AN: Sorry this is a day late! Yesterday the site wouldn't allow me to upload my chapter and I had things come up at work. I'm able to upload it now though!
Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated.
Hermione had never initiated a breakup. Viktor broke up with Hermione via owl after she refused to visit him in Bulgaria. Ron announced he'd impregnated Cindy, then shared his joyful news with The Daily Prophet. Men were much more willing to leave Hermione than she was to leave them.
She put her hands in her hair and groaned. After Ron cheated on her, she swore she'd never put anyone through the heartache of her cheating on them. Then again, she'd also promised herself that she'd never fall in love again. Leave it to Severus Snape to make a liar of her.
Hermione stared at the blank parchment before her. When she received Viktor's breakup letter, she had cried for days, the pain of not being able to explain her side weighing heavy on her. Steven deserved an explanation, to be told that he wasn't the problem and he deserved better than her. A gentleman like him needed to hear that. Yet, she was hurting a good man, a fact that made her stomach sink.
Before she could further meditate on what, if anything, to write, the doorbell rang. Hermione trudged to the door and opened it.
"Hello, Hermione."
Hermione frowned. It was too early in the morning for Ginny to be this perky.
"You look like you haven't finished your first cup of coffee," Ginny noted, her enthusiasm still evident.
"I haven't even brewed it yet," Hermione admitted.
"Why?"
"Let's just say it's been a long morning," Hermione grumbled.
"Oh." Ginny's expression fell. "Did things go poorly with Severus last night?"
"No." Hermione sighed. "They went too well."
"They did?" Ginny's eyes glistened.
"Yes." She gestured for Ginny to follow her inside.
"It's quiet," Ginny noted. "Your neighbor isn't singing along to anything."
"That's because she's in Seattle with her boyfriend."
"I see." The lack of surprise in Ginny's expression gave Hermione pause. "I guess that means you can sleep in for the next few days."
"I would have slept in if I hadn't spent all night lying awake wondering why you set me up with Severus."
Ginny gave her a sheepish grin.
"What were you trying to prove throwing us together like that?" Hermione's voice grew stronger. "Did you think having us dine at one of the most expensive restaurants in Vegas would force us to admit how deeply our feelings for each other ran?"
"It worked, didn't it?" Ginny smirked.
Hermione opened her mouth, only to close it. There was no point in denying that things had gone quite well, much as she wanted to try.
"How did it feel to finally go on a proper date with your best friend?" Ginny continued.
"Like." Hermione relaxed as she remembered the feeling of Severus' lips capturing hers. "Like we were meant for each other and should have had a night like last night much sooner."
Ginny hummed.
"It was amazing." Hermione sat at the kitchen table. "We were speaking to each other as if we were both at his dining table, even though the restaurant was much more upscale. We talked about our feelings for each other and laughed harder than we've ever laughed before. He was the perfect gentleman, with the edge that makes him Severus. Every one of my dreams came true last night, well, most of them anyway."
Ginny sat across from her, looking every bit like Gryffindor had won the Quidditch cup for the fourth year in a row. "Did you two kiss?"
"Ginny!" Hermione blushed.
"Ooh, how was it?" Ginny leaned closer.
"Ginny, he's your godfather-in-law." Hermione paled. "Why would you want to know how he kisses?"
"I don't care about how he kisses, but it's been ages since I've been able to have girl talk with anyone," Ginny replied. "Luna's married to Harry, and I don't want to hear about how my ex rates as a lover. Hannah and Astoria are so private about their relationship that I can't get anything out of them. I don't know Edwina well enough to speak to her about Neville. That leaves only you to talk to about men, even if you practically had a 'fuck off world' sign tattooed on your head for the last decade or so."
"If you must know how I feel, it's all a bit overwhelming." She squirmed. "Everything is so new. We want and need each other, but..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell on her right arm.
"But?" Ginny asked.
Hermione gulped as she continued to stare at her covered arm, wondering how Severus would feel about seeing the scar every day. Would seeing it cause any desire for her to evaporate? Would it be too revolting to make love to such a scarred woman? Perhaps they could only make love in the pitch-black darkness, but at some point he'd want to see her. Hell, she'd want to see the look in his eyes when he released his inhibitions and let himself go. Then there was shower sex. She'd always wanted shower sex, something Ron refused to give her. Would Severus want to make love to her in the shower if he had to look at her arm?
"Oh," Ginny's voice was softer. "You're worried about how he'll react to seeing you in something other than a long-sleeved dress."
Hermione nodded and made a fist as tears came to her eyes. "I never told him about the 'mudblood' scar."
"Why not?" There was a clinking on the table.
"I know the connotations 'mudblood' has for him," Hermione shed a tear. "He doesn't want to see that word every day, not on his lover's arm anyway."
"But he wants to see you every day."
Hermione glanced up at Ginny.
"He wants to be with you, scarred arm and all," Ginny continued.
