Perfect Pairing
Chapter 2 of 3
a_bees_buzzHow to prepare for a date when Severus is on the menu.
ReviewedPairing wine with food is a complicated matter. To choose an appropriate bottle for an evening of gastronomical delight prepared by the skilled hands (oh, those hands!) of the Potions master will require forethought and an intimate knowledge of the menu. Hermione will have to spend long hours discussing that very important question with the chef. Of course, one simply can't discuss such a non-academic subject in one's office. There is nothing else for it; they will just have to meet in her rooms. Or his. Over tea. There might even be biscuits. If the discussion goes long enough, sandwiches.
…
She timed it carefully, knocking on his door to ask about their dinner early enough to expect a cuppa, but late enough that a generous tea could take them through the evening. Two dinners for the price of one! she thought.
“It will have to be Saturday, so I have time to shop for ingredients.”
She was just about to suggest asking for some sandwiches from the kitchens when he stood and made his excuses.
“Do you have to leave?”
“The Heads of all the Houses are required to be in the Great Hall between six and six-thirty each evening.”
…
Tesco’s best ought to be good enough. It was what she could afford.
She checked that the champagne was chilled and the Bordeaux appropriately warm before getting changed. Since Severus had to appear at the Great Hall, she would meet him there. That meant whatever she wore would be seen by the entire population of Hogwarts, though only two would know who it was for. So, robes over something sexy but tasteful. For Severus, it had to be black. The little black dress would do nicely. Hair down, for a change. Just enough product to tame the frizz. Minimal makeup.
…
Severus glanced at the clock as she entered the hall. She had timed it perfectly to allow her just long enough at the table so they could leave together. He smirked when he heard the bottles clink in her bag. It was an auspicious sign. A woman did not bring more than one bottle of wine to an intimate dinner party if she meant to keep her wits about her. Not that she needed bother; he had chosen a fully adequate, if reasonably priced, port that would be served with dessert if he felt that greater lubrication was called for.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Dinner Plans
37 Reviews | 8.11/10 Average
Excellent use of Slytherin tactics--bait & switch. XD
I can't help but wonder what he did with the fish.Fed it to the Squid?I am very hungry for cheese now...Brava, by the way - very clever, just as I expect you and the characters to be.(((hugs)))
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Being Severus, he probably dumped the entire lot in a dustbin before he got back to Hogwarts. Or made the House Elves cook it for him. Though I wouldn't put it past him to hide the fish somewhere in Malfoy Manor under a concealment charm, them smirk while Lucius complained about the smell. ;D
Oh God. I hate you.
Just kidding. I'm in my first year of college after having been raised by someone who knew their way around the kitchen, and I have had to stop myself from wasting the little money I have as a college student on good cheeses several times.
I have a feeling after reading this I may not able to help myself next time :-P
If I can't afford tuition I'm blaming this fic :-P
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Uh oh! I really wouldn't want to disrupt your education. Could you, maybe, find a Severus to buy cheese for you?
I'm sorry. In a completely smug, "I so got you" way. :D
I can't help but smile when I read this. Bad food is certainly quite enough to make one grumpy, bad institutional food... well, that would explain a lot of things!I must say I appreciate the professors taste in cheese.*checking bank balance to see if I can afford to go to the store. I suddenly have a desire for cheese*Well written and clever as well as fun. Bravo!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you.
I seem to have very different taste in food from Rowling; I found the descriptions of the meals in the books to be somewhat stomach turning. So I started imagining what it would be like to be forced to eat that way day after day. And this was the result.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, and hope you find some nice cheese.
Sweet, I liked that very much.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.
Very cute! 
I hope you continue. 
Must forward link to my Snape-fanatic-mother...I so corrupted her! 
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you.
There will indeed be more.
You have a Snape-fanatic-mother? *is jealous*
Very, very nice! You need to write The Continuing Culinary Adventures of...
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you. And there are several more installments to come. I do enjoy writing the occasional fluffy, flirty piece, so it's nice to know they're appreciated.
Clever Severus. Clever story. He seems to bring out the Slytherin in Hermione. Very good.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you. I've always thought Hermione had more than a little bit of Slytherin in her, which is part of why they make a good pairing.
Never take a Slytherin at face value. Very nice, thanx!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
You are quite welcome!
You are right. You can never assume you're in control with a Slytherin.
that's very cute. I like how you switched POV.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you. We can't have Hermione making all the moves, now, can we?
Thank you for writing this, it made the really bland bread-and-salad I'm eating right now just exquisite :)! Nice twist!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
You are quite welcome, I'm glad I could spice up your meal.
Hahaha Oh, he's a scheemer! Very well written, by the way!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
He is indeed! Thank you for commenting. "Well written" is one of my favorite phrases.
Okay, nice and subtle and delicious.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
I was aiming for delicious, so it's nice to hear I succeeded. Nice and subtle are good too. Thank you for reviewing.
Oopsie! Busted! Love this series of drabbles!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Busted, indeed. Though, if he'd been worried about it, he would have hidden the evidence more carefully. I think he was sure enough of himself by then that he didn't care.
I'm glad you enjoyed the series.
oh, la! I loved this chapter and especially loved the summary: How to prepare for a date when Severus is on the menu. How do I get him on my menu? And two bottles of champagne? Woman's bound and determined to get him drunk!!!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Getting Severus on the menu is just a matter of typing up the right menu. The tricky part is arranging for the kitchen to actually deliver. They have a bad habit of telling me they're all out and I have to order something else.
I don't think she wanted him drunk, as that could impede performance. Just ... suggestible. ;D
“I was under the impression you had cooked for me.”“I did. Look. It says right on the package, ‘cook at home’.”LOL, well done. I can see Severus going to all that trouble if he thought it would impress Hermione. Great drabbles!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
He is, after all, a Slytherin. Scheming to get her to chase after him is much more satisfying than simply chasing her.
I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Yay! I love this story! In so many fics, he's portrayed as something akin to a master chef because of the association with potions. This is so wonderful!! *grins happily* GG
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
I like playing with the cliches, and this story just begged for a twist at the end. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Oh, those last two lines are killers! Great work!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
I'm so glad you like them! I just love a twisty ending.
It is very lucky for you that your bedroom skills are superior to your culinary abilities.” “I was quite sure that you would see it that way.”
ROFLMAO!! That was so not where I was expecting this to go! Very nice twist.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
So happy to have amused!
I decided to go with Slytherin-manipulative!Severus instead of fanon-metrosexual!Snape. More canon and (to my mind, anyway) far more fun.
LOL! I loved that end! Great story. :D
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
very entertaining. the second chapter had me chuckling wickedly with anticipation, which you paid off well in the third. yummy!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of Dinner Plans)
I'm very happy to have entertained!