Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The four of them sat at a table in the Three Broomsticks. Severus, Hermione, Lucius, and Narcissa nursed some butterbeers and laughed at random things. Hermione studied Narcissa. She seemed shy. Perhaps that was why Lucius felt he needed to hit on Hermione. Hermione was anything but shy. She caught Narcissa looking at her across the table. She looked over at the bathroom and flicked her head toward it. She then excused herself and went to the loo. Narcissa made the same excuse and followed suit. Lucius made some crack about women going to the bathroom in gaggles. Severus gave a low chuckle.

Hermione turned to Narcissa after they had entered the bathroom.

"Miss Black," she began. "I know it's none of my business, but are you serious about Mr. Malfoy?"

Narcissa looked at her irately. "He is my boyfriend and I will not give him up. Do not even think to try and steal him away!"

"Miss Black, you don't understand. I'm not trying to steal him from you." She tried to ease Narcissa's mind, but Narcissa was still glaring at her.

"I don't know what is wrong with Mr. Malfoy, but he seems to be unable to keep from flirting with me. I find it incredibly annoying, and have told him so numerous times, but he keeps doing it. I just wanted you to know. I don't think it is fair that he is flirting behind your back." She didn't say it to upset her, but she saw Narcissa bristle at her comments.

"I don't need the opinions of a Mudblood like you!" Narcissa bellowed at her. "He only looks at you to make me jealous! Don't you think I see him eyeing you in class?" Narcissa's face was twisted into an ugly snarl. "I know he would never truly have feelings for someone from your filthy background."

Hermione seethed at Narcissa's comments.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you with it then," she replied coldly.

Hermione stalked out of the bathroom and went past their table. She ignored Lucius and Severus and stormed out of the bar. Severus looked after her worriedly. Excusing himself, he ran after her. She was quick in her anger and was almost half way down the block when he finally caught up with her.

"Why the sudden departure?" he asked in annoyance.

"That woman is the most insufferable person I have ever met." She turned and pointed her finger into Severus' chest. "You know what? They deserve each other! I have never seen two people better suited because of sheer annoyance factor than those two."

Severus took her by the hand and led her to a bench. They sat down, and he looked at her with concern.

"What did she do?" he asked.

"I just wanted her to know that Lucius was flirting with me and that I didn't think it was nice. Before I knew it, she was telling me she didn't need advice from a Mudblood." Hermione felt tears threatening to fall. "Why does it always have to be about that?" she said quietly, looking down in her lap.

Severus pulled her into a hug. "Narcissa is a horrid woman. She looks down her nose at everybody. Don't take it personally."

Hermione tried to covertly wipe her eyes before straightening up and pulling away from Severus. "I suppose you're right," she admitted. "She really doesn't change much in the future, she gets worse."

"Hermione," Severus said quietly, "it's not always about your birth line. Anyone with half a brain can see how wonderful you are."

She gave him a sidelong glance. "But there will always be some who look at me as an outsider. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong anywhere. I was a misfit as a child in the Muggle world because of magic, and now I'm an outcast in the Magical world because of my bloodline. I've been going over that in my mind for the last year. None of my other friends had to hide, just me, because I am the one who is different." She looked back down into her lap in resignation.

Severus watched her proud form as she spoke. She was incredibly strong to have to deal with such prejudice, yet still be the caring individual she was. He knew if it had been him in that situation, he would probably lash out at everyone.

"I can understand how you feel," he told her. "I know I'm not Muggle-born, but I have felt like an outcast for as long as I can remember. The children in my neighborhood would make fun of me for the way I dressed; here I'm just made fun of for being weird."

Forgetting her own frustration, she looked over at Severus. She flashed him a smile.

"You're not weird," she told him, "you're just unique. There's nothing wrong with unique"

He looked back at her gratefully, "Just like there's nothing wrong with being the child of Muggles."

She smiled openly and stood up. "Come on; let's enjoy our day instead of sulking on a bench."

Severus gave her a shy smile and rose. They walked down the street, looking into shop windows. Suddenly Hermione stopped and gave a gasp; in front of them stood an old book shop.

"That isn't here in the future!" she whispered.

Severus regarded her with a smile. "Only you could get excited about a book store, Hermione."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and stood on tiptoe to get even with his face. "Don't tell me the thought of going in there and poking around in the stacks doesn't make your heart flutter, Severus Snape. You and I are not so different in that regard."

She left him gaping after her and hurried into the shop. He composed himself and followed her in. She had been right of course. No trip to Hogsmeade for him had been complete without a visit to this particular shop. He would usually find a book he longed for and then go home and dream about owning it. His financial circumstances didn't leave him room for splurging on unnecessary books.

He saw Hermione headed for his favorite area of the shop: The Ancient and Out of Print section. He hurried to join her. They spent at least half an hour there, perusing the titles and occasionally picking a book off of the shelf to flip through it.

"Look at this, Severus," Hermione finally called to him.

She showed him a book entitled Lost and Forgotten Spells. She flipped through the book carefully, and they saw spells for growing back limbs, freezing people (somewhat like the Petrificus Totalus spell), a flying spell, and one for changing hair color.

