A Whole New World

Task: You're trying something new and your pairing should as well! This could be anything from a new food to a new sport but one of your pairing should be showing some nerves and discomfort but in the end, would try it. Whether they enjoyed it or not, is up to you.

Clenching his jaw, he stared at the mass in front of him – so eagerly placed by the witch, who, wore the ring of promise on her finger, the necklace of reminder around her neck and one of his old sweaters that hung too long over her bare legs – shorts somewhere underneath. Christmas had quickly become a favorite in his memory, and not just because they had slept next to one another each day afterwards. It was the look from other students when they saw the ring on her finger, and subtle smiles from his colleagues – they approved.

New Years had come and gone, but they had barely noticed. Having filled their time reading books aloud to one another, or sitting and talking until the wee hours of the morning; they made up for their lost time. "What….is this?" He drawled, leaning back from the table; scrunching his nose at the plate – it was an assault to the senses. And so much food. How can she eat it all?

Unless she had picked up that habit from Weasley.

"It's biryani, momos, chole bhature, pani puri and, my personal favorite, samosas." Hermione replied, sitting down opposite him. "The best of East Indian cuisine. My parents and I used to go to this East Indian restaurant in London all the time, well before the war, I asked Harry to send me some. You know, for fun."

"You call this…cuisine?" Curling up his lip in despair at the onslaught of smells, not knowing if this was a trick or not. "Didn't you say your parents were dentists?"

"They are, were? I think they still are, just – taking a vacation." She mused, picking up a piece of naan bread that was steaming on a plate between them. "Come on, eat up! It was you who said you wanted to try something new."

"I prefer to eat food I can pronounce," He uttered, leaning back in his chair – careful not to glance up at the puppy dog eyes that he knew were watching them on this frosty January day.

"Severus," She growled, and he held up a hand.

"It is fruitless to argue," He drawled, averting his eyes from the mess on his plate. He preferred food that were more tasteful, and that required actual utensils. A stuffed quail, with roasted garlic asparagus and a white sauce. "I don't do ethnic food."

Pushing her chair out, Hermione stood and came round to him – putting a hand on his shoulder. "Turn your chair out."

"Why?" Severus asked, looking up at the stubborn steel in her eyes.

"Just do it."

"Hmm." The growl rolled in his throat as he did so, a small smile passing on her lips as she straddled him. He blinked in surprise, but said nothing, merely narrowing his eyes as his hands wandered to her hips, lost beneath the bulk of the green sweater that brought out the brown of her eyes. Her hair was left down and wild, downy soft and tempting him to drown himself within her.

But it wasn't time for dessert just yet.

She was moving, grabbing naan and ripping it, piling it with something she knew to taste good. Picking up the plate she had so lovingly placed before him, she wore a cheeky smile as she brought it to rest between the small space between them. "Now, open." The instruction was simple, but all he could so was stare incredulously at her. "Oh come on, it's only chick peas and bread."

"You assu-'

As soon as he had opened his mouth, she had popped the naan, heaping with chole bhature, into his mouth. Squeezing her gently with his hands, he begrudgingly started to chew – it felt like paste, flavored paste but paste all the same. The only delicious part of the meal was the pleased smile she wore as she waited for him stop chewing – no doubt to force more down his throat.

"Don't make that face," She teased, "It's not that bad!"

Torture in it's prime, he thought grimly, attempting to swallow it – along with his price. How am I going to repay you.

Refusing to open his mouth, she started laughing, the giggles rising out of the depths of her soul – light and airy. Leaning forward, she placed a kiss sweetly on his lips, and when he went to reply in kind – his lips opening slightly – she had placed something in her place; a soft, doughy substance. It made his gag reflex kick in, his lips tightening while his nose scrunched up and his eyes rolled closed as he shuddered.

It was like eating a raw snail covered in slime.

And he liked well done escargot.

Her laughter, how ever much at his expense, cut the horror of the meal in half. At first, it was soft chuckles bubbling within her tummy, but it always changed – growing into spurts of laughter that she kept behind tight lips until she could no more keep it behind closed doors than a bird could fly. Then it poured out, tears welling in the corners of her eyes and a hand going to her stomach – as if that would curb it.

"Severus… it really isn't that bad!" Hermione was speaking between the stitches in her sides and the snorts coming out her nose – which only made her laugh more.

"You should have let me die in that hospital room," He moaned, pulling her hips closer and his fingers found the ticklish spot just under her ribcage, making her squeal – almost throwing the plate in surprise.

"Stop," She giggled, putting the plate down. "Se-ver-us!" Despite her wiggling, he did not let her go, merely moving his fingers gently along her back to bring her forward; until their noses were touching and the laughter they both enjoyed had halted. "Ah, heh, ha…ah." Her voice whispered, letting her fingers run over his shoulders, slowly moving to his jaw, taunting them both with a closeness they had promised not to breach. "I suppose…"

"Hmm," He growled, letting his eyes shut half way as he breathed in her scent.

"We could …" She made her thought stretch out, her lips just barely brushing over his own as his fingers curled, his nails moving against her flesh, making her shudder. "…skip dinner."

"I would suggest that we do," He growled, standing easily, his hands placed firmly on her bottom as her legs went around his waist, as she stole a kiss that made him pause. One that made it hard for him to keep it PG-13 when he finally made it to portion of his room that had a bed.

/

"Ms, Granger." He growled into her ear, pushing aside some of her curls with his hand – yet she didn't stir. "You're missing your NEWTs."

She practically flew out of bed. "What- wha-" She huffed, spinning around. "It's Saturday, thank god." Pressing her palms to her knees, she took a few deep breathes. "What a nightmare." Still sitting on the bed, his shirt somewhere in the room – where ever she had tossed it the night before – he just let the moonlight make shadows on her skin. "Severus, is something wrong?" She asked, looking at him from under a mass of curled and thick eyelashes that seemed darker than the other side of the moon.

Saying nothing, he stood and approached her – taking her hand and leading her out the door. His classroom was dark, a quiet slumber lay on the school. "Sever-"

"Shh." He drawled, stopping to make the sound into her ear before whispering. "Don't make a sound."

Hermione nodded, following him as he led her through back corners and empty hall ways.

Sooner than she expected, the crisp cold air hit her, making her shiver as she recognized the Quidditch pitch.

He had a broom already waiting, it looked brand new – but it was old, long and heavy. Standing over it like an old pro, she reluctantly followed. She Severus Snape she had known in her youth had never touched a broomstick.

But with a twitch of his hand followed by a strangled gasp in her throat, they were up, flying well into the clouds. "I hate flying!"

"You have not tried flying, you have tried racing." He instructed, holding her firmly around the middle, his warmth welcomed. While she was sure that Harry or Ron would have been appalled at this broom, it did not fail them as they climbed higher and higher. Her eyes were shut tight all the way, clinging to the strong arm holding her steady.

And then, like that, they stopped – she half expected them to plummet back down to earth.

"Look around you," Came the low growl, a soft squeeze from his fingers.

Timidly she did, starting with on eyes and then another. But it didn't take her long to gasp in wonder at the sight of it all. The stars seemed so alive, like street lights, with the school so far beneath them, it more resembled a doll house than a school.

"This is…beautiful." Hermione whispered, letting the tension go in her body as they glided softly along, the air strangely warm.

"This is our world," He whispered gently, moving his thumb along her ribcage. "There is no good nor evil up here, just…eternity, among the stars."

"There was always so much going on during school, I never really – stopped to think."

"Most likely you never stopped thinking," He spoke fondly, putting his chin on the top of her head.

"You never told me you flew?" She remarked, extending her arms out to the side like she had seen done in a movie. Though the character was not up in the air, but over the ocean.

He made a noise in his throat, leaning back away from her. "What are you doing!?" She asked, panicking.

"Trust me." The deep voice drawled, his hands moving to her waist. "Stand up."

"Are you kidding?" She barked, and he simply squeezed her waist with gently authority.

"I'm here." He whispered, "I will never let you down." The deep reverberation of his voice in the calmness of the air gave her courage.

Taking a shuddering breath, she did as he instructed – though it was upon trembling knees she managed to place her feet in a steady position – Severus holding her steady. "Oh, I don't like this."

"Breathe," He instructed, watching as the soft wind blew her curls, her arms slowly extending out – he had no doubt her eyes were closed. "Feel the magic around you."

"Severus?" She queried, and he smiled.

"Yes, Ms. Granger?"

"Why the blood hell did you let go of me!" She squealed, starting to wobble as she felt his hands leave her, smacking her bottom lightly as he did so – standing easily on the broom behind her, spreading his arms out, making sure to keep the weight balanced.

"I learned to fly at night," He told her, taking a deep breath. "A safer world than the one I knew."

"I don't feel safe here at all!" She squeaked, keeping her balance and refusing to open her eyes.

"Would you prefer hovering over freezing cold artic waters?" He mused, his deep voice drawing out each word, a blush coming over her.

"You know that my favorite movie it the Titanic?" She whispered, opening her eyes - daring to look behind her.

"Miss Weasley told me." He answered frankly, pleased as she grinned.

"Since when did you start talking to Ginny?"

He made a low growl, "Long enough, Miss Granger."

"I'll be Mrs. Snape soon enough." Was her answer, shifting on the broom without thinking to kiss him, causing the balance to falter, the broom to wobble.. They both felt the air beneath their feet quite alarmingly, and yet, she did not scream. To her alarm, she wasn't even afraid. . Severus was holding onto the brook with one hand, the other quite firmly around her waist. "Oops."

He pursed his lips, and uttering a sigh, muttering. "Oops, indeed."