New Beginnings

DISCLAIMER::: Everything you recognize belongs to JK Rowling and Warner Bros. I just love them so much I wanted to play with them a little.

Summary::: Hermione has lunch.

New Beginnings

Chapter Ten

Hermione sat up in bed and stretched, as memories of last night's ball brought a smile to her face. Climbing out of bed, she walked into the bathroom to get ready for her day. After a quick shower and twenty minutes wrestling with her tangled hair, she was just slipping her shoes on when she heard tapping at her window. She opened it to allow a large Barn owl into her rooms. The owl landed gracefully on the small nightstand beside her bed. Hermione eyed the bird with suspicion, but removed the roll of parchment from its leg anyway. When the bird did not take flight to leave, she assumed the letter required an immediate response, so she unrolled it and read.

Hermione,

Potions Master

After reading the note, Hermione pulled a quill and parchment from the drawer of her nightstand and scribbled a quick note telling Severus that eight o'clock was fine, and that she hoped his emergency was nothing too severe. Tying the note to the owl's leg, she watched the owl take flight and disappear.

After closing the window, Hermione headed out of her rooms. Just as she was closing the portrait door, a hand touched her shoulder, and she jumped, spinning around, her wand in her hand.

"Whoa there, Hermione, it's just me," Harry said, his hands up in mock surrender. "No need to hex me, I mean no harm." There was a smile in his voice, even though his face was serious.

"Gods, Harry, you scared me to death. Do that again, and if I don't hex you into next week, Hogwarts will add another ghost to its residency," Hermione said, clutching a hand to her chest.

"I'm sorry. Draco suggested I come by to see if you wanted to have breakfast with us in our guest room. The Great Hall is very crowded, and we can talk more freely in private."

"Harry, that is a wonderful idea. It's Saturday, so I am not required to take my meals in the Hall. Let's go."

At this, Harry put his arm out, and she took hold of it as they made their way to the private guestroom that Minerva had provided him and Draco. Entering the room, Hermione was immediately picked up and spun around in the usual hug Draco liked to give her.

Laughing, Hermione protested, "Draco, I just saw you last night. Please, put me down."

Setting her on her feet, Draco replied, "I know, Hermione, but I don't get to see you very often, so when I do I have to make up for lost time."

"I understand, but spinning me around like that makes me feel like a little kid. I am a grown woman, Draco, and grown women do not get spun around in hugs," she said, half teasing him.

"Okay, Hermione. I will try to refrain from spinning you, but I will not give up the hugs."

Smiling at the interaction between his husband and his best friend, Harry said, "If I didn't know better, I would be jealous of you two."

"Now, Harry, you know that I would never try to steal Draco away from you. He is so not my type," Hermione said.

"Yeah, Harry, it seems our Hermione here has developed a thing for the tall, dark and Slytherin portion of the male species," Draco commented with a wink to Hermione, who was blushing.

"Speaking of Snape, let's all sit down, and you can tell us all about what is or isn't going on with you two," Harry said, motioning to the small dinning table on one side of the room.

The table was loaded with food, and as they sat down, they each filled a plate with the various offerings. Once everyone was comfortable, Harry looked up at Draco, and then over to Hermione.

"Spill it already, Hermione. What is going on with the two of you?" he asked.

"Nothing at all, really," she said.

"Then how did you come to be his date last night?" Draco asked.

Realizing she wasn't going to get out of telling them every last detail, she told them about Mr. Greyadder's potion and how she went to Severus about it. She told them about Mr. Berilo's charmed punch and about Severus walking her back to her rooms after the ball. She even blushed as she told them about the kiss and how he had asked her to lunch today. Then she told them about the owl this morning and the dinner rearrangement.

"Yes, the parents of one of his third year students were killed in some kind of Muggle attack while on holiday in India. It seems that the Muggle law enforcement wouldn't cooperate with the Ministry, and Severus had to take that poor Boden boy to identify the bodies," Draco informed her.

"That is awful! Mr. Boden is only thirteen years old. How can those Muggles expect him to be strong enough to look at his parents' dead bodies? I can't believe they would force him to do something like that," Hermione said indignantly, pushing her plate away. She was not hungry any longer.

