Summary: Attempted dating.

A/N: It's not what it sounds like. :) Thanks for reading!

Chapter 9

Hermione was at breakfast, chatting with Severus about her classes when an owl came in and dropped a small note in her lap. She scooped it up and read it quickly.

"Oh! It's from Ginny. She wants to get together tomorrow in Hogsmeade."

"Will she be bringing Potter?"

Hermione shrugged. "She didn't say."

"Well, you don't have to chaperone for Hogsmeade weekend, so it looks like you're free to meet her."

"And Potter…" she said with a raised brow and a smirk.

"Yes, and Potter."

"Do you think you'll ever be able to call him by his first name?"

"Definitely never."

Hermione laughed. "All right, then. I'll pass along your regards if he's there."

"Oh, please do," he said with a roll of his eyes.

Shaking her head, she went back to her pancakes.

oooOOOooo

Hermione entered the Three Broomsticks and saw Ginny and Harry right off. She headed to their table as they stood up to greet her. She hugged Ginny, then Harry, giving him an extra squeeze. She missed seeing them both, but she really missed her best friend.

"Hi guys, how are you?"

"We're good, Hermione," Harry said. "I can't stay long. I have a meeting I have to be at soon, but I wanted to see you. How's everything going?"

"It's good!" Hermione said. "I'm enjoying the students right now, so that makes it even better."

Ginny laughed. "I thought you always enjoyed the students."

Hermione huffed. "Hardly. They're unruly and don't listen, but the break was only a couple weeks ago, so I can deal with their antics."

"Makes sense," Ginny said.

"So, what meeting are you going to?" Hermione asked Harry.

"I'm meeting with the other Aurors to review a couple of high-profile criminals."

"Sounds fascinating."

"Oy, Hermione, you don't have to be sarcastic."

"I'm not! I mean, if I were at that meeting, I'd probably want to Avada myself, but you love this kind of stuff."

"Indeed I do."

"Harry is going to take over the department when the Head Auror retires in three months."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh, Harry, that's brilliant!"

"Yeah, I'm excited to take over. I've got a lot of ideas for change."

"I'm so happy for you!"

"I'm excited to see what he does," Ginny remarked as she wrapped her arm in his.

Harry placed his hand on hers. "I'd better get going or they may reconsider my promotion for being late."

Ginny chuckled and kissed him. Harry rose and gave Hermione a hug before heading out of the pub. Hermione smiled at Ginny as she watched her husband go.

"Aww, you look so in love with him."

"Well, obviously I am, even after five years of marriage he still makes my heart flutter."

Hermione's smile didn't reach her eyes. She was happy for her friends but felt cheated that she hadn't found that type of love herself.

"I wanted to ask you," Ginny continued. "I know someone who I think you might like. He's a sports reporter with The Prophet."

"Oh?"

"Yes, he's smart like you, and he's funny, too. I can set you two up for a dinner date if you'd like?"

Hermione's eyebrows gathered together as she thought about it. Did she want to go on a date with someone she didn't know? Maybe he could make her forget about Severus? She sighed.

"All right," she said quietly.

"Don't be so excited," Ginny quipped.

Hermione looked up at her. "I'm intrigued, really. I just have never liked these blind date situations."

Ginny waved a hand at her. "Oh, it'll be fun!"

"We'll see."

oooOOOooo

The following weekend, Hermione Apparated to Diagon Alley and headed for the Leaky Cauldron. As she approached, she saw a tall, handsome man with dark hair waiting outside. She approached him.

"Gregory?" she asked.

He turned and smiled at her. "Hermione!" he called out as he reached out and shook her hand. "It's lovely to meet you."

She grasped his hand and shook it, too, releasing it quickly. She marveled at his deep blue eyes. He definitely was attractive.

"A pleasure," she agreed.

"I know we discussed eating here at the Leaky, but it's awfully loud in there. Would you rather go to the Twisted Wand Cafe instead?"

Hermione looked over at the small cafe about halfway down the street.

"Actually, I'd love that. I always feel odd at the Leaky. Everyone stares at me."

Gregory extended his arm. "Then let's be off."

Hermione entwined her arm with his, and they headed for the cafe.

