Part 2

When they arrived at the cabin Hermione shared with Dee, Severus found himself wondering how she would react if he tried to kiss her. She certainly had seemed enthusiastic at the prospect of spending the day together. But maybe that was just because Florence itself was so appealing...

He was pulled from his thoughts when Hermione said, "Come in for a minute. No sense loitering in the hall, is there?" By the time he had complied, she had a suitcase full of books open on the bed. "Which of these do you think Lucius would enjoy?"

Without even looking, he said, "Lord of the Flies, of course."

Hermione looked surprised, then giggled...which, he was surprised to discover, seemed charming rather than annoying. "You don't think he'll take offence?"

"Not now that you seem to have decided to put the past behind you. You have, haven't you?"

"Well... yes." She resolutely ignored the small voice at the back of her mind that wondered whether it was really that easy. The first step to forgiving someone was simply deciding to do so, she had learnt. Once the decision was made, it eventually would happen. And really, it felt so much better to let go of all that anger. "But how did you know? He only just apologised when we were up on deck."

"You were too relaxed to be still holding tight to a grudge. You do realise your every thought and emotion is usually writ all over your face?"

"Yes, I know," Hermione said on a sigh. "Sometimes it's a real hindrance." She paused, looking at him consideringly. Very deliberately allowing a specific thought free rein in her mind, she asked, "What am I thinking now?"

He stared at her for a long moment, then surprise...almost disbelief...crossed his features. His usually smooth tones were husky when he asked, "Shall I... show you?"

At her wordless nod, he stepped closer, awkwardly placing his hands at her waist to draw her near as he bent his head.

When his lips finally met hers, Hermione let out her breath on a sigh and kissed him back, letting him lead, keeping it light and gentle at first. When his tongue sought entrance, she immediately granted it, enjoying the way the kiss seemed to radiate ever-increasing heat throughout her whole body, savouring the faint taste of the brandy he had enjoyed up on deck.

Time ceased to exist for Hermione as they exchanged kiss after kiss after kiss, each one a little more intense than the last. She could feel the restraint he was exercising in the way his hands gripped her waist and in the slight tremor that seemed to be coursing through his body...or was that hers?

Her arms had somehow found their way around his neck, and she pressed her body closer to his. She could feel his arousal against her belly, and a flood of heat shot to her groin in answer. As her own arousal grew, she forgot how to think... could only feel...

Her growing passion was interrupted by the mechanical hum of a key card deactivating the lock. Recognising it for what it was, Hermione tore herself from Severus's arms just as the door was flung open.

"Oh, good, you're still up. I wanted to ask you..." Dee said, but she stopped as her eyes landed on Severus. She looked from one to the other of them. "Er... am I interrupting something?"

Hermione was too busy trying to get her recalcitrant libido back in control to answer. After a moment, Severus cleared his throat and said, "I was just leaving. I shall see to it that Lucius gets this." Gesturing with the book, he added, "I'll see you in the morning, Hermione. Good night, Delilah."

Hermione suppressed a smile as he swept out of the room; she could almost visualise the black robes of the past billowing behind him.

Turning her attention to Dee, she found her voice at last. "What did you want to ask me?"

"Oh... er... Are you sure I didn't interrupt something?"

Forcing herself to smile at her cabin-mate, Hermione said, "It's fine. It's better we don't move too fast, anyway." Though part of her certainly wished they had not stopped quite so soon...or at all...she knew that in the long term, it would be a mistake to hasten things like that. She liked him too much to want to settle for a holiday fling, and she felt quite sure that if she wanted something more, slower was better.

She didn't have to like it, though.

"Anyway, I wondered if you think Lucius is gay?"

Hermione choked. "Gay?!" Forcing herself not to laugh aloud, Hermione asked carefully, "No, I'm pretty sure he's not. But what makes you ask?"

"Well, I've done everything but throw myself naked in his bed, and he's not getting the hint."

"Ah." Hermione tried to think what to say... After all, given Lucius's activities in the past few years, it did seem rather odd... "Maybe he's waiting for a more opportune time."

"How much more opportune can it get? The cruise ends in three days!"

"Well, Severus and I are going to Florence tomorrow, so you'll have him all to yourself all day to work on him."

"All right, I guess that'll help. But I really hope I'm not going to wind up without getting laid even once this whole cruise!"

Hermione had no idea how she ought to respond to that, so she changed the subject. "Do you need the bathroom before I have a shower?"

---

As he waited for Hermione to appear at breakfast, Severus tried not to give in to the thoughts chasing themselves around in his head. What if things are awkward between us now? We're supposed to spend the whole day together! What if we can't think of anything to talk about? What if...

His litany of worries was interrupted when Hermione said, "Good morning!" She looked fresh and bright in her yellow sundress, and he forgot to feel awkward for a moment when she smiled.

"Good morning," he replied with a small smile. Then the awkwardness returned. "Er... you look... that is... I... er... like your dress," he finally finished, cursing himself for sounding like a schoolboy. But she didn't seem to notice anything amiss.

"Thank you," she said, her smile growing as she seated herself and poured some tea from the pot he had requested. After her first sip, she asked, "Where shall we go first?"

"Well, we're scheduled to make port at eight, and I believe the Portkey office opens at eight-thirty. I imagine the churches will be open by the time we get to Florence, don't you think?"

"I would expect so. They'll probably have information for tourists at the Portkey office."

