I didn't know what to think about it. The previous evening was strange. I ought to be angry with him, but I just couldn't make myself to. He was so unhappy, that I couldn't think about anything else. I didn't care that he tried to hurt me, I just thought of how lost he must have felt.

„That's called love." I turned back and saw Ginny coming to me to the kitchen with a grin on her face. I stopped thinking and realized that I have been looking in the fridge for about five minutes without taking anything out o fit. I looked at Ginny and blushed a bit and shook my head a bit to show her (or maybe myself) she's wrong.

„Oh God Ginny! I am not in love! Where did you get such a stupid thought?" Ginny knew what happened in the forest – not all o fit, I missed the part with Severus pointing his wand on me while I was telling her. She is one of a few very close friends I actually have and after that evening I really needed to tell someone. She decided to visit me - although she planned to be on her way to Bolivia with Harry by this time. „Well, let me think. I looked at you and you told me." „No, I didn't!" „Not with words, but it's clear that…" „Severus and I are just friends! Or maybe not even that.

I actually don't know but what I know for sure is, that I am NOT in love with him! Ginny stop it!" Ginny began laughing and with each word I said her laughter grew a bit.

„Sorry, it's just that you're so funny trying to persuade yourself that there is nothing between you and him although you know that…"

„All right, that's enough! Just because you are so much in love with Harry it doesn't mean that everyone else in the World has to be in love too. I am satisfied living on my own and he last thing I want is to be in love. I care about Severus because he is going through difficult time and he can understand what I go through as well. That's why I think we could get on pretty well."

„That's why you are going on dinner next Friday with him, you wanted to say…" Ginny grinned. „Ginny!" I took the tea towel and threw it at her. Very soon after the evening in the woods I got an owl with a letter from him in which he asked wheter I wouldn't mind accompany him on Friday evening during some interview he was supposed to give. He has been avoiding such things as long as it was posibble, but eventually the Order of Phoenix persuaded him that it would be good if each of the main warriors leave at least some information and thoughts for next generations.

He hardly believed someone would actually care about his thoughts and opinions, but at the end he agreed to do so. As the time of meeting with the reporter became closer, he realized he really didn't want to do it, but he couldn't change it anymore. He has promised to do so and he has always tried to keep his promises.

I didn't mind to accompany him, if it made him feel better, but as I was watching Ginny's reaction, I began regret a bit…Ginny couldn't stand it anymore and began to laugh unstoppably. After a few seconds I had to laugh too, so we were staying in the kitchen for a while just laughing and throwing the tea towel at each other.

Ginny was a great friend, but she couldn't understand everything. She just wanted to find a lover for me in every man I have met in recent days since I have split up with Ron. Sometimes I had a feeling she tried to get me someone when I was still with Ron. On the other hand, it's truth it's hard to say if me and Ron actually ever were real lovers maybe that's why she as Ron's sister took it so well when we split up. I think she knew, of course she knew as everyone else, me and Ron was just a question of time.

However, I want to be on my own for some time now, I don't need anything but a good friend.

The time gone unbelievable fast and before I could even realized it, I was staying in front of the door leading to the restaurant where I was supposed to meet with Severus. "Come on, it's gonna be fine! You're just two friends meeting up in a restaurant" I was trying to calm myself down. Why should I be nervous? There is absolutely no reason for that! But it didn't help much, I went to the room and looked around.

Severus told me he would be sitting in the left corner of the room and so he did, there was already a young blond lady sitting on a chair in front of him and he seemed feeling quite inconvenient. However, as I had gone to the table and he noticed me, he began to look a bit more relaxed.

"Good evening." I said while I was sitting down on a chair next to Severus, which he has moved for me so I could sit comfortably.

"Thank you." I smiled at him and he gave me something, which might (just might) had been called a smile as well.

"Good evening." The blond girl said. "My name's Melissa, it's very nice to finally meet you."

"Thank you, I am Hermione Granger."

"Of course, I do know who you are! And I am very happy you have decided to join our report. Interview of a couple who has been in the middle of the war and survived will be much more interesting for our readers." She gave me a big smile and opened her notepad.

"We are not a couple." Severus said coldly, looking at the woman without any special interest.

"We are just friends." I corrected her. "And I was actually hoping, rather than giving my own report to let speak Mr. Snape and maybe add some mine thoughts to it. I don't really need to have an article in the magazine, I have already given a lot of interviews and I don't think there is really much left unsaid." I said hoping it wouldn't be necessary to give another never ending report from the Wizarding War.

"Well, I thought it would be very nice to make it as a report of two people. Although just friends." She looked a bit disappointed but a bit suspicious as well. I already began to worry what she was going to publish from her personal notes. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea…

"Really, you don't have to worry about the interview. I won't ask too much!" And she gave me a big smile. To most of her questions I have already answered in different magazines, but when I have mentioned it, it didn't make her feel any kind of uncomfortable. She has just said that it would be always good to inform people about how tough the war was and than she continued.

About three-quarters later, she excused herself and went to the toilets. I turned to Severus and didn't find him that annoyed as I expected. Of course, he wasn't laughing of joy, but he didn't seem very frustrated either.

"Are you all right?" I asked him and he nodded. "You surprised me you actually arrived. Especially after what has happened the other night."

"Look, you didn't act nicely to me that night, I admit. But that doesn't mean we couldn't be friends, if you can tell me I don't have to worry that such a thing would happen again. If you can, then let's forget about it for good and be friends."

"Why do you do it? Because you pity me? If so then stop it, I don't need your compassion!"

I frowned a bit and then said: "If you think so why did you owl me? I came because after what happened, I still think we could be quite good friends as we both have gone through difficult times which not many people understand."

"I owled you, because I wanted to have a chance to apologise for my behaving but that's all. I am afraid there is too huge chasm between the two of us to be friends. I am sorry if you thought I would appreciate it, but I have to disappoint you, Miss Granger."

I stared at him for a second in surprise and then frowned a bit again. He has called me Miss Granger. It was like he rebuilt the barrier which seperated the distance between us and didn't allow to come any closer. I felt so relaxed with him, and I am sure that if nothing else he didn't feel uncomfortable with me. After all he didn't really have to apologize to me and ask me to accompany him tonight. But still...

"Why do you think that?"

"I am twice older than you are, Miss Granger and I was your teacher back in Hogwarts. You are on the other hand very young and a quite naive and don't really know what the life is like. So I don't think we would have much to talk about now or in the future. Maybe for a minute I thought you have grown up but I am afraid you are still the silly know it all student, just a bit confused and searching for support. I'm afraid you didn't pick the right person to turn to."

"Fine! If you see it this way then there really isn't much to talk about."

I stood up from the table just to crash into Melissa. She raised her eyebrow a bit and with a sweet voice asked "Are you leaving already?" She must have heard something from our argument as I could see her suspicion became even bigger. She was now looking couriously from me to Severus and back again. Probably getting inspiration for a new best selling article..."Yes, I really have to leave now, but it was nice to meet you Melissa." I made myself smile a bit and shook her hand. Than I turned towards the main door and left without looking at Severus again.