Defining Sexuality

Hermione arrived at the Apparition point in the Leaky Cauldron and walked up to the bar to get a drink before making her way into Diagon Alley. Her purpose in being here was to be seen by as many witches and wizards as possible.

Old Tom immediately appeared before her. "It is good to see you again Miss." Scanning the room to see if Snape was around.

Hermione chuckled as she replied "I am on my own today Tom and you know the Daily Prophet's style of reporting is questionable at times. I'll take a Butterbeer please."

Tom chuckled. "Aye, you are right on the Prophet Miss." Pouring out the drink and placing it on the bar.

She took up the drink and scanned the pub noticing every patron looking to her. Reaching over, she rang the bell indicating drinks for all. "Send the bill to Gringott's Tom." She spoke as the patrons rushed to the bar thanking her as they placed their order.

She mingled for a while, catching up on things before she left the pub and made her way to Gringott's. It was time to learn of her finances as she instructed the goblins to invest it as they saw fit after the fiasco with Ron.

Griphook briefed her on her finances and she left the bank pleased. While not wealthy by any means, she was well off and would not have to work for several years if she chose not to do so.

Hermione shopped around Diagon Alley for a few hours and purchased books and robes for herself giving the lackey of the Prophet following her ample time to photograph her as she stepped to the last shop before she went back home.

"Hermione Granger! It has been a few years and I remember the first cauldron that you purchased from me." The owner of the store gushed out as she walked over to her. "How can I help you today?"

"It's great to see you again Leigh. I wish to purchase a medium glass cauldron and have it engraved and delivered to this address at 1pm tomorrow. Can you do that?" She asked as she wrote down her address and inscription on a piece of parchment.

Leigh read the parchment. "I can and consider it done. Just tap your wand here dear." Writing out an order and sliding the parchment to her.

Hermione tapped her wand to the parchment and spoke. "One of the Prophet's lackeys will be by to find out what I have purchased. Just tell them I bought a pewter cauldron." Sliding a few galleons to the shop owner.

"I don't need that Hermione. I'll take care of this myself. You helped save us all." The old witch replied as she hugged the young witch. Leigh escorted the witch to the shop entrance and bade her good-bye.

Rita Skeeter pounced on her at the doorstep of the shop. "Hermione Granger the Wizarding world wants to know about you and DeathEater Severus Snape. Is that the reason you have been away?" Dicto-Quill hovering in the air.

"Rita Skeeter, still writing the trollop that passes for news? I see that things have not changed in the time that I was away." Pushing past the witch and walk away.

Rita rushed up and stood in front of her, blocking her way. "Is your relationship with the DeathEater the reason why you stayed away? I know that I wrote about the break-up of Ron Weasley and you. He blamed you being a lesbian. I think he was scared of your beau, who I must remind you that has not been seen in the same time that you have been missing."

Hermione pulled out her wand and held it down. "For fuck's sake Rita don't be ridiculous! As far as Master Snape being a DeathEater I remind you that he was exonerated and important in helping Harry bringing down Voldemort and saving us all from a horrible future. He did receive an Order of First Class for Merlin's sake!" She snarled to the reporter as she continued. "And as for you writing that Master Snape and I being together is not true and you could not associate me to a finer wizard than he. My patience is growing thin Rita." Pointing her wand out and sending out a stinging hex to the reporter.

A couple of Aurours walked up. "What is going on here? Are you being hassled Miss. Granger?"

Rita quickly backed away. "I was just on my way. I got in the way of someone else's stinging hex and no I do not know who it was. Good Day Aurours Potter and Weasley." Grabbing her cameraman and hurried away from the witch.

Hermione watched in satisfaction and saw Harry and Ron standing there and rushed to them both and hugged them. "Thanks for saving me from that horrid beetle!"

Harry continued to hug her as Ron pulled away and watched. "I'm not sure who saved who Hermione. Is Snape around? I doubt that she would have approached you at all if he was lurking about."

"No Harry as I wanted to come on my own. Your timing was spot on Harry."

Harry chuckled. "So it seems. We are on our way to Hogsmeade to visit some friends. We tried to floo you but Snape answered and said that you went out and did not know what time you would return. Care to join us?" Referring to the Potions Master in that address as Ron had been Oblviated.

Hermione eyed Ron for a moment. "Only if Ron agrees to it."

Ron grabbed her hand and grinned. "Of course Hermione." As a camera clicked.

