Five

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I make no money here.

Many thanks to my beta, Alley B, for all of her help.

Snape had him by the throat before Lucius could even blink. The swiftness and violence of Severus' reactions surprised him. “I didn't hurt the little princess, Severus,” he sighed, shoving his friend's hands away. “But I do think you two need to talk to each other, without me, or Draco, or Lovegood or anyone else interfering. You two are made for each other, Severus.”

Snape snorted in disbelief, but Lucius went on to explain what he believed had just happened. How he'd helped her set the trap, and in the end she'd walked out rather than snare Severus with lies.

It took him four Floo calls to learn her address. Lovegood had been the one to give her up. She'd also instructed him on Hermione's favorite flowers and chocolates as well as her secret addiction to smutty Muggle romance novels.

Thus he ended up on her doorstep with a bunch of black-eyed-susans and a block of Honeydukes' chocolate. He'd simply refused to bring smut as a gift.

He knocked at the cottage door several times before he heard her moving about inside.

“Who's there?”

“Severus.”

Silence. “What do you want?”

“Open the door.”

“Go away.”

“Open. Up. Now. Hermione.”

“No.”

“Open this door, you silly girl, or I swear I will blast it down,” he demanded angrily.

“Go away, Severus.” Her voice wavered.

“Hermione, open the door. I just want to talk to you.”

“Why?” she sniffled.

“Please... Just let me in.”

It was the please that finally did it. A bossy, angry Snape she could deny, but the quiet pleading in his tone she couldn‘t ignore. Her wards fell, and the door swung ajar.

She drifted into a living area and sank onto the sofa. He could have taken the chair but he sat directly next to her instead.

He handed her the flowers and chocolate. She took them cautiously, then, a smile crept onto her face. “They’re my favorites.”

“So Lovegood said.”

She'd been crying, he could tell. Now that he was here, he didn't know quite what to say.

He didn't have to say anything; she started. “I'm sorry about what happened at the party. We'd had a bit to drink. I got bold playing the game. Luna knows I've fancied you for quite some time, so she asked leading questions. When I dared you to come upstairs... Well, I meant it then, but...”

“You chickened out?”

She gave a snort of laughter. “Basically, yes, I guess so. It seemed exciting, and I thought if taking Lucius upstairs meant I could have you too, then I was willing to give it a try. But... I'd never done that before, and I just couldn't go through with it.”

“You're a—virgin?!”

“What? No—no! Oh, gods, no. I meant I've never been with two wizards—at the same time, that is. Together. While it all sounded thrilling and sexy, once I got up there, it seemed so much more intimidating. I couldn't do it. But then Lucius offered to help me.”