An Interesting Luncheon pt1

An interesting luncheon pt1

Hermione exited the lift at work and was greeted with the sight of Severus casually resting back in one of the chairs at the large jarrah table, viewing a book that was comfortably sitting across his lap that had an ankle resting upon his knee. As she walked over, she couldn't help but take in the domestically exotic picture he made wearing a long sleeved white cotton shirt with the first few buttons undone, allowing a view of some sparse black hairs to peek through. He had his hair tied back at the nape of his neck with a few strands breaking free across the front side of his face and he wore... glasses. Little silver framed glasses that were perched halfway down his sharp aristocratic nose. Tailored black trousers covered his lean legs with leather boots upon his feet. She felt her mouth go dry; she'd discovered her penchant for leather last summer. She licked her lips unconsciously as she watched his nimble fingers slide down the side of the page before turning it, remembering how they had felt when they were upon her body yesterday.

She placed an armful of parchment on the large table and cleared her throat before saying, "I didn't know you wore glasses, Severus."

Severus gave her a warm smile when he looked up and was pleased to see her eyes had a bit of a glazed look about them, so she definitely liked the sight of a casually relaxed Severus after all and mentally congratulated himself as he rose from his chair, greeting her with a small bow and chuckling lightly.

"Unfortunately years and years of pouring over text have not been of any assistance in keeping my eyesight as it once was."

Though he didn't add that he had extremely keen vision when it came to long distances and that it was only reading up close text that caused him bother, she seemed to like the glasses. He did as well. As a matter of fact, he thought they softened his features.

"Well, they suit you," she answered quietly and kindly as she sat down and started to go over some notes.

They heard the elevator door open and Neville greeted them with a quiet "Good morning," and a bit of a flush to his features.

"Neville," Severus started. "I'm glad you're here, we didn't get a chance yesterday as things were a little new and hectic," he was pleased to see Hermione look at the tabletop and blush at this. "And I thought it might be good idea to have a luncheon together so we could get to know one another a little better. What do you say?" He looked between Neville and Hermione for an answer.

Neville looked sheepishly between the two before he answered. "Actually I, um, have other plans." He blushed a little and cleared his throat before he continued on. "You see, I'm already meeting someone for lunch. But I wouldn't mind the company when it comes time to go. That is if you don't mind?"

Severus allowed a small smile to grace his lips and raised an eyebrow feeling decidedly happy about this turn of events as he would now have Hermione to himself for the duration of lunch and would be able to show her another side of his private persona.

"I don't see any real problems with that. Hermione?" He then turned to make sure that this would be acceptable to her.

Hermione felt a little unsure about the prospect of being alone with Severus at the moment but nevertheless, she had decided that she wouldn't allow awkwardness to interfere in the workplace and figured this was the sort of thing normal colleagues did. So she voiced her agreement to the arrangements, noted the pleasant smile Severus gave almost to himself and watched as Neville excused himself and made a beeline for his greenhouse.

They worked diligently all morning on various papers, Hermione and Severus stealing contemplative glances at one another when the other was distracted. At lunchtime Neville appeared from within his well-supplied greenhouse and proceeded to ask where they would be heading for lunch, to which Hermione answered, "Well really, there's only The Leaky Cauldron, unless you want to head into Muggle London."

"Tut tut Hermione, I see you haven't been taken out in the Wizarding world before." Severus held up a hand to forestall the interruption he could see forming on her face. "We shall just have to introduce you to one of the many hidden things you have yet to encounter. Won't we, Neville?"

Neville nodded in agreement with a small smile, feeling glad that there was at least something he could be of assistance in besides his talents in Herbology.

"There really are some delightful little places to dine in the Wizarding world, Herms."

Severus and Hermione both winced at the butchering of Hermione's name, which was obviously meant to be a casual endearment. They all went to freshen up before heading over to the fireplace and flooing into The Leaky Cauldron.

Severus ushered his two younger colleagues ahead of him as they entered Diagon Alley through the back of the pub. He found he prefered to watch Hermione as she conversed with Neville while he strolled elegantly down the alley.

Today she was wearing black sandaled flats and a slinky black, ankle length skirt that swayed hypnotically with her hips. While watching said swaying hips he noticed how it smoothed over her firm rounded bottom perfectly, giving the illusion of being underwear free, though upon closer scrutiny he realized she was wearing one of those thongs the Muggles were in favour of wearing. Gods just the thought of that scrap of material resting between her perfect cheeks was nearly his undoing and decided to remove his gaze from that particular area, less he be caught ogling her wares by a passer-by. Her shirt was a collared short-sleeved affair of navy blue that possessed a silver shine with her movements. Her hair was piled upon her head in a loose bun with wisps of stray curls fluttering around her neck and face as she strode along.

Coming to their turn along the alley he moved to walk beside her, placed a hand in the small of her back and turned her gently towards the other alleyway.

"I present to you 'Rathskeller Row', Hermione. For all your dining requirements," Severus said gallantly as he watched her eyes dart around the alley they had just entered. It seemed to meet her approval as she wore a beautific smile upon her features making her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm over all the new things to be seen. He shared an amused glance with Neville before they headed along the pathway.

