Alright you guys, here it is. The chapter I enjoyed writing more than anything have ever experienced. I set out to write a completely different chapter, but my fingers and some utterly weird thing took hold of me, and this just flowed so effortlessly out of me, that even I was shocked when I read it over; completely sappy I know. I am astonishingly pleased with this chapter, and I really, really hope you all are too! I would love love love a review for this one, so please, drop a few wordies off my way? Thank you to those whom have reviewed so far, and enjoy! :)
The next evening, Hermione was in the apothecary, stocking the shelves of various darker green herbs. Severus ordered the shelves in an odd way, but once Hermione had grown used to it she realized it was easier than alphabetical or categorical order.
She hummed quietly to herself as she arranged the jars, arranging them by colour, the tinkling of glass hitting glass was all that could be heard in the empty apothecary, except for Hermione's humming. Thinking back to last evening, Hermione felt a smile creep over her face. How Severus had so begrudgingly let her sleep in the same bed with him, and he had said, in his ridiculously formal way, that he enjoyed her company.
It made Hermione feel strangely warm inside, and she found she enjoyed the feeling. They had slept peacefully together, and ended up with Hermione's head on Severus's chest, and his hands buried in her curls. They had both shrugged it off as nothing, and neither made a comment on it. Severus hadn't look annoyed, though, and Hermione took that as a positive.
Severus had found Hermione's wand under the couch, and snickered at her apparent blindness, making some remark about how she's worse at finding things than Hufflepuffs. Hermione had scoffed at his comment, but paid no heed to it. She was slightly embarrassed to find the wand so close though, as she could have done a simple wandless summoning charm, but the idea to do so had never entered her mind. Hermione was quite satisfied with how the night turned out though, as weird as she felt sleeping next to Severus.
Hermione spent a lot of her alone time examining her conflicted feelings towards Severus. The rational part of her was extremely confused, and more than a little weirded out by the past week. Sleeping together in the same house with Severus Snape was never something she had expected to do, let alone sleep in the same room, and now the same bed, and enjoy it.
As odd as she found it, Hermione still felt that irresistible urge to stay in Severus's company, and she did enjoy his conversation. He had warmed up some since she had essentially moved in with him, and his company was, she found, very comfortable. Hermione was satisfied with where she was, but after hating him for most of her life, and then saving his life and then hearing no word from him, it was just so strange to step back and look at where she was.
Hermione chided herself, she had yet to buy an owl. She still felt responsible for telling the people she cared about that she was alright, and she imagined that Harry was getting worried. Ron, however, she cared nothing for, even though she still had to go back to the apartment and get her belongings and put them...somewhere. Hermione wasn't quite sure if Severus meant for her to move all her possessions in.
Sighing softly, she bent to get the rest of the jars, levitating those she couldn't grab with her wand. Setting them down on the shelf, Hermione looked around to make sure she was still alone. Severus had left an hour or two ago, as he needed to get some paper work done. He had bade Hermione to finish stocking the shelves with the new ingredients, and then to come home, as they needed to spend the evening gathering moondew. Severus had been out for a while, and tonight was the full moon and he needed help gathering all he could.
Hermione started to sing softly, once she had reassured herself that she was alone. One of the things that Hermione was absolutely never going to let anyone hear was her singing. She sang mostly muggle music, as she had never developed a taste for Wizarding music.
Hermione giggled. Most Wizarding music reminded her of the 80's genre, and she found it quite unbearable. She had always detested a certain part of Christmas with the Weasley's, when Molly would deem it time to unveil her radio, and turn on Celestina Warbeck. Cringing slightly at the memory of the older singer's warbling voice, Hermione straightened out the line of jars filled with sprigs of lavender.
She resumed singing quietly as she rearranged the baskets of herbs. Hermione couldn't recall the name of the song she was singing, but it had been one of her favourites as a teen. Her voice rising as Hermione got lost in the lyrics, she sang louder as she remembered more and more of the song.
