AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Severus didn't know what to make of the gleam in Hermione's eyes. One could be forgiven for thinking she'd won every slot machine in the Fontainebleau. Was there something he should know? Did she have a surprise for him? If so, did this surprise have anything to do with him making an off-handed comment two nights ago about needing new socks?
He prayed she didn't buy him socks as if she was his mother. There was only so much babying a man could take from his best friend before he felt inadequate. Worse, he would wear those socks with pride, knowing his best friend cared for him. It was sad that it had taken decades for anyone to care about his well-being as deeply as she did. While he appreciated everything she did for him and the care she gave him, the fact that she was the only woman who had never asked for anything unreasonable from him spoke to how pathetic his life was.
"You seem pleased with life," he began as she sat at his kitchen table.
"I am more than content with life," her smile grew. "Everything is beautiful. The moon is brighter tonight, and the cool night breeze is the most refreshing it's ever been."
"So it is." Severus' stomach twisted. Had she ingested some type of psychedelic potion on the way here? No, her pupils were not dilated and her speech was not slurred.
"Is that Champagne?" She pointed to the bottle in a gray bucket of ice behind him
"Yes," his lips twitched upwards.
"You don't usually drink Champagne on a Sunday."
"Tonight is a special occasion."
"What's the occasion?"
He stared at her, his heart slowing until he swore it would stop. An hour ago, he wanted to tell the world about Helen and his newfound belief in the power of second chances. Now, he didn't want Hermione to know he'd ever laid eyes on another woman, lest she believe she no longer mattered to him. The last thing he ever wanted was for her to feel that she was anything less than the person he esteemed above all others.
"Severus?" The gleam in her eyes remained. "What's the occasion?"
"I just felt like Champagne tonight," his voice was weak.
"Are you that into Champagne that you'd have it on any occasion?" She leaned forward on the table.
"Indeed I am," his lips curled up.
"I didn't know that."
"It is one of my deepest, darkest secrets."
"Why keep something so innocuous a secret?"
"Because it keeps me mysterious."
"What's so mysterious about liking Champagne?"
"You wouldn't expect it from a man like me."
"Why not?" She cocked her head.
He took a deep breath. "Obviously Champagne wasn't something my parents indulged in. I doubt my father could have even afforded even the cheapest bottle."
"Oh," her eyes flickered in sympathy.
"After I completed my first year of teaching, I decided to give myself the experiences I'd never had as a youth. One of them was drinking Champagne. At first, I bought some less expensive brands. Then, I began attending Lucius' parties."
"And he serves Champagne that is as expensive as most of the cars on the strip."
"Exactly," he popped the cork off the bottle.
"So did you get this from him or the liquor store down the street?"
"No, Lucius gave this to me for Christmas."
"So it's of high quality."
"It is," he poured her a glass.
"That makes me feel quite special," the gleam in her eyes grew brighter.
"It should. You are quite special," he gave her the glass he'd just poured.
"I am?" She took the glass.
"Of course you are," he poured himself a glass. "Anyone who can tolerate my pissy moods for five years and remain my friend has an inner strength others lack. Then again, you could argue anyone who tolerates me has less sense than anyone else."
"I think I have more sense than anyone else. Most women don't know a good man when they meet him."
"But most women have enough sense to stay away from the greasy git who lives at the end of the strip." He joined her at the table.
She leaned closer to him. "As I said, most women have no sense, a fact I benefit from each and every day."
"The heat must be getting to you if you believe it is sensible to be seen with someone like me."
"Has anyone told you that you lack any confidence?"
"Has anyone ever told you that you struggle to find men worthy of your time?"
"Every day, though you aren't one of those men who aren't worth my time. Spending my evenings with you is the best use of time I can think of."
"Or so you say."
She sat up straighter. "I do say."
He chuckled. "Then I will enjoy your presence for as long as you believe it is sensible to keep me in your life."
"You will be enjoying it for quite some time."
"Excellent," He raised his glass. "For I love spending my evenings with you."
"I love spending my evenings with you too," she raised her glass. "What are we toasting?"
He gazed into her eyes. Her earlier joy remained. For some reason, she was enjoying spending her time with him. At the moment, she took joy and comfort in being the most important woman in his life. The last thing he ever wanted to do was extinguish her joy. His stomach ached at the idea that she would become upset then he had spent all day thinking about another woman, one who would never be her.
What the hell was Hermione doing to him? Why did he care if she was hurt by the presence of another woman in his life? It wasn't as if he was cheating on Hermione. Yet, why did he feel as if he was?
"I propose a toast to happiness," he answered, "and whatever is making you so happy this evening."
The light in her eyes died as her skin lost some of it's color. Her smile was more forced as she replied, "to being into Champagne."
"Cheers," Severus answered.
Her eyes regained their previous spark. "Cheers."
Both of them took a sip of their Champagne.
"So, you came in quite pleased with life," he began.
"You could say that." She took another sip.
"What has you so pleased with the state of the universe?"
Her face lost all color.
"Did your engagement last night go well?" He continued, pretending not to notice how she shrunk under the weight of his words.
"It uh," she bit her lower lip. "It went fine."
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"It honestly was boring," she sat up straighter and gave him a sheepish grin. "It was just some client who wanted to sell me some new fiction books. All we did was go to that Irish pub in Mandalay Bay and enjoy some curry."
