WriterMerrin - Supernova Seeker

Even though they'd not had plans to see each other before Saturday, Hermione had been pleased to bump into Severus at St. Mungo's on Thursday evening.  The Longbottoms seemed much more at peace than they had the previous week, and Severus estimated that doses twice daily for five more days should permanently purge much of the residual dark magic plaguing them. He was even speculating on some alternative treatments for some of the other symptoms.

She thought that she shouldn't have been surprised to find Severus in the thick of things.  While he and Neville could still barely stand each other, he seemed to be engaged in serious conversation with a Healer regarding research and development.

When she turned to leave, Severus offered to accompany her out. They wandered down the street in the twilight, turning at a pillar box and ducking into a suitable alley.

'Have you eaten?' Severus asked, standing a little closer in the shadows than he would have in view of the street.

'I'm afraid so,' Hermione answered. 'But we could go for coffee.'

'I believe I know the place,' Severus answered with what might have been a teasing lilt. 'Mind if I...?' He punctuated the partial question by offering her his arm.

Smiling, she looped one arm through his and held on with the other. Looking up into his face as he prepared to Apparate, she reflected that adult witches were not supposed to find anything thrilling in side-along Apparation. When he steadied her on her feet at their destination, she remembered why; it could be quite uncomfortable, but she felt that a brief dizzy spell was a small price to pay for close contact with Severus' strong arms and chest.

Despite her distracting feelings, she thought that she managed to carry her coffee to a table and sit in the seat he pulled out for her without showcasing her preoccupation with her companion. With Severus going out of his way to help so many people, it almost seemed silly to think that he was singling her out. She halted that train of thought by asking him about his conversation with the Healer.

'It seems word of my "new leaf" has reached the human resources department. Apparently, there might be work for me doing Potions research.'

'That does sound promising. Would you work at the hospital?'

'At this point, I have the option of a laboratory on their premises or applying for a grant to establish my own someplace and contracting for them.'

'Why, that sounds absolutely brilliant! Do you think you will?'

'The possibility of my own location is quite enticing. I must admit that I resigned from the school without a clear idea of where I would go from there. Not very characteristic of me, I know, but it seemed the right thing to do, and I can live off my savings for a while yet before I need to worry.' He suddenly stopped and appeared to be examining her face. 'What are you doing now that you've completed your Arithmancy program?'

'Well, publication of my dissertation got me just enough for a down payment on the flat, and my parents insisted that I take a proper holiday this summer before getting to work.'

'And you've spent it in that old house?'

'Well, besides brewing with you, I've been helping Ginny with the baby.' Hermione instinctively didn't use James' name.

'And when you are no longer in the childcare industry?'

'Maybe I'll try independent contracting, too. Arithmancy and charms aren't disciplines that require a lot of overhead, so it is just as easy to innovate from home.'

'How are you at combining Arithmancy with Potions?'

'It wasn't my top discipline, but I am a fast learner.' She thoughtfully sipped the last of her coffee. 'You know, I don't think I'm going to need the dining room in my new flat. I wonder what it would take to certify the room potions-safe instead.'

'Does it have a window?'

'Yes.'

'Then don't bother the builders. I can likely make the modifications and certify it myself.'

'Well, we'll hold that option in reserve for the time being, then.'

The next evening she went shopping with her mother. Her cousin's wedding would not have occasioned a new dress, but something in the way Severus had peered at her over his cup of coffee Thursday night had made it imperative that she make a good impression.  She suddenly wanted their time together Saturday to be a date, and she was determined to catch his attention.

Before entering the Grimmauld Place house, she had pulled out her mobile and called her mum to arrange the emergency dress-shopping excursion. She took the opportunity of the shopping trip to get her mother up to speed.  The Grangers had had their memories restored four years previous and had returned to England a year later.  When Hermione had told them the whole story, she had been sure to dispute the way the Prophet had traduced Mr. Snape's character, but at the time he was not a potential...

Potential what?  She had spent a little too much of Friday daydreaming about him to deny it by the time she Apparated to her parents' backyard. But she still needed to fine tune the story she was going to tell her relatives.

