we try again?"
Despite wanting to spend time with him, the thought of it being public made Hermione's stomach squirm. "Is that a good idea?"
"I know a place where no one will see us." He said evenly. At least he hoped it would be safe. "It's not far from here."
"Shall we go then?" Hermione asked, feeling brave.
Snape's heart trilled as she took a minute to shelve her book and join him. He held the door for her and when they were ouside he gently took her hand. Her fingers tensed and for a moment he feared that she'd pull away. He glanced at her only to find her watching him. Her eyes showed startled bewilderment, but also a tentative hope. In response he stroked his thumb across her knuckles. Her hand froze and then became like putty as he continued his massage. Before long her fingers laced through his. They walked in silence for a time holding hands. The contact was simple and yet both parties felt charged and fulfilled by it.
"We're here." Snape siad at last. Her led the way into a dingey café. There were nearly twenty booths and several tables, but all were empty.
"How did you find this place?" Hermione asked.
Snape's mouth twisted upwards in a crooked smile. "After visiting Brewer's Dream one day, I just started to wander around. I got hungry and I wandered in here. They have wonderful French onion soup."
A waitress appeared and seated them in a corner booth. She gave them a minute to look over the menu and then took their orders and disappeared.
"You know, Hermione," Snape said, "I own that book you were reading today. You may borrow it if you wish."
Her eyes lit up. "Really, Professor?"
"Yes, really." Snape said, happy to please her. "And I thought I told you I didn't like to be called 'Professor' on the weekends."
Hermione blushed. "Severus." She whispered shyly. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Hermione." He whispered in response, reaching for her hand again across the table. The tension that filled them as they whispered each other's Christian names and clasped hands lit them both on fire. They sat there holding hands until their soup arrived. While they ate they talked about Potions and the book that Hermione had been reading. Nearly two hours later they paid for their meal and left. It was nearly time for Hermione to join the rest of the students heading back for the castle. They hadn't walked far before Severus pulled her down a side alley.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked as he backed her gently against the wall.
"I want you to know that what I feel for you dangerous. Teachers shouldn't feel for their students what I feel for you. Tell me you feel the same and this risk will be worth it." He suddenly looked not at all like the arrogant, strict Potions Master. He looked vulnerable and anxious.
Hermione was having a hard time breathing properly. "I….I…I shouldn't…But I do….feel the same." She choked out.
A huge, slightly devilish smile split Severus' features. His hands found the back of her neck as his lips met hers. Hermione twined her arms behind his head as she kissed him back. She shivered as one of his hands slipped down her neck to her shoulders and then her back. His firm hand pulled her closer to him. She wound her fingers in his hair. His mouth was unbearably warm as it moved with hers. Severus moaned in happiness as her tongue darted out to taste his lower lip.
At last, when they were both starting to get dizzy, he pulled away. They clung to each other as both fought to regain control of their breathing and bring their pulses back to normal.
When Hermione had recovered she leaned her head against Severus' should and groaned. "We're in serious trouble, aren't we?"
"My dear, you have no idea." He whispered as he stroked her hair. He sighed, in an almost irritated fashion. "Do you know what you make me feel, Hermione? What you do to me?"
Hermione laughed against his shoulder. "If it's anything like the burning feeling you inspire in me, then yes I have a pretty good idea."
"Hmmm…yes, burning is a good description of it. But it's a pleasant sort of fire." Severus kissed her neck tenderly and held her a bit longer. "You're going to miss the walk back to the castle."
"So?" Hermione murmured, snuggling closer to him. "Can't I just stay here?"
"Now my dear, we must keep up our pretense of teacher and student." His voice dropped to a silken whisper. "But I shall fin da reason to give you 'detention' soon enough." He winked at her to emphasize his implided quotes around detention. "Now you'd better go."
Hermion responded by crushing her mouth to his once more. For a moment their mouths slid together in perfect unison, but then Severus was pulling away.
"No," Hermione begged. "Don't."
Severus laughed. He already adored the way his kisses made her slide into a trance-like state where for a moment all she wanted was more. The only problem was that he wanted nothing more than to ignore reality and give her what she wanted. "My dear, your friends are going to ask questions if your mouth is anymore swollen when you turn up again." Hermione selfconsciously felt her somewhat swollen lips. "And at the moment, sweetheart, the way you're begging is wreaking havoc on my self control. I might have to give them reasons to ask questions if you don't scoot."
Now it was Hermione's turn to laugh. "Severus Snape losing control? I never thought I'd see the day."
"I'm warning you…"
His mock threat only made her laugh harder. "I'm going!" Still giggling she turned and walked away.
Severus leanded against the wall and sighed. But unlike before it was not a sigh of unhappiness or anxeity. It was a sigh of pure contentment.
Hermione hurried back to the main street of Hogsmeade and melded into the throng of students. She could have skipped or danced all the way back to the castle. Severus wanted her, and they'd made plans to see each other again. She hadn't even noticed how much she was smiling until someone next to her commented on it.
"You seem to have enjoyed the trip."
Hermione turned to see Harry striding along next to her and on his other side was a rather put out looking Ron. She couldn't help the widening of her smile. "Yes I quite enjoyed it. How was Madame Pudifoot's?"
"Fine." Harry said with a shrug. "Ginny and I only spent half our time there. She wanted to see her brothers so we went to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. What did you do?"
Hermione swallowed. She knew she couldn't tell him the whole truth and that felt odd. Up till now she, Harry, and Ron had told each other everything. "I went exploring. I got loads of fresh air and exercise. Eventually I found a cute little shop with a book section and spent lots of time reading." She didn't mention that it was a potions shop because she didn't want him to get suspicious.
"Sounds like your kind of day." Harry commented, not completely sold on that being all she'd done. Even Hermione had to surface from books sometimes.
"How was your day, Ron?" Hermione asked, her happy mood making her diplomatic. He really didn't look happy."
"Wonderful, actually." Ron said brightening the slightest bit. "Lavender is wonderful and perfect."
"I'm so glad it's working out for you." Hermione said genuinely. "Speaking of, where are Ginny and Lavender?"
"They went on ahead with Parvarti and Luna. I guess they wanted to pick over the day with other girls." Harry shrugged.
"Probably." Hermione said.
"Don't you want to to join them?" Ron asked acidly.
"Why would I want to do that Ron? My two best friends are right here."
Ron grimaced.
"You aren't really still bent out of shape about last Saturday are you?"
"Maybe." Ron said sulkily.
"Oh, really Ronald! Can't you be a little more mature. It was one day!" She sighed. "Listen I really don't want to stop talking to you over this. Can't you just let it go?"
"Yeah, I suppose." Ron grumbled.
"Listen, Ron, Snape may no be the nicest of men, but he's a brilliant one. I learned loads from him last weekend."
Ron rolled is eyes. He looked about to gag.
Hermione hated to lie, but she had to if she wanted to keep her friends. "Ron, I was making upu my credits and helping Professor Lupin." She forced a laugh and congratulated herself on how convincing it sounded. "You're making it sound like I fancy him!"
"You don't?" Ron asked, scoffing. But softening all the same.
Hermione swallowed down the truth. "No, Ron, I don't fancy him. That's disgusting." She supressed the urge to flinch at her own words. Severus, wherever you are, if you can here me, I'm soo sorry. I really do fancy you. She thought.
Ron softened all the way. "Alright, I get it."
"So we're friends again?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Ron said happily. "As long as you don't fancy any other Slytherin you aren't telling me about.
The threat made her stomach roil in anxiety. "I don't." She assured him.