Chapter Two

The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling, Scholastic and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

A/N: This is chapter two of my gift for the lovely Sentimentalist and all the other ladies over at sshgowlproject over at yahoo, who selflessly put many hours of work to preserve the fics that would have otherwise been lost when the Online Wizarding Library went offline. Thank you for all your work!

Also, my sincerest thanks to Laralee88 for the beta.

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"Hermione!" Padma greeted as she entered.

"Hi, Padma! How are things?" Hermione asked as she drew her friend into a hug.

"Oh, you know. It goes. Running a restaurant is a lot of work, but I love what I do and wouldn't change a thing," Padma told her. Then she turned and led Hermione through the restaurant. It was a cosy establishment with small tables and walls draped in heavy fabric. Exotic music played quietly in the background, and the smells coming from the kitchen spoke of worlds and cultures far away.

Stopping at the familiar door, which was tucked behind a deep maroon curtain, Hermione told her, "I understand. It really helps that we get to do the work we love. I hope it was not too much trouble to accommodate us tonight. We always seem to do that to you, don't we?"

"It's not a problem at all," Padma quipped with a smile as they went through the now-open door. "Anything for you guys. Let me know when you are ready to order. I'm sure you remember: just tap your wand to the blue square in the middle of the table, and I'll come right away. Who are you expecting tonight?" she asked.

"Umm... I think there will be five of us: the girls, Severus and me, but I don't know. Draco might stop by as well."

"Oh! Alright. Sounds good. Shall I send in some wine for you?"

"That would be lovely! You might as well send in a couple of bottles. You know what we like, and the girls won't be happy without it," Hermione told her with a wry smile.

Padma nodded, but before she could turn to leave the room, something made her freeze in place. Hermione's smile had melted off her face; in its place was a mask of seriousness. Padma watched for a second, surprised by the sudden change and then called, "Hermione, are you okay?"

"What?" Hermione yelped, startled.

"I asked if you were okay," her friend repeated. "You drifted off on me there."

"Sorry about that. I'm fine. Really. I was just...," she said trailing off with a sigh. Then shaking her head, she tried to clear out whatever was troubling her. "Sorry, I was just suddenly flooded with what happened the last time we came here, Severus and me." Looking down, she closed her eyes as her hand ran over face and then through her hair.

"I'm really sorry about that night, Padma. I was mortified that we caused such a scene; we should have apologized months ago. Merlin, it was Christmas, and we had a full blown argument in the middle of your restaurant during the dinner rush! We were lucky that it didn't end up in the Daily Prophet." Again, she sighed and shook her head. Then, with a regretful smile on her face, she said, "I really am sorry."

"Oh! Hermione! It was forgotten long ago. Moreover, for the record, I never blamed either of you. Those things happen. Not to mention that this is good old Professor Snape that we are talking about here; it is a miracle that you two lasted as long as you did without an argument," she explained with true compassion.

Hermione hugged her friend. "You are a saint, my dear! I mean that!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Hermione," Padma demurred as her friend released her from the embrace.

"Now, why don't you tell me what you've done to The Room? I love it!" Hermione said, turning her attention to the much-changed room.

"Thanks. I was finally able to convince Parvati to come over and do the transfigurations for me. It looks much better now. I had better get back out there. I'll be back in a bit to check on you." Padma gave Hermione one last smile and then, with a nod, headed out of the room.

It was nice to see Padma again. It had been a bad idea to stay away for so long; she had truly missed her kind friend.

The Room, as it was known in their group of friends, was a private meeting area that they had used often in the past. Shortly after the war, it had become obvious to Hermione and many of her friends that going out in public was a nightmare and privacy was non-existent. When Padma had opened her restaurant six years ago, she had been gracious enough to set up a room for them to use at their convenience. From then on, it had been their haven. For years The Room had remained simple and plain, filled with cast off furniture of many different styles. Gradually, Padma had added more and more appropriate décor. However, that was nothing compared to it now. Now, it was magnificent.

Hermione stepped back to take in the new look. As in the main portion of the restaurant, the walls were draped with rich fabrics of deep jewel tones. The lighting was warm and at just right level to provide for an intimate meal with friends. Four low, square tables of a thick dark wood were arranged in the centre of the space, and each table was surrounded with large pillows upon which to sit.

Suddenly, Hermione's laughter rang out through the room. Severus was going to have to sit on the ground! On pillows! She couldn't wait.

Selecting a spot at the table furthest from the door, Hermione positioned herself so that to her left was the deepest, darkest corner of the room, a perfect place in which Severus could retreat. Then she settled down onto the deep pillow to relax while she waited for her wine to be delivered and friends to arrive.

