A Likely Story

Chapter 5 ~ A Likely Story

"Of course I should have realized you would figure it out," Minerva said graciously, pouring her favorite student another cup of tea. They'd discussed Severus' behavior in detail, something Hermione would only have felt comfortable doing with another female.

"I feel so stupid for not realizing what Professor Warrington was trying to say, though," Hermione replied, oblivious to Minerva's suddenly pursing lips. "Obviously he was trying to warn me that Severus wouldn't just come out and say that he liked me, and five minutes after his warning I go and muck things all up by trying to make him do exactly that!"

Hermione took a sip of tea before she continued. "Actually, it was awfully nice of him to even bother warning me. I got the impression he wished someone had warned his old girlfriend of the same thing. He seemed a bit - well - doleful, I suppose, or at least regretful. As if he was trying to protect me from something." She fell silent, finally noticing that her former Head of House was sitting on the very edge of her seat and gazing into the fire. "Are you alright, Prof - er - Minerva?" She was still getting accustomed to addressing her former professors by their first names.

"Of course," Minerva snapped, pulling her eyes back to her guest. She softened her voice quickly at the look of surprise on Hermione's face. "I suppose I've kept you long enough," she stated firmly, and Hermione had no choice but to accept that it was time to leave. Minerva offered to let her use the floo connection in her rooms, and moments later she found herself in her flat in London, dusting soot from her clothes and wondering what had come over her friend.

Minerva sat gazing at the fire for a long time. When she finally stood, she took a deep breath and made her way resolutely to the owlery.

Another three days passed, and Hermione found herself seated between Harry and Minerva at the kitchen table in Grimmauld Place, listening to Remus explain exactly what had taken place during his last mission. He'd missed several weeks' worth of Order meetings while he attempted to sway as many werewolves as possible to their cause. It was a difficult job, considering that he wasn't able to offer them the rights and privileges that their human relatives took for granted. Still, there were now over thirty new members of the Order who were willing to assist with surveillance and even to fight if necessary.

Hermione bit back a smile as Severus looked disgustedly across the table at Remus. She could practically hear what he was thinking. 30 new people to brew Wolfsbane for. Perhaps she should offer to help him?

Severus, for his part, was focusing his eyes on Remus for no better reason than to keep them off of Hermione. Potter was scowling at him every time he so much as glanced in her direction. He was rather disgusted with himself, really. In the last three days, he'd come up with no plausible way to ask her if she'd like to go dancing. In fact, he'd come up with no way to safely TAKE her dancing. Part of the lure of taking her to the conference at Geneva was the security there. Like Hogwarts, it was a place the Dark Lord would think twice or thrice before attacking. Severus had known nearly every person in attendance, having learned with them, or learned from them, or taught them himself. Dancing would be a different matter. They would present a rather convenient target at any place he could think of. Perhaps he'd have to give in and ask Albus for advice. He inadvertently made a face. Perhaps not.

"Severus, that look is hardly necessary. You do give a report at each meeting, after all," Dumbledore commented easily, his eyes twinkling knowingly. Severus snapped out of his thoughts, realizing that he'd just been called upon to speak.

"Of course, Headmaster," he responded smoothly in order to cut off any sniggering that may have been forthcoming. He proceeded to report on what little he'd been able to accomplish in the last week. When he fell silent, he spared a thought for whether or not the aging wizard at the head of the table had yet heard about the ward he'd taught Weasley. But Dumbledore moved on to Kingsley without further comment. Severus suspected that the fallout from that would come in private.

When Hermione was asked to speak, he, and most of the other purebloods, tried hard not to look amused. "I spoke with Dobby and Winky," she began, kicking Ron under the table when he snorted forcefully into his hand. "And several of the free house elves that the ministry now employs." That had been S.P.E.W.'s best achievement; getting Percy to lobby on behalf of house elf rights with his boss. They were at least paid for their work now, though the ministry elves refused to take any days off. "And they are all anxious to help," she continued with a wry smile. Even she now knew enough about house elves to know that they were always anxious to help. By the time she'd explained the limits on a free house elf's power (which were not as strenuous as they'd been led to believe), and how she thought they'd be of assistance to the Order, none of the purebloods were amused. Interested, impressed, and humbled, perhaps, but certainly no longer amused.

"Brilliant," Severus whispered to himself as the others discussed the merits of her plan. "The Dark Lord would never think to look for opposition from that quarter." Hermione, who'd been anxious about presenting this idea in the first place, was looking amongst her peers, trying to decide what they thought when she caught his words. Suddenly it didn't matter to her what anyone else thought at all, so long as he approved. She grinned as she met his eyes, and was more than a little surprised when he smiled back. It was tentative, as had been his smile at dinner the previous week, but it was there.

There was more talk, on many subjects, but neither of them could really concentrate on it. Hermione took notes for later, as she always did, and for once she was sure she was going to need them.

