Hermione wakes a few hours later from a strange dream. Someone named Francine was telling her she needed to eat. And stay hydrated! She sits up.
Severus opens his eyes. "You okay love?"
"I'm hungry again. And thirsty. What time is it?"
"A little after nine, still early."
"Shit," she says, reaching for her wand. She casts a quick patronus and sends it to Grimmauld Place. 'I'm fine. I'll be back sometime tomorrow.'
"We need to stop leaving my clothes in the kitchen," says Hermione. "Thanks for bringing my wand this time."
"I was afraid you were going to wake up too warm again," Severus says. "Let go find your pants. Again. And I'll reheat dinner."
Back down in the kitchen, Severus opens another bottle of wine and wordlessly pours Hermione a glass.
"Can I have some water too please?" she asks him. "Francine says we need to stay hydrated."
"Who is Francine?" Severus hands her a glass of water.
"I don't know," replies Hermione, "But she was very insistent."
"Tell me how it went when you left the house yesterday," he says when they are seated with their food, avoiding her eyes and staring at his food pointedly.
"Tell me how you seem to know things you shouldn't," Hermione counters. "And please don't sidestep me this time."
Severus looks up from his food and gives Hermione a very serious look. "I pity the man who ever underestimates you."
"Many have," says Hermione. "At their peril."
Severus chuckles darkly. "May I never underestimate you, at my peril," he says, and raises his glass to hers.
She toasts him, sets down her glass and looks at him pointedly. Don't make me repeat myself.
"I am a spy, Hermione. I have worked hard to sharpen my senses through the years and have had some success. My hearing, in particular, is closer to that of a cat's than a human's." He watches her over his wine glass, waiting for a reaction. She just stares back at him. "My nose isn't bad, either," he says and winks at her. Winks.
Hermione feels slightly ill at his implication. "You mean you can smell-" she breaks off, turns beet red.
"It's complicated, sweetheart. Your body chemistry changes when you become aroused. Your temperature rises, your breathing and heart rate increases. Your skin releases pheromones. And yes, you smell delicious when wet. Don't be embarrassed by it, please." He gives her his stern professor look.
"I love it when you look at me like that," she says. Then, "So you knew about the extendable ears."
He nods, watching her.
She tells him about the confrontation in the kitchen at Grimmauld place that morning. To her, it feels like it was ages ago. Severus goes very still when she tells him about breaking the mug, relaxes a bit when she tells him about Ginny's tears bringing her back.
"The headmistress and I are very concerned with how easily you can shut off your emotions when they overwhelm you," he says seriously. "When we get settled into Venice there's a witch there I want to introduce you to. I think she can help you get a handle on the darker side of your nature."
"Like a therapist?" Hermione says, smiling a bit.
"Nothing of the sort," Severus replies. "You don't have to go home tonight, do you?"
"No. I'd like to stay, if that's okay." She looks at him, a little unsure.
"If I have it my way you won't ever sleep apart from me again, Miss Granger. That being said, you need to do what feels right to you."
"What feels right to me is to fall asleep on your shoulder. But I have to eat all this food and drink some more water."
"Because Francine says so?"
"That's right."