To Be Alive

Hermione sat back against her sofa with a glass of red wine in her hand. She took a sip of the dark liquid. To say it had been quite the week would be an understatement. Last Sunday she had woken up in the warmth of Severus Snape’s arms. She had begun to stir as sunlight came pouring in through the oversized windows. At this point, the couple had shifted in the night and Hermione’s head was resting in the crook of his arm. Her T-shirt had hiked up in the night, or Severus pushed it up, she wasn’t sure, and she relished in the feel of the soft sheets against her bare skin. His hand had move beneath her shirt and was splayed across the small of her back as he hugged her against him. Her right let was draped over his left thigh; her core flesh against his leg. She opened her eyes and looked up to see that he was still asleep. She planted a few light kisses in the crook of his arm and drank in his early morning scent.

As she kissed him she noticed he began to wake. After he opened his eyes she moved to kiss his lips. They spent the better part of an hour cuddling and kissing beneath the heavy duvet.

“Let me make you breakfast,” he whispered between kisses.

“You don’t need to do all that” she offered.

“I’ve never made anyone breakfast before. I’d like to make some for you.”

Hermione felt a smile pull at her lips and she nodded in agreement.

The pair took separate showers and headed downstairs for breakfast. Severus was making quite a spread with toast and eggs and small breakfast sausages. When they sat down to eat together, Hermione thanked him gratuitously as she ate. He watched her momentarily before digging into his own plate.

“So I will keep watch over the potion, if you’d like. Would you like me to make a few calls and we can begin bottling it and sending it out for trials?” Severus took a bite of his toast.

“Thank you, yes” Hermione replied. “When do you think we should bottle it?”

“There is no harm in letting it simmer for a few days. If we bottle it Thursday night I can make some drop offs on Friday. Unless you’d like to do something else. I’m sure my colleagues would love to meet you after hearing so much from me about this potion.”

Hermione blushed. “I should be able to take Friday off. Kingsley knows that I’ve been pursuing this potion and would be supportive of whatever I need to do to get it out there. Can I come with you?”

Severus’ face brightened. “There is nothing I’d like more.”

She smiled in return and the pair resumed eating their breakfast. Then Severus spoke, “Actually there is one thing I’d like more” he added.

“And what is that?”

She could see nervousness on his face as he carefully chose his words. “For you to spend the night again on Thursday.” He looked down at his plate as he waited for her answer.

Hermione took another bite of her sausage, making him wait momentarily. One eyebrow lifted as he peeked up at her, waiting for reply. She finished chewing and when she regained his eye contact she finished. “That sounds lovely. It’s a date.”

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

It was now Wednesday night and she felt as if it had been the longest three days of her life. Kingsley easily approved her absence request and she was looking forward to her early start to the weekend.

She had told her friends about their successful brewing session and that the potion was going to go out on Friday. Ron, Harry, and Ginny had come over on Monday night and asked her about brewing with Snape.

“I’m not sure you guys understand,” she explained. “He is completely different now. He is pleasant and we had a really nice time together. He made me laugh a lot. And he ordered pizza.”

“Snape eats pizza?” Ron looked dumbstruck.

Ginny smacked his arm. “Of course he eats pizza. Most people do.”

Ron rubbed the spot. “I just can’t picture it.”

Hermione ignored Ronald. Her friends shared her excitement about the trials, but didn’t quite understand how she could tolerate working with their old professor.

Little do they know.

After finishing her wine she went to her bedroom to pack a small overnight bag. She was going to apparate to Severus’ right after work. She packed her overnight things, and a fresh lingerie set to wear to Severus’. She found a 3/4 sleeve navy dress with a slight plunge at the neckline, just enough to make sure she didn’t look prudish, and nude pumps to wear on Friday. She laid out her clothes for the day. A beige and maroon pencil skirt that hit an inch or two above the knee and a light maroon sweater. She figured she’d wear her pumps twice.

Just as Hermione was preparing to get into bed, she heard tapping at her window. She opened it to let in a black owl with a scroll attached to his leg. He lifted it so she could remove it. She began to read.

Hermione,

I thought I’d send you a quick note regarding tomorrow. The potion is doing beautifully and is ready for bottling. I am looking forward to working with you again.

I must let you know that I took a dose of the potion for the first time last night. It was only Tuesday that I realized I had no trouble with sleep the night you stayed in my bed. Not surprisingly, Sunday and Monday the nightmares returned. On Tuesday night, with the aid of the potion, I had nothing but peacefully sleep. The dreams were extracted in the morning and I saved them, but have no want to view them any time soon.

I need to thank you properly. I am so proud of you and excited that this potion that can help so many is ready to go out. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.

Yours,

SS

Hermione beamed at the note. She offered the bird a cracker off a nearby plate and grabbed another piece of parchment to jot a quick reply. She gave the note to the bird and he flew off. All she had written was this:

Dear Severus,

Waiting for tomorrow seems to have become the center of my week. I’m so glad that you found peaceful sleep. I think I would be sleeping better if I had you by my side.

Patiently pacing in anticipation of tomorrow,

Your Hermione