AN: I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! If you don't celebrate it, I hope you at least had an amazing day.
Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
The best part of Hermione's morning was meeting Severus' eyes and waving at him when she stood in front of the door. When the tradition had begun, she feared he would not appreciate the gesture, viewing it as obnoxious rather than friendly. Instead of a kind expression, she expected a glare and a scowl. Instead, his lip twitched upwards. As the years passed, his smile became more noticeable, as did the warmth in his eyes. Her morning wave was the only time she'd seen him display any genuine joy in public. It was touching that certain expressions were reserved only for her.
Today, his smile was as wide as ever, but uncertainty lingered in his eyes. No doubt he was wondering if he was forgiven for the night before, or if after a good night's sleep she had reevaluated the friendship and decided she was better off with Steven than him. Nothing could be further from the truth! She'd spent the night remembering the sensation of his arms around her, wondering how it would feel to wake up in that embrace for the rest of her life. Over her lunch break, she would need to make it clear the only unforgivable sin he'd committed last night was winning all the cherry Dum Dums and not allowing her to have one. That was crueler than any words he'd said in the heat of the moment, a moment that was caused in part by her throwing her boyfriend in his face. She was as much to blame for what happened as he was. Somehow she needed to prove all was forgiven, even if it would be a struggle to convince him to forgive himself.
Once she stepped inside her store, she took a deep breath. Then, she began rearranging the books in the front bookshelves, moving some to the right while collecting others to put behind the new bestseller's display. Tomorrow,Visions of Wizarding Nevadawould hit the shelves. It promised to be a hot item, which meant she needed to clear room for it and hope she'd ordered enough copies. The last thing she needed was to run out of them during the first day, especially after all the tedious negotiations with the sellers in Sacramento.
The bell rang behind her, sending a shiver through her spine. Nobody from Las Vegas came this early, and Severus didn't tend to visit her until her lunch break. Could it be another reporter? If so, would Severus be there to save her from them? How could she repay him if he rescued her once more?
"Hermione?"
She relaxed before glancing up. "Hello, Ginny. What can I do for you today?"
Ginny put a hand over her still flat pelvis. "I was just thinking that a few books on pregnancy and Baby's first year may be helpful."
"Well, you'll find plenty of those here," Hermione smiled. "If you're kind enough to me, I can give you a new mother discount."
"That won't be necessary," Ginny answered. "I can afford to pay full price."
"Yes, but I want to get a head start on giving Baby Malfoy everything they need, including their need for books. I have to ensure I gain the position of his favorite aunt after all," she winked.
"Oh trust me, you are their favorite aunt already," Ginny chuckled. "This is the first time all day I haven't wanted to wretch my guts away. Baby Malfoy already feels better when you're around."
"I am glad to hear that," Hermione took her place at the counter.
"Of course, if you want to be their favorite relative, you may have some competition with Severus."
"Oh?"
"I told Baby Malfoy we'd see him after we got done with you. That was the first time all day I didn't get sick at the scent of green tea."
"Green tea?"
"Yes, you'd be surprised at the kinds of things that make you sick when you're pregnant," Ginny glanced around. "Where are the baby books?"
Hermione pointed to her left. "They're in aisle eleven next to the baby naming books."
"Naming books," Ginny strolled to the bookshelf. "I haven't even thought about naming Baby Malfoy. I have a feeling naming him is going to be quite the ordeal."
"Why? You and Draco seem to agree on most things," Hermione leaned on the counter. "Why would you think there would be drama surrounding his name?"
"Because I want to name him after Fred, but I think Draco has other ideas." Ginny began scouring the books. "Draco has mentioned naming Baby Malfoy after a constellation, but I want something more tied to my family."
"That does sound like a dilemma."
"I fear it will become one."
"The good news is you have nine months to decide on something."
"Indeed, and George may want to name his child after Fred anyway. I wouldn't want to intrude on his way of remembering his twin," Ginny scratched her chin as her eye fell on a baby naming book. "I suppose I could get started now by buying a few books. It wouldn't hurt to have some idea of names, especially because neither of us wants to know the gender of the baby until they're born."