Hermione whirled around with her wand in hand but it was too late as she saw the cameraman scurrying away and meeting up with Rita in the distance.

"Put your wand away Hermione. As much as I would love to hex her, the press has their rights unless you want to charge her with harassment." Harry told her as they began to walk.

Hermione glowered. "No that would make her story worse."

Harry clapped her on the back and grinned. "Now you are learning about the press. It's best not to rile them unless they print something that really puts you in a negative light or so untrue that it could be assured that you would win in court as all of her stories are written with speculation and the Prophet's legal team has some of the best barrister's in the Wizarding world as speculation is not defamation of character. I tell everyone that if they want to know if it is true then read the Quibbler."

They arrived at the public Apparation point and grabbed hands as Harry turned his heel and the trio disappeared with a crack.

Hermione found herself at the entrance to the Hog's Head as Harry greeted Aberforth as they climbed the stairs and entered room 7 seeing Neville, Draco, and Jeremy sitting at the table quietly talking to one another.

She watched as Ron rushed to the muggle and kissed her classmate before he sat down beside him, watching as he grabbed Jeremy's hand and held it.

Draco rushed up and led her to a chair and pulled it out as she sat down. "I released Severus's Obliviate on Ron." Speaking out as he sat down beside her along with Harry on the other side. "Thank you for finding her Harry."

Ron looked to her in shame as he began to speak. "I'm sorry about my actions toward you Hermione and I hope to heal the rift between us."

Hermione looked to him. "You only had to tell me Ron." She softly spoke as she looked to him.

"I know but it wasn't as easy as that. I denied the feelings that I felt as everyone expected me to be with you Hermione. My fellow Aurours constantly harassed me stating that I must not be much of a wizard if I could not take you. I told them time and time again that you were waiting to complete your studies. They did not believe me as they continued to harass me. I finally took up with Lavander to prove them wrong and I did not enjoy it as I did what was expected of me."

Ron looked to her as he continued to speak. "My fellow Aurors were appeased as I embellished the relationship that I had with Lavender on the side. They constantly told me how clever I was to put one over on the brightest witch of her age and I hated it. Then you found us and kicked me out. I had hoped to hide my true feelings behind our marriage but I cowed to the peer pressure and lost you."

He turned to Jeremy and looked to him lovingly for a moment before he continued. "That night in the club was the best thing to happen to me for I found Jeremy and we were both disgusted with one another until you slapped him and forced us to talk to one another. We denied what we truly wanted."

Ron picked up her hand. "I am sorry to mislead you for so long Hermione as I felt as soon as we were married I would complete what my family expected of me. I knew that your demands would not be so much on me as you pursued schooling and knowledge."

"It would have been unfair for both of us Ron. You stuck in a relationship not suited for you with me." She stood up. "I'm happy for you to find Jeremy Ron. And thank you for telling me this as your actions made me wonder how I could make you stray. Jeremy, I hope that you are good for him as you enter a world that if you told anyone about you would be considered mental. Just remember that the Wizarding world wants the muggles kept ignorant of it and will not hesitate to wipe your mind if you revealed it."

Jeremy spoke. "I find it unbelievable now even presented with proof. Are you truly the witch that Ron told me about and how you helped save the world from an evil man?"

Hermione looked to her classmate as she pulled out her wand and stated "Avis" and watched as the birds circled around the men. "It is true Jeremy and as I said before you'll not find a better man then Ron."

Hermione left the room as Neville spoke out. "That went as well as could be expected."

Harry patted Ron's hand. "I think that she forgives you Ron."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione arrived at her house and felt a feeling of elation. It was not her fault that Ron strayed and felt free. The future was all hers now if she only dared to pursue it.

She walked into the shared sitting room and noticed Severus's observing her dress.

"Off to the Wizarding world on your own?" Severus drawled out in his silky voice as he looked to her secretly pleased that she went back on her own.

"Yes Severus and I met up with Rita. I'm sure that the Daily Prophet will be interesting tomorrow. I also met with Draco, Neville, Jeremy, Ron, and Harry at the Hog's Head and Ron apologized as Draco released your Obliviate." She told him as she left for her side of the house.

Hermione took a shower and fell into her bed and slept in peace for the first time in years.