"Ginny said you teach at Hogwarts now," Gregory mused.

She arched a brow at him.

"I mean instead of felling Dark Lords."

Hermione laughed. "Yes, I've chosen a more mundane existence since the war."

"I can't blame you. You all went through a lot. At that time there wasn't any sports writing going on. We all covered the war."

"So, were you in danger ever trying to get a story?"

They reached the cafe and entered, being seated immediately.

"I had some close calls," he explained as he continued their conversation. "Once I stumbled on a lead about an attack on a Muggle-born's home. The person giving the tip must have been right there. I Apparated and was almost hit by an Avada Kedavra as I appeared in time to see the poor woman cut down. The Death Eaters realizing they'd been caught, all disappeared immediately. I swear, I think I lost three years of life in that moment."

"Wow, you're lucky they didn't decide to cast curses instead of Disapparating."

"I definitely felt lucky to have escaped without dying."

They took a minute to look over the menu and ordered quickly.

"So, what do you enjoy about teaching?" Gregory asked.

Hermione smiled. "Many things, really. I love working with the students. Seeing them grasp a concept is very fulfilling. I am big on preparation, so I even enjoy lesson prep."

"I noticed you didn't say you enjoy working with Severus Snape."

She frowned, and her voice became terse. "Severus Snape is one of my closest friends."

"Really? So, tell me what he's been like since the war?"

She gave him a quizzical look. "Are you looking for a story?"

"No, not at all. He was my professor too, and I found him difficult."

"You were his student?" she asked.

"Who wasn't?"

"True," she agreed with a nervous laugh. "I take it you didn't like him?"

He shrugged. "I didn't hate him as some of my classmates did, but he was… well, you know… prickly. It left a bad taste in my mouth at the time."

Hermione nodded but wasn't overly thrilled at his remarks about Severus.

"You realize a lot of that was to establish his cover. And some of it was to protect us all from exploding cauldrons."

Gregory took a minute to think about that. He nodded finally. "You're right, of course. Most of the things he snapped at were to keep us from killing ourselves. I suppose if he was more likable, You-Know-Who wouldn't have believed he was on his side."

Hermione relaxed a little. "He's definitely more laid back. He was under a lot of pressure during the war."

"I'm glad he's eased up. He was a stern taskmaster when I was at Hogwarts."

"Yes, he definitely was. I think as Headmaster, he can take a step back from actual teaching, which helps him not to be so stressed, too."

"I'm sure that helps the children as well."

Hermione nodded, feeling better about his thoughts on Severus.

"Is Professor McGonagall still there? She was my favorite professor," Gregory asked.

"She was mine too. Yes, she's still there. She threatens to retire every year, but stays anyway."

"I hope she never leaves. The school will definitely not be the same without her," Gregory mused.

Hermione smiled at him. She admired his blue eyes. They were very intense. Of course, Severus' eyes were so black you couldn't even see his pupils. It was easy to get lost in them. She wasn't here with Severus, though….

Coming back to the present, she smiled at Gregory again.

"How's your chicken?" she asked.

"Delicious. Would you like a bite?"

"Hmm, it does look good. Would you like some of my roast beef?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Hermione laughed as she took a piece of the roast and reached out toward Gregory. He did the same with the chicken and they both traded bites.

"Mmm," Gregory said as he chewed. That is delicious."

"So is your chicken."

He grinned at her. "We both evidently have good taste."

"Obviously."

They returned to their own meals and discussed his work.

"So, are you friends with Rita Skeeter?" Hermione asked.

"No one is friends with her. We usually try to go in the other direction when she's coming."

"So she has a bad reputation at the paper?"

"Absolutely, but the editor loves her and her stories, so she's got a job for life."

"Pity. She's a cow."

"I'm not in the office much anyway. I travel everywhere covering World Quidditch. I'm only in town a couple of days a month."

Hermione internally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I love traveling, but it has its downfalls," he continued. "I don't see my family and friends as much as I'd like."

"That would be hard. I don't see my friends as much either. Being isolated in a castle in Scotland makes for long spans in between visits."

"Well, I know how you feel."