As they ate, Severus realised that the awkwardness came and went. He began to suspect it might be all in his head, as Hermione didn't seem too worried when silence fell.

They managed to finish breakfast and make their way ashore without any disasters occurring, and they found the Portkey office with a minimum of fuss by following a trail of coded runes that were hidden from Muggle eyes by an elaborate set of charms.

"What shall we see today?" Hermione asked, all business. Severus was appalled to discover he found her efficiency cute. It made him want to kiss her, just to distract her a little.

Really, if he didn't watch out, he'd find himself behaving like one of the adolescents he used to take points off of...

He forced his attention back to the matter at hand. "Well, the ship is in port for two full days, so perhaps the tourist areas today and more out-of-the-way places tomorrow?" He braced himself in case she didn't want to spend two days together.

But the idea didn't seem to faze her. Sounding almost hesitant...and looking as if she were bracing for a strong objection...she said, "I was really hoping to visit some of the libraries and bookshops in Florence while we're here."

"I'm shocked," Severus said dryly. "Given your well-known hatred of research...and, indeed, all things intellectual...I'm surprised you'd force yourself to do such a boring, depressing thing."

Hermione stared at him for several seconds before she burst out laughing, sounding thoroughly delighted with his attempt at humour. He smirked, pleased with himself for making her laugh so hard.

He was again tempted to kiss her.

At last she calmed enough to say, "Oh, Severus, I keep forgetting you aren't like my other friends. They'd have groaned and rolled their eyes at any hint that I wanted to spend a beautiful autumn day inside a musty old library. Well, except for Luna," she added with a quick grin.

He squelched another adolescent surge of delight...she considers me her friend! ...and covered the grin that threatened to break through by giving her his sternest expression. "Please don't compare me with your other friends. I'd prefer not to lose my breakfast, if you don't mind."

She laughed again. He couldn't completely suppress his smile; her joy was infectious. She said, "All right, shall we visit Pisa and some of the more touristy things in Florence today? Then we can spend tomorrow in musty old libraries and bookshops, and perhaps find some of the more out-of-the-way places along the way."

"All right," Severus agreed. "Maybe we should rent brooms, too..." He trailed off at the look on her face. "No?"

"I hate flying," she said.

"Why?" he asked. "We could get a look at the countryside, and that would give us more flexibility about visiting places we might otherwise not even know about."

She sighed. "True..." Pausing, she seemed to debate with herself. Eventually, she said, "The truth is, I'm not very skilled at flying. I would be so focused on staying on the broom that I wouldn't see much of the countryside anyway. Unless..."

"Unless...?" he prompted when she paused.

"Unless you'd be willing to manage the flying for both of us?"

Her expression was hopeful, and his inner adolescent perked up happily at the prospect of a day spent holding a pretty girl close. "You'd be comfortable with that?"

"I trust you." And it was decided.

---

They Portkeyed to Pisa first, simply because there wasn't much to see there...just the various sites at Santa Maria Assunta: the Piazza dei Miracoli, the baptistery, the Campo Santo, and of course, the famous leaning bell tower. They discovered that the campanile was actually shored up with an intricate series of spells and charms. Speaking with some of the local magical folk, they learned that the tower had been purposely set to leaning in an odd, yet successful, effort to attract business to their otherwise unremarkable little town.

Hermione couldn't immediately decide whether to be impressed or appalled by such an ingenious commercial ploy. In the end, as she said to Severus, "Well, I suppose the Muggles enjoy it, and it's not actually hurting anyone, so it's good that they came up with something so unique to draw tourists."

They spent a little while traipsing around the grounds, exploring the beautiful carvings and art work in the Duomo, and then looking around the walled cemetery. In the end, they agreed that while there wasn't much to see in Pisa, what was there was so beautiful that it had been well worth delaying their arrival in Florence by a few hours. Except for that very bizarre sculpture of the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus... Hermione couldn't help thinking that was just weird. When she said as much to Severus, he replied, "I wonder what Lupin would have thought of his namesake's likeness." Despite the accompanying smirk, his comment seemed to Hermione to lack any lingering rancour toward his childhood nemesis, which pleased her more, perhaps, than was actually warranted.

When they had seen enough, they headed for wizarding Pisa, where they stopped briefly at a tiny café for fortifying coffee and pastries before Severus pulled out the broom they had rented. "Are you ready?" he asked, sounding amused. Hermione supposed her anxiety showed, despite her best efforts to conceal it.

Squaring her shoulders, she climbed aboard. When he settled behind her, Disillusioning them and then placing his hands on the broom in front of her, she felt herself relax. This felt much more secure than flying by herself.

As they flew over the beautiful Tuscan countryside, she eagerly looked at the vineyards, olive groves, gardens, and peach and fig orchards they passed. Severus set a pace that was comfortable for sightseeing, not too fast or too slow.

Spotting a small village with sheep dotting the hillside, Hermione asked, "Do you suppose they sell woollens there? Italy is famous for its textiles..."

Severus asked smoothly (too smoothly?), "Is there something in particular that you want?"

Feeling herself blush...what was that in his tone?...Hermione nevertheless answered, "Not really."

Severus pressed, "You must have something in mind. Don't you want something special?" Without giving her a chance to answer, he added, "You really must have something special."

"This entire cruise is something special. It's enough."