When the meeting was over, Molly invited everyone to stay for dinner, which she'd likely spent most of the day preparing. Hermione met Severus' eyes across the table. Without speaking, they both rose and ventured into the sitting room. No one followed them, but Albus and Minerva exchanged a glance as well, both smiling mysteriously.

"Thank you. I have no desire to attempt this with Potter glaring at me," Severus said softly when he'd certified that they were alone. He looked remarkably nervous as he paced before her. When the moments stretched into minutes of silence, Hermione smiled a little.

"I don't think having Harry in a different room has been that much help," she teased, earning her a sharp glance. His expression softened when he saw that she was still smiling at him. He turned to face her. His lips twitched upward in response, and he clarified without thinking.

"I do not need another Potter making an ass out of me in front of someone I care about." He pursed his lips in annoyance, having meant at all costs to avoid saying just what he'd managed to say. He looked away from Hermione quickly, having no desire to see the shock on her face. He still hadn't apologized for his behavior at the convention, and he wasn't sure he intended to. She wouldn't have come to the castle last week if she hadn't already forgiven him. 'Yes,' he decided silently, 'I can surely get out of this with at least some of my dignity still intact.' Of course, he didn't realize that as he was thinking, Hermione had moved a great deal closer to him.

She looked up at his profile as he turned his face away, stifling a giggle. His nose really was huge. But he had a high forehead that bespoke intelligence, and high, defined cheekbones that gave his face a look of fineness that it might not otherwise have had. No, he wasn't handsome, but he had a great deal of character. "You had no intention of saying that out loud," she commented, telling rather than asking. His eyes snapped back to hers, but he didn't betray his surprise at her nearness.

"No," he admitted, frowning. Her smile widened.

Slowly, as if afraid she might startle him, she put a hand to his shoulder. After a moment's hesitation, she let her fingers trail to the back of his neck and pulled his head toward her, planting her lips softly on his cheek. "Thank you for saying something I couldn't misunderstand," she whispered gratefully.

After an immobile instant of shock, he put his arms around her, suppressing a relieved sigh. She wasn't pulling away, and her lips were still tantalizingly close to his ear. It had been several years since he'd been this close to any reputable woman, and his body was stirring in response. His voice shaky, he whispered back, "If I had known this was the reward, I'd have told you months ago." She chuckled appreciatively and put her other arm around his neck, blissfully unaware of the conversation, which was taking place in the kitchen. Unfortunately her ignorance was shattered by Harry's rather loud observation.

"OH COME ON, RON, WHAT ELSE COULD HE WANT? HE'S BLOODY 20 YEARS OLDER THAN SHE IS!" The comment rang through the house, and was followed by a pervasive silence. Severus felt Hermione tense in his arms and let her go quickly, afraid she might believe what her friend was obviously implying. She pulled away, anger written all over her face.

"Excuse me, please, I seem to have neglected something in the kitchen," she said tightly. Not waiting for a response, she turned on her heel. When she arrived in the doorway, everyone's eyes were already turned to her as though they'd been waiting breathlessly for her to arrive. She decided then and there that she wasn't going to let her audience down. Two steps behind her, Severus decided he'd rather not witness this. What if she AGREED with Potter? He didn't think he could stomach it, so he hung back, hoping he wouldn't have to hear any more than he already had.

Hermione walked calmly over to Harry, who had stood up from the table in his anger. His face was red, but his eyes were suddenly wide, as though he'd only just realized what he'd done. He turned to face her slowly.

"That was every bit as foul and disrespectful as anything Draco Malfoy ever said, Harry," she said quietly. Her words should have been sufficient warning, but he was shocked when the back of her right hand connected with his cheek. Her mother's engagement ring, one of the many things Moody had gathered for her from her parents' decimated home, drew an angry welt across his face as his head snapped violently to the side. She heard Molly gasp.

Ron jumped up from his chair immediately, throwing Harry a sympathetic glance before taking Hermione by the elbow. "He didn't mean it, Hermione, he's just upset. He doesn't understand that age doesn't matter so much in the wizarding world," he was blathering a bit, but didn't care, so long as it kept her from completely tearing apart his best mate. Not that Harry didn't deserve it after that comment.

Ron shook his head as he led her back out of the kitchen. He'd been trying to get Harry to see reason, but it didn't look like that was going to happen any time soon. He made a mental note to see if Ginny could talk some sense into him.

"I don't think we'll be staying for dinner, Ron," Hermione said wearily when they were out of earshot of the kitchen. Severus, who'd been staring blankly out the window on the other side of the room, heard her and took heart. Did that mean she might come to dinner with him? And if so, where would he take her? Minerva's comment about the Leaky Cauldron flashed through his head, bringing a tight smile to his lips. It was still too dangerous to go anywhere like that, but perhaps the house elves at Hogwarts could help him come up with something. He kept his gaze on the street outside as Ron continued to apologize for his friend.