XXII

Many thanks to my wonderful betas, Keladry and Southern.

---

Hermione woke up the next morning alone. She knew he was gone even before she turned over to look for him. She was unaccountably disappointed, though; it wasn't as if anything beyond a few grumbled words would take place. And, knowing how cheerful both of them were in the morning, possibly not even that.

But knowing that didn't help the disappointment fade. She'd felt so comfortable the night before, so peaceful, and after her muddled emotions the evening before, it had simply felt right.

She stared up at the canopy feeling annoyed, even though she knew it was a little silly and more than a little ungrateful to feel that way. She would have been annoyed had Severus woken her up just to say goodbye. Probably.

Still, his being gone left her feeling a little empty and blue, so it took a little more effort than usual to drag herself out of bed and into the loo to wash up for the day ahead. Realizing that the day ahead was to be a day spent with Severus outside of the school did cheer her up a fair amount. Enough so that when someone knocked on her door half an hour later, just as she was pulling on her trainers, her voice was cheerful as she called for them to come in.

She was rather disappointed when it wasn't Severus, but Harry and Ginny.

"Don't look too happy to see us," Ginny commented with a smile. "With a face like that, I would think you were expecting someone else at your door."

Hermione tried not to blush, but by the raised eyebrows on both her friends' faces, she knew she hadn't succeeded. "Severus and I are going out today. I thought it might be him."

Ginny smiled warmly while Harry tried valiantly to hide his discomfort.

"Another date?"

Hermione nodded and a smile peeked through. "He has to restock his supplies and thought I might like to join him."

Harry rolled his eyes with a snort. "He's obviously big on romance."

Ginny elbowed her husband while Hermione threw a crumpled parchment at him. "It's nice to get out of the castle, so I think it's quite romantic," she proclaimed.

Both Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes at that. "As long as you're happy," Ginny said, sitting down on the sofa arm closest to Hermione.

Hermione leaned back against the sofa and nodded. "Yeah, I think I am."

Harry smiled his crooked smile at her, and it looked more genuine than the grimace that then overtook his face. "I guess that means I have to be nice to Snape?"

The girls snorted. "I think that's asking a bit much," Ginny said.

Hermione nodded. "Being respectful has been an uphill battle for you!"

Harry laughed good-naturedly, though he protested with, "That's not fair! I've been respectful to his face for a while now."

The girls waited, expecting him to add something derogatory, but although he looked tempted, he manfully held his tongue.

"I take it back. You are the very model of a proper, polite graduand," Hermione said dryly.

Harry and Ginny both snorted, though Harry looked slightly affronted by Ginny's reaction. Ginny caught the look and rolled her eyes.

"I love you, dearest, but I'm not blind, you know."

Harry grinned impishly and ran his hand through his hair in a somewhat sheepish move. Ginny matched his grin and moved over beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist. Both of their expressions softened as they looked at each other for a quiet moment, making Hermione smile.

Ginny broke away first, giving Hermione a sheepish look. "So, are you having breakfast with Snape or will you be joining us?"

Hermione finished tying her shoe and stood up, frowning. "I actually don't think we set up a meeting time." She clapped a hand over her mouth in distress. "In fact, I never responded to his note at all! Oh, I hope he didn't think that was a 'no'!"

Ginny offered a small smile and shook her head. "It's early still, so even if he did, he's probably still in the castle. I'm sure you'll be able to clear things up."

Just then, there was a short rap on the door, and it was opened by the man himself. As soon as he saw that Hermione wasn't alone, he stopped short, looking wrong-footed.

Clearing his throat, he nodded at Harry and Ginny rather stiffly, then addressed himself to Hermione. "Madam, I never received an answer to yesterday's note."

Hermione sighed in relief, although his use of the word 'madam' made her slightly nervous. He normally only used that when he was upset with her. "I'm so sorry I forgot, Severus, and please come in! Do you want to leave immediately? Have you already eaten? Are you planning any other stops or will you be buying sensitive ingredients and need to get back right away?" Everything came out in a big rush, and she blushed when everyone, including Severus, rolled their eyes at her.

Severus did enter the room properly and closed the door behind himself. "There isn't a rush, although I would like to leave before lunch time. I haven't eaten, and I suggest we do so before we leave. I have no idea how long an outing it will be, as that is largely up to you."

Hermione let out a small breath she'd been holding and nodded. "If I take my cloak with me, we can leave straight from the Great Hall."

Severus nodded. "That would be acceptable."

Hermione smiled and then caught sight of Harry and Ginny's faces as they watched. Severus also seemed to grow aware of her friends at that moment, as his face reverted back into his customary scowl.

