The Beach House

4

Severus Snape was an habitual early riser. It came from his years living in a dungeon, where a lack of any natural daylight meant he'd had to fine tune his body to waking at dawn. Old habits die hard, and today at 6.30am he lay in bed wide awake. Not wishing to disturb the lady of the house, he lay on his back with his hands behind his head and enjoyed the feel of the warm fingers of sunlight creeping over his face.

Lying there his thoughts turned to the young witch who had so cordially allowed him to invade her home and holiday time so freely. She had certainly grown into a wonderfully mature young lady - confident and assured with being neither cocky nor brash.  She was also stunningly beautiful and when she looked at him with her deep caramel coloured eyes it made him feel a tightening inside, the like of which he'd not allowed himself to feel since he could remember.  He was surprised she was still single, but certainly not disappointed and he was more than happy to spend the next few days at least getting to know her better.

*********

It was 8am by the time Hermione drifted down from her bed on the mezzanine, dressed in shortie pyjamas and vest top, hair tousled from sleep and piled none to neatly on the top of her head. She yawned as she made to head toward the kitchenette and stopped in her tracks when she found Severus already there, placing warm, fresh croissants and Danish Pastries out of a paper bags and onto plates. By the smell, fresh coffee was also on the brew. Hermione stopped and stared; if the impromptu breakfast didn't surprise her the wizard's clothing certainly did. For he was dressed in cut off denims and a white t-shirt and on his feet he had flip flops. Even his hair was tied back and on his head he wore a baseball cap. He couldn't have looked more Muggle if he'd tried.

"Good morning" he said when he spied Hermione staring at him, her mouth slightly agape. "I was bored so went for a walk and found your local bakery. I got a selection." He gestured at the pile of pastries in front of him. Hermione was still staring. "What, Miss Granger?"

"You're wearing full on Muggle casual wear?"

"It has been known" he replied drily "I thought I'd try and fit in." He gave a little twirl and grinned "Do I pass muster?"

"You most certainly do" Hermione replied taking in his lean and muscular physique underneath his shirt. He looked so handsome. During her time at Hogwarts she could never recall seeing him in Muggle apparel but it certainly suited him. Forcing herself to stop ogling she said "thank you for breakfast. Shall we sit outside? It's going to be another scorcher."

The sun loungers were partially shaded in the early morning and this was a most welcomed relief from the unyielding heat of the forthcoming day.

After breakfast it was decided it was going to be too hot to do anything much, and neither fancied the stifling heat of Diagon Alley, so the property rental hunting was put off till Monday at the very least. It was a necessity to get in some provisions so donning  sunglasses they took to the small country lane heading towards the local village.

Martlebrook was a tiny hamlet just outside the larger town of Christholm (pronounced Chris'hum) and consisted of a butcher's, a bakery, a post office, a local 'One Stop' supermarket, a greengrocer, and a general 'Iron Monger-Sell-Everything-You-Can-Think-Of' shop, whose large motto painted above the door was 'If We Don't Sell It You Don't Need it'.

The walk to the village was hot and dusty. Not a car passed them as they strolled side by side, appreciating when the odd bow of a field side tree afforded them some relief from the unrelenting heat. Conversation seemed so easy and it was hard for Hermione to remember Severus as her once mean spirited, odious and obnoxious potions master.

"Long way or short?" Asked Hermione when they came to a style in the hedgerow. "We can walk down the lane into the village or we can go over the field, up the hill and down to the village from the far side. It's a fair walk but the view at the top is magnificent. Apparently you can see three counties from there."

"Three counties you say?" Severus looked impressed and Hermione nodded with a grin "Then what are we waiting for? Come along Miss Granger. That hill won't climb itself on the hottest day of the year." He raised an eyebrow and Hermione giggled. He then held his hand out to the young witch and she took it without hesitation. They climbed over the stile onto a small path that led them upwards, past the motionless corn and barley fields and onwards next to a large hedgerow which hid them from the road below. 

"Shall I perform a cooling charm?" Asked Severus, with perspiration making the back of his t-shirt darken and his neck glisten.  He was still holding Hermione's hand but they felt altogether too moist to be comfortable. 

"I always said I wouldn't use magic here" Said Hermione extricating her hand from his grip and wiping it on her shorts "but I think we could make an exception?"

"Of course." Severus nodded retrieving his wand from a hidden pocket in his cut-offs.  "My pleasure.  'Frigaris Desendit!'" He flicked his wand above their heads and instantly it was like being enveloped in a cool towel. "Better?"

"Much. Thank you!"

The march up the hill was easier out of the energy sapping heat but after twenty minutes the two were tired and decided to have a rest on a small heather outcrop, relaxing into it's welcoming springiness. Hermione used her wand to summon up two glasses of water and they drank thirstily. She smiled down at Severus who was now lying on his back squinting up to the cornflower blue summer sky. The only noise that could be heard was one of nature - crickets chirruping, and the odd bee buzzing. Even the birds were conspicuous by their absence. Clearly they too were hiding in the shade somewhere, away from the blaze of the summer's day.

Looking into the distance Hermione frowned. Regarding her suddenly furrowed brow, Severus sat up. "What is it?" He asked in a lazy drawl.

"Over there" pointed Hermione "that cottage." Severus looked to where she was pointing.

"Yes. It's a cottage. Pretty. I like the thatch."

Hermione continued to frown. "I've just never noticed it before."

"Well it is rather hidden. You wouldn't be able to see it from the road."

"But I've been here before. I would've seen it surely?" She mused.

"Well it's not a new build; looks like it's been there for years". Severus replied, standing up and offering his hand. She took it and he hauled her to her feet. "Come on then, let's go. We'll walk past and you can satisfy your curiosity as we do."