Better This Way

Moving On

Severus sat at the bar alone. The pub had been empty for nearly two hours.


“I’ve seen you here many times, Severus, and not once have I seen you this down. The next one’s on me,” Rosmerta said sympathetically.


“Thank you,” Severus said quietly and accepted the drink.


“Is it a woman?”


“What?”


“Usually when I see a man this low, it’s because of a woman,” Rosmerta said.


“Well, yes and no.”


“No because you chose to end it, but yes because you are having regrets?”


“Yes to the first,” Severus said, taking a sip of the amber colored liquid. “It’s been six months, and I have held on. It’s just time to let go.”


“I know exactly what you mean,” Rosmerta said quietly, eyes downcast. “I didn’t end things with my Michael, he was taken from me. The first war. We’d been married for two years, and we were going to have a baby. Voldemort heard that Michael had inside information on the Potters’ whereabouts, but it wasn’t true. It was no matter to Voldemort though. He killed Michael right before my eyes. He took the baby too. It took me years to let go.”


“Well bloody hell, Rosie. You need this more than I do,” Severus said, sliding the Firewhisky towards her.


“Oh, thank you Severus, but I don’t think it would do for the barkeep to be drunk,” Rosmerta said with a bit of a chuckle.


“So close the bar., and let’s have a toast to new beginnings,” Severus said, finally feeling able to smile for the first time in six months.


“Alright then,” Rosmerta said, smiling.


She walked over to the door and warded it.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Hermione, please. I have been escorting you all around the village for two months now. Please, let me take you to the quidditch game. It vill be just like the other times, I promise you,” Viktor said pleadingly.


“Well, alright, Viktor, but just as friends. I’m still not ready to be more than that,” Hermione replied.


“Perhaps I can change your mind about this someday,” Viktor said hopefully.


“Perhaps,” Hermione agreed.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Halfway through a second bottle of Ogden’s, and actually sitting atop the bar, Severus held a glass in his long pale fingers.


“Do you think we’ll get another chance at love?” He asked, hiccupping.


“Oh, you will,” Rosmerta said, laughing. “Dark, smouldering and sexy? Yeah, you will get plenty more chances. It’s me that missed my chance. Men only want the young beautiful ones these days. I’ll end up an old crone.”


Severus looked at her, eyes glassy from the drink.


“I think you’re beautiful,” he said.


Rosmerta stared at him for a second and then pressed her lips hard against his. Right before she pulled him atop her, an image of Hermione flashed through his mind. He shoved the image away. It was time to move on.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Hermione, ve have been dating for four months now. I think it is time that you let me into your heart. I know that this man you vill not speak of has hurt you deeply, but I vill not do this. I vould like a fair chance. I vill not hurt you,” Viktor said as they ate lunch together for what felt like the millionth time.


“Perhaps it is time to move on,” Hermione said quietly, picking at her sandwich. “I can’t believe I have already been in Livonia for eight months. It hasn’t seemed nearly so long--”


Viktor interrupted her by planting a soft kiss on her lips. She let him kiss her, feeling for the first time in eight months that there was hope of being happy again.


A/N: Sorry this chapter is a little shorter. I have more in my head, but it really belonged in a new chapter . I am also sorry if I am disappointing some of you with the turn of events, but I hope you will stick around and see it through to the end with me. I think you will like what I have in store. Thank you once again for all your kind words. They really help to feed my muse and keep this story flowing so quickly. I have a funeral to attend tomorrow, so I am not sure if I will be able to get any chapters out tomorrow, or Sunday, but I will be back on track by Monday for sure.