"Perhaps now would be a good time for us to go, then?" Ginny asked, pulling Harry to the door with her. Hermione nodded, while Snape's face remained relatively impassive. "See you later then, Hermione, Professor!" she chirped before she closed the door behind her, leaving Hermione and Severus staring at each other in amusement.

"If I didn't know better, I would say Miss... Mrs. Potter is afraid of me," Snape said, raising his eyebrow inquisitively.

Hermione shook her head. "I doubt it, although she may have been afraid Harry would say something rude. He's more prone to doing that around you than at other times."

Severus smirked. "It's nice to know I have some impact on the boy."

Hermione lips twitched up involuntarily, though it faded quickly as the awkwardness set in.

"I'm sorry--"

"I thought--"

They stopped and motioned for the other to speak. Finally, Hermione said, "I'm sorry I never responded to your invitation. I meant to tell you last night, but then..." She sighed. "It got pushed out of my mind. But if you are still willing to take me, I would love to go out with you."

Severus' face softened slightly. "It was pushed from my mind as well. I would be honored if you would accompany me today."

Hermione gave him a smile that was shaky with relief. "Oh, good! I was afraid..." She stopped herself, shaking her head. "Never mind. I'm really looking forward to this outing."

He nodded with a small smile.

"What was it you were going to say?" she asked, remembering a bit belatedly that he had been on the verge of saying something.

He shook his head. "It's of no matter."

She frowned, not quite believing him, but didn't protest. Unfortunately, the awkwardness seemed to return, and they just stood there watching each other until Hermione was inspired to retrieve her cloak so that they could leave.

Once she had closed the door, she was surprised to turn and find Snape extending his elbow to her, just as he did every evening. Smiling, she threaded her arm through his and relaxed as they headed down to the Great Hall. Still, she found her mind blank on things to talk about. They were just descending into the Entrance Hall when she finally came up with: "So what ingredients will you be replacing today?"

As soon as she said it, she cringed at how sterile that sounded but was relieved when he answered readily enough.

"Bicorn horn and, if you can believe the audacity, Erumpent oil."

"Erumpent oil?" she gasped, looking up at him in astonishment. "But... Well, at least they obviously knew enough to not blow themselves up."

"Yet," he added darkly. "I am assuming they haven't tried brewing anything yet, though. I am not looking forward to cleaning the walls when they do."

Hermione shivered. "And here I thought it would be Ashwinder eggs and the like."

Snape snorted. "Considering the castle is a giant cauldron of hormones on legs, you would think that would be the most common stolen ingredient, yet, surprisingly, only rarely does that go missing. Once every six or seven years. Of course, using a love potion is grounds for immediate expulsion, and love potions' effects are notoriously easy to spot."

Hermione snorted mirthlessly. "And they tend to be rather incriminating, too."

Severus paused at the doors to the Great Hall. "Yes, although it's wise to never discount the possibility of pranks or revenge. Douse your cheating ex-boyfriend's drink with the potion of the person he despises most, and you have a nice little revenge. The boy gets humiliated and, if everything goes well, expelled."

Hermione looked at him, appalled. He snickered. "Oh, don't be so naive, my dear. It has happened before and it will surely happen again. The clever ones remember to douse both parties' drinks; they're the ones to watch out for."

Hermione blinked. "How often have you seen this done?"

He shrugged. "Three occasions come to mind. Granted, only with one of those cases was the perpetrator clever enough to get away with it."

"If they got away with it, how do you know about it?"

Severus grimaced. "Because Lucius was always quite the braggart."

Hermione blinked again, feeling rather breathless. "How... And you were friends with him?"

Severus grimaced again as he shook his head. "No, my dear. I idolized him."

He reached for the door handle, but Hermione stopped him. "You didn't... You haven't... Please tell me you..."

"No. It was very tempting in the case of Potter and Black, but... I would have been the prime suspect. There was no point."

Hermione gaped at Severus. "There was no other reason not to?"

He shot her a repressive look. "Think of how you felt about Lucius. Imagine him being a classmate of yours, constantly threatening you, humiliating, hurting you. If there had been opportunity, wouldn't you have been tempted to humiliate and punish him for what he'd done to you?"

Hermione shook her head slowly, her eyes never leaving Severus'. "No."

Severus looked at her hard, but obviously didn't find what he was looking for because he drew back slightly.

"I'll say again, you are a far better person than I am."

She swallowed, trying to dispel the dryness in her mouth. She wanted to ask him why he hadn't reported James and Sirius to Dumbledore, but just as she gathered the nerve, the door opened, reminding her of their very public location. Judging by Severus' scowl, he had forgotten as well.

