AN: Life got chaotic for me, so I couldn't update yesterday. Still, I found time today, so here you all go!

Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

Severus could not stop thinking about Helen. Everything about her was fascinating, alluring, and left him yearning to know her more deeply. Already he was counting down the moments until he saw her again.

When should he write her asking for another date? He didn't want to seem too desperate for companionship or scare her by coming on too strong. Many a woman had rejected a man too eager to see her. Should he write her, or should he wait for her to write him? Helen may be the kind of woman who wanted to initiate contact. If so, how could he be patient when all he wanted to do was be with her?

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Any other day, he would grumble that his work was being interrupted, and he risked falling behind schedule. Hermione was coming over in the evening, meaning he needed to finish his brewing so he could devote the evening to defeating her in blackjack. He also planned to open his best Champagne to celebrate his new relationship. A special day such as this deserved a celebration with his best friend. She would be happy that he had a chance for happiness, or so he hoped.

The next knock on the door interrupted his thoughts once more. With a scowl that didn't reach his eyes, he strolled over to the front door. Upon opening it, he couldn't help but smirk.

Of course Draco would come to check on him.

Hermione could not stop thinking about Steven. Everything about him was captivating, exciting, and left her yearning to know him more deeply. Already she was counting down the moments until she saw him again.

"Wise men say only fools rush in! But I can't help falling in love with you!"

Even Melonie's music couldn't dampen her good spirits, not when she spent the morning fantasizing about being with Steven again. Besides, Elvis was correct: you couldn't help falling in love with some people.

Would Steven write her asking for another date? He seemed interested in her last night. Was he waiting to write her so he didn't appear too forward? If he was, he was being a gentleman in not coming on too strong, even if she was counting down the minutes until they were together again.

Should she write him? Perhaps he wanted her to initiate contact, just to ensure she was interested in pursuing a relationship with him. If so, what should she say without appearing to overage or pushy?

"Shall I stay? Would it be, would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you?"

The knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Any other day, she would grumble that her work was being interrupted. There were financial reports she needed to review and accounts she wanted to balance before evening. Then, she would come over to Severus to defeat him in blackjack. She hoped he opened his finest bottle of Champagne. A special day such as this deserved a celebration with her best friend. He would be happy that she had a chance for happiness or so she hoped.

The next knock on the door interrupted her thoughts once more. With a smile that reached her eyes, she strolled over to the front door. Upon opening it, she couldn't help but smirk.

Of course Ginny would come to check on her.

"Uncle Severus," if last night had not gone so well, Severus would've been tempted to hex off the gleam in Draco's eyes. "You seem happy."

"I would be more content if my work was not being interrupted," Severus' voice lacked its usual edge.

"I promise not to be long," Draco stepped closer to his godfather. "I just wanted to see how last night went."

"Your business associate was quite intriguing." Severus shut the door behind him.

"Isn't she though?"

"Indeed, Helen Belle was quite the dinner companion."

Draco's eyes grew. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, Helen Belle is a fascinating woman, one I enjoyed dining with."

His godson paled.

"Hermione," if last night had not gone so well, Hermione would've been tempted to hex off the gleam in Ginny's eyes. "You seem happy."

"I'm happy enough," her voice betrayed the deep joy she'd been basking in all morning.

"Ooh, tell me all about it," Ginny stepped closer to her.

"To begin with, your business associate was quite intriguing." Hermione allowed Ginny to enter.

"Isn't he though?"

"Indeed, Steven Turpin was quite the dinner companion."

Ginny's eyes eyes grew. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, Steven Turpin is a fascinating man, one I enjoyed dining with."

Her best friend paled.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Severus asked, the edge returning to his voice.

"I uh," he swallowed. "You said her name was Helen Belle?"

"Yes," Severus drawled.

Draco blinked.

"Why do you look so surprised? Shouldn't you know a secretary at one of your Vegas firms? She claims to know you."

"Oh yes," he released a nervous chuckle. "I know who she is."

"According to her, you set her up on a blind date with me," Severus answered.

"I did?" He pointed to himself.

"Yes," he snapped. "Unless there is some kind of misunderstanding."

Draco took a deep breath.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Hermione felt a chill race up her spine, one which wasn't caused by the cold.

"I uh," she swallowed. "You said his name was Steven Turpin?"

"Why do you look so surprised?" Hermione frowned. "Shouldn't you know a high school teacher who works extensively with one of your charities?"

