A Likely Story

Chapter 8 of A Likely Story

Severus had spent a very frustrating two weeks tracking an irresponsible werewolf who'd been tracking a very talented death eater. Somewhere in his travels, Remus had encountered Bellatrix and had taken it upon himself to chase her down. As a result he had failed to check in with Headquarters, forcing them to send Severus after him, as everyone else was occupied with their regular tasks.

It had been grueling work. He'd slept outside most nights, and his robes were torn and filthy, his hair unwashed. In spite of it all, he'd found himself with plenty of time to think about Hermione. Or worry, rather. He'd been required to leave her with no explanation, and he wasn't fool enough to think that Albus would tell her more than was necessary. He imagined she would be furious when he returned. Perhaps she'd spent the time they were apart reconsidering her feelings? Did he even know for sure that she had any feelings about him to reconsider?

He wasn't concerned about the Wolfsbane. He had no doubt she could accomplish it. If she felt she couldn't, he knew he could trust her to find someone who could. That was a tad troublesome, as he was certain she'd ask Warrington, and she'd be hard pressed to resist the urge to throw him and Minerva together. He just hoped they wouldn't destroy his classroom.

It was a shock to him when she appeared in the hospital ward, looking so glad to see him. He let her take his hands, self-conscious of his grubby state. When he looked down at her, he found her staring back at him with a smile and glistening eyes. Had she been crying? Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her, regardless of their audience. He restrained himself.

He couldn't tear his eyes from hers, however, until the Headmaster's voice cut through his thoughts. He was urgently issuing a request that they leave the hospital ward. In seconds the reason was apparent. Remus was transforming. Jarred into action, Severus hustled both Hermione and Madam Pomfrey into the corridor. A moment later the Headmaster joined them, looking grim.

"He should sleep through the night, but he'll be ill for a few extra days as a result." He quickly performed several locking charms on the door. When he'd finished, Severus added one as well, earning a raised eyebrow from his employer. He only smirked in response. "Well, Poppy, it appears you have the night off, as no one will be able to enter or leave the infirmary for some time. I shall contact you in your quarters if you are needed."

They parted ways, then, and Severus was relieved to find himself headed down to the dungeons, still clasping Hermione's hand tightly, and not realizing that she was as pleased with the situation as he.

Hermione held his hand perhaps more gingerly than she normally would. He looked exhausted, though it would never do to tell him so, she knew. "We just finished the potion," she said, her quiet voice echoing in the stairwell as they descended. "I had to ask Warrington to help - it didn't seem wise to do it myself with so much at stake."

"And he and Minerva are...?" he asked with an amused smirk.

"Speaking but not civil," she finished, grinning up at him. When they reached the doorway to the classroom, Severus glanced inside. There was no one present, so he ushered Hermione through the door and closed it behind them. When he turned, he was a little startled to see that she hadn't ventured any further into the room. She was smiling softly as she lifted a hand to his scruffy cheek. "I missed you, you know," she whispered, and was surprised to find that it was true. Though it had only been a scant few weeks since she'd begun to see him as more than just her professor, she found that his presence had become important to her.

He closed his eyes and leaned into her palm, barely aware, as she pulled her hand back slowly, that he was following it. His eyes flew open as their lips met, but he closed them again quickly.

She'd meant it to be a chaste kiss, but found once it began that she didn't want to pull away. As if in response to her thoughts, Severus took her lower lip between his, and his arms found their way around her waist. Kissing Ron had been nothing like this. Neither was really aware how long they'd been standing, pressed together, in the doorway, when they were startled by loud voices coming from the storage room.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

"Well, what else could I THINK?" It seemed that Warrington had finally reached his breaking point. "Going around saying how thoughtful he was to have cancelled it? I thought you regretted agreeing to go with me and were pleased for a way out of it!" His harsh voice left the room ringing for a moment. It occurred to Hermione that Minerva was probably trying to decide whether to comfort the man or scold him.