He paused. "It would seem that if we were to continue seeing one another, it would be difficult finding the time to meet."

"About that…" Hermione said as she chewed on her bottom lip.

"Not feeling it, huh?" Gregory asked.

"You're completely lovely, really," Hermione countered. "I just don't feel that… spark," she cringed.

"To be honest, I find you to be brilliant and beautiful, but I'm not feeling as if this would work either."

Hermione shrugged. "Sorry."

"Same."

They smiled at one another ruefully, but both of them seemed satisfied with their discussion. They chatted throughout dinner and said goodnight as they left the cafe, both going their separate ways.

As Hermione returned to Hogwarts, she mulled over the date. Gregory had been nice, but the truth was, he was no Severus Snape.

She sighed.

Would she forever compare every man with Severus? More importantly, would anyone be able to meet her high expectations since spending quality time with him?

oooOOOooo

The next morning, Hermine was at breakfast when an owl brought her a small missive. She removed it from the owl's leg and quickly read it.

Sorry. There must have been someone from the paper at the cafe last night.

–Gregory

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. At that point, the flurry of the Post owls came into the Great Hall, many delivering The Prophet. Severus caught his in mid-air and opened to the front page. His eyes widened, and he shot a glance at Hermione. He frowned as he quickly read the article.

"Looks like you've finally found your true love," he said disdainfully as he showed the paper to Hermione.

She ripped it from his hands as she gasped. There was a picture of Gregory and her when they had tried a bite of the other's meals. The way the picture had been taken, it looked way more seductive than it actually had been. The headline said it all.

Prophet Reporter Shares Everything with War Heroine

"Damn, that sounds horrid!"

She glanced at the author.

"Skeeter of course. Stupid bug."

"That's all you have to say for yourself? Why didn't you tell me you were dating?" Severus demanded.

"It was a blind date! Ginny arranged it. There was nothing to tell."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "What about now?"

She threw her hands up. "Still nothing! He wasn't my type, all right? Yet another dead end for me."

Severus' shoulders relaxed. "I'm sorry he didn't work out," he told her.

Hermione shrugged. "It's okay. I'll find that special someone eventually."

Severus put his napkin on his plate. "I have some things to get done. Enjoy your day."

"You too," Hermione said as she watched him leave the Hall.

Severus stalked down the hallway. On one hand, he was happy that Hermione's date had been a failure. He wasn't sure what kind of friend thought that way, but he couldn't help himself. But then, on the other hand, he was upset because he knew that the special someone she had referred to could never be him.

Bugger

He skulked back to his office and pulled out the paperwork he needed to go over for the Board of Governors. Lucius was stopping by the next week to pick these papers up and discuss something. He wouldn't say what.

Trying to concentrate so he could read through the proposal, all he could see was Hermione in his mind. He tried for several minutes to cast her out of his thoughts, but he failed miserably.

Picking up the papers, he tossed them into his side drawer and closed it. He'd dig into those later when hopefully he wasn't pining over his friend. He got up and stared out the window. His heart was yearning within him for Hermione. He tried to cast her out of his thoughts, thinking about some of the students. They all turned into Hermione.

He shook his head. This was ridiculous. Maybe he should remove all his tender memories of Hermione so he could do his job. Yes, that would definitely work. Lifting his wand to his forehead, he sighed and shook his head. What was he thinking? He didn't want to lose his fond memories of Hermione Granger.

He needed to do something, though. She'd been invading his thoughts ever since they'd gotten back from Australia. The problem was there was no solution to his problem. She wasn't available to him.

He watched a Thestral take flight off in the distance. He'd always found them fascinating. Admiring its macabre beauty, he acknowledged that they were loners, just like him. He watched this one until it disappeared from sight. He huffed. He needed a distraction that would last longer than a few minutes.

It came to him suddenly. When he was at the Potioneers' Conference earlier that year he'd met a fascinating woman who seemed just as knowledgeable about potions as he was. They'd talked late into the evenings, and he'd thoroughly enjoyed her company. They'd said they should get together outside the conference, but time had been fleeting and it had never come about. Maybe it was time to reach out to her.

oooOOOooo

The following weekend, Severus Apparated to London and met his date.

