17. A Kiss, A Rose.

17. A Kiss, A Rose.

Severus stared at her for a short moment as she continued smiling at him.

'You are so beautiful,' he whispered, wrapping his arms around her gently. 'I'm sorry for losing my temper. Did I hurt you?'

'In more ways than one.' Hermione's face fell, and she looked up at him sadly. 'You can't say it, can you?'

Severus closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head a little.

'No. I don't think I can. I wish I could...' He opened his eyes and looked at her, hoping she could see how he felt without him saying the words.

Hermione sighed deeply. This was what Valentine meant when she had said she would have her work cut out. Deep down, however, something inside her had clicked into place, and she knew, even though he couldn't say it, Severus loved her. And that was good enough.

'Kiss me, and then let's get out of here. We need to save our sanity.' Hermione smiled a small smile.

Severus bent his head, his brow furrowing. 'How's that?'

'Just kiss me, Severus,' Hermione murmured, her eyes on his lips.

Severus covered her mouth with his, and Hermione melted into his lips with a small sob as tears started to fall down her face. Parting her mouth with his tongue, Severus could taste the salty liquid and held her close, stroking her hair.

'I'm sorry... so sorry,' he murmured into her curls.

'It's not your fault; I just hate fighting, especially with you.' Hermione hugged him, wiping her damp cheeks against his coarse robes. She pushed him away a little. 'Can you get me a pain potion, Severus?'

Severus let go of her and walked smoothly to his shelf, grabbing a small phial and handing it to her, averting his gaze in shame as she rubbed at her shoulders. He didn't want to hurt her, but she had goaded him. He was a man of extremes, but he knew he needed to change. He would have to learn to talk to her somehow, or this could turn into a regular event.

Hermione drank the potion down and closed her eyes as the aches in her shoulders disappeared.

'That's better. Now... I need to go home and grab some clothes, and then we can go back to Spinner's End and get changed. I think we should go out to dinner tonight, as it's a special occasion.' She smiled at him softly, and he looked at her a little confused.

'Special occasion? What occasion?' He frowned at her. He didn't think it was her birthday, and Christmas was months away.

'You'll see....' Hermione's eyes twinkled a little, her stomach full of butterflies as she looked at him.

'Cheer up, Severus. I forgive you, okay? It was just a fight. Let's forget it and try and enjoy the weekend.' She took his hand in hers.

Severus looked at her with new eyes, amazed at her capacity for forgiveness. As they left the shop, he thought about that for a moment and realised she was the most compassionate and forgiving person he knew, and he hadn't noticed it before. He was aware of her kindness, but she had shown him so much more than that over the past few years. She deserved more from him. She said she loved him. She had given more of herself to him physically than she had to any other man. She had forgiven his abominable treatment of her and hadn't pushed him away. She really was incredible, and he intended to show her how much he appreciated her, even if he couldn't tell her he loved her. Severus felt himself full of resolve and pulled himself up to his full height, tightening his hold on Hermione's hand.

'Your place first, isn't it?' He smiled softly at her.

Hermione smiled. She was glad to see him almost back to himself.

'Is that okay?'

'As long as I can choose the restaurant....' He pulled her flush to his body and wrapped an arm around her. With a sharp twist, they Apparated.

*****

An hour later, Severus was holding the door of the restaurant open for Hermione, glancing in appreciation as she glided past him. She looked very elegant and had chosen a cream cocktail dress with chiffon sleeves teamed with her crystal jewellery and patent black stiletto heels. She had a black velvet wrap around her shoulders and slipped this off, hanging it over the back of her chair. She had pinned up her hair softly, and small tendrils were caressing her face and neck. She had applied a little make up and a spray of very expensive perfume. She looked incredible, as if she was glowing.

Severus pulled his chair out and sat in front of her. He had showered and put on the suit he had worn the previous weekend, and Hermione's heart fluttered as she watched him lift the wine menu and hold it in his pale hands. They both felt a lot better after their argument, and the conversation started to flow easily.

Hermione flicked through the menu. She loved Italian food, and her mouth watered.

'What will you have?' Hermione asked him.

'I have a penchant for seafood... Perhaps the oysters with pesto dressing, then the linguine,' he murmured, his eyes scanning the wine list, 'and a bottle of their best white wine, I think.'

'I'll have the same... I love oysters.' Hermione grinned at him. 'They're good for you, aren't they?'

Severus looked at her over the top of the wine list and caught her eye. She winked at him sexily, and he burst out laughing.

'It depends what you're doing,' he chuckled.

'Well... I think they will be good for us tonight,' she whispered softly, not breaking his gaze.

Severus stared at her for a moment, and his mouth fell open as the impact of what she had said filtered through. His cock twitched in appreciation, and he was about to speak when the waiter arrived to take their order. Severus changed his mind about the wine and ordered a bottle of champagne instead. When they both had full glasses, he raised his to Hermione.