"Does he?"
"Would he have kissed you if he didn't?"
Hermione twisted her lips.
"Severus has only been in love once in his life, and that was when he was a teenager."
"Yes, and Lily was perfect without any scars."
"She was a teenager who was incapable of appreciating him. In a moment of extreme distress, he insulted her, and she never forgave him. Then, she married his tormentor and turned a blind eye to everything he and his friends were doing. Severus has also mentioned her being shallow and vain at times, which, given her behavior, I can believe. I would hardly call that perfect."
"True," Hermione choked out.
Ginny put her hand over Hermione's fist. "You're a woman, though, a real woman who will love the way he's always wanted to be loved."
"I will always love him. Still, it isn't clear that he would want to be with someone who has a 'Mudblood' scar on her arm."
"He wants to be with you," Ginny's voice was tender. "Why don't you trust that?"
"I'm trying to trust that."
"Then try harder," Ginny released Hermione's hand.
"I will." Hermione swallowed before her eyes fell on a vial of brown liquid. She raised an eyebrow. "How did that get here?"
"How did what get here?"
"Nothing, nothing at all." Hermione snatched the vial and hid it in her pocket. She hadn't remembered pulling out a vial of Polyjuice potion, yet there it was. Thank goodness she'd been coy in grabbing it! The last thing she needed was to explain Helen Belle to Ginny.
"Who were you going to write?" Ginny tilted her head in the direction of the parchment.
"Steven." Hermione exhaled. "He deserves a proper goodbye, not a quick note that I've been kissing my best friend almost the entire time we've been together."
"Why don't you give him a night to remember as a proper sendoff?"
Hermione quirked an eyebrow.
"I think if you're going to break up with someone, it should be done in a relaxed atmosphere to where even though the conversation is difficult, one can still have an enjoyable time," Ginny continued. "It worked for Harry and me anyway. I think our breakup was so amicable because even if I broke up with him, he still got to see an amazing Quidditch game after I left."
"I'm not watching Quidditch with Steven."
"No, but there are plenty of nice places in Vegas."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Have you ever been to the STRAT?"
"The tower with the rotating restaurant?"
"Yes."
Hermione's eyes grew. "Do you have any idea how expensive that place is?"
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a credit card. "Do you have any idea how deep the Malfoy pockets are?"
"You want to pay for my breakup?"
"I want to help you clean up the mess I helped create."
Hermione bit her lip.
"Draco and I set you up on that blind date. The least we can do is help you end the relationship with grace," Ginny answered.
"I suppose that is fair." The tension in Hermione's muscles eased.
"Go ahead and write Steven saying you have an urgent need to meet at the STRAT. Make it clear you won't take 'no' for an answer because you need to clear the air right away."
"Okay," Hermione took a deep breath. "I think I can do that."
Ginny's lips curled upwards into a mischievous smile. "I know you can."
Severus Snape had never initiated a breakup. Shouting, "Mudblood" in a moment of humiliation didn't count as formally ending a relationship. Then again, he and Lily had never so much as kissed, so that didn't count as a relationship. Every other woman he had bedded left immediately after the deed was done. Most of the time, they had a conversation where they both agreed never to speak of the encounter again. Those weren't breakups either.
Severus put his hands in his hair and groaned. After his last one-night stand, he promised himself that he would never kiss a woman again, lest he be groped as he had been. Then again, he'd also promised himself that he'd never fall in love again. At times, he considered making an unbreakable vow with himself just to ensure his heart always remained safe. Leave it to Hermione Granger to make a liar of him.
Severus stared at the blank parchment before him. It was cruel to break up over a letter, but would it be any kinder to do it in person? Granted, he would be there to explain that Helen was a lovely woman who deserved much better than a louse like him who was kissing his best friend. A lady like her deserved to know the breakup wasn't her fault. That didn't make this any easier, though.
Before he could further meditate on his quandary, the doorbell rang. Severus groaned and trudged to the door and opened it.
"Hello Uncle Severus,"
Severus frowned. It was too early in the morning for Draco to be this perky.
"You look like you could use a jumpstart potion," Draco noted, his enthusiasm for life remaining.
"It's been a long morning," Severus mumbled.
"Oh," Draco's expression fell. "Did things go poorly with Hermione last night?"
"No." Severus took a deep breath. "They went too well."
"They did?" Draco's lips curled upwards.
"Yes." Severus gestured for Draco to follow him inside.
"How well did they go?"
"We enjoyed ourselves too much."
"What happened?" Draco paled. "Did you drink too much wine and do something regrettable?"
"Of course not," Severus snapped. "Hermione deserves much better than for a drunk groping her as he stumbles around the Strip."
"But you kissed her, didn't you?"
Severus rolled his eyes.
"I take it you don't regret what occurred." Draco pulled out a chair.
"No," Severus admitted. "She was perfect. Everything about her is perfect for me. Our kiss was confirmation of that fact."
