Paralogize

Puh-RALuh-jayze | verb

1: to draw conclusions that do not follow logically from a given set of assumptions

"Customer for you!" Sanders called back from the front of the store.

Severus gritted his teeth and growled under his breath. The boy was new but he had told him that dealing with customers was his job so Severus didn't have to. It worked out better for everyone that way. He placed a stasis charm on his cauldron and moved out into the front of the shop. Sanders earned a deep glare before he turned to see what the boy had been incapable of dealing with.

"Oh, Hermione." His irritation evaporated rapidly at the sight of her smiling at him behind her hand.

She held out a covered dish to him. "I brought lasagna for you. It turned out really well, I thought."

He took the proffered food with a small upturning of his lips. "Thank you. I was just wondering what I would do for lunch today. Now I won't have to leave this batch of wolfsbane in the middle."

Smirking, she nodded. "I suspected you'd just go without." More than likely, she was right. She did know him, after all. "I also wanted to make sure we were still on for tonight."

He nodded. "Of course. I look forward to it." His textbook had finally made it through editing and was being printed as they spoke. She had, of course, insisted that she come over and cook him a celebratory dinner. Sighing, he glanced back toward his lab. "I should get back to it. Thanks again for the lunch."

"You'd better get working if you want to beat me home tonight," she said teasingly. "I'll see you later."

She ran a hand down his arm in farewell, her fingers just brushing his lightly. His stomach twisted pleasantly and it was all he could do not to take hold of her hand and pull her against him right there in the shop. Later, he told himself. They weren't quite to that point yet. She was his friend. He had made it clear, he thought, that he hoped they could become more and tonight he intended to speak with her about it.

As he sat down at his work station, he heard the conversation drifting in from the front.

"I actually need some ingredients as well while I'm here," Hermione's voice said.

"Anything for you," Sanders answered in a tone that made Severus bristle.

Hermione seemed to ignore him and he couldn't make anything out until she had gathered her ingredients and moved once again to the counter.

"That'll be one galleon even." He heard the coin hit the countertop and Sanders continued, "I'll gladly accept a date as a tip for excellent service."

Severus's heart skipped and before he realized he had even gotten to his feet, had moved into the doorway of his lab in order to better listen in.

Hermione laughed. "Sorry, but I've already got myself a fellow."

His stomach squeezed tightly and he suddenly felt short of breath. How could she have a fellow without him knowing? How could she not have told him? Had she been leading him on? Was he not clear enough about his intent? He swallowed hard and moved away from the door, closing it tightly and warding it. He needed to finish the wolfsbane and then he could stew on it.

oOo

She was in the kitchen when he got out of the shower. He sighed, knowing that even if she was taken he wouldn't ask for his key back. His wet hair dripped onto his t-shirt as he padded down the stairs toward the kitchen.

She turned toward him when she heard his footsteps and smiled brightly. "How was your day?"

"I finished my batch of wolfsbane without incident." He tried to ignore the fluttering in his stomach at her smile. "The lasagna was greatly appreciated, and you're right – it did turn out quite well." He inhaled deeply, breathing in the aroma of whatever it was that she was cooking. "What are we having?"

"Carbonara," she answered mildly. She knew it was one of his favorites and tonight was about celebrating his accomplishment. Future generations to come would be learning from his book. He could shape young minds as he loved to do in a much more hands off way than physically commanding the classroom, which she was sure that the future generations would greatly appreciate.

"I heard you tell Sanders today that you have a fellow," he said lowly. It was all he could do to keep himself from blurting it out like a lovesick schoolboy. He had to know who it was that he had lost to.

She blushed. "I hope you don't mind. I can't believe he didn't realize, I mean-" She caught sight of his carefully schooled expression and cut herself off mid-sentence. "Do you mind?"

"I can't say that I'm thrilled," he replied. "I thought… Hermione, I thought that I had made my intentions clear to you."

She blinked once, twice. "Your intentions?"

He huffed out a breath. "Are you going to make me spell this out for you completely?"

"I've no idea what you're on about, Severus, so yes."

"The thought of you with some man makes me ill," he stated bluntly. "I realize that we are only friends and I have no claim over you, but I had hoped to remedy that. Tonight. Now I know that it's too late but I wish that you had told me before."

She bit her lip, understanding dawning on her. "Are you under the impression that I was talking about someone else?"

He stared at her. "Weren't you?"

She let out a short laugh. "Severus, no. I was talking about you. You're the fellow I've already got."

It was his turn to blink at her blankly. "Er… I am?"

"I can't come over there and prove it to you or the food will burn, but yes. You did make your intentions clear. I thought that I'd made mine clear as well, but obviously, I failed." She paused. "You were going to claim me tonight?"

He cleared his throat. "I had intended to try."

She smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Well then, by all means continue."