9. This Thinking Woman's Crumpet.

9. This Thinking Woman's Crumpet

One Hour Earlier...

Hermione was little shocked when the Floo activated and Valentine Passiflora appeared in her bedroom. For a brief moment, Hermione thought perhaps her date was travelling directly to her.

She had just stepped out of the bath and was wrapped in the complimentary fluffy bathrobe, a large white towel around her wet hair and a pair of over-large towelling slippers on her feet. As Valentine stepped out of the flames, Hermione had panicked. Had her date cancelled? Was there something wrong with him?

'Ms Passiflora? Why are you here? What's going on? I don't understand.' Hermione stood gaping at her before Valentine had a chance to open her mouth.

'Everything is fine, Miss Granger. Please, do not distress yourself.' Valentine walked over to the large bed and sat down on the edge of it slowly. She looked exhausted. 'Please take a seat; this won't take long as long as you're sensible. You're a clever witch, Miss Granger, but I hope you are also a logical one. There is the potential for disaster before the night is through, which is why I had to come.' Valentine shook her head solemnly. 'Your soul mate has the lowest self-esteem I have ever experienced, Miss Granger, and his thought processes are even at this moment undermining the work I have done.'

'Thought processes?' Hermione was puzzled, and her brow furrowed as she sat on the edge of the bed.

'Did you do well at school, Miss Granger? And afterwards?' Valentine looked at her kindly, a small smile on her face.

'I did,' Hermione acknowledged, smiling. 'I got great O.W.L.s, and when I finally sat my N.E.W.T.s, I got the grades I needed to undertake my apprenticeship, and now I have my Potion master's.'

'Now think, Miss Granger. When you were studying, did you feel in your stomach that you would pass or fail? Be honest... I already know the answer.' Valentine's eyes were boring into her.

'I knew I would pass,' Hermione said in a small voice. 'I was always confident of my abilities.'

'Exactly...' Valentine spoke softly. 'Now, what are your thoughts on the power of the mind?'

Hermione snorted, 'Divination, you mean? I don't hold by it.'

Val shook her head, 'No. Not divination. I mean the thoughts that shape reality... Just as what you eat shapes your body, what you THINK shapes your world and either repels or attracts, depending on your thoughts. This is the basis, the fundamental foundation for my magic. Without positive thought, it won't work. You have been looking forward to your date, haven't you? Imagining how wonderful it will be? How exciting to meet someone who is destined just for you?' Val smiled warmly at her.

Hermione blushed, her mind racing. How did she know? 'Yes, of course... Doesn't everyone?'

'Not your man, apparently. He almost loathes himself and cannot believe that anyone would want to love him or be with him or bear his children. Rarely have I seen such a fractured spirit, Miss Granger, and rarely do I take this course of action.' Val's face was serious as she looked at her.

'What can I do? I don't understand...' Hermione was confused.

'I need to tell you who your soul mate is, Miss Granger. You are strong enough for the both of you, and you will help him to fulfil his potential. You will complete him. But it is even more complicated. Your soul mate is someone known to you.' Valentine watched Hermione's face intently.

'Someone known to me who doesn't think he deserves love?' Hermione mused, biting her lip as she ran through her friends and acquaintances in her head.

Not Ron, that's for sure. His over-confidence had ended any chance of a lasting relationship, and he was now living with a French witch he had met at Bill and Fleur's wedding. Neville was married to Luna, and she knew they were very happy together. Dean Thomas or Seamus? No, not likely.

Valentine watched and smiled as Hermione's face dropped slightly, and she turned to look at her.

'Are you sure?' Hermione asked her, and then interrupted before she had a chance to respond. 'Don't answer that.'

She closed her eyes. In her own heart, she knew it was Severus as soon as his name popped into her head, like a piece of a jigsaw clicking into place. A faint, blue glow appeared over her heart as she acknowledged the truth and then disappeared.

'You know him,' Valentine stated. 'You feel him, don't you? You always have, actually. Sometimes, people just need a little nudge.' She smiled at her warmly.

'Does he know?' Hermione asked her, her voice a whisper, her mouth dry.

'Not yet, but he will. And that's when you will have your work cut out. Just be yourself. He will get there in the end.' Valentine stood and walked to the Floo. 'Good luck. But you know you don't need it, don't you?'

Valentine grinned at Hermione, who laughed softly.