Severus didn't say anything more. However, he did land in a copse of trees near the village, saying, "Let's see what's here. Maybe you'll find something you like." Hermione couldn't help feeling impressed when he transfigured the broom into a two-person bicycle.

They hopped on and pedalled toward the village. As they approached, Hermione felt the Muggle-Repelling Charms that she hadn't detected from above. "It seems we could have landed in the village square," she commented.

"Yes, so it seems," Severus agreed. By tacit agreement, they hopped off the bike at the edge of the hamlet; Severus transfigured it back into its natural state, shrunk it, and put it in his pocket. Offering her his arm, he asked, "Shall we explore?"

They spent the remainder of the morning exploring the tiny wizarding community. The people were friendly, seemingly delighted to have visitors, and Hermione wound up making a number of purchases: a crocheted purple shawl, a silk scarf, a leather purse. Apparently, they were in the middle of farm country, and a number of cottage industries had sprung up in this tiny hamlet. By the time they were finished shopping, it was lunch time, and Hermione was famished. Severus asked an old woman if there was a restaurant or café nearby and was directed to a small cottage on the outskirts of the village.

They enjoyed a leisurely meal of fresh Pappa al Pomodoro di Francesca, mushrooms with a fresh olive and cheese stuffing, and potato ravioli accompanied by locally produced Chianti before getting back on their broom and resuming their journey to Florence.

---

Arriving in Florence in early afternoon, they elected to begin their explorations by seeking out some of the city's tourist attractions. Fortunately, though many of the shops seemed to be closing for siesta, the major attractions remained open. At the Accademia di Bella Arti, Severus cast a mild Confundus Charm to allow them to gain entry quickly rather than waiting in a long line. Other than a mildly admonishing look, Hermione didn't comment.

The David was a sight to behold, Severus decided, trying not to feel insecure in the face of Hermione's raptures about such a perfect representation of manhood. Severus consoled himself with the thought that he would win the comparison in at least one area...

He almost said as much to Hermione, but decided that would be unnecessarily crass. Besides, he was a living, breathing person. Marble had to be cold to snuggle up to, no matter how warm it looked...

Severus didn't know how Muggles could stand the crowds. He tolerated them only by casting a very mild Muggle-Repelling Charm on himself and Hermione...just enough to give them a few feet of space, but not enough to draw attention. It was enough to allow him to enjoy the many master works in the gallery.

At the Museo di San Marco, while they looked at the frescoes and explored the Cloisters, Severus fought the urge to take Hermione's hand.

As they headed toward the Duomo, stopping along the way to take in some of the glorious architecture in the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, someone jostled Hermione, and she stumbled. Severus caught her arm to steady her, then took the opportunity to place her hand in the crook of his arm. "Can't have you injuring yourself, can we?" he murmured. She smiled and agreed.

At the Duomo, he kept possession of her hand as they walked around both outside and inside before exploring the Baptistry and its famous doors. When they reached the top of the Campanile, where they had climbed to take in some breathtaking views of Tuscany, Hermione exclaimed over how gorgeous it all was, and it was all Severus could do to keep from kissing her.

They were in public, after all.

Severus enjoyed their explorations far more than he had anticipated, primarily because Hermione was such a lively companion, he assured himself...not just because he liked touching her.

She had, of course, read about most of the places they visited, and Severus was content to let her direct them through the places she thought they should see.

In the late afternoon, they found their way, arm in arm, to the Basilica di Santa Croce. By the time they had finished exploring there, they were hungry. Someone recommended the Ristorante Finisterrae for dinner, where Severus found himself enjoying the intimacy of sharing another bottle of Chianti along with dishes like Flan di Broccoli, Pizzoccheri alla Valtellinese, and Tegame. They finished with cannoli and coffee.

Severus was amused to see Hermione stifling a yawn; she seemed to have worn herself out with their packed day. He said, "Come, my dear, I can see it's time for you to find your bed."

"I'm not tired," she said, but another yawn belied her assertion. Her smile was a bit sheepish. "I don't want to be tired," she amended. "It's been such a perfect day."

"It's been enjoyable," Severus agreed. "But tomorrow, we have libraries and bookshops to find, as well as the Uffizi. You want to be rested for that, don't you?"

"Yeeeees," Hermione said, still sounding reluctant to see the day end. "But maybe..." she stopped, flushing a lovely shade of pink.

"Maybe...?" Severus prompted.

"Well, I just thought maybe a star-lit stroll to the Ponte Vecchio would be pretty before we turn in."

Severus was happy to oblige. They found their way to the bridge and enjoyed the view of the city lights reflecting off of the Arno River. Hermione sighed with pleasure, leaning in to Severus's side and resting her head against his shoulder, seemingly without conscious thought.

Deciding to seize the moment, he slid his arms around her waist, tugging gently until she faced him. Before she could say anything, he bent and touched his lips tentatively to hers. She immediately relaxed into him, her lips opening as she welcomed his kiss.

Encouraged by her response, he touched his tongue to hers, teasing with light caresses, letting his hands pull her tight against him. She raised herself on her toes, pressing herself even closer... and then she sighed and began to pull back. Before he could wonder if she was less interested than he had thought, she whispered, "We need privacy before we take this any further. Can we Apparate?"

Unable to hide his relieved smile, Severus murmured, "My cabin or yours?"

She grinned then. "Yours. Unless you're keen to see Delilah..."

"Point taken." Before she could say anything more, he Apparated them both to his cabin. As soon as they arrived, he kissed her again.