It was her habit when gathering the more difficult of her friends together to arrive at least thirty minutes in advance. During this time, Hermione would be sure to drink a glass of wine and mentally prepare herself for the battle ahead.

Hermione knew from experience that she would be expected to play the role of mediator tonight. It hurt her that her friends argued so fiercely, even if it was mostly good natured, though she was thankful that Severus wasn't outright nasty any longer.

Well, most of the time he isn't, she thought.

However, her friends definitely enjoyed making things uncomfortable for him and did so as often as they possibly could. Yes, she knew that they would be counting on her to run interference throughout the evening. Hopefully, the girls would be distracted by the bottles of fine wine, and Severus by Padma's exquisite food. That would allow her to talk quickly and Severus to make an escape as early as possible, thus minimizing everyone's stress.

"A girl can hope," she mumbled into the empty room with a sigh.

Pulling herself from her mental preparations, she checked the time. Severus would be here in ten minutes, and the girls in as little as fifteen minutes. Staggering their arrival times was another way she minimized her stress. By having Severus arrive before the girls, he was able to acclimatise himself to his surroundings and feel less on edge. Additionally, it restricted the girls' plotting time, and the less time available for them to band together, the better it would be of keeping her sanity. However, they had been known to prepare in advance specific topics for teasing and methods for irritation.

Hermione slid her wand from her sleeve and lightly tapped the blue square in the centre of the table. Moments later, Padma glided into the room, a tray of wine and glasses floating behind her.

"You called, Mia?" she asked grandly.

With a smile, Hermione chuckled at her friend. "Yes. I was just thinking that maybe I should order some starters before they get here. You know how they love to have a go at Severus. I'm hoping the food and wine will act as a deterrent."

"Good luck with that!" Padma said with a laugh. "How about some veg samosa and onion bhaji? Oh! Some lamb kebabs to keep Mr. Potions Master happy. I'll also send in some naan and chutneys."

"That sounds lovely. You always know just want we need. I can always count on you," Hermione said gratefully.

Padma smiled. "That's my job. When will everyone be here?"

"Severus will be here in just about ten minutes. The girls five minutes after that."

"Sounds good." Padma calculated for a second and then added, "I'll have the lamb and naan delivered just after he arrives. Everything else will come in just after the girls' arrival. That way they will be too busy eating and won't be able to bicker too enthusiastically. I'll fetch some water for the tables now, and the wine and glasses are already here. So, for now that should do it. When you are ready for dinner, just call me. Actually, do you want to order tonight, or do you want me to do send in everyone's favourites?"

"You are welcome to send in the favourites, but perhaps you should consult Severus when he comes in, you know how he is about his food," Hermione said as she took a sip of her wine. It was like silk as it slid over her tongue, the rich flavour soothing her. She let out a sigh and felt herself relax slightly. Getting her friends together really was too stressful.

"I'll do that. Enjoy your evening, Hermione," Padma said.

"I'll do my best," she replied, watching Padma go.

Hermione reached into her bag and took out the papers she had prepared earlier. If they were going to get this done before OWL died, then they would have to work fast. It was important that they work together. She had taken the time to draw up a set of colour-coded procedures for everyone to follow and made sure that there were enough copies for everyone. This was her typical modus operandi, and to her friends, it was a given that she would organize everything. That was just how she worked.

When all of her papers were arranged, she settled into the pillows and took another sip of her wine. Her thoughts fell back, once again, to the last time she had been here. That night had ended with both her and Severus upset and had caused a rift in their friendship that had taken months to mend. She hoped that coming back to the place of their falling out would not dig up old demons for them.

Lost in the thought, Hermione missed Severus' arrival.

*~*~*

If he was surprised about the change in the atmosphere of The Room he did not let it show. His eyes simply swept over the space accepting it for what it was and then locked onto the woman sitting at the table near the back of the room. Noting that she was completely oblivious to his presence, his eyes fixed on her hand as it delicately toyed with a wine glass. He wondered what thoughts weighed on her so heavily that she had lost her usual attentiveness.

Noting her position in the room, he once was again reminded how much she did, needlessly and selflessly, for him. It surprised him that she still thought of his needs first. Even after he had railed against her for such treatment, she treated him with such considerate care.

