Love is Blind

Chapter 11

Harry was sitting with his godfather, Sirius Black,
in a corner booth at the Three Broomsticks. They were enjoying a bit of brunch
and a cup or two of coffee. “Is Remus coming?” Harry asked the other man.

“He has a free hour in about ten minutes. He should
be along soon after.” Sirius replied as he took a sip of his drink. “What in
the hell is that?!” he exclaimed after spitting a mouthful of the hot liquid
across the table.

Harry turned, following Sirius’ murderous gaze, to
see Hermione walking into the tavern on Snape’s arm. He noticed that the scar
tissue he saw the day before had seemingly vanished. He shook his head trying
to make sense of what he was seeing. His godfather’s ranting interrupted his
thoughts, “What is Hermione doing with the slimeball? Why the hell is he not in
his dungeons torturing first years?”

Harry watched as his most hated professor guided his
best friend into a chair. He bent down and whispered something in her ear
before heading to the bar. Harry looked at his godfather who was still
grumbling under his breath. “Sirius, I’ll be right back. I need to go talk to
Hermione. Ron and I really upset her yesterday, I need to make it up to her,”
Harry said as he stood and started toward the girl. He passed Snape on his way
to the table. “Professor Snape.”

Severus nodded, “Potter,” and continued on to the
bar.

“Hermione?” H ask asked nervously.

“Harry? What are you doing here?” She was looking at
him, or more likely through him. Her eyes didn’t seem to sparkle they
way they usually do. Harry shrugged off those thoughts before he sat down next
to his best friend.

“Hermione, I want to apologize again for yesterday.
Ron and I were out of line. Obviously Snape is taking good care of you.” He was
talking very fast, afraid that she would cut him off and they would be back to
where they were in the infirmary the day before. He took a deep breath when he
realized she still was silent. “You look great, by the way. I thought that
Madam Pomfrey said that you might not heal. That was fast.”

“Oh, Harry…” Hermione shook her head, “This is just
a glamour. Severus thought it would make me more comfortable. So no one would
stare, you know,” she confessed sheepishly. “I know you and Ron were only
acting like that because of the shock of evhinghing. I don’t even know what I
look like, but by Ron’s reaction when he saw me, I guess it’s pretty bad. But I
assure you that Severus has treated me with nothing but respect.” A small smile
crossed her face when she said the potion master’s name. Harry didn’t miss it.

“I’m sorry, Hermione. I wish I could do somethi… Oh
bloody hell!” He abruptly stood up when he saw movement out of the corner of
his eye.

“What? What’s going on, Harry?” She could hear scuffling
and growled words coming from the back of the tavern.

“I think my idiot of a godfather, just did something
stupid.”

*

Severus was at the bar waiting for Rosmerta to
return with his dri He He suddenly felt an insistent tapping on his shoulder.
He turned to face the person he despised most in the world. “Black.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Snape? She’s
half your age.”

“Who said it was any of your business? Because, I
assure you, it is not.”

“She is my godson’s best friend, and I dare say, my
friend, as well. I don’t think she’d be so desperate to be with you without
being forced. You know, once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater, they say,” he
said, smirking.

Severus’ hand shot up and wrapped itself around the
other man’s neck. Fury burning in his black eyes, he growled, “I suggest you
butt your nose out of it, unless you want to see what dark magic I’m capable
of.”

Sirius struggled under Snape’s grip, but still
managed to add another taunt. “Oooh, is the nasty old Death Eater gonna get me?”
he glared at Snape, tempting him to go further. If Snape used dark magic to
hurt him, then Hermione would see what Snape really is.”

“I’m warning you, Black. You’re damned lucky I haven’t
used this yet” he seethed, pointing his wand into Sirius’ chest. “I can always
point it a bit lower and save you a costly trip to the vet.” He surreptitiously
lowered his wand to point straight at the other man’s groin. Severus could feel
Sirius tense under his hand. Severus reveled in the fear he saw flash briefly
in Black’s eyes. If he knew Black, he wasn’t finished with the scathing
remarks.

“What is it with you and Muggle-born Gryffindo…” a
hand forcefully covered Sirius’ mouth before he could say any more.

“Severus, if you would excuse us, I need to have a
talk with my idiotic compatriot,” said the owner of said hand. Sirius looked
over to see his best friend standing there, one hand on Snape’s shoulder and
the other covering his mouth. Snape nodded and slowly lowered his hand from
Sirius’ throat and turned to go back where Harry and Hermione were now
standing. He put his arm around Hermione and whisd tod to her before returning
to their original table. Harry followed but turned abruptly at the words that
escaped his godfather’s mouth.

“Give it up Snape. You weren’t good enough for Lily,
and you’re not good enough for He…” Sirius found himself slammed back against
the wall.

“Enough!” Remus yelled through gritted teeth, his
eyes burned with anger. Sirius had
never seen Remus this mad. Looking into his best friend’s eyes, he realized
that he had gone too far. He saw his godson standing in the middle of the room,
pale and gaping. Seeing Harry like that made him regret what he just said. “Sirius,
go sit your arse in that booth. If you so much as breathe wrong, I will hex you
into next year. I’m not joking.” Sirius knew Remus wasn’t joking. Remus was a
much more powerful wizard than himself. He would never doubt his best friend’s
capability to do just what he suggested.

Sirius slunk over to the booth. Remus turned and
walked toward Severus and Hermione who were now standing from their chairs,
ready to leave. Remus asked Harry to make sure Sirius behaved while he spoke to
the couple. With a quick, ‘goodbye,’ Harry left the three to talk.

Remus gently squeezed Hermione’s shoulder. She
turned toward him. He smiled as he noticed the spell Severus had apparently
used to hide her scars. He leaned down and softly pecked the top of her head
before addressing Severus. “I would like to apologize for Sirius. I do not excuse
his actions, nor do I condone them. I will be having a long discussion with the
prat. I hope he did not ruin your day.”

“Thank you, Remus,” Severus said flatly.

Remus nodded and turned to Hermione, “It is so good
to see you out, Hermione. I hope you will come visit me when you are
comfortable getting around the castle.”

“I will try, Remus, and thank you,” she said meekly
as she moved to hug him. He wrapped an arm around her for a semi-embrace, as
Severus would not let her go from his arm.

Remus offered his hand to the Slytherin. Severus
shook it sharply. Remus leaned in close enough for only Severus to hear, “Just
take care of her.”

“I plan on it.” Severus answered confidently.

Remus turned to walk back to where his brooding best
friend and his godson were sitting. Harry watched as Snape guided Hermione out
of the tavern, his hand placed softly at the small of her back. After the
couple walked out the door, he turned to Remus. “He loves her doesn’t he?”

“Yes, Harry, I believe he does.”