---

I should have done this ages ago, Hermione thought as she slid her hands inside Severus's linen shirt. But how could I have known he'd be so...? Words failed her as Severus pushed the strap of her sundress down her arm and followed his fingers with his lips, placing small kisses along the top of her shoulder.

Her mind raced as her head fell back of its own accord, giving him easier access to her neck. She had known he was intriguing and intelligent; why else would she have worked so hard to get him to talk to her whenever she had run into him? And of course, how could his silky voice fail to send shivers down any female's spine?

But this... How could I have known he could make me feel like this?

Her other strap fell, and he pushed her dress to her waist and stared. The moonlight, streaming in through the balcony door, let her see the desire in his eyes, and the intensity of his gaze sent a wave of heat through her entire body. Paradoxically, she shivered and ducked to kiss him as her hands rapidly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it from his shoulders.

It was her turn to stare...how had she never suspected the male beauty he had been hiding underneath all his layers of black cloth? She pressed her lips to the centre of his chest. With a growl, he lifted her and then dropped her on the bed. He tugged at her dress, and when he couldn't remove it fast enough, he waved a hand and murmured, "Divesto!"

Hermione was momentarily impressed by the show of wandless magic, but that thought was immediately crowded out as his hands went to the fastening of his trousers. She leaned up on her elbows to watch as he unveiled an impressive erection. She smiled and said, "The David has nothing on you, Severus."

He smiled. "I'm glad you noticed." And then he joined her, pushing her back onto the bed, his lips feasting on her mouth, then moving lower until he could taste first one turgid nipple, then the other. "Sweeter than anything I've tasted all day," he whispered. Hermione saw his cheeks flush before he returned to his efforts at worshipping her body with his lips and tongue.

He was masterful in his attentions. He seemed attuned to her every sensation, and he used that understanding to drive her arousal higher than she had ever imagined it could go. By the time he finally entered her, she was incoherent with desire, and as he slid inside her, the feeling of completion, of fullness, was so intense that she moaned aloud. When he began to move, she lost all rational thought; she was drowning in sensation.

When at last her orgasm hit, it was more intense than anything she had ever felt in her entire life, and it seemed to go on and on and on. As it finally began to wane, she heard Severus's hoarse shout of completion, and then he collapsed on top of her as though boneless. It was several minutes before she realised she was stroking his back gently. She heard him mumble something into her hair, but couldn't make it out. "Hmmmm?" she asked, unable to form an actual word.

He turned his head and spoke into her ear. "I'm crushing you. I should move."

"In a minute," Hermione managed to reply.

But he rolled to one side anyway, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close as he dropped a kiss atop her head. Somehow, they got under the blankets, and Hermione heard Severus sigh sleepily. "G'night," she thought she heard him say.

Inwardly smiling at how typical it was of men that he fell asleep immediately, she whispered, "G'night."

She turned to snuggle, spoon-style, into his embrace...and who would have thought he'd be a cuddler? Just before she closed her own eyes, she caught sight of the clock. A few minutes after midnight. Not a bad way to start my thirtieth birthday, she thought irreverently. On that thought, she allowed herself to drift off to sleep.

---

Severus woke with a mouthful of hair and a morning hard-on. He shifted gingerly, hoping to make himself more comfortable without waking his companion, but then realised what a bad idea that was as his erection seemed to swell even more as it brushed against Hermione's bum. He debated what to do for a moment, wondering if she would regret their activities now that the bright light of day, rather than soft moonlight, was illuminating them.

After a moment, he decided that if she was going to be upset, trying to coax a repeat of last night wouldn't make things worse, but might actually put her in a good mood. With that in mind, he brushed her hair away from her shoulder and began planting small kisses on the soft skin he had just exposed. Soon, his efforts were rewarded with a sigh and a shiver as she began to stir. "Mmmmmmm," she murmured sleepily, tilting her head slightly, which served to give him better access.

"Good morning," he replied between kisses. She stretched languidly, sliding against his skin in all sorts of interesting places, and turned to face him.

She captured his lips for a long, sweet kiss before answering. "Good morning. What time is it?"

He glanced over her shoulder at the clock. "Not quite seven."

"Good," she said. She kissed him again, and as they made love, he thought, I could get used to this...

After, when they were relaxing, the contented feeling that stole over him was sufficiently unusual to make him panic. "Happy birthday," he blurted, then could have kicked himself when she frowned.

"How do you know it's my birthday?"

"You said this was your birthday cruise."

"But I didn't say what day it was, just that that was why I was here."

"Delilah must have mentioned it, then."

She looked at him suspiciously. "I really, really hope you didn't mean to imply that this was a birthday shag."

Severus hadn't even thought such a thing, and he said so. "Why would I imply that? If anything, it was more a gift to me than you..." She looked slightly mollified as she flushed an endearingly awkward shade of pink, but Severus couldn't resist adding, "Although, if it really is your birthday, I suppose that technically..."

"Do not finish that thought, Severus Snape!" She got up, dragging the top sheet with her. "Unless, of course, you don't value your manly bits." She slammed into the bathroom, and he could hear her muttering for several seconds before the sound of running water drowned her out. He couldn't suppress a smirk. How had he never noticed how adorable she was when she was in a snit?