He wondered if she even realised that she was still trying to protect him from her friends. Bitterly, he reminded himself that, had he let her, she would have also shielded him from the world. However, he had ensured that that door had closed forever. It had not taken long for him to regret his words that night. He wished that he had reacted with a bit more care toward her, but at the time, all he had been able to think of was that fact that she had interfered in his personal life. After so many year of being manipulated, he could not see her actions for what they truly were. It had never crossed his mind that she might care for him as more than a friend, and by the time that thought had occurred to him, he had already done too much damage. She had been wounded deeply all those months ago, and he regretted it.

It had taken them months to get back to the comfortable state of friendship they were currently enjoying. Months of seeing each day how much she truly cared for him, months of being reminded that there had been a potential of more between them and that, in his haste to protect his pride, he had ruined it.

"Good evening, Hermione," he said as her surprised eyes looked up to him with delight.

Letting out a small gasp, Hermione smiled and sat her glass of wine down. "Hello. Have a seat, Sev," she said, gesturing to the table before her.

Severus made his way across the room, looking at the large number of pillows with open distaste. As he reached the spot she had reserved for him, he looked at her with a raised eyebrow before elegantly settling himself on the large purple cushion.

Hermione let out a soft laugh. "Come now, it isn't that bad."

"Truly? What part of this isn't completely emasculating, Hermione? Perhaps the shade of the pillow, or maybe the fact that I am seated at a table that would be appropriate for a four-year-old girl's tea party," he drawled, pouring himself a glass of wine.

She flashed him an amused smiled, eyes suddenly sparkling. "Oh, I don't know. I think that the shade suits you just fine. I could always charm you to match, if you'd like."

"You wouldn't dare," he growled petulantly, though his smirk never faltered as the woman next to him watched with impish eyes.

"Are you really so sure?" she asked, lifting her wand in challenge.

"Hermione," he warned.

In a flash, she mischievously swished her wand and muttered a short incantation. Severus, who truly did trust that she would never hurt him physically, nevertheless, blanched at her daring move.

"There. That's better," she said triumphantly. Hermione stifled her chortle as she watched Severus check himself for damages.

He was relieved to find his clothes intact and the pillow he was resting on was a lovely shade of black. "You tread on dangerous ground, girl. There are only a few people in this world that I would trust to aim a wand at me."

"Ah... well, luckily I am one of them," she said sweetly, giggles starting to break free. Her eyes turned at the movement of the curtain over the door, as trays of food were floated in.

He watched as the trays settled down to rest on the table in front of them; the smell of the lamb wafted up to entice them. The familiar scent reached into his mind; before he could repress it, he was reliving the memory of the last time they had spent an evening at Padma's.

Severus sighed quietly. "The last time we were here...," he mumbled before falling silent. Hermione's eyes searched his face, questioning his intent. "I spoke hastily," he began again, "and harshly. I have, since that day, sincerely regretted my words."

"I know that, Severus," Hermione admitted quietly. "It's okay, and I was wrong to interfere in your affairs in such a way." She felt a sudden anxiety begin to build in the pit of her stomach as she looked down to her hands, which were now toying with the fabric of her skirt.

"No, it's not that. Maybe you were out of line..." Taking in a quick deep breath, he let out another sigh before continuing. "I don't know, maybe you weren't, but that really doesn't matter now. What does matter, however, is the fact that I certainly was out of line. I had no right to treat you so harshly and with such disrespect. No one should ever treat you that way. And what's worse, I've let four months pass without offering an apology to you, my best friend." His voice was soft and full of a remarkable amount emotion for the usually aloof man.

Hermione reached over, placed her hand on his wrist and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It really is okay. We're alright, Sev. I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago," she told him sincerely.

He let out a shaky breath and shook his head. "I am very sorry for hurting you, Hermione. You are..."

His voice fell suddenly silent as the sound of the enthusiastic voices of her friends pervaded the room, and the emotion that had before been so clear on his face melted away into the stoicism that would see him through the evening.

Hermione took a deep breath and put on her happiest smile as she rose from her seat to meet her friends.

She did not know why Severus had chosen today to speak after four months of silence. Maybe it was being back here again, but whatever it was, she appreciated the sentiments he had expressed. Still, she knew that for him there could never be anything more than a friendship between them, and it was that fact that hurt her more than he could possibly ever know.

*~*~*

Hermione sat alone in the silent room, surrounded by the detritus of their meal, and toyed with a button on her blouse absent-mindedly, thinking back to the evening that had passed.

Dinner had gone better than she had expected, and for that, she was profoundly relieved. The girls, when they had first arrived, had been rather loud and boisterous, much to Severus' chagrin, though they had behaved for the most part. Sure, they had still teased Severus, but it had all been rather mild. And with the arrival of Draco halfway through dinner, Severus' usual ire had been rather tame as well.