Severus watched her leave as he noticed a spring of her step and the determination and confidence return. The Hermione Granger of the past had returned. He entered his room and sat down on the bed and wondered why she thought that the Prophet would be interesting. He chuckled, realizing that Rita Skeeter must have questioned her on their relationship.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione woke up bright and early as she always did on finals and dressed in her new set of emerald green robes embroidered with a golden lioness posed as if to strike and made breakfast consisting of beans on toast, eggs, and kippers and placed it on the table along two plates. She had decided to pursue her housemate and knew that he would notice the subtle clues.

Severus walked into the kitchen similarly attired except his emerald green robes had embroidered silver snakes running up the arms of his robes. He eyed the breakfast on the table and noted it was not the normal buttered toast that she normally ate on a day of finals.

He sat at the table as Hermione poured him a cup of strong tea that she knew he preferred in the morning. "Gryffindor would be rolling in his grave if he knew one of his House was wearing the robes you are wearing Hermione."

She chuckled as she tucked into her breakfast. "Probably Severus."

They ate their meal in comfortable silence until they were finished and Hermione began to clean up.

"Was my potion any help to you in your studies?" Severus inquired as he watched her for a reaction.

"They were very enlightening and verified some hazy portions of my notes. It helped cleared up a lot of things Severus." Watching for a reaction from him. They continued to look at one another until a peck at the window and a knock on the door occurred simultaneously, breaking the silence.

"I'll get the door and you get the Prophet. Who on earth would be here so early in the morning?" She responded as she left the kitchen to answer the door.

Severus let the owl in and pulled out a knut and placed it in the pouch attached to the owl's leg as the bird dropped the paper on the table and flew out the opened window.

He unrolled the paper and read the glaring headline. "Heroine Hermione Granger Declares There Is Not A Finer Wizard For Me!" Below it was a picture of her pulling her wand and pointing it out. He watched the picture move as he sat in disbelief. What in Merlin had she said?

Meanwhile Hermione opened the door revealing Ron and Jeremy. "Ron, Jeremy! What a pleasant surprise." Motioning them into the shared living room. "Please sit down."

Jeremy and Ron sat down and watched the muggle man pull out three steaming hot cups of latte from a carrier and placed them on the table.

She sat down and took one up and sipped it, appreciating the flavor of it and then looked to the young men questioningly.

Jeremy looked uncomfortable. "Hermione, Harry told me about the trouble you have had in the past on passing this class and I am here to help you study if you will accept my offer."

Severus entered the living room and glared at the group.

Ron stuttered. "Good Morning Master Snape." Addressing him properly as he wanted no trouble with the wizard with Jeremy around.

Severus looked to the group. "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Smith, Miss Granger." He coldly acknowledged as he left the room with the Daily Prophet tucked under his arm as he went to his room.

Ron looked to Hermione. "I thought you were involved with him."

"No Ron." She chuckled as she watched her housemate leave them as she wondered on his reaction to the newspaper. "I was at the club for academics only. Your words to me at the club forced me into a charade that he willingly participated in."

Jeremy watched the tall, pale man leave the room. "Is he a wizard as well? He is scary." Feeling frightened.

Hermione chuckled. "You're safe enough Jeremy. He is our ex professor from Hogwarts and he is my housemate."

"Ron run along to your duties and thank you for bringing Jeremy here to help me." Standing up and leading her ex to the door and watched him leave. She did not need to study as she had information that would assure her of a passing grade.

She settled down with Jeremy to study, touched that Ron thought of her.

Soon it was thirty minutes to class as she put her notes down. "Wait here while I change Jeremy." Leaving the muggle is she went to change her clothes.

Jeremy looked up and noticed that Hermione's housemate entered the room and looked to him in fear.

"I do not bite Mr. Smith." Severus spoke out, pleased as he saw the young man jumped in his chair. "I see that you have accepted your orientation. Your classmates will not remember as they were busy with other things."

Jeremy sighed out in relief as he watched the tall pale wizard with long black hair sit down in a leather chair and began to read a newspaper that he brought with him.

Hermione arrived back into the room wearing a nice business suit and noticed Severus lower his newspaper. "Good luck Miss Granger with your test." He spoke as he went back to his newspaper.

Jeremy jumped up. "Hermione, we'll never make it on time!"

She picked up her bag and wrapped her arms around the young man and whispered to him. "Of course we will Jeremy." Turning her heel and Apparating them away with a crack.

Severus watched the witch and muggle disappear and stood up. So she was making her interest known to him. The Prophet revealed that much quoting her words. He ignored the rest of the article and went to his room reflecting on her words that she could not be associated with a better wizard.