It really was an amazing place, so many different styles and settings in the one area, all set apart at a tasteful distance from one another. There wasn't the cramped hustle and bustle feel to it that you encountered in Diagon Alley. All the buildings held something unique about them, most with themes of all different shapes and sizes (magic really was a useful tool for business). The cobble stoned lane possessing a wide berth to allow for carriages (and for the eccentric, flying cars). You could stroll with ease along the pathway without bumping into or brushing against anyone else. The place held a very relaxed air about it and you could easily picture the romantic environment that would emerge after dusk. The trees lining the street with the moon, stars and night sky for a backdrop.

Neville thanked them for their company on the walk and took his leave while Severus performed his gallant duty by offering Hermione an arm to take hold, of which she accepted with a blush and headed towards a charming little Italian restaurant, located halfway down the lane called 'The Olive Garden'.

The moment they entered the restaurant their senses were immediately assaulted with the fragrant and intensely aromatic flavours of citrus, olives, capers, garlic, dried fruits and the underlying scent of chocolate.

Hermione's head was reeling from the onset of scents, her brain was working overtime trying to identify and categorise each one. She hadn't realised how hungry she truly was until smelling the superb ingredients floating through the air around her. With a small smile upon her lips she breathed in deeply enjoying the invading aromas.

"Lord Snape, how have you been?"

Hermione opened her eyes to see a portly looking Italian man around the age of fifty, (but who knew with wizards) greeting Severus in his native tongue with a brief embrace and a kiss to the cheek. She goggled, bewildered, when she realised Severus answered in Italian. Hermione herself wasn't adept in the language, but she could decipher a few words here and there. She knew enough to know that Severus had asked after this man's family so he must know him well.

"Good, good. Very well and healthy, but who is this beautiful woman? By Zeus, Aphrodite herself would be jealous."

Severus prayed to the gods that Hermione didn't understand Italian, though he couldn't help the pride that bubbled up when his old friend commented on her beauty. "Your cheek grows with your age, Michael," retorted Severus good-naturedly and looked on with amusement as Hermione looked completely lost having not understood the conversation.

"Ci, I am afraid so," replied Michael in English before continuing on in his native tongue with, "but you cannot help admire such a beauty, no?" He looked at Severus raising his eyebrow a knowing twinkle in his eye, very reminiscent of his former employer.

"Effettivamente," was all Severus replied.

They were led through the Tuscan styled restaurant, up a grand marble staircase and out onto a glorious terrace. Hermione gasped audibly at the view before her and Severus allowed himself a satisfied smile as he watched her quickly shuffle over to the balcony's edge, lean out and hungrily devour the scenery in front of her.

He had obviously been right in assuming she would be pleased with this setting, judging from the colour scheme and style of her own terrace he figured she had a keen interest in this style of environment.

Hermione broke the silence with a wistful sigh saying, "Oh, it's beautiful, Severus." Her eyes never left the scenery before her. She couldn't stop the shiver tingling down her spine when she felt Severus' whispered reply of, "Yes, yes it is."

They stood there for at least twenty minutes blissfully contented; him watching her, her watching the scenery.

She was hungrily viewing everything in front of her with a keen interest. Miles of vineyard, rows upon rows of green vibrant vines bursting with plump, healthy grapes. She could see people dressed in comfortable gardening clothes made up of loose cheesecloth shirts, which allowed the occasional breeze to dry their sweat. Beige baggy pants were worn for unrestricted movement and comfy open sandals, which were only to be topped by fairly large straw hats to protect them from the suns harsh glare. Hermione noticed that some wore gloves and were tending to the vines and their beds, while others were randomly walking around sampling their wares. She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes once again and enjoyed the scents of a fresh summer's day, a mix of ripe grapes and fresh herbs. There was an underlying smell of sandalwood, spices and potions, which she found just as pleasing and smiled lightly knowing where the last ones had come from. Opening her eyes and looking fondly upon the village just beyond the vineyard she broke the silence with a saddened double-edged question.

"It's charmed. Isn't it?"

Severus had been but a breath away from her the whole time. So close yet oh so far away. Her straying curls had been caught on the small breeze and were dancing across his upper chest just enough to tease him into touching the vanilla scented honey browned locks. The elegant creamy white expanse of her neck a mere few inches from his aching lips, if he were to just dip his head a little his mouth would be able to taste her again and oh how he longed to do that with every fibre of his being. She sounded almost disappointed in her questioning when she spoke and wondered if she had realised the double innuendo of her words.

"In a way." Was the only answer he would supply her with, thinking about how pleased she would be later when he revealed the meaning of those words, maybe in both instances if the moment was right. "Come," he said offering up his arm and leading her over to a round table set for two. The chairs were set closely together but not so close that they would be unable to view each other and converse comfortably. The point of this positioning was to allow both diners to be able to enjoy the calm and peaceful scenery on display before them.

"Are all the restaurants like this Severus?" Hermione asked gesturing around at the extravagant detail.

