The Sound of Noise

Hermione took back what she had said before. Things were not looking up. She was fed up with the Wizarding World. How hard was it to rent an empty building? For her, it was mission impossible.

She sighed. "You mean to tell me, in all of Hogsmeade, there is not one empty building?"

One of the members of the town board shook his head. "I'm afraid not Miss. All the shops are filled."

She shook her head. "Not even an abandoned house?"

The man looked at the books in front of him. "Well there is the old Shrieking Shack, but that is a very haunted place. Other than that, nothing."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you sir. You've helped me more than you know."

***
She left the office and walked down the street. She smiled. Every paper needed a gimmick. It could work. She glanced at her list and then was off on the next task.

***
At the end of the day, a lot had been accomplished. Her ads had been placed. Her office space almost negotiated and she had talked with several shop owners about her paper and their business.

Now, she was getting ready for her date with Severus. She smiled. This was going to be good.

***
Stephanie watched her father fussing over his appearance. He had brushed his hair several times and looked through his wardrobe almost as much. She smiled as he mummered to himself.

He caught her and frowned. "What is so amusing?"

She pointed to him.

"Me? Why am I amusing?"

She signed.

He chuckled. "I'm worse than your mother when she gets dressed? I suppose you are right. I only want tonight to be special."

Steph signed.

Severus laughed. "True Little One. I already had a chance and was able to get the girl, but things are different now. Lots of things have changed."

She shrugged and went back to her book.

Severus came and sat with her. "Did your mother go out often when you were in America?"

She shook her head.

He frowned. "She did go out didn't she?"

Steph thought for a few moments then signed. "Not that I can remember."

Severus nodded. "Interesting." He stood and straightened his frock coat once more. "Well, will I pass?"

She smiled and nodded.

He took a deep breath. "Let's be off. Your mother awaits."

***
Hermione sighed and let her hair fall again. There was nothing she could do with it. It was to bushy and wild. She shook her head. No wonder she didn't date. She was getting up when Lana came into the room.

She looked at the elf. "Is he here?"

Lana shook her head. "No ma'am. Lana only wanted to check on Ma'am. Does she need any help?"

Hermione shrugged. "There's nothing unless you can do something with my hair."

The elf snapped her fingers and Hermione's hair shifted and twisted itself into a beautiful French twist. Lana smiled. "Sadly, the spell does not help the condition of Ma'ams hair, only keeps it in place."

Hermione kissed her on the head. "Lana, you are wonderful. Truly wonderful." She stood and found her shoes and slipped them on.

As she was giving herself a final glance in the mirror, Covington appeared. "Professor Snape and young Misses have arrived."

***
Snape watched Steph talking with the House Elfs. She had taught them many of her words and symbols. Reading them had gotten easier for him. Being a father was becoming easier as well.

His attention was so sed sed on Steph he didn't notice Hermione enter the room. When he did, she almost took his breath away.

He hadn't given her any indication of where they were going, so her dress was casual. Her hair, still on the bushy side, had been twisted away from her face. The blue of the dress made her skin appear darker. He smiled at her, amazed.

***
Hermione smoothed the side of her dress. The hem flowed around her knees while the scoop neck was daring but not to bold. She bit her lip and smiled back at him.

Still the same Severus, black all over. She stepped forward and gasped. "My, my, is that a silver shirt that I see? Could it be Severus Snape has actually placed a color on his body?"

He frowned. "It can easily be black again."

She chuckled. "No Severus, I wasn't making fun. It was just a surprise."

***
Steph ran over and hugged Hermione tightly. She signed quickly. Hermione smiled. "Thank you honey. I haven't had much occasion to wear this dress." She turned to Severus. "Well, I'm ready."

He smiled. "As am I." He turned to Lana. "Take care of young Misses while we are out. I expect her to still make her bedtime."

Steph pouted at him. He chuckled. "I'll return your mother in one piece, Little One."

She signed and hugged him tightly. Hermione kissed her head. "Be good while I'm out. You know my rules." Steph nodded and signed. Hermione shook her head. "I know, but tonight I for your father and I. We'll all go out again soon enough." She kissed her head again. "I love you honey. I'll talk with you later."

***
Steph sat on the couch after her parents were gone. What was she going to do why they were gone? Finally, she smiled and grabbed a piece of paper. After she finished, she found Lana and signed what she wanted her to do. The Elf nodded and threw floo power into the fire. She announced the destination and Steph threw the letter in and watched it disappear.

***
Severus took Hermione to a small store front. He pulled a black cloth from his pocket. "I arranged a port key for our travel. If you would be so kind." She smiled and took part of the cloth. Within seconds, she felt the tug and they were taken to their destination.

***
A short time later, Hermione smiled at Severus over the table. She couldn't believe they were sitting in her favorite muggle restaurant in London. Severus looked amazing too. She couldn't keep the smile off her face.

Finally, he wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin. "Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head. "Oh no, it's just, I can't believe we're sitting here, together."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "That would constitute together."

She frowned and rolled her eyes. He nodded. "I agree. There was a time when I believed I would never see you again."

Hermione sipped her drink. "Tell me, honestly, did you really think that I would be better without you?"

He looked at her. "Hermione, yes. You were young. You were intelligent. The world had opened it's doors to you. I was old. My reputation, or lack there of, couldn't have helped you. I wanted more for you."

She took his hand. "Severus, while that is a very noble sentiment, I needed you."

He looked at her. "You needed no one. You were strong in your own right."

Hermione shook her head. "I was strong for Stephanie."