The two students who came through the doorway started when they saw her and Snape's expressions, and quickly made their way around them. Severus extended his arm again, and Hermione took it dazedly. He escorted her to her place at the Gryffindor table without another word and just as wordlessly made his way to the staff table.

Hermione watched him go, stunned, worried and unsettled by what she'd learned.

"Alright there, Hermione?" Harry asked from afar. She snapped back to reality and offered her friends a strained smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You look like you've had a bit of a shock."

She shook her head and set about gathering her breakfast, intent on avoiding everyone's eyes. "Severus just told me about one of Lucius Malfoy's past exploits, is all." She frowned at her bacon, suddenly not hungry at all. "He wasn't a nice man."

Ginny laughed harshly. "That is putting it mildly."

Hermione looked over at her friend and remembered what she had gone through at Lucius' hands. She then looked back at her plate and numbly forced herself to eat.

XXX

Hermione's state of numb shock lasted until she and Severus were on their way to the castle gates. He must have taken note of her change of mood, for halfway down the hill, he stopped and stood in front of her.

"Should I not have told you?"

Hermione blinked up at him. "I don't know." At his scowl, she searched for words to explain. "I mean, I'm utterly appalled to think that you idolized such an awful person, but then again, I do tend to forget you were a Death Eater at one point. And denying your past would be an insult to who you are now."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know, Severus. On the one hand, I really wish I didn't know that about you, but on the other hand, I am flattered and pleased you told me, that you'd share with me a piece of who you are."

"Were!" Severus protested. "I am not that person anymore!"

"Aren't you?" Hermione asked. "You wouldn't be tempted to do those kinds of things again? Use your intelligence and talents against those you dislike? Those who harm you... or me?"

Severus scowled fiercely and turned away. Hermione reached out to touch his arm. "I'm hoping that experience has taught you, though, and that you might choose to resist temptation for different reasons, now? And that maybe you're more careful about who, if anyone, you idolize?"

Snape laughed bitterly and shook his head, but did not turn to face her.

"Perhaps it would be better if I went to the apothecary alone."

Hermione dropped her hand, but didn't move.

"It's too late now, Severus."

He turned to look at her, his expression shuttered.

"You've already invited me along for the ride, and I'm not going to run away just because you're not a perfect person. I may be disappointed, but then again, I have no grounds to be disappointed. It is unreasonable of me to expect perfection of you, just as it would be unreasonable of you to expect perfection of me."

He compressed his lips and raised his hand to her cheek, but otherwise remained shuttered. "You are far more perfect than I could ever hope to be."

Hermione laughed. "Thank you, but you know very well that I'm not perfect, and I have no intention of living on that kind of pedestal, so you can just forget about romanticizing my character flaws into anything other than what they are."

His face relaxed as he smiled at her, bringing his other hand up to hold her face gently. "They are part of you."

She smiled back, raising her hands to his face. "Yes. And by the same logic, your past and your flaws are part of you."

He didn't look comfortable with that, but he couldn't argue with it either. Instead, he let out a sigh and nodded. Dropping his hands from her face, he offered her his elbow, which she accepted.

They made their way down to the gate, when he stopped her again. He looked at her intensely, and she could feel the fear emanating off of him.

"Do you regret...?" He stopped, looking rather disgusted with himself.

She smiled at him and shook her head slowly, reassuringly. "No. Not on the whole. So far."

He mutely nodded his understanding and opened the gate for her to pass through.

XXX

"Where shall I meet you?"

They were standing outside Slug and Jiggers in Diagon Alley, and Hermione had the distinct impression that Severus wanted her to go elsewhere. The urge to be obstreperous was there, but she decided it would be wiser to leave him be.

"I have to go to Madam Malkin's, the Ink and Quill, and, erm, Rose and Crant's."

He raised his eyebrow but then nodded shortly before turning into the shop. She scowled at his back, angry at his rude dismissal. She was not really in the mood to make a scene, so she simply made her way to the robe shop.

An hour later, she found herself entering Rose and Crant's, wondering how much longer it was going to take Severus. She wondered if he was still in Slug and Jiggers or if he'd made his purchases and had returned to the castle, intent on avoiding her. She knew that was an ungenerous thought, but she was feeling rather ungenerous toward him.

"May I help you with anything, dear?"

Hermione looked up from the bottle she had unconsciously picked up to see the somewhat familiar face of Mrs. Crant, one of the owners. She put the bottle of body oil back on the shelf and shook her head. "Not right now, thank you."