"Oh yes," Ginny released a nervous chuckle. "I know who he is."

"I would hope you know him given that you set me up on a blind date with him," Hermione answered.

"I did?" She pointed to herself.

"Yes," she furrowed her eyebrows. "Unless there is some kind of misunderstanding."

Ginny took a deep breath.

"I will be honest," Draco exhaled. "Ginny chose your blind date. I had little say in the matter. As silly as it sounds, I wasn't paying much attention when Ginny said her name."

"So you admit it was a blind date," Severus crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yes," Draco gave him a sheepish grin.

Severus' frown deepened.

"Please don't be mad at us. We thought you'd be happier having someone in your life," Draco answered.

"Why did you think I needed another person in my life? I have Hermione. She was enough for me."

"Yes, but you weren't asking her out on dates."

"You are correct, because I am only her friend," Severus answered. "Friendship is less messy for both of us, hence the reason we prefer it to being lovers."

"But this new relationship with Helen isn't messy?"

"No."

Draco quirked an eyebrow.

"Helen knows nothing of my past or how snarly I can become," Severus glanced at his left arm. "Things are easy with her in a way they are not for other people."

"And you're happy?"

He returned his attention to Draco. "Immensely."

The second that word came out of his mouth, Severus knew it weren't true.

"I will be honest," Ginny exhaled. "Draco chose your blind date. I had little say in the silly as it sounds, I wasn't paying much attention when Draco said his name."

"So you admit it was a blind date," Hermione tapped her foot as if Ginny was a misbehaving customer.

"Yes," Ginny gave her a sheepish grin.

Hermione's frown deepened.

"Please don't be mad at us. We thought you'd be happier having someone in your life," Ginny answered.

"Why did you think I needed another person? I have Severus. He was enough for me."

"Yes, but you weren't asking him out on dates."

"Why would I ever ask him to date me? We're only friends," Hermione answered. "Friendship is less messy for both of us, hence the reason we prefer it to being lovers."

"But this new relationship with Steven isn't messy?" Ginny quirked an eyebrow.

"Steven does't know about my past, or about how bossy I can become," she glanced at her right arm. "Things are easy with him in a way they are not for other people."

"And you're happy then?"

She returned his attention to Ginny. "Yes, I am."

The second those words came out of her mouth, Hermione knew they weren't true.

"As long as you're happy, that's all that matters," Draco relaxed.

"Indeed," Severus answered. "Though I would appreciate it if you did not deceive me again."

"So long as you don't give me a reason to lie to you, I will not do so."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you wouldn't have gone on the blind date had I not manipulated you into doing so."

"True," Severus admitted. "And I am content enough with how it ended."

"So are you going to see her again?" Draco asked.

"That is for me to know, and you to find out when the time is appropriate."

"In other words, you'll write her the second I leave."

Severus huffed, though his eyes had a gleam he could not suppress.

"I am glad things worked out," Draco smirked. "Also, you're welcome."

"I never thanked you."

"No, but you wanted to."

Severus rolled his eyes.

"Goodbye."

"Farewell."

Severus watched Draco leave. Then he grinned.

He had a letter to write.

"As long as you're happy, that's all that matters," Ginny relaxed.

"Yes, though I would appreciate it if you did not lie in order to set me up on a date again. Then again, after tonight," she blushed, "I may never need to go on a blind date again."

"So long as you don't give me a reason to lie in order to get you to go on blind dates, I will not do so."

"What do you mean?"

"It means you wouldn't have gone on the blind date had I not lied to you."

"True," Hermione admitted. "And I am happy with how it ended."

"So are you going to see him again?"

"We'll see," Hermione twisted her lips. "I'm debating on whether or not to write him. I don't want to come off too strong, but I don't want him to think I'm not interested."

"I would wait about a day," Ginny answered. "Men like making the first move. It gives them more control."

"True, although I like control myself."

"Yes, but patience is a virtue."

"Fair enough," Hermione admitted.

"I am glad things worked out," Ginny grinned.

"Yes, and thank you. I may not have liked your methods, but I cannot argue that I appreciated meeting Steven."

"That's all that matters."

Hermione nodded.

"I need to leave soon for an appointment. Goodbye, and I'm glad everything worked out," Ginny waved at her.

"Goodbye."

Hermione watched Ginny leave. Then the spark returned to her eyes.

She prayed Steven's letter came soon.