Five

Chapter 5

The next day started much as all the others previously had with Severus and Hermione sharing breakfast. Severus was grumpy before tea as usual. It was, however, the conversation at breakfast that surprised Hermione.

"I know you've badgered me endlessly about joining you for lunch each day, and thus far I've been unable to do so. I do have some time today, so if you are agreeable..."

"To lunch?"

Severus gave a slight tip of his head in agreement.

Hermione beamed at him. "I'd love it if you joined me for lunch, Severus!"

So, unbeknownst to Hermione Granger, her courting had begun.

Lunch consisted of a Floo back to Hermione's apartment. They decided that anything on Knockturn Alley was a bit too dismal, and Diagon Alley was quite out of the question at this time. Severus was put to work making a salad, and soon Hermione had some turkey sandwiches ready to go. They gathered everything to the table and sat across from each other, munching on sandwiches and salad.

Severus was the first to break the amiable silence that had been surrounding them as they ate. "The Prophet today was filled with pictures of your ex and a very buxom blonde. It made me wonder if most of her brain cells had been trapped in her chest."

Hermione gaped at him before giggling. "I have to admit, I thought that too!" she agreed.

"Hermione, doesn't it bother you seeing him like that?"

Hermione looked down at her salad and fiddled with a grape tomato. "It did. You remember how devastated I was when I found him with that woman. Honestly, though, it's been long enough that I'm very used to it." She shook her head. "I would have never thought of him as a player before, but he certainly has proven me wrong."

"Do you think it's some kind of early mid-life crisis?"

Hermione laughed. "He's twenty-five. It's a little too early for a mid-life crisis. He's always craved attention...always wanted to be the hero. He was jealous of Harry for a time, but I had thought he'd grown up. He's always searched for recognition, and this is his way to draw attention to himself without being tagged with Harry or me."

"You deserve better than him, you know that, right?"

Hermione looked up at Severus. He was looking at her with such intensity it caused her to blush. "Yes, of course I know that. However, Molly has made sure that no man ever looks at me with any form of attraction. All they will see is a gold digger."

"Those who get to know you will see Molly for the liar she is."

Hermione gave a strangled laugh. "No one will want to get near enough to know me with all that bad press. All they want to do is point and shout."

"You are much more than a gold digger to me, Hermione."

Her eyes met his, and she saw sincerity in them. Her mind flashed back to what Draco had said about him fancying her. Right at this moment she could believe that, the way he was looking at her.

She cleared her throat nervously. "I know that, Severus, but you have known me for years."

He scowled and looked back to his plate. "They just need to give you a chance," he grumbled.

Hermione exhaled the breath she had not realized she'd been holding. She admitted to herself that she was disappointed that he hadn't stated anything more about possible affection toward her. Ever since Draco had said something the day before, she had mulled it over and found she would be quite welcoming of attentions from Severus Snape. It had seemed he was about to divulge something. Had her response made him question her interest in him?

"We should get back to the shop, Hermione," Severus said, breaking her out of her reverie.

"Oh, oh, yes. Yes, we should," she stuttered.

Severus raised an eyebrow at her as he extended his hand for her to take. She placed her hand in his and felt as if it belonged there. Not taking her eyes off his, she stood as he held her hand. They stared into one another's eyes for several seconds before Severus moved. To her surprise, he raised her hand to his lips and gave her the faintest of kisses on it.

"Back to work, my lady," he said as he pulled her along to the fireplace. Entering first, he gave her a smoldering look before Flooing back to the shop. Hermione staggered back, her hand on her chest. Never before had she felt something so intense from such a simple gesture. She sighed to herself. She hoped she was reading Severus right, because she would be crushed if he wasn't interested.

Nothing was said of their lunch once they both got back to the shop, and Hermione was beginning to wonder if it all had been an overactive imagination on her part. She wandered into the back room at closing.

"Everything is closed up front," she advised Severus.

He looked up at her and nodded. The intense look was back in his eyes, but her hope that he would confess an attraction to her was lost with his next statement.

"I will see you tomorrow, then."

Hermione gave him a puzzled look. If she were younger, she'd have probably stamped her foot in frustration, but she kept her cool.

"Tomorrow, yes. Good night." She turned and exited the lab, leaving a smirking Severus Snape behind her.

Hermione was up on the ladder once again. It seemed that the only potions Severus brewed as of late were stored in the highest places in the store. Probably because they were the most dangerous that he brewed.

"Hermione, what are you doing up there?" Severus boomed below her.

She jumped at his voice, not realizing he had snuck up on her. Gripping the ladder for dear life, she scowled down at him.

"Come down this instant!" Severus demanded.

"You about made me fall!" She railed as she descended the ladder.

An arched eyebrow met her at the bottom of the ladder. "Allow me to show you something," Severus said.

He extracted his wand. "This item allows a witch or wizard to channel their magic so that they may use it to accomplish things without Muggle means such as... ladders."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "I understand that, but these potions can't come in contact directly with magic or they could cause this entire shop to explode."

Severus' eyebrows furrowed. He went behind the far counter and pulled a box from underneath it. "Did it not occur to you to use these?" he asked. "The interior keeps any magic from entering." He placed a vial into the box and closed the lid. With a flick of his wand, he sent the box whizzing to the top shelf.

"Those are magic-blocking boxes? Why didn't you tell me? I had no idea that they had that ability. I've just been storing regular potions in them."

Severus glanced at her. "I'm sorry I didn't mention it. I thought you knew."

"I've never seen anything like those."

"Another thing the great know-it-all doesn't know?"

She stuck her tongue out at him as she drew near. Pulling a box out, she felt the interior of the box. "I can feel the difference!"

Severus snatched her hand out of the box. He held it and examined it carefully. "You must be careful never to put your whole hand into the box, Hermione. It can cut off the flow of your magic, which could lead to headaches or passing out. Prolonged exposure can cause a ripple in your magic large enough that you would lose your powers." His eyes met hers. He folded her palm up and grasped her hand within his gently. "I wouldn't want you hurt."

"I'll be more careful," she muttered, unable to break his gaze.

"Please do."

Was he getting closer?

"I would never forgive myself if something happened to you," Severus continued.

Oh, yes, he was getting closer. Hermione caught her breath. She moved ever-so-slightly closer to him. "You would never let anything happen to me. I know that. I trust you," she explained.

He was almost to her lips now. She closed her eyes, anticipating his kiss. She knew he was going to do it. She could read it in his eyes, and just the thought of his lips on hers was sending shivers up and down her spine.

The shop bell clanged, its jarring sound breaking the moment and causing Severus to back up a few paces. Hermione opened her eyes and looked to the door, a frown set on her face. Severus turned and proceeded to help their customer, motioning him into the lab before him. The man wasn't back there long. When he exited, Hermione turned expectantly to the doorway, but Severus never came through.

Pouting, she took a magic-blocking box and began to fill it with potions, glancing up at the doorway every few seconds as she worked. She didn't know whether to go back there and make him give her that kiss or not. Perhaps he'd had second thoughts and was embarrassed by his actions. Perhaps, once again, she'd imagined the whole thing. Ultimately, she decided to just let it be. Severus Snape was not the type to be pushed into anything. She would wait and see what his next move would be.

A/N: Not sure why life goes by so quickly. This should have been posted days ago! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks, slytherinlaurel, for the beta.