Mrs. Crant nodded pleasantly but looked at Hermione speculatively while returning to her place behind the counter, as if she was trying to remember something.

Hermione felt slightly awkward, but didn't want to leave just yet. She would give Severus a few more minutes to find her here before going to find him. Fortunately, Mrs. Crant gave up her examination and retreated to the back room after only a minute or so, relieving Hermione of the observation

She looked around the shop, trying to remember which of her supplies were low. Finally, it occurred to her that she could always use more of their special conditioner, as well as their gorgeous body powder. As she made her way to the counter to purchase them, the lipstick display caught her eye. She found herself drawn to a particularly pretty shade of red; it looked like it would actually suit her.

On impulse, she picked up a tube, then hurried to the counter, concentrating on not looking at any of the other charmed displays.

Mrs. Crant smiled at her as she came out from the back room and started ringing the items up.

"Do you have a big date?" she asked with a wink as she marked down the price of the lipstick.

Hermione started to shake her head, but then stopped. "I guess I do."

Mrs. Crant smiled again. "Is it with that redheaded boy you were seeing last time?"

Hermione looked up, shocked. Mrs. Crant took that as an affirmative and started gushing. "I try to remember all my clients, you see, no matter how long it's been. And it has been a while, hasn't it? You haven't been here since last summer, but then, a lot has been going on since then, hasn't it? It might have taken me a while, but I do remember you. You came in here all aglow, hand in hand with that nice young man. Whenever you would look at something, he would stare at you, giving you the most devoted looks. The fact that he didn't seem to mind being in the store said a lot about his devotion to you, you know. Most men seem to be terribly uncomfortable in here, which is silly. It's not as if I'm selling lingerie, now is it? But anyway, your young man was a very pleasant sort. He has a very kind and loving soul."

Hermione nodded dumbly, only a few of the words sinking in. Swallowing, she softly replied, "Yes, he did."

Hermione's demeanor and words finally sunk in, and Mrs. Crant leaned back, observing Hermione carefully. "Did? Oh, my dear, I just assumed you were still with him. You seemed so very much in love."

Hermione laughed slightly, trying to will away the tears gathering. "We were very much in love. He died in the war."

Mrs. Crant looked appalled. "Oh, my dear, I am so sorry!"

Hermione shook her head dismissively. "You weren't to know."

"Still, it's... oh, my dear, I'm so sorry for your loss!"

Hermione felt her control slipping and fished out her money. She paid the proper amount and grabbed the pink bag Mrs. Crant offered, shaking her head as the shop owner continued to apologize, looking mortified.

"Thanks," Hermione muttered and turned to leave. She stopped in surprise when she found Severus standing just inside the door, watching everything.

Of course he would turn up when she wanted nothing more than to retreat somewhere solitary to cry. Before she had a chance to recover, he came to her, took her bag and guided her out of the store, his hand placed on her shoulder in a gesture of support.

They stepped outside, and he continued guiding her to an isolated spot where he wrapped his arms around her and told her to hold on. She looked up at him questioningly, and he gently said, "This isn't the place for it," before Disapparating them away from London.

She closed her eyes as she felt the squeezing sensation and left them closed after it had passed. She hid her face in his chest, gripping his robes as she lost control and started sobbing. He held onto her, his arms still wrapped around her supportively, rocking her gently.

It seemed to take forever, but eventually, the tears receded, leaving Hermione feeling very snuffly and puffy. Sensing the end of the storm, Snape dug out of his pocket a cleanish handkerchief, which Hermione gratefully accepted. She turned away from him to clean herself up and was shocked to find herself in the middle of a field. A field of flowers. A very pretty field of flowers.

She paused in the middle of blowing her nose and looked up at him curiously. He raised his eyebrow imperiously and calmly stated, "It was the most soothing place I could think of."

She looked around again, slightly bewildered. In her shock, she blurted out, "But how do you know about it in the first place?"

He smirked at her and pointed down at one of the blooming plants. "Chamomile." He pointed to another plant that wasn't yet blooming. "Mugwort." He pointed to a third plant. "St. John's Wort."

Hermione nodded her head. "Ah." Looking around again, she had a sense of deja vu. She was sure she had been here before; the rolling hills full of flowers were terribly familiar.

"Where are we? This all looks very familiar."

"South-central Aquitaine."

France! She frowned. She and her parents had made their way down to Nice, but they hadn't been further west than Montpellier. They'd talked about going over to Bordeaux, but had run out of time.

"Funny. I swear I've been here before, but..."

"Perhaps it just reminds you of other fields you've visited?"

