Four

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to JK Rowling. I write to learn. No money is being made.

Chapter 4

Hermione and Severus left for Rome the next morning. Severus had received a call during the night requesting he meet with Claire and Cole, the man who ran the freelance agency of which Snape and Claire were a part, first thing that morning. Cole wanted to discuss what had happened with the exchange.

Once in Rome, Severus led Hermione into a Metro station. They boarded the Orange line and rode it to Numidio Quadrato. They exited the subway, but instead of leaving the station, they waited until the train had departed and the stop was clear. Then Severus located a door at the far end of the platform and entered a series of pass codes into a keypad. The door opened, and Severus all but shoved Hermione through, then closed it tightly behind them.

"Don't say a word," Severus commanded. "Unless you are specifically asked a question."

"Okay."

After rounding three corners, the corridor opened into a small reception area, complete with a desk and filing cabinet sitting in front of a door; there was no one at the desk. Severus went to the cabinet and opened the second drawer, then pulled on a hanging file inside. Hermione heard a click, and then Severus returned the file and closed the drawer.

The door opened. "Ladies first," Severus said.

Hermione hesitated, then went through. Severus was right behind her. A short, stocky man wearing glasses met them immediately, quickly sizing up Hermione.

He spoke in Italian, so Hermione quietly cast a spell on herself that would allow her to understand what he said. "Cole is right this way, Clint. He'll be with you in a moment." They stopped outside a plain brown door.

Severus knocked twice.

"Come."

"Remember," he said with a meaningful glance. "Not a word."

"I got it," she returned, slightly perturbed.

Severus opened the door and stepped through. Hermione saw Claire sitting at a large conference table with a tall, blond man; he had a scar running from his right ear to his chin. He smiled grandly when he saw her.

"This must be Rebecca. I've heard more about you than I never knew I didn't want to know," he said, first in Italian, then in English.

Hermione raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Cole's smile slipped into a sneer. "Out. Clint, we've got a lot to discuss."

Severus gave Hermione a hard look before shutting the door, leaving her standing in the hallway. Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. He returned after a mere ten minutes, sweeping out of the room in the manner she was accustomed to seeing in school. "Let's go."

Once again in the subway station, Severus Apparated Hermione and himself to an alleyway somewhere in the city. She barely had time to glance around her at the aged cobblestone streets or the houses which had been standing for centuries before Snape took her arm firmly in his hand and pulled her after him, toward a main road.

"Hey," she whispered, getting his attention. "I'm not going anywhere."

Snape slowed his pace and gave her a penetrating look. He seemed to hesitate but finally released her arm, letting his fingers linger on her wrist as though deciding if he really should let her go. "Stay close," he said briskly and resumed his path.

There were a lot of people on the sidewalk, and Snape slid through them as though he were a boulder in a stream. The people parted for him as if by magic, not once brushing against his clothing. Hermione, meanwhile, kept getting jostled, and she feared she would fall behind. She almost had to jog in order to keep up with him, so after only a moment's consideration, she reached out and took his hand in hers.

His hand tensed and she thought he might throw it away, but instead he gripped her hand securely. Hermione forced herself not to focus too intently on the pleasant sparks radiating from every part of her hand where it came in contact with his, releasing a horde of butterflies in her stomach.

This was Snape. A much different Snape, true, but still him. To think for even a moment that he was capable of feeling anything for her beyond acknowledging that he knew her was ridiculous. It was also rather disconcerting to discover that the abstract feelings she had developed for the man over the last six years had transformed themselves into concrete attraction. She was no better than all the women in England who fantasized about Snape, who wished their own husbands were half the man Snape was. Hermione had always rationalized that her interest in him had been for intellectual reasons: he was a brilliant man and he loved more intensely, more devotedly, than anyone she knew or had heard of.

Now his voice sent shivers up her spine, his eyes burned hers when they met, and she felt the nervous apprehension that accompanies a new crush. Hermione groaned.

"What's wrong?" Snape asked immediately, his eyes searching the crowd in a practiced manner.

"Nothing," Hermione muttered.