"You must've really enjoyed that kiss."
Severus sat across from him and nodded.
"Why aren't you with her now?" Draco asked.
"Because there is the issue of Helen to attend to." Severus scowled, "The same woman you neglected to invite last night."
"Like I said, the owls couldn't find her." He shrugged.
"And I'm sure you used every resource at your vast disposal to find her."
Draco's not-so-sheepish grin gave him away.
"Thanks to your little stunt, I now have a woman I want and need beyond all reason and a girlfriend who is developing a genuine affection for me."
"If you had to choose right now, who would you choose?"
"Hermione," Severus answered. "She is kind, compassionate, witty, intelligent, and beautiful." His eyes fell on his left forearm. "She is better than I deserve."
"Oh." Draco glanced at his godfather's arm. "So that's why you haven't said anything to her about how you feel."
"What could be gained from allowing her to know how deeply I've come to care for her, not when I have the past I do?" Severus stared at his forearm and made a fist. The Death Eaters had stolen Hermione's childhood by forcing her to fight in a war she had never wanted. While she knew the dark marks had become scars, there was a difference between knowing something and seeing it every day. Granted, they could always make love in the dark, but at some point she would want to see him. How would she react to viewing a reminder of the people who had tortured her? What would become of her if she wandered in while he was taking a shower and had to look at that mark the first thing in the morning? He'd always wanted shower sex. It was the one thing he'd never done with a woman. How could they have shower sex if she was staring at his arm, shuddering in revulsion?
Could she ever forgive him for becoming a Death Eater?
"Look." Something clinked on the table as Draco spoke. "Hermione knows about your past, and she's still your friend. She knows everything, yet still cares for you."
"There is a difference between knowing something exists and looking at it every day."
"Yet, she knows about your past and wants to remain by your side for the rest of her future."
Severus glanced at Draco. "She doesn't see this mark every day. That will change things. Eventually, she will leave me for a better man, one who has no scars."
"Why do you think she'll leave you?"
"Why wouldn't she? What would the Princess of Gryffindor want with a scarred ex-Death Eater?"
"Look," Draco took a deep breath. "Hermione has forgiven you for your indiscretions. Hell, I've seen her kick people out of her store because they did not acknowledge you were a double agent who had repented of your sins."
"She has done that?" Severus blinked.
"She's done it at least four times."
Severus hummed.
"The one I witnessed involved some British tourists asking how she could stand to have a shop across the street from that of a pureblood supremacist." Draco chuckled. "I've seen her angry, but never that angry. Her hair was crackling as she berated them. Then, she banned them from the store and threatened to call the Vegas aurors if they so much as said another unkind word to or about you."
Severus relaxed. "I don't deserve that level of kindness."
"Yet she gives it to you every day."
"Indeed," Severus' eyes fell on the vial of brown liquid. Before Draco could notice, Severus snatched it away. Thank God his godson hadn't seen that Polyjuice! The whole ruse would be blown if that had occurred.
Still, Severus wasn't certain why he'd taken out a vial. Perhaps when he wrote Helen, he wanted to be reminded of how he got into this mess and how he planned to get out. Leave it to him to punish himself in the oddest way possible.
"Who were you going to write?" Draco tilted his head in the direction of the parchment.
"Helen." Severus twisted his lips. "She deserves a proper goodbye, not a quick note that I've been kissing my best friend for almost the entire time we've been together."
"Why don't you give her a night to remember as a proper sendoff?"
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"I think if you're going to break up with someone, it should be done in a luxurious and extravagant atmosphere to where even though the conversation is difficult, one can still have an enjoyable time when all is said and done. It worked when Ginevra broke up with Harry anyway."
"That was Ginevra. This is different."
"True, but every woman deserves a wonderful night out, especially in a luxurious and extravagant atmosphere."
"Where would this luxurious and extravagant atmosphere be?"
"Have you ever been to the STRAT?"
"The tower with the rotating restaurant?"
"Yes."
Severus' eyes grew. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to reserve a table there?"
He reached into her pocket and pulled out a credit card. "Do you have any idea how deep the Malfoy pockets are? It's amazing how tables materialize when money is involved."
"You want to bribe someone to allow me to eat at a restaurant I cannot afford?"
"You can't afford it, but I can." He tapped the credit card onto the table.
Severus stared at the credit card.
"I want to help you out of a mess I created."
Severus twisted his lips.
"Ginevra and I set you up on that blind date. The least we can do is help you end the relationship in a way that preserves everyone's dignity."
"I suppose that is fair." The tension in Severus' muscles eased.
"Go ahead and write Helen saying you have an urgent need to meet at the STRAT. Make it clear you won't take 'no' for an answer because you need to clear the air on the relationship."
"Very well then." Severus took a deep breath. "I think I can do that."
Draco's lips curled upwards into a serpentine smile. "I know you can."