They sat smiling shyly and wondering what this new start would bring, each were thinking very different thoughts but with the same theme and general outcome.

Hermione was secretly reeling, in a dazed untroubled sort of a way, trying to remember at what point her potions master had become to feel so compatible and approachable.

While Severus was less surprised but more apprehensive he felt afraid to let go of her hand in case she floated away like some sort of vivid dream, which would dissolve with the first touch of sunlight.

After a few minuets of thoughtful silence had passed between them Hermione took a last gulp of her coffee and then asked in a straightforward Ron-like way

"Well what about some breakfast? I'm famished"

Smiling at her ability to suddenly change the mood he lounged back in his chair,

"What do you fancy? The cupboards are pretty much full"

Standing from her chair and depositing her empty coffee cup in the sink, she turned her head to grin at him

"The works" and with that she began opening his cupboards and selecting ingredients with efficiency.

From his seat Severus grinned at how completely ordinary it felt to be sat in his own kitchen while she rifled through his cooking equipment.

As a rule he was a very private person who disliked other people in his personal space but he had adapted surprisingly easily to Hermione, he liked the way she moved around not making him defensive but rather captivating him.

He'd felt it last night while she'd been drinking his liqueur it hadn't felt as though he was sacrificing anything; but rather like the gift was his as he was honoured by her presence. Being able to watch her enjoying his drinks, and he'd never been the sort to find more joy in giving than receiving, as a rule he'd been happy to take and to shut others out.

Although he'd cared for a cause and genuinely liked or respected a good few members of the order he never felt the need to give them anything they'd not earned or indeed even to spare their feelings.

And yet his need to please her, to make her smile overwhelmed him.

He who had only ever given a handful of gifts, had seen the beautiful bookmark in Florish and blotts and simply had to have it for Hermione and that only after their first meeting.

Under a (admittedly very strong and secure) disillusionment charm he'd entered the shop, and leaving the money on the deserted counter, left with the book mark just for her.

What a novelty to care for someone genuinely, was this why he'd been given his second chance? to find the good in people to let her see the good in him?

Finishing his coffee he stood to join Hermione in his spacious kitchen area, the delightful aroma of cooking and the sound of laughter filled the air as they cooked together, however certain culinary differences soon became apparent and as each insisted on making their preferred dish they soon had a mid-morning feast laid before them.

It consisted of Bacon, sausages (three different varieties), eggs (both scrambled and fried) fried bread, hash browns, mushrooms (creamed and grilled) beans, tomatoes (chopped and fried)toast (brown and white) also bread and to top it off both brown and red sauce made their way to the table.

As they sat down together to eat Hermione looked at the gigantic breakfast of differences and began to laugh, looking straight a Snape she said quite seriously but with a gentle smile

"I do hope you're ready for this, I mean for us. I'm guessing it's going to be quite a challenge"

"I can't wait" he replied sincerely before tucking into the mammoth platter set before him.

###

After their meal they'd set the pots to wash themselves and flopped on to the living room sofa, talking sedately and generally getting to know one another, gradually growing more and more familiar.

Glancing at the mantle clock Hermione exclaimed upon seeing that it was 1:30 pm.

"I'm going to have a shower and then I want to take you somewhere"

"Where?"

"Just somewhere I haven't been for ages I feel like a trip out, if you want to that is?"

"I'd love to… just so long as we wont bump into people I'm not sure I want to divulge my reappearance just yet"

"well it's a muggle place"

he nodded his consent and moved as if to get up but Hermione placed her hand on his arm

"…I've been meaning to ask since you mention it, your reappearance, I don't really understand…"

With a sigh and a smile he answered

"You always were too nosey, go and get ready I'll explain when we get there"

Satisfied with this for the time being, she turned and went to get ready; but instead of heading back to her room for a shower as he'd automatically expected her to do, she entered his room and soon he heard his shower running.

There was something strangely intimate to having a woman share his bathroom he thought, just knowing she was there slowly invading his personal space, along with his heart, mind and senses was all much less painful that he'd imagined it would be.

###

A.N: so there you go, I haven't dropped off of the planet! Hope u liked it, I wasn't sure about this chap but thought I'd better do something to the story so…yeah let me know!