'I'll let you know how I get on,' Hermione said softly, her eyes bright. She turned and fingered the silk of her dress after Valentine Floo'd away and smiled to herself.

****

Severus had stood staring at Hermione for almost a full minute, his face pale as he took in her appearance. Face on, she was even more beautiful, and she stunned him. The front of her dress had a plunging neckline, but his eyes were drawn from her cleavage by the black crystal choker around her throat. The red satin was gathered to the side and fastened with a matching crystal brooch, both gifts from her parents. He knew about them. She had mentioned them to him before and had said she would only wear them on a very special occasion. Suddenly, she was walking towards him, and he couldn't move as he watched her hips swing from one side to the other gracefully, her breasts moving softly beneath the satin fabric.

'Here. You look like you need this.' Hermione handed him a glass of Firewhisky, and he downed it in one, the burning liquid bringing colour to his cheeks and ire to his tongue.

'Is this some sort of joke, Hermione?' he whispered quietly. 'Did you think it would be amusing to enlist Ms Passiflora in a little amusement at my expense?'

Hermione looked at him impassively. He truly hates himself, she thought. She stepped close to him; she raised her face a little, a soft smile on her lips. Resting her hand on his arm, she registered the involuntary twitch of his eyes as they looked at each other, a flash of hurt and embarrassment.

'Severus, I would never do anything to hurt or embarrass you. You know that. This is no joke. You are my soul mate.'

Her eyes widened in a small challenge, and she smiled warmly at him, showing her teeth a little before stepping back and taking his empty glass from his hand. She refilled it with Firewhisky from a small drinks cabinet at the side of the room, topped up her champagne, and turned back to face him.

Severus couldn't speak. Surely there was some mistake? She was so much younger than him; he was her former tutor, her current employer. How could this be right? But he knew she would not purposely embarrass him. That was not her way.

His mind raced back in time as his memories of her flashed in front of him. Hermione, all bushy hair at the back of his classroom, her work finished, their eyes meeting. He would politely nod his head in acknowledgement; she would smile a little shyly. Then later, she was older and dancing with Viktor Krum. She was laughing, and he smiled as he watched her blossoming. And then her request to become his apprentice. He turned her down twice until he realised he really did need help and no other student could come close to her skills. Her face, beaming as she showed him her degree results. He was the first person she had contacted as soon as they had arrived by owl, and she had been excited, flinging her arms around him, hugging him and then apologising as he chuckled at her. Then, Hermione arriving unannounced in his shop and offering to work with him, to help him build his business. He hated to admit it, but he had spent a significant part of the last fifteen years with Hermione in his life. And with a sudden realisation, he knew.

Hermione watched him and smiled as the blue light around his heart faded. She walked over to him and handed him his drink.

Severus looked at her, a small smile playing around his lips.

'Who would have guessed?' he said softly, gazing on her face as if seeing her for the first time.

'I know... It's a little overwhelming, isn't it?' she whispered, her heart beating loudly as she saw his newfound appreciation of her. Her eyes were on his mouth, and with a start, she realised he was moving closer to her.

Severus lifted his hand and stroked the side of her face, his fingertips softly brushing her full lips.

'You look beautiful...' he murmured.

Hermione could feel her stomach dancing. She was hit with a sudden urge to kiss him and was surprised by it. She had never felt it before. She didn't know what to do, but it didn't matter. Severus did.

He closed his eyes and leant forward, brushing her lips with his softly in a chaste kiss, taking her free hand in his as he pulled away.

Hermione sighed softly and heard him chuckle. She opened her eyes to see him smiling at her, his eyes glittering a little.

'Are you laughing at me, Professor?' Hermione winked at him.

'Oh, gods...' Severus closed his eyes. 'Promise me you will never call me that again. It makes all of this seem so seedy.'

'You didn't answer my question, Severus,' Hermione spoke his name softly, and he felt a tingle run through his body gently.

'I'm not laughing at you, Hermione. But I am suddenly starving. Shall we?' He grinned at her.

As he walked her to the table, his hand softly brushed the small of her back, and a pulse of electricity shot between them. They paused and looked at each other shyly.

'Wow...' Hermione whispered.

'Indeed,' he replied.

A/N: Just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for the really nice reviews I have been getting for this bit of fluff! They have made me laugh and grin like an idiot!