From Friendly to Friends

August 18, 1997

Two and a half weeks later, Hermione joined Snape again in the warm summer night. "Gee, Professor, we're right back where we started."

Snape quirked a half-smile at her impish grin. "On the contrary, my dear, we are much further along than where we were when we started."

Hermione clapped her hands and bounced in excitement. "You're right, as usual."

"What do you mean, 'as usual'? You should rather say 'as always'!" He glared at her, visibly affronted.

Hermione laughed. "No one is right all the time, Professor, so spare me the indignation."

Snape rolled his eyes and growled, "Such cheek..."

Hermione giggled again, but settled down to dig, letting a companionable silence fall between them.

***** *****

September 16, 1997

The following month, Hermione was about to leave Snape's office after their latest foray, but stopped at Snape's soft, "Miss Granger."

Turning to gaze attentively up at him, she was surprised when he withdrew a long slim box from his desk drawer and presented it to her. It was wrapped and tied with a ribbon, and Hermione's brows drew closer in confusion. "Sir?"

Snape twitched the box, inclining his head toward it. "Here. Take it." Hermione grabbed the box, but just stared at it. "Go on, girl, open it!"

Blinking, Hermione unwrapped it and opened the box, unfolding tissue paper to find a new pair of high quality work gloves. Mystified, she said, "Thank you, of course, but... what are these for?"

Tossing his head, Snape bit out, "Working, Miss Granger. They are work gloves, after all."

Hermione heaved an exasperated sigh and said, "I know that, Professor; I meant why are you giving them to me as a present?"

Snape muttered, "I saw that your current pair have been getting too tattered with all the extra work we've been putting them through in the past year, and I thought you should have a new pair. And... it'syourbirthdaycomingup."

Hermione shook her head at the final rush of words. "Beg pardon?"

Drawing himself up ramrod straight, he said, "Miss Granger, is it or is it not your 18th birthday this Friday? Learn to accept a gift with some grace, for mercy's sake."

Comprehension dawned, and her puzzled expression changed to one of flattered delight. Smiling, she picked up the gloves and tried them on. "They fit beautifully, sir." Then, grinning at him, she darted forward and hugged him again. "Thank you."

Snape's cheeks warmed, and he struggled out of her arms, growling, "Miss Granger, that is not necessary!"

Hermione backed away and bit her lip, amusement and affection flashing from beneath her lowered lashes. "Oh, come now, Professor, learn how to accept a thank you with good grace!"

Snape pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes, glaring at her as she laughed and twirled away toward the door. "That's enough, you impudence. Off with you!"

"Good night, sir. And thank you again. I love them." She had tugged the gloves off and then clutched them to her heart, bowing in farewell before lifting them to drop a kiss on the dragon scales, eyes twinkling as she disappeared into the corridor.

Snape swallowed hard and sucked in a breath to steady the pounding of his heart.

***** *****

December 14, 1997

Three months later, they were back outside in the wintry night, searching for ingredients, but this time, Snape was wearing the cap Hermione had knitted for him the previous year. Christmas was a week and a half away, and Hermione was wondering what to give Snape for a present this time. He was currently stationed up on a thick branch, trimming twigs from the tree and dropping them down to Hermione's waiting hands, which were enveloped in the gloves he had given her.

Racking her brain, she couldn't decide, so she ventured, "Professor?"

"Hmm?" Snape's gaze was focused on the wood he was sawing.

"I'll just be blunt... what would you like for Christmas?"

Snape's movement stopped, and he peered down at Hermione's pink face with a puzzled look. "Excuse me?"

Tossing her head, she repeated herself. "What would you like for Christmas? You know, as a gift?"

His face went blank. "I don't need anything..."

She cut him off, her tone scathing as she said, "I didn't ask what you need. I asked what you would like." She softened her voice at his warning glare and added, "It's not like I know what you have already or what you enjoy. But it's Christmas, and I want to be able to give my friends something they like!"