Climbing out of bed and stretching, he thought it a shame that the shower stall, while not as tiny as he might have expected, didn't really allow enough room for two to manoeuvre in the way he would like: it would be fun to try to coax her back into good humour... Realising he could solve that problem, he grabbed his wand and let himself into the room. He ignored her shrieks of outrage when he cast appropriate charms on the stall and stepped in with her. "Just doing my bit to conserve water," he said innocently. "Carry on."

She glared, but considering the suds in her hair, she had no choice, really. He waited until her eyes were closed and her head tilted back before stepping closer, murmuring, "You missed a spot, right here." Her eyes flew open as he swiped a thumb over her left nipple. He didn't try to mask his delight in the way it immediately stood at attention. "Hmmm... I don't think I got it." Ignoring her muttered warning, he leaned forward and took it into his mouth.

"Severus," she began, "we can't..."

"Shhhhh," he interrupted, letting his breath blow on her nipple. She didn't sound convinced anyway, did she? "I'm busy. You don't want me to miss any soap suds, do you? Oh, there's another one." He blew deliberately on her right nipple before sucking it into his mouth. She moaned, and he knew he had her.

---

Forty-five minutes later, Severus Apparated them back to an out of the way alley they had passed yesterday in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery and the Librairie Francaise de Florence, among other things, awaited.

They shared breakfast at the Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio, and Hermione could only marvel at how relaxed and happy Severus seemed. The fourth or fifth time he said something outrageous, she finally realised that provoking an outburst from her...and then kissing her back into good humour...was his version of flirting. It was rather effective, too, she had to admit.

They visited the French Library first. Hermione was pleased that she remembered enough French to browse around without having to cast translation spells, and she could comfortably converse en français with the librarians without needing a translation amulet like the Italian one they had rented at the Portkey office yesterday. She spent an enjoyable two hours exploring the stacks...they had a wonderful collection of French literature.

She had to admit, though, if only to herself, that her favourite part of her time there was when Severus found her deep in the recesses of the library and spent ten minutes kissing her senseless.

After leaving the library, they strolled hand in hand as they made their way toward the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze. As they walked, they sipped coffee Severus had purchased at a café they passed; Hermione found it sweet that he remembered how she liked it...no sugar and a healthy splash of milk...without needing her to remind him. Most of her friends still got it wrong after all these years. She couldn't count the number of times she had worked to avoid grimacing at the overly sweet concoctions they usually served her.

At the National Central Library, they caught a special exhibition on astral myths, with a number of fascinating manuscripts relating to Galilean astronomy. Severus seemed to like her enthusiasm for the ancient texts: he pulled her into a quiet corner, cast a Notice-Me-Not Charm, and kissed her senseless again.

Hermione found herself falling deeper and deeper into infatuation as the morning wore on. His sly sense of humour, his sharp intellect, and his mind-numbing kisses all combined to form Hermione's ideal man. She was very much afraid she would be irrevocably in love by the end of the day; she could only hope that he would be as enraptured as she was.

They had lunch at an out-of-the-way taverna that seemed to be full of locals rather than tourists. They split a Tuscan-style pizza and a bottle of Chianti, and by the time they finished, Hermione was ready for siesta. But Severus said, "No time for that. It's time for your birthday surprise."

"What birthday surprise?" When had he found time to arrange a birthday surprise?

He refused to say more, just kissed her quickly before leading her to a quiet alley and Apparating them both to another quiet alley. They seemed to be at a service entrance of some sort, and when Severus knocked, the door flew open as though someone were waiting for them. A slight, balding man spoke in rapid Italian. Fortunately, the translation amulet worked perfectly. "Severus, my friend! It has been too long! Come, come, we must hurry." He gestured them in and shut the door firmly behind them. He turned to Hermione. "You must be the friend Severus so wants to impress." He took her hand, bowing over it formally. Over his head, Hermione saw Severus's cheeks colour slightly, and she smiled reassuringly. "I am Giovanni Balducci, the curator of the collection here. Welcome to the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana! And happy birthday! We have arranged a very special treat for you. This way."

Bemused, Hermione followed the little man up some stairs and down several long corridors. She was already impressed that Severus had managed access to the library, which was normally limited to scholars with specific, demonstrable need for the resources it contained. "Ah, here we are. Our current exhibition about the forms of books through history. Take your time; it is siesta and no one will disturb you. When you are finished here, I shall show you one of the crown jewels of our collection: one of the three Sinibaldi manuscripts that was ordered by Lorenzo de Medici for his daughters. We are trying to arrange to borrow the other two so that we can exhibit them side by side for the first time in centuries, but for now, we have only the one."

The next two hours flew by. The exhibition was fascinating; it covered centuries and included everything from pottery shards with writing on them and fragments of papyrus to different styles of books and manuscripts. Hermione became so engrossed in it that she forgot everything around her until Signore Balducci returned, ready to show them the Book of Hours of Lorenzo de Medici.

It was a stunning work of art. Hermione could have happily stared at it for hours, but alas, as siesta came to an end, Signore Balducci returned to lead them back the way they had come. He bid them farewell, reminding them to visit again when next they came to Florence.

When they were alone, Severus asked, "You were very quiet. Did you like it?"

She was surprised that he sounded unsure. "Do you really have to ask?" She couldn't restrain herself; she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly until she felt him relax. She pulled back and said, "That was by far the best birthday gift anyone has ever given me. If you're not careful, I'm going to fall head over heels in love with you." She felt herself blush, wishing she could recall the rash words, but then she mentally shrugged. The words couldn't be unsaid, anyway.

