Three

A/N: Things begin to move along, but don't expect it to be all smooth sailing. :) Big thanks to everyone kind enough to review. As before, I'm working beta-free these days, so any mistakes are my own.

Disclaimer: They are not mine, I only take them out to play.

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With her classes meeting three times a week, and Hermione having run into Steven on a Friday, it was Monday before she caught a glimpse of the man again. While she had considered visiting the bookshop over the weekend, she was afraid it would make her seem desperate or something. No, it would be much better to drop by on her way home from class. Much more casual, or so she had told herself over a weekend that seemed to last forever.

On her way to class, she peeked in the big window of the cheerful shop, pausing on the sidewalk as she caught sight of Steven. He stood behind the counter, standing close to the girl, Marta, as they went over some sort of paperwork. Marta looked up at him, her mouth moved and then she grinned. Steven threw back his head and laughed so loudly that Hermione could hear him out in the street.

Suddenly uncomfortable, and more than a little worried he'd look out the window and catch her gaping at him, Hermione gave her head a small shake and hurried on her way. It was only a few more blocks to the University, and she had a class to catch.

The folklore class was interesting, but her mind wandered. More than once her imagination treated her to the memory of a man that looked identical to Snape laughing with abandon. An amused snort, or a low and slightly nasty chuckle, is all she'd ever heard her former professor engage in. It had been shocking to see that visage shaken by mirth.

It wasn't the only thing on her mind, though. Marta. Did they have more of a relationship than mere coworkers? Surely he wouldn't have kissed Hermione's hand in front of the young woman if he was in an intimate relationship with his employee. And wasn't the girl a little too young for him?

She snorted at that and then blushed that she had made such a ridiculous noise in the middle of a university lecture. Her professor, an older woman with hair that would rival any Weasley's, ignored the rude noise and carried on.

Too young for him. The girl was likely only about five years younger than Hermione herself. Not that big a difference, to be sure. But Hermione determined Marta was indeed too young for Steven, even so.

She'd give anything to make him laugh like that.

After her botany class, Hermione strolled slowly down the sidewalk towards the bookshop. Her pace slowed further as she neared it. So nervous was she, that she nearly decided to go home instead. The memory of a weekend spent wondering and impatient at last turned her feet towards the door of the shop. She'd been a Gryffindor in school and fought in a war. A Muggle girl wasn't going to frighten her away from seeing Steven again.

No matter how pretty she was.

For the first time, Hermione noticed the name of the shop, painted in a flowing, elegant script at the top of the big window. Persephone's Books. An odd name. She wondered why he had called the shop that.

The small bell on the door tinkled as she entered the shop. Marta was once again behind the counter, and the girl smiled brightly at her as she entered.

"Miss Granger, how nice to see you again."

"Please, call me Hermione," she replied, and couldn't help but smile back at the cheerful girl.

"And you must call me Marta. Damn! Oops, sorry," she said, and blushed about the small profanity. "I'm not supposed to swear in front of the clientele."

"Not to worry. I'm not easily offended."

"It's just that Steven will be so sorry to have missed you. He's gone to pick up a shipment, and I'm not certain how long it will take."

"Oh," Hermione muttered, suddenly deflated at this news.

For some reason, this made Marta smile even wider. "He really enjoyed talking to you the other evening. All weekend it's been 'Hermione said this' and 'Hermione said that.' I was hoping you would stop by again. I haven't seen Steven this...er...interested in a new acquaintance in a long time. It's adorable."

The kind girl's words made Hermione blush slightly, and with sudden clarity, she realized that Marta was more of an ally than a rival. She couldn't stop the slightly goofy grin that spread across her face.

"Well, I had rather a hard time not thinking about our conversation as well," she admitted.

"Excellent!" Marta accented the statement with a brief fist pump. "I don't know how long he'll be away, but you are welcome to hang out...you know...if you've no pressing engagements."

"What? Spend time browsing in a bookstore? What torture!" The goofy grin was back, and Marta's answering smile was equally as wide.

For the next hour, Hermione happily wandered through the store. She enjoyed Muggle literature equally as well as wizarding and soon had a small pile of purchases. Marta rang them up and even gave Hermione her employee discount.

The girl sighed as she tucked the books into a yellow bag with the shop's name emblazoned on one side. "He'll be so sorry to have missed you. You will stop by again?"

"I will," Hermione promised.

"It's just that he doesn't date much, or at all really, and I'd so like for him to go out with someone nice."

"He doesn't date? Why? Bad breakup or something?"

"Oh, no, nothing like that. The truth is, I don't know if he's ever been in a serious relationship." At Hermione's shocked expression, Marta quickly continued. "Don't get me wrong, he's lovely. Smart as a whip, funny, and kind of cute for someone older than my dad. He just, well, he doesn't seem to know what he's doing around women."

"So, I'm going to have to make the first move, then."

"Yes. First move, second move, and maybe all the moves."

They were laughing when the bell on the door tinkled and Steven swept in, carrying a large box. Hermione turned towards him, her laugh turning into a happy smile.