Severus gave a small lip twitch. She never really stopped asking questions. "Some are. It depends upon the owner really. Michael is very much in love with and proud of his homeland. I think you'll find the attention to detail is for his benefit more than ours."

"Aahh," Hermione answered in understanding. She had visited Italy one summer during one of her Hogwarts' breaks and had instantly fallen in love with the history-filled laidback country. Everything about it was beautiful; from their historic buildings to their richly vibrant landscapes. She had enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the place and its people but that could have been because Voldemort had finally been defeated and she had been more inclined to relax at the time, unlike in previous years. She had grown a lot as a person that summer. It had been when she finally felt centred and found herself. And for that reason she had always held its charms close to her heart.

She supposed that seeing as how Severus had shucked his prick of a Professor persona, that he to had managed to find and centre himself also. Little did she know that she had been ninety percent of the reasoning behind it.

They had ordered their meal and were interrupted from a discussion on a theory about how to reduce the addictive effect the dreamless sleep potion held, when their starters arrived.

They had both ordered a Tortellini dish, the little hat shaped pasta parcels were stuffed with home grown sweet potato, mortadella cheese and just the right amount of freshly chopped parsley. The sauce was made from a light, creamy butter with freshly shredded sage tossed through it. Severus had complimented it nicely with a bottle of Soave which was a mild and delicate white wine originating from Verona, with a very distinctive bouquet she was sure she would never forget.

"You know, Hermione, there is a story behind the discovery of the tortellini you are consuming," Severus said after sipping his wine and placing it back upon the tabletop.

"Oh?" Interest decidedly peaked, as she hadn't heard of this tale when she had visited.

Severus sipped his wine once more enjoying the texture and cleared his throat before he continued. "There is a story that tells of an old pasta maker, the best of his skill, in love with a young girl of whom he was teaching." Severus didn't break contact with her eyes as she sipped her wine, innocent brown eyes peering at him over the rim of her glass. "Before she started her tasks for the day, she would go into the back room and change her clothes into something more suitable for kitchen work." His tone of voice had taken on a lowly rough quality. "And one day. One day the owner gave into temptation and went to spy his love through the keyhole of the door as she changed." He had said temptation with the caress of a whisper and then raising a perfectly sculptured eyebrow continued. "All he could see was her navel. But he had found it so beautiful that he picked up a small disk of pasta and mimicked its shape." Severus diverted his eyes, sipped his wine and said. "So this as legend would have it, is how the first tortellini was born."

"Some say that he was a lecherous old man that should never have even considered looking at his young protégé. What would you say, Hermione?"

His gaze on her was intense while Hermione seemed to ponder this for a moment as she placed another morsel of said pasta in her mouth she caught his eye before replying with. "I would say that no matter what form a muse takes on, it is that it inspired that matters."

Severus' eyes searched Hermione's for an indication as to what she was thinking. He had always been able to read her thoughts from the expressions on her face, it was one of the draw backs of possessing a warm, honest, caring personality and she had yet to transform from that nature through all his observations. It was a little disconcerting to him now that he realised he couldn't tell what she was thinking. What had she meant by that statement exactly?

He only had three possible answers to choose from. Hermione was either saying that were he to make his interest known and pursue her, she would not find the attention unwelcomed. A green light so to speak, according to the Muggles, or that his interest was noted and pleasing but he would have to be inspired from afar.

Which was an answer to his layered question that he refused to accept. She would be his; he wanted her, he craved her, he lusted after and loved her madly. Severus would find a way to make that happen. Even if it came to going about it by... questionable means.

His last option... was as simple as what she had said. Meaning that she hadn't picked up on the underlying question he had been asking. What would she think of having the attentions of her former and aged tutor upon her?

He smirked, she blushed.

Or... she didn't want to acknowledge that she knew what he was asking. He would accept that and she knew it to, cheeky minx. It wasn't exactly a bow from a Hippogriff so to speak, but he hadn't gotten his arm ripped off for his efforts either. He could work with that. It was time to get her into a comfort zone; people were so much easier to coax when they were relaxed and off guard.

A/N: I would like to acknowledge all the reviewers who not only give me a gr8 buzz but also a good kick in the pants to lol. Who am I to deny such great reviewers.

'Rathskeller Row' comes from 'Glinda' who was kind enough to pass on the whisper that it is infact another name for pub or bar.. many thanks goes out to her.

Dryad brought to my attention that 'The Olive Garden' is infact an Italian food chain in America... as I am in Australia this has happened unintentionally sorry for any inconvenience.

'Effettivamente' is a loose translation of 'Indeed'.

This chap has a second part to it that I have only half finished at the moment as I don't want anything to go ooc and am trying my hardest to keep them in character at the cost of my sanity *grins*

Also I just found out that I am to blessed with the miracle of a third child merlin help me I am very happy about it but extremely tired at the moment hopefully as I move out of my first trimester I won't feel so bad, so bare with me as 15 min in front of my pc tends to make me want to sleep for a good eight hours.... Hopefully it won't be to long b 4 you hear from me I am plodding along best I can...

Please review you know I love 'em and they keep me motivated huge XXXX and OOOO alicat