His cheeks flushed, but he smiled and kissed her again. "Come. The Uffizi awaits."

"The Uffizi cannot possibly be as amazing as the Biblioteca. I'm still practically speechless."

Severus grinned slyly. "Well, not quite speechless."

She smacked him lightly on the arm. "Be nice."

"I'm never nice. I'm sometimes good, perhaps, but never nice."

Looking at him consideringly, she said, "I can think of a few times in the last couple of days when you've been very nice, indeed. But don't worry," she added when he glared, "I won't tell anyone."

---

They returned the Portkey and the translation amulets in time to re-board the ship shortly before its scheduled departure. Severus felt as exhausted as Hermione looked. They walked at an easy pace through the corridors toward her cabin.

Stopping outside her door, he felt the awkwardness that had all but disappeared while they explored Florence return with a vengeance. She must have felt it, too; her smile seemed a bit uncertain.

After a seemingly interminable silence, she said, "Do you want to come in?"

He tried to decipher what answer she wanted, but couldn't read her expression. "It's probably not wise. Your cabin-mate will likely be there." If he had had his way, they'd both be in his cabin by now. But she had asked him to walk her to her cabin, so here they were. He wondered whether their relationship, such as it was, would end when the ship docked in Rome tomorrow.

She said, "She won't be here if she managed to seduce Lucius." She paused, then asked abruptly, "He's not gay, is he?"

Severus was startled by the question. "What makes you ask that?"

"Dee asked me the other night. He hadn't taken her up on her offer, and she didn't think she'd been subtle."

Severus couldn't contain a snort. "Subtle? I don't think she knows the meaning of the word."

"She's not that bad," Hermione protested. Severus raised an eyebrow. "Well, all right, she's kind of... But she means well."

"All I can say is: better Lucius than me."

Hermione grinned. "Anyway, do you want to come in?"

Maybe she didn't want to end things, after all. "Why don't we go to my cabin instead?"

Her smile widened, and he thought he saw a touch of relief in her eyes. "I'd be happy to come to your cabin, but I need to get a few things. It was uncomfortable having to sneak back here this morning to clean my teeth."

The degree of relief he felt seemed out of proportion to the situation, Severus thought. He had assumed they were merely having a holiday fling, but it appeared he might have been subconsciously hoping for more. Don't get ahead of yourself, Snape. The holiday isn't over; she could still be planning to end it tomorrow.

Still, he had tonight. "I'll wait for you here."

She frowned. "You don't want to come in?"

"I'd rather not see Delilah, and I especially don't want to be interrupted by Delilah again."

Cheeks turning pink, she said, "Oh. Okay. I'll be quick."

---

Hermione hurried to gather some toiletries and a change of clothes. She didn't want to leave Severus hanging about in the corridor for very long. What if he got impatient and left?

She didn't care to examine too closely how much she had grown to like him. But really, how could she not? The two days she had spent with him in Florence had been wonderful. Nearly perfect, in fact. Even when he was purposely provoking her, she had fun with him.

But what if he just means to have a holiday shag? What if I'm growing to like him...maybe even love him...and he's just having fun for a few days?

Shoving the last of her toiletries into a small case and snapping it shut, she forced herself to push aside the doubts that were trying to ruin what might be her last night with Severus. Opening the door, she said brightly, "All set."

He looked at her closely for a moment, but to her relief, he didn't comment. "Let's go, then."

The silence as they walked felt awkward to Hermione, and she groped for something to say. "Do you think Lucius and Dee missed us today?"

"No, Lucius knew we were spending today together."

"Oh."

A moment later, she tried again. "Are you staying in Rome tomorrow night, or leaving for home straight away?"

"We're spending the day in Rome, then Portkeying to London tomorrow evening. You?"

"Same." After a pause, she added, "Perhaps we could explore a bit of Rome together."

"Perhaps," he said, sounding preoccupied.

Hermione gave up.

---

Why does she keep asking me about Lucius? Severus wondered. Maybe she's getting bored with me. Maybe now that she's decided to forgive him, she wants to...

They arrived at his cabin at last, interrupting his morose speculation. Opening the door, he gestured for her to precede him into the room. She stepped in just far enough to let him in behind her and stopped. He sought for a way to help both of them relax. "We could have some wine if you like," he offered.

"Great!" she said. "On the balcony, perhaps?"

"If you like." He got the glasses and opened a bottle of Chianti he had purchased in Florence. Unfortunately, Lucius was on the balcony next door and had already engaged her in conversation by the time Severus joined her. "... took me to the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, and we saw the de Medici Book of Hours. It was amazing!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed your day," Lucius replied.

"Here's your wine," Severus said.

Hermione frowned, probably because his tone was a bit less gracious than would have been ideal, but she thanked him and took a sip. "Is Dee with you?" she asked Lucius.

"Alas, she threw me over for someone younger and more fun," Lucius replied.

"You don't seem very unhappy about it," Hermione observed.

"She was too... young, I suppose." He waved a hand. "I hate to say it, but all that energy and chatter became a bit wearing after a while. I must be getting old."

Severus almost rolled his eyes as Hermione protested, "You're not old! You're in your prime! You're probably just ready for something more than a holiday fling."

What was Lucius up to? He apparently wanted sympathy...which, to Severus's chagrin, Hermione seemed only too happy to provide...but to what end?