She shook her head meditatively. "I suppose that could be, but... I swear I recognize this field." She walked toward the crest of one of the small hills, Severus following a step behind her. When she could look down the other side of the hill, she gasped, suddenly placing the scenery before her.

"You've remembered?"

She nodded, everything rushing back. It was the last dream she'd had featuring Ron. This was the river she'd followed to the lake. She started walking downstream, wanting to see if it really was the same place.

"Is there a lake around the bend there?" she asked, pointing up ahead. Severus looked at with an upraised brow and nodded.

"A small reservoir, yes. So you have been here before?"

Hermione hedged. "Erm, yes and no."

She heard Severus sigh. "And what does that mean?"

She looked over at him and found him looking on the edge of frustrated. "I haven't ever been here in person, but I dreamt of it the other night."

Something flickered in Severus expression. "Oh?"

She noted his interest and flushed beet red. "Yes."

"You can't just leave it at that, my dear. What happened in the dream?"

She shook her head, blushing even more. "It was nothing."

He made a tching sound. "No, I don't think it was nothing. By your expression, I would wager that it was a very... vivid dream."

She didn't think she could blush any further. Her face was starting to throb with heat, and she was looking anywhere but at Severus.

He chuckled beside her. "Was it a particularly good dream perchance?" he asked in a teasing tone.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying unsuccessfully to shut out the embarrassment. "Please stop."

"It was, wasn't it?" he continued smoothly, seemingly unaware of her mortification.

"Severus..."

"Was I in it?"

Her tolerance for teasing snapped, and she yelled, "It was about RON!"

His face, which had been almost merry, dropped. She looked away from him, ashamed. She closed her eyes, wishing she could just Apparate away, but resisted the urge. She'd never Apparated such a long distance before and had no wish to splinch by Apparating while so upset.

A hand on her arm startled her, and she looked up to find Severus was looking down at her with a pained expression.

"Hermione, I didn't mean... I was trying to distract you. I had no intention of increasing your suffering."

Her shoulders sagged, and she closed her eyes again, though she let herself lean against Severus when he pulled her into a hug.

"If you think it would help to share, I would be willing to listen," he offered quietly.

She sighed again, but otherwise remained silent. It didn't feel right to tell Severus about making love to Ron, even if it was only a dream.

After a few minutes, she withdrew from his arms, wiping her face again. "You said it gets better over time?"

He made an aborted move to stroke her hair, but then dropped his hand and just nodded. "It does if you let it."

She nodded her understanding, sighing once again. "I'm trying," she whispered with a sniff.

He cupped her cheek. "It's not something you can force either."

She nodded again, liking the warmth of his hand against her face but uncomfortable with his undivided attention.

She looked around again, seeing the field for the herbal paradise it was.

"How did you find this place?"

Severus looked around as well. "My master introduced me to it."

"Voldemort?" she gasped in shock.

He looked startled, then burst into laughter. It was incredibly contagious, and after only a few moments, she was giggling as well, although rather nervously.

"No," he finally said after he'd controlled his laughter a little. "My Potions master, the one whom I apprenticed under."

Feeling slightly foolish, Hermione made an 'ah' of understanding.

"Although, while the idea of the Dark Lord strolling about in these flowers seems rather ridiculous at the outset, he was, after all, an accomplished potions maker himself. It seems only slightly more ludicrous for him to be here picking flowers than me."

Hermione shrugged. "Yes, well, the idea of Voldemort finding the location 'soothing' is patently more ridiculous than it is for you."

Severus shot her a sideways glance. "I don't know whether to be insulted or flattered."

Hermione snorted. "Be flattered. I consider you far more acceptable company than Voldemort."

He chuckled again, took her hand and started walking downstream.

"I must confess that I thought of this location as much because I had been planning to bring you here than because it is soothing, though."

Hermione looked up at him.

"When were you planning on bringing me here?"

"Today. After I'd finished dealing with the ingredients."

Something niggled in Hermione's mind. "So... were you in Slug and Jiggers all that time?"

Severus looked almost shifty for a moment. "No. I didn't think you'd appreciate the risk of getting blown up if I carried Erumpent oil around with us all day."

Hermione sighed, not sure whether she was annoyed or just exasperated. "You could have told me that was your plan."

"I could have, but that might have ruined the surprise."

"What surprise?"

They rounded the bend, and there, right where she'd made love with Ron in her dream, was a picnic set up. She was breathless, although she didn't know whether it was a good thing or not.

"Do you like it?"

"It depends," Hermione replied cautiously. "Did you use Legilimency on me to plant that dream?"

