Under the Influence

A/N: Y'all are so sweet... good reviews inspire me to write and update more!

Disclaimer: It's JKR's ocean, I'm just riding the waves.


Chapter 6- Saturday night, post Victory Day Celebration.


Hermione and Snape walked into the bar together, still arm in arm. They immediately headed for their usual seats at the bar, only to discover somebody was sitting in them. A surreptitious glance around the joint revealed that the place was packed.

"Wow, big difference from Wednesdays. I was kind of wondering how this place stayed in business," Hermione observed.

Suddenly, she pulled Severus to an empty table in a dark corner. The table was grimy and sticky. It still had empty mugs and cigarette butts on it from the last customers.

"This is the only place to sit in here?" Severus asked, wrinkling his large nose.

"Must be, look around and see if you can find us better accomodations."

Snape was wondering if he should scare a few people away from the bar, when a plump waitress with half a cigarette dangling out of her mouth showed up. She took the butts and mugs, and half heartedly swiped the tabletop with a brown rag.

"What'll it be?" She demanded in a bored voice.

"A pitcher of dirty martinis. A very large pitcher. Actually, two pitchers. I need BOOZE!" Hermione directed.

"And you, sweetheart?" the waitress turned toward Snape.

"I'll share with her. Thanks."

Hermione scooted her chair closer to Snape's.

"Did you know this place had waitresses?" she whispered loudly.

"No. I guess they only have them on weekends. Most people don't get drunk in the middle of the week."

"I'm not most people."

"No doubt about that, Hermione."

The waitress chose that moment to approach the table, carrying the pitchers on a dusty tray. She set the pitchers on the table, followed by two beer mugs.

"Don't you have cocktail glasses?" Snape demanded.

"What kind of place do you think this is? You're lucky you get olives." With that, the waitress stalked away.

Hermione didnt hesitate. She emptied each pitcher into its respective beer mug and pushed Snape's toward him. She took several large gulps of her martini.

"Hermione, slow down. You're already half drunk."

"I just can't believe he would show up like that, with Draco, all happy. I just can't believe he would have the bollocks to kiss him in front of everybody, with me right there..." Hermione paused to inhale a bit more of her drink.

Snape jumped in. "Hermione, you need to get a hold of yourself."

"Severus, I need to get a hold of you." Hermione put her hand on Snape's leg.

Snape pushed her hand away. "If I thought you were serious, and you weren't drunk, I might take you up on your offer. But you're drunk, and angry, and I don't want to be your revenge fuck."

Hermione's head dropped onto the table. "Gods, I just keep embarrassing myself everytime I get around you." She raised her head, and Snape noticed she had bits of cigarette ash stuck to her forehead. He reached up to wipe them off, and Hermione flinched.

"How can you stand to touch me? My own husband would rather bugger Draco fucking Malfoy then be with me. Do you know he never once asked me for sex? I always had to start it, and it was never any good. I must be hideous or something."

"Hermione, I am not going to stroke your ego for you."

"I'm not fishing for compliments, SIR. I just can't help saying what pops into my head right now. Martinis act like Veritaserum for me."

Hermione gulped down another large portion of her drink.

Snape sighed. This night was not going to end well. He took a sip of his drink.

"He's not your husband anymore, Hermione."

"Thank Merlin for small miracles. What was I thinking, anyway? I guess I wasn't thinking. I mean, anybody could see the marriage was doomed from the start."

"That's true. You can't expect a gay man to get turned on by even the most attractive of women."

Hermione looked at Snape. "That was almost a compliment, sir."

Snape smirked. "Don't get used to it."

Hermione polished off her martini and pushed the mug away from her. "I need some air. I'm going for a walk."

She went to the bar to pay the bill. Snape took another sip of his mostly full drink and stood. Hermione was going to need a chaperone.

He followed her out of the bar. She was swaying with every step. He wrapped one arm around her waist to steady her. She leaned into him.

"You know, I really am attracted to you," Hermione told him.

"You won't remember this in the morning."

"Probably not. Why is the world so dizzy?"

"That's what happens when young witches drink too many martinis."

"Oh, God, I need to..."

Hermione bent at the waist and threw up all over Snape's shoes. Snape was not surprised in the least. He waited until she was done, and with a quick 'Evanesco' cleaned up his shoes.

"Hermione, let's get you home."

"Can't."

"I'll take you."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. She snuggled into his chest.

"You smell good."

"You smell like vomit. Close your eyes."

Snape apparated them into Hermione's dorm room. It was standard as dorm rooms go, with a bed, a hotplate in one corner, and a sofa. Snape assumed the door in one wall was for the loo.

Hermione took that moment to throw up on Snape's shoes again. He flicked his wand toward the mess, banishing it, and dragged Hermione into the bathroom. He held her hair back from her face as she heaved for several minutes. He left her hugging the toilet, then returned with a glass of water. He handed it to Hermione. She rinsed out her mouth, then took a long drink of the water. Snape pulled her to her feet.

"C'mon, let's get you to bed."

"Can't sleep in my dress."

"Okay." Snape unzipped the back of the dress and pushed it off her shoulders. She stepped out of the pile of foof and collapsed on her bed. Snape pulled a blanket over her. Within moments, she was snoring.

He pulled a vial out of his pocket and put it on her nightstand.

"Good night, Hermione," he whispered. After a moment's hesitation, he dropped a soft kiss on her forehead. He then apparated home.