Prodigal Witch

Obviously they have to figure out who she is...

Hermione saw her dear friend already seated at a table for two in the small restaurant. Her smile for him was bright and genuine. Although they wrote often, it had been over a year since they were actually in the same place at the same time. For his part, he was so focused on her that she knew he missed the half-dozen wizards that crowded through the door after her. If he had seen them all, he would not look so welcoming.

He stood and she rushed to him, giving a little bit of a leap when she reached him, so that she could wrap her arms around his neck. She gave him a warm kiss on his full lips.

"Severus, I've missed you terribly." She smiled. Her former professor, but current friend, squeezed her tightly. He was not a very demonstrative man and she knew that squeeze was equivalent to another wizard shouting or crying with joy.

"Oh, sweet Merlin. What fresh hell is this?" Severus rumbled in that silky baritone of his. Hermione had been attracted to his voice since she was a schoolgirl. She giggled as Severus set her down on the ground; sure that he had now noticed Adrian, Blaise, Draco, Greg, Marcus, and Theo over her shoulder. She turned around and saw the six of them, very conspicuously gawking at her and their old Head of House. All were clearly shocked. It was not a large restaurant, so they could clearly see and hear her. Hermione noticed a host trying to discretely get their attention so he could seat them.

"They followed me," Hermione admitted, grinning mischievously. She really had enjoyed watching them try to figure her out. "I bumped into them on the street, in a fashion. They said I looked familiar, but couldn't figure out who I was."

"And you did not tell them," Severus concluded, fixing her with a stare.

"Oh Sev, it was ever so much fun," Hermione laughed. Then she sobered up. "I assumed they would desist after a point, but clearly, they have not."

"Never underestimate a Slytherin when we want something." Severus sighed, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. "I had rather thought you'd learned that lesson by now."

"Severus!" Draco finally blurted.

"I know my own name, Draco," Severus replied. "You all are worse than a pack of dogs, following witches in the street."

Hermione chuckled when they all looked properly chastised. It had been ages since Severus was their professor, but old habits die hard.

"She is just so...," Draco tried to provide an excuse but just trailed off. Hermione liked making her childhood nemesis at a loss for words. Messing with Draco was much more fun for her than if he were any other wizard.

"Enthralling," Theo supplied. The other wizards nodded.

"Intriguing," Greg added.

"Challenging," Blaise grinned.

"Irresistible," Adrian smiled.

"Shaggable," Marcus added seriously.

Severus and the other wizards stared at Marcus, while Hermione burst out laughing. She liked his blunt manner. With Marcus, a witch would know exactly where she stood.

"Gentlemen, I can seat you here next to your friends," a harried restaurant employee finally managed to horn in. They seemed torn, wanting to have these wealthy wizards dine there - but also wanting to get them out of the middle of the room.

"You may as well all sit," Severus finally conceded, rolling his eyes.

Hermione chuckled as the six wizards eagerly nodded. They even started to pull chairs toward the tiny table for two, jostling each other to get space.

"Oh for Merlin's sake! You are wizards!" Severus huffed, enlarging the small table to fit all eight of them. He glared at the younger wizards and directed Hermione to sit next to him. "So much for a nice quiet lunch just the two of us."