Disclaimer: Not mine. No money.


Molly,
Can you watch Rose for New Year's? Severus has asked me out to dinner.
Thanks,
Hermione


Hermione,
Of course we'll take Rose for the night! I'm so happy to hear that Severus is taking all of this very calmly - he does have a temper you know, but he keeps it on a tight leash. Do you know where you'll be going?
Molly


Severus,
Rose insists I write to ask if you've been wearing your scarf - she's quite paranoid about you being cold because we had a talk about why you always wear such heavy robes.
Hermione


Hermione,
I've made reservations for us in muggle London for 8pm. I thought we might better enjoy the anonymity it will provide us - not everyone is as understanding as your relations. Dress business casual and warm, as the second part of our outing will be outdoors. I promise our third port of call will thaw you out, should you freeze; though, being a witch, I sincerely hope you remain clever enough to avoid such inconveniences.
Until New Year's,
Severus
P.S. Yes, when I venture outdoors, it's very warm. I've even worn Molly's jumper a time or two when I'm working in my private lab.


Hermione,
We need to talk.
Ron


Hermione,
Don't ignore my owls. We need to talk, about Christmas.
Write back or I'll come to the shop - don't try to use an "I'm busy" excuse, you live in Hogsmeade and work at an apothecary's, it can't possibly ever be that busy.
Ron


Ronald,
I have been busy, actually. I've been working on some complex potions for a special order, not that you particularly care. And, of course, Rose takes up a good portion of my time when I'm not in the shop - she's finally stopped wetting the bed, if you were interested. Perhaps now you'll show some interest in having her over to the house on your odd weekends off.
There is nothing to talk about and I have no wish to see you outside of family functions.
Hermione


Hermione,
I will be by your flat to collect you at 7:30.
Severus


Hermione had dropped her daughter off at the Weasley's two hours ago and had promptly returned home to give herself a good and thorough scrubbing in the shower. She followed it up with wrangling her wild hair into tidy submission, half pulled back in a ponytail and doused in enough sleek-easy to be rid of the frizz. Her makeup was minimal, knowing that Snape had watched her grow up for most of her teenage years was reminder enough that more than the bare necessity would only make herself look vain in his eyes. The dress Ginny had helped her pick out two days earlier (after her friend had found out about the date and finally stopped squealing with glee) was slate gray with a black ribbon tied at her waist and she paired it with sensibly warm black tights and flat soled shoes.

She'd just dug a warm winter jacket from her closet at 7:25 when there was an agitated knock at the door to the stairwell and the shop below. She frowned, not expecting Snape for another few minutes nor was it in his nature to knock that way. "Who in the world could that be?" Hermione groaned audibly when she found Ron, red faced and fists clenched waiting for her on the other side. "I don't have time for this Ron."

"You bloody well better make time! We need to talk."

Hermione grabbed her nondescript muggle purse that held a mirror, lipstick and her wand off the hook by the door and pushed past him, shutting and warding the door behind her, "There is nothing to talk about, go to your parents and join your family for the holiday. Rose has been looking forward to seeing you."

"I heard you're going out with the Git tonight - what are you doing seeing a man almost twice our age?" he demanded following down the stairs on her heels. She studiously ignored him, not quite stomping through the shop and out the front door, raising the heavy outer wards once he was out.

It wasn't until he grabbed her by the arm and made her face him that she lost her temper. She was proud of that. "Severus has a name, Ronald, first of all. Second, it's none of your business what I do with my evening, I am a grown woman capable of making my own decisions. And third, we were divorced very nearly a year ago, you have no right to accost me in my home and berate me on my choice of partner! I certainly didn't harass you about your choice in Helga-whatever-her-bloody-name-was when I found out you were cheating on me with her! Stop being so juvenile and jealous of Severus and leave me alone."

Ron's anger had further darkened his face as she ranted and her eyes went wide with alarm when he lifted a hand to hit her, but the blow never came as he was blasted backward forcefully. Hermione spun around at the darkly spoken "Petrificus Totalus," to find Snape behind her, wand drawn and pointed at Ron's prone form. The next moment, he summoned and sent off a patronus. He looked very nice in his black pants and his Christmas sweater, a crisp white dress shirt peeking out over the collar and from the sleeves of his unbuttoned wool coat.

She smiled, "Severus,"

"Are you alright, Hermione? I sent for Potter to collect his friend." He finally lowered his wand and tucked it into an inner pocket of his jacket. He glowed very briefly when their eyes met as he looked her over. "You look lovely."

"Yes, I'm fine, he only annoyed me. And thank you, you look very nice as well. Should we wait for Harry?"

"No." He offered her his arm, "I trust you've arranged overnight accommodations for Rose? Unless things go terribly, I'm afraid our plans will keep us out quite late."

"Yes, she's staying with Molly and Arthur overnight."

"Good." And with that, he spun them away.