"You don't?"
"No," Ginny picked up two books. "We want to be surprised."
"Whichever gender Baby Malfoy is, I'm sure it will be a very pleasant surprise."
"Indeed," Ginny grabbed another book. "Do you know what else is a surprise?"
"What?"
"You and Severus finding your partners on the same night."
Hermione's thoughts constricted at the thought of Severus in another woman's arms, one who looked like Cindy, one who had no scars on her arms, no grotesque words tattooed onto her body. Worse, Hermione now knew what it was like to be in Severus' arms and couldn't stand the thought of another woman being where she felt was her rightful place.
"I thought my plan would work, but I didn't know how well it would work," Ginny continued.
"Yes, it worked out quite well," Hermione forced herself to smile. Although she tried to think of how happy she was with Steven, the image of Severus with another woman could not be expelled from her mind. If she ever had a chance to expose that woman unworthy of Severus' affections, she would take it. That woman wouldn't know what was coming either. Being a former politician, Hermione knew how to play dirty when the situation warranted it, especially if it protected her best friend from a gold-digging cheater.
"Has Severus introduced you to his new girlfriend yet?"Ginny kept her eyes on the books.
"No," Hermione scowled.
"Do you want to meet her?"
"Absolutely not!"
Ginny glanced up.
"I mean," Hermione bit her lower lip. "She sounds lovely, but Severus hasn't known her long. I see no reason to meet her until they are more serious."
"And if they become serious?"
Hermione tasted her blood seeping into her mouth. Good Merlin, did she need to dwell on her best friend leaving her for another woman? Why couldn't anyone else see this other woman was unworthy of Severus? What must Hermione do to get Severus to see that she was a more stable presence in his life than this other woman would ever be?
"What would you do if they were serious?" Ginny asked.
Hermione imagined herself wearing the most form-fitting long-sleeve dress she could find and giving Severus a massage. She could already hear him moaning at her touch, leaning into it, whimpering that nobody would ever replace Hermione, that he wanted and needed her more than he'd ever wanted and needed another woman. That would show the other woman where his loyalties truly lay.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" Hermione startled.
"Did you hear my question?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, and I don't know what I'd do," Hermione answered in the most casual voice she could muster. "It doesn't matter though. Severus and his girlfriend are not serious, and they never will be."
"You seem quite certain of that."
"Of course I am. We both know how some women are."
"No, I don't."
"Women often don't know how to appreciate a good man. She'll say the wrong thing, insult Severus' intelligence, and he'll realize that she's unworthy of him. Then he'll be back with me, and it will be as if the whole thing never occurred."
"And where will Steven be in this scenario?"
The color drained from Hermione's face.
"Do you plan to spend the rest of your life bouncing back and forth between Steven and Severus?" Ginny asked.
"No," Hermione huffed.
"Then why are you so interested in protecting Severus from another woman?"
"Because he needs to guard his heart.
"And you don't need to guard your heart?"
"I don't need protection the way Severus does. Severus may think I need protection, but I don't. He doesn't need to protect me any more than you do."
"Okay, what brought that on?" Ginny quirked an eyebrow.
"Severus and I discussed our lovers last night, and he realized his instinct to protect me was overriding his common sense."
"That's a very nice way of putting things."
"Perhaps, but the more I thought of it last night, I realized he was projecting his feelings onto me. He's afraid his girlfriend is a cheater. For all we know, she is married and has several children. He may be her unwitting lover, someone doomed to get his heart broken when she decides to stay with her husband."
"How did you reach the conclusion that Severus is projecting his fears onto you?" Ginny strolled over to the cash register, four books in her hands.
"I just see things, hear things from my customers. The stories are all the same."
"It sounds like you're convinced this woman is no good despite having never met her and knowing little about her."
"I doubt she is up to any good. Even if she is genuine in her feelings, she'll never appreciate Severus the way I do," Hermione's voice softened, "nobody will ever value him the way I do."
"So they won't," Ginny muttered.