Severus soon found himself growing irritated with his oldest friend. As petty as it probably was, he wanted Hermione all to himself, in case this really was his last night with her. But she seemed perfectly content to chat with Lucius...

Abruptly, he stood and said, "I'm going to have a shower." He swept out of the room without giving them a chance to comment, wishing for some robes to add to the drama of his exit.

---

Hermione stared after Severus, her mouth agape. At last, she asked Lucius, "What's the matter with him?"

Lucius shrugged. "Who knows? He complains about me pouting, but he's worse, I think."

"Do you think I should go after him?"

"No. He'd only bite your head off, and then you'd waste the entire night arguing." He shrugged again. "Or avoiding each other."

"Yeah, but he'll probably be more upset if I don't at least try."

"Trust me; I've known Severus very well for a very long time. He needs at least a few minutes to realise he's overreacting, and then a few more to get past the embarrassment he'll feel when he does realise."

Hermione digested that. Something in his tone suggested... something. "How well do you know Severus?"

"As well as anyone," he said, leaving Hermione no less mystified. "But enough about that. Let's talk about you. Are you planning to spend any time in Rome? Or do you have to return immediately?"

"My Portkey is tomorrow evening, so I'll have the day." Glancing at the bathroom, where she could hear the water running, she added, "I was hoping... Well, maybe he'll be in a better mood tomorrow."

"If he's not, I am at your service. Or perhaps the three of us could explore Rome together? I can probably arrange entry to a few of the more interesting and less accessible places."

"The Vatican library, perhaps?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "The Church likes a sizable donation as much as anyone."

"That would be terrific," Hermione mused aloud, then shook herself. "But only if Severus agrees. I don't want to upset him unnecessarily." She glanced at the bathroom again, wondering how long she should wait to go after him.

Lucius sighed theatrically. "I can see I'm not going to keep your attention this evening. Depending on your intentions, you could probably go after him now. But not if you're planning to waste time talking." He paused. "And if I might offer a piece of advice?"

Hermione, trying to gauge his intentions, realised she didn't know him well enough to judge. She nodded cautiously. Lucius said, "Start as you mean to continue. Don't tiptoe around his temper, especially if you want a long-term relationship with him. He won't mean to, but he'll take advantage, and he'll lose respect for you if you let him."

Hermione considered that for several seconds. "I'll keep it in mind. And on that note, I'll bid you good night."

"All right. I'll see you both tomorrow at breakfast, then?"

"I imagine so." She went inside, closing the balcony door behind her. She stripped as she headed for the bathroom, figuring her nakedness might distract Severus from whatever had him in a snit.

Taking a breath, she opened the door and asked, "Is there room for me?"

Seeming startled, he turned to glare at her. "Where's your new best friend?"

She considered her response carefully. At last, she said, "I would have said the only candidate on this ship for the position of my new best friend is here, taking a shower... but perhaps you'd prefer I find someone else instead?"

His whole body seemed to relax. "No. I just thought... Never mind." Taking her hand, he pulled her into the shower and kissed her gently.

Pulling back to look him in the eye, Hermione said seriously, "He's your friend, Severus. I'm growing to like him, now that I'm giving him a chance, but I like you more. And I'm hoping..." She stopped, a little afraid to continue.

"Hoping...?"

Why not ask? she decided. He might say no, but at least then she wouldn't have to wonder. Mustering her courage, she said, "I'm hoping we can continue to see each other, to get to know each other, when we're back home."

"You want us to... court each other?" he asked, sounding cautious and perhaps a bit hopeful.

"Yes. If you want to."

"Yes," he said simply, and then he kissed her.

---

In the morning, Hermione returned to her cabin to pack. Severus tried to convince her to help him pack and then let him come and help her pack, but she pointed out cheekily, "And just how much packing do you think we'd actually accomplish, the two of us together in rooms with beds?"

He had to admit she had a point, so he kissed her once more...very thoroughly...and sent her on her way.

As he packed, he thought about how much things had changed in a mere five days. He had come here reluctantly, annoyed with Lucius for forcing him, sure he would have a miserable time. Now, after possibly...probably...the best five days of his entire life, he was relaxed, happier than he had ever been, in a fledgling relationship with an intriguing, intelligent, sexy, and (he must admit) bossy witch.

For once in his life, things were looking up.

He was startled from his reverie by a knock at the door. "Yes?" he called.

"I'm not shouting at you from the corridor, Severus," came the rather petulant reply.

Opening the door, he asked, "What do you want, Lucius? Hermione's not here. She went to pack."

"Obviously, I'm looking for you. I knocked at your door, not hers."

"Hmmmph." As soon as the door closed, Severus pulled out his wand and resumed packing.

Lucius ignored that. "So, do you want to thank me now or wait until we get home?"

"Thank you for what?" Severus asked, caught off guard.

"For dragging you along on this holiday, of course."

"Oh. Thank you."

"You could try to sound gracious about it, you know."

"I suppose you want me to admit you were right, too?"

"No, that's all right. We both know that; no need to say it. Now, if you're finished packing, it's breakfast time."

---

"Hermione!" Dee exclaimed. "There you are! I was beginning to wonder if you had missed the ship!"

"Er... no. I was with Severus."

"That's what I figured. Anyway, I can't believe we're about to make port! These five days just flew!"