He looked affronted, which actually set Hermione's mind at ease. Unfortunately, just because her mind was at ease didn't mean he wasn't still offended. He turned on his heel and stalked away.

"Severus!" Hermione called out, running after him. "I'm sorry, but don't you think it's a bit much of a coincidence?"

He turned around suddenly, causing Hermione to run into him. He caught her, but immediately backed away.

"Do you really think I would do that to you?" he hissed.

Hermione shook her head, but, at the same time, said, "I don't know. I would like to think not, but..." She gestured to the fields around them. "I have never been here before, but it is exactly like it was in my dream! It's not reminiscent of my dream, but exact. How can that be?"

Severus crossed his arms and frowned, though she could sense his mood had shifted away from anger. His eyes were still narrowed, though, as if he was distressed and trying to hide it.

"What was your dream?"

Hermione frowned back at him. "I came across the fields, followed the stream down to the lake and met Ron there."

"Where you made love?"

Hermione blushed, but nodded. He frowned further, and his distress was now palpable. "Albus assured me that involuntary Legilimency was rare, and it wouldn't happen again now that I was aware of it."

Hermione blushed further. "You mean you dreamt... You saw me and Ron..."

Severus shook his head impatiently. "Of course not. I dreamt of us making love under that tree. You and me. It's what gave me the idea of the picnic."

Hermione wanted to be indignant, but found she was too confused to be.

"So, um," she said haltingly, blushing a deeper red, "do you often have dreams about me?"

His face took on a pink tinge. "Define 'often'..."

Hermione looked down, pleased, embarrassed and still confused. She started pacing as the problem niggled at her. She wondered if Severus had unintentionally forced himself on her mind again. If it was a case of uncontrolled Legilimency, she wasn't sure what to do. She still had Dumbledore's words ringing in her ears: Telling him it was actually his fault would have only served to send him over the brink. He doesn't need that right now. When he's in a better place, then I'll tell him.

And also, the physical distance between the two of them made Legilimency a remote possibility. Not unless he had been standing over her thinking of the picnic while she was sleeping...

Her skin prickled with the possibility, remembering another dream that had settled her nerves weeks before. She'd thought it was a dream, but now she wasn't so sure. What if he had been in her room, watching over her?

The feelings that washed over her at that thought surprised her, as indignation was only a very small part. Mostly, she felt a rush of affection for her husband. The fact that he would watch over and comfort her even after she'd hurt him...

"When did you have your dream, Severus?"

He thought for a moment. "Two weeks ago, Friday. When did you have yours?"

Her heart sank. He'd had his dream after her dream of his visiting her. "Last weekend."

"You sound rather disappointed, my dear."

She looked up at him with a small, embarrassed smile. "You just eliminated a possible theory is all." He looked interested, so she sought to distract him. "Was your dream of this place different from the other dreams you've had? Was it more vivid, or did either of us act differently?"

He thought for a moment before catching her arm to stop her pacing. "Not significantly. Perhaps you were a bit more... realistic than usual, but otherwise you were as you always are."

They stood there thinking about it, but after a few minutes, Hermione shrugged. "I don't understand. If you did subconsciously impose the dream on my subconscious, why did I dream of Ron instead of you? It doesn't make sense."

"Unless, of course, the idea of sex with me was so offensive that your mind automatically switched to someone more acceptable?"

Hermione's stomach flipped unpleasantly at that thought. "I don't think so. I'll admit I was a bit disturbed when I called out your name instead of Ron's, but I thought that was just because... because of the circumstances."

"You called out my name?" He looked intrigued, though his tone remained cool.

Hermione bit her lip. "Yes."

"Do you think you would have been as disturbed if the circumstances had been reversed?"

"Gods, yes! Disturbed, mortified..." Severus' face smoothed out a little more, though his mouth tightened when she glumly added, "Depressed."

Not wanting to think about such a sad state of affairs, she quickly said, "I don't understand this, Severus."

"It is rather curious," Severus muttered, then a sly smile came over his face. "Perhaps we should go over the details of the dream. It's possible that the location and plot are the only things the dreams have in common."

Hermione laughed, slapping his arm lightly. "You just want to hear my sexy dream, don't you?"

"Of course not," he said with a smile that belied his words. "It's solely in the interest of solving this puzzle."

Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "How will it solve the puzzle?"

"There could be valuable clues in your dream of how you came to know of such a location. Perhaps you saw it in a photograph in my quarters. Going over the dream in great detail might refresh your memory."

She looked at him, amused. "Is there a photograph of this place in your quarters?"

"No, but that is beside the point."

