The Beach House

15

Severus returned to teaching at Hogwarts a week later. He was offered the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts and snapped it up willingly. Minerva, happy to have him back in the fold, also restored his title of Head of Slytherin House.

He settled back into the routine of teaching like he'd never been away and whilst he was still much feared, his general demeanour was now less sour and more relaxed than ever before. His acidic wit and sarcasm did still invoke tears from some of the younger children but he wasn't without a rare bit of humour
and it was said he was much fairer to all regardless of one's house. Someone dared ask if it was true that he now had a girlfriend and that's what must be making him mellow. After taking 20 points from the offenders for their cheek, he turned to face the blackboard so they couldn't see his smile.

Indeed he DID have a girlfriend. Him! Severus Snape: The loathsome Bat of The Dungeons. Hated by all and feared by many! Yet for all his faults Hermione seemed to like him. He smiled again when he thought of her.

After the night of the Ball he had been the perfect gentleman and seen her home to Grimmauld Place. He'd kissed her hand and she had surprised him by standing on tip toe and kissing his cheek. Moments after she'd turned away and gone inside the old house he stood outside the door with his hand touching the place she'd just kissed. His heart lurched when he thought of her and he realised in that moment that despite logic telling him he she should be with someone nearer her age and not a surly old git like himself, he knew he had to be selfish and have her. He sent an owl the very next day asking if she could meet him for dinner that evening and to his utter amazement she readily agreed.

They fell into a pleasant and companionable relationship. Evenings were spent together in restaurants or bars and coffee houses, and they found they enjoyed each other's company enormously. It was always a wrench to leave each other at the end of the evening but with Severus staying at Hogwarts and Hermione at Grimmauld Place neither was in the position to accept casual over night visitors.

One particular evening they decided to eat in Hogsmeade rather than Muggle London. Only two weeks before Christmas and a layer of snow had blanketed the little Wizarding town. After dinner, Severus had suggested a walk through the town to see the pretty Christmas tree and lights twinkling in the town square. He cast a warming charm over them both as they left the inn.

Hand in hand they walked through the snow. It was such a beautiful, still night and it made for the most perfect romantic setting. They stopped at the Christmas tree and Severus stood behind his witch and enveloped her in his arms. She leaned back into him. Neither spoke for a few moments until Severus broke the silence with a big sigh. "It's not enough" he said quietly.

Hermione turned to him, with an inquisitive raised eyebrow.

"I hate leaving you every night" he said holding her shoulders. "I know it's right and it's proper but I don't like it. I think about you all the bloody time. I think about you first thing in the morning and last thing at night and a million times in during the day. You're driving me to distraction and I need to be able to hold you in my arms at night and awake with you every morning. Please Hermione, please tell me you feel the same?"

Hermione blinked at him. She hadn't been ready for his emotional outpouring but he had emulated what she had been thinking for weeks. She was in love with him - totally and finitely and absolutely and she wanted nothing more herself than to spend the rest of her life with him.

"I love you Hermione Granger." He pulled her to him and planted a small kiss on her nose.

Her breath caught in her throat. "I love you too." This time his kiss was deep and passionate; full of love and feeling. Eventually and reluctantly they pulled away. "Come away with me" she said breathlessly. "My parents have a Beach House on the south coast. No one has been there since summer but they obviously don't use it now they're in Australia. Let's go. Tonight. I can apparate back to Grimmauld to get an overnight bag and can meet you back at the gates of Hogwarts in about half an hour. What do you say?"