Severus smiled slightly. "She is amazing."

She laughed. "You just like her because she can't talk and as questions all the time."

He shook his head. "She does well even without her voice."

The waitress came over and cleared off their emptied plates. Severus settled the bill, then stood. Hermione took his arm and once they were outside, they took another port key to the rest of their evening.

***
Ginny and Harry brushed the soot off their clothes as they stepped out of the Floo. Steph hugged each of them tightly.

Ginny smiled at the girl. "So mum and dad are out tonight? Do you think they're working on things?"

Steph nodded, the wrote. Harry smiled. "You mean, Snape, the greasy git, was worried about his appearance? That's classic!" He put his hands up to ward off Steph. "No offense Steph."

She looked at Ginny and handed her a piece of paper. Ginny unfolded it and smiled. "You kept the note I gave you when you left?"

Steph nodded and pointed to the line about getting her parents back together. She held up a finger telling them to wait there, and ran out of the room. Harry shrugged and settled onto the couch. Steph ran back in holding her necklace.

Ginny frowned. "What's that?"

Steph signed quickly but Harry grabbed her hands. "Honey, Steph, wait. We can't understand. Write it out."

Steph snapped her fingers and Lana appeared. Steph signed to her and Lana nodded. "Young Misses says Lana is to tell you the words."

Ginny grinned. "Well now, that's handy." Lana began to explain to them about the necklace.

***
Hermione sipped her drink and looked out at the dance floor. She had to admit, this wasn't a bad club. The music wasn't overly loud, it wasn't the horrible noise they called music, and there wasn't someone trying to cop a feel.

She and Severus had found a table relatively easily. They sat in comfortable silence, watching those around them.

Finally Hermione looked at him. "Come on. I want to dance." He frowned but allowed himself to be pulled onto the floor.

***
It was awkward at first, the tempo of the song was to fast for them to dance comfortably. Hermione knew how the dances of the day went, but Severus was lost. Finally, a slow song began.

He nodded to her. "This is more like it." He took her hand and pulled her flush to him. With one hand on her waist, he dipped her backward, then brought her back up against him.

She gasped and smiled as they began to dance. He shrugged at her and with a smirk, began to whirl her around the floor.

***
Ginny laughed. "Well, it looks like you are on your way to getting your parents together. They are out together. Tell you what, Harry, Ron and I will help as much as we can."

Harry frowned. "Honey, don't you think we need to stay out of this? Last time we tried to help, we lost Hermione for a while."

Ginny shook her head. "This is different. She wants to be with him. We're just helping them along."

Covington appeared. "Young Miss, bedtime has arrived."

Steph frowned but Harry stood and ruffled her hair. "You better go. Your mother will be furious if we make you miss bedtime."

Ginny kissed her cheek. "Ron, Harry and I will come up with some more ideas. Don't worry, you'll have both your parents before you know it." Steph nodded and hugged Ginny then Harry.

Covington walked them to the door. "Thank you for spending the evening with Young Miss. Please come again." He shut the door as soon as they were outside.

Harry laughed. "He really wanted us gone didn't he?"

Ginny shrugged. "He probably thought Hermione would be mad that we visited. Come on, let's find Ron."

***
Hermione straightened her dress after she and Severus appeared at the front gate. "I had a lovely evening Severus. Thank you." She looked towards the house. "Would you like to come in for a bit?"

He shook his head. "I'll not stay, but I would like to see if Stephanie is in bed as we told her to be."

She opened the gate and starp thp the walk. She glanced at her watch. "She should be in bed. It's after 11."

***
Hermione opened the door and smiled at Lana who was standing to take their coats. "Hello Lana. Everything went well I hope?"

Lana nodded. "Yes ma'am. Mr. Harry and Ms. Ginny visited with Young Miss."

Severus nodded. "Young Miss was in bed before curfew correct?"

The Elf nodded. "Yes sir. Covington made sure of that."

Hermione thanked her. "That's all for tonight Lana." The elf nodded and disappeared.

***
Severus looked at Hermione. "I should be going." She nodded and led him down the hallway to Steph's room. She quietly opened the door and stopped.

Severus looked over her head and smiled slightly. Steph was curled with her hand holding her place in a book. Hermione started to moved but Severus stopped her. He flicked his wand ad the book appeared on the bedside table with a bookmark in place.

Hermione held up her wand. A flick later, tow books and a flashlight had joined the other book. She turned and she and Severus walked back into the living room.

He turned and looked at her. "Thank you for this evening. Your company was acceptable."

She frowned at him. "Only acceptable? You know Severus, if I didn't know you so well, I might be offended." She grinned. "Thank you for the evening. I did enjoy myself."

He nodded, then leaned down and kissed her gently. He pulled away, but she reached up and pulled him back for a deeper kiss.

After they parted again, she leaned her forehead against his. He chuckled. "Goodnight Hermione."

She took a breath and looked at him. "If you don't leave now, you might not get a chance to."

He straightened and smoothed his coat. "I will see you tomorrow. Stephanie has her lessons tomorrow. I am up to date with medicinal potions. Would you like to start researching?"

She thought for a moment. "I need to speak with a few people in the afternoon, but I am free in the morning."

He nodded. "Until then."

Hermione walked him to the door and leaned against the frame when he was outside. He turned. "Thank you again."

She smiled. "No Severus. Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him again.

***
Steph grinned at the sight, then ran back to bed. As she snuggled under the covers, she smiled. It was really going to happen. Her parents were going to be together.