"I didn't know you could sing," a deep baritone voice came from behind the shelf.
Hermione stopped singing, and shrieked loudly, jumping back and clutching her chest in a futile attempt to stop her racing heartbeat. Severus stepped out from behind the shelf, and eyed Hermione interestedly, his eyebrow arched.
"Damn it to hell, Severus!" Hermione hissed accusingly. "I thought I was alone! How many times have I asked you to stop skulking in the shadows? You're not a damned spy anymore, and I'll thank you to stop making me in danger of expiring."
Severus smirked at Hermione's annoyance, and flicked his wand lazily. The rest of the jars Hermione had to stock flew gently to their places on the shelves. "I was tired of waiting for you to do things the muggle way. We have moondew to gather, Granger," he said brusquely as he turned to walk out. "You aren't allowed to sing on this trip," he added with a slight smirk.
Hermione huffed and followed him out, grabbing her scarf on the way. Wrapping it tightly around her neck, she stopped herself from running into the back of Severus. "What are you stopping for now?"
Severus peered around him at the pink-cheeked witch, and shot her a glare. "We are stopping because we are apparating. If we do so past the point, we are beyond the protection of my wards." He held out his arm expectantly, and Hermione glowered at him, but grabbed the proffered arm nonetheless.
"Where are we headed?"
"You'll see."
Hermione rolled her eyes, and braced herself as Severus twisted suddenly. The extremely uncomfortable feeling of being sucked through a very small tube followed, and they landed in a field of tall grass. Hermione shaded her eyes, the dying suns last rays were directly in her face. Waiting patiently for the sun to finish setting, Hermione turned to look at Severus. "Where are we? I've never seen a field this large before, it seems endless!" She looked around in wonderment, able to take in her surroundings now the suns blinding rays were no longer striking her face.
The meadow was large, and it appeared they were on the precipice of some sort of cliff, as Hermione could hear the dull crashing of waves far below her. There were mountains in the opposite directions, but they were so distant they appeared as small as mole hills. The grass was tall, and where they stood it was a dull yellow colour. But further inland it got greener, and the brush got thicker, with a few sparse looking trees dappling the area.
Severus stood taking in the sight. This was his favourite place to collect several different types of ingredients. It was a seaside cliff off the coast of Scotland, and it held a variety of plants that Severus used in his potions making, as well as stocked in his store. The moon was unhindered here as well, and the moon flowers were plentiful.
Hermione finished her survey of the beautiful landscape, and started to walk forwards, but was stopped by Severus's strong hand reaching out to stop her.
"Wait, the moon hasn't reached it's peak yet," he said silkily as he looked up at the sky. Hermione followed his gaze, and they look at the moon for a minute, before Hermione decided she was done craning her neck. She plopped down in the grass, and rolled around for a few seconds, flattening a small spot for her to lay down and watch the moon climb in the sky.
Severus looked down at the witch, and was utterly confused as to her motives for a minute as he eyed her rolling back and forth. Once he realized she was laying in the grass, he followed suit. In a slightly more dignified manner, as he used his wand to flatten an area of the grass near Hermione. Sitting down gingerly, he laid back stiffly.
"I never told you what happened between me and Ron, did I?" Hermione asked suddenly, her whispered voice reaching Severus perfectly in the stilled quietness of the area.
Severus arched an eyebrow, surprised that Hermione had brought that up after a week of not making any mention of the redhead. "No. You did not."
"Well, I feel as though you have a right to know," Hermione stated shyly. "I mean, you did all those things for you, and I think you should know."
Severus remained silent, waiting for the witch to continue. He had wondered what made her go to the bar that night, and drunk herself stupid, as Hermione wasn't one for rash decisions.
"Well, our relationship had been, er, floundering for a while, because of his Quidditch career and my job. But, I thought it was solid. Until I came home that evening and found him in our bed with a ridiculous looking blonde."