"Here," he said, pulling her toward the edge of the sea of people. Snape turned down a less crowded side street and finally stopped in front of a large door. He released her hand, and while he procured a key to unlock the door, Hermione gazed at the buildings on either side of Snape's. They were about four stories each, their faces in perfect condition despite the hints of age in the pipes and warped glass in the windows.

"Quickly. In," he barked, opening the door just a sliver and practically shoving Hermione through.

She stopped immediately inside the door and looked around. The first thing she noticed was the incredible openness of the space; the second was the two loft areas. A set of stairs directly in front of her led up to one of the loft areas, where she could just make out the side of a bed. Presumably, there was a bathroom upstairs as well.

To her left was a solid wall. To her immediate right was a set of brick columns separating two open spaces. In one space, stairs led to the other loft that housed an open kitchen. Beneath the kitchen was a desk and work area.

On the other side of the brick column was a pair steps that led down into a large sitting room. The sitting room was open to both the work area and kitchen. In the sitting area was a large, U-shaped sofa. On the far wall opposite the kitchen and work area was an enormous bookshelf that reached from just above the sofa to the ceiling of the loft.

Hermione gaped at the floor to ceiling bookcase. It was full of books. A short balcony extended from the bedroom area in front of the bookcase, looking down over the sitting area. At least she would have plenty to keep her occupied during her 'captivity.'

As she looked around, she noticed that there were personal touches throughout the space which hadn't been present in the safe house they had left that morning. There were black and white pictures lining the left wall depicting destinations all over the world, not quite perfect and obviously taken by a non-professional. A stack of books sat on the bottom stair of the set leading to the kitchen. Nothing in the flat was out of place.

As though someone lived there.

Severus had opened a small closet along the left wall and hung his jacket. Hermione waited until he looked at her.

"You live here," she said proudly.

"Yes," he said simply, shutting the closet door.

"Why are we here? What about the safe house?"

"I'll take you to the safe house after my meeting this afternoon. There is a small amount of paperwork involved. The safe house here in Rome is bigger than the one in Florence and usually has a few inhabitants at any given moment. I don't have much time before the meeting, so you're stuck here."

She chuckled. "Another meeting?"

"These things require copious attention," he replied.

"How long will you be?"

"An hour at most, I expect."

She turned to him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I reckon I'll have to be quick about my thorough investigative search of your place."

He quirked an eyebrow, his eyes smiling. "Be my guest. However, I must warn you that many things in this flat will fight back. The more sensitive, the more painful and disfiguring the bite."

"I'll remember that," she said with a grin.

"Er ... make yourself comfortable," Snape said, gesturing to the room. "I've got to get changed." He walked toward the stairs. "I don't suppose you have a change of clothes with you."

"No," Hermione replied, going down the steps to where the large, black leather U-shaped sofa was practically screaming at her to sit and dive into a book. "I didn't bring my emergency 'in case I'm kidnapped' bag."

After a few minutes, Snape came down the stairs wearing a pair of brown pants, dark brown leather shoes and belt, and a stark white button-down shirt. He looked very sharp, his clothes pressed and his shoes shined. A watch was just visible on his left arm, and Hermione wondered briefly about the Dark Mark hidden beneath his sleeve. Snape's gun was once again stowed in its holster.

"Here," he said, handing her a wad of clothes. "You can Transfigure them yourself."

"Thank you," she said, accepting a pair of dark blue track pants and an old t-shirt. She had to shake her head in amazement at the track pants, trying to imagine him running. It still hadn't sunk in that Snape was by and large living as a Muggle.

Snape pulled a jacket from his front closet and put it on. "Because I have to say it...because I need to know that you at least understand the potential consequences of your actions should you choose to ignore me: don't leave this house and do not open the door for anyone."

"I won't," Hermione promised.

He looked at her as though he would say more, but instead gave her a curt nod and left, locking the door behind him with a key and a series of magical wards.