All told, she was satisfied with how things had turned out. Assignments had been given, and she had managed to hold everyone together for one more evening. Severus had left with Draco about thirty minutes earlier to go obtain some obscure whiskey that was kept hidden away at the Manor. The girls had made their exit not long after that. Hermione, however, had remained behind to enjoy the quiet and peace that the successfully navigated evening afforded.

Times like this brought Hermione great joy. She felt a calming satisfaction in knowing that she had successfully steered yet another meeting of those she loved to a conclusion without a single disaster. Suddenly, it struck her that dinner was not the exact source of her satisfaction. The true source of her contentment lay in the short exchange that had happened earlier. Thinking back to the few minutes they had shared before everyone had arrived, she was comforted that he was willing and able to put their fight firmly behind them. If only he could feel more toward her.

The attraction to Severus Snape had been there almost from the start of their professional acquaintance. He had been her Potions mastery mentor during her fifth and final year of university. It was traditional for an acting Potions master to advise and mentor the Potions mastery candidates during their final year of school. In fact, the final year was mostly made up of practical experience that one could only obtain outside of the academic environment. Severus Snape had rarely taken on the role of mentor and it surprised many people, from both inside and outside the Potions community, when he had readily agreed to act as such for Hermione.

Hermione's fellow Potions students and friends had thought her crazy for even petitioning him, but she had not been deterred. Then, when a friendship had formed almost immediately between them, she had found herself irrevocably captivated by the taciturn man. He was everything she could ever want in a life partner: witty and hard working, dynamic in his personal life while never boastful or foolhardy. What had started as easy, if unlikely, friendship, evolved into a closeness that was viewed by those on the outside as mutual affection. Both parties in the relationship could acknowledge, to themselves at least, the fondness they held for the other; however, neither believed their feelings were returned to a similar degree. Thus, they had spent seven years in a seemingly never-ending dance of requited, yet unrequited, love.

Hermione sighed and quickly ran her fingers through her hair. She had established long ago that it would do her no good to pine for him and was loathe to start doing so now. He was her best friend, and she was lucky enough to share nearly every day with him. If that was all she could have, then it would simply have to be enough.

Shaking herself out of her dazed thoughts, she quickly gathered her tresses and coiffed them into a loose chignon at her neck. With a whispered incantation and a quick twist of her free hand that bespoke the frequency with which it was performed, she secured the hair magically in place and then began gathering her things in a businesslike manner. Tucking her papers into her bag, she stood and threw her jacket over her arm and left the restaurant.

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From: Ms. Granger: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

To: group: 'OWL Saviours': magicalmaiden@affodell.com; pippa@affodell.com; queeny21@affodell.com; mastermalfoy@affodell.com; PotionsMaster@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 6:52 AM

Subject: Get to work!

Rise and shine, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to get to work! Please, just keep to your schedules, and we should be able to save everything on OWL over the next few days. Remember, please create a master list of archived documents for each subject before starting on it. Also, send me regular updates on your progress throughout the day so I can make sure we are staying on target.

Thank you so much for helping out!

H~

Be obscure clearly. EB White

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From: Hannah: pippa@affodell.com

To: Ms. Granger: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 8:35AM

Subject: RE: Get to work!

You have to be kidding me! Honestly, Hermione! Did you really think that we'd be ready to work before 8am!? Mia? Tsk, tsk! Do you not remember what we were like at university? You are lucky that I'm up and ready to work. I'm sure that Luna is up working too because she is a good friend... But don't expect to see Pansy for at least two or three more hours! Draco as well! Merlin knows he's never in the office until 10am anyway.

I'm starting with Transfiguration now. I'll update you on my progress this afternoon.

Your humble house-elf,

Pippa

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From: Ms. Granger: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

To: Hannah: pippa@affodell.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 9:02 AM

Subject: RE: RE: Get to work!

Ha! Bloody! Ha! House-elf... (I am NOT amused!) ;)

Yes, Luna sent me a text this morning. She's been hard at work since 7am on Arithmancy. It is a smaller section, and she is trying to get her work done early. She said something about wanting to be free to see the annual migration of the Grindylow Hoppers tomorrow. I don't know... You know Luna, still marching to the beat of her own drum. :) Gotta love her!

Damn Pansy and Draco! I'm going to start sending them texts every fifteen minutes until they respond!

Grrr....

