At the Shore of The Heart

Hermione was curled up in her chair, reading a book about traditional Italian culture. After making her destination choice, she had done what she usually did when a new subject presented itself and started her research. She wasn’t leaving for another two days, but she was enjoying the preparation, and it also took her mind away from Edward.



He had sent her another letter, apologizing for the tone of his first one and explaining he had written in haste and hadn’t really meant what he had said. He had wanted to remove it before she returned home, but because his spare key was in the envelope, he hadn’t been able to. Hermione had pondered his words for a few days, before replying very sweetly, accepting his apology but pointing out that it was probably better this way. She had been away from St Mungo’s for almost two months, and the more time she spent travelling the more she was enjoying it. And the less she missed Edward. Being single seemed the way forward, and she was having a really good time without him. She felt a small pang occasionally. Let’s face it, Hermione wasn’t one for one night stands and she did miss the regular sex. Fortunately, she had discovered Ann Summers and their very effective range of battery operated equipment, so her immediate needs were taken care of. The feeling of being held by someone, and the scent of male flesh as she snuggled into a well-formed chest… well, even Ann Summers couldn’t help her with that one.



Hermione snaked her hand out and lifted the large glass of red wine to her lips. It was Italian and expensive, from the region she intended to visit, and it was like nectar on her tongue. With the homemade lasagne in the oven almost ready, Hermione was embracing her research with relish.



When the doorbell rang, Hermione was just lifting the very hot pasta from the oven. Resting it on top of the hob, she walked to the door and rehearsed a speech in her head. ‘It’s not a good time Edward, I’m about to go to bed, Edward’. She opened the door and gasped.



‘Severus!’ she said in shock. It was raining heavily, and he was soaked through, his dark hair hanging wet and dripping around his face. His eyes were unsure and Hermione could see the dark circles beneath them. ‘For Gods sake, look at you. Come inside,’ she muttered.



Severus stepped over the threshold tentatively. He had never visited her flat before, although she had invited him occasionally.



They stood in the hallway for a moment, and a puddle of water dripped from Severus’s trousers onto the floor. Hermione glanced down and frowned slightly.



‘You need to take your clothes off. How long were you standing in the rain?’ she said briskly.



Severus shivered a little and looked down at his feet. ‘I walked here from my house,’ he said quietly.



‘But that must have taken you an hour,’ she exclaimed, her eyes wide.



‘I didn’t ring the bell straight away. I stood outside for a while,’ he said.



‘Why?’ Hermione put her hands on her hips and felt her frustration start to rise.



‘I wasn’t sure what kind reception I would receive. And I did think that perhaps Edward would be here,’ he looked down the hallway into the kitchen.



‘Edward’s not here. Let’s get you dry, and then we can talk. I bet you haven’t eaten, have you?’ Hermione bustled past him and waved him up the stairs after her.



Like a sheep following a shepherd, Severus followed Hermione without argument.





******



They sat opposite each other at her kitchen table, eating the lasagne and drinking another bottle of the red wine. Severus was warm and dry after a hot shower, and Hermione had magically laundered his clothes for quickness, so he had something to put on afterwards. He was grateful, but they had barely spoken since he had entered the kitchen and she had put his food in front of him.



Hermione used the last bit of bread to mop up the pasta sauce and ate it with gusto, washing it down with a large gulp of wine. The alcohol was going to her head a little.



‘Edward and I have split up,’ she mumbled as she put the glass back onto the table.



Severus lifted his own wine glass and peered at her over the top of it briefly.



‘Why?’ he murmured, aware that she was a little tipsy. He had never seen her like this before and it was amusing him.



Hermione opened her hands wide in a ‘can you believe’ it gesture and said ‘He proposed,’ as if that was explanation enough.



‘And that was a problem, was it?’ Severus smirked as she scowled at him in response.



‘Does it improve things, Severus? Getting married, I mean?’ Hermione leant forward on the table, knocking her empty wine glass over with a clunk. Severus lifted it and smiled at her.



‘It did for us. It depends what you’re looking for, I suppose,’ he mused.



‘What was better? Did you argue less, or feel differently about each other,’ she grinned a little lopsidedly, ‘or did the sex get better?’ Hermione snorted and put her hands over her face in embarrassment, and Severus laughed at her.



‘You need coffee,’ he said, and stood, trying to find his way around her small kitchen. He found an old jar of a non-descript blend and put a large spoonful into a mug.



‘You didn’t answer my question,’ she muttered, turning and staring at him as he poured hot water onto the coffee, stirred it and handed it to her.



‘No I didn’t,’ he chuckled, ‘but because I know you won’t drop it; we never had an argument that I can recall. Being married just made me feel more secure. According to Lucy, that was what I needed,’ he smiled ruefully as he sat down.



‘And the sex?’ Hermione stared at him.



‘Was always good,’ he murmured and averted his gaze, sipping deeply from his glass.



‘Did it get better?’ she pushed him, not really understanding why it was important.



‘Are you regretting breaking up with Edward?’ he asked her, avoiding the question.



Not being able to hold Lucy and make love to her was the one thing he tried the hardest not to think about, and the main thing that kept him awake at night. Sometimes, the pain was unbearable, and it was this that had set him out walking tonight. He hadn’t intended to visit Hermione, but his feet seemed to know what he needed better than he did himself.



‘No, I don’t regret it at all,’ Hermione drank her coffee and her mouth twisted, ‘Yuk, Severus. This is horrible. No, I just miss having someone, anyone. I miss being hugged,’ she smiled sadly, ‘and you do too, don’t you?’



Their eyes met, and Severus knew she was seeing him, really seeing him, and that she understood him and all the confused emotions that made up his life right now.



‘I should have come with you, to Spain. I’m sorry I didn’t,’ he said.



‘That’s okay. You can come with me to Italy, instead,’ Hermione lifted the wine and poured herself another half-glass, not watching Severus’s face.



‘Okay,’ he said, and reached for the bottle, pouring himself another glass.







********





Italy... Severus... Red wine.... sleeping in the next bedroom... you can see this will be fun, huh?