I don't own Harry Potter… but I wish I do.
Chapter 8
Everyone got there orders in; Severus, Hermione, Grace and Minerva were all having a cheeseburger of some sorts, and Albus stuck with fish and chips.
"Really dad, you are in a foreign country and all you want to eat is fish and chips?" Hermione asked with an eye roll. "And people said you are insane, because of all the crazy stuff you do." She added.
"I want to be on the safe side for once, and I happen to like fish and chips and this place happens to serve said food." Albus said looking at his daughter with a twinkle in his eyes. "Now, Severus my boy, how was your first day teaching at a different school other than Hogwarts?" with the twinkle still ever present in his eyes.
"It was fine." Severus said looking at his boss.
"Just fine? After all the bitching and moaning you do about having to teach Harry and poor Neville, you get a chance to not teach them in six years, and it was fine. My dear boy, we need to have a serious talk about what your fine is compared to the normal person's definition. I bet Hermione's is way different than yours." Albus said baiting a man who is like a son to him.
"But she is a woman Albus and I am a man, of course our definitions of certain words are going to be different. Merlin I would hope so, if she thinks the some of what I think than she needs her head examined." Severus said.
"Aha, you just said that Hermione is a woman, after all of these years she was a little-insufferable-know-it-all." Albus said with a smirk on his face and a twinkle in his bright blue eyes.
"Well its different now." Severus said blushing and looking away.
"What? Not being in Hogwarts? Or learning the truth of how old she was and what she actually looked like?" Albus said baiting Severus yet again.
Meanwhile the women at the table were all waiting to hear what Severus thinks of Hermione.
"I have always thought she was an incredible woman for a while now. I don't really care what women look like on the outside, it's the inside that counts. Hell, look at me, I am not that great looking, so what would a woman find to like about me in appearance wise?" Severus said going off a little.
Soon a soft Scottish voice said, "Your hands, and the silky hair that sits on your head, your nose, and your voice, your build, and most defiantly your eyes, would you like me to go on?"
Severus looked over at Hermione with a look of disbelief on his face, so Hermione clarified it for him.
"Your hands; they are long and elegant, marred by hard work, which shows that you are not afraid of hard work. Your hair is long, black and silky which makes some people want to run their hands through. Your nose; it shows that you have been in fights but have lived. Your voice: it's like chocolate to the ears, it is smooth and silky and enraptures people with it. Your build: It also shows that you take care of yourself and you don't over or under feed yourself. And lastly your eyes: they are the most beautiful things that I have ever seen, it's like you can pierce through a person's soul with them. So don't you ever think that you are not attractive? You have the tall, dark, mysterious thing going for you, and personally those are my favorite type of people." Hermione said looking Severus straight into the eyes the whole time that she said this.
Albus, Minerva and Grace all had tears in their eyes, it was a good speech.
"Thank you." Severus said with emotions masking his voice.
Hermione moved her hand over his that was on his thigh and gave it a squeeze. She didn't move it, instead he started to rub her thumb over his knuckles.
"Hermione is exactly right Severus, you are not a bad looking man that you make yourself out to be. Hell if I was younger lass I would want to be with you." Minerva said with a smirk on her face.
"Thank you, I think." Severus said not knowing what to say really.
"That was a beautiful speech, Hermione." Grace said, looking at her new friend.
"I agree." Albus said, the twinkle still present in his eyes, even after his daughter telling a man in her own Slytherin way, that she liked him.
Hermione's hand was still rubbing over Severus's knuckles. She then nudge his hand to make him turn it over, which he did. Hermione placed her small, delicate hand on top of Severus's palm, which was a lot larger than hers. She then proceeded to thread her fingers through Severus's. Minerva and Albus both noticed that both Hermione and Severus had one arm under the table each, but they decide to not say anything about it.
It was Severus who then started to rub his thumb over Hermione's knuckle. But the food then arrived, and Severus let go of Hermione's hand so she could eat.
The meal was a quite affair at their table, even though there was other people in the restaurant. Soon everyone was done and Hermione spoke up "Would anyone mind walking around the mall?"
"I don't mind." Severus, Albus, Minerva and Grace all said at the same time.
Damon dropped the ticket off at the table and Albus went up to pay while everyone else put their coats on. Soon the five people where outside, when Grace spoke up "It might be easier if we leave the car where it is and continue on towards the mall." Grace said.
The other four people agreed with her and headed towards the mall. Minerva was once again on Albus's arm, and Hermione had Grace on one arm and Severus on the other.
The first place they came to was a book store, and the five people walked in. Grace broke off to go look at some history books, Albus and Minerva went to just go look around. When Hermione and Severus were left alone, Hermione grabbed Severus's hand and threaded her fingers through his and then proceeded to drag him through BAM.
If you don't know BAM use to be known as Books-A-Million. Please review