"I think I want this book," Hermione mused.

"You have a desire to turn your hair green?" Severus asked drolly.

"I was thinking more along the lines of bleached blonde, but green might be a nice change," Hermione mused as she thoughtfully tapped her finger on her chin.

Severus made a face. "Your hair is fine the way it is," he said quickly.

Hermione sent a smile his way as she snapped the book shut and decided to buy it.

Turning to Severus, she asked, "Are you ready to go? We've been holed up here for quite a while, and I am supposed to be visible in case a student needs me."

He replaced the book he was reading back onto the shelf and nodded to her.

"Aren't you going to buy that?" she asked him. "You've had your nose in it almost the whole time we've been here."

He gave her a quick grin. "Maybe next time."

Remembering Severus didn't have much money; she pulled the book from the shelf and headed to the checkout.

"What are you doing?" he snapped at her.

"I'm buying some books," she told him.

"I don't need you to buy that for me," he tersely whispered.

She looked over at him as she put the books on the counter and pulled some money from her pocket.

"I'm not buying it for you; I'm buying it as a gift for you."

"Hermione," he growled.

She paid for the books and left the store. Severus followed, looking at her sternly. When they had exited the shop, she handed the book to him and shrunk her book, placing it in her pocket.

Severus took the book, but looked at her crossly. "I can't accept this. I will pay you back when I can."

Annoyance flashed in Hermione's eyes. "Can't I buy you a gift, Severus?" she asked in a brusque tone.

"There is no reason for you to get me any such gift," he snapped.

She turned toward him. "I just wanted to thank you in some way." She trailed off looking at him pleadingly, hoping he would understand. "You have made me feel comfortable in a time that is not my own, you have been my friend, and have stuck up for me when Lucius and Narcissa have been intolerable. I just wanted to show you that I appreciate your friendship. Can't you accept a simple gift from me?"

Severus softened considerably. "Thank you, then," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I made a big deal out of it."

Hermione beamed at him. He shrunk the book and it disappeared into his robes. They began walking down the street again.

"I have wanted that book for almost seven years now," he told her quietly.

If it were possible, Hermione's smile got wider. "Well, I'm glad that I found something you would treasure."

Severus stopped walking and looked at her seriously. She turned and gave him a quizzical look.

"I treasure you," he said softly before he slowly covered her lips with his and kissed her.

Hermione's heart leapt. She had never felt such love directed at her. She became lost in him as his arms surrounded her and pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with all of the pent up passion that had been mounting within her over the past few weeks. They stood there enraptured with one another for a minute before Hermione came to her senses and broke the moment by pushing Severus away from her.

"No, Severus, we can't do this."

"Why not?" he asked as he searched her face.

"I don't belong here! This isn't my time. This isn't supposed to happen."

"Who cares what's supposed to happen?" he said sultrily.

"I can't, Severus. There's no future in this. I can't do it. Please, respect my wishes about this!"

He gazed at her sadly and let her escape his embrace. He had thought she might care for him as more than a friend, but perhaps he had misread her devotion as more than just friendship. He wanted to make sure he hadn't spoiled that friendship.

Looking at her solemnly, he said, "Alright, I'll respect your wishes, but you will not break off our friendship because of a little slip of the tongue."

Hermione giggled at his pun. She continued to walk down the street and he followed her, looking a bit concerned.

"I just told you before that I value our friendship, Severus. I wouldn't throw it away so easily."

His shoulders sagged in relief, and he relaxed considerably, smiling shyly at her. They continued to walk in silence until they reached the end of the street. There was a huge field that met the street here. Hermione recognized it as somewhere Harry, Ron, and she would have snowball fights in winter. But there was something different about it now, other than the lack of snow. There was a giant Willow tree in the center of the field. It was the most beautiful tree she had ever seen.

She wandered up to it and touched the trunk. "I wonder what happened to you," she mused.

"Who are you talking to?" Severus asked.

She looked at him, a bit startled to have said what she did out loud.

"This tree," she said, then looked at him slyly, "And no, I don't make a habit of talking to inanimate objects." Turning back to the tree and moving slowly around its trunk, she continued. "This isn't here in the future. I wonder who would cut down such a beautiful tree."

Severus looked over the tree he had never really noticed before. Hermione had a way of seeing things differently than he, in always a more positive light, even. He admired her ability to get excited over a simple tree.

She looked back to him and shook her head. "I know, I'm being silly, gushing about a tree. It's just so beautiful."

Severus wanted to compliment her beauty, but he didn't dare after the fiasco that had happened a few minutes before. He looked back up at the tree.

"It is filled out rather nicely."

"Very diplomatic answer," she joked.

His eyes grew wide as he looked at her, not sure what to say next to not have her make fun of him more.

"Come on, let's go." She said finally. It's getting late."

They turned to leave and were headed across the field when four large pops sounded, and they were surrounded by four Death Eaters. Severus and Hermione whipped their wands out and stood back to back, ready for a fight.

A/N: Next up: Death Eater Attack.

So I figure you'll either all hate or love me for this chapter. Thanks to everyone for the lovely reviews.