"Claudette, lovely to see you again."

He reached out and kissed her hand.

"Severus! It's been an age. How are you?"

"Extremely busy, but other than that, I am well."

They headed into the restaurant and were led to their table.

"I love Italian," Claudette said. "This was a wonderful idea."

"I'm sorry it took so long for us to get together again. How is your brewing going?"

Her eyes lit up. "I've developed a Strengthening Draught. It can be used for simple things like doing the labor to clear out your yard or even to fight off villains."

Severus arched his brow. "Really? When will you release it?"

"I'm working with the Ministry on patenting it and selling the strongest version to them. The less potent one will release once that is taken care of."

"That's brilliant," Severus told her.

"What about you? Have you created anything new?" Claudette asked.

"I am working on something. It's a potion to help with jet lag. I was recently in Australia, and the first day there was… taxing to say the least. Unfortunately, I have little time for brewing between running the school and the Board of Governors constantly wanting something changed."

"You poor dear! I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I enjoy my work as Headmaster, but I'd like a little more time to myself to be creative."

"That makes sense. What about your social life?"

"I have none."

Claudette frowned. "Severus, you need to have some fun. Life isn't all work, work, work."

He shrugged.

"Severus…"

"Shall we change the subject? How is your social life?"

She gave him a rueful grin and shook her head. "All right, I'll let you off the hook, but the next time we meet, I want to know who your special someone is."

Severus grimaced but said nothing.

"I spend a lot of time swimming. My personal trainer and I have been dating for a month now. He's brilliant."

Peace settled over Severus before he said anything. "That's good to hear. I hope you are both happy."

He was surprised at his reaction. He was relieved that she wasn't available to date. Merlin, even trying to do something to forget Hermione was a waste of time. Deep down, he only wanted her. He felt quite disgusted with himself. Would he forever pine for her?

His mind came back to reality as he noticed Claudette was looking at him quizzically. He cleared his throat.

"I apologize, Claudette. My mind wandered. What were you saying."

She gave him a quizzical look. "I said that we will probably get married in a year or so. I wanted to know if you would come to the wedding."

"I will go out of my way to make sure I'm free for it."

She grinned at him. Leaning toward him, she smirked.

"And bring a date!"

He shook his head at her cheek. They went back to their meal and chatted more as they ate. They spent a long time reminiscing about their initial meeting at the conference.

"I was so thrilled to find someone who could talk about potions on the same level as me," Claudette mused.

"I, too, was pleased. Our colleagues are good at what they do, but they tend to not really understand when I am speaking about brewing."

"That's because you're exceptional," Claudette said with a smile.

"Thank you." He smirked at her. "I think you are exceptional as well."

"That's why we get along so well," she declared.

oooOOOooo

They had parted soon after that. Severus decided he wanted to take a walk, so he Apparated to the Hogwarts gates and wandered around the grounds before heading to the entry doors. Flicking his wand, the doors opened before him. As he entered, he saw Hermione coming down the stairs.

"Oh, there you are! I was looking for you to make sure everything's okay as you missed dinner."

"I didn't miss dinner, I just chose to have it somewhere else."

Hermione arched a brow. "Really? Where did you go?"

"I met up with a friend who I know from a Potions conference. She lives in London."

Hermione stopped short and her eyes grew large.

"Oh."

"It was an enjoyable experience," Severus continued.

Hermione's lips thinned. "That's nice," she said tersely.

"Is something wrong?" Severus asked.

"No, no!" she cried. "Nothing! I'm glad you were able to have an evening out. Are you going to see her again soon?"

"Probably not. We'll get together again in a few months to talk shop, but we are both very busy."

Hermione sighed in relief. "I see."

"We had a nice time discussing potions and brewing."

"I'm glad you had the chance to get out of the castle for a while and that you had a good time."

"Thank you. Why don't you come up to my office? We discussed some interesting ideas that I'd like your opinion on."

Hermione smiled then. "That would be lovely."

They moved in step with one another and started up the stairs, heading for the Headmaster's office. Hermione smiled in relief as they moved upwards towards Severus' office. She was glad that his dinner tonight had only been a friendly reunion and not a date.