As she showered and slipped into her new red dress Saturday afternoon, she practiced saying his first name aloud.  After all, it would seem strange to address a friend as formally as she'd made a habit of.

Not wanting to dillydally, she was waiting in the entryway, wrap in hand, when he arrived at precisely four that afternoon.

The reality of him in a Muggle black suit was beyond her idle daydreams. She had wanted to surprise him, but he had outdone himself.

She took a deep breath, but he spared her by speaking first.

'You are lovely, Hermione.'

She blushed and adjusted the strap on her purse. 'Thank you. I was wondering when you would finally take me up on the offer... Severus.'

He smiled a little and extended his elbow for her to take. By the time they reached the safe Apparation point, both were at ease.

'I don't know if I told you, but I'll be Apparating us to my parents' house, and we'll follow them in my mum's car.

'You didn't, but the plan sounds acceptable.'

'Good,' Hermione answered and clutched his arm tighter as she concentrated on her parents' backyard.

As a dry run for the wedding, she introduced Severus as a colleague from the university. They were colleagues, and it made her smile inside to think of the collaborating they'd done in the past several weeks. The years when they hadn't had much contact had eased every classroom slight, and she was utterly enthralled by the man now standing beside her.

The church ceremony was blessedly brief, and they drove to the reception hall to munch on hors d'oeuvres while they waited for the wedding party.

She was relieved to see how at ease Severus was with her parents. Perhaps after a house full of Weasleys, three Grangers were easier to deal with.

After the meal came the barrage of relatives. Hermione knew that bringing Severus would be a calculated risk, but she hadn't counted on all of her aunts flirting with him. She couldn't help feeling pride when Severus swept from his chair and offered her his hand to dance. It may have only been to silence Aunt Clara, but moments later, nosy relatives were the last thing on her mind.

The song he'd chosen for their first dance was a light ballad, not too slow or sappy. He held her lightly, testing the limits of this new experience. The words made her smile, and his answering smile made her beam.

The next song was even slower, and she stepped into his arms so he would have no doubt what she wanted. He pulled his arms around her in a tender embrace, and she rested her head against the chest she'd long been fascinated with.

When he softly inquired if they could leave, she was quick to bid farewell to her parents and make her way back to the car. The tension was palpable as they pulled into the driveway, and they stood on her parents' front porch like teenagers for long moments until Hermione finally found words...any words.

'Do you want to see my new flat? It will be ready next week.'

'I'm sure Potter's elf is beside himself.'

'He's offered to pack all of my boxes just to get me out of there faster.'

'Would you like some help settling in?'

'That depends.'

'On what?'

'On why you're asking.'

'It is what I do.'

'No, not that again.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean that the summer is half over. How long is this crusade of yours going to last?'

'As long as it takes.'

'You can't rebuild the entire Wizarding World any more than Terry can. And no one is asking you to.' She paused, but interrupted before he could voice the objections she saw on the tip of his tongue. 'No! Come because you want to unpack my library or see what our potential new potions space looks like. Come because you want to spend time with me... because you like me.'

In the suddenly awkward silence, Hermione lowered her gaze until she saw Severus' arm enter her line of vision.

'First it's "cool" and then "like"? Your vocabulary used to be more refined.'

'Well?'

'Well what?'

'Why do you want to help me move house?'

'Because I do esteem you and want to spend time with you. You spend enough of your own time helping other people; don't think I didn't notice.'

'But I've always done that.'

'Does that make it better? Are you the only one allowed to spend your whole life helping others? What are you trying to atone for?'

'Nothing! It's just...'

This time, his hand made it all the way to her shoulder. 'You've been telling me for weeks that it's okay to live for myself a little. What's keeping you from taking your own advice?'

'Living for myself would be lonely.'

'You won't be alone. I could be there, too.'

Her answer was barely a whisper. 'I'd like that.'

'As would I.'

He leaned down until his lips could brush hers. The hand on her shoulder made its way to the nape of her neck, where the slightest pressure prompted her to part her lips. And his kiss told her that neither of them needed to be lonely anymore.

Thanks to Karelia for beta reading, and a MILLION thanks to my teammates for giving me so much material for this final chapter.

Words used: dillydally, traduce, pillar box