Hermione took a deep breath and examined the clothes in her arms. It was kind of him to have thought of clothes for her, and she was grateful she didn't have to wear the sundress for the entire time she was with him. She could really use a nice, long bath and wondered if he had a tub, and whether it would attack her for trying to use it. She giggled at the thought and made her way up the stairs.

The master bath had only a boxshower...an enclosed area with a glass door...but Hermione was only slightly disappointed. A hot shower would be almost as good as a bath.

She stood for a few minutes under the streaming water with her eyes closed, trying to forget everything that had happened within the last twenty-four hours. When she opened her eyes, however, she saw Snape's bathroom instead of the hotel bathroom she'd shared with Ginny and Luna, saw Snape's black robe hanging from a hook on the wall. With a sigh, Hermione began washing.

Twenty minutes later, she was clean and refreshed. Hermione decided not to Transfigure the clothes Snape had given her, but to alter them to fit instead. The pants and shirt were soft and appeared extremely comfortable, and as she had no doubt that she wouldn't be setting foot outside, there was no reason to wear anything more stylish.

Once dressed, Hermione went downstairs in search of the kitchen; it was up another set of stairs. She opened the refrigerator and was surprised to find two shelves covered with small bottles. Curious, she picked one up. The label read: "Pepperup Potion. Date: 4/2/07" All the other bottles had similar labels. Part of the third shelf was devoted to food, and Hermione found a half-full carton of orange juice. When she searched for a glass, she wasn't surprised to find most of the cabinets full of more potions and ingredients. There were two place settings of dishes and silverware, and two glasses. She poured herself a glass of juice and went downstairs to find a book.

Half an hour later, the door opened. Hermione had her wand ready and a spell on her lips when she saw Severus Snape's familiar face. With a tentative smile, she lowered her arm.

"You're back," she said.

Severus had been so deep in thought he'd forgotten Hermione was in his home. He glanced up, mildly startled, to find her looking at him. He was surprised to see her in the pants and shirt he'd given her that morning, but when she stood, he saw that his clothes now perfectly fit her. Severus had hoped that by giving her something else to wear that he would be able to concentrate normally, undistracted by the sweet expanse of her skin as it dipped here, curved there ... He saw with dismay that her curves, while more covered, were every bit as distracting as they'd been in the dress. He swallowed hard and turned away from her to replace his jacket in the closet and hopefully get a better handle on himself. A few deep breaths and he was ready to face her again.

"Astute observation," he finally replied, unbuttoning his sleeves and then the top button of his shirt. "What have you found to occupy yourself?"

"A book," she said, sitting back on the sofa. "And a shower."

That was not what he needed to hear.

"You don't entertain much, do you?" Hermione said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Severus frowned. "What makes you think that? I am more than capable of as much entertainment as I desire." He felt like banging his head on the wall.

Hermione blushed. "I ... I didn't mean ... It's just ... You have potions in the refrigerator and almost all of your kitchen cabinets, and there are Potions books in plain sight on your coffee table."

"Oh." It was Snape's turn to redden. "No. You are actually the first person to enter this flat besides myself since I bought it."

"I am?" she asked in surprise. "Why? Why did you bring me here?"

He sighed and sat on the sofa at a safe distance from her. The answer to her questions astonished even him, and he needed a few moments to compose his answers.

"I maintain my skills as a wizard, and I brew potions in my home. It is my sanctuary from the outside world, from the work I do. I have very few acquaintances that are not part of my work, and they are not close enough to me to warrant inviting them here. As for why I brought you here ..." He trailed off and looked at her.

"Since seeing you yesterday, I admit that I have felt rather homesick for the life I left behind and for people who understand me. You are part of that world, a world which I do not wish to leave. I live that life in this house, and so it seemed fitting that you be allowed in. You are one of the very few people who truly do understand me, not only who I am as a wizard, but also as a person. At least, in theory, since we have not had a civil conversation in all the years we've known each other until yesterday."

"Of course, that conversation came after you kidnapped me."

"I prefer the term rescued."

Hermione bit her lip. Again, she felt as though she had been given a great honor in being the only person Snape had allowed into his home because it was more than just his home; it was his life, too. In just twenty-four hours, she already counted the man before her as a friend.