"Well, as you know, Muggles aren't as smart as we magical folk," Draco teased her.

Before she could respond, there was a soft humming sound and Draco stood up.

"Damn, hold on a second, I will be right back," he said, fishing in the pocket of his robes and exiting the room.

Hermione looked after him, puzzled, and turned to look at Harry questioningly.

"The Ministry is calling him. Everyone in the Magical Law-Enforcement Department is required to carry a charmed Galleon, like the ones we used back in fifth year. If you press your Galleon and say someone's name, their corresponding Galleon hums. It is quite annoying when you don't want to be disturbed. If you have it on your person, and don't respond to it in time, it becomes a Portkey and takes you to whomever it is that is calling you. If not, it just gets louder and louder. Very annoying," Harry answered her unspoken question.

"Well, I should get royalties from the Ministry. It was I who invented them after all," she said, only half-serious.

Then, Draco came back into the room looking more than a little upset.

"It seems that there was a disturbance in Diagon Alley an hour ago, and they need help from my department. As Tonks is on holiday, I have to go."

"Will you be gone long? Should I wait here for you, or do you just want me to meet you at home later?" Harry asked.

"It will most likely take most of the day. You stay here and visit with Hermione. I will see you at home," Draco said, leaning down to kiss his husband good-bye. Turning to Hermione, his eyes shining, he said, "Why don't the two of you go into Hogsmeade for lunch? I am sure a little shopping therapy will help you get over having to push back your date with Severus." With that, he bent and kissed her gently on the forehead and left the room.

"I do need to go into town for some more ink and parchment. It would be nice to get out of the castle for awhile," Hermione said.

Nodding, Harry stood up and offered Hermione his hand. Taking it, she stood as well, and they headed out for a day of shopping and talking.

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Harry and Hermione had been in Hogsmeade for more than two hours, but had visited only two shops. First they had gone into the general supplies shop, and Hermione had purchased the items she needed for grading and such. Then, Harry had dragged her into the Quidditch supply shop as he had always done when they were still in school. After browsing through every item in the shop, he purchased a new broom repair kit, and even Hermione made a purchase - a small button that she had laughed at when Harry had showed it to her. It was charmed to show a Snitch flying around being chased by a green snake and a red lion. The shop owner said that if a Gryffindor held it, the snake and lion would chase the Snitch forever, but if you were to give it to a Slytherin, then the lion would catch the Snitch, and it would flash red letters saying 'Gryffindors Rule, Slytherins Drool.' Hermione thought it would be a great joke gift for Severus.

After the Quidditch shop, Hermione thought they would go to the Three Broomsticks for lunch, but Harry had other plans. He grabbed her arm, dragged her to the robe shop and informed her she needed to buy something nice to wear for her dinner with Snape that night.

"Why, Harry? It's just an informal dinner," she protested.

"Didn't you say it was in his quarters? It sounds to me like he is trying to get you alone, Hermione. I think you should get something new to wear. Tease him a bit. You do like him, don't you?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I like him, but I don't think I'm ready for anything serious. It's only been a few months since Ron and I split up. It's too soon."

"Hermione, I am not suggesting you sleep with the man tonight. Just let him know that you may be interested in it someday." Inwardly, Harry shivered at the thought of Snape actually having sex.

"Oh, okay, fine. One new set of robes, but nothing too over the top. Simple is better," she relented.

They spent the next hour picking out just the right shade of green robes to complement her eyes and hair. Harry asked her several times why she wanted green, but she insisted she had her reasons. Just before leaving, she saw an elegant silk shirt in a color she knew would suit Severus perfectly. Pulling it off the rack, she added it to her purchases, ignoring the odd look Harry gave her at buying a man's shirt.

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Finishing their shopping, they finally headed for the Three Broomsticks for lunch. They sat at a corner table and chatted happily throughout their meal. Caught up in their conversation as they left the bar, neither of them noticed the small cloaked figure that exited behind them and followed them as they made their way back to the castle.

TBC

AN::: As always I would like to thank my fabulous betas, Pixie, Allison and Piper. I would also like to thank everyone who has left a review. In the next chapter, Severus and Hermione's date!