'For being a true friend,' he said softly, smiling at her warmly.

Hermione beamed at him and slid her foot out of her shoe quietly, letting it fall to the floor. She took a long sip of champagne, letting the bubbles explode in her mouth for a moment before swallowing and closing her eyes. She opened her eyes again and held Severus's gaze as she took another drink, finding his leg with her toes and tracing a path upwards.

Severus looked at her in surprise, his eyebrow arched and his mouth twisted in a sly smile. Two could play at this game, and he took his wand from his pocket and flicked under the table. He held his hand out and caught Hermione's silk panties as they flew out from under her dress, and she squealed, shifting in her seat, her face flushed with embarrassment. Severus chuckled at her and she heard him whisper a Transfiguration spell under the table. Bringing his hands into view, he presented Hermione with a pale cream rose edged with gold, chuckling as she took it from him, her face pink.

'Thank you, Severus,' she hissed at him, keeping a smile on her face as other patrons watched them with wide smiles. Some assumed they were getting engaged, and one woman nudged her husband and complained that he never gave her flowers any more.

They spent the remainder of the meal in quiet contemplation, both of them aware that Hermione was now knickerless and the rose now standing in a spare champagne flute was in reality her cream and gold panties that matched the bra she was wearing under her dress. To add insult to injury, Severus would occasionally extend a long, pale finger and caress the rose, dipping his finger in between the petals suggestively as Hermione watched, her face flushed, licking her lips. It was no surprise, therefore, that they decided to forego their dessert.

Hermione stood, and Severus helped her with her velvet wrap, kissing her neck softly as he did so. As they walked away from the table, Hermione remembered something.

'Oh! I need my shoe!' She looked at her bare foot in surprise. She knelt down and scooted to retrieve her shoe, not noticing that the draped tablecloth had caught the flimsy skirt of her dress as she shuffled beneath the table. She turned to find her shoe and heard giggling coming from the other customers.

Severus stared in horror at Hermione's bare arse as she shuffled back out from under the table. He walked quickly forward, grabbing her skirt and trying to pull it down. Hermione didn't see him, and as she felt a hand touch her bottom, she screamed.

'Oh, no you don't!' she shouted and spun around, grabbing his wrist as her skirt fell further up to her waist and flashed all that God gave her to anyone who was looking in her direction.

'Just get up, Hermione,' Severus hissed, 'and take your ROSE with you!' He looked pointedly downward, and Hermione gasped in horror.

'Help me, Severus!' she hissed.

Severus grabbed her skirts and pulled them down, and then grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. Trying to rescue her dignity, Hermione paused to put her shoe back on, fixed her hair, and smiled politely with her head held high as she walked towards the door. Slowly a round of applause went around the room, and Hermione bolted, not waiting to see if Severus was following her.

As they hit the fresh air, Severus caught up with her and grabbed her hand, pulling her to him and hugging her close, his shoulders shaking and his stomach sore from laughing so hard, tears streaming down his face.

Hermione hit him on the arm, then started to laugh too.

'That was your fault! You and the bloody rose!' She giggled at him as he started to nuzzle her neck.

'You started it with your foot!' He chuckled against her throat and licked softly with his tongue.

'We won't be able to eat in there again, anyway.' Hermione laughed softly, running her hands through his hair.

Severus lost it and started to laugh into her ear, and he pulled her tighter against his chest.

'Oh, gods, that was brilliant... You should have seen your arse waving out from under the table.' He laughed loudly. 'God, Hermione, I love you!' He lifted her and spun her around on the spot, and she giggled softly.

'I know you do.' She smiled at him.

Severus stared at her and put her back on her feet, cupping her face with his hands gently.

'Now we have a problem,' he whispered as she snaked her arms around his waist.

'What's that?' She tipped her head to his and smiled as her eyes met his twinkling black ones.

'Now I've said it... I won't be able to stop,' he murmured, his lips moving closer to hers. 'I love you, Hermione.'

Hermione sighed as his mouth covered hers, and he snaked his tongue into her mouth slowly. Around them, their bonds glowed brightly, but only those with the sight would have seen them.

Hermione gasped for air and stared at Severus for a moment.

'Severus, would you do something for me?' she asked him softly.

'Anything... as long as it involves you, nakedness, and my bed,' he growled and put his hand on her bottom suggestively.

'Well, yes... I want to make love to you, but there's something I need you to do first.' She bit her lip, her eyes wide.

'Go on.' Severus tipped his head to the side expectantly.

'I left my rose on the table... Would you?' Hermione grinned at him.

Severus looked at her for a small moment, his face flushed as he listened to Hermione's laugh echo down the street.

A/N: A little light relief from all the nasty angst! Big juicy lemons coming up. Thank you for being as patient as Severus!

Huge hug to Kizzy. She's such a good friend. She's pretty hot with comma's too.