Severus wondered when Hermione would ask about the past. It seemed now was the perfect opportunity, as he had brought it up and practically handed her the chance to ask him why he had been so awful to her. He dreaded the question because he hated his answer. From the very first time she raised her hand in his class to give the answer to a question, she had reminded him of him. Although, he had never been as anxious to publicly answer a teacher's question, nor had he taken every opportunity to rub his intelligence in others' faces, even though he knew Hermione had not done it to intentionally hurt.

When he was in school, he had been the student who sat in the middle of the classroom...not the front, to appear too eager, and not the back, to appear uninterested...the student to read his books over the summer and know all the answers before the year even started. He and Hermione had shared those traits. However, he had despised those students in his year that felt the need to show off, in any arena, and Hermione's attitude had very quickly turned him against her. When she had befriended Potter that decided it. As the years passed, and she showed that she had not only intelligence, but presence of mind, bravery, and strength of character, it was far too late for him to go easy on her or let her think he approved.

"How was your meeting?" Hermione asked.

Momentarily stunned, Snape blinked, then answered, "It went well. We've been given the go ahead from Il Nove to attempt another exchange. The next step is contacting Red Fox. Cole agrees that he wants you...Rebecca, rather...out, but he was curious about you and, like Claire, not convinced that you are a teacher. It's a wonderful cover, but I'm afraid it's too good for people in my business. Anything squeaky clean is automatically under suspicion."

"So the plan is the same as we discussed yesterday, we're just waiting to hear when."

"That, and also that Red Fox wants to complete the exchange in the same way. I imagine the code phrases will be different."

"Naturally," Hermione said with a smile.

Severus slowly smiled back. "Claire is contacting them, and when she hears something definite, she'll call. You'll ... be staying here rather than going to the safe house."

"Oh?"

"Better to have you near at hand, just in case."

Hermione's smile went from sweet to mischievous. "So Claire has never been here, right?"

Severus shook his head. "No, Hermione. By no one, I meant not even Claire." He stood, effectively ending the conversation. "Would you like something for lunch?"

"Yes, please. Oh, Severus. How long do you anticipate it will take before Claire hears something?"

He shrugged. "It could be a few minutes, it could be days. If I had to guess, I would say no more than two days."

She let out her breath. "Two days. Poor Ginny and Luna! They've got to be worried out of their minds!"

"Let us hope your letter will put them at some ease."

Hermione nodded. "But what am I to do with myself?"

Severus smirked. "There are always potions to brew, if you are so inclined."

She groaned. "Oh, that sounds lovely. I spent my vacation locked in a flat in Rome, forced to brew Pepperup Potion all night and day with only scraps to eat and..."

"One hand tied behind your back, blindfolded."

Their eyes met, and Hermione started laughing. "Did you say something about lunch?"

ooo

At least the morning had been busy for Harry, Ginny, Ron and Luna, sparing them from having too much time in which to think about Hermione. Ginny and Luna had showed Hermione's note to Harry and Ron, and as soon as they could check out of their hotel, they had quickly Apparated to Rome. It took them two hours, stopping three times to ask for directions and getting help from a gypsy woman who tried to con Ron, to find a suitable place to rent on such short notice, but they ended up with a modest, two bedroom flat with a fireplace and phone lines.

Harry had first called the Italian Ministry and, after a few Expediting Fees, got the fireplace temporarily connected to the Floo network. While Ron and Luna unpacked, Ginny went over the list she had made the day before of everything that had happened, what they knew, and what they were looking for.

Harry hung up the phone just as Ron and Luna returned with lunch. "We've got news," he said, going to the table and sitting down. The food remained in the take-away bags. "MI-6 has an insider at Red Fox who reported that an exchange had been botched."

"Red Fox ... why does that sound familiar?" Ginny interjected.

"You know, Ginny. Red Fox? They were the ones responsible for that high profile assassination in Prague last year. I thought I told you about that, right?"

Ginny gasped. "That's them?"

