Four

Chapter 4

Four days later, Severus had gone to get supplies, and Hermione was up on a ladder, putting vials onto the shelves when Draco returned. He rushed in, startling Hermione, who wobbled at the top of her ladder. Grasping the ladder tightly, she glared at Draco.

"Goodness! You almost made me fall!"

"Sorry, Hermione. I'm just excited is all."

Hermione descended the ladder and turned back to Draco. “What’s so exciting?” she asked curiously.

“I figured out what you need to do, Hermione. You know, to get the press off your back.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “What? What is it you’ve come up with?”

“Don’t scoff until you’ve heard it. It’s brilliant! You need to show yourself, and not just you. Show the world you don’t care what Molly Weasley says, you’re a vibrant woman who can get the man she wants.”

Hermione chewed her lower lip. “I see where you’re going, but I’m lacking one thing... the man I want.”

Draco opened his arms wide and smiled. “At your service, my lady.”

Hermione scoffed. “Draco! You know I love you to death, but really, we’d never work.”

Draco’s face fell. “You’ve wounded me, truly.”

Hermione slapped his arm and shook her head. “Besides, you like being seen with multiple women. For this to work, we’d need to date exclusively... for months.”

Draco frowned. “You think it would take that long?”

Hermione nodded. “If we’re just seen once, then I’m the lady killer, or you’re just taking advantage of the situation. If we’re seen for a week, we’re just trying to show off. We’d have to go for months for the press to tire of us and think that the whole thing is serious, especially given your track record. When’s the last time you’ve been out with a woman twice?”

Draco shrugged. “I can’t recall, if you must know.”

Smiling, Hermione continued. “Thank you, though. You don’t know how much it means to me that you were willing to parade around as a romantic interest just to stop the paper from making me into a harpy.”

Draco smiled with her and pulled her close. “I just hate seeing you hiding out here,” he answered as he hugged her.

“I like it here,” Hermione said into his coat.

A dark voice came from the doorway. “Draco, a word outside?”

Hermione pulled back and saw a furious Severus Snape glaring at Draco. “Severus! When did you come in?” she asked with a smile, trying to get Severus to calm his fury, but Severus just glared at her and turned, leaving the shop, obviously expecting Draco to follow suit.

“Oh man, he’s got it bad for you,” Draco muttered as he moved away from Hermione.

“What?” Hermione cried in surprise.

“You mean you haven’t noticed? He’s like an overprotective bear whenever I get near you. He looked as if he’s about to murder me, just because I was giving you a friendly hug. He’s probably going to tear me apart and advise me that you’re not to be touched because I’m nothing but a Casanova.”

Hermione stared at him in shock. “I... you really think so?”

“I’ve known Severus for as long as I can remember. He fancies you. I just know it.”

Hermione was speechless as Draco nodded to her and left the shop to suffer his fate from the irate man awaiting him.

Hermione watched him go and thought about what he’d said. Could Severus possibly fancy her? That would explain some of his actions this last little while. She raced to the door and waved her wand. An extendable ear appeared from nowhere. She attached it to the door and listened to the conversation on the other side of it. Unfortunately, Severus must have cast a Muffliato spell, because she couldn’t hear a thing. Oh, the ability to change into a fly would be so welcome right now. She huffed and went back to the ladder. She’d ask Severus about his outburst when he was done.

“Draco, she already had a man who threw her over for a million other women. She does not need that from you. She trusts you!” Severus said bitterly.

“Severus, you’re blowing this all out of proportion. If you like her so much, why don’t you do something about it?” Draco retorted.

Severus snorted. “Surely, you don’t think...”

“It’s obvious. Whenever I get near her, you go all caveman and snarl at me. Honestly, I don’t think she’d mind you asking her out.”

“She has more important things on her mind.”

“You are probably one of those things.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

Severus shook his head. “She cared for Weasley. She’s just getting over that. Her mind isn’t looking for someone to occupy her time.”

“Severus, you can change that! Make her see that leaving Weasley was the best thing she ever did because it opened the door for the two of you!”

Scoffing, Severus shook his head. “She doesn’t see me like that.”

Draco moved closer to his friend. “Because you won’t let her see you like that. You’re her friend already. She talked about you all the time at work. I think she just needs to realize she has feelings for you, too.”

Severus stared at Draco for a while. “Perhaps you’re right,” he agreed finally.

“Of course I’m right. Look at my track record.”

“I am not interested in a one night stand.”

Draco patted Severus’ shoulder. “No, no, of course not. But honestly, you need to do something, or you’re going to lose her.”

Severus pulled away and scowled. “What about you?”

“She laughed in my face!”

“Smart girl.”

Draco shook his head. “All right, I’ve had enough abuse from the two of you. I’m heading home. Big date tonight.”

Severus rolled his eyes.

“Just remember what I said!” Draco admonished before he Apparated away, leaving Severus frowning after him.

Severus entered the shop after his talk with Draco. Hermione eyed him curiously.

“Don’t you have potions to label?” he asked gruffly as he made his way to his lab.

Hermione frowned, slammed the bottle she was shelving down onto the ladder, and descended it quickly. She marched into Severus’ lab and folded her arms in front of her.

“Would you mind telling me what that was all about?”

“I have things to do, Hermione. I don’t have time to gossip right now.”

She stormed over to him as anger filled her. “We have addressed this before, Severus Snape, and I won’t be appeased until I get a good explanation from you. Why have you been so horrible to Draco these last times he’s been in the shop?”

Severus sighed and stared into his cauldron. “I heard a rumor and foolishly believed it. I accused Draco of doing what I’d heard before getting his side of the story. He explained, and I realized I’d jumped to conclusions. May I get back to work now?”

“Did this have something to do with me?” Hermione asked, not letting him off the hook quite so quickly.

Severus glanced up at her, and then back to his cauldron. “Not really. It had more to do with me than anything.”

Hermione relaxed. “Ok. I’m sorry I intruded. It’s really not my business, but Draco thought this had something to do with me.”

“Hermione, I’ve already explained it. I’ve fallen behind, and I need to get this potion done so it can be bottled and shipped.”

“All right. I’m sorry. I’ll be up front if you need me.” Hermione stared at him for a moment. He didn’t look up at her at all. She shook her head and left, wondering just what it was he was keeping from her.