She laughed. He offered her a pleasant smile, reminding her how attractive he could be. "Shall we go back to the picnic blanket?"

She nodded in agreement, her emotions all a-swirl as he led her back to the lakeshore. After they had walked a little ways, she asked, "So what do you mean by my dream-self being 'more realistic'?"

Snape winced and his face went pink again. "In some dreams your limbs are perhaps... a little more bendy than is physically possible."

Hermione looked at him, astonished, before breaking out laughing. Severus scowled at her, but it did nothing to dampen her humor.

"Men," she tried to exclaim through her giggles. Severus continued scowling, though she could see his eyes crinkle just slightly in amusement.

They walked to their picnic site amiably enough, though as they neared it, Severus asked, "What was your theory?"

Hermione stilled for a moment, then sighed, looking down.

"It was nothing."

"Even if it was nothing, I would like to hear it. Perhaps you were onto something."

She frowned, wondering how to phrase it without sounding accusatory or revealing what she ought not reveal.

They reached the picnic site, and Severus motioned for her to make herself comfortable, as he did so himself. After they had settled in, he looked at her expectantly.

"It relates back to a dream I had a few weeks back, when I'd just moved out of your quarters," Hermione started. "I remember I had had a few disturbing dreams that night, then, I dreamt that I woke up and you were there, sitting on my bed. You got up, smoothed out the covers and gave me a gentle kiss before leaving through the Floo. It was... very reassuring and comforting. I didn't have any more bad dreams that night."

Severus frowned slightly as he bit into an apple, but otherwise made no sign of admission or ignorance. He just watched her expectantly.

"Anyway, it occurred to me that Legilimency, whether it's uncon-- involuntary or not, is dependent upon time and space restrictions. Eye contact is almost always needed, but even more so, the... participants need to be in close proximity. Well, Harry and Voldemort excepted, of course." She shrank in on herself a little, feeling like she was bringing up a forbidden topic when she added, "That's how it was with the incident in Potions."

Severus frowned a little more, but nodded for her to continue.

"So, assuming that this was a case of Legilimency, and assuming that we don't have a connection similar to what Harry and Voldemort had..."

"I would have had to be in the same room as you when you had the dream."

Hermione nodded, blushing.

"Why did you dismiss the theory?"

Hermione looked up at his words, feeling the odd prickling again.

"I was thinking that perhaps it hadn't been a dream visit you made. Perhaps you really had come to my room to make sure I was okay that night." She blushed, but continued looking at Severus, who was still giving nothing away by his expression. "And I thought that, if that was the case, that maybe you had been thinking about this site, or that dream, while you were there watching over me, thereby getting it into my subconscious memory."

"But, as you confirmed, the timing was off," he said as he continued frowning at his apple core.

"Yes."

She looked at him as he stared at his apple. He was being very impassive. Almost too much so.

"Severus?"

"Yes?" He didn't look up.

"Were you in my room that night?"

His lips twitched. "Yes."

Hermione blinked twice. "You were?"

He finally looked up at her, though his expression was wary. "I found I couldn't sleep that night until I knew whether you were all right."

A breath escaped her that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Then she smiled. "Thank you, Severus. It was a lovely safe feeling you gave me that night."

He nodded, then looked back at his apple core. Hermione thought he was acting as if waiting for something.

Then the missing puzzle piece showed up.

"Have you been watching me ever since?" she asked incredulously.

He stilled, and she could see him thinking. After a few moments, he slowly nodded his head. He then looked up and saw her waiting for an explanation. "Not every night."

Hermione's mind whirled. She opened her mouth, but found she was speechless.

Severus looked back at his apple core and grimaced angrily. He stood up and threw the core as far as could into the lake before standing there rigidly, his back to her.

"Albus had assured me that it wouldn't happen again." He looked down at her, his eyes hard but apologetic. "If I had known that you were so susceptible, I would have been far more cautious about..."

"Entering my chambers uninvited?"

He grimaced again and looked out over the lake, nodding.

Hermione stared at him wordlessly. On the one hand, she was livid that he would be so careful about his own privacy and yet so cavalier with hers. On the other hand, she did recognize the motivation behind his actions was not malicious. He hadn't harmed her, even with his unconscious Legilimency.

She took a deep breath. "I take issue with your word choice, Severus, as I am not necessarily 'susceptible,' but I was rather defenseless, being unsuspecting and asleep."

She snapped her mouth shut before she said anything about his force of will being the real issue.

He turned his head slightly in her direction. "Perhaps I chose unwisely."

She heaved a sigh and got up, joining him on the shoreline.