Harry nodded his head, a grim expression on his face. "The people at Red Fox were really upset about the failed exchange, but then they heard from the people with whom they were supposed to make the exchange, requesting another meet. Red Fox is thinking about it, but the insider is confident they'll agree. Apparently, they want something pretty badly."

"What's the exchange for?" Luna asked.

"No idea, my colleague wouldn't tell me. Too sensitive, I guess."

"Doesn't really matter," said Ginny. "Do you think Hermione will be there?"

"I can't imagine why she would," said Harry. "But if we find Shaul, whom we suspect is part of Red Fox, and then find out when and where the exchange is to take place, we just might find Snape."

"Once we've tortured him to within an inch of his life, we'll ask him where Hermione is," said Ron, his jaw set.

"I don't think Snape means her any harm," said Harry.

"But you don't know that," Ron returned.

Harry sighed. "No. But I simply cannot believe that the man responsible for practically winning the war would hurt her. He let her send a letter by owl post."

"He doesn't like her," Ginny said hesitantly. "Never has."

"He's never liked me, but he saved my life more times than I can count," Harry replied. "I ... I trust him, until I find a reason not to."

ooo

At two that afternoon, Harry's phone rang. He was told that Shaul had just landed at Rome's airport and was being followed, though Harry didn't expect that to last.

At three-thirty, Harry was given an address in Rome where Shaul might be staying...Ginny was pleased that Hermione's clue had panned out. The Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare (SISMI), who surprised both Harry and his colleague at MI-6 by showing excessive interest in Shaul, had managed to effectively tail him, through the use of twenty different vehicles, to a house just outside the city.

At four, Harry and Ginny were hiding behind the bushes outside a small, suburban villa, trying to catch a glimpse of Shaul. Finally, they spotted him through a window, his bright orange hair standing out like a beacon, talking on a cell phone. Harry called his contact.

"Steve," he whispered. "Can you get a lock on the GPS in my phone? ... Good. Now search for other signals in a thirty foot radius. ... Find anything? Two? Track them both. Send an electronic tag through, if you can. ... Yeah. Thanks."

By six-thirty, Harry had a complete phone record for both signals and transcripts of all phone conversations since the surveillance had been initiated. One of the phones belonged to a real estate agent in the adjacent flat, the other to Shaul. He had been contacted by someone Harry hadn't heard about who went by M.C. about the possibility of an exchange and told to wait for further instructions. There were no other relevant calls for the rest of the day.

When it came time to sleep, Harry suggested they take turns watching the transcript emails. Everyone agreed so Harry showed Ron, Luna and Ginny how to check emails and open the files.

They had a generic plan for the next day, which was really all they could do, but they were at least grateful to have something to keep them focused on short-term goals, rather than empty time in which to worry.

ooo

Hermione yawned and turned the page in her book. She glanced at the clock on the wall: eleven. Severus had been gone since four, and she had no idea if she should be worried that he hadn't returned or not. He had said he would be back that night, but she had expected him much earlier.

After lunch, she and Severus had passed a surprisingly enjoyable few hours. Severus had showed her his small Potions workshop and was in the middle of showing her where everything was in the kitchen, in case either of them needed her to brew something, when he suddenly stopped and chuckled.

"You already went through the kitchen, didn't you?"

"Yes ..." she said, smiling slyly.

Then they had discussed a wide variety of subjects, beginning with Severus' questions about post-war England. He had listened attentively while Hermione spoke, asking questions now and again.

Hermione had asked him to describe some of his more interesting missions. At first, he refused to provide details, but then discovered that Hermione had so many questions as a result of his vague descriptions that he gave up. Each thought, each story led to another and before either of them knew it, Severus was nearly late for a meeting. He had jumped up and nearly run out the door.

She closed the book. Surely he should have returned by now!

Coinciding with her thought, the door opened then, and Hermione glanced up anxiously.

Severus closed the door behind him and rubbed his forehead, his brow furrowed deeply. After a moment, he removed his coat and hung it in the closet before finally turning around. When his eyes fell on Hermione, sitting on his sofa, he paused, thinking how naturally she appeared to belong and how normal it felt. As though he led an uneventful life with a simple desk job, and every night came home to a woman...the same woman.