Severus stilled as a wave of sheer rage flooded over him. He had been expected something less dramatic; a squabble perhaps, not the stupid ginger fucking some chit behind Hermione's back. Staring up at the sky, he silently battled with himself as he calmed himself. "That...that is certainly a reason to drink yourself into oblivion," he said rather dryly, as he was unable to think of anything else to say. Nay, he could. But he didn't think the witch would want to hear the torrent of insults his mind was cranking out at top speed.
Hermione burst into laughter, the sound echoing slightly across the clearing. "Yes, yes I suppose that is a good reason." She then grew silent, and the two watched the sky quietly.
Tiny stars appeared randomly, and the sky grew darker every minute. Hermione and Severus remained silent, as the sight they were beholding was too entrancing to be broken by words. The moon slowly rose higher in the sky, and the two lost track of time as they watched the sky come alight with the stars and the moon.
Hermione gasped as she caught sight of the milky way, she had never been in an area with such an unobstructed view of the night sky. She was blown away by how many stars there were, and how bright and big the moon looked. Turning to Severus, she arched an eyebrow questioningly.
Severus nodded his head, and stood up silently, his robes making a slight rustling noise as they brushed against the grass. Hermione hopped up too, and stood beside Severus, waiting for him to finish fumbling in his pockets.
Finding the two flasks, Severus handed Hermione one of the small glass phials and strode forward, once again not bothered look behind him and make sure Hermione was keeping up.
Jogging slightly to keep up with the taller man, Hermione quickly found herself losing her breath. She needed to get back in shape, she thought despairingly to herself. She wasn't overweight by any means, and Hermione wasn't one to be self conscious about how her body looked, but she did know the value of exercise, and vowed to put in a mile's run from then on every morning before work.
Severus walked quickly, and with purpose, as he knew exactly where the fullest moon flower plants were. He ducked under a willow tree's branches, releasing the viney strands as soon as he was clear of them.
Hermione spluttered as the vines Severus let go of smacked in her the face. "I'm behind you, you know," Hermione said loudly, as she irritably shoved the vines aside.
Severus looked back, and his lip twitched at the sight of the annoyed witch. Stopping, he turned back and stood in front of her. He lifted his hand, and plucked a leaf from the bushy mass of hair. Holding it in front of her, he smirked down at Hermione and tossed the leaf aside.
Hermione looked up at Severus, and felt an odd feeling in her gut. He turned away without a word, and her insides wrenched, and Hermione felt an inexplicable feeling wash through her. Unsettled slightly, Hermione shrugged and jogged forwards in an attempt to keep up with Severus.
Severus approached the moon flowers silently, reveling in the look of the white flowers glowing in the bright moonlight. The flowers were very aptly named, as it was only under the light of a full moon that their true beauty was shown. The leaves rustled softly in the sea breeze, and Severus stopped to take in the sight.
Hermione leveled with Severus, and had to suppress a gasp at the sight before her. The flowers were stunning, the dull glow of the stark white flowers added a certain luminescence to the area. The twinkling dots of liquid on the flowers only served to enhance the effect, and Hermione found herself rather awe-inspired. "It's absolutely beautiful," she whispered softly.
Severus turned to face her, his pale complexion appearing even more so in the glow of the flowers. His hair contrasted definitively with his face, and Hermione though he looked rather handsome. Feeling the strange urge to giggle at her thoughts, Hermione sternly told herself to calm down.
Severus eyed the bushy haired witch, and watched her eyes light up the way they normally did when she was about to laugh. He watched her bite her lip, and he wondered briefly what she was thinking. Hermione looked beautiful to Severus, especially in the aura of the flowers. Her hair seemed less bushy, for some reason, and even though Severus was strangely endeared to how her hair looked, he also enjoyed how it looked in the light of the flowers. He turned away quickly, and inwardly berated himself. Even though they had spent the night in the same bed, she was nothing more than a friend, if that. An employee, and a woman in need of his hospitality. Severus knew with bittering reality that Hermione would be gone at the first chance she got, and he found himself hating the thought, but feeling relieved at the same time.
