Disclaimer: Not mine. No money.
Dinner was first and while very pleasant, it felt a bit stiff and formal, both of them sticking to the safe topics of conversations they'd covered in the past during their slightly less than regular Rose-instigated meetings. Afterwards, they walked along the busy sidewalk, Hermione's hand tucked between his arm and ribs and she thanked her forethought of her warm tights and flat shoes against the stiff gusts of wind and slippery patches of sidewalk.
"Are you going to prove more graceful on skates or in your shoes, I wonder?" Snape chuckled, sidestepping a muggle reveler who'd already had too much to drink and was weaving unsteadily along.
"We're going skating?" She asked, surprised.
"Do you disapprove?"
"Of course not. I've never been though, so I can't make any promises toward my ability."
He glanced down at her, "If it makes you feel better, the last time I made a fool of myself on the ice was when I was eleven."
She smiled brightly, "It does actually, though I can't picture you ice skating."
"Well you shan't have to tax your brain for long, we're nearly there and then you shall see first hand if bats can skate."
Hermione nearly exploded in a peal of laughter and was still giggling about it when Snape ushered her into the queue to pay and acquire skates.
It was a large outdoor rink and considering the day, wasn't nearly as busy as she would have expected, but it only served to allow her more room to repeatedly wipe out. Snape was making a much better go of it, slowly but steadily gliding along. After a dozen or so tumbles, he helped her to her feet and threaded their fingers together. "I think you might have been steadier on the sidewalk, Hermione, but not much."
Even gloved, his hands were long fingered and slender and warm. Hermione even rather liked the comfortable way they fit together. "Not all of us can be graceful at everything like you, Severus," she retorted, sticking out her tongue.
Therefore, she was utterly unprepared for his lips touching hers, however briefly. "I am rather impressed with myself, I'll admit," he remarked, almost as though he hadn't just kissed her, "I wasn't nearly this steady in my youth. I may have even been clumsier than you."
"Oh I doubt it," she squeezed his hand tighter as they started forward again, watching his feet to try and mimic their movements. "So where are we going after this?"
"I thought the London Eye would be a good place to ring in the New Year, unless you're still averse to heights?"
Hermione felt her cheeks darken, "I'm surprised you, out of all the teachers I had at Hogwarts, would remember that."
"With Misters Potter and Weasley for friends, I found it extremely ironic that you disliked brooms."
"Well one of us needed to have our feet on the ground, if for no other reason than to keep the other two alive."
Snape laughed, tightening his hold on her as her balance teetered.
Hermione's balance improved immensely for as long as they held hands and flew right out from under her any time they separated. That didn't stop them from skating and chatting and laughing around the rink until the crowds grew thicker as the hour grew closer to midnight. Shoes back on feet and skates returned, Snape hurried them along to where the giant, new ferris wheel was located along the bank of the Thames. They waited amongst the crowds until it came their turn to board and stepped into the capsule shaped observation platform. Snape nestled them away along one of the glass walls, Hermione looking out over the city and holding onto the rail, Snape pressed gently against her back, his hands on her shoulders.
"This is amazing," she admitted when they were about halfway to the top and she could see over many of the buildings around them.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it. It is a rather impressive view," he responded quietly and she knew the moment their eyes met in the reflection of the glass when they began to faintly glow.
Hermione turned toward him a while later when their capsule companions began the final countdown to midnight and the new year. They had gotten on at an opportune time, as their pod was one of the topmost ones; they were more or less eye level with the loud, colorful bursts of fireworks lighting up the black sky.
"Happy New Year," she murmured when the midnight cheer arose.
His hands found the curve of her waist under her jacket and she met him halfway when he moved in for a kiss. This one lingered, a firm but gentle pressure on her lips. When they drew away for air, her cheeks were warm and there was a curiously pleased quirk of a smile on his lips, "Happy New Year, Hermione."
She smiled and he turned her back toward the fireworks, drawing her back until she was snugly up against him, hands folded over her stomach. They remained that way quietly until they disembarked when the pod began to grow too crowded; Hermione got the distinct impression that Snape didn't care much for crowds and this was the second time they'd moved on when things got too active. She couldn't much blame him, either. The muggle crowds were grating and reeked of liquor and vomit; coming upon a particularly thick and rowdy group of men and women, Hermione slipped her hand into his and curled her other around the inside of his elbow. Her attempt to sidestep them seemed to draw their attention, however. "Hey sweetie, wanna join the party?" One of the men asked, clearly rather deep in his cups, "I'm sure your old man here won't mind, would you mate?"
That just drew her closer to Snape and she curled her nose at him, "Firstly, all this looks like is a river of vomit waiting to happen, and second, he's not even old enough to be my father, he's my date and we'd both appreciate it if you'd kindly sod off."
"I think I would in fact, mind, regardless that she seems rather attached to me," Snape sneered. He didn't even need his robes to billow menacingly - Hermione thought that was rather wonderful.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked gently, several minutes after the encounter when he remained silent and his brow pinched.
"I dislike being reminded of how many years are between us," he admitted finally. "I am not a strong man, Hermione, or we would never have even gotten here. I have been denied too much for too long and I am loathe to admit that you are very likely stuck with me, even if we remain only friends after tonight."
"Severus," she said, squeezing his hand, "You are one of the strongest men I know, don't discredit yourself. As for our age difference, just look where my marrying someone my own age got me - a divorced single mother who can barely stand being in the same room as her child's father but stomachs it anyway for her daughter's sake. And I think we'd be stuck with each other regardless, thanks to how much Rose likes you; I swear sometimes she likes you more than Ron."
Some of the tension left his brow, "Was she witness to many of your disagreements?"
"No, we tried very hard to wait until she was out of the house with someone or asleep at the very least, but she knew we fought often."
He returned her to her flat going on three in the morning, after stopping for hot chocolate at a 24/7 diner and getting lost to their conversation.
"Definitely the best date I've ever been on; thank you for a wonderful evening, Severus." Hermione smiled, the pair of them standing in her living room.
"It was for me as well, especially considering it was my first that Narcissa didn't set me up on. And you're welcome, it was my pleasure."
"Really? Narcissa set you up on blind dates?" Hermione bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling.
"Against my wishes on top of that - I think she needed something to occupy her time beyond Draco and trying to play matchmaker with me made her happy, so I never said anything."
"Well you're patently brilliant at showing a girl a good time,"
"Good to know," Snape smiled slyly, "Does that mean I've earned a second?"
"Undoubtedly. Can I make you some tea or do you need to be getting back to the castle?"
He reached out to finger a loose curl, "I should be going, Minerva wanted to go over some things before the break ended."
"Ah, the duties of Deputy Headmaster never end," she nodded in understanding.
"She's actually been quite accommodating of me during the break; usually she has me buried in paperwork for the Governors with her when I'm not busy with grading or the school's brewing."
"I won't keep you then,"
"I will come to see you again when I'm able," he promised, drawing her closer by the waist. "Good night, Hermione."
She rose on her toes to plant a kiss on his lips, "Good night, Severus."
She waited until she heard the chime of the shop door downstairs closing before she crossed to the window and watched as his tall dark figure melted away into the night, then raised the wards downstairs and turned in the direction of her bed.