"They have curry there?"
"Yes," she straightened her posture, "they have an Irish chicken curry."
"That sounds," he squirmed at the very notion of curry sauce on a Shepard's pie. "Quite interesting."
"It's actually delicious," she took another sip of her Champagne.
"You may enjoy it away from my presence then."
"Don't you want to try new foods?"
"Not particularly, especially if there are tourists clogging up the restaurant where I'm trying to enjoy them."
"It wasn't that crowded."
"I will take your word for it."
She coughed. "We could go together sometime."
He licked his lips, imagining her wearing her darkest emerald gown, beckoning him to lead her to their destination. He would clasp her hand, reveling in the smoothness of her skin, the aroma of her perfume that drove him wild, and her eyes outshining all of Vegas. If she seemed receptive, he would meet her eyes, lean closer until she indicated that she wanted her lips to brush his...
"I mean," she bit down so hard on her lip Severus was surprised it wasn't bleeding. "If you ever wanted to go there, just as friends I mean. I wouldn't be opposed to having dinner with you."
"You would actually want to take someone like me out on the Strip?"
"Of course I would," she relaxed. "There are far worse people to dine with than you."
"Not many."
"You don't have atrocious table manners like some of the other men I've dined with," she took another sip of her drink.
"I have always despised poor table manners," he answered. "They remind me too much of drunks who can barely see straight devouring the last piece of chicken while everyone else looks on, knowing they'll spend another night hungry."
"Yes, I wouldn't want to tolerate or remember such rudeness either," her voice was soft. "No child should have been forced to endure such behavior, especially not from their father."
Severus huffed. "There is no need to pity me."
"I don't," she argued. "You are the least pitiful man I've ever met. I would never pity you."
"I feel as if there is a caveat somewhere."
"There is no caveat," the gentleness returned to her voice, "I have compassion for you and what you've been through. You don't tell many people about your childhood given how rough it was. I appreciate it when you open up to me and let me in."
He hmmphed. "You just want to butter me up before we play blackjack."
She smirked. "Is it working?"
"Not in the slightest," he finished his Champagne and took note of her empty flute. "Do you want another glass?"
"Sure," She answered.
He stood and took her flute. "So if you're engagement did not make you deliriously happy, what did?"
"It was just a gorgeous day. The sunset was beautiful, so I was enjoying life."
"And here I thought you were simply happy to see me."
"I was happy to see you, though how much longer that will be the case remains to be seen."
"Oh?" He began pouring the Champagne.
"Yes, I would like to keep at least some of my Dum Dums tonight," She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bag. Then, she enlarged it, allowing the suckers to grow.
"If you play well, you may be able to keep a piña colada sucker for yourself."
"Ooh, a piña colada sucker and Champagne," her lips curled upwards. "That would be an interesting combination."
"I quite like it anyway." Severus returned her flute to her.
"You've tried them together?"
He nodded.
"For someone who complains about flossing out Dum Dums, you seem to eat them quite a bit. Do you roam around every bank in the city searching for Dum Dums, or do you buy yourself a bag when you think no one is looking?" She took a sip of her Champagne.
"That is for me to know, and nobody else to find out."
"And here I thought you trusted me with your secrets."
"I trust you more than I've ever trusted anyone else," he answered. "Still, every man needs his secrets. It keeps you amused."
"Amused?"
"Yes, if I told you everything about me, you would become bored, and may no longer see me because you've figured me out."
"Okay Mr. Mystery," she held up her glass. "How did your socialization go last night?"
A chill ran up his spine. He knew the question was coming. An hour ago, he thought he was ready to answer it. He thought he would share his joy with little thought as to how she would react. Now, he wanted nothing more than to shield Hermione from the fact that poker nights may be coming to an end. More surprisingly, he wanted to shield himself from the fact that poker nights with her may end.
"That well," Hermione hummed.
"It was socialization, which I detest," that tone of voice seemed convincing enough.
"Then I propose a new toast," she raised her glass, "to escaping last night unscathed."
"Indeed," he toasted her.
After they took a sip, Hermione asked, "are you getting your cape back given how the evening went?"
"Sadly no," he exhaled. "I fear it is lost forever."
"That is disappointing."
"Yes, but I have ten others, so it will not be terribly missed," he held up the edge of the cape he was wearing.
"I'll bet it had stains on it anyway."
"Indeed it did. I made sure to give away my dirtiest cape so I would not feel like such a dunderhead for losing it."
"You're not a dunderhead."
"I'm not when I gamble responsibly."
"Indeed," her smile grew.
"That being said," he grabbed the deck of cards on his right. "You do not always gamble responsibly, a fact I benefit from almost every evening."
"I don't know," she began pulling out suckers. "So far I've only bet the tangerine and root beer suckers. Those are my least favorite flavors, so I've lost little."
"So your wagers are not completely imprudent."
"Not completely." She put a peach and a birthday cake Dum Dum on the table.
Severus relaxed as he began to shuffle the cards. Hermione didn't need to know about his date, at least not yet. Besides, Helen hadn't written him back. She may have lost interest. It may be best to focus on the woman in front of him. At least if he did that, he would always have a friend.
In the end, Hermione was a great friend, one he planned to keep in his life no matter how he felt about another woman.