To be out of her ridiculously intoxicating presence would only be a good thing, as nothing would come of him lusting after his employee. Severus shook himself from his thoughts, and pulled the flask out of his pocket. Reaching into his other pocket, Severus withdrew two small silver spoons. Gesturing for Hermione to come over to him, he handed her one of the spoons.
Hermione eyed the spoon with dawning comprehension. "Moondew is most powerful with collected with pure silver," she stated, he expression interested as she turned the spoon over in her hands.
Severus nodded, and started to gently scoop the shining dots of dew off the white petals of the flowers, and pouring them into the flask. It was careful and lengthy process, and neither felt any inclination to speed it up.
Hermione busied herself with gathering the little droplets of dew in her flask, and refused to address the little niggling voice in the back of her head, saying that she was disappointed when all Severus did when he took the leaf out of her hair was turn away immediately. Hermione didn't know exactly what she had been subconsciously hoping for, but she had a good idea.
Admitting it to herself would be admitting a great many other things, and Hermione wasn't sure if she was prepared for what that meant. She had only spent a little longer than a week in Severus's company, he surely didn't want her making sexual, romantic, or any advances of any kind on him. Hermione accepted that fact readily, and in fact she was more than comfortable with where they were now. Especially since last night, they had both admitted they were growing to like each other, and Hermione knew deep down inside her that Severus's use of the words had been in the name of friendship only.
You'd like more though, the little voice insisted. Hermione scowled at that, and squashed the little voice down. She didn't know what she wanted, but right now her life was slowly regaining its traction and she didn't want to change that. Friendship was good, and she was sure that feeling what she was for another man so soon after being heartbroken was not good, and not fair to Severus at all.
Severus watched the last silvery droplet fall into the flask, and he sealed it tightly. Looking up, he found Hermione carefully scooping up the droplets into her flask, as it was only half full. Walking as silently as a cat, Severus walked towards her, and stood behind her. He watched her nimble, delicate looking hands handle the spoon, and he was shocked to discover her hands were just one more thing on the witch that he found attractive to him.
Her long fingers looked like they would be at home on the keys of a piano, and he briefly thought of her playing the instrument, and singing in her surprisingly good soprano voice. Severus caught himself quickly, and shut the thought down.
Hermione was more than aware of Severus standing inches behind her, but something stopped her from telling him so. She didn't know what made her do it, but she focused all her energy on appearing unknowing, and continued to fill her glass phial with the dew droplets, wondering what was causing Severus to stand so close.
Watch the last drop fall in, she corked her flask and turned around, feigning surprise at his close proximity. Looking up, she stopped herself at the look on his face. His eyes burned with something Hermione hadn't seen before, and she gasped slightly, her mouth hanging open slightly. The obsidian eyes looked down at her, almost questioningly, and Hermione found she was quite incapable of looking away.
Hermione's arms fell to her sides as they stared at each other. Severus was infuriatingly aware of how little space remained between them, and he was tempted beyond belief to close the distance, and capture her beautifully formed lips with his own. He didn't look away, but he didn't do what he was aching to, instead Severus chose to continued looking into the depths of the amber eyes burning up at him.
Hermione, before she even registered what she was doing, closed the gap between her and Severus. The flask fell out of her hands as she raised her hands, clutching onto his robes with a desperate need she didn't realize she had until then. Severus eyed her warily, even though he let himself melt slightly into her body, enjoying the closeness of the witch, her scent tickling his nose pleasantly.
They stood like that for a minute, each unsure of how to proceed. Hermione knew she wanted to bring her head up to his, but she didn't know if her advance would be welcomed. The niggling voice popped up, telling her that she had made it this far, and Severus hadn't shoved her off in disgust. Throwing all reason to the wind, Hermione raised herself on tiptoes, looking beseechingly into Severus's eyes.
