AN: Once again, life got in the way so I couldn't update on Monday. I'm back now! Sadly, I won't be able to update next Monday due to work commitments. Still, I hope regular updates will resume soon.
Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
She loved wearing sleeveless dresses.
Hermione twirled around in her black dress, letting her long blond hair swirl around her bare shoulders. Everything about her new body was perfect, from her taller stature to the blueness of her eyes to her unmarked arm. All of it was perfect. If only she could remain like this forever.
For a brief moment, she wondered how Severus would react to seeing her in a sleeveless black dress. More than likely, he would make some comment about her appearing lovely, stick a Dum Dum in his mouth, and ask if she wanted another glass of Champagne. Then he would continue the evening as if she hadn't dressed any differently.
Or he would see her scar, shudder in revulsion, and rethink his decision to spend his evenings with her.
At least he didn't seem to regret spending his evenings with her yet. Despite her nagging fears, nothing had changed between them since Monday's almost kiss. There were no more dreams of Severus, only dreams of cotton candy fields and blue Dobermans that she still didn't quite understand. That may be for the best.
It was fortunate that things were not awkward between her and Severus. The last thing she needed was for him to leave her, not when everyone else had forsaken her. His abandonment was the one thing she could never survive. Someday she needed to let him know how much she appreciated knowing he would always be by her side, even if it took her whole lifetime to do so.
It was fortunate that he had another social engagement tonight. The last thing she wanted was for him to be lonely while she was with another man. Odd that he never mentioned what he was doing tonight. Sometimes his sense of mystery intrigued her, and sometimes it frustrated her. Why wouldn't he tell her where he was going when they shared everything else about their lives? Then again, why would she be entitled to know these things? Sure, Severus opened up to her more than he had to anyone else, but that didn't mean he needed to tell her everything about his life, even if she wanted to spend the rest of her life knowing everything about him.
She frowned. Why was she meditating upon Severus when she was dating Steven? Didn't she want a gentleman and not a gambler from Cokeworth?
Yes, she did. It was something she best remember, lest she dwell on the desire to keep Severus by her side for the rest of eternity.
With a smile, Hermione left the house, thankful for apparation and the Polyjuice potion which gave her a new body. Without those, she may never have a chance to find love again.
Steven was the best dressed man Hermione had ever laid eyes upon. Even when he was standing in front of a place like KoMex Fusion, his muggle suit fit him perfectly, as if he'd made effort into giving her a wonderful evening. It warmed her heart to know a man would dress so well just to impress her.
Granted, she was dressed nicely too, perhaps too nicely for such an establishment. Still, she was celebrating her newfound ability to wear sleeveless dresses. Plus, she wanted to impress Steven and give him a night he would remember for the rest of his life. With any luck, they could end the evening with a goodnight kiss.
Her chest ached at the thought of kissing a man other than Severus. Would it be a betrayal to almost kiss her best friend then kiss another man? If so, who was she betraying?
Better question, why couldn't she keep her mind off Severus? They were best friends, not lovers. Why should she give him any consideration when thinking about a potential lover?
"I hope you weren't waiting outside for too long," Hermione strolled over to him.
"No, I just got here," he flashed her a smile.
"Oh good, because I thought I was too early. My mother used to say it was far less rude to be early than to be on time."
"My mother said something similar," he extended his hand.
"You had a very wise mother." She took his hand.
He paused and twisted his lips. Hermione's heart sunk. Had she already committed some kind of faux pas without knowing so? Was it inadvisable to bring up one's mother on a second date? It had been quite some time since she'd dated, and she'd never dated an American. Perhaps she was missing some cultural norm which could mean the difference between a third date and being left at the restaurant alone.
"My mother was a wise woman," there was a gleam in his eye.
"She was?"
"Yes, she was a very loving mother," he continued. "I knew I could talk to her about anything."
"You speak of her in the past tense."
"Sadly, she died of a heart attack a year ago," Steven frowned, even if the sorrow didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Hermione's voice softened.
"Don't be, she lived a full and happy life," Steven led her inside.
"What about your father?" She squirmed. "If you don't mind me asking, how is he?"
His eyes shifted to the ceiling, Then, he relaxed. "My dad lives in Reno. Sometimes when he's lonely, he comes down to visit. When I'm lonely, I go up to see him."
"I see," she replied as they strolled to the line in front of the counter.
"If you don't mind me asking, how are your parents?"
