Snape sat alone, with his head bent low over a glass of whiskey, elbows resting on his knees.
How could he have imagined even for a moment that he had a chance with her, she was as fresh as a daisy and purer than anyone he'd known and yet she managed to be completely enchanting, everything about her fascinated him.
Snape thought he could watch her speak for a hundred years and never tire of watching her beautiful lips form words and her eyes sparkle as she brought them to life.
And that laugh! He could hear it now ringing out an unblemished sound that made him feel full and pure.
He wanted her to laugh for him and him alone, hearing Weasly there with her had thrown him he'd become accustomed and slightly jealousy of her without realising and Hermione's laughter had brought him back to her.
When he'd died he'd been given the option of either coming to terms with his death, leaving life's problems behind and moving on, which he'd been very willing to do until he'd seen the alternative; to come back to the place he had left behind but be given a possibility, a chance at happiness.
He had only seen a hazed glimpse of this future but what he felt in his heart made his emotions roar, he saw Hermione holding on to him arms around his neck as they danced, she was looking up at him with such love in her eyes, then in the picture he'd bent his head to her ear and said something which caused her to throw back her head and laugh wholeheartedly. She'd wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck holding him to her. The only sound that stood out of the haze had been that laugh and he adored it for what it might mean for him…for them.
He'd known then that the feeling in his heart was absolute, that he needed to snatch at this chance; and so he'd returned.
But thinking on it now what had it been that he had seen? A vicious tease to drag him back to a cruel life? Maybe a slight chance at reality? A premonition? What? Sighing he knocked back the whiskey and threw the empty tumbler into the fire, causing a flash of light.
At the same moment came a rap on his door, his head shot up, nobody knew about him being back but given his rooms, the wards and the space (and ok the proximity to Hermione) this is where he'd returned to.
Casting a quick disillusionment charm on himself he flung a spell at the door causing it to spring open.
And there stood Hermione Granger bold as brass, complete with box of tissues in tow.
Cautiously she stepped in
"Professor?" she ventured
"Close the door, there's a good girl" he whispered removing the charm from himself.
When she turned back from closing the door she was momentarily stunned at the sight of him, he sat by the fire without his usual attire he looked much more an ordinary man.
A few buttons were loosened and she couldn't drag her gaze away.
He just sat watching her squirm a slight smile touching his lips.
"Professor…I just…"
"I'm nobody's professor anymore Hermione"
"Well no… just you said you were coming back to me and I thought I'd check you hadn't fallen and hit your head or something"
"I did come back to you" his face shifted and his eyes took on a far away expression that made her a little nervous
"well I can see you're ok so I'll be going then…"
"No, please don't go, come and sit with me"
She walked in and sat on the edge of the sofa next to the fire and opposite Snape
"How's that cold coming on" he asked as she place her box of tissues on the arm of the couch,
She still looked slightly bleary eyes almost like she'd been crying and sniffled a little now and then but she shrugged her shoulders.
"I've been worse"
Snape grunted sounding disbelieving and twisted around retrieving a vial of potion from his robe's pocket which hung over the back of his chair.
He stood and walked around the coffee table and sat next to her on the couch.
Putting a hand behind her head he let his fingers mix with her unruly hair, then with the other hand he unstoppered the potion, resting it on her lips he tipped back both her head and the potion.
Trustingly she swallowed immediately, the liquid burnt hot tracks down her throat and he watched as she shuddered, keeping his hand in the warmth of her hair a little longer than he need have; then her withdrew them down her neck removing them with conscious effort when his fingers met her robes.
Watching him she swallowed raggedly, tasting the think liquid coating her mouth and throat.
"What was that? I've never tasted it before, it was vile by the way"
He smiled as he replied
"That my dear, was my very own healing potion, I must admit I never really gave a thought to improving its taste"
"Well you should!" she laughed still trying to swallow the taste it had left
"Here let me get you something to take away the taste"
He stood and walked to the drinks cabinet,
"What's your favourite drink?"
"I don't really know" she answered honestly, following him to the drinks cabinet.
"What's that one?" she asked pointing to a decanter filled with an iridescent pearly liquid,
"You won't like that"
"I might"
"You won't" he repeated pouring a little into a tumbler
Downing it, she tried to stifle her body's reaction to the drink, it was as though she'd swallowed burning petrol leaving her slightly dizzy and her eyes watery, she blinked a few times to clear the sensation.
Then handed back the tumbler without comment, he grinned at her
"Wouldn't listen would you?"
"I might have liked it"
"But you didn't"
"Ok clever clogs, which would you suggest?"
He lent around her resting a hand on her waist, he brought back a circular bottle with a peachy drink inside.
"I'll like this one?"
"Yep"
"But how can you be so sure….Severus?"
His name on her lips stopped his breath
"I'm never wrong" he whispered belatedly
He held out her drink and their fingers touched then he laid his hand over the top of hers and for a moment their eyes locked, until she looked down at their hands and started slightly pulling away and heading back over to the couch.
Watching her Snape got a warm feeling in his stomach she had slipped off her shoes and sat with her feet tucked under her as she looked into the fie and cradled her drink.
Bringing it to her lips she took a cautious sip, before closing her eyes.
Joining her on the couch he asked
"You like it?"
"Mmm, It's wonderful"
"told you I'm never wrong, how are you feeling? Just out of curiosity?"
"Hey I'm not ill anymore!"
"You doubted my potion, did you?" he said rolling his eyes
"No, well I mean I never had one work as quickly."
He nodded and they sat in companionable silence for a while until Severus blurted
"So what did Weasley have to say?"
"Ron?...you mean this afternoon?"
"It doesn't matter, I'm sorry I shouldn't have…. Just forget I said anything alright?"