Snape shifted at her words, and he gripped the branch to keep from falling off. He stared at her and mumbled, "You already have."

Hermione's nose wrinkled in confusion, but she caught the twigs he tossed down to her. As she put them away, he dropped from the branch, sending up a cloud of powdery snow when he landed very close to her. She grimaced and said, "I gave you that cap last year."

Snape's voice was very low as he said, "That's not what I meant."

Hermione looked up and was surprised by how close they were. "Oh! Then... what did you mean?"

Cheeks reddening to join his chilled nose, Snape averted his eyes and faltered, "You've... already given me something I like. We're very close to ending this war. And I'm facing the possibility...no, probability that I will actually have a future beyond it." He locked eyes with her and continued, "And I like that I have a friend to look forward to being in that future with."

Hermione's pulse sped up, and she stared up at him, rapt. Her stomach was knotting and fluttering, and when he shoved a hand into his pocket and lifted a sprig of mistletoe he had trimmed from the tree branch, she gasped. She saw his jaw twitch as he clenched his teeth and then he was there, in her personal space, pressing a gentle kiss to her flushed cheek. Her eyelids drooped closed of their own accord, and she let out a soft sigh, her breath wafting over the side of his head.

After a beat, he straightened, eyes wide at his temerity, and he dropped the mistletoe at their feet. Voice rough, he said, "We're done here," and stepped back, Disapparating.

Hermione fell back a pace, stunned at the riotous feelings that left her heart pounding and at Snape's abrupt departure. One hand rose to touch the spot on her cheek that seemed to tingle with the sensation of his lips on her skin, and when she looked down to pick up the carrier, she saw the mistletoe he had dropped. She fell to her knees in the snow and snatched it up, pressing it to her chest as she heaved a calming breath. After a long moment, she pocketed the mistletoe and stood, cradling the carrier as she Disapparated.

As soon as she appeared with the carrier, Snape Flooed away, only willing to wait long enough to see that she arrived safely. Hermione followed quickly, but when she emerged in his office, she only heard his retreating footsteps echoing down the corridor.

***** *****

December 25, 1997

Christmas morning, Snape found a small pile of presents on his dining table. One was from Hermione, and when he opened it, he couldn't help but smile fondly at the contents. There was a tin of loose-leaf tea, a teapot with two matching teacups and saucers, and a mesh tea infuser beside a package of chocolate biscuits. On top of the items, there was a note that read, "Happy Christmas, Professor. The enclosed is for us to use in the not-too-distant future, when friends can share a cuppa or two in safety and comfort. Just know that if you eat the biscuits before then, I'll hold you responsible for replacing them for our date."

His gut squirmed at her choice of words.

"I'll be waiting for you when the war is over. I have no doubt you'll find me. By next Christmas, You-Know-Who will be gone, and you'll be lauded as the hero you truly are. Thank you again for all you've done.

Hermione"

***** *****

January 12, 1998

Two and a half weeks later, Snape collected Hermione for the next full moon, and as they crunched through the snow on their quest, Snape said, "I...ah...see you received your Christmas gift."

Hermione patted her head and beamed at him. "Obviously. It's lovely, sir; thank you. Surely you didn't make it, so where did you find it?"

Snape glanced again at the knit cap with the longer scarf-sides like what she had made for him, only hers was a rich russet colour that picked up that shade in her hair. "I took mine to a craftsperson and asked for a copy in that yarn. Are the Warming Charms working correctly?"

Hermione brandished her gloved hands as well and declared, "I'm snug as can be! And it's a lovely warm colour too."

His voice was low as he said, "It suits you." He waited for a moment and added, "Thank you for the tea set."

Laughter colouring her voice, she said, "You've already eaten the biscuits, haven't you?"

Snape scowled, wishing his hair were free to tumble forward and hide his guilty flush. "None of your business."

Her hearty laughter left a visible cloud of vapour to trail behind her when she rushed to catch up with him as he stomped ahead.