A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #9 Exobiology Task #3:Planetary Systems Science - Write about watching or observing someone or something from a distance

Word Count: 899

"A hot black for Severus!" Hermione announced, setting the steaming drink on the counter. She could already see it's owner, Severus, walking towards the counter. He was in here every other day it seemed, always ordered the same drink and sat over his notebook scribbling away.

"What are you working on?" she asked, leaning on the counter.

"Nothing," Severus stated. "It's nothing more than rubbish!" he growled grabbing his coffee and storming off. Hermione sighed. She knew he was lying, well maybe lying. He was so dedicated to whatever he was working on. She could see the passion in his eyes when he scribbled his notes. Putting him out of her mind for now, she turned and started helping the next customer, part of her wondering if she'd chased Severus away from Frothy Magic forever.

Severus sighed as he took a sip of his coffee. How dare she! How dare she talk to him, ask him about his work! Normally, he'd have been thrilled to have someone to talk to about his work. Normally the words flowed in beautiful strings of magical metaphors and perfect prose... normally. Lately, nothing he'd written had been worth keeping.

He'd set at least three notebooks full of ideas, of his writings on fire. That hadn't helped at all. No, he had to find a new way to get out of this slump. He opened his front door, tossed his cloak on the periwinkle couch and set his coffee at his desk.

The type writer sitting there seemed to taunt him. He glared at it before sitting in the black leather chair, his long fingers hovering over the keys. He still couldn't get the girl from the coffee shop out of his mind. He vaguely remembered her name beginning with the letter 'H'. It didn't matter, she didn't matter, the coffee was the only reason he kept going there.

Hermione wiped down the counter. Severus hadn't shown up the last few days.

"Maybe I did scare him away," she muttered to herself. The chime on the door rang and her head flew up. There he was, strolling in, his cloak billowing around him. She smiled.

"Good morning, sir," she chirped. "Large hot black, same as usual?" she asked. He nodded, pulling the money from his pocket. She happily rang him up, he always had the exact change, well, since he started ordering the same thing every time he was here.

She watched as he took his usual seat next to the window. It faced the east, the morning sun filtering in through the blinds. Severus pulled out yet another notebook, his hand posed over it. Hermione couldn't help but admire his long fingers wrapped around the barrel of the pen.

This time, instead of just calling him to the counter, Hermione took him his drink herself. She managed to keep her eyes from looking at the scrawling writing covering the page.

"Here you go. Careful, it's hot," she added, flashing him a smile. He nodded, taking the cup. Hermione waited half a second before scurrying back off.

Severus blinked, looking at the words covering the page. They were beautiful, magnificent, and they all had to do with the girl. He'd actually looked at her name tag this time. Hermione. Her name was Hermione. He nearly smiled thinking about her hand wrapped around his cup. He dared raise his head to see where she was.

She was standing at the counter, arguing it someone. Severus frowned. It sounded like this other customer was being a git. He rose, tucking his notebook away quickly and walked towards the counter. The man seeing him, quickly shut up and walked from the counter. Hermione looked over to see what had spooked the rude man.

"Oh, did you need something else?" she asked, smiling. Severus stared at her for a moment. She continued to smile, the gold in her brown eyes sparkling.

"Yes," he said after a moment. "I've been coming here every time I need inspiration. I'm a writer and for the longest time, I have been in a slump, unable to string more than two words together in a meaningful way. Today, that slump was broken. You are to thank for that, miss."

"Hermione, please, call me Hermione."

"Hermione. Right, I'm Severus Snape, and I would like to know if it's all an act? I know you're required to be kind to customers, but your smile, the way you laugh, the light in your eyes when our gazes meet. Am I making something out of nothing?" he asked. Hermione shook her head.

"No, no you're not. I know it's hard to read, but being nice to you has absolutely nothing to do with my job, I'd treat you the same if you weren't my customer."

"In that case, Hermione, would you care to join me for a cup of coffee," Severus paused looking around the shop, "or something that has nothing to do with your job?"

"Coffee would be great actually. I have my break in about fifteen minutes, if you'd like to wait?" she offered.

"I have waited months to find inspiration, I think I can wait fifteen more minutes. I'll see you at my table then?" he asked.

"Yes, you will," Hermione replied, flashing him another of her magical smiles as he made his way back to his seat, watching his muse the entire time.