"I don't think he'll value anyone the way he values me either. That's why he's projecting his fears onto me and my relationship with Steven. He's worried about giving away his heart to someone who is unworthy of it, so he claims I'm doing the same. The reality is though, he suspects his girlfriend may not be someone he can depend upon, so he needs me to ensure he's worthy of her love by making me jealous of her."
"It sounds like you two need a double date then. That way, you can determine if your partners are worthy of you."
Hermione's eyes grew as her body went cold.
"You, Steven, Severus, and his girlfriend could all sit down and have a nice dinner somewhere. Once you meet her, I'm sure that will dispel many of your fears. For all we know, you two could become good friends."
Hermione's heart raced, wondering how the hell she was supposed to handle exposing herself to Steven and persuading Severus that his girlfriend was nobody he should trust. She'd be lucky if anyone at the table ever spoke to her again.
"It seems to be a logical solution to put everyone's fears to rest," Ginny continued.
"That won't be possible," Hermione replied.
"Why?"
"Because Steven and I have just begun our relationship. Things may never become serious between us. Besides, Severus may scare him off by being overly protective of me. Nobody would want that."
"Severus would back off if he saw you were happy with Steven. The last thing he wants to do is ruin your happiness."
"I know, but…" Hermione slumped and shook her head.
"You don't want him to back off. You want him to protect you. Part of you wants him to fight Steven for you, just to prove he cares."
Hermione groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You love him, don't you?" Ginny's voice was soft.
"I don't know if I love Steven," Hermione put her hand down. "It's too early to tell."
"But it isn't too early to tell if you love Severus."
"You're right, I love him as a friend," Hermione's expression hardened, "which is why I need to ensure he will not be harmed by whoever this woman is. I need to make sure she isn't a cheater or worse, someone who would abandon him in his time of need."
"How exactly do you plan on doing that?"
"I will think of some way to protect him."
"I still say the double date idea is a great idea," Ginny put the books on the counter.
"And I still say it's the worst one you have ever had," Hermione grumbled.
Ginny opened her mouth. Before she could utter a word, though, the chime on the door rang.
"Hello," Hermione glanced past Ginny. Her body warmed at the sight of the visitor. "Severus, what are you doing here?"
"Ricardo sent me here," he scowled. "Apparently I was at risk of scaring away the customers if I did not speak with you."
"Why would he think that?"
"I don't know," Severus huffed. "All I did was demand a customer not to sue me if he bit his wife after he put sugar in the wolfsbane and told another one that I didn't care about her dunderheaded daughter who couldn't figure out that you shouldn't mix love and hate potions together to determine which one would win out."
"Seem like you were reasonable with both of them."
"Thank you." Severus approached the counter. "You are the only one who understands how much I value people using potions safely."
"Indeed," Hermione grinned.
"Yes, Severus, it seems only Hermione understands you," Ginny cut in.
"She understands me better than most others do anyway," Severus examined his goddaughter-in-law. "Are you already buying baby books?"
"Yes, the sooner I get them the better, or so Hermione tells me."
"If you run into a situation that requires a book, the sooner you buy it, the better," Hermione answered.
"A wise saying indeed," Severus replied.
"Indeed," Ginny pushed the books towards Hermione. "I'd like to buy all of these at full price."
"Ginny, you deserve a discount for all you've done for me."
"No," she shook her head. "The Malfoys proudly support small businesses. It's part of our new PR campaign to patronize small businesses and help them turn a profit."
"Of course it is," Severus muttered.
"It wouldn't look good if I didn't pay full price," she pulled out a credit card.
"Fine, but at least let me get you a coffee or lunch later."
"Fine."
Hermione took out her wand and tapped each of the books. The number came up on the cash register.
"There is one other thing I wanted to do," Severus shifted his right foot.
"Oh?" She asked.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of chocolates. "Charming Chocolateswas having a sale. I thought that you might appreciate a few cherry cordials since I ate all of your cherry Dum Dums this morning."
"You ate them all?" Hermione took Ginny's credit card.
He shrugged. "I wanted them for breakfast."