"I am upset, Severus, but more at your hypocrisy than your actions. In a way," an adolescent and stalkerish way, she thought harshly, "your actions are really sweet. I'm just offended that you take your privacy more seriously than mine."

The furrow in his brow deepened, and she mentally sighed as she felt his defenses go up.

"But," she said more brightly than she felt, "what's done is done. I'm famished and can't wait to see what you packed in the hamper."

She turned and walked back to the blanket. Kneeling down, she peeked under the lid and then looked up at Severus, still standing rigidly by the shore.

"Please come eat with me, Severus. A picnic is only as much fun as the company."

He remained still and tense for a few more minutes, but then he sighed, and his shoulders relaxed. He turned to face her with nary a glimmer of a smile and wordlessly joined her on the blanket.

She knew it would take a while for him to truly relax, but she also knew they would end the day on good terms if that's what they both wanted. And she found that was indeed what she wanted. Very much so, in fact.

She smiled warmly at him as he passed her a roll, and when his face softened slightly in return, she knew that was what he wanted as well.

Neither said anything for quite a while after that, and when she'd finished eating, Hermione looked out at the lake.

Out of the blue, Severus said, "I apologize for invading your privacy."

Hermione looked over at him. "And I forgive you." She looked back to the lake before adding, "But I'd rather you not watch me sleep like that anymore."

She could sense Severus tensing and looked over to find him frowning down at the blanket.

"Of course, if you're feeling restless or the like, you're welcome to come over and sleep with me, like last night."

He paused and then looked up at her. "That seems far more presumptuous than simply watching you."

She smiled and shrugged. "And it would be far more unacceptable if you did it without my invitation. But, well, sleeping with you last night was very nice. I felt... It felt right."

Severus was silent, but she could sense that there was something he wanted to say, so she stayed silent. Finally, he said, "The nights I watch you... they're usually the nights I would not be welcome in your bed."

Understanding dawned on Hermione. "Oh. Well, I'd rather not limit nights spent with you to days we argue."

He snorted softly, but didn't weigh in on the subject. Hermione frowned, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Do you want to spend the night again? At some point in time, that is. I'm not necessarily asking you to spend the night with me tonight, although I wouldn't object to it either, but I don't want you to feel pressured into spending the night with me. And just because I'm asking you to spend the night with me doesn't mean that I'm propositioning you or anything and--"

She was cut off by Severus' finger on her lips. He was smiling at her softly, amused. "I enjoyed spending last night with you very much, Hermione. The only reason I am at all hesitant is because..." His finger moved down slightly to play on her lower lip. When she opened her lips in invitation, he groaned and pulled away to collapse onto his back.

"You are far too tempting, my dear."

Hermione frowned and straddled him. "We are married, you know. We are allowed to do this."

He smiled up at her wryly and placed his hands on her hips. "I do not want to rush things."

She ran her hands over his chest. "I'm not feeling rushed."

Severus smiled softly and moved one of his hands up to caress her cheek. "I'm a greedy bastard, Hermione. I don't want to share your heart."

Her hands stilled. "This is about the dream?"

He nodded. She closed her eyes and slumped back against his raised knees. "Severus... I don't know that Ron will ever leave my heart. I loved him so much, and..." She opened her eyes and looked at Severus, trying to will him to understand. "That dream I had, though... I don't know that it was about missing Ron as much as it was about moving on."

"Why do you say that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's just a feeling."

He was silent, but he looked thoughtful. Finally, he said, "I don't want to be used, Hermione. I've had enough of that this lifetime."

She bent over to touch his cheek. "And I don't want to use you, Severus. I want to be with you and share myself with you. I want to make love with you again."

They stared into each other's eyes for a heated moment before she lowered her head and kissed him. He kissed her back, slowly, thoroughly. The kiss went on like that, gently simmering, until he rolled them over and pulled away. She pouted a bit, but not with much feeling, as his body was pressing into hers most delightfully.

"As wonderful as it was in my dream to take you here in the open, I don't really fancy having a sunburned arse. And I would get a sunburn if I did things as I want to."

"Shall we go back to the castle, then?" she asked hopefully.

He looked at her intensely and then let his lips curl up into a smile. She smiled back when he nodded.

"I would like that very much," he said gruffly as he got up. He offered her his hand, which she gladly accepted, feeling with pleasure tingles where their skin met.

"I would like that, too," she concurred.

He pointed his wand out at the field, and she brought hers out to clear up their picnic. Soon, a pink bag rushed toward them, the picnic trappings were safely stowed in the shrunken hamper, and they were ready to go. He offered her his hand again, and she accepted, letting him Apparate them home.