H~

Be obscure clearly. EB White

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From: Pansy: queeny21@affodell.com

To: magicalmaiden@affodell.com; pippa@affodell.com; PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com; mastermalfoy@affodell.com; PotionsMaster@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 10:52 AM

Subject: RE: Get to work!

Stop already! I'm getting to work! Damn bitchy know-it-all!

And a Howler, Granger!? Really?

See if I ever sign up to help you again.

(I'm starting my work now. Astronomy here I come! Boooring!)

Queeny

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From: mastermalfoy@affodell.com

To: magicalmaiden@affodell.com; pippa@affodell.com; PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com; queeny21@affodell.com; PotionsMaster@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 11:12 AM

Subject: RE: RE: Get to work!

That was low, Granger. Calling my mum!?

I hate you.

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From: Ms. Granger: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

To: magicalmaiden@affodell.com; pippa@affodell.com; queeny21@affodell.com; mastermalfoy@affodell.com; PotionsMaster@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 11:34 AM

Subject: RE: RE: RE: Get to work!

Oh, my poor babies can't handle a little Howler or a talking to from Mum! What do you expect, you dunderheads!?

Honestly, Draco! What self-respecting 30-year-old lives with his parents? If you can't put some of that Malfoy fortune you're so proud of to use and move out of your parents' house, then I will most certainly use it against you every chance I get.

Now, Pansy and Draco, you said you'd help me out! But what you are doing? Sleeping off hangovers or shagging the flavour of the week is my guess! Do it on your own time. Now get to work!

Please!

H~

Be obscure clearly. EB White

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From: magicalmaiden@affodell.com

To: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com; pippa@affodell.com; queeny21@affodell.com; mastermalfoy@affodell.com; PotionsMaster@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 3:12 PM

Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Get to work!

My friends fight so dynamically! ;)

Hermione: I've completed the Arithmancy section through R today.

I'm off now to track Grindylow Hoppers. I'm so excited!

Luna

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From: PotionsMaster@aspenpotions.com

To: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com; magicalmaiden@affodell.com,pippa@affodell.com; queeny21@affodell.com; mastermalfoy@affodell.com;

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 4:38 PM

Subject: Dunderheaded Fools!

Please stop flooding my inbox with this ridiculous drivel. I realise that it was rather optimistic of me to think that, as a group, you would understand the value of 'Reply to Sender' as opposed to 'Reply to ALL'! If you insist on sending these asinine emails back and forth to one another, please at least exercise enough courtesy to refrain from including me!

Hermione: I have progressed through K in Potions. There were several very interesting papers that I found which could be extremely useful for us, especially given the results of the last session of testing.

Severus Snape, Potions master, Aspen Potions

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From: Hermione: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

To: Hannah: pippa@affodell.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012, 5:45 PM

Subject: Done for the night!

I'm done for the night, Mia. I got through K in Transfiguration. The section is massive and full of some truly mind-numbing shit! I mean, honestly, what would the value of transfiguring the toenail clippings of a Hinkypunk into grapes be? It isn't like you'd want to eat grapes that were once toenails. Not to mention that Hinkypunk toenails clippings are far too valuable! Those things cost 30 Galleons an ounce! Why didn't the idiot just buy some bloody grapes?

Anyway, I'm off. I'll be back tomorrow.

Oh! I got an email from Cissy with some prototypes for the T-shirts. She really loved the idea, especially since it isn't something that has been done in the Wizarding world before. I need some good slogans though. So far I've only got:

Potions Biddies

Dunderheads

What's in your cauldron?

Have you shagged your Potions master today?

Slytherin Me

Got any other ideas?

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From: Hermione: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

To: Hannah: pippa@affodell.com

Sent: 11 April, 2012 7:32 PM

Subject: RE: Done for the night!

Haha! Are you trying to get him to kill me? You know that he is going to think these shirts were my idea.

How about:

Insufferable Know-It-All

Potions Princess

Princess of Potions

Mistress of Potions

Can I stir your rod? (with a picture of a cauldron and stirring rod)

Get a little brew in you.

Let me brew you.

I :heart: Potions.

I :heart: Potions masters.

I :heart: Potions mistresses.

Need I go on? These are just off the top of my head. Give me more time and I'll come up with more. Do you want to branch out beyond Potions? The possibilities are endless, really.

Please note that in exchange for slogans, I want one of each T-shirt in the colour of my choice. ;) I haven't worked with a Slytherin for the past seven years for nothing!

H~

Be obscure clearly. EB White

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A/N:The lovely image of Severus and Hermione, entitled 'Cushions', was done by Sentstarr/Sentimentalist. Thank you, dear, for letting me embed it! It is truly lovely!