BACK AND FORTH

Disclaimer: This is an unauthorised tribute to the works of JK Rowling who, with her publishers and licensees, owns the characters and situations elaborated herein.

Spoilers to OotP, not HBP compatible. Thanks to all my reviewers and to my previewers, Bellegeste and Cecelle.

"I can't call you Snape!" Hermione protested as they chose a sunny table outside Fortescue's. "I spent too much of my schooldays stopping everyone calling you that."

"Ah, the respect I never noticed you had. Deeds would have been more appreciated than words," he sniped gently.

"I never did apologise for stealing from you or the times I hexed you," she mused. "I'm sorry. But that's only words too."

He'd forgive her anything if she'd only smile at him just so forever. He cleared his throat.

"Unnecessary. Does a ball apologise to the wall for each bounce?"

He was rewarded with another smile. The corners of his mouth tilted upwards in response.

From behind, a familiar voice called, "Hermione!" and a lanky boy limped up to their table. Then his round, rosy face paled and lengthened with shock.

"P-Professor Snape!"

"Mr Longbottom." Snape nodded. "An unexpected pleasure."

"Y-yes, sir." Neville's eyes darted back and forth, settling pleadingly on Hermione, but it was Snape who spoke.

"We were reminiscing. Won't you join us?" He Accioed a chair as Neville stuttered. "We'll close the topic of your indifferent potions skills forever, shall we?" he added smoothly. "I believe you've heard from me too often on that subject. Hence your Boggart."

Neville flinched and stared at the table.

"We all have fears, Mr Longbottom. I understand Miss Granger's was getting bad marks. If you'll keep it strictly confidential?" He waited for their nods. "Mine was Lupin."

Hermione gasped.

"As a werewolf?" Who'd almost killed him.

"Transforming."

"Is that why you left the room when we came in?" she said.

"I'd promised silence. I couldn't risk it."

"But you did tell," she said.

"After he'd endangered you by forgetting his Wolfsbane? Of course. I imagine you've both found worthier objects of fear since then. You were always full of courage."

"Me?" Neville's eyes widened.

"Indeed. You never missed a lesson. I noticed."

After that, conversation flowed more easily. Snape sipped his coffee and watched Hermione's bright eyes as she compared summer jobs and future plans with her friend. Perhaps it was better this way. To be in her company without the awkward silences as he tried to think of pleasant, neutral things to say while the hot, fierce blood thrummed at his temples. So much easier to face her across a classroom than across this table, to speak the familiar phrases that reinforced their distance than to find novel words to bridge it. Nevertheless, he couldn't help a stab of joy when Neville left and she turned back to him, her eyes warm with approval.

"That was kind."

"Not kindness. Policy."

He envied the spoon slipping between her soft lips as she relished the last of her rose and redcurrant ripple. So close and still untouchable.

"Policy?" she asked.

"One less of your friends opposed to me."

She blushed deeply.

"What should I call you? Are you quite sure we can't be Severus and Hermione?"

"Quite sure."

"Why?" she asked.

"I need the reminder."