Hermione envisioned Severus sucking on a Dum Dum while drinking his straight breakfast blend coffee out of the black mug she'd given him last Christmas. The image was so ridiculous, yet so like him. She couldn't resist laughing.
His lips curled up as his eyes glistened. Ginny glanced at him before mischief danced in her eyes.
"So Hermione, are you going to be with Severus for the rest of the week?" Ginny asked.
"Every night except Friday," she glanced at the man in black. "Correct?"
"Assuming you still want anything to do with me when all is said and done." His eyes shifted to his right. "Correct."
"Of course I do," Hermione took his hand. "One little fight isn't going to diminish my feelings for you."
"They won't?" He looked at her; his eyes betrayed his fears and doubts.
"No, not at all."
The tension in his muscles relaxed.
"I was telling Hermione that you, her, and your partners should go on a double date," Ginny cut in.
"I hardly think that is advisable," Severus frowned.
"Why? Because you don't know how serious things are between you and your girlfriend?"
"Amongst other reasons." He removed his hand from Hermione's. Right away, she missed the warmth of his touch.
"What other reasons could there be?" Ginny asked.
"I don't want to give my girlfriend the impression that things are more serious than they are," Severus argued.
Hermione ran Ginny's credit card, knowing there was no one she wanted to meet less than Severus' new partner.
"Well, we'd love to meet her at some point," Ginny replied.
"I'm sure you would," Hermione grumbled as the cash register flashed $0.00. Then, she grabbed a bag and began putting the books in there.
"You said in your letter a couple of days ago that you were going to Primal Steakhouse with your boyfriend?" Ginny continued with a gleam in her eyes.
"Yes," Hermione exhaled.
"My partner and I are going there too," Severus cut in.
"I guess you can have that double date after all," Ginny took the bag and the credit card from Hermione. "Assuming you can find each other.
"Perhaps we'll just wave at each other if we meet," Hermione replied.
"That may be advisable," Severus' eyes had a gleam to them that Hermione had learned not to trust.
"Well, I will see you later, Hermione," she pointed to Severus, "and you in a couple of minutes."
"I take it you need another antenatal vitamin potion?" He asked.
"Yes, and there's nobody I trust more than you to brew it."
"Nor should you trust anyone else to brew it, given that I am the best."
"That you are," Ginny answered before leaving.
Severus sighed.
"Thank you for the chocolates," Hermione's voice was soft. "I appreciate them, even if they were unnecessary."
"They were more than necessary. I still feel horrendous for the way I treated you," he took a shaky breath, "My comments were uncalled for on every level. I deeply apologize for being an arse."
"Apology accepted," she answered. "And I apologize for throwing my boyfriend in your face. I started the whole conflict. I was just as much of an arse as you were."
"I forgive you, even if there's nothing to forgive."
"There was nothing for me to forgive either."
"Don't be so sure. I was being an insufferable arse. You are excited about being in love," he glanced at the ground. "I cannot blame you."
"I'm not in love," she put a hand on his shoulder.
He glanced up.
"I'm not in love," her lips curled upwards. "But I am your best friend. That will never change."
He met her eyes. "It won't?"
In a soft voice she answered, "It won't."
The genuine smile that graced his face melted her heart. Merlin, this man was sexier than any other she'd ever met, and he didn't know it. If he ever found out how he could drive her body wild with one expression, they were both ruined.
"Would you like me to put spiced rum or regular rum in the piña colada tonight?" he replied. "I need to pick up some from the store, and I want to know which one you prefer."
"Surprise me."
He nodded before smirking. "I am nothing if not full of surprises."
"Indeed you are," she replied.
He took her hand and kissed it. "Goodbye, Hermione. Have a wonderful day."
"I will," her body yearned for him to come closer, to give her some indication that he wanted to kiss, or better yet, take the day off so they could spend it in bed together. "Though I'll spend all day counting the minutes until I can see you once more."
"I will do the same."
She kissed his hand before releasing it. Then, he gave her one last look before exiting the store. Once he crossed the street, Hermione's lips curled upwards.
She knew exactly how to get everything she wanted.