"My parents," she squirmed. To tell the truth, she and her parents had as great a relationship as anyone could from opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean. Although they were supportive of her endeavors, they didn't understand her desire to remain in the Wizarding World after everything which had occurred. Any world with members who would support someone scarring and torturing their daughter the way Bellatrix had could not be anything worth fighting for. The fact that magic had taught her to alter their memories did little to ease their concerns surrounding it. Her desire to remain a witch and live in the magical world remained a source of contention, something that even after long discussions, they could not resolve.
Then again, Steven didn't need to know any of that. Hermione Granger may have a complex relationship with her parents, but Helen Belle could have an excellent relationship with her parents without any caveats. Everything could be as perfect as she wanted it to be.
"My parents are alive," she answered. "They live in Boston. In the winters they come down to visit, though never in the summer. It's much too hot for them here."
"I can understand that," they moved up in line, still holding each other's hands. "It is intriguing though. You don't have a Boston accent."
"I was raised in Springfield, Illinois," she lied. "My parents moved to Boston when I was sixteen so I never picked up on the accent. As soon as I could get away from those cold winters, I moved to Tallahassee, Florida to go to the University of Florida."
"I thought the University of Florida was in Gainesville."
"Oh," she bit her lip and squirmed. "Did I say Tallahassee? I meant to say Gainesville."
He raised an eyebrow. "Those are two very different places."
"I apologize for doing so, but they're so close to each other they're difficult to keep track of them. When I'm nervous I become terrible at geography too."
"There's no need to apologize. Everyone is a bit directionally challenged at certain points," Steven gave her a smile which melted her heart. "Even after living here for seven years, I still get lost driving on the strip."
"Oh yes, the strip," she exhaled, deciding he didn't need to know she couldn't drive despite spending a summer trying to learn how to do so. "I hate spending a half hour trying to go down Interstate 15."
"You drive?"
"I do."
"So do I," he squeezed her hand.
"Next," the cashier called.
Hermione and Steven approached the cashier.
"What can I get you?" the cashier asked.
"I will have a fusion burrito with a Mexican Coca-Cola," Steven ordered.
"I will have a fusion chimichanga with a Mexican Coca-Cola," Hermione answered.
"Okay," the cashier punched in the order.
Steven dropped Hermione's hand to pull out his wallet. As soon as he did so, Hermione wanted him to grasp her hand again. His touch was firm, yet if she wanted to escape, she could. After being yanked around and groped by men, most notably Ron, a firm but gentle touch was exciting.
It was also familiar, as if another man had grasped her hand in the same way. Still, she didn't know who else would have touched her this way.
Steven turned to her. "I would like to pay, if you would not object to my doing so."
"Thank you. I appreciate that." Bossy, independent Hermione would've demanded to pay for herself and raised a fuss that he'd even offered to do so. If he'd continued to insist on paying, she would've stormed off and told Severus that chivalry was a terrible characteristic in a man while gulping down one of his piña coladas. Helen could handle a gesture of politeness though. She liked being pampered and saving money. If Hermione wanted a gentleman, she needed to be a lady.
He gave the cashier two twenty dollar bills.
"Still, I would like to pay for our next meal," she continued. "I don't want to make you feel as if you're being taken advantage of."
"I appreciate that," his eyes softened. "I appreciate people who look out for me."
"Don't we all?"
"You'd be surprised how many people have taken advantage of me." His voice was soft.
Her heart ached at the idea of anyone taking advantage of him. Merlin knew how much being used had harmed Severus. The last thing she ever wanted was for anyone to experience the kind of pain he did.
"Here you go," the cashier gave him a handful of coins, interrupting her thoughts. "Your order will be right up."
"Thank you," Steven answered before gesturing for Hermione to follow him.
"I always love a restaurant that serves Mexican Coca-Cola," she began.
"I do too," he answered as they reached a table. He pulled out the chair. She grinned and took her seat. "I didn't get Mexican Coca-Cola much as a child."
"So, if you didn't get Mexican Coca-Cola much as a child, where did you grow up?" Hermione smoothed out her dress.
"Minneapolis," he took a seat across from her.
"That's quite a bit colder than it is here."
"Much colder, which is one reason I moved here. I wanted to feel the warmth all year round. That, and the pay was better."
"I'd imagine it was cheaper to live in Minneapolis."
"Actually it was more expensive due to the heating bills. Heating your house for eight months of the year adds up."
"Really? I thought Minnesota was close to Oklahoma, which isn't too frigid, at least not most years."
He twisted his lips and squirmed. "Yes. Minnesota is a few states north of Oklahoma. It shares a border with Canada."
"Huh, I guess I don't know as much about geography as I thought I did," Hermione folded her hands.