"So you ignored me and tendered your resignation as soon as possible?! And left me to wonder what I'd done wrong! I cried over you for MONTHS, Damian!"

"Well, what do you want me to do about it? You want to hear that I made a mistake?" Severus and Hermione exchanged a glance. Telling the old Slytherin that he'd made a mistake would be suicide, even if it was obvious that he knew it already.

"No," came Minerva's voice, much quieter than previously. "I want you to take me to wherever you live and kiss me the way Severus is probably kissing Hermione right now." Hermione looked to the ground, blushing. Severus only grinned.

There was another moment of silence, and then came Warrington's voice again. "That was very brave. What if I say no?" Hermione winced, and Severus shook his head as they exchanged another glance.

"Well, I'm not a Gryffindor for nothing," Minerva replied, her voice still softer, as if she was, indeed, afraid he might turn her down.

"No, you have hundreds of traits that make you a Gryffindor, each one more loveable than the last," came his answer.

Hermione and Severus smiled happily at each other, knowing this to be as close as the old snake was likely to come to admitting that he loved Minerva McGonagall, at least until he was a little more sure of her affections. Severus tugged at her hand and pulled her across the room to his private quarters, knowing that their colleagues were occupied and likely wouldn't notice.

She waited patiently as he cleaned up, and ordered food from Dobby, who brought it just as Severus reappeared from the shower, drying his hair. He was pleased to see food, and said almost nothing until he'd eaten an entire plate full. Eventually they fell into conversation, first about the potion, then about Minerva and Warrington, and finally about Hermione's upcoming term at Geneva.

"I still haven't heard whether I'll be staying on campus for sure or not," she commented. "But the boys have already offered to help me pack twice, so I guess I'm moving out of the flat either way."

Severus looked at her strangely for a moment. "Not because of Potter's comment, I hope?"

"Oh no," she said, laughing. "We're over that. I think it's because Ron wants Luna to move in. Of course, no one's supposed to know they're dating. He wasn't ready to break the news to Harry that he's not actually gay."

Severus managed not to spray pumpkin juice all over the table, but it was a very near thing. "And why exactly does Potter think Weasley is gay?" He was unable to contain an undignified chuckle at this unexpected topic of conversation.

"Ron's been hanging out with Seamus Finnegan a lot," she began, "and Seamus told Harry he was gay years ago so Harry'd stop trying to set him up with Ginny, which he was only trying to do because he was tired of Ginny chasing him around, and - "

"Enough! If I wanted to rehash the gossip from Gryffindor tower, I'd go find Minerva." His voice was stern, but a smile was playing on his lips.

"I do believe she'd be difficult to track down just now," Hermione quipped, smiling as she put her napkin carefully over her plate. Dobby appeared an instant later and began clearing things away. When he'd gone again, they both rose, Severus stifling a yawn and looking vaguely embarrassed. She smiled up at him. "Go ahead and get some rest. You deserve it. I'll just make sure they cleared up before they left, and then I'll see you tomorrow."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "What's on your agenda for tomorrow?" he asked. Now that the Wolfsbane was complete, there was really no reason for her to come back to the castle, unless -

"Nothing at all. I just want to see you before I have to spend all my time at Geneva, and the summer's half gone already. Do you have other plans?" She asked, her tone coy as she gazed up at him and took his hand again.

"I'm sure I can rearrange my schedule for such an important appointment," he answered quietly. And as he leaned down to kiss her, Hermione grinned inwardly, recognizing that he'd just said that spending the day with her was important to him.

She emerged from his chambers to find the potions classroom spotless, and shook her head at the sight of the half-opened door into the corridor. She closed it soundlessly behind her, and made her way to the apparation point. 'Yes,' she thought, letting herself into the flat as quietly as she could. 'I do believe I'm getting the hang of this.' She grinned and headed to bed, already preparing herself for the puzzles the next day's conversation would bring. In addition to the growing feeling that Severus cared for her more than he'd ever be likely to admit, she was pleased to realize that he would always, always keep her thinking.