The Hunt

Two days later Severus received an owl . It had no return address or signature. In the envelope was several folded up articles. His confusion went away when he read them. They were testimonials from teachers who eventually dated students they had encountered some years later.



Severus grinned. Hermione must have sent them. He noted the Quibbler cover on one of them and thought she must have gone to Luna Lovegood for the information. He knew they remained good friends, Hermione mentioned her several timed over the years.



Grinning, he figured he might as well read them if she took the trouble to send them. He sat down and went over all of them. There were some who had problems at first just like he was having with regards to the age, but eventually got over it and decided to take chance. Many claimed it was the best decision of their lives. The students admitted to have a deep respect for their former teacher and the professors delighting in the fact they were able to teach such fine students.



Severus could relate. Hermione was a brilliant woman and he took pride in contributing to that brilliance. As annoying as she was as a child, when she grew older she matured in a lovely lady.



If he dated her, would people talk? He didn’t want any of her friends giving her guilt trips over it, but then again Hermione had always made decision for herself and didn’t care about what others thought. Anyone who was friends with her would know her well enough to understand that guilt trips didn’t work on her.



He folded up the papers again and out them in the envelope. He had to admit, it was flattering that she approached him. No woman had ever been that upfront with him before, unless she was a prostitute. Hermione didn’t play games and he liked that. She knew what she wanted and asked for it.



Could she handle being with him? Could he handle being with her? He could care less what the public thought of him. The public could kiss his ass. He didn’t want Hermione viewed in a bad light.



On the other hand, she seemed to be willing to take the chance. Maybe he should too. He got up and quickly quilled a note to Lucius. Meeting his old friend for drinks might help.





Hermione met up with Draco for lunch. “Ok Hermione, what is it?” He asked, leaning forward over the table as they waited for their order.



She chuckled. “What makes you think I want something?” She asked smiling.



“When you make it a point to insist this much over a simple lunch it’s because you want to talk about something. So come on, out with it.” He said.



“Alright. Ginny would like to go with your father to the charity event.” Draco’s eyebrows lifted.



“Really?” He grinned widely. Hermione nodded. “All she has to do is ask.”



Hermione laughed. “She did ask Draco?” He refused.



“What?!” Draco yelled in a hoarse whisper. “What do you mean he refused?”



“According to Ginny he’s uncomfortable with the fact that she’s so much younger then him.”



“What has age got to do with it, lots of men date younger then themselves. Hell it used to be commonplace centuries ago.”



“I know that, but your father isn’t thinking that way. He thinks he’s too old.”



“I’ll go talk to him. I’ll make him see reason.” Hermione smiled. She knew Draco would want to do something.



After lunch Draco made his way to his fathers study. Lucius looked up in surprise and smiled. “Draco? To what do I owe the visit son.”



“I need to talk to you father. What’s this I hear about turning down a date?” He looked at his father eye to eye, having grown to the same intimidating height. Lucius rolled his eyes.



“Now Draco, where did you hear about that?” He asked.



“Never mind where I heard it, but Ginny didn’t cry on my shoulder if that’s what your asking. I heard elsewhere. Why did you turn her down?”



Lucius turned and began pacing his study. “Draco she’s your age, correction, she’s a year younger then you.”



“And that matters how father?” Draco had to smile at his father’s paranoia.



“Do you support this?” Draco nodded. “I can’t believe this. You actually think I should date a girl young enough to be my daughter.”



Draco approached his father and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Father, first off stop calling her a girl, Ginny is a grown woman now, a divorced woman. Which brings me to my next point.” Lucius merely lifted an eyebrow at his son. “She’s divorced and most likely doesn’t want anything serious.”



Lucius stopped and thought. She had said that they could help each other with the loneliness. She hadn’t said anything about commitment.



Draco smiled as his father weighed the pros and cons. He knew his father wanted Ginny, it was obvious. “Listen, I’m going out with Severus tonight for drinks, I’ll think about it.” Draco nodded and left his father to his thoughts.





Severus and Lucius sat in their customary seat in the pub they always went to. With drinks in each hand and a set of fine cigars they were men that obviously had something on their minds. “Let me set something up Severus and you tell me what you would do.” Lucius said.



“Alright, then I’ll do the same.” Lucius agreed. Then began.



“Ginny Weasley came to me asking about investment opportunities. I gave her a few and then she drops the biggest shock I’ve ever heard.” Severus had quieted significantly, feeling his stomach drop. “She wants to have sex.”



Severus said nothing. He didn’t know what to say. “Lucius, would you believe the same thing happened to me?”



“Do tell.” Lucius said taking a drink.



“Hermione Granger came to me asking for assistance with a new potion design then mentioned testing it on each other.”



“So I take it it’s a sexual potion.” Lucius ventured.



“Something like that.” Severus said. “So what do we do?”



“I don’t know. My issue is the age, what’s yours?” Lucius asked.



“I used to be her teacher Lucius.” Severus said as if it was an obvious factor.



“So, that was years ago. She’s a potions master too, isn’t it commonplace for mentors to have something with their apprentices?” Lucius asked.



“She was never my apprentice.” Severus countered.



“So what’s the big deal?” Lucius asked.



“She’s also Ginny’s age, so what do you have to say about that?” Severus said looking his friend in the eye. Lucius remained silent and the men fell into a pattern of drinking and smoking.



“You think I should go don’t you?” Lucius asked.



“Go where?” Severus asked, then had a flash of insight. “She asked you to the benefit didn’t she?” Lucius nodded. “Hermione asked me as well.” Lucius and Severus finished their drinks and cigars in silence.