"No actually it would be nice to talk to someone, you see I think I've hurt him terribly, I didn't mean to it's just he's so sensitive, he always has been"
Putting her drink on the table she turned to look at him and proclaimed
"I was ill and he didn't give me any warning just came out with it"
Then she sat looking at her knees seemingly unlikely to speak again so he prompted
"Sorry you lost me there, what happened?"
"We are… were kind of well we were…"
She squirmed a little and he felt no desire to help the most literate witch he knew formulate a basic sentence
"Well you know and anyway were not now, but today he asked me to marry him"
"What did you say!" he snapped thoroughly alarmed
"I said Ron asked me…."
"Yes I got that part I meant how did you answer him?"
"I said no, you see we fight all the time and I used to think there'd be nothing better than dating my best friend but I don't know… it's just not great, I know that people fight but with him it's constant. I don't think I could face forever. I mean can you imagine Hermione Weasley, Mrs Hermione Weasley-"
"-Yes alright I get it!"
'Mrs Hermione Weasly' had been exactly what he been envisioning, and the thought was making his jaw harden and his forehead crease to a frown. Just thinking of Weasley's hands on her, touching her- making her moan, the thought was enough to make him want to give up his new found innocence and casting the killing curse on Ron.
Hermione continued oblivious
"-I just didn't get to explain properly, I don't think were speaking, well that he'd listen I mean"
"And you're worried over that?"
Her frown gave way to a smile at his obvious confusion.
"He's my best friend; I don't want to lose him"
She leant forward and put her head in her hands looking so forlorn that he moved up to her, putting a reassuring arm around her shoulders.
She lent in and they stayed like that for some time before Hermione sniffed and sat up asking
"So what else have you got in that amazing cabinet of yours?" gesturing to the drinks cabinet.
She laughed as he reached for his wand and caused the entire contents to form an orderly bundle in front of her on the coffee table
"There knock your self out" he smiled at her, handing her a glass and summoning one for himself.
"What's your favourite?" she asked leaning forward to reach the table
"That one with the black label, the whiskey"
"This one?" she questioned holding up a bottle
"That's the one"
she undid the lid and poured him a glass, before placing the bottle at her feet, then she sighed and sunk to the floor resting her back against the settee, close enough to Snape's leg that her felt the warmth of her and noticed each time she moved.
He relaxed back in to the soft cushions quite happily prepared to watch her all night long.
Hermione proceeded to turn all of the bottles so she could clearly see each label, before selecting bottle after bottle and trying a little, after this she placed the bottles at the back of the coffee table in what soon appeared to be three groups.
She explained after a while they indicated drinks she, liked, disliked and wasn't sure of.
He noticed she bypassed the pearly drink from earlier placing it as far away from her as she could reach in the disliked group which was growing rapidly, he enjoyed watching her work as she delicately tasted and organised each drink.
She came to the peachy drink and pouring an extra helping she leant back her side against his leg, while she sipped she spun round slightly to watch him as he sat drinking his whiskey, but mostly watching her.
He noticed her face was flushed and her eyes slightly glazed and considered for a moment that he should probably stop her before she became intoxicated.
But quickly decided her enjoyed watching her too much and didn't like to deny her.
They watched each other unashamed while Hermione drank then she turned back to her task.
When all the bottles were sorted on the table she turned to face him again
"There! I've tasted 'em all!" her speech slightly slurred.
Turning to face him more fully she knocked over the sealed bottle of whiskey she'd poured for him earlier.
Picking it up Hermione looked at him
"Will I like this one?"
"You'd be mad not to" he replied, smiling at her perplexed expression.
She set the bottle down on the table and knelt up facing him.
She placed a hand on each of his knees and pushed herself up and towards him, they were eye to eye and he could smell the warmth of everything she'd tasted on her soft breath.
Then he held his breath as she lent in and closing her eyes let her lips touch his ever so softly, slowly she ran her tongue along the line of his lips, tasting delicately.
He felt something break within him and moved his hands to her hips pulling her close as he deepened the kiss.
It was a kiss filled with gentle tenderness but also a desperate need, she pulled her self closer to him wrapping her arms about him
Then pushing against his shoulders she drew her self up from kneeling so she was standing in front of him looking down at his face searching his eyes, she didn't need to be as good as he was at reading the mind to realise he expression was filled with wonderment and adoration.
"Yes I like that one very much" she whispered as she moved to sit astride his lap wrapping her legs around him then she bent her head to continue the kiss.
In the time that followed they rearranged their various limbs so Hermione was laying under Severus flat on her back on the soft couch, Severus let out a harsh groan and pushed himself upon his arms away from Hermione,
"We should, stop"
"You don't mean that" she answered as she lifted her body to maintain contact with his, kissing her forehead then her then her cheek tenderly he groaned
"Hermione, we need to"
She made an annoyed sound in the back of her throat and felt his rumbling chuckle against her chest
"I know, I'm sorry"
"Spoilsport"
"I won't have you telling everyone I let you lose on my drinks cabinet then had my wicked way with you"
"Sounds fun, and I won't tell" she said pulling him down for a kiss
Pulling away again he shook his head and using all his will power he span to sit up, pulling her with him she rested her head against his chest looking up at him she smirked,
"Alright, but next time we get you drunk, deal?"
"What ever you say my love" he said smiling back at her,
Hermione smiled and lent her head against him, yawning she snuggled in to his warmth and closed her eyes.
The next morning Hermione awoke in a strange bed with a blinding headache, turning over she noticed a note, reaching for it she took a while to focus on the words which said:
Hermione,
Drink the potion on your bedside table when you wake up (it'll fix your head) sweet dreams.
Love
S.S
She sat up with effort and drank from the vial, and sure enough within minuets she was left with only good memories in her head.
Hope that was ok for you let me know! Thanks (for reading or reviewing or both!)