I've had the beginning of this chapter sitting on my computer for awhile without a clear idea of how to wrap it up, but I eventually pulled it together.
Who misses our creepy Professor Mills? Fear not he shall (unfortunately for our couple) return.
Thanks again for reading
Enjoy.
Hermione woke up on the couch to the sight of sun filtering through the window. It was beautiful outside. Hermione got up and opened the window a bit to see how cold it was. It was an unseasonably warm day, one that just called to you, begged to be enjoyed.
Hermione walked upstairs slowly and knocked on the bedroom door.
She heard a groggy moan on the other side, and taking that as a sign of wakefulness opened it.
"Good morning," she chirped.
Severus's hair was rumpled and he gave her the nastiest look.
"I have a towel and fresh clothes ready for you to shower, it's a beautiful day," Hermione said before leaving him to get up.
"I am not a morning person," Severus called grumpily.
Hermione just smiled and continued downstairs, she'd requested a large breakfast from Riles, and she started setting out plates and silverware.
Hermione heard the shower start and smiled.
Eventually Severus hobbled downstairs and over to the kitchen table.
"I have been meaning to ask you whose house is this?" Severus asked sitting down at one of the plates set on the table.
"Oh this was my parent's home." Hermione said scooping food onto her plate, then starting on Severus's.
"Oh," he said.
"Yeah they live in Australia now," Hermione said. She could see him visibly relax at that, he must've assumed they'd been killed.
She put a full plate in front of him, "Eat what you can, then we're gonna go outside for some fresh air." Hermione said, she had her bossy tone back, and it felt so good.
"What if I don't want to go outside?" Severus asked deadpan raising an eyebrow.
"Well then that's too bad, because we're gonna enjoy the nice weather." Hermione said without missing a beat.
Severus picked at his food, eating little bites here and there. Hermione ate all the food on her plate, then excused herself to go get Severus a cloak to wear. It may have been unseasonably warm, but Severus had no fat on his body, and would surely be a little cold no matter what.
Hermione returned cloak in hand.
"Ready?" She asked him smiling a little.
Severus sighed, "as I'll ever be." He then got up, put his still half full dish in the sink and slowly made his way over to Hermione.
"Here you go," she said handing him his cloak, he donned it and then waited for her to take the lead outside.
*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*
Hermione stepped out into the fresh air and instantly sucked in a deep breath.
Severus followed her looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Let's go sit under the tree in the backyard," Hermione said starting to walk around the house and back to a large oak that took up most of the backyard.
Severus followed her quietly shuffling over to the tree and sitting down beside Hermione.
She put her head back against the tree, closed her eyes and smiled.
"You are far too happy about this," Severus sneered from beside her.
"Yes I am," Hermione said back.
"Why?" He asked.
"I've got you, the fresh air, and nobody else to bother us. It's nearly perfect." Hermione said instantly.
Severus let out a dry chuckle, "I'm sure you'd be better off without me here."
Hermione turned her head up to look at Severus. "I don't believe that, I'd be lonely without you here." She said softly and seriously.
Severus looked away from her to the bright blue sky. "You'd have found someone, you can't tell me that a war hero such as yourself isn't sought after by the male population," he snorted.
Hermione let out a full belly laugh at that. "I'm not sought after for any reason," she said through her laughter.
"I apologize, I hadn't realize that the male population had somehow gotten denser." Severus said with derision.
"It's not their fault, I truly not all that great of a catch, I don't have an overabundance of money, or looks, all I have is intelligence, and that makes most men uncomfortable." Hermione said her laughter dying out.
"Because they're stupid." Severus said still looking at the sky.
Hermione snorted, but kept quiet.
They sat outside enjoying the weather until dark clouds began to gather and rain started sprinkling onto their heads.
"We should head inside before it pours," Hermione said slowly standing and arching her back to work out the muscles that were now stiff.
Severus nodded and began to get up to join her.
Suddenly thunder crashed in the distance, and the light sprinkle turned into a down pour.
Hermione grabbed Severus's hand and pulled him up the rest of the way, then both of them hand in hand ran fro the front door.
They both made it inside completely soaked. Hermione laughed a little as she caught her breath.
"Well that was a surprise," Hermione said.
Severus was trying to get his boots off, but every time he bent down to untie them his wet hair would get in his eyes.
"Here let me help," Hermione said leaning down and untying Severus's boots effortlessly. "There you go," Hermione smiled at him as she stood up her face now a few inches from his.
"I am capable of untying my own boots you know," Severus said breathlessly looking into Hermione's eyes, and leaning forward slightly.
"Can I kiss you?" Hermione asked quietly looking right back into his eyes.
Severus looked at her and slowly nodded.
Hermione had to stop the urge to crash her lips into his, she didn't want to frighten him. So instead she slowly leaned up on her tiptoes and let her lips gently rest on his.
He stood frozen under her attention. Hermione slowly moved her lips against his trying to get him to respond.
Severus suddenly came alive his lips molding to hers, and following her lead. She felt his tongue dart out to lick across her lips. Hermione let out a surprised gasp and then let her tongue wander out to meet his. They kissed like that soaking wet in front of the door until a old crack of lightening scared them apart.