Chapter 6

The next four days until Friday passed slowly. Hermione spent every waking hour preparing lesson plans for all the classes she would be teaching. When Friday night rolled around, she was glad she was having dinner with Severus and not some airhead who would make her uncomfortable. If there was one thing she could count on from Severus, it was thought-provoking, comfortable, and fun conversation. He arrived to get her at 6:30 wearing dark jeans, a button down long sleeved shirt, and had his hair pulled loosely behind his head. Hermione couldn't help but swoon just looking at him. She had also opted for something casual; dark jeans, comfortable flats, and a dark green silk jumper.

Severus said, "You look lovely. We're going to a muggle Italian restaurant so I'm glad you aren't wearing a cloak. I forgot to tell you." His slightly furrowed brow looked oh so attractive.

Hermione smiled and said, "Sounds great!"

He took her arm and they walked through the empty halls to the apparation point where he side-along apparated with her. They arrived on a cobblestone street. A warm breeze picked up her hair and danced it around her face. She smiled up at Severus and he twitched the corners of his mouth in response. They walked in relaxed silence to the eatery with her arm entwined in his. They sat at a table in the back corner. The waiter came to take their drink orders and give them menus.

Severus said, "We'll take a bottle of house moscato and will both have the chicken cacciatore." The waiter walked away with the not needed menus while Severus said to Hermione, "I hope you don't mind me ordering for you. It is my favorite dish here and I wanted to share it with you."

Hermione said, "Normally I would mind, but cacciatore just happens to be my favorite Italian dish." She smiled at him as the waiter dropped off the wine. They sipped in companionable quiet and then look up at each other.

"I'm really quite surprised you asked me to come on a date with you," she said.

"Well, to be honest," Severus said, "I wanted to ask you for quite some time, but you were all tied up with the foul Weasley boy."

Hermione laughed loudly despite the looks from the other tables. Severus felt amazing knowing that he made her laugh like that.

"If I'd known you were interested, I wouldn't have stayed tied up with the foul Weasley boy for so long," she teased back.

Their meal came then and they ate quietly. After they'd finished Severus paid the check and led her back out into the street. They walked for awhile just talking and laughing about past times. Hermione always felt safe and secure with him. She was never scared of the things of her dreams when he was nearby. They sat in a deserted park on a bench next to a lake.

"Hermione," Severus began, "Do you think you'd like to come out with me again sometime?" Hermione was shocked at how nervous this usually so sure man seemed.

"Severus," she replied, "I could think of nothing more I'd rather do on an evening."

He then smiled at her, not just a corner twitch, but a full on smile.

She smiled back and stood up and said, "Come on old man, I'll race you back to the street!"

He stood up laughing at her and started running ahead of her. He beat her back to the street panting and said, "I'm not old, you're just younger that's all."

She laughed and said through her panting, "I must admit, I thought I would beat you. Let's go back to my quarters for drinks?"

He agreed and they went back to the castle.