Severus gave up trying to stop himself, and he raised an arm to wrap around Hermione's waist, the other reaching up to cup her face as he lowered his head, his lips brushing hers gently.
Hermione closed her eyes at the contact, and wound her arm around Severus's neck, leaning into him as she returned the kiss, enjoying the soft feel of his lips against hers. They remained that way for an unknown amount of time, as Hermione gently caressed the back of Severus's neck, and he brushed his hand down her jawline.
Severus moved his lips against hers, reveling at how perfectly she tasted. Her tongue darted out, sweeping along his bottom lip, asking for entrance. Severus granted it readily, and deepened the kiss.
Hermione lost all ability to think, and grew even more lost in the sensation of Severus's soft lips against her own, and his tongue battling with hers. She moaned softly, and the small sound brought Severus back to his senses suddenly, and he broke the kiss abruptly.
Hermione groaned at the loss of contact, and looked up at him, the question in her eyes. Severus looked away, and heaved a sigh as he stepped back, letting go of Hermione, even though he caused him near physical pain to do so.
Hermione let him go, confused at his sudden reaction. She stepped towards him, and raised her hand. Severus took another step back, and looked at Hermione pleadingly. "We can't do this," he said raggedly, looking at a flower, refusing to see the look of surprised hurt in Hermione's eyes.
Hermione lowered her hand, stunned. Instantly, she felt tears prick her eyes at her stupidity. She had been the one to instigate the kiss, and he had merely accepted her advance, too polite to tell her they were unwanted. Hermione bit her lip as she realized the truth, and looked down, nodding at Severus's words.
Severus watched as Hermione's eyes became misty. She was...crying? Severus instantly hated himself. Hermione had been caught up in the lusty fervor of the moon flowers, and was regretting sharing that kiss with him. He groaned inwardly, and stepped forward. "Hermione, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have."
Hermione looked up swiftly. "Sorry? For what?" She asked as she tried her best to stop the tears from coming. "I'm the one who should be sorry, I practically threw myself on you, and I know you don't think of me that way, I shouldn't have, I know."
Severus looked at the witch incredulously. "You...you wanted that?"
Hermione gave him the most exasperated look she could muster up under the circumstances. "Of course I wanted it, you idiot, I wouldn't have done it otherwise. It was my mistake thinking that you did too, and I know you were only being polite."
Severus stared down at her, trying to register what she was saying. Hermione wanted to kiss him; she wanted to do that. The realization hit him quickly, and he wondered how he had ever thought differently. Hermione Granger never did anything she didn't want to do, and she had made that perfectly clear. At loss for words, all Severus could do was look down at Hermione helplessly as he tried in vain to bring up the words to tell her he had enjoyed that moment like none other.
Hermione looked up at Severus, and misread the look on his face. Steeling herself, she stepped back again, and stooped to pick up the flask. "We should go," she said in a hard voice, building a wall up to stop the tears. Placing an indifferent mask on her face, she looked at Severus, and waited for him to say he was ready to apparate. Of course the man didn't want her, she had been stupid to even think so.
Severus was taken aback by the sudden change in Hermione's demeanor, and held out his arm wordlessly. She grabbed it without looking at him, and they apparated away, landing on the doorstep of Severus's house. He opened the door and walked in, hearing Hermione enter behind him.
Turning to face her, Severus opened his mouth to say something, but was silenced by the hard look on Hermione's face. She nodded to him, and bounded up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. Severus stood at the bottom, watching her whisk around the corner and out of sight.
He walked numbly up the stair after her, and headed towards his room. Pausing before opening his door, he wondered briefly if he should sleep downstairs, but he dismissed the notion almost as soon as it popped up. The only reason he slept downstairs was for Hermione's company, and she was...well, he didn't know what she was doing, and he sternly told himself he didn't care. The lie didn't work, and he found himself wondering why he was so thoughtless as to kiss her. Undressed, he climbed into bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling, and eventually fell into an uneasy and fitful sleep.