Happy Bloody Christmas, Severus Snape!

“So, what is this fine institution you will be attending?” Severus asked.

Between them they had consumed over half a bottle of firewhiskey. Hermione, to his secret delight, had kept up with him like a pro. He noticed that the more she drank, the more Hermione loosened up around him. At first he had noticed her nervousness, noticed the way she looked at him with that mixed expression of confusion and fascination.

Severus Snape was not a handsome man by any means. He knew that, but there was something in the way she gazed at him: like he was a lovely bit of bittersweet chocolate. When she began undoing the first few buttons on the collar of her button up, Severus gulped down the rest of his whiskey and focused on the conversation. He had no problem taking advantage of some chit after his money, he paid them well for their silence, but this was Hermione Granger: best-friend to Harry Potter, and golden girl of the Wizarding World.

“Oh, the Coventry Institute of Charms and Counter-Charms.” She said, waving her hand about dismissively. “I figured the first thing I should do after getting out from under Ron’s feeble but controlling thumb was go back to school.”

Severus frowned, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. Controlling? He had known Mr. Weasley for most of his young miserable life. He’d seen him grow from a little fool, into a bigger fool, relying on Quidditch and young witches to keep his mind occupied instead of his studies. How could such a complete buffoon control a powerful young witch like Miss Granger? The more he observed her quiet way of being, the more he suspected he wouldn’t like the answer.

“All for the best I’m sure” he said softly, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. Over the course of the evening they had gone from sitting in opposing chairs to sharing his love seat, inching closer and closer until they arrived at their present situation. Miss Granger’s right leg was draped under her, her bare foot teasing the inside of his knee. In his own way Severus knew he was attracted to her. Who wouldn’t be? The woman was relatively pleasing to the eye, she was easy to talk to when she wasn’t blathering about house elf rights, and she was brilliant. Brilliant in a way none of the strumpets he’d bedded since the war could ever be. It had taken him over twenty years, but he had found her. Someone that had finally captured his full attention, who made him forget about his infantile crush on Lily. Too bad, he had no way to act upon it. Miss Granger would soon be gone, off to her school in Coventry, and he would be stuck here in this castle serving the needs of a most needy generation of wizards and witches.

“Headmaster, do you believe that things happen for a reason? All things?” she said softly, her head resting on the arm he laid casually on the back of the sofa.

“Personally I think that all things happen for a reason, Miss Granger. Even if we do not know the blasted reasons” he replied, his eyes growing angry. Hermione sat up abruptly as the tiny growl he had been withholding gave way.

“Headmaster? Is there something wrong?”

Severus said nothing. There was something wrong here, but it was nothing that could be fixed. “What happened to you Miss Granger? What did Mr. Weasley do?”

Hermione straightened, and he immediately regretted his question. The glaze left by the firewhiskey was beginning to fade, and she was beginning to feel the tension return. Whatever Mr. Weasley had done, the dread in her eyes confirmed it.

“Ronald,” she hesitated. “Ronald didn’t want someone like me: studious, capable of independent thought. He wanted his mother: someone whose first and foremost desire in life was to put breakfast on the table and raise a dozen children.” She blushed. “I want children headmaster, but not a dozen, and not before I can finish my education.”

Severus snickered. No, his Miss Granger wouldn’t want a boat load of children so soon. It just wasn’t in her nature. Maybe one or two, he supposed. He could see her with a little boy and girl: bouncing black curls, straight little roman noses, pretty honey colored eyes…Severus mentally shook himself. “His” Miss Granger? One night and he was already thinking of the woman as his. What on earth was wrong with him? He was still that small child in the park, hanging onto a love that wasn’t meant for him.

“Very reasonable, Miss Granger. I suppose in time you’ll find the right wizard who will support you in your endeavors.” He brushed a stray curl back from her face.

“And what kind of wizard would that be headmaster?” she said lightly, her face inching closer to his.

Severus pretended to think a moment, twirling the hairs that had escaped from her braid. He had hoped she would get up the gumption and kiss him, but then Miss Granger had never been anything but a respectable young witch. He had never shown any particular interest in her, so she wouldn’t just throw herself at him like any common harlot.

“Well, I suppose he would have to be an intelligent wizard: someone who would support your love of learning, perhaps he would need a genuine love of learning himself.” He hesitated, “I suppose he would have to be able to deal with those boneheads you call friends, and…be handsome maybe.”

Hermione gazed at their entwined hands. Severus Snape was the most intelligent wizard she knew, he may not have gotten along with Harry or Ron when they were students, but he at least pretended to tolerate Harry now. If he wanted to do away with Ron that was his prerogative. As for handsome…perhaps he was not handsome in the everyday sense. He was no Jude Law, or other, but there was something about his face and manner of speaking that captured her attentions, even made up for what he lacked in common beauty. Hermione giggled. She wondered for a moment if he knew who exactly he was describing.

“Why headmaster, that sounds a little like you” she smiled knowingly, her hand reaching up to tug playfully at a lock of hair. It was still a little greasy, but now that he was out of the dungeons, the grease was at a minimum. Amazing what not constantly being over potions could do for one’s appearance.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He said gruffly. “Perhaps we’ve imbibed a little much. Time to go to dinner Miss Granger…”

He stood a little abruptly, sending Hermione and himself to the floor. They laughed a little, but there was nothing funny about the compromising position they were in. Hermione shyly planted a kiss on his jaw before scrambling to her feet, and helping him up. Hermione had come to the castle a week early, seeking the feeling of safety, and now she was glad she did. Severus Snape was not a man she would have wanted to miss.