"Hermione! What a pleasant surprise. Let me put this in the back and I'll be right with you."

He was wearing another turtleneck, this one a dark green, which suited his coloring. It did nothing to hide his form as he walked towards the back of the shop. Broad shoulders narrowing to slim hips. Biceps pronounced as he carried the heavy box easily. No, not near as gaunt as Snape had been. Her chest did the frog roll again. What was it about a man carrying something heavy that so easily made a girl sit up and take notice?

"Told you," Marta leaned towards her to whisper. "He's lovely."

She had no time to reply as Steven reentered the room and walked up to her. His eyes noted the bag containing her purchases.

"I trust you gave her a discount," he said to Marta.

"Of course, I did, Steven."

"I see you are on your way out, Hermione, but perhaps I could persuade you to stay for a cup of tea?"

"I'll get it," Marta said cheerfully before Hermione could even answer.

The next thing she knew, Hermione was once again sitting with Steven having a lovely discussion about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, as well as the trend of all the monster classics that had come out over the past few years. Marta had slipped into another room and was nowhere to be seen. An ally for certain.

"Well," Steven eventually said with a small sigh. "I really shouldn't keep you any longer."

He walked her back to the counter to get her bag of books. He hadn't said a word about seeing her again, though she was convinced he was as interested in exploring a possible relationship as she was. There had to be a way she could see him more regularly without looking as if she was hanging about his shop mooning over him. The last thing she wanted to do was move too fast and frighten him off. A moment's thought, and she had the answer.

"Steven, I wanted to ask you a favor, actually."

"What can I do for you?" he asked curiously, leaning toward her slightly.

She balked for a second, as her brain came up with a sudden list, every point of which was completely inappropriate and decidedly naughty.

"My friend I told you about, we study together for our folklore class, but it's awkward because we live in such different parts of town." She kept the pronouns vague on purpose, not certain which of her friends she could rope into pretending to be her classmate for a little while. "Your shop is so close to the university. I was wondering if we might study here, if it's not too inconvenient?"

"But, of course," Steven said readily. "We have a small room in the back where patrons often come to read and study. Your friend and you are welcome to make use of it anytime."

"Thank you. That's very kind."

"It's nothing. Oh, hold on a moment. I almost forgot I have something for you."

Ducking around the counter to lean down and grasp something, he soon returned, holding out a book. It was old, the thick deep red cover faded and cracked. The embossed title and simple drawing were difficult to read.

"A small present," he murmured as she took the book from his hands.

"Oh, you found it!" Hermione smiled happily as she gazed at the copy of Daddy Longlegs."

"The other night, you sounded so disappointed that you had lost your own copy. I thought..."

Hermione set the book on the counter, wrapped one hand around the back of the tall man's neck, and tugged him down slightly as she rose on her tiptoes. She kissed him right on the lips. Not a passionate kiss, but not quite chaste either. Her lips were open and warm on his own.

He froze, his lips tight and unresponsive beneath her mouth. Afraid she had made a huge mistake, Hermione drew back to look at him. Steven's eyes were slow to open, and they widened with astonishment as he stared at her. His lips were slightly pursed and he remained frozen in place.

Words spun through her head. Someone saying something about a man who had never been kissed. Had Steven never been kissed, then? Well, if that was the case, he deserved better for his first time than that brief meeting of lips. His irises were far too dark for her to see if his pupils had widened with desire. Hermione moved her free hand up to touch his throat and felt the racing of his pulse. Not unmoved, then, only unsure.

Putting light pressure on the back of his neck, she tugged him down far enough that she didn't have to strain upward. This time, he bent to her far more easily. Again she placed her mouth to his. Her mouth open and moving, nibbling softly on his lower lip and then teasing the seam of his own with the point of her tongue. His lips remained still, but they softened under the gentle onslaught. She could feel his body tremble slightly under her hands.

When she withdrew, he looked even more gobsmacked than the first time she had kissed him. He slowly straightened, still staring.

"Thank you...for the book...it was very thoughtful." Hermione's voice was low and sultry, her thoughts slow to take form in words.

"You are most welcome," he murmured, the sound low and rough.

It caused a shiver of anticipation to shoot down her spine and reside in a more intimate spot.

As Hermione gathered her purchases and set the gift from Steven carefully into the bag, Steven seemed to find his equilibrium.

"When is your next class?" he asked softly.

"Wednesday."

"Perhaps after you and your friend are finished studying, you might...hmm...would you care to have dinner...with me?"

"Yes." She placed a hand on one of his lovely biceps and gave it a little squeeze. "I would love to."

He walked her to the door of the shop, and once again he clasped her hand, raising it to his lips. This time, his lips were slightly open as he kissed her skin, his mouth hot and damp on the back of her hand. The frog in her chest rolled again and she could feel her toes begin to curl.

"Until Wednesday," he said.

"Until Wednesday."

Stepping out into the street, she hurried down the sidewalk, a thousand thoughts whirling in her head.