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, I met a fabulous Italian man... Luigi," she said on a sigh, then shook her head. "Had a blast. Shame I wasted so much time on Lucius, though. Are you sure he's not gay?"

Hermione shook her head. "He says he's getting old. I think he's just getting sick of meaningless flings. No offence."

Dee just laughed. "Well, it all worked out in the end. Are you going to keep seeing Sev?"

Unable to contain her delight, Hermione grinned as she said, "Yes."

"Good for you," Dee said. "Listen, I've gotta run. I'm meeting some of the girls for breakfast. It's been fun. Maybe I'll see you the next time I visit Seamus." She hugged Hermione briefly. At the door, she turned and said, "You know, if I were you, I wouldn't settle for just one of them. I bet you could have both if you tried...Lu was always more interested in you than me, the way he's been watching you this whole trip. And he and Sev are so close, I have to figure they've probably played around, you know? You've seen that creepy, psychic mind-reading thing they do, right? Where they talk without actually saying anything out loud? There's gotta be history there...

"Anyway, I bet you'd all be very happy as a threesome."

Before Hermione could even process that outrageous statement...never mind think of a response...Dee was gone.

---

At breakfast, Hermione was quiet. Severus found himself working hard to pull her from whatever thoughts had her preoccupied, but with little success. Lucius wasn't having much luck, either. Other than a series of thoughtful looks that seemed to alternate between them, and a few perfunctory answers when questions were directed at her, Hermione seemed lost in thought.

Severus eventually decided not to worry about it. After Hermione's reassurances of the night before, he thought she might think he was too insecure if he refused to let Lucius spend the day with them, so he reluctantly agreed to explore Rome and Vatican City with both Hermione and Lucius.

As the day wore on, Hermione seemed to snap out of whatever had been bothering her. She still occasionally looked thoughtful as she laughed and chattered and took in the sights with him and Lucius, but for the most part, she seemed to enjoy the day. And after reminding himself several times that Lucius was an inveterate flirt, and that Hermione had assured him she was his, he gradually grew more comfortable with the way the pair of them seemed to be enjoying each other's company.

Severus decided not to worry about whatever she was thinking about. She clearly hadn't changed her mind about spending time with him...she frequently touched him, taking his hand or arm, giving him quick hugs and an occasional kiss. So whatever was on her mind didn't make him feel any need to press her to share it.

The day flew by, and soon enough, the three of them shared a bottle of Chianti as they enjoyed an early dinner. It was nice, Severus decided, having his best friend getting on so well with his new lover.

---

Now that Dee had planted the idea, Hermione couldn't get it out of her mind. She found herself wondering if Severus and Lucius had ever been more than friends, and if they were still. She wondered how Severus would react if she asked him.

If they were, she wondered if they might someday be amenable to the possibility Dee had entrenched so firmly in her mind...

Probably best to let all that wait a while, she decided eventually. If his behaviour last night were any indication, Severus still harboured some insecurities about his appeal, especially as compared with Lucius. She'd see how things played out. If ever the time seemed right, she would ask him about his relationship with Lucius, and depending on his answer and her own inclinations, she would ask him about the possibility of a triad relationship.

Or not. If the time never seemed right, or if Severus never seemed ready, or if she herself lost interest in the idea, she was sure she could be happy with their budding relationship the way it was. For now, she would enjoy her new friendship with Lucius and her new more-than-friendship, maybe-even-love with Severus.

As they arrived at the Portkey office, Severus asked, "Are your friends meeting you in London, Hermione?"

"I don't think so," she replied, frowning. They followed the signs to the London Portkey as she explained, "They're probably afraid I'm still angry with them for tricking me into this cruise in the first place. They won't want to risk being hexed until they're sure I've had time to calm down." Grinning suddenly, she said, "I've just had the most delicious idea."

"Oh?" Severus asked.

"Do share," Lucius added as he and Severus gripped the battered Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Soundtrack LP.

Looping an arm through each of theirs and touching a fingertip to John Travolta's raised hand, she asked slyly, "What say I throw myself a belated birthday party and introduce all my friends to my new lover..." She paused to give Severus a lingering kiss before continuing, "...and his very unsuitable friend?" She punctuated that with a smile and a quick squeeze of Lucius's arm.

The Portkey activated, leaving only a trace of their delighted laughter to echo through the office as they were transported home.

La fine

---

Author's Notes:

As far as I can tell after spending an inordinate amount of time looking at major cruise lines' websites, most cruises of the Mediterranean are at least a week long, and most make several ports for one day each; however, that didn't work as well for my purposes, so I took author's license with the itinerary.

The three de Medici Books of Hours are being displayed together in Florence this fall, but in 2009, they were each being held in the collections of the museums/libraries that own them. See this article (or this one) for more information.

Resources used in this fic (in addition to Clairvoyant and her livejournal) include the following:

At Home in Tuscany

German Language Wikipedia: the Laurentian Library (as translated by Google Translate)

English Language Wikipedia: Tuscany, Piazza dei Miracoli, Uffizi

Florence On Line

Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana

Tuscany Tonight

Trip Addiction

Tuscan Recipes

Finisterrae Firenze

Trip Advisor

Livorno Now

The Independent

Librairie Française de Florence

I think that's all of the sources whose information made it into this fic, but it's possible I lost track over the course of writing. If so, I apologise; the oversight was unintentional. 

Now, who wants to meet me in Tuscany next September? ;)