"If your only fault is not knowing as much about geography as you think you should," he put his hands over hers, "then I consider you one of the most perfect women I've ever met."
Her body heated as she blushed. Merlin she could get used to this man. Yes, she could see him being in her life for quite some time.
"Steven Turpin!" The cashier called.
He gave her a small grin before leaving to get their food. She turned around. "Do you need any help carrying anything?"
"No, though I thank you for the offer." He collected their food, drinks, as well some silverware and napkins.
"I will be very impressed if you can maintain your excellent table manners eating this," she began as he set her food, silverware, and some napkins in front of her.
"It is possible to eat with excellent table manners regardless of the meal."
"I suppose tonight you will prove it, though I could not blame you if you failed."
"I would not be so quick to doubt my abilities," there was a gleam in his eyes. "There are many mysteries surrounding me, such as the origin of my exquisite table manners."
Hermione's body went cold as her heart constricted. The way he said it, the gleam in his eye, the circumstances…Merlin why was she thinking about Severus Snape and where he was now?
The image of dream Severus dining at Sinatra flirting with her flashed in her mind. His eyes had the same gleam, only they were more alluring. Granted, everything was amplified in a dream, but that one was so real, almost a vision if she could find a way to make it a reality.
Why the hell was she thinking about Severus in a time like this? Could she not go an hour without thinking about the man and how sexually alluring he would be in a muggle suit like the one Steven wore?
"Helen?" Steven's voice was quieter.
"Yes," she shook the image of Severus out of her mind. "I apologize for being a little distracted."
"Did I say something to offend you?" He picked up his silverware.
"Not at all," Hermione relaxed. "I just had a sense of deja-vu, that's all."
"Deja-vu?"
"Yes I," she bit her lip, "I watched a movie about a man of mystery, that's all. When you mentioned having mystery, I thought of him."
"Would I know the title?"
"It's an old one. I believe it's calledEvelyn and the Mystery Man."
"I have never heard of that movie. Is it enjoyable?" He cut his burrito.
"It was intriguing. It had a few memorable lines I didn't think anyone else would know, one of which discussed the male protagonist having mystery surrounding him."
"I see," he continued cutting his burrito.
She took a sip of Mexican Coca-Cola, grounding herself in the moment. Steven was here, not Severus. Steven was her potential lover, not Severus. If she wanted to get through the night, she needed to remember that.
Reminding herself of those facts, she began cutting her food.
"Since moving here, Mexican Coca-Cola has become one of my favorite drinks," Steven took a bite, careful to keep his mouth closed while chewing.
"Mine too," she reddened. "Though sometimes, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it's my favorite drink."
"Why?" He took another bite.
"It has quite a bit of sugar in it. My parents would not appreciate me drinking so much sugar."
"Are they dentists?"
She froze before gulping. "No, they uh, are best friends with two dentists."
"I see," he drawled.
A bead of sweat formed on her brow. "I like Mexican Coca-Cola, but it isn't my favorite drink."
"What would your favorite drink be then?"
She swallowed before grinning. "I like piña coladas."
His eyes grew as he paled.
Hermione gulped again. The man looked as if he'd seen a Dementor. Knowing her luck, his former best friend had been an alcoholic whose favorite drink had been piña coladas. His friend may have died from an overdose on rum. The drink may hold terrible memories for him.
"Do you also like getting caught in the rain?" There was a playful gleam in Steven's eyes.
"Actually I do."
"Are you into yoga?"
"No, but I do have half a brain."
Steven laughed. Soon, she joined in.
"I apologize," Steven gasped. "I just didn't think anyone in the Wizarding World would know that song."
"I didn't either," she admitted. "Are you a muggleborn?"
"No, I'm a pureblood," he answered.
"I'm a pureblood too, but I love muggle music," she answered.
"It is better than much of the music wizards listen to anyway." He took another bite of his burrito.
"Agreed," she took a bite of her chimichanga.
He swallowed his food. "How do you like your meal?"
"It's great," she leaned closer, "though not as great as the company."
"I could say the same thing," he relaxed. "This has already been one of the most pleasant nights of my life."
"Me too," she replied. "And it doesn't need to end after this."
"No, it doesn't," he replied. "I was thinking we could take a walk around the Bellagio, see the gardens and watch the fountains, if you are amenable to that."
"I would love that," she answered.
"Good," he gave her a small, shy smile.
She returned his expression and took another bite.
Who knew muggle love songs could be so insightful? There were some people you met who you really did feel as if you'd known them for years. Why had she never paid attention to that aspect of the song before?
If feeling as if she'd known someone for years wasn't a sign that she could fall in love with him, she didn't know what was.