Severus removed the gun from his belt. "I thought you'd be asleep."

"You weren't here," she said simply.

He looked away and emptied the clip. "I am now. Do you require anything?"

Hermione stood and stretched. "A blanket and pillow should do," she said, picking up her glass to return it to the kitchen.

When she reached Severus, she smiled, and without thinking he reached out and stopped her. She looked at him, curious. "I'm going up anyway," he said, taking the glass from her hand but keeping a grip on her arm.

Merlin, he had never been so undone by a woman than when he looked into her eyes. It was more than unexpected...her entrance into his life had been a jolt that had shaken him to the core. He hadn't thought about a normal life in years and had all but vowed never to return to England. Now, after just two days in Hermione's presence, he was already entertaining domestic thoughts, as if she were that same woman he'd been imagining. It was ... disturbing.

Hermione nodded and moved away, and Severus could breathe again. He wasn't ready to interact with her, and he was hungry, so Severus went to the kitchen, heated leftovers and sat at the table to eat.

There had been one other time in his life when he had truly wanted the 'normal' existence of a regular job and a family. He had been young, and it had been stupid to consider the idea that Lily Evans would ever think of him. Not once since the day she married James Potter had Severus wanted that life. At least, not consciously. During the years between the two wars against the Dark Lord, when life was less complicated, Snape had felt an occasional twinge at the concept of a forever kind of relationship. He had excused it as a desire for a reliable partner.

Since the Dark Lord's death, those twinges had become more noticeable and more pronounced, though still easy to ignore. He hadn't been able to get the image from the night before of coming home to find Hermione on his sofa out of his head since that morning. Was it simply the fact that she was a woman? Was it because she knew the truth about him, when no one in his life now did? Or was it her? He didn't know, and she would be gone before he could figure it out.

Suddenly not hungry, Severus pushed the plate away, stood and went down the stairs. Hermione was still on the sofa, reading.

"I can get you a blanket, or you may sleep in my bed," he said.

Hermione turned bright red, and her eyes widened.

"I meant that you may have the bed," he amended quickly. "And I will sleep down here."

She shook her head and looked away. "No, that's all right. This will be fine."

"I insist," he said stiffly.

"Severus, really. The sofa is very comfortable."

"I'm sure it is; I will be glad of that in the morning."

"No, really, it's fine."

"Stop, please. Take the bed."

She bit her lip and looked at him. "It's your bed. You haven't been home in at least a few days. I don't want you to miss your bed on my account."

"It's just a bed, Hermione. I'm not terribly partial to it."

"But..."

"Hermione!" he interrupted forcibly. "I am sleeping on the sofa. If you wish to sleep with me, stay down here." He knew his face was red. "Otherwise, take the bed."

Hermione's eyes were wide as she looked at him, and then she did something he did not expect. She laughed. "Merlin, this is awkward!" She touched her cheek. "I'm flushed! I'll take the bed, and thank you."

Severus was so surprised at her admission that he smiled. "Good. That's settled."

Hermione stood. "Well, night then."

"Goodnight."

As he lay wide awake for hours that night, Severus couldn't help but think that he had never before had a woman in his bed. In his bed. Now, he didn't have just any woman, but the refreshing and surprisingly interesting Hermione Granger. She was the first woman he had allowed not only into his home, and into more of his life than anyone else, but in his bed. And the terrible reality was that he wasn't with her, lying beside her with his arms wrapped around her luscious body, inhaling her scent as he drifted into dreams.

ooo

End Notes: Thank you for reading!

Beta Credits: I cannot thank my betas enough for their help on this story. This was my first sshg story and I'm pretty sure it will be obvious. This story is infinitely better thanks to their help. Special thanks to Bambu, for the many, many delightful and invaluable hours spent working with me on this. I have learned so much from you and just adore you! And to Shug, who encouraged me to join the exchange in the first place, coded with me at the last minute, and has been a wonderful help and source of many smiles. True friends, both of you!!!