Chapter 4 – Age
It was their first real date, the first even Severus called a date. He had invited Hermione to see a play in a London Muggle theatre and afterwards dine together in a wonderful restaurant. Hermione had been beside herself the last days because he seemed to really care about her, or at least started to.
She was living with her parents at the moment until university would start and because he wasn't ready to face them, yet, they met a few streets away from Hermione's at a park. She wore a dark green dress with silver ornaments on it and hoped it wouldn't be too obvious. But she wanted to give him something in return for this lovely evening he had planned, and she knew how much pride he took in his House, even after the War had ended.
When a loud crack could be heard behind the next bush, Hermione turned around to see Severus walk towards her, for once not wearing his usual black teacher's robes but a black Muggle suit with a dark green tie and a silver tiepin in form of a snake.
They both stared at each other for a moment, absorbing the other's outfit.
"We look like a couple," Hermione then realised. As if he had chosen his tie to match her dress.
"We do," he replied quietly, then offered her his hand.
She took it and the next moment they appeared in a dark alley in London. She didn't want to let go of his hand, so she asked: "Are you alright with us holding hands?"
"I like it," he admitted and squeezed her hand shortly.
She smiled. "But I meant if someone who knows us, sees us like this… there will be consequences. Are you ready for those?"
He looked at her gravely. "I believe it more… prudent if we keep quiet about… us. At least for the moment. But if someone sees us today, dressed like this, going to a theatre and eating at a restaurant, I reckon it doesn't matter if I hold your hand or not."
"Okay," she nodded, glad he showed himself in public with her, even though it was only the Muggle public.
They made their way to the theatre and into their seats. All the while, Severus was the perfect gentleman and Hermione felt like a lady from the 19th century.
The play was a comedy with great actors and an interesting plot although it was modern. It was about a grandmother who was trying to get her grandchildren married. She was rather meddlesome and reminded Hermione of Dumbledore. When one of the granddaughters suddenly exclaimed her love for her university professor, Hermione saw Severus blushing and chuckled.
On their way to the restaurant, they talked about the play, and Hermione revelled in Severus' fine sense of culture. People her age seldomly appreciated something like theatre.
The restaurant Severus had picked seemed rather fancy and when Hermione looked at the prices on the menu, she paled a bit. Out of politeness because it was clear that he would pay, she only ordered a salad and a glass of water.
He seemed to notice her behaviour at once and ordered an abundance of food for both of them.
Their conversation was interesting, the atmosphere relaxed, and Hermione thought that this was a wonderful evening – until the waiter returned after they had finished their main course.
Addressing Severus, he said: "Would you and your lovely daughter care for some dessert?"
As soon as the words were out, Hermione knew this was a disaster. She closed her eyes with a sigh and heard Severus getting up and storming out of the restaurant.
"I'll be right back," she told the waiter and tried not to sound venomous; it wasn't his fault he had spoilt a perfect evening.
She hurried out of the restaurant and was glad to see Severus walking instead of just disapparating. His fists were clenched, and he stomped with every step he made.
When she had caught up with him, she took his arm to stop him and he whirled around in fury.
"This is ridiculous!" he shouted. "You, me, this," he indicated between their bodies, "it's utterly ridiculous, and I am a fool for believing a second it could be anything else!"
"Severus, please, listen to me!" she replied, trying to hold back her tears. "We knew that something like this could happen and will probably happen again, at least with strangers. But I firmly believe that you, me, this," she quoted him, "is worth all the trouble."
He looked at her and his anger seemed to subdue, so she continued more calmly.
"These last weeks have been marvellous, and this evening was heaven and has shown us how great we are together. I don't care that you're older than me because intellectually we're on the same level. And wizards and witches live so many years that the 19 years age difference we have doesn't really matter. And if you look at famous couples, you'll see that often the man is 20 years older. Like Mr Darcy and Miss Elisabeth, or Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester, or-"
"Alright, alright," he stopped her with an amused expression. "I see. If you really don't mind what people might say, I guess I shouldn't either."
"I really don't."
He nodded and took a deep breath. Looking back at the restaurant, he mumbled: "I don't want to go back in there."
"You don't have to," she offered. "Just wait here and then we can take a walk through the park before we say goodbye, okay? I don't want to end this wonderful evening with a bad aftertaste."
He nodded and Hermione quickly went back to pay their bills. A part of her feared that he would be gone when she came out again, but he was still there and even offered her his hand